30 Street Food Markets for the Global Traveller

A new interactive from JohnSlots looks at the world’s best and most recognisable street food markets, delving into everything from potjie in South Africa to scorpions-on-sticks in China.

Street food is a staple all over the world. Wherever you go, you can be walking down a street and catch the alluring smell of local cuisine, leading you into market stalls, food halls, and local malls to try something different.  Food markets offer meals on the go for workers, travellers, and those who just happen to be passing by. And now, with an interactive guide from JohnSlots, you can check out the best options around the world – whether you’re looking for a spot to eat on your next holiday, or if you’re trying to tick off the last few points on your cultural food bucket list, have a look and see what’s on the menu.

Hotpots and Hotspots

The markets are often an insight into the country’s approach to the world, whether they’re bustling areas of activity or calm places to relax with a drink and a bite to eat. Stop off at one to find yourself the regional favourites and to see the local street food style.  For a mix of experiences, make sure to have a look into:

· Coronation Market, Kingston, Jamaica – known as the “stomach of Jamaica”, Coronation Market is a loud and energetic mix of people looking for traditional Jamaican flavours.

· Borough Market, London, UK – with both permanent restaurants and outside stalls, it’s an ideal eatery for every sort of occasion, whether in a hurry or when looking for somewhere to sit and watch the world go by.

· The Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey – while food is served from lively stalls throughout the Bazaar, you’ll also hear the shouts and laughter of haggling and trade, as the Bazaar also features a wide range of shops and trades.

· Albert Cuypstraat, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – a diverse array of foods crammed into one street, you’re likely to see people wandering about with colourful cones of patat: the local chips, topped with mayonnaise.

· Wangfujing Snack Street, Beijing, China – if you like your markets colourful and different, you could do worse than exploring the best snack street in Beijing, where you’ll find scorpions on sticks, colourful candied fruits, and unusual seafood.

Taste Bud Explorer

Culture and snacks are great, but what if you like your holidays exciting and your food adventurous? Try some unfamiliar dishes from the corners of the globe, and get a taste for the unusual:

· Scorpion-on-a-Stick, from China – Should you like your food with a bit of a sting in the tail, there’s a food for you. They’re a popular deep-fried option on the Wangfujing Snack Street.

· Ceviche, from Peru – Raw fish is marinated in citrus juices and served with onions, chilli, and seasoning, for a salad-y South America take on sushi.

· Snail Soup, from Marrakesh – Exactly what it says on the tin, snails are brewed up with seasonings into a broth.

· Abalone, from Chile – If you liked the sound of the snail soup, why not souper-size the order and serve giant sea snails with lettuce and mayonnaise?

· Peppered Shrimp, from Jamaica – While shrimp are popular the world over, the real adventure in this is the Scotch Bonnet pepper sauce, which packs a punch and can get not only your mouth watering, but also your eyes.

Food is different everywhere. There are different flavour palates, different spices, different meats – including insects and fish. Even simple dishes are cooked completely differently from place to place. If you want to get to the heart of a culture, it’s got to be through the food, and there’s no food more representative of local tastes than what you can pick up in the food hubs you find in the streets.

Whether you’re looking for a new taste experience or just trying to track down the nearest food stop on your grand global holiday, make sure to check out the rest of the dishes and the markets where you can find them in the full interactive guide here.