What makes a good street food experience?
In no particular order, here are a few things that I look for when I’m savouring street-side eats.
1. The food (obviously)
Good street food should be something that pleasantly surprises you (especially if you’re having it for the first time) but keeps you coming back. It should be flavourful, it should tell a story and most importantly, it should – in the words of Marie Kondo – spark joy.
Good street food should be something that pleasantly surprises you (especially if you’re having it for the first time) but keeps you coming back. It should be flavourful, it should tell a story and most importantly, it should – in the words of Marie Kondo – spark joy.
2. The vendors
Street food is also about showmanship, and vendors are part of that experience to make your street food snacking so much more special. A connection over food is, after all, something kindred.
Street food is also about showmanship, and vendors are part of that experience to make your street food snacking so much more special. A connection over food is, after all, something kindred.
3. The price
Part of the appeal of street food lies in the fact that it’s made for the everyman. The complete antithesis of haute cuisine, and the price should reflect that. There’s something satisfying about biting into something that costs a fraction of a restaurant meal, but yet tastes as good, if not better.
Part of the appeal of street food lies in the fact that it’s made for the everyman. The complete antithesis of haute cuisine, and the price should reflect that. There’s something satisfying about biting into something that costs a fraction of a restaurant meal, but yet tastes as good, if not better.
I’m happy to report that Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo has these ingredients in spades (except for perhaps number 3, but then again travelling in Japan certainly takes its toll on your wallet as a whole). This photo-set recounts a morning spent wandering around Tokyo’s largest fish market, making my way through the throngs of visitors who, ostensibly, were just as excited about digging into the market eats as I was.
