If you’ve ever visited Asia, you’ll know it has a lot more to offer than just hot dogs and a burger van. Some may say street food is the Chinese equivalent of the western fast food joint. It’s quick, cheap and hassle free. What more could you ask for?
Bugs
Strolling down the streets of Beijing, it’s a familiar sight to see the Chinese delicacy of deep-fried bugs. I’m not just talking about the odd one or two, but carts and stalls of scorpions, lizards, crickets… you name a bug and it’s probably there!
My verdict: It’s not as bad as you may think. If you’re feeling brave then you may as well try it – just for the sake of saying you’ve eaten one. They are fairly tasteless. If anything they just taste like very crunchy ready salted crisp (for scorpion at least, I’m not sure about the rest of them).
Dumplings
China is renowned for its dumplings. Every city and province you go to has its own speciality dumpling. These range from fried Beijing dumplings to steamed soup dumplings from Shanghai.
My verdict: Dumplings are a personal favourite of mine. Whilst in China I made it my mission to try the dumpling of every city I visited. Despite trying too many to count, I’m still not sick of them!
Meat Floss Bun
The flaky buns are topped with meat floss, essentially pulled pork but dehydrated and sold all over the streets of China. They are a hit with the locals as they love their meat floss – I’ve even seen it on sushi.
My verdict: I wasn’t too keen on meat floss so these buns were not for me. They are worth a try though as many people did enjoy them.
Quail Eggs
They may be more expensive than the average chicken egg in the UK, but in Asia they are readily available for a matter of pennies.
My verdict: They may be small but they are delightful. Drizzle them with sesame paste and chilli oil to finish them off.
Candied Fruit Sticks
Everything in China comes in a great selection. These fruits are glazed in sugar and offer a sweeter alternative to the dishes named above.
My verdict: They definitely look better than they taste. I opted for the strawberry option and was left feeling disappointed. They were too hard and took a lot of chewing.
Edited by Mackenzie Orrock
Image Sources
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