What makes something “Street” food?

[Jfrosty27]

Ok. I’m confused. It’s happening more frequently these days I’m sorry to say. But what makes something “Street” Food? You know. Like “Street Tacos” and such. Please help an old guy understand. 🤷♂️

[RonB]

Well, it's something you eat on the street. If ya make street food at home, ya have to eat it while standing in the street. At least this is what Panhead John told me.

[Panhead John]

Hey Ron, you should try some “highway food”….😉😂

[texastweeter]

Lol, I just cracked up in the middle of a video conference.

[JCBBQ]

Panhead John I literally loled

[barelfly]

Like Ron says, street carts or tacos carts and such. I think the portions may be a little smaller as well, served in small containers that can be eaten on the go? Street Tacos, smaller tortillas served in those small boats.

I also think restaurants use the word to spice up their menu a bit and stay with the popular dishes, but it reality it wouldn’t be much of a difference.

at least that’s my take on it.

[bmillin]

True street tacos are cooked over an old toxic waste drum burning treated lumber

[texastweeter]

On an upside down shopping cart

[Mosca]

I read “…over treated rubber.” Same thing.

[Smoker_Boy]

Using charcoal lighter fluid to start the flames.

[jfmorris]

Street food in my mind refers to stuff you find at food trucks, food carts or other "street" vendors, typically eaten on the go, outside. I had a book on the subject in my Amazon wish list for years:

https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Street-ManBQue-Guide-Making/dp/0762458690

[Jfrosty27]

Thanks Jim. That would help

[shify]

Just that - food typically sold in street carts/stands (tacos, hot dogs) or taken on the go (slice of NY pizza)

[LA Pork Butt]

The is really small taco (2 - 2 1/2 bites) called street Tacos.

[texastweeter]

The perfect size

[xrodbob]

So it's not made from roadkill?

[mrteddyprincess]

(You beat me to it...) :-)

[texastweeter]

Handy, portable, inexpensive, and typically prepared by street vendors. Many street foods have evolved into restaurant fare though.

[Carolyn]

If you are in New Orleans...

[Jfrosty27]

Ok. So food you would typically buy and eat on the street from a food truck/stand/cart. But it seems that those vendors have gone more and more upscale and are serving nearly restaurant food. Still confused. 🫤

[Carolyn]

If you are in Thailand or China

Scorpions on a stick

[dwlacroix]

My mind goes to the fine cuisine I have eaten on the streets of Bangkok. After eating pork satay that I suspected had some formaldehyde, I asked my host how he knew which vendors were safe — “If you don’t get sick”

[Carolyn]

dwlacroix He wasn't wrong.😆

[texastweeter]

Kinda like asking "What is State Fair Food" I mean you can get a corn dog, frito chili pie, or smoked turkey leg just about anywhere around here, but it's still considered fair food.

[texastweeter]

Queue sad trombone sound effect... RonB

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

State fair food has become "what's your favorite fat boy snack?... yeah we have that, but it's also battered and fried again"

[Carolyn]

Texas state fair. "What new thing can we fry to get us a feature on the 10:00 news?"

[Alan Brice]

We have Piata's Italian Street Food. It is in the name. Great pasta n Calamari. Very Pricy.
A few inside sit downs about the same outside. Mostly carryout.

[texastweeter]

Their spicy chicken thingy was pretty good. We have one here too.

[Uncle Bob]

Like a lot of things that get promoted to "trendy", the definition gets distorted over time. I personally don't consider food trucks to be street food, more a quick/self service restaurant on wheels, particularly if parked with tables nearby.

My first experience with actual street food (bought from a cart/stand on the sidewalk, small enough to be carried in one hand and eaten on the go) was near sixty years ago on the streets of Thailand. My favorite was a bamboo stick held delight of firm meatballs with a tasty sauce. To this day I have no idea what they were actually made from, as delicious as they were, but we just called them Monkey Balls........................

[tstalafuse]

I think there is a recipe for those over on the free side.

[texastweeter]

Jungle mountain oysters?