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Best street food destinations in North America

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Mexico City
Vibrant Culture, History and Street Food
8.3
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.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Visit Frida Kahlo’s Blue House in Coyoacán
  • 🏛️ Wander through the historic center and Zócalo Square
  • 🏯 Explore the ancient ruins of Teotihuacán’s pyramids
Montreal
A city of festivals, food and culture
8.6
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.
Highlights:
  • ⛪ Visit the breathtaking Notre-Dame Basilica and its illuminated interior
  • 🌄 Admire panoramic city views from Mount Royal Park
  • 🏙️ Wander the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal
Los Angeles
The city of stars, beaches and dreams
8.8
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.
Highlights:
  • 🎡 Spend a sunny afternoon at Santa Monica Pier and beach
  • 🥾 Hike to the Hollywood Sign for sweeping city views
  • 🎬 Walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame and find your favorite stars
Tijuana
Border city pulse: vibrant culture and cuisine
7.0
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.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Explore art installations in Parque de los Fundadores
  • 🚶‍♂️ Stroll along the iconic Avenida Revolución boulevard
  • 🌮 Sample authentic tacos at Mercado Hidalgo
Vancouver
Where mountains, ocean and city life meet
8.5
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.
Highlights:
  • 🛍️ Explore Granville Island’s public market and artisan shops
  • 🚡 Take a gondola up Grouse Mountain for city views
  • 🚴‍♀️ Walk or cycle around scenic Stanley Park’s seawall
Seattle
Where nature and innovation converge
7.9
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.
Highlights:
  • ☕ Sip coffee at the original Starbucks store
  • 🐟 Explore Pike Place Market and watch the fishmongers toss fish
  • 🌆 Ride to the top of the Space Needle for incredible skyline views
New Orleans
Jazz, Creole Flavors and Mardi Gras Vibes
7.9
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.
Highlights:
  • 🏘️ Explore historic French Quarter’s colorful streets
  • 🍩 Savor beignets at iconic Café du Monde
  • 🎷 Experience live jazz on vibrant Frenchmen Street
Oaxaca
Colonial Charm and Rich Traditions
7.5
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.
Highlights:
  • 🌿 Relax in the colorful Oaxaca Botanical Garden
  • ⛪ Marvel at the Baroque Templo de Santo Domingo
  • 🏛️ Explore the ancient Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán
Guadalajara
Mariachi, murals and modern flair
7.3
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.
Highlights:
  • 🎭 Stroll through vibrant Plaza de Armas with street performances
  • 🖼️ Explore the stunning murals at Instituto Cultural Cabañas
  • ⛪ Visit the magnificent Guadalajara Cathedral in the historic center
Portland (Oregon)
Quirky, green and endlessly creative
7.6
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.
Highlights:
  • 🍃 Discover the tranquility of the Portland Japanese Garden
  • 📚 Visit Powell’s City of Books, the world’s largest independent bookstore
  • 🌹 Explore the International Rose Test Garden’s vibrant blooms
Jamaica
Vibrant culture meets pristine beaches
7.4
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.
Highlights:
  • 🎶 Visit Bob Marley’s home and museum in Kingston
  • 🏖️ Relax on the white sands of Seven Mile Beach in Negril
  • 💦 Climb up the cascading waters of Dunn’s River Falls
El Salvador
Land of volcanoes and pupusas
6.1
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.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Explore the ancient Mayan ruins of Joya de Cerén
  • 🏞️ Relax by the turquoise waters of Lake Coatepeque
  • 🌋 Climb Santa Ana Volcano for panoramic views
Washington, D.C.
Capital of History and Culture
8.8
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.
Highlights:
  • 🖼️ Explore the Smithsonian museums along the National Mall
  • 🕊️ Visit the Lincoln Memorial and reflect by the Reflecting Pool
  • 🏛️ Tour the U.S. Capitol and see American democracy in action
Antigua Guatemala
Colonial Charm and Volcanic Views
7.5
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.
Highlights:
  • ⛪ Visit the ruins of the historic Antigua Cathedral
  • 🥾 Hike Cerro de la Cruz for panoramic city views
  • 🌉 Snap a photo under the iconic Santa Catalina Arch
Austin
Live music, lakes and local flavor
7.6
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.
Highlights:
  • 🦇 Watch the bats emerge from Congress Avenue Bridge at sunset
  • 💦 Cool off with a swim in Barton Springs Pool
  • 🎸 Listen to live music on Sixth Street
San Juan
Colorful history meets Caribbean cool
6.8
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.
Highlights:
  • ⛪ Visit San Juan Cathedral, resting place of Ponce de León
  • 🏰 Tour Castillo San Felipe del Morro fortress grounds
  • 🏘️ Explore colorful streets of historic Old San Juan
Honolulu
Aloha Vibes and Ocean Adventures
8.1
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.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on the iconic Waikiki Beach and watch surfers
  • ⚓ Explore the historic Pearl Harbor National Memorial
  • 🌄 Hike to Diamond Head crater for stunning sunrise views
Guanajuato
Colorful alleys and silver history
6.9
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.
Highlights:
  • 🚇 Explore the tunnels and underground streets of historic Guanajuato
  • 🌆 Admire the view from the Pipila Monument overlooking the city
  • 💋 Wander through the colorful alleys and balconies of Callejón del Beso
San Miguel de Allende
Colonial Charm with Artistic Soul
7.1
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.
Highlights:
  • 🖼️ Explore vibrant art galleries at Fabrica La Aurora
  • 🌳 Stroll through the colorful Jardín Allende plaza
  • ⛪ Admire the iconic Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel
Puebla
Mexico's Underrated Cultural Gem
6.9
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.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Visit the iconic Puebla Cathedral, a UNESCO site
  • 🏙️ Walk through Puebla’s lively Zócalo and vibrant streets
  • ⛪ Explore the stunning Capilla del Rosario with gilded interiors
Yucatán
Gateway to the Mayan world
8.5
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.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Visit the ancient ruins at Uxmal Archaeological Zone
  • 💧 Swim in the beautiful, crystal-clear Cenote Ik Kil
  • 🏯 Explore the iconic El Castillo pyramid at Chichén Itzá
Nicaragua
Tropical beauty with volcanic charm
6.7
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.
Highlights:
  • 🛶 Kayak around the tiny islets of Lake Nicaragua
  • 🏘️ Wander through the colorful colonial streets of Granada
  • 🏂 Hike up Cerro Negro volcano and try volcano boarding
New York City
Five boroughs of skyline, food and museums
9.5
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.
Highlights:
  • 🌃 Visit Times Square at night for unforgettable neon views
  • 🎭 Watch a Broadway musical in the Theater District
  • 🏙️ Admire skyline views from the Top of a skyscraper
Mérida
Colonial charm and Yucatán culture
7.1
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.
Highlights:
  • 🖼️ Visit the interactive Gran Museo del Mundo Maya
  • ⛪ Explore the impressive Mérida Cathedral in Plaza Grande
  • 🌳 Stroll along historic Paseo de Montejo boulevard
Puerto Vallarta
Beaches, sunsets and vibrant streets
6.5
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.
Highlights:
  • ⛵ Take a boat trip to hidden Majahuitas and Yelapa beaches
  • 🤿 Go snorkeling or diving in Los Arcos Marine Park
  • 🌅 Watch the sunset from the Malecón boardwalk and street art displays
Santo Domingo
Colonial charm meets Caribbean buzz
6.6
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.
Highlights:
  • 🚶‍♀️ Walk along the lively Calle El Conde pedestrian street
  • ⛪ Explore the first cathedral in the New World
  • 🏰 Visit the Alcázar de Colón, Columbus’s historic palace
Oahu
Hawaii’s Vibrant Island Adventure
8.9
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.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on the iconic Waikiki Beach and soak up sun
  • 🤿 Snorkel among vibrant fish at Hanauma Bay Marine Park
  • 🌄 Hike to the summit of Diamond Head for sunrise views
Miami
Vibrant City of Sun and Fun
8.4
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.
Highlights:
  • 🌴 Relax on sunny South Beach’s iconic shoreline
  • 🏰 Tour lavish Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
  • 🎨 Explore vibrant street art at Wynwood Walls
Toronto
A vibrant mix of cultures and skyline
8.2
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.
Highlights:
  • 🐠 Visit Ripley’s Aquarium and walk through the underwater tunnel
  • 🏺 Explore historic Distillery District’s cobblestone lanes and galleries
  • 🌆 Take in skyline views from the top of CN Tower
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.
Highlights:
  • 🛍️ Shop for herbal remedies and colorful souvenirs on Mott Street
  • 🏮 Wander through lively streets filled with lanterns and markets
  • 🥢 Taste authentic dim sum at a traditional Cantonese teahouse
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