Eating at local street food stalls is one of the absolute best parts of traveling. It is incredibly cheap, packed with authentic flavors, and allows you to sample many different traditional dishes in a single evening without breaking your budget.

However, getting food poisoning or a stomach bug is the absolute worst thing that can happen when you are far away from home. To help you enjoy the local culinary scene with peace of mind, here is your quick guide to mastering street food safely!

1. The Perks of Street Food

• Unbeatable Prices: Street food is exceptionally budget-friendly. You can easily feast on a massive, world-class local meal for just a few dollars, leaving more money in your pocket for flights and hotels.
• Sample Multiple Dishes: Instead of committing to one heavy plate at an expensive restaurant, street food markets allow you to buy small, cheap portions from 3 or 4 different vendors to taste a wide variety of local flavors.

2. How to Check for Hygiene and Cleanliness

• Follow the Local Crowds: The absolute golden rule of street food is to look for the long lines. If a stall is packed with local families, taxi drivers, and office workers, it means two things: the food is delicious, and the turnover is high. High turnover means the ingredients are fresh and haven’t been sitting out in the heat.
• Watch the Cooking Process: One of the greatest advantages of street food is transparency. You can see the entire kitchen right in front of your eyes. Check if the counters look clean, if the oil looks fresh rather than dark and recycled, and make sure your meat is cooked piping hot over a blazing fire right before it is handed to you.

3. Smart Tips to Avoid a Bad Stomach

• Avoid Tap Water & Ice: In many developing nations, tap water contains bacteria that your stomach isn’t used to. Always drink sealed bottled water, and avoid iced drinks at humble roadside stalls unless you are certain the ice comes from a certified factory.
• Peel Your Own Fruits: Fresh fruits are amazing, but if they have already been peeled, washed in local tap water, and left sitting in the open air, they can easily carry bacteria. Always buy fruits that have their skins intact (like bananas, mangoes, or oranges) and peel them yourself.

4. Practical Travel Advice

• Bring Hand Sanitizer: Most outdoor street food markets don’t have running water or sinks to wash your hands before you eat. Always carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer or wet wipes in your daypack.
• Pack a Basic Medical Kit: Just in case your stomach reacts to the new, fiery spices, always travel with a small emergency kit containing rehydration salts, charcoal tablets, and anti-diarrhea medication to save your trip if the worst should happen.