Top 5 Asian street foods for backpackers

Street Food in far away lands is one of the main reasons we all enjoy travelling, right? Here, I will take you through a little guide on what I consider to be the very top 5 food products you can find in street markets all over Asia, from the Sub-Continent to Far East!

Bhajis are popular street food snacks in India

5. The Bhaji is the most well-known snack/street food to have originated in India but they are now considered a delicacy all over Asia. Much like samosas, Bhajis can be eaten in between meals and are commonplace on streetfood stalls and in night markets everywhere, especially in Mumbai.

Pisang Goreng being fried in an open wok

4. Pisang Goreng is fresh banana covered in deep-fried batter. This is a very sweet snack, and more often than not used for desserts. It originated in Indonesia, but is also very famous now in Malaysia and Singapore. For more information on Pisang Goreng, and other delectable Indonesian food, check out my blog on Indonesian Foodporn!

You can fill your Kimbap with any ingredient that you choose

3. It may look like sushi, but in fact Kimbap is altogether different. It originated in Korea and is a mainstay on streets across the country, especially in Seoul. Kimbap is so popular among the locals and tourists that is usually given pride of place in street markets to get the attention of passers-by.

Khao Tom Mat is basically bananas in sticky rice!

2. You could say Khao Tom Mat is an ‘Indochinese’ variation of the Pisang Goreng. It is basically fresh banana covered by Thai sticky rice, and is a firm favourite with locals and travellers in central and northern Thailand and in Laos. Black beans can be added for some pizzazz!

The inside of Takoyaki are very soft and juicy

1. The best street food out there is Takoyaki! Known for its prominence in Japan, and especially in the Osaka region, Takoyaki is fried octopus covered in batter, and is served usually with layers upon layers of sauces and spices.

Of course, there are other fascinating street foods everywhere you look in Asia, regardless of which country you’re travelling through. However, the above 5 snacks are surely the ones you should seek out first!