When most of us travel abroad, we plan our trip around excursions to museums, parks, gardens, architectural wonders, and historical sites. We search painstakingly for deals on airfare and accommodations, research the best places to stay or routes to take. But what about the food—the local cuisine of our intended destination?
Most often, the local cuisine can be had in the streets—and at a bargain price that’s sure to make any frugal traveler jump for joy. Street food for many people in the places we visit is considered the common person’s food. It may not sound enticing, it can even sound a bit boring, but street food can be the most memorable part of a trip.
1. Crepes and the Outdoor Markets in Paris, France
The crepe is the quintessential Parisian street food. There are savory or salty (salé), crepes as well as sweet (sucré) crepes, so you can pretty much eat crepes all day long. But make sure that the proprietor makes them fresh rather than reheating pre-made crepes. Pre-made crepes turn out too soggy and not as tasty as those that are fresh-made. Sweet crepe fillings not to be missed are Nutella and chocolate. (Eat them separately—not together!) As for savory crepes, any type of cheese (ah, France has so many!) will do.
Although Paris might be better known for its incredible flea markets and antiques (marchés aux puces), there are quite a few outdoor markets (marchés en plein-air) where you can buy food. The covered markets are open all year long while the open-air markets are generally open only two or three mornings a week. There are outdoor markets in every district or arrondissement of Paris, so chances are you can find one pretty easily.
2. Meat Pies and the Borough Market in London, England
Yes, as a country, England is not known for outstanding food. There are no fancy restaurants in other parts of the world that boast delightful British cuisine. But their food scene has been rapidly evolving, incorporating Indian curries and other international flavors. However, many of the restaurants that offer the more innovative—and tasty—food are on the expensive side. And the question of what is authentically British food comes to mind. Aside from finding a cheap—and decent—fish and chips place, what can a frugal traveler eat? The answer is a meat pie, a wholly British concoction that is inexpensive and oh-so-good.
Square Pie is an upscale chain of fast food meat pies located throughout London. They offer two different sizes of pie (the larger Classic and the smaller Midi) and a variety of meat combinations like lamb and rosemary or steak and Guinness. They also carry cheese pies and sweet pies as well as side dishes like mashed potatoes, mushy peas (which tastes better than it sounds), sausage rolls, and veggie rolls.
The Borough Market, London’s oldest food market and located by the London Bridge, is another place to go for authentic local fare at a modest price. In addition to local and organic produce, artisan cheeses, and meats, you can also find savory and sweet pies, pickles, sausages, and an array of prepared international foods. You can spend an entire day just going through this expansive market, eating your way from one end to another.
3. Kushari and the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar in Cairo, Egypt
It may be taking a great leap of faith to try street food in Egypt, but the adventurous traveler can and should. As expected, there will be plenty of falafel, but the dish to try is kushari (also spelled kosheri, koshari, and koshary), considered the common Egyptian person’s food and popular among street vendors. It’s a combination of pasta, rice, brown lentils, vinegar, and tomato sauce topped with fried onions. You can add fried liver or some type of meat for an additional topping.
The best place to eat kushari is at the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest and largest markets. And while it’s not known for food (the main goods sold are gold, silver, copper, perfume, spices, and cloth), there are several coffee or tea shops, restaurants, and street food vendors distributed throughout the market, so you’re certain to find a place that sells kushari. The ambience of the old bazaar makes this excursion for kushari one that will certainly top a traveler’s list of the coolest—or craziest—places he or she has ever had a meal. In between haggling for silver cartouche or a woven afghan, check out one of the coffee shops, which are generally small and quite traditional, serving Arabic coffee. You can also try a shisha, which is a water pipe for smoking herbal fruits or tobacco.
