Buzz
Food carts brimming with both snacks and main dishes in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur... are sure to make you reluctant to leave.
Savor the exquisite dining experience in the 4 'culinary street capitals' of Southeast Asia
When visiting these Southeast Asian cities, don't miss the joy of sipping beer, iced tea, and engaging in sidewalk banter on cool evenings.
1. Bangkok
The undisputed ruler of street food in Southeast Asia, Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, attracts tourists partly due to its street dining culture. Around 5 pm every day, tables and chairs line the sidewalks of major streets, leaving a walkway in the middle for pedestrians. Food carts offer a variety of skewered grilled items such as chicken, shrimp, pork, beef... seasoned just right for a flavorful and reasonably priced dining experience that captivates diners. Some even offer a selection of fresh seafood for customers to choose from, providing competition in quality with regular restaurants. A must-try dish is the freshly grilled salt-crusted fish, paired with spicy fish sauce or salt and pepper for an 'out of this world' taste. However, due to the proximity to busy roads, the atmosphere might be a bit dusty, lacking cleanliness.
2. Vibrant Kuala Lumpur
The capital of Malaysia comes alive at night with hundreds of lively bars and not far away is the most famous street for food enthusiasts in Kuala Lumpur – Jalan Alor. The eateries occupy both sides of the street, and the crowd always makes the atmosphere lively and bustling. With hundreds of dishes to choose from, ranging from snacks like grilled skewers to main courses like roasted barbecue pork, chicken rice, or fresh fruits like coconut and durian, it's a feast for the eyes. These establishments stay open until 3 in the morning before they start closing. If you're in the mood for authentic and affordable Chinese cuisine, you can explore the Chinatown area.
The budget-friendly food markets in Singapore may not be located right on main streets like those in Thailand or Malaysia, but they have their own areas such as Chinatown, Newton, and more. The neatly arranged tables and clean dining areas assure tourists of hygiene when enjoying their meals here. The food in the Lion City is quite diverse, combining flavors from various culinary traditions like Indian, Malaysian, Chinese, and more. However, some dishes might not appeal to everyone due to their strong curry and sweet flavors. Skewers, chicken rice, satay, or spicy crab are among the popular choices in these dining areas.
Street vendors selling ribs porridge, fried sour fermented pork rolls, boiled snails, sidewalk iced tea... captivate foreign tourists because both customers and owners have to sit on low stools by the roadside to savor the food, unlike in Thailand or Singapore where they get to sit at higher tables. However, this doesn't inconvenience the tourists; on the contrary, they don't mind sitting amidst the bustling street, enjoying sidewalk coffee for 20,000 VND per cup, or slowly grilling meat on a charcoal stove spreading tempting aromas. The better the stall, the more customers enjoy sitting casually and sharing joyful conversations.
By Vi Yen/Star
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Explore with insights from Mytour travel guide
MytourFebruary 6, 2018
