In many countries, the best food is not in a restaurant. It is on the street.
In Mexico, people stand around small carts and eat tacos: soft corn tortillas with meat, onions, and salsa. In Vietnam, a favorite snack is bánh mì, a crispy sandwich with vegetables and meat. In Japan, cooks make takoyaki — hot, round balls of dough with a piece of octopus inside. In Turkey, you can watch a cook cut thin slices of meat for a döner kebab.
Why do people love street food? First, it is cheap. A student can eat well for a few dollars. Second, it is fast. You order, you wait two minutes, and you eat. Third, it is often very fresh. The cook makes your food in front of your eyes, and nothing sits on a shelf.
Street food is also a window into a culture. A famous chef once said: if you want to understand a city, do not visit its monuments. Eat its street food. At a food cart, you meet taxi drivers, office workers, and tourists, all standing together.
Today, street food is becoming famous. In some cities, food trucks serve dishes from all over the world, and a few street cooks have even won important food prizes.
So when you travel, be brave. Walk past the hotel restaurant and follow the smell of the grill. Your stomach will thank you.