10 Asian cities to visit for street food There are three things Asia is famous for, great hospitality, stunning scenery and delicious street food.

There are three things Asia is famous for, great hospitality, stunning scenery and delicious street food. But while the hospitality of Asians is legendary, and the scenery is well known to everyone, finding the best street food is a little more challenging.

So in this article, we thought it would be a good idea to cover the towns and cities which offer the very best street food on the continent. We’ve also tried to cover some of the more unusual destinations in the list along with the more familiar ones to ensure all tastes are catered for.

1. Penang, Malaysia We’ll start our journey on the Island of Penang, Malaysia. This tropical island is famous for its stunning beaches, glorious weather and delicious street food. What makes Penang food special is the fusion of Indian, Chinese, Tamil and indigenous Malay cuisine which makes for delicious spicy curries, sticky noodles and delicious steamed seafood. There are so many dishes to choose from it would be impossible to recommend them all. But one of the most popular is Curry Mee, a delicious noodle dish made with spicy coconut milk broth topped with fish balls, bean sprouts and a hard-boiled egg. Wonderful, delicious, unctuous and healthy, what’s not to like.

2. Bangkok, Thailand No article about street food would be complete without mentioning Bangkok. Everyone knows the street food here is simply divine. There is enough choice in this vibrant city to keep intrepid foodies on the go for days but to make the best of it, you need to know which neighbourhoods are the best for food on the go. The birthplace of street food in Bangkok, Chinatown in the heart of the city, is the go-to place for grilled or open flame Chinese orientated street food. Thai-style sukiyaki – spicy curry noodles and seafood cooked in a sweet chilli sauce are highly recommended. If you prefer traditional Thai cooking head on over to the Old Town where you’ll find lots of spicy curry dishes and stir-fries. When in this neighbourhood you must sample the menu at Khao Gaeng Rattana, long considered to be Bangkok's best street food establishment. Aunt Betty has some cheap flights to Bangkok.

3. Hanoi, Vietnam After spending a little time in Bangkok, your waistline may be starting to show the effects of overindulgence. So a trip to Hanoi might be a good idea to sample the lighter but still delicious street food of Vietnam. The street food in Hanoi is often better than what can be found in many restaurants. The cuisine here is focused on seafood and pork flavoured with lemongrass, chillies and fresh herbs. You’ll be spoilt for choice, but you absolutely can’t visit Hanoi without sampling Bun Cha Nem Cua Be Dac Kim. (barbecued pork with rice vermicelli) with a side of (sea-crab spring rolls) – delicious.

4. Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Vietnam is such a foodie paradise that a visit to Ho Chi Minh city should also be on your list. The food in this vibrant cosmopolitan city is very different from that found elsewhere in the country. The best neighbourhood for street food is Ben Thanh Market which offers a wide selection of local delicacies such as Pho Noodles, Com Tam (Broken Rice) and Goi Cuon (Vietnamese Spring Rolls). All of which can be washed down with a cold beer or sugarcane juice, a local alternative to Coca-Cola.

5. Phnom Penh, Cambodia While you're in Vietnam, you might want to consider hopping across the border into Cambodia. The capital Phnom Penh is teeming with street food vendors offering traditional Cambodian cuisine. Cambodian food is quite sweet so anyone with a sweet tooth will be in foodie heaven here. A word of warning though, Cambodians love to eat things which Westerners might find unpalatable, such as insects and spiders. Don’t let that put you off though, they eat plenty of vegetables, noodles and seafood as well. For example, Bai Sach Chrouk is a delicious breakfast dish of roast pork, rice and pickled vegetables.

6. Singapore Despite being tasty and cheap, some people just won’t eat street food due to the risk of food poisoning. But don’t worry, in Singapore, you can still enjoy the culinary delights of street food thanks to the strict safety and hygiene standards in force in the country. Singapore street food has maybe lost some of its authenticity thanks to overzealous hygiene regulations, but it’s still delicious. A fusion of Indian, Chinese and Malaysian cuisine, Singaporean street food is both tasty and intriguing. One of the most famous dishes is Singapore Chili Crab, delicious fresh crab meat stir-fried and served in spicy chilli sauce.

7. Xi’an, China Xi’an is most famous for its Terracotta Warriors but it also offers some of the best street food in Mainland China. The cuisine here is traditional Shaanxi with a Chinese Muslim influence. As a result, you can expect lots of slow-cooked lamb mixed with herbs and spices. The best place for street food is the cities Muslim quarter which offers hundreds of street vendors roasting pork and mutton over open flames. If you need a tasty snack, try the Rou Jia Mo, China’s answer to the Big Mac. It's a Cantonese style sweet and sour pork burger wrapped in a crusty flatbread.

8. Manila, Philippines The Capital of the Philippines is another hotbed for tasty street food. The cuisine here has Spanish, Chinese and American influences and is typically deep-fried which means its really tasty, if not particularly healthy. Filipinos love to snack so you’ll find lots of street food vendors spread across the city. One of the best areas in Quiapo Market in the bustling old town district. Here you’ll find an abundance of delicious local delicacies including Mami (noodle soup), Fresh Lumpia (spring rolls) and Tusok-Tusok (grilled skewers). These can be finished off with a range of delightful sweet treats such as Bibingka (coconut cake).

9. Mumbai, India There are many reasons to visit India, the wildlife, the culture, the architecture and of course the food. For the most authentic Indian foodie experience, We recommend visiting the evening street market on Chowpatty beach in Mumbai. Here you will find the best of the local Konkani cuisine which is typified by seafood marinated and cooked in spicy sauces. A good example of which is Butter Garlic Crab, a delicious dish of sweet crab meat coated in rich garlic butter.

10. Taipei, Taiwan Taipei is not renowned as a foodie destination but that is sure to change once the word gets out. The cities streets are teaming with vendors serving traditional Chinese cuisine infused with Taiwanese flavours. Dishes include steamed dumplings with pickled vegetables, noodle soup with Taiwanese basil and steamed rice with white pepper and cilantro. For the most authentic experience visit the Taipei night market in Shilin and prepare for your senses to be overloaded.

Are your tastebuds salivating after that whistle-stop tour of Asia's foodie hotspots? Then why not experience them for yourself. Cheap flights are available across Asia from several airlines including AirAsia, Jetstar and Virgin Australia. Book flights online now and in a few weeks, you could be enjoying the very best Singapore Chili Crab washed down with a nice cool beer.