Street Food Around The World

A glimpse into flavors from around the globe

by John Salloum

Graphic by Sarah Tocci

Whether it's a night out in the city, a vacation to an uncharted part of the world, or a break before clocking back into work, street food is something that can be found in every corner of the world. These bite-sized creations offer a variety of flavors and sizes and serve as a portal, transporting us into years of history and culture.

If you’re a native of New York, you know that Halal Carts have been a staple since the ‘90s. These carts were originally invented to cater to the immigrants working the taxis of the city looking for a halal meal after a long night of work. The halal cart was imagined to do exactly that, offering plates of yellow rice, shaved lamb gyro, marinated chicken and that iconic white sauce drizzled all over it. Over the years, their popularity soared with hundreds of companies being created. Right now Adel’s has been the talk of the town, garnering 2 hour long lines of people waiting to try a taste of this classic dish.

Jerk chicken is also growing in popularity across the world as more spots are popping up. Jerk chicken is king in Jamaica, and the word refers to a way of cooking chicken from that culture. Chicken is coated in a wide variety of spices and is slow-cooked over green pimento wood being burned by coals. This not only gives it its signature taste but also that deep brown and black color. This style of cooking is also used in other meats, such as beef or ox tail. Now of course with any Jamaican spot comes another staple, the Jamaican beef patty. Here pastry dough is filled with ground beef and then seasoned with a plethora of spices to bring out the heat of the dish. The pastry is baked until the color resembles that of an egg yolk and becomes an easy-to-eat snack loved by millions.

Our last pick brings us to the lands of Japan, where mochi can be found at most vendors. Mochi is a kind of rice cake, very squishy and sticky in nature. The rice is pounded into a paste before it is formed to its desired shape and sold. If you look at videos of it being made online, you will see 2 to 3 people working simultaneously to hit the paste with a massive wooden hammer, flip it, and moisturize it with water. One wrong move and someone's hand is in a cast for the foreseeable future. Mochi covers a wide variety of tastes depending on what you do with it. Some fill it with red bean paste, some candy it with melted sugar, and some even fill it with ice cream for a crispy, cool dessert. In Boston, mochi donut shops continue to pop up every other month.

Street food, while simple in its presentation, showcases the heart and soul of the culture it stems from. They give us small glances at history we may not even be aware of, and always provide a quick and tasty snack when needed most.