Must-try street food for travelers

When taking a trip, one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the culture of your destination is to embrace the local cuisine. Depending on your budget, you may choose to go to a fancy restaurant, or perhaps you're staying at an all-inclusive hotel.

But in reality, there is no better way to explore a country's food than to take to the streets. While street food is most commonly associated with Asian countries, in fact, it is a feature of gastronomical life all across the globe.

Check out this gallery for an East-West tour of the world's must-try street food items.

Currywurst

The German take on the hotdog can be found at street stalls all over Germany. Pork sausage is chopped into slices and topped with curry ketchup and powder.

Bungeo-ppang

These fish-shaped pastries are common during the winter in South Korea. Batter is poured into a fish-shaped mold that resembles a waffle iron and is fried. Red bean paste is then added along with more batter to seal off the snack.

Bunny chow

This South African dish originated in the Indian community in the city of Durban. It consists of hollowed out bread filled with curry.

Aloo chaat

This potato-based dish is popular in North India, Pakistan, West Bengal, and also parts of the Bangladeshi region of Sylhet. It's made with pieces of boiled and fried potato that are mixed with spices and chutney. The spices used depend on the region.

Asinan

This Indonesian dish consists of fruits or vegetables that have been pickled, brined, or vinegared. There are different variations of the dish, and a particularly popular one is asinan Betawi, whose main ingredient is preserved Chinese cabbage.

Banana cue

These deep-fried bananas are popular on the streets of the Philippines. Saba bananas are coated in caramelized brown sugar, deep-fried, and then skewered on a stick.

Doubles

This Indian-style dish can be found on the streets of Trinidad and Tobago. It's made with fried bread that is filled with curry chana (chickpeas). Popular toppings include tamarind, pepper sauce, cucumber, and mango.

Banh mi

This Vietnamese sandwich came about after the baguette was introduced to Vietnam during the French occupation in the 19th century. The baguette became a staple food and banh mi is made with Vietnamese baguette, meat, and often vegetables.

Khachapuri

The national dish of Georgia, khachapuri consists of a loaf of leavened bread filled with cheese. The crust of the bread is ripped off and dipped in the cheese.

Takoyaki

This street food snack can be found throughout Japan, although the best place to try it is supposedly Osaka, where it's said to have originated. Takoyaki consists of fritters filled with octopus and sprinkled with a number of toppings.

Crepe

Crepes are native to Brittany, France, but nowadays are popular throughout Europe and in many parts of the world. The thin-style pancake can be eaten with all sorts of fillings, sweet and/or savory.

Ramen

Despite claims that it actually had its origins in China, this soup is most often associated with Japan, where it is hugely popular. Chinese wheat noodles are submerged in a meat or fish-based broth and then miso or soy sauce is added. Common toppings include pork and boiled eggs.

Chuan

These kebabs are popular throughout China, having had their start in the Chinese Muslim community. The small pieces of meat are spiced, skewered, and then roasted or deep-fried.

Mango sticky rice

This Thai dessert is popular across Southeast Asia and consists of sticky steamed rice mixed with coconut milk and served with slices of mango.

Calzone

This Italian favorite originated in Naples and is essentially a folded-over pizza. The salted bread dough is stuffed with toppings and baked in the oven. While it can be a large meal, street vendors often sell mini versions as a snack.

Fish and chips

This stereotypical British dish can be found throughout the United Kingdom. Battered fish is thrown together with deep-fried chips and topped with a sprinkling of salt and often a squeeze of lemon.

Chapli kebabs

These burger-like kebabs originated in Peshawar, a city in the northwest of Pakistan. The minced meat is heavily spiced before being molded into a flat, round shape and put in the fryer.

Gyro

The meat used in a Greek gyro is cooked on a vertical rotisserie before being peeled off and stuffed into a wrap or pita. The meat is usually heavily-spiced and the pita often filled with tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki sauce.

Poutine

This potato-based dish originated in Quebec in French Canada. It consists of french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. Variations also include meats such as bacon, chicken, or sausage.

Anticucho

This kebab-like dish is found on the streets of Peru. It consists of meat (usually beef heart) that is marinated with vinegar and spices before being skewered with vegetables and served with bread or a boiled potato.

Hot dog

It's difficult to think of a more classic American street food than the hot dog. A sausage is placed into a hot dog bun and garnished with toppings and condiments.

Arepas

These pancake-style patties are native to Columbia and Venezuela. They are made by mixing maize with water, and are often eaten with toppings such as meat, cheese, or salad.

Taco

Often found elsewhere in the world, this hands-free wrap is still hugely popular in its native Mexico. A corn or wheat tortilla serves as the casing for the filling, which can include vegetables, beef, chicken, cheese, pork, or seafood. Toppings such as guacamole and salsa are common too.

Shawarma

This meat dish is the Middle Eastern equivalent of the gyro. The meat is slow-cooked on a vertical rotisserie and then shavings are served with toppings either in bread or on a plate.

Beguni

This eggplant snack can be found in Bangladesh and West Bengal. It's made of battered slices of eggplant that are fried or deep-fried in oil.

Stinky tofu

This nasty-sounding dish is actually very popular in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. It is made by marinating tofu in a brine (sometimes for months), cutting it into cubes, and then frying it. The most common topping is chilli sauce and pickled cabbage.

Vada pav

Also known as the "Bombay burger," this Indian street snack consists of a potato patty thrown between two pieces of bread. The patty is made by mixing a boiled and mashed potato with spices and then encasing it in batter.

Pani câ mèusa

This sandwich is virtually exclusive to its native Sicily. It consists of calf’s lung and spleen that is chopped and fried before being placed between two slices of soft white bread.

Tanghulu

This Chinese snack is made of candied fruit piled high on a skewer. The traditional fruit used was the Chinese hawthorn, although other fruit variations are now increasingly popular.