If you want to get a sense of food culture in a bustling foreign city, your best bet is to visit the popular street food vendors. As a fun bonus, many street food vendors sell some of the most delicious treats you will ever find while traveling. Whether you’re into meaty delights infused with the boldest spices or sweet treats that tickle your taste buds in exciting new ways, you will find something to enjoy while browsing street food offerings.
Of course, chowing down on every type of street food you can find may not be such a good idea. While food safety has vastly improved in recent years, travelers should still recognize the possibility that certain items may not sit well with them. According to this article from National Geographic, 30 to 70 percent of travelers develop gastrointestinal infections during or immediately after their vacations. Note that the possibility of getting sick is roughly the same regardless of where you are traveling.
Exercising some caution while dining on street food is highly recommended. Learn to identify safe treats by following the tips detailed below.
Avoid Raw Street Food
Raw delicacies can seem awfully tempting while checking out street food stalls. Since you’re not certain you will be in that part of the world again, you may decide to invoke “YOLO” and gorge on that raw treat. Of course, that’s one of the easiest ways to get sick while eating street food.
Staying away from raw meat and produce is the best move for travelers checking out street food stalls. According to the CDC, cut-up fruits and vegetables can be contaminated during preparation. They are not guaranteed to be safe despite how delicious they appear.
Take Advice From Local Diners
How do you know if a street food vendor is serving up delicious and safe treats? The locals can give you some vital information regarding that matter. While at a hotel or approaching the street food market, you can speak to locals and seek recommendations. They can point you in the direction of the best street food stalls.
If you’re struggling to ask your food questions properly, you can get indirect advice by looking at the lines that form. Look for the stalls with the longest lines because they are good bets for serving safe and tasty food.
Don’t Wait for Off-Peak Hours
In an attempt to avoid the long lines at street food stalls, you may decide to wait a bit later to get the items you’ve been eyeing. Foodies such as Claudette Schwartz note that such an approach can actually lead to more problems. Vendors may not have anything fresh prepared during those off-peak hours, so you may be eating something that has been sitting out in the sun for a while. Waiting in line may not be an enjoyable experience, but it beats getting sick while on vacation.
Street food vendors serve some of the best foods in foreign countries. Just make sure you’re dining safely by following the tips in this article!
