Street Food for Beginners: How to Eat Well and Stay Healthy

Street food is one of the great joys of travelling in Asia. Noodles steaming in a roadside pot, skewers grilling over charcoal, fresh fruit sold from a cart: these are often the tastiest and most memorable meals of a trip. They are also where many visitors feel nervous about getting sick. With a few sensible habits, you can eat widely and enjoy it. This guide offers practical advice for beginners, based on common sense and the way local people choose where to eat.

Follow the crowd

The best guide to a safe, tasty stall is a queue of local customers. Busy stalls turn over their ingredients quickly, which means food is fresher and spends less time sitting around. Look for a stall that is popular with families, office workers and students. If a place is empty at mealtime while the one next door is full, take the hint. Peak hours, such as early lunch and early evening, are generally the best times to eat, when the cooking is constant and the food is freshest.

Watch the cooking

Choose food that is cooked in front of you and served hot. Heat kills many of the germs that cause stomach upsets, so freshly fried, grilled or boiled dishes are generally safer than food that has been sitting warm for a long time. Watch how the vendor handles money and food, and whether utensils and surfaces look clean. A tidy stall with a clear routine is a good sign. Be more cautious with items that have been left in the sun, or with dishes held at room temperature for hours.

Be careful with water and ice

Tap water is not always suitable for visitors to drink, so stick to sealed bottled water or drinks from trusted sources. Ice can be a concern in some places, though in many busy cities it is made commercially and is considered fine. If you are unsure, ask for drinks without ice, at least at first. Fresh juices and shakes are delicious but depend on the water used, so choose busy, clean-looking stalls. Carry a refillable bottle and top it up where safe water is offered.

Start gently

Your stomach needs time to adjust to new ingredients, spices and oils. In the first couple of days, eat moderate portions and choose simpler dishes. Increase the spice and variety gradually. Avoid combining a long flight, a late night and an enormous meal of unfamiliar food on day one. Drink plenty of water, since heat and dehydration can make you feel unwell even without any food problem. Pace yourself and you will be able to enjoy a lot more over the whole trip.

Mind raw foods

Raw vegetables, salads and unpeeled fruit may have been washed in local water. Peeling fruit yourself is a reliable way to enjoy it safely, and cooked vegetables are a good choice at first. Raw or lightly cooked seafood and shellfish carry more risk, particularly far from the coast or in hot weather. If you have a sensitive stomach, begin with cooked dishes and add raw items later, once you see how you feel. A little caution at the start does not need to limit your enjoyment later.

Hygiene and preparation

Wash your hands before eating, or use hand sanitiser if no basin is nearby. Carry tissues, since not every stall provides napkins, and keep a small pack of basic medicines in your bag, such as oral rehydration salts. Consider your own health needs: allergies, medical conditions and pregnancy deserve extra care, and a doctor or travel clinic can advise before you travel. Learn how to say the name of your allergy in the local language, and write it on a card.

Use your hotel as a base

Choose a hotel in an area with plenty of eating options, so you can walk to good food without long journeys at night. Ask the reception staff where they eat, as they often know honest, popular places nearby. A room with a kettle, a small fridge or a good breakfast helps if your stomach needs a quiet day. If you do feel unwell, rest, drink fluids and seek medical advice if symptoms are severe or last. Most travellers enjoy street food with no trouble at all.