Before they were plated and served at restaurants, some of our favorite foods were cheap snacks sold on bustling streets. These 10 dishes prove that what starts as humble comfort food can end up on menus everywhere, from fast food chains to fine dining.
10. Currywurst
A Berlin icon, currywurst was born in the 1940s, when Herta Heuwer mixed ketchup and curry powder from British soldiers. She used the mixture as a topping for sliced sausages, served from a street stand. By the 1960s, currywurst spread through diners and kiosks, and now it’s found in fast food chains and even gourmet interpretations.
9. Pad Thai
While Pad Thai remains a famous street food in Thailand, it’s now a restaurant classic worldwide. It first thrived in street corners when Thailand’s government promoted rice noodles during a national rice shortage, encouraging vendors to sell stir-fried noodles with peanuts, shrimp, and tamarind. By the 1980s, Thai restaurants abroad made Pad Thai their culinary ambassador.
8. Falafel
Most historians trace falafel back to Egypt, where Coptic Christians fried spiced fava bean patties as a filling, meatless street food during Lent. From there, the fritters traveled through the Levant, tucked into pita with tahini and herbs. By the late 20th century, falafel started showing up on menus worldwide, embraced by vegan cafes and upscale fusion kitchens.
7. Sushi
Sushi may seem upscale today, but it started as a quick Ed0-period street food in 19th-century Tokyo. Known as nigiri zushi, it featured fresh fish pressed on vinegared rice, sold to hurried city dwellers. In the US, sushi bars emerged in Los Angeles in the 1960s, later joined by upscale omakase counters and conveyor-belt restaurants.
6. Bánh Mì
Vietnam’s bánh mì began as a colonial street adaptation when French baguettes met local flavors in the early 20th century. Street vendors created a fast, portable meal, filling the airy bread with pickled veggies, cilantro, and proteins. After the Vietnam War, refugees brought bánh mì abroad, selling it from corner shops and trucks in the US. Later on, chefs added it to menus for casual cafes and fine-dining fusion restaurants.
5. Hot Dog
The hot dog’s story begins on the busy streets of Coney Island in 19th century. German immigrant Charles Feltman sold sausages tucked into rolls so beachgoers could eat without plates. In 1916, Nathan’s Famous opened across from Feltman’s, offering nickel hot dogs that drew large crowds. From street carts, hot dogs now grace ballparks and gourmet halls with artisanal toppings.
4. Ceviche
Ceviche’s story can be traced back to thousands of years, when Peru’s ancient cultures marinated raw fish with local juices. Spanish colonists introduced citrus and onions, shaping the version we know today. For years, ceviche was served fresh at fishermen’s stalls, before turning into a national treasure of Peru and a star in many upscale menus worldwide.
3. Doner Kebab
Doner kebab was a street spectacle in Bursa during 19th century. Cooks like İskender Efendi roasted lamb on a tall vertical spit and sliced it into thin, juicy pieces. For decades, it was a humble street food, and its biggest leap happened in the 1970s. Turkish workers wrapped the meat in pita with salad and sauce, creating the doner sandwich we know today. It’s now sold in casual chains in many parts of the world.
2. Tacos
Portable meals can really travel, and tacos are proof of that. In the 18th-century silver mines, Mexican workers wrapped fillings in tortillas for easy lunches. This habit spread quickly through carts and taquerías. In mid-20th century, the hard-shell taco was patented in the US, and Taco Bell opened in the 1960s, launching tacos into mainstream dining.
1. Pizza
Before pizza graced menus worldwide, it was a street bite in Naples during the 18th century. Vendors sold flatbreads topped with tomato, oil, and garlic to workers who needed cheap fuel. The first pizzeria, Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba, turned the snack into a shared meal. As the dish spread, it evolved from peasant food to the Margherita and numerous varieties we know today.