From The Straits Times    |

A trio of Southeast Asian cities took the top spots in a ranking of the top 10 street food cities, with Bangkok, Thailand emerging as the best in the world, notably for its variety and abundance of options.

In a virtual trip around the world, members and editors at travel website VirtualTourist.com gave top marks to the Thai capital for its offerings like Pad Thai, green papaya salads, mango sticky rice, and chicken with green curry.

10 best street food cities in the world
VirtualTourist.com unveils top 10 list of best street food cities

VirtualTourist.com is a user-generated travel site which, as of 2008, has been part of the TripAdvisor Media Group and counts 1.2 million registered members from 220 countries around the world.

Members recommend Soi Rambuttri in the old district of Bangkok for street fare, as well as Soi 38 near Sukumvit for its evening food markets which are open until 3 am.

In second place was Singapore for its hybrid gastronomy ranging from Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan fare, and its reliably safe and hygienic street food stalls.

Singapore specialties that were recommended include the Hainanese chicken rice, chili crabs and laksa.

Rounding out the top three street food cities was Penang, Malaysia, for its multicultural cuisine.

Foods to try in Malaysia include Char kway teow — stir-fried noodles, a tart, hot and sour fish soup called assam laksa, and satays of beef, chicken and pork.

Meanwhile, travel guide Frommer’s named Bangkok, Tel Aviv and Istanbul as the top street food destinations in the world.

Here are the top 10 best street food cities in the world, according to VirtualTourist.com:

1.    Bangkok, Thailand
2.    Singapore
3.    Penang, Malaysia
4.    Marrakech, Morocco
5.    Palermo, Sicily
6.    Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
7.    Istanbul, Turkey
8.    Mexico City, Mexico
9.    Brussels, Belgium
10.  Beachside Ceviche in Ambergris Caye, Belize