Cruising the world is an amazing way to broaden your culinary horizons. As well as new dishes, you’ll encounter new ingredients, new cooking methods and even new flavours. On the other side of the world to us in Asia, there are thousands, if not millions, of delights just waiting for you to savour. Here, we take a look at where to find the best street food ahead of your cruise to Asia.
Shanghai, China
The cuisine in Shanghai is something of its own incredible culture. It’s some of the most distinctive food in China and has been influenced largely by its position on the coastline and just south of the Yangtze River. One of the things that make the food in Shanghai so unique is the large amount of sugar used, so this is the perfect city for a sweet tooth. If savoury is more your thing rest assured there are amazing dishes to be found, tried and never forgotten here.
What to eat in Shanghai
When in Shanghai, there is one thing everyone should try and that’s xiaolongbao or soup dumplings. These tasty treats are a Shanghai classic and each stall around the city will add its own flair. The delicate dumplings are stuffed full of ingredients like pork, vegetable, shrimp or crab and a hot broth.
Kochi, India
“The coastal town of Kochi undoubtedly has some of the world’s best street food,” Avanti from iTraveller told us. “It boasts a tantalising cuisine that is dominated by seafood and spices. As the Dutch, French and Portuguese came and went, they left behind a cuisine that’s now unique to Kochi. Today, Kochi’s streets are teeming with makeshift street food stalls and sophisticated restaurants both selling a mindboggling variety of local delicacies. From simple dishes like pazham pori (deep-fried banana) to the original Malabar biriyanis, Kochi’s greatest treasure is one that is widely available on its streets.”
What to eat in Kochi
“The list of dishes one must try in Kochi is quite long. To begin your culinary journey in Kochi, try puttu and kadala curry (coarsely ground rice steamed and served with chickpea curry). This dish is commonly eaten for breakfast.
“If you were to ask a local what their favourite dish is, they’ll probably say biryani. Khayees Biriyani and Kaikka Biryani are two top places to try of this fabled rice dish. Kappa and meen curry (tapioca served with fish curry) is another dish you must try. You’ll find a large variety of prawns and fish in Kochi and a much wider variety of dishes made from them. When it comes to drinks, make sure you try out toddy or nadan kallu (palm wine) and kulaki sharbat (Kochi style lemonade). Finally, we recommend exploring the streets of Kochi (ideally, start off with an empty stomach) to find other hidden gastronomic treasures.”
Tokyo, Japan
“The quality and purity of food are highly valued in Japan,” Kelly from No Man Before explains. “This means you’ll find delicious dishes whether you’re snacking on street food or dining in one of the many Michelin-starred restaurants in Tokyo. Japanese chefs focus on simplicity, cooking to bring out the very best flavours of each unique ingredient.”
We also chatted to the team at Tokyo by Food, who run foodie events in Tokyo and donate the proceeds to help feed children in Cambodia. “Street food in Tokyo is a portal to Japan’s other regions, allowing access to authentic dishes and insights into the history, landscape and customs of the distinct 47 prefectures,” they told us.
“In Tokyo, you can enjoy soft-serve made with rich Hokkaido cream, Osaka’s takoyaki (balls of batter filled with octopus) and Kansai or Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki (savoury cabbage pancakes). Tokyo’s street food is also a living and evolving entity. Inventive takes on classics emerge all the time (followed by crazy long queues), so even when you think you know the food scene, there’s always something new to be discovered.”
What to eat in Tokyo
“Most street food vendors and izakayas (informal Japanese pubs) specialise in a single dish, perfecting the recipe and selling it cheap,” Kelly told us. “To find some of the best street food in Tokyo, head down into the smoky, winding alleys of Shinjuku’s Memory Lane. This maze of tiny streets with charming post-war vibes is lined with dozens of food stalls and izakayas. Many are grilling skewered meat over charcoal, a popular snack called yakitori. Order traditional yakitori like chicken or pork or if you’re feeling adventurous, try something more exotic like tongue or innards.”
“If you have a sweet tooth, you can’t miss taiyaki,” the team from Tokyo by Food told us. “They’re a fish-shaped cake made of pancake-like batter and filled with sweet red bean paste. While it originated in Tokyo, taiyaki is truly the lovechild of the east and the west. Traditionally, Japan does not have a culture of baked goods and their sweets were made of bean paste rather than flour. While red bean is the classic, there are many other flavours available, like custard, chocolate, and even ice cream! Taiyaki is a ubiquitous part of festivals and shopping streets all over Tokyo; just follow the warm, sweet aroma.”
Read next: Best sushi restaurants in Tokyo
Penang, Malaysia
“Penang has some of the best street food in the world simply because every hawker in the state specialises in one single dish,” Mei Rei Qua from Penang Foodie explains. “They have been making the same dish continuously for many years while perfecting their craft. Some recipes are passed down from generation to generation, making their version of street food incredibly authentic and unique.”
What to eat in Penang
“There are so many amazing dishes in Penang,” Mei Rei told us. “It is so hard to narrow down. Honestly, one of the best dishes that everyone needs to try is Char Koay Teow. Char Koay Teow is a national favourite and no one does it better than Siam Road. It is a long queue but it is worth the wait! Made with rice noodles, prawns, bean sprouts and tied up together with soy sauces and cooked with wok hei. It is a must!”
Bangkok, Thailand
We chatted to JB from Will Fly for Food, he told us why he thinks Bangkok has the best street food: “I think it has a lot do with the city’s infrastructure and history. Because of its many waterways and canals that once served as an important means of transportation, floating markets have long been a prominent part of Bangkok’s way of life. They’re mainly tourist attractions today but for many years, they were key venues for trade. Fruits, vegetables and snacks were routinely sold on boats at these floating markets.
“As the city modernised, canals made way for roads and boat vendors shifted to land-based stalls. I think that’s pretty much what we’re seeing today. The street food culture that’s become such an important part of the Bangkok experience evolved from these floating markets. With so many years of experience, it’s no wonder it’s among the best in the world!”
What to eat in Bangkok
We asked JB which dishes he would recommend, “There are so many delicious dishes to be had in Bangkok but Thai curry rice is one of my favourites, so I’ll go with that. One of the best places to have it is at Khao Gaeng Jake Puey in Chinatown which is collectively home to some of the very best street food in Bangkok. Khao Gaeng Jake Puey is open only from 4 - 9 pm every day except Monday. Located on the corner of Charoen Krung and Mangkon Road, they don’t have any tables, so diners have little choice but to hold and enjoy their plates of curry rice in their hands whilst sitting on red plastic stools. The street food experience in Bangkok doesn’t get any better than that.”
