Kon'nichiwa!
I got a lot of good recipes writing this street food guide, like hard-boiled tea eggs, oven-roasted sweet potatoes and skewered scorpions (just kidding about that last one).
As you make your way through the wide and wondrous countries of East Asia, here’s the rundown on everything you need to know about the street food.
Don’t Get Overcharged
As pointed out by the Egg But No Bacon Guide to Chinese Street Food, “9 times out of 10 if they can get away with it the sellers will try and overcharge you. Don’t take it as an insult, it’s just the way things are.”
The difference may be nominal due to the currency exchange, but for those of us on a budget, or who just want to practice our haggling skills, why pay more than necessary?
Try to carry around small bills, like 1 Yuan notes. Watch and see how much other people are paying, and then hand the vendor the exact same amount. You’re far less likely to get swindled if you know how much to pay.
Also, learn a few key numbers and words in the local language, like “How much?” and “too expensive” (Tai guile! in Mandarin Chinese).
Watch for Hot Food
I don’t mean spicy hot - I mean steaming, boiling, fresh from the fire, hot. Which is a good thing - you want your food served that way because you’re less likely to get sick - but when you’re sipping some soup or biting into a Xiaolongbao (a puffy, fluffy Shanghai Steamed Soup Dumpling), take heed.
Which is why you should know …
What to Drink
Food isn’t the only thing available from street carts.
Across the region, mongolian milk tea is a popular, delicious and salty snack.
In Mongolia, dairy products are super ubiquitous and you can find milk from all five of the domestic animals in the country: sheep, cattle, goats, camels and horses. Dried milk curd, fermented cheese, and nermalike, a type of vodka distilled from yoghurt, are also popular.
Also try sugar cane juice, which you can easily find made super fresh. For a sharp, delicious kick, have a TsingTao beer with your dinner.
Know Where To Go
In East Asia, especially in more urbanized areas, food carts are literally on every block. In China you’ll find a “table” with a selection of ingredients to choose from, and can have your meal made on the spot. In South Korea, street food is served from carts orpojanmacha - covered wagons.
In Smosh.com’s guide to 8 Wild Japanese Street Foods, they mention that Japanese street vendors often operate out of truck that verbalizes its presence, ice-cream truck style. Except instead of music you’ll hear loud chants of the name of the product from blocks away.
Younger vendors in Japan have wizened up and now cater to the drunchie crowd, waiting outside of bars or other late night haunts for those seeking a salty, late-night snack.
And like we’ve said in our last two installments, long lines in front of the stand is a universal sign for good food.
Get Skewered
In China, skewers are available just about everywhere with every ingredient imaginable. You can even get soup on a stick, in which the ingredients are skewered in a bowl ofMalatang (those puffy buns).
Other skewered treats include lamb, grasshoppers, silk warms, centipedes, lobsters, starfish, snakes, scorpions, chicken intestines, pretty much any part of a pig, corn, crabs, snails, crocodile - you name it.
So try to …
Be Open-Minded
One anecdote from the Egg But No Bacon article was about the very popular hard boiled eggs in China. Their travel group came across several of the “normal” white variety but also some brownish ones in a big pot of boiling black liquid.
Thinking they were the infamous 100 year old eggs, they avoided them until they found out they were simply regular eggs boiled in tea and spices, giving them an amazingly new, nutty flavor.
Another seemingly scary but surprisingly delicious snack are the fried fish balls you can find in Hong Kong (the curry flavor in particular is wonderful).
Now, that doesn’t mean you have to try skewered scorpions or silkworms to earn your traveler cred. Always go with your instincts.
And enjoy!
More Resources
Follow Me Foodie: China - Street Food - REAL traditional street food in China
Pictures & Photos of Street Food in Beijing, China
Off Track Planet’s Guide to Street Food: China
Street Food: Japan Street Food Tour Day 8 - Sayonara Osaka
Simon Seeks: South Korea - Street Food with Seoul
Venere: Where to Get Street Food in Hong Kong
Check out the Asia Recipe site for more info on Mongolian cuisine.
Bonus!
If you're ready to have an adventure in East Asia, we're here to help you plan and book your trip. Just contact us for more info.
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