Last updated on February 14th, 2021 at 05:16 am
If travel for you is not about exploring the beautiful places beyond what you naturally see in your everyday life, then maybe you need to try the street food in Southeast Asia. Apart from unseen places, and meeting new people, don’t we love to eat, too? Whether it’s discovering new dishes from countries with totally different tastes, or just sharing with new found friends, food is definitely something we need to learn how to eat on a budget while traveling.
Read here our favorite Filipino breakfast, Filipino street food and Filipino food!
I’ve already been more than a year traveling around Southeast Asia. I’ve been visiting different countries and living for a few months in Southeast Asia, too. I can tell you that food is not only cheap, and delicious, but it also reveals a lot about what people believe in, in these area of the world. If you are planning to travel long in Asia, and food is an important focus of your trip, then read on. I will tell you all about my top 40 favorite street food in Southeast Asia.
Need tips about how to plan a long Asian trip? Check our favorite hidden gems in Asia!
Now, before we head on to the juicy (literally) part of this post, you have to know that this post doesn’t aim to isolate important topics on food and health surrounding our society today. Asia, particularly, the Southeast, is one of varied and exotic culture, much more different than a lot of us in the Western world. This post will focus on what you can find in the streets, and what locals eat that are not only cheap, but also, a part of their ordinary, everyday life, which is an important focus of the way of travel of a budget and backpack traveler. I integrate with the everyday culture of people, and I stay traveling with less money than what people usually think about when traveling over seas. This post doesn’t aim to expose anything, and especially to give other views on food and diet less importance. I share my experience in the hopes of anyone planning to travel to Southeast Asia to have ideas on the street food choices they have here.
And now, let’s go start the food trippin’!
Read here our favourite Malaysian Food!
If you want to know more about Filipino food: Batanes food, best restaurants in Cagayan de Oro, best restaurants in Angles City and best restaurants in Bacolod.
How to Eat Safe when Munching Street food in Southeast Asia
Try to eat where the locals go.
If you see local people trying to buy street food in Southeast Asia, follow them! It’s usually a good signal of a great street food place. Locals know the most popular street sellers. It usually means that the food is delicious and it’s safe.
When you see a long queue, check it.
People who are cooking outside the streets are usually selling fresh food. And when their place is full of local people, you can make sure that the food is delicious. It doesn’t matter that the food is “street food”. You can surely go for it! Try it and have your own personal experience!
Try to make sure that they are using gloves for cooking.
When I see that a cook is cooking clean, I usually trust them more. Some ways they do that is by using gloves when cooking, preparing, and touching food to be served. You can also check in some places if they are washing vegetables properly before preparing your food.
Places which are cooking their food in front of you
It’s usually a good sign when they cook the food in front of you, or somewhere you can see, than when the food is already prepared and cooked beforehand. You are hitting 2 birds in one stone! You can watch them how they cook their food, and at the same time, you can make sure that they are cooking the food well, and that they are clean.
Avoid raw vegetables, fruits, and tap water
I think that you need to be more careful with tap water than thinking hard about eating already-cooked street food in Southeast Asia. When you are traveling, and you get diarrhea, it is usually the case of bad tap water. You will need to be careful not only in drinking tap water, but also in eating smoothies or water service in local food places. Usually, you just have to look if there are other people and regular customers eating in a particular local place. If there are a lot, and the place is clean and tidy, and the food is covered and preserved properly, these are good signals that the place takes care about the food and the people who eat there.
Where the students eat
Street food stalls that are close to local schools and universities are often really safe, especially if you see long queues of children lining up to buy. You will also find mobile food stalls that open especially when children are about to leave the school. These food are usually prepared fresh or are cooked in front of you, in mobile stoves and bicycles that can carry food stalls.
I’m always bringing my antidiarrhea pills, just in case. I’ve been using the pills a couple of times. I’m not an iron man hahaha. When you go for street food in Southeast Asia, there will be a few times that you’ll feel something in your stomach. Now there are not fatal issues. It is very usual that if you are eating these kinds of food for the first time, that you’ll feel weird when you eat them. Or, if you have been into a totally different diet in another country, or at your home, and you travel, you’ll stomach will have to get accustomed to the new food. In most of the cases, nothing will really happen. A good suggestion is that even if you succumb to the regular street food of the country you’re visiting, try to balance it out with water, or some cooked vegetable dishes, so you can still have a balanced diet.
In the many times I have traveled and eaten street food in Southeast Asia, I will tell you that I have had stomach pains two times at the most. Really, you won’t even know if it’s exactly the food. Sometimes, it’s because of the “flavor”. With me, I realized that if I am eating too much spicy and greasy food continuously for days, I will feel a little bit uneasy. You just need to know that you shouldn’t be alarmed or too picky at every single food you eat, or people will feel weird. Take the necessary precautions and know that if other people are eating, that you are fine.
If ever you get diarrhea in some cases, and it doesn’t go away for a couple of days, go visit a doctor. You can also check with your travel insurance about different options you have when going for a doctor’s visit while traveling in another country.
Click here to know prices and schedule to book your bus/boat tickets online with 12Go Asia.
Powered by 12Go Asia system
How much does street food in Southeast Asia cost?
This the best thing when you are traveling in a low budget in Southeast Asia. These street food meals are starting from just $0.5 and no more than $4. It depends on how much food you need to feed yourself. I have tried and regularly eaten a lot of street food in Southeast Asia that taste amazing, same or even better sometimes than in a restaurant.
Click here to book your accommodation before your trip!
Having insurance while you are traveling outside your home country is very important. Make sure that you have one too, to keep you safe in your trips around the world.
Top 40 dishes Street Food in Southeast Asia
Strange street food in Southeast Asia
1. Chicken Feet

You can find the chicken feet street food in Southeast Asia in Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia,Vietnam and the Philippines. They are usually fried then covered with flavored sauce. You can find also find some boiled in soups and later deep fried. It’s perfect to share this meal with cold beer. Prices are $2-3.
2. Insects
You can find insects in Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar as streed food in Southeast Asia. They are usually fried and eaten by adding pepper powder. This snack is perfect to share with a beer. Despite of the aspect, it takes crunchy and good. Prices are from $0.50-2.
3. Sisig
You can find sisig in North (Central Luzon) Philippines. It’s one of the most famous street food in Angeles City, Luzon. Pork sisig is coming from the ears and head. They fried and mixed with onions. They usually add chili and calamanzi. Prices are from $1-2.
4. Stinky Tofu
It’s the most famous street food in Taiwan. You can find stinky tofu in every street market. It’s easy to find, just with your smell, you will get with it. They usually fried and they share with chili or penaut sauce. No worries about the smell, it tates good. Prices are from $3-4.
5. Chicken Butt
It’s easy to find chicken butt to eat when you go for street food in Southeast Asia. There are barbecues where they sell chicken butt. They will serve in a stick and enjoy it! It´s really tasty! Prices are from $0.5-1.
6. Dog Meat
I found this food in North Vietnam and South China. They usually eat for the celebration of The Chinese New Year. Fried meat and share with spicy sauce. Prices ?? Sorry, I didn’t buy this dish.
7. Balot
You can find balot as street food in Southeast Asia in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Philippines. It’s a developing duck embryo which is boiled and eaten in the shell.
8. Durian
You can find this fruit in Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. It’s coming from Durio tree. Cut the fruit, get the durian and don’t eat the seed. It’s smelly but it’s very tasty. You will get dirty eating this fruit. Prices are from $3-4 kilo.
Exotic Fruits in Southeast Asia
9. Rambutan
This tropical fruit you can find in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines. It’s easy to eat, peel bite and remove the seed. It’s very sweet. Prices are from $1-3 kilo.
10. Jack Fruit
You can find jack fruit in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. It’s coming from Jack tree. It’s chewy and sweet. Prices are from $3-4 kilo.
11. Red dragon fruit
It’s very similar to Dragon fruit. But instead white color, it has an intense red color. Prices are from $3-4 kilo.
12. Sugar Apple
I found this fruit like street food in Southeast Asia only in the Philippines. It’s very similar to Chirimoya. When you peel the fruit is white with a black seed. It tastes sweet and it´s very liquid. Prices are from $2-3 kilo.
13. Purple Mangosteen
You can find this fruit in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia. It´s very sweet. Prices are from $2-3 kilo.
14. Pancit
You can find this dish in the Philippines. Noodles mix with vegetables and chicken. It’s served for breakfast and it’s served at parties. Prices are from $0.5-1.
15. Shan noodle
You can find this street food dish in Myanmar. Rice noodles with chicken, peanuts and chilli flakes. It’s served for breakfast. Prices are from $0.5-1.
16. Pork Barbecue
Pork Barbecue you can find as street food in Southeast Asia almost everywhere. My favorite one was from Myanmar. Prices are from $0.5-1.
17. Palabok
You can find this dish in the Philippines. Noodles mixed with boiled egg, pork and shrimps. You can have this dish at any time of the day. It´s my favorite dish in the Philippines. Prices are from $1-2.
18. Lechon
You can find Lechon in the Philippines. The most curious thing, they eat with their hands. Once is cooked they put in a big stick and people start getting lechon with their hands until is finished. Prices are from $2-10.
19. Empanadas
You can find empanadas in the Philippines, they are typical from the North. It’s made by a dough with vegetables, chicken or meat inside. It’s fried in hot oil. Price are from $1-2.
Click here to get a pretty sweet discount on your first booking with AirBnB!
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR STAYING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA WITH BOOKING!
CLICK HERE TO BOOK WITH AGODA.
More Street Food in Southeast Asia
Click here to know prices and schedule to book your bus/boat tickets online with 12Go Asia.
Powered by 12Go Asia system
20. Pad Thai

You can find pad thai as street food in Southeast Asia in Thailand. It’s the most famous dish in Thailand. Fried noodle rice dish mixed with vegetables, chicken or shrimps. Prices are from $1-2.
21.Tom Yum
You can find this street food in Southeast Asia in Cambodia, Thailand, Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore. It’s a spicy soup hot and with flavours. Prices are from $2-3.
22. Dumplings
You can find dumplings in Taiwan. This food that consists of small pieces of dough wrapped around and filling with potatoes, vegetables or meat. Prices are from $2-3.
23. Oyster Omelette
You can find this omelette in Taiwan. They usually eat for breakfast. Eggs are mixed with oysters. It´s served with spicy or chilli sauce. Prices are from $2-3.
24. Satay
You can find this dish in Malaysia and Indonesia. Satay consists of sliced chicken, goat, beef, pork grilled at barbecue. My favorite satay is served with peanuts sauce. Prices are from $2-3.
25. Nasi Lemak
You can find this dish in Malaysia. It’s served for breakfast, you can find wrapped in a banana leaf. It’s rice cook with coconut milk. They add sambal (spicy sauce) anchovies and boiled egg or fried. Prices are from $1-2.
26. Kolo Mee
You can find this street food in Southeast Asia in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Noodles are cooked and served with fried mixed garlic, white vinegar miced pork and onions. Prices are from $2-3.
27. Masaman Curry

You can find this dish in Thailand. This stew is made of meat mixed with potatoes, coconut milk, onions, peanuts, cashewnuts and chili. Prices are from $2-3.
28. Soto

You can find soto in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia street markets. It’s one of the most famous Indonesian dishes. It’s a soup composed of broth, meat and vegetables. Prices are from $2-3.
29. Bakso
You can find Bakso in Indonesia and Malaysia. The meetballs made from beef. It’s usually served in a bowl of beef broth with noodles. egg, tofu and vegetables. Prices are from $2-3.
30. Noodle soup Laos
You can find this soup in Laos street markets. This big noodle soup with meat, vegetables and spicy sauce is served in a big bowl. Prices are from $1-2.
31. Lao Lao sandwich
You can find this sandwich in Luang Prabang in Laos. It’s the Laos version of the French baguette. They fill the bread wih vegetables and meat. Prices are from $1-2.
32. Bahn Mi
You can find this sandwich in Vietnam. It’s the most famous street food in Vietnam. It’s simple, just addding vegetables, meat and sauce to the bread. Prices are from $1-2.
33. Som Tam Spicy Papaya Salad
You can find this salad in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. It’s made of green beans, lime, papaya, peanuts, shrimps, tomatoes and mixed with chili. Prices are from $1-2.
Refreshing in Southeast Asia
34. Fruit juice
Fruit juice, you are gonna find everywhere in Southeast Asia. This is one of muy favorite watermelon juice. Just try all of them. Prices are from 0.25-1.
35. Smoothie
Smoothies are in every country in Southeast Asia too. My favorite smoothies are mango and papaya. Prices are from $2-3.
Desserts in Southeast Asia
36. Cendol

This dessert is easy to find as street food in Southeast Asia in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar. The ingredients are coconut milk, jelly noodles made from rice flour, ice, creamed corn, grass jelly and palm sugar. Prices are from $1-2.
37. Halo-halo
It’s the most popular dessert in the Philippines. The ingredients are kidney beans, sugar palm, coconut, ice cream, purple yam and evaporated milk. Prices are from $1-2.
38. Banana Pancake
This dessert is the most popular in Thailand. The pancake is made with flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, egg and milk. Once it’s mixed, it’s fried in the pain adding banana, condense milk and nutella. Prices are from $2-3.
39. Mango Sticky Rice
This is my favorite street food in Southeast Asia! You can find it in Thailand. The ingredients are mango and sticky rice and adding coconut milk on the top. Prices are from $2-3.
40. Bread an ice-cream
This strange dessert is from the Philippines. You can find especially at Christmas time. Sweet bread with ice cream.
Click here to book your accommodation before your trip!
There you have it guys, top 40 street food in Southeast Asia that you definitely need to try. Exotic, neat, tasty. Food is so much varied, especially when you go to countries who have very different culture and customs. When you travel to these countries, or any foreign country for that matter, food is definitely a must-try. Getting yourself acquainted and infused to the things offered by these new countries and foreign lands will help you discover so many things about them, and most importantly, about yourself. Find a friend, talk to the cook, or enjoy the food by yourself. Love the experience.
Click here to know prices and schedule to book your bus/boat tickets online with 12Go Asia.
Powered by 12Go Asia system
Want more food guides like this? Let us know in the comments and we’ll be sure to add it to our line of posts! If you want to know more about street food in Southeast Asia, you can also check our favorite Thai food.
Having insurance while you are traveling outside your home country is very important. Make sure that you have one too, to keep you safe in your trips around the world.
Want to read more travel guides about Southeast Asia? Read our guides on how you can travel to Thailand and visit Taiwan with an extremely low budget. If you want to visit beaches, hundreds of small islands, and experience paradise, you might want to visit the Philippines, too. My recommendation? Relax in Myanmar. Myanmar is one of my most memorable Asian travel experience, so you will surely love it.
Did you like any dishes mentioned in the post? My favorites are Pad thai (no. 20) and Mango with Sticky Rice (no. 39). What about you? Which dish made you hungry for an Asian travel?
If you liked this post, make sure to give it some juicy love by sharing it to your friends. If you have questions, ideas, or any comments, fire away in the comments section! I’ll make sure to answer them all.
And like always, stay free, and travel the world now. It is possible. VERY possible.
Ruben Arribas is a Spanish traveler who has traveled more than 70+ countries around the world. Now based in the Philippines!
Yum! Palabok is a favorite of mine. 🙂
Hey Dee! Oh I love palabok, too. 🙂
OMG I love everything on this list. Okay maybe not the chicken butt and dog meat. You had me at chicken feet! Love those. I was literally scrolling down nodding my head as I have had many of these items (surprisingly here in the States).
Good tips. One thing I would add is to careful about eating where locals eat. Food and usually good, and not sure if it’s a measure of safety or not but sometimes their GI system is used to certain things that may keep a foreigner up all night.
Chicken feet are tasty!
That’s true Citrine you always need to be careful about food. Sometimes they use spicyes that it’s not working with foreigner stomach.
But the most of the food is great in Southeast Asia 🙂
Thanks Ira!
I love Malaysian food, especially Nasi Lemak for breakfast 🙂
I’m glad that you liked the post Risty!
About food blending with blood, I found in Laos too. Omg, I didn’t like it hahaha
Indonesian food is great. When I got used to sambal (it took me a few days) and I was enjoying much more the food with sambal.
My favorite food was in Yogyakarta 🙂
3 out of 40 on this list are my personal favorites! I never have the chance to try eating insect, but I’d love to. By the way, was that grasshoppers?
The insect is crunchy. I tried just once. No idea what it was exactly hahaha. Which one are your 3 favorites dishes?
Tried all which one is from Indonesia, as well almost all mentioned fruits and sweets! I love sweets and fruits in Asia:)
Bakso – can’t stand 😀
Thanks Ria!
Bakso and satay I miss them too. Indonesian food i great 🙂
I can mention 100 names of Indonesian street food in a minute! Ugh, you should try Nasi Jamblang in Cirebon or Kerak Telor in Jakarta. I’ve never skipped those whenever I came back home. Well, the only problem for Bule (foreigner in Indonesia) is they have to be careful of the cleanliness and the hygienic. Some Bule gets stomach problem if they can’t choose the ‘right’ street foods 😉
Huglooms 100 dishes only from Indonesia, wow!!
Maybe I tried and I don’t remember the name or maybe I skipped them.
I’m not very careful with my stomach. I love street food!
Omg this post makes me so hungry. I’m going to be in Vietnam in a few weeks and this builds up my anticipation even more.
Lucky you Lan!
You will enjoy noodle soups and Banh mi was my favorite anytime of the day 🙂
street food is the best!
It’s the best street food:) Which one is your favorite Psychologistmimi?
Many of those dishes can be found in Singapore too! You can get to try different south east asian dishes within a country. I would further recommend you to try some of our dessert snacks such as peanut ice kacang (ice beans), milo dinosaur, kueh tutu (steam rice flour with coconut/ peanut filling), ban jian kuih (peanut pancake), bubur hitam (black glutinous rice dessert), bubur cha cha, durian custard puff, putu mayam (steamed rice flour noodle), muah chee (peanut glutinous rice ball), teh tarik (pulled tea), bandung (condensed milk with rose syrup), tissue prata … …
Thanks for your recommendation Rinette!
I will try some of them, I will visit Singapore soon 🙂
Bandung and Kueh tutu sound delicious!
Milo Dinosaur is sooo bad yet sooo good!
Yeah Dan, I love asian street food 🙂
Great post, Ruben. You make my mouth watery 😀
I’ve tried some of those you mentioned in your list, but I’ve to admit that I’ll refuse to try dog meat no matter how delicious it is.
Have you ever to Manado, in North Sulawesi, Indonesia? I believe your list will be longer after you visiting that city
Thanks Krishna, Let’s eat hahaha
I’ve never been in Sulawesi yet!
I love Indonesian food 🙂
Hi Ruben, first this is amazing list cheap food from Southeast Asia. Are you have tested all the food that you written in this post by yourself?
And what is that “Lechon” made from??? Look like a very big fish.
Hey Enda, I’m glad that you like the list 🙂
I tried all of them!
Lechon is a young pork and the meat isvery tasty. In the Philippines they eat with their hands. It’s usually for big celebration like a birthday, Christmas or New Year.
Food is truly an important part of travels. Your post looks great but I would add some vietnamese street food like bun cha (meatball noodle)or sticky rice with a wide range of flavour to the list besides banh mi.
Thanks Minh,
Omg Vietnamese food! We should add more. I didn’t add the meatball noodel because it was similar to bakso. And Vietnamese desserts were so good and coffee too 🙂
Ohh yes, why the hell I forgot coffee??? truee, desserts (like sweeten porridge) and coffee are also mouth watering on-the-go food
I wanna go back Vietnam haha
Just street food trip 🙂
that’s such a good idea! get a food tour to through vietnam to get to know about local cuisines and different lifestyles. vietnamese food never disappoints travellers, even us, the locals haha. you are always welcomed in vietnam 🙂
Thanks Minh,
I did a steet food tour everyday in Vietnam hahaha.
Like Spanish guy that we usually eat bread everyday and it’s not normal in Asia. For me Banh mi was amazing. But I tried many noodle soups in Vietnam that I can’t remember the names
I love palabok too! 🙂
The chicken feet…. we call this “adidas” in the Philippines.
I love palabok and sisig too 🙂
banh mi is internationally famous. i love banh mi too. it’s easy to make and to take away. Cheap and delicious! yeahh, there are noodle soups galore in vietnam. seems you really enjoyed vietnamese cuisine. thanks for that!
Vietnam is amazing country! Food, places, people …
Glad to hear! Thanks again. Look to read upcoming informatively great posts of yours!
Great blog. You have summed up everything so well. really loved it.
Thanks Jutismita, which one is your favorite?
What an awesome blog you have!
Thanks Tammy, It’s encouraging your words 🙂
I suddenly missed Philippines! 🙁 I absolutely love the lechon. Have you tried isaw? These are grilled pork and chicken intestines. My favorite are those sold in UP campus.
Yeah, I tried isaw! There are amazing dishes in Filipino food! Which one is your favorite?
Oh, I can’t decide! Lechon, maybe. We’ll go there next January. 🙂 great blog!
Next January? Let us know, maybe we will stay in the Philippines 🙂
Lechon is really good, sisig, palabok… There are many tasty things 🙂
Phad thai anytime….. Moved from Thailand to Cambodia but I really miss this dish coz Cambodian food is nowhere near Thai food..
Yeah Eve, Pad thai anytime! Next week we are getting Thailand 🙂
Thank you for reminding me of jack fruit and dragon fruit. I ate them for breakfast in Vietnam.
Another thing you could mention to your readers is IBS, caused by unfamiliar foods and too much of them. Unfortunately, there’s no cure except wait for the stomach pain to pass. You can avoid IBS by not eating known triggers, but the problem is knowing what those triggers might be when you’re eating unfamiliar food.
Informative blog.
Thanks Charlie,
I love fruits in Asia, jack fruit was one of my favorite fruits 🙂
You have a good and informative post for an avid traveller. Loved reading your posts. I’m glad I took the time to read the whole article.
I’m just back from a trip around USA and would explore south east Asia soon. I’ve heard a lot about it. Have you written any blogs or posts about south America or USA? Would love to hear from you.
Thanks Malvin, I´m glad that you like the post!
I´m focusing of writting about Southeast Asia now. I´m writting also travel guides too 🙂
But I didn´t start yet with South America
“When you see a long queue, check it”
This is SO TRUE!
As a Taiwanese, this is the way I discovered new restaurant or a trending cafe shop!
Great round up post!
True Yuenhsu! When we don´t know where to eat, we just check the queue and it´s usually tasty! I love so much Taiwanese food, oyster omelettes were my favorite, what about you?
The food is so delicous in Southeast Asia! Bahn mi, Pad Thai and Mango Sticky rice are my favorite too. What are you planning to visit around Southeast Asia?