The best dining rooms often have no walls. Pull up a plastic stool, follow the smoke or the slurp chorus, and let these twelve dishes justify a long-haul flight all by themselves.
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) each.
2. Pho Bò — Hanoi, Vietnam
Broth simmered overnight, rice noodles, paper-thin beef, fleet-footed herbs. Where: Phở Gia Truyền, 49 Bát Đàn. Cost: 50 K VND ($2).
3. Pad Thai Kung — Bangkok, Thailand
Wok-seared rice noodles, tamarind tang, shrimp still popping. Where: Thipsamai (open till 2 a.m.). Cost: 90 THB ($2.40) + free refill of orange juice.
4. Jianbing — Beijing, China
Crepe, egg, scallions, crispy wonton sheet, chilli bean smear—fold & go. Where: Any bicycle cart outside Dongzhimen subway before 9 a.m. Cost: 8 RMB ($1.10).
5. Vada Pav — Mumbai, India
Spiced potato fritter in a fluffy bun, lashed with garlic chutney. Where: Ashok Vada Pav stall, Dadar. Cost: 25 INR ($0.30). Warning: addictive heat.
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) per roti; add soft-boiled eggs for royalty status.