written by Freya Godfrey
updated 23.09.2018
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written by Freya Godfrey
updated 23.09.2018
No matter where in the world you're headed, we bet you're looking forward to a delicious meal or two. And many of the dishes easiest on the pocket are the tastiest on the tastebuds too.
From noodles served up at street markets in Bangkok to bubbling pizza eaten in pocket-sized Roman restaurants, here’s our pick of the tastiest cheap eats around the world.
Chains such as Yo Sushi are relatively dear in the rest of the world, but Japan’s kaiten-zushi restaurants (literally meaning “rotation sushi”) are some of the best – and most economical – places to dine out in the country.
In many spots, dishes arrive for as little as 100¥ each. Just take your pick and stack your plates at the end of the meal.
Kaiten-zushi © Madrugada Verde/Shutterstock
The fried rice, mixed with shreds of meat and vegetables and topped with a fried egg, is a filling way to fuel up before a day spent exploring.
Nasi goreng © sasaken/Shutterstock
When the curry became popular with workers looking for a bargain lunch, it started being served in hollowed-out bread as a waste-free, on-the-go meal. As Chinese food was known as “chow”, the two combined and, somehow, the name stuck.
There’s no better antidote to a cold, rainy walk than a steaming portion of fish and chips from the local chippy – park yourself on a bench by the sea and gorge on thick batter, flaky fish and chunky chips doused in salt and vinegar. And don’t forget the mushy peas.
Fish and chips © Kollar Peter/Shutterstock
Not only does this mean that you get to try three curries in one, they’re often a steal, sometimes costing just 100Rs.
Thali © Sergii Rudiuk/Shutterstock
Today, the warming broth is eaten at any time of day, and is best bought from a hole-in-the-wall vendor, where it probably costs less than the raw ingredients back home.
Street pho © JNEZAM/Shutterstock
But, for a mouthwatering, inexpensive treat, go to one of the popular Coppelia ice-cream shops – here you can buy the sweet stuff for next to nothing.
Ice cream from Coppelia © Inspired by Maps/Shutterstock
Tajines tend to include slow-cooked red meat with dried fruit, vegetables and nuts, or chicken with lemons and olives, and can cost just 30dh. It’s a good idea to seek out small restaurants in the Medina for the best prices.
Tajines © Peter Wollinga/Shutterstock
These packets, served between 11am and 2pm, stacked up in towers of boxes outside stalls and cafés, tend to include steamed rice, curried meat or fish, vegetables and sambol (a coconut dish often sprinkled over meals). Try one and you’ll feel like a real Sri Lankan local.
Marinated chicken, beef or mutton is spit-roasted before being wrapped in bread with layers of salad. In the evening, shawarma shops teem with people tucking in at tables or queueing for bargain-priced takeaway orders.
Shawarma outlet © Nadir Keklik/Shutterstock
Find a street-corner kiosk and you may be able to purchase these tasty little parcels for just 60 pesos. Along with the meat filling, you'll discover all sorts of toppings on offer, including fresh vegetables and, of course, Mexico’s most famous export: salsa.
Taco stand © Kartinkin77/Shutterstock
Pad thai,a tempting stir-fried noodle dish, is one of the best-value options. It is even said to have promoted unity in the country in the 20th century, when the then-Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram used it to encourage patriotism by hailing pad thai a national dish.
Pad thai © Room98/Shutterstock
Or, for a street feast, try pan chicken. Fired in the same marinade over coal in an ex-oil barrel, it pops up on street corners on weekend evenings.
Jerk chicken © VisFineArt/Shutterstock
Indeed, it turns out that Egypt was probably the first to create these balls of veggie goodness, as evidence of the recipe has apparently been found as early as 3000 years ago, during the time of the pharaohs. Sandwiched between pitta bread, it's one of Egypt’s tastiest street foods.
If that's tantaliised your tastebuds, and you're into trying local flavours, you might want to discover weird food from around the world.
Pizza preparation © Monika Wisniewska/Shutterstock
written by Freya Godfrey
updated 23.09.2018
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