Best street food destinations in North America
Best street food destinations in North America
Popular food trucks and vibrant urban street markets in North America
North America's street food scene draws on immigrant communities from just about everywhere, so a single city block can offer flavors from several continents at once.
Big cities across the continent have built entire food truck scenes around this mix, often parked near offices or events and rotating cuisines throughout the week. Mexico's street food culture runs deeper still, with taco stands, roadside grills and market stalls that are central to daily eating rather than an occasional treat. Coastal areas add their own specialties too, from seafood shacks to fruit carts selling fresh produce with chili and lime. Food safety standards are generally high across the continent, which makes trying something new feel like less of a gamble.
The street food destinations on our list for North America carry that same range of cultures and cooking styles.
Lists by region
Worldwide (212)
Africa (15)
Asia (128)
Europe (19)
North America (30)
Oceania (10)
South America (13)
City in United States
Los Angeles
The city of stars, beaches and dreams
California made pavement vending legal in 2018. Vendors now fill many corners with grills and carts. Bacon wrapped hot dogs sizzle on late night carts with grilled onions and peppers. Trucks park outside shops and clubs. They sell tacos al pastor with pork carved from a spinning spit.
City in United States
Seattle
Where nature and innovation converge
Set on Puget Sound, this rainy city has hot dog carts that serve a local twist. The Seattle dog comes with cream cheese and grilled onions on a toasted bun. Pike Place Market has stands with fresh crab cocktails and Russian pastries called piroshky. Fish and chips windows line the waterfront.
City in Mexico
Puerto Vallarta
Beaches, sunsets and vibrant streets
Like larger Mexican cities, this beach town has taco stands that stay open late. Tacos al pastor and shrimp tacos arrive with lime and spicy salsa. On the sand, vendors sell fresh coconut water and slices of mango with chile. Stands by the Cuale River sell ceviche on crisp tostadas.
City in Canada
Vancouver
Where mountains, ocean and city life meet
Like its neighbours to the south, this city has a busy food truck scene. Carts downtown sell Japanese style hot dogs topped with seaweed and teriyaki sauce. Richmond Night Market, held on summer weekends, has skewers, bubble tea and stinky tofu. Granville Island Public Market has stalls with chowder and fresh salmon.
City in United States
New Orleans
Jazz, Creole Flavors and Mardi Gras Vibes
Snoball stands here take the place of ice cream trucks. A snoball is shaved ice soaked in syrup and softer than a snow cone. Po'boys are long sandwiches stuffed with fried shrimp or roast beef. Beignets, fried squares of dough with powdered sugar, are served hot at open air cafes.
City in Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala
Colonial Charm and Volcanic Views
The city was the Spanish colonial capital until earthquakes in 1773. Today vendors around the central park sell grilled corn, tostadas and rellenitos. Rellenitos are fried plantain balls filled with sweet black beans. The market near the bus station has stalls with tamales and fresh tortillas.
City in Mexico
Mexico City
Vibrant Culture, History and Street Food
Set 7,300 feet above sea level, this city has taco stands on nearly every block. Pork for tacos al pastor roasts on a spinning spit topped with pineapple. Tlacoyos are blue corn cakes filled with beans or cheese and cooked on street griddles. Tamales are sold from steaming carts each morning.
Country
Jamaica
Vibrant culture meets pristine beaches
Boston Bay has rows of jerk stands that smoke pork and chicken over pimento wood. The meat is rubbed with allspice and scotch bonnet peppers. Roadside drum grills across the island serve the same style. Patties, flaky pastries filled with spiced beef, make a quick snack.
City in Canada
Montreal
A city of festivals, food and culture
After a late night out, locals line up for poutine. It is fries topped with squeaky cheese curds and gravy. Snack counters also sell steamed hot dogs piled with cabbage slaw. Wood fired bagels come out warm in paper bags. Jean Talon Market stalls sell crepes and fresh berries in summer.
Country
El Salvador
Land of volcanoes and pupusas
This small Pacific country has a national dish sold on nearly every corner. The pupusa is a thick corn tortilla stuffed with cheese, beans or pork. Stands in Olocuilta, near the airport, cook them by hand all day. They come with a thin tomato sauce and curtido, a tangy pickled cabbage.
City in Mexico
San Miguel de Allende
Colonial Charm with Artistic Soul
A Franciscan friar founded the town in 1542. Evenings in the central garden bring elotes, grilled corn with mayo and chile. Esquites are the same corn cut off the cob and served in a cup. Churros are fried to order and rolled in cinnamon sugar.
City in Mexico
Guadalajara
Mariachi, murals and modern flair
After dark, taco stands light up the corners of the city. Birria, a stew of goat or beef, is served in tacos or a bowl. Tortas ahogadas are pork sandwiches on a crusty roll drowned in spicy red sauce. Look for the stalls that have a long line of locals.
City in United States
Portland (Oregon)
Quirky, green and endlessly creative
Lunch lines form by noon at the food cart pods. These clusters of carts fill empty lots across the city. Hundreds of carts serve Thai, Georgian, Mexican, Korean and barbecue dishes. Many pods have covered seating and heaters for the rainy months. Some owners later open restaurants.
City in Mexico
Guanajuato
Colorful alleys and silver history
Locals gather at the Jardin de la Union in the evening for snacks from nearby stalls. Enchiladas mineras are a local favourite, with red chile sauce, potato, carrot and cheese. Stalls in Mercado Hidalgo sell gorditas, tamales and fresh fruit juice. The name refers to the city's silver miners.
City in United States
Austin
Live music, lakes and local flavor
Wood smoke and warm tortillas drift over gravel lots packed with food trailers. Breakfast tacos with egg, potato and bacon sell fast in the morning. Trailers serve brisket, tacos, Thai noodles and fried pies. Many lots add picnic tables and live music in the evening.
City in Mexico
Puebla
Mexico's Underrated Cultural Gem
Locals start with a cemita for lunch. It is a sandwich on a sesame roll with avocado, meat, white cheese and a pungent herb called papalo. At night tacos arabes come on thick flatbread with pork cooked on a spit. Chalupas are small fried tortillas with green or red salsa.
City in Canada
Toronto
A vibrant mix of cultures and skyline
Torontonians call cart food street meat. Hot dogs and sausages come on a bun with onions, mustard and sauerkraut. Kensington Market stalls offer tacos, empanadas and jerk chicken. The peameal bacon sandwich is a local classic at St. Lawrence Market. Peameal bacon is cornmeal coated pork loin.
Country
Nicaragua
Tropical beauty with volcanic charm
Vigoron began in the colonial city of Granada. Today vendors in the central park serve it on a banana leaf. The dish is boiled yuca topped with cabbage salad and crisp fried pork skin. Fritanga stands across the country grill meat to serve with gallo pinto, a mix of rice and beans.
City in United States
Honolulu
Aloha Vibes and Ocean Adventures
Where other cities have hot dog carts, this one has plate lunch trucks. A plate has two scoops of rice, macaroni salad and a main like garlic chicken or kalua pork. Kakaako is a seaside district where trucks gather at lunch. Shave ice, piled high with syrup, cools things down.
City in Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo
Colonial charm meets Caribbean buzz
Sizzling meat and fried plantains scent the air around street carts at night. The chimi is a Dominican street burger with seasoned meat, cabbage and a tangy pink sauce. Yaniqueques are crisp fried dough discs sold near the beach. Fried cheese and plantain chips are easy snacks from roadside stands.
Region in Mexico
Yucatán
Gateway to the Mayan world
Maya cooks used underground ovens called pibs long before the Spanish arrived. Market stands still sell cochinita pibil, pork wrapped in banana leaves and roasted with achiote. Papadzules are rolled tortillas filled with egg and covered in pumpkin seed sauce. In Valladolid and Izamal, market stalls sell lime soup and fresh tortillas.
City in United States
Washington, D.C.
Capital of History and Culture
The half smoke is a smoked sausage of beef and pork topped with chilli, mustard and onions. Food trucks around the National Mall and downtown sell it at lunchtime. Mumbo sauce, a sweet and tangy red sauce, goes on wings from carryout windows. Pupusas from Salvadoran food trucks round out the menu.
City in Puerto Rico
San Juan
Colorful history meets Caribbean cool
The kiosks of Pinones line a coastal road just east of San Juan. They fry alcapurrias, bacalaitos and empanadillas to order. Alcapurrias are fritters of green banana and taro stuffed with meat. Bacalaitos are crisp salt cod fritters. Weekends bring music and crowds from the city.
City in United States
New York City
Five boroughs of skyline, food and museums
Hot dog carts stand on nearly every corner of Midtown. Halal carts serve chicken or lamb over rice with white sauce and hot sauce. Queens has arepa stands and carts selling momo, Himalayan dumplings, near Jackson Heights. Roasted nuts and soft pretzels smell sweet on cold days.
Island in United States
Oahu
Hawaii’s Vibrant Island Adventure
Garlic and butter scent the air around the shrimp trucks of Kahuku on the North Shore. Plates come with rice and shrimp cooked in garlic or spicy sauce. Haleiwa town has stands that pile shave ice with syrup. Roadside fruit stands sell pineapple and apple bananas.
City in Mexico
Oaxaca
Colonial Charm and Rich Traditions
This city in a high valley of southern Mexico runs on corn and smoke. Tlayudas are giant crisp tortillas topped with beans, cheese and grilled meat. Mercado 20 de Noviembre has a narrow hall full of smoke. Customers pick raw meat and cooks grill it over coals. Carts also sell chapulines, toasted grasshoppers.
City in Mexico
Tijuana
Border city pulse: vibrant culture and cuisine
After sunset, taco stands fill the pavements across the city. Tacos de adobada have marinated pork shaved from a spinning spit. Fish and shrimp tacos with cabbage and creamy sauce come from seafood carts. Street stands also sell elotes and mango cups with chile. The city sits on the border with San Diego.
City in United States
Miami
Vibrant City of Sun and Fun
Mornings start at walk up windows called ventanitas. They serve cafecito, a tiny cup of strong sweet Cuban coffee, with pastelitos filled with guava and cheese. Lunch brings Cuban sandwiches pressed hot with roast pork, ham, cheese and pickles. Calle Ocho in Little Havana has fruit stands and many walk up windows.
City in Mexico
Mérida
Colonial charm and Yucatán culture
Sour orange and smoke hang over the Lucas de Galvez market. Cooks pile cochinita pibil, pork roasted in achiote and citrus, onto warm tortillas. Panuchos are fried tortillas stuffed with black beans and topped with turkey or chicken. At night, stands near the main square sell marquesitas, crisp rolled crepes filled with cheese.
Neighbourhood in New York City
Chinatown
Vibrant Hubs of Chinese Culture
Mott Street fills with steam from dumpling shops and pavement carts. Vendors sell egg waffles, fish balls and fruit by the bag. Bakeries have pork buns and egg custard tarts to eat on the walk. The neighbourhood has been a Chinese American hub since the late 1800s.
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