Type of dish

Snacks and street food

Food eaten by hand, from stalls and street carts: dumplings, flatbreads, skewers and fried bites that taste best on the spot.

40 dishes · 58 countries

snack Bunny chow South Africa A hollowed-out loaf of white bread filled with spicy curry – Durban’s cult street food.
snack Kapana Namibia Strips of beef grilled over open fires at the market, dipped in spicy seasoning and eaten with salsa.
snack Biltong Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe … Air-dried strips of beef or game cured in vinegar with coriander and pepper – the region’s favourite snack.
snack Brik Tunisia A crisp triangle of thin malsouka pastry with tuna, capers and a whole egg with a runny yolk.
snack Suya Nigeria Thin slices of beef on skewers in a hot yaji spice made with peanuts, grilled over charcoal.
snack Kilishi Niger, Nigeria Thin sheets of sun-dried beef coated in a spicy peanut paste and briefly roasted over a fire.
snack · vegan Mandazi Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania Lightly sweet fried dough triangles made with coconut milk and cardamom.
snack · vegetarian Chipsi mayai Tanzania Chips cooked into an omelette – a cheap, filling favourite from street stalls across Tanzania.
snack · vegetarian Rolex Uganda Chapati rolled around an omelette with cabbage, tomato and onion – Uganda’s most famous street food.
snack Empanadas Chile, Venezuela, Colombia … Half-moon pastries filled with meat, onion, egg and olives, baked or fried – a little different in every country.
snack Chivito Uruguay A towering sandwich of thin beef steak, ham, mozzarella, bacon, fried egg and salad, served with chips.
snack Acarajé Brazil Crisp black-eyed pea fritters fried in dendê oil and stuffed with vatapá paste, dried prawns and hot sauce.
snack Salteña Bolivia A baked, slightly sweet pastry filled with a juicy, spicy beef or chicken stew – a mid-morning snack eaten with care.
snack Poutine Canada Crisp fries topped with fresh, squeaky cheese curds and smothered in hot, dark gravy.
snack Tacos al pastor Mexico Small corn tortillas with thin slices of pork marinated in chilli and achiote, topped with pineapple, onion and coriander.
snack · vegetarian Pupusas El Salvador Thick corn-dough griddle cakes stuffed with cheese, beans or pork, served with tangy curtido slaw and tomato salsa.
snack · vegetarian Baleada Honduras A thick wheat tortilla folded over refried red beans, crumbled cheese and sour cream – the street-food emblem of Honduras.
snack · vegan Doubles Trinidad & Tobago Two soft fried bara flatbreads with curried chickpeas, tamarind sauce, chutney and hot pepper sauce.
snack · vegan Samosa Somalia, Pakistan, Mauritius … Crisp triangular pastries fried in deep oil and filled with spiced potatoes and green peas.
snack Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) China Delicate steamed dumplings filled with pork and hot broth, eaten with black vinegar and ginger.
snack Momo Bhutan, Nepal, China … Steamed dumplings filled with meat or vegetables and served with a spicy tomato achar.
snack Tteokbokki South Korea Chewy rice cakes simmered in a sweet and spicy gochujang sauce with fish cakes and egg.
snack Bánh mì Vietnam A crisp Vietnamese baguette filled with pâté, grilled pork, pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber and coriander.
snack Gỏi cuốn (fresh spring rolls) Vietnam Unfried rice-paper rolls with prawns, pork, noodles and herbs, served with a peanut and hoisin dip.
snack · vegetarian Kaya toast Singapore, Malaysia Crisp toast with coconut and egg kaya jam and a slab of cold butter, with soft-boiled eggs and kopi coffee.
snack Satay Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia … Small skewers of marinated meat grilled over charcoal and served with a thick peanut sauce.
snack Shawarma Syria, Lebanon Slices of marinated chicken or beef from a vertical spit, wrapped in thin bread with garlic sauce and pickles.
snack · vegan Falafel Israel, Jordan, Egypt Crisp balls of soaked raw chickpeas with herbs and spices, deep-fried and served in pitta with tahini.
snack · vegetarian Sabich Israel Pitta stuffed with fried aubergine, hard-boiled egg, hummus, tahini, salad and tangy mango pickle sauce.
snack Arancini Italy Golden fried balls of saffron rice filled with ragù, peas and cheese – Sicilian street food.
snack · vegetarian Pastizzi Malta Flaky, many-layered pastries filled with ricotta or mushy peas – Malta's favourite snack.
snack · vegetarian Grilled halloumi Cyprus A semi-hard, salty cheese of sheep's and goat's milk that browns beautifully on the grill instead of melting.
snack Souvlaki Greece, Cyprus Grilled skewers of marinated pork with lemon and oregano, served in pitta with tzatziki.
snack · vegetarian Oscypek (smoked sheep's cheese) Poland A spindle-shaped smoked sheep's milk cheese stamped with highland patterns, eaten warm with cranberry sauce.
snack · vegetarian Lángos (fried flatbread) Hungary Fried yeast-dough flatbread rubbed with garlic and topped with soured cream and grated cheese – Hungarian street food.
snack · vegetarian Barbajuan Monaco Fried pastry parcels filled with Swiss chard, ricotta and parmesan, Monaco’s favourite snack.
snack Currywurst Germany Sliced sausage smothered in a tomato and curry sauce and dusted with curry powder, with chips or a bread roll.
snack · vegetarian Gromperekichelcher Luxembourg Crisp fritters of grated potato with onion and parsley, deep-fried and sold at funfairs and markets.
snack Smørrebrød Denmark Open sandwiches on dark rye bread, carefully topped with herring, egg, prawns or roast beef.
snack Gravlax Norway, Sweden Raw salmon cured for two days in salt, sugar and dill, thinly sliced and served with a sweet mustard sauce.