Street Food: A Courier of Culture

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A captivating aroma fills the air in Taiwan’s Shilin night market, flowing through and from the various shops. Flames from grills and cookers emanate a welcoming heat and illuminate the dark sky. As vendors prepare their sizzling treats, the smell of fried buns, octopus takoyaki, and stinky tofu draw in a seemingly endless line of hungry passersby…

Street food, while resembling cheap fast food, has become a coveted delicacy for tourists and locals alike. While it is believed to have first appeared in Ancient Greek society, street food culture has developed in other countries for centuries.

Today, street food cities are widespread in Asian countries, all offering tasteful and unique foods and beverages.

In Bangkok, Thailand, vendors provide refreshing papaya salad and sweet soy milk during hot summer days.

In Hong Kong, China, booths sell silky Cheong Fun (steamed rice rolls), braised pig intestines, and tofu custard to eager tourists.

In Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh city, sidewalk restaurants serve steaming bowls of pho and authentic Banh mi sandwiches filled with shredded pork skin.

In India’s Mumbai, stalls fry up vada pav (golden balls of mashed potatoes and spices) and colorful kebabs for customers young and old.

These mouthwatering delicacies not only give tourists and locals a quick bite to eat, but they also help to support regional economies: in Hanoi, Vietnam, street vending makes up six percent of total employment; in China, municipal governments have encouraged small vendors to open street stalls, creating over 100,000 jobs.

For those living away from their homeland, street food has provided a way to preserve their culture in another country. Indeed, during the 19th century, ramen— now Japan’s “national dish” — was imported by Chinese immigrants and began as street food for students and workers. Similarly, when Chinese immigrants came to the US to find new wealth during the California Gold Rush (1848-1855), they introduced street food to America through their safe haven “Chinatowns.” These restaurants have retained their distinctive flavors to this day and continue to spread Chinese culture to an ever-growing audience.

Whether it is local or foreign-born, street food provides all an opportunity to experience different cultures. While street food may not be lavish in appearance, its ability to spread thriving cultures is irreplaceable.