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1. Tacos al Pastor — Mexico City, Mexico
Pork shaved from a trompo spit, kissed with pineapple, cilantro and salsa verde.
Where: El Huequito, Centro Histórico
Going rate: 18 MXN (≈ 1 USD)
2. Phở Bò — Hanoi, Vietnam
Broth simmered overnight, rice noodles, paper-thin beef, armfuls of herbs.
Where: Phở Gia Truyền, 49 Bát Đàn
Cost: 50 000 VND (≈ 2 USD)
3. Pad Thai Kung — Bangkok, Thailand
Wok-seared rice noodles, tamarind tang, shrimp still popping.
Where: Thipsamai, Maha Chai Rd.
Cost: 90 THB (≈ 2.40 USD) plus free orange-juice refill
4. Jianbing — Beijing, China
Crepe, egg, scallions, crispy wonton sheet, chilli bean smear — fold & go.
Where: Bicycle carts outside Dongzhimen subway before 09:00
Cost: 8 RMB (≈ 1.10 USD). Dish history
5. Vada Pav — Mumbai, India
Spiced potato fritter in a fluffy bun, lashed with garlic chutney.
Where: Ashok Vada Pav, Dadar
Cost: 25 INR (≈ 0.30 USD)
6. Roti Canai — George Town, Malaysia
Flaky flatbread flipped like pizza dough, served with curry dhal.
Where: Transfer Road roti alley
Cost: 1.80 MYR (≈ 0.40 USD) per roti
7. Jerk Chicken — Port Antonio, Jamaica
Pimento-wood smoke, Scotch-bonnet fire, thyme perfume.
Where: Boston Jerk Centre road shacks
Cost: 1 200 JMD (≈ 7 USD) for a quarter bird plus festivals
8. Balık Ekmek — Istanbul, Türkiye
Griddled mackerel fillet squashed in bread with onions and sumac.
Where: Boats moored under Galata Bridge
Cost: 120 TRY (≈ 3.60 USD) — Bosphorus gull soundtrack included
9. Burek — Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Spiral phyllo pie stuffed with minced beef, served with yogurt to pour.
Where: Buregdžinica Bosna, Baščaršija
Cost: 3.5 BAM (≈ 1.90 USD) per quarter-kilogram slice
10. Currywurst — Berlin, Germany
Sausage diced, doused in curry-ketchup, dusted with paprika.
Where: Konnopke’s Imbiss, Prenzlauer Berg
Cost: €3.20, add €2 for fries
11. Hotteok — Seoul, South Korea
Molten brown-sugar–filled pancake, crisped on an oily griddle.
Where: Stall 32, Namdaemun Market
Cost: 1 500 KRW (≈ 1.15 USD). Mind the caramel lava.
12. Arepa de Huevo — Cartagena, Colombia
Corn cake flash-fried, slit, stuffed with a whole egg, fried again.
Where: Las Oblitas cart, Plaza San Diego
Cost: 4 500 COP (≈ 1.10 USD)
Mileage may vary: Exchange rates fluctuate, but flavour math rarely lies.
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• Looking for a sit-down splurge? Try Eight Michelin-Star Meals Under 30 USD.
• Pair street-food hunts with jaw-dropping scenery from Five Places So Photogenic They Look Fake.
