The First Thing You Should Look For When Deciding To Eat At A Street Food Vendor - Tasting Table

"When you're standing there, trying to figure out where to eat, one thing usually helps: look at the line. It's some of Anthony Bourdain's best street food advice, and it makes a lot of sense. If people who live there are standing around, waiting for food, that tells you something. Locals don't line up unless the food is good and served fast."

"Look at who's in line. If it's mostly tourists with cameras and sun hats, maybe keep moving. But if there are workers, older people, families, people in a rush, that's probably food worth waiting around for. It's also a good idea to stray from the beaten path. Sometimes the best options might not be found on the main road. You usually have to step off the busy stretch to find it. Sometimes the most humble-looking stall might be serving the tastiest food."

Street food quality can often be judged by the presence and composition of a line: long lines of locals, workers, families, and hurried people indicate fresh, fast, desirable food. Avoid stalls where the queue is mostly tourists. Walk off main roads and explore side streets; many top stalls are humble and not on busy stretches. Menus in the local language usually indicate authentic, local-focused offerings, while English-only menus can signal tourist-oriented food. Watch for rapid grilling and fast plating as signs of high turnover and made-to-order freshness. Check basic hygiene such as whether staff handle food and cash with the same hand.

Read at Tasting Table