A LOOK AT THE TOP FIVE CITIES FOR STREET FOOD

From crispy mussel pancakes in Bangkok, Thailand to freshly-baked simit (a circular bread sprinkled with sesame seeds) in Istanbul, Turkey, taking it to the streets is one of the best ways to get to know a city’s food scene. CNN has named its top 23 cities in the world for street food, and for the second year running, Bangkok is tops.

No Canadian cities made this year’s list but Vancouver, with its Japadogs and mobile tandoor, might just be a serious contender in the future.

Here’s a look at the five best cities for street eats, according to CNN: Bangkok, Thailand

You don’t have to worry about seeking out street food in Bangkok — vendors operate regularly all over the city. Hit the city’s Chinatown — a.k.a. Yarowat — for some of the city’s best street food fare, CNN says. Tokyo, Japan

Don’t overlook the street food when visiting the Japanese capital. The city has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city on the planet, but taking in the street food scene is a more affordable, and no less delicious, option. Honolulu, Hawaii

Poke, the fish salad that is taking Canada by storm, is as readily available here as sandwiches, CNN says. The Hawaiian capital also has a “thriving food truck scene,” and multicultural street food offerings, but CNN recommends heading out to the North Shore’s Kamehameha Highway in Haleiwa for some real culinary action.

Durban, South Africa

Durban is known for its Zulu-, Indian- and colonialinfluenced culture and cuisine. “The city is known for its curries, which over the generations have adapted to South African ingredients and tastes,” CNN writes.

New Orleans, La.

Local favourite Lucky Dogs was immortalized in John Kennedy Toole’s novel, A Confederacy of Dunces. Gas station-fare and ItalianAmerican specialties such as muffuletta are must-tries, but as CNN writes: “More recent waves of migration have helped entrench taqueria trucks and pho noodles just as firmly into the city’s street food scene.”

See cnn.com for the full list.