How to Eat Street Food Without Ruining a Trip

Finding city streets where food vendors abound is any food lover's dream. It's a pleasure to be able to sample the smörgåsbord of foods waiting for you. However, be careful. You might want to read these tips on how to eat street food without ruining your trip.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Go with what you know. It may seem boring, but don't get too adventurous. Chances are you're about to try foods that you've never tried before. If you're in a foreign country, you might want to try new foods in a more controlled environment (like a restaurant) before you attempt to eat something new from a street vendor. If you know you generally react to a certain spice or food, don't throw caution to the wind just because you're on a trip. Use common sense.
2. Solicit recommendations from a trusted source. The recommendation could come from a tour guide, a relative or a friend, just as long as it's someone you trust.
3. Watch how the food is prepared. If the ingredients or the cooking conditions gross you out, you shouldn't eat it.
4. Strategically plan your eating venture. If you're not quite sure how the new food will react in your system, plan it so that your street-eating venture occurs right before you're about to be in the vicinity of a comfortable bathroom.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you go out to eat street food, read up on the local customs. Get a feel for the types of food you'll see and taste.