The
chief adviser to Bangkok’s governor, Wanlop Suwandee, has since said he was
misquoted, though it seems likely that stricter regulations will be imposed on
the city’s ubiquitous food vendors.
Bangkok
has a long association with street food, which is consumed with gusto by locals
and tourists. The city’s al fresco restaurants are often rudimentary affairs –
food is typically served with little fanfare on plastic tables and chairs by
the side of a busy road, but it rarely disappoints.
Here
are nine other great cities for street food:
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
From
Texas to Tallinn, street food has become increasingly fashionable around the
world, but in Kuala Lumpur, as in Bangkok, roadside dining is a way of life.
The
setting itself is often not that salubrious – think plastic chairs, plastic
tables and the occasional whiff of a nearby drain – but the food, a mash-up of
Indian, Chinese and Malay, usually does the talking.
If
there’s one dish you must try... nasi lemak: rice cooked with coconut milk, and
served with fried anchovies, sambal (spicy sauce), slices of cucumber, boiled
egg and fried ground nuts.
Marrakech, Morocco
Every
night, Marrakech’s famous square, Jemaa el Fna, is transformed into a bustling
food court, where pop-up restaurants serve cheap local dishes of varying
quality – it helps to know a local.
“Before
you go for some food, watch the hawkers hastily set up their stalls from Le
Grand Balcon du Cafe Glacier, which has wonderful views over the square,”
recommends Telegraph Travel’s Gavin Haines.
If
there’s one dish you must try… the fish from kiosk No. 14, which serves small
plates of fried seafood (calamari, sole, shrimp, etc.), alongside homemade
chips, dips and salad.
Beijing, China
One
of the street food capitals of Asia, Beijing’s bustling markets and
labyrinthine hutongs are home to thousands of kiosks, serving anything from dim
sum to deep-fried scorpion (which is only generally eaten by tourists).
The
authorities in Beijing have also cracked down on street food vendors in recent
years, but roadside dining is alive and well down Wangfujing Snack Street,
Guijie Street and Longfusi Snack Street.
If
there’s one dish you must try… jianbing: the ultimate Chinese breakfast, this
early morning staple is made from fried egg, fried onion and a special sauce,
which is wrapped inside a crepe.
Hanoi, Vietnam
Ho
Chi Minh has a similarly strong claim to street food fame, but for the team at
Telegraph Travel Hanoi just pips it. For the best food head to the city’s
charming old quarter, which is packed with people slurping steaming bowls of
pho noodle soup.
If
you do find yourself in Ho Chi Minh with a rumbling stomach, the local staple
is a crispy savoury pancake called banh xeo, which can be found at kiosks
across the city.
If
there’s one dish you must try… pho: a savoury soup made from beef broth, rice
noodles and meat (chicken or beef), which is garnished with handfuls of fresh
herbs and a generous squeeze of lime.
Hong Kong
Asia’s
dominance in this list continues with Hong Kong, which is so famous for roadside
dining that Michelin launched a section dedicated to street food in its latest
guide to the city.
If
you don’t follow the guide, follow your nose, which will likely lead you to
famous foodie hotspots such as Temple Street Night Market, Sham Shui Po and
Graham Street.
If
there’s one dish you must try… sweet and sour pork. Sure you’ve had this Hong
Kong speciality before, probably in your local Chinese restaurant, but nothing
compares to eating the real thing.
Istanbul, Turkey
There
are 14 million odd mouths to feed in Istanbul, whose inhabitants are famous for
their love of a bargain. Fertile ground then for a thriving street food scene,
which is one of the highlights of a visit to the city.
Hungry
diners should head to Istiklal Caddesi – considered to be the “heart and
stomach” of Istanbul – and the surrounding streets where appetites can be sated
for a few lira.
If
there’s one dish you must try… simit: Turkey’s take on the bagel, this sesame-crusted
bread is dipped in molasses and best eaten straight out of the oven.
Mexico City, Mexico
You
haven’t had proper Mexican food unless you’ve been to Mexico. And for the best
introduction to this country’s vast culinary offerings, the capital city is
probably the best place to start. Or, more specifically, Distrito Federal,
which sates the appetites of millions of diners every week.
Here
hawkers serve everything from fresh fruit and cold beer to quesadillas and
crispy “cow head” tacos (which are, as the name suggests, stuffed with meat
carved from the steamed head of a cow).
If
there’s one dish you must try… tamales: a traditional breakfast dish made of
dough, which is steamed in a banana leaf and filled with meats, cheeses,
fruits, vegetables or anything diners fancy.
Port Louis, Mauritius
Infused
with French, Creole, Indian, Chinese and even British influences, Mauritian
cuisine is a triumph for the tastebuds – if you were visiting for sandy beaches
and limpid shores, you may end up biting off more than you can chew. Literally.
Street
food stalls abound in the capital, Port Louis, where diners can quaff their way
through delicious tropical fruits, fiery curries and British-style cakes, as
well as myriad other dishes.
If
there’s one dish you must try… bol renverse: a delicious Sino-Mauritian dish
consisting largely of rice, served with pork, chicken or fish, fresh
vegetables, a fried egg and oyster sauce.
Tokyo, Japan
Japan’s
capital has more Michelin stars than anywhere else in the world, but it’s not
all haute cuisine. Cheaper eats are available from the city’s venerable street
food vendors, known locally as yatai.
There
is a sense of occasion about street food in Japan and yatai tend to spring up
around events (of which there are many in Tokyo) rather than establishing a
permanent home. They are worth waiting for, though.
If
there’s one dish you must try… okonomiyaki: savoury pancakes filled with meat,
seafood and vegetables. They are typically topped with mayonnaise, dried flakes
of tuna, seaweed paper, ginger and a sweet vegetable sauce.
By Alamy/ The Telegraph