According to Euronews, the title of “street food capital” has most often been associated with Bangkok, Mexico City, Ho Chi Minh City, or Italian cities, where tourists specifically seek out local dishes on the streets. However, a new ranking revealed that Europe emerged as the clear winner: most of the cities in the top ten were European.
Paris scored 7.2 out of 10. Researchers found 401 street food vendors in the city, with 69.1% of them receiving ratings above four stars. In addition, the French capital demonstrated a high level of diversity: tourists can sample dishes from various cuisines around the world—from classic French desserts to Asian and Middle Eastern fare.
The ranking took into account the number of street food vendors, customer reviews, menu variety, the availability of affordable options, as well as dishes for vegetarians, vegans, and people who avoid gluten. The highest weighting was given to the density of establishments in the city and the affordability of the food.
Athens took second place. The Greek capital scored 6.9 points and ranked among the leaders in terms of the variety of cuisines represented—29 different culinary traditions were identified in the city. Athens also proved to be one of the most affordable cities for street food lovers.
Thessaloniki took third place with a score of 6.1 points. The city was highly rated thanks to its large number of affordable eateries: 77.1% of street food vendors fall into the budget segment.
Certain cities led the way in specific categories. Rhodes, Greece, received the highest quality ratings: 82% of establishments earned four stars or higher. London turned out to be the most diverse city in terms of culinary offerings—it features dishes from 39 different cuisines.
The ranking results show that street food is no longer perceived merely as a quick snack. For many travelers, it has become a way to experience a city’s culture and sample dishes from different countries without visiting expensive restaurants.
The 10 Best Cities in the World for Street Food:
- Paris, France
- Athens, Greece
- Thessaloniki, Greece
- Barcelona, Spain
- London, United Kingdom
- Rhodes, Greece
- Rome, Italy
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Budapest, Hungary
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
