Some destinations are worth visiting for the food alone — and the best food often costs less than $3 per plate. These street food markets deliver memorable meals at prices that make restaurant dining look like a budgeting mistake.
Old Delhi — Chandni Chowk, India
The narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk have been feeding Delhi for over 300 years. Parathe Wali Gali serves stuffed flatbreads with pickles and yogurt for under $1. Karim’s, near Jama Masjid, plates mutton kebabs and butter chicken that have drawn crowds since 1913. A full meal of three dishes plus bread costs $3-5. Go early in the morning for the freshest batches and shortest lines.
Marrakech — Jemaa el-Fna, Morocco
Every evening, the main square transforms into an open-air food court with dozens of stalls serving grilled meats, seafood, and traditional Moroccan dishes. Stall 14 is famous for its lamb tanjia slow-cooked in clay pots. A plate of mixed grilled meats with bread and olives costs about $4. Fresh-squeezed orange juice from the juice stalls around the square is $0.50.
Bangkok — Yaowarat Road (Chinatown), Thailand
After sunset, Yaowarat Road becomes Bangkok’s densest concentration of street food excellence. T&K Seafood serves charcoal-grilled prawns and crab fried rice on plastic tables that spill onto the sidewalk. A plate of pad see ew costs $1.50. The mango sticky rice from the dessert carts is the best $1 you will spend in Thailand. Bring cash — almost no stalls take cards.
Mexico City — Mercado de San Juan, Mexico
This is not the prettiest market in Mexico City, but it is the one where chefs shop. Stalls sell everything from Oaxacan cheese to pre-Hispanic insects. The prepared food section serves tacos de guisado (stew-filled tacos) for $0.80 each. Three tacos make a meal for $2.40. The ceviche tostadas at stall 118 are $2 and come loaded with fresh fish, avocado, and chipotle mayo.
Istanbul — Kadikoy Market, Turkey
On the Asian side of Istanbul, the Kadikoy market district offers a cheaper and less touristy food experience than the European side. Midyeci Ahmet serves stuffed mussels for $0.30 each — order six and a squeeze of lemon. Ciya Sofrasi, a short walk from the market, plates Anatolian dishes rarely found in tourist restaurants. A full spread of mezes and grilled meats runs $8-10 per person.
Hanoi — Old Quarter Street Food Stalls, Vietnam
A bowl of pho from a street stall costs $1.50-2.00. Bun cha — grilled pork with vermicelli noodles, herbs, and dipping sauce — is $2.00. Banh mi sandwiches from Banh Mi 25 cost $1.00-1.50 and are the best lunch deal in the city. A full day of eating in Hanoi’s Old Quarter can total $8-10 per person without sacrificing quality or variety.
