I love a fine dining establishment. The crisp white linen, flipping through the wine list with a sommelier on hand to choose the perfect wine and tucking into homemade bread, fresh out of the oven.

I also love a food truck. Sure, standing and eating isn’t always ideal, nor are the 20 paper napkins required to deal with more messy feeds, but some of the best meals I’ve had have been in the streets.

Hot chips in Brussels

There’s nothing like a hot chip. The crunchy exterior, pillowy soft inside and salty yet smooth taste. Well in Belgium, there are food trucks who serve nothing but pommes frites with any sauce or topping you like. Cooked to perfection, you walk away with a handy cone, filled with hot fries to consume sitting, standing or on-the-go. It’s such serious business in Belgium that in 2014, a group successfully campaigned to have the dish added to the UNESCO list of Cultural Treasures.

After a morning of sightseeing, I vividly remember tucking into a cone of fries topped with mayonnaise from friterie Maison Antoine. The family-run food hut was established in 1948 and now the third generation of fries makers are at the helm.

Popiah in Singapore

Part burrito, part omelette and totally delicious. When I first saw its crepe-like casing, I was expecting something more like a Vietnamese roll. A serving of Popiah was among a range of dishes my friends and I brought to the table when stopping in Sembawang Hills Food Centre, a hawker centre.

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This little unassuming little roll from Ping Kee Popiah was a beautiful blend of turnip, beansprouts, peanuts, egg, dried shrimp and Chinese sausage. It’s sweet and savoury all at once, and a slice of heaven for just $2 at most hawker stands.

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Currywurst by Tante Emma in Cologne

I shan’t lie, Germany wasn’t on my bucket list. I know there’s the beautiful countryside, buzzing cities and nightlife, great wine and astounding architecture. But there are two things I’m not a massive fan of: beer and meat-heavy menus. After much convincing, my mates and I embarked on a week-long adventure through Germany – my husband armed with a long list of wurst to try.

That’s German for sausage and there are over 1,200 types in the country. One afternoon in Cologne, my husband took us to try the legendary currywurst from a highly recommended food stand near the station. It’s a sausage, sliced and doused in ketchup, sprinkled with curry powder – accompanied by a side of chips, naturally. One bite and I was hooked: smokey, spicy, complex yet simple.

Octopus balls in Dotonbori, Osaka

Officially known as takoyaki, this tasty street food is one of Osaka’s most-loved dishes. Dazzled by the Dotonbori lights, my friend and I made our way around the area, picking up whatever snack took our fancy. At first, we were drawn in by the smell. Rows, upon rows, of takoyaki balls, cooking away in a cast iron plate.

Fresh from the grill, we were served piping hot, little balls of perfection, topped with dancing bonito flakes – dinner and a show. Crispy on the outside, the golf sized-balls are filled with gooey batter. It’s creamy, salty, and savoury all at once.

Fresh roti in Mauritius

It’s not so much a truck but a bicycle with a box strapped around the back. Straight after a morning dip in the Indian Ocean, I’d have the best breakfast for peanuts. Freshly baked roti – similar to the Indian flatbread – topped with a zingy spread made of chopped tomato, onion, chilli, lemon and parsley, rolled up into a tube. So simple, but so delicious. It’s impossible to stop at one.

This article originally appeared on escape.com.au. It has been reproduced here with permission.

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