Street Food

Malaysia

Satay celup is a traditional dish, particularly popular in the Malacca state (also known as "the historic state"), where it is considered a local favorite. It is a self-serve dish, consisting of skewers of marinated meat, raw seafood, or even vegetables that are dunked into a simmering pot of satay sauce. The sauce is primarily made with peanuts, dried chili peppers, garlic, and palm sugar, but the full recipe differs from one eatery to another. Usually, satay celup is accompanied by barley drinks, coconut water, or herbal tea in order to combat the spiciness of the sauce.

Satay celup

Indonesia

Sate lilit is the favorite street food on Bali. This traditional delicacy is usually made with minced meat which is wrapped around a flat skewer. All meat varieties (including fish and other seafood) are used to prepare sate lilit. However, the most common variety is prepared with pork. The skewers are usually spiced with traditional Indonesian spices such as lemongrass, galangal, chili, and lime leaves. It is believed that Indonesia is the birthplace of sate, and its numerous varieties can be found everywhere in Indonesia. Since sate lilit originated on Bali, it is often referred to as sate lilit Bali, and next to babi guling, it is one of the most popular dishes on the island. This traditional Balinese delicacy can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and it can be served as a light main course or a nutritious snack. The skewers are usually served with rice or rice cakes, and occasionally with spicy sauces on the side.

Sate lilit

United States

Seattle dog is a variety of a hot dog consisting of a toasted bun and a sausage that is topped with cream cheese, barbecue sauce, cabbage, and a large amount of grilled onions. There are numerous varieties of the hot dog throughout Seattle, and almost anything goes with the toppings, so some cooks add pico de gallo, bacon, pickles, or mustard to the already large hot dog. It is believed that Seattle-style hot dog was created in 1988 by Hadley Longe, a bagel man who originally placed a sausage on a bagel with cream cheese and sold it to the locals on their night out near Pioneer Square.

Seattle Dog

Shucos are popular Guatemalan and Latin American hot dogs. They are filled with guacamole, ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, mayonnaise, and any of the following ingredients: longaniza white sausage, salchicha sausage, or chorizo. Interestingly, the word shuco means dirty, referring to the abundance of ingredients used in this delicious hot dog variety.

Shucos

Slaw dog is a hot dog variety originating from West Virginia. It consists of a grilled or steamed hot dog, bread, chili (often called sauce), onions, and slaw. These soft and messy hot dogs are typically served in a sturdy paper boat or styrofoam containers. It is believed that the first slaw dog was created in the 1920s or 1930s at the Stopette Drive-in in Charleston. Keep in mind that ketchup, sauerkraut, and pickles are frowned upon, so don't ask for any additions when ordering authentic West Virginian slaw dogs.

Slaw Dog

According to a legend, pretzels without eggs have been invented in 610 A.D. by Italian monks, as a way for people to consume them during Lent. Word of the pretzel delicacy quickly spread to Germany, and the Germans, who adored these soft and crunchy treats, brought them to America in the 1700s. From then on, pretzels had made their way across America and came to the streets of New York, becoming a staple food of factory workers and day laborers. Today, some claim that there is nothing better on a rainy day than a soft, steamy pretzel that is sprinkled with coarse salt and dipped in bright yellow mustard. Hard and shiny on the exterior, soft and tender on the interior, this tasty snack that is briefly boiled before getting baked became known as a New York-style pretzel, in order to differentiate it from its cousin, Philadelphia-style pretzel.

Soft Pretzel

Believed to have originated among the Hausa people, this popular Nigerian dish employs thin slices of beef or chicken that are generously seasoned, then roasted over open charcoal grills. The essential element in each suya is a dry spice blend known as suya or yaji, which is made with a combination of ground peanuts and red peppers. The spice blend is versatile, and depending on the region, it may incorporate various additional ingredients. In Nigeria, the skewers are usually sold individually and are mainly enjoyed on the go as a quick, cheap, and nutritious snack. In restaurants, they are often paired with vegetables such as sliced onions or tomatoes. Along with being a staple throughout Nigeria, suya is also found in other parts of Western Africa.

Suya

Often touted as the original version of falafels, taameya is an Egyptian variety of the Middle Eastern fritter that calls for fava beans instead of chickpeas. While the exact origin of falafel is debatable, most scholars and food historians agree that taameya has its roots in the Egyptian cuisine. The fava bean mixture is typically flavored with leeks, onions, fresh coriander, parsley, and cumin, and the fritters are usually coated with sesame seeds before frying. Taameya are known for having a lighter, fluffier, and moister texture than other falafel varieties thanks to the use of fava beans. Although they are eaten year-round and are a common street food fare in Egypt, taameya fritters are especially popular during Ramadan. They&rsquo;re commonly stuffed in warm pita bread sandwiches and paired with accompaniments such as fresh or pickled vegetables, fried eggplants, minty yogurt sauces, hummus dip, and tahini dip.

Taameya

Tacos are the national dish of Mexico, dating back to the Mexican silver mines of the 18th century, when the word taco referred to gunpowder that was wrapped in a piece of paper and inserted into rocks. It was used to excavate the precious ore from mines and was called tacos de minero or miner's tacos. Today, the word is widely known to signify the leading street food and fast food item in Mexico &ndash; thin, flat griddle-baked tortillas topped with numerous fillings, folded and eaten without any utensils. A taco is basically anything eaten on a soft tortilla, and there is an infinite variety of them. In Sonora, in the north of Mexico, they eat the classic carne asada - thinly sliced meat grilled over coals and topped with salsa, onions, guacamole, and a lime wedge. In Baja, the topping consists of fried fish with cabbage and an acidic mayonnaise sauce. In Mexico City, sudados (sweated tacos) are the most popular option, filled with cooked and steamed meat. In Jalisco and Michoacan, they prepare carnitas, eaten in the morning or in the early afternoon, filled with deep fried pieces of pork that are sliced according to preference. Similar is the taco de cabeza, filled with pieces of cow's head that was steamed for a long time, and the customers can choose from slices of eyes, brains, tongue, lips, cheek, or ears. Tacos are mainly made of corn, except in the north, where wheat flour is used more often. They also differ in size, from the tiniest white tacos (blancas) to bigger ones, often made with blue corn. Most tacos come in pairs of two, in order to be able to hold all the flavorful and slightly wet ingredients. Some of them are fried until they become crispy and crunchy, in which case they're called tostadas. As anything can be a filling, there is a version made with fried veins from dried chiles, usually accompanied by salt, a tasty treat called tacos de venas. However, the standard is ground or shredded meat, cheese, potatoes, or vegetables and a topping of onions and coriander. Eaten at all times of day and night, one can find them on every corner in Mexico, in restaurants known as taquerias. Alternatively, they can be bought from numerous street vendors.

Tacos

Mexico

Tacos acorazados is a traditional taco variety that's typically associated with the state of Morelos. These ''armored'' tacos are usually made with a combination of warm corn tortillas, Mexican-style rice, and one or more type of guisado (stews). The tacos are assembled with two tortillas (so they don't get soggy), a mound of rice, and a generous scoop of a guisado of choice. The tortillas are folded into semi-circular wraps, better known as tacos. The other tortilla can also be folded on top as a wrap. Interestingly, the original version dates back to 1908 and the filling consisted of hard-boiled eggs and rice.

Tacos acorazados

Tacos al carbon is a taco style where meat is grilled over hot coals. It consists of a corn flour or wheat flour taco filled with a variety of grilled meats such as skirt steak, although any type of meat will do. The taco is additionally topped with bell peppers, onions, and freshly chopped coriander. It is recommended to serve them warm, preferably with a squeeze of lime juice and a dollop of sour cream on top.

Tacos al carbon

Taco de canasta is a variety of taco that is extremely popular in Mexico City but originated in Tlaxcala, consisting of a soft, moist, steamed taco filled with anything from potatoes, shredded chicken, and refried beans to mole verde and grilled mutton. These tacos are commonly consumed as a breakfast snack in the morning, and they can be bought from street vendors who are easily recognizable because they ride a bicycle with a cloth-covered basket (canasta) and a container with green sauce.

Tacos de canasta

Tacos de frijoles con queso are traditional Mexican tacos that can be found throughout the country. They're usually made by topping small corn tortillas with a combination of chili peppers (often of the ancho variety), onions, garlic, beans, and cumin. The onions, garlic, chili peppers, and cumin are cooked in a skillet, then mixed with the mashed beans. The tortillas are fried in a bit of oil on both sides until crispy, then filled with the beans and garnished with shredded lettuce and grated cheese, most commonly of the cotija variety.

Tacos de frijoles con queso

Tamal is a Mexican dish dating back to the Aztecs, consisting of corn masa dough with a filling that can be either savory or sweet, steamed and wrapped in corn husks, leaves, or banana leaves. The tamales are traditionally accompanied by atole, a masa drink. Even though it is common for Mexican food to be served with a variety of sauces and salsas, tamales are the exception because they are usually eaten plain and simple without any sauces, although it is not a rule set in stone. One of the first records of tamales dates back to the 1550s when the Spaniards were served the dish by the Aztecs who made them with beans, meat, and chiles. Today, the fillings can be anything from beans to chicken, fish, pork, hard cooked eggs, pumpkin seeds or squash. Tamales rojo (red tamales) are filled with shredded meat such as beef or pork in a red chili sauce. Tamales verde (green tamales) have the same meat and a different sauce made from sour, green tomatillos. Tamales dulce, the sweet variety, is filled with dried fruits such as raisins or berries. Hot and flavorful tamales vary by region. In Culiacan and Sinaloa, they like them with sweet brown beans, pineapple, and corn. In Oaxaca, tamales are drizzled with the regional speciality called black mole, and in Yucatan, there is a variety with a filling consisting of chicken, tomato, and achiote. Whatever the variety, tamales have a special place in the colorful Mexican cuisine and culture.

Tamal

Tamales de tichinda are a unique type of tamale from the coastal regions of Oaxaca, Mexico, made with tichindas&mdash;small, dark freshwater mussels (widely known as Charru mussels) found in local lagoons. These tamales are traditionally prepared by mixing corn masa with fresh tichindas, spices, and chiles. The mixture is then wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves and steamed until cooked, resulting in a tamale with a distinct, slightly briny flavor. This dish highlights the coastal culinary traditions of Oaxaca, where seafood is an essential part of local cuisine. Tamales de tichinda are often enjoyed during local festivals and special occasions.

Tamales de tichinda

This variety of tamales comes from El Salvador, but it is also popular in Honduras. Tamales pisques are made with seasoned corn masa that is mixed with refried beans, and the combination is then neatly wrapped in plantain leaves. The tamales are then steamed, and the dish is ready for consumption after it has cooled down a bit. It is recommended to serve tamales pisques with tomato sauce or curtido &ndash; a fermented cabbage relish that is a staple of Salvadoran cuisine.

Tamales pisques

Guatemala

Tamalitos de chipil&iacute;n is a Guatemalan tamale variety made with a leafy green vegetable called chipil&iacute;n, native to Mexico. This variety does not contain any meat, just chipil&iacute;n leaves that are wrapped in a combination of corn flour, margarine, queso fresco, water, and salt, then wrapped again in corn husks and steamed. The dish can be consumed as it is, but it is often recommended to serve it with a bit of cream on the side. The Mexican version of the same dish has origins in the state of Chiapas.

Tamalitos de chipilín

Tamal Paname&ntilde;o is a traditional dish originating from Panama. These Panamanian tamales have many variations, but they&rsquo;re often prepared with corn dough that&rsquo;s mixed with raisins and some broth. Once shaped, the tamales are stuffed with meat such as pork or chicken. They&rsquo;re wrapped in fresh banana leaves and steamed to perfection. The filling often contains many ingredients such as onions, garlic, bell peppers, tomatoes, olives, capers, and various spices, in addition to meat and raisins.

Tamal Panameño

Texas Tommy is a Pennsylvanian variety of a hot dog, consisting of a toasted bun filled with a split and grilled or fried hot dog sausage, crispy slices of bacon, and heaps of cheese. The earliest versions had sausages that were wrapped in bacon before being grilled, and it is suggested that Texas Tommy possible influenced the creation of Tijuana dogs. This hot dog variety gained popularity in the 1950s, especially with housewives, as recipes for bacon-wrapped hot dogs appeared regularly in ladies magazines. Today, it is a staple at diners in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and New Jersey.

Texas Tommy

Ti-huih-ko or pig's blood cake is an unusual Taiwanese street food item made by coating sticky rice in pig's blood, steaming or frying the combination, basting it in a slightly sweet pork soy broth, rolling the whole combination in peanut flour, and finally topping the whole thing off with coriander. The dish, which looks like a weird popsicle, is praised for being unique both in its texture and flavor. The final result is something of a cross between mochi and a rice cake. The flavors are porky, sweet, salty, and spicy due to the unusual combination of ingredients. Pig's blood cake can be found throughout Taiwan, at numerous street stalls and night markets, where the vendors keep the cakes nice and warm either in a metal steamer or in a wooden box.