The best street food in the world
The top 3 according to 229 votes from people: Roti canai (Malaysia) · Lumpiang Shanghai (Philippines) · Bánh mì (Vietnam). (Updated Apr 11, 2026.)
The top 10 of TasteAtlas' 100 Best Street Foods in the World (audience ratings filtered for bots and patriotic voting), rounded out with the street-food classics that appear in every street-food guide.
Top 20
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1
Roti canai (Malaysia)
Flaky pan-fried flatbread served with dal or curry; number one in TasteAtlas' ranking.
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2
Lumpiang Shanghai (Philippines)
Thin, crispy fried spring rolls filled with ground pork, served with sweet chilli sauce.
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3
Bánh mì (Vietnam)
Crusty baguette filled with pâté, cold cuts or grilled pork, pickled vegetables, coriander and chilli.
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4
Karaage (Japan)
Japanese fried chicken marinated in soy, ginger and garlic, coated in potato starch.
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5
Gringas (Mexico)
Flour tortilla tacos filled with al pastor pork, melted cheese and pineapple.
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6
Carnitas (Mexico)
Pork slow-cooked in its own lard until tender and crisp, served in tacos.
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7
Tacos de carne asada (Mexico)
Grilled sliced beef in corn tortillas with onion, coriander and salsa.
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8
Paratha (India)
Flaky layered flatbread cooked with ghee, eaten plain or stuffed.
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9
Negima yakitori (Japan)
Skewers of chicken thigh and spring onion grilled over charcoal.
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10
Takoyaki (Japan)
Osaka's batter balls with octopus, topped with sauce, mayo and bonito flakes.
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11
Guotie (China)
Pan-fried dumplings with a crispy bottom, the original 'potstickers'.
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12
Döner kebab (Turkey/Germany)
Spit-roasted meat shaved into flatbread with salad and sauce; Berlin's version is legendary.
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13
Arepas (Venezuela/Colombia)
Corn cakes grilled and stuffed with cheese, shredded beef, black beans or avocado.
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14
Pad thai (Thailand)
Stir-fried rice noodles with egg, tofu or shrimp, bean sprouts, peanuts and tamarind.
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15
Pastel de nata (Portugal)
Custard tart with blistered top, eaten warm with cinnamon at Lisbon counters.
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16
Pani puri (India)
Hollow crisp puris filled with spiced potato and tangy tamarind water, eaten in one bite.
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17
Churros (Spain)
Fried dough sticks dipped in thick hot chocolate.
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18
Empanadas (Argentina)
Baked or fried pastries filled with beef, chicken or cheese.
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19
Shawarma (Levant)
Thin slices of spit-roasted marinated meat wrapped in flatbread with garlic sauce and pickles.
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20
Hot dog (USA)
Frankfurter in a soft bun; New York's street carts and Chicago's 'dragged through the garden' are icons.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 20… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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21
Currywurst (Germany)
Sliced pork sausage with curry ketchup, invented in Berlin in 1949 by Herta Heuwer.
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22
Pizza al taglio (Italy)
Roman pizza baked in large trays and sold by the slice and weight.
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23
Arancini (Italy)
Sicilian fried rice balls stuffed with ragù, peas and cheese.
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24
Falafel (Middle East)
Fried chickpea or fava bean balls in pita with tahini, salad and pickles.
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25
Jianbing (China)
Crêpe with egg, crispy cracker, spring onion and sauces; Beijing's breakfast.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (4)
Bánh mì should be first, perfect sandwich
Roti canai at #1 is a bold choice but honestly correct, crispy and flaky with dhal for breakfast in KL
No shawarma? No currywurst? This list is weird
Döner is in, and shawarma is basically its cousin, but I'd add it too.