Jilebi and Vada-pau make it to a list of 50 of the best street foods in Asia

Street foods have become the norms in any country. The world today has much to offer and one of these is the mouthwatering street foods. Those who operate these joints try their utmost to promote the cuisine unique to their own country. These could be in the raw or fried, baked, or even refrigerated. A list of 50 of the best street foods in Asia shows jilebi and vada pav as favorites of India. For our neighbor Pakistan, it is falooda and for Bangladesh, it is fuchka. Both are favorites of India also.

Jilebi is a sweet and people in Kolkata and Bengal love to take it as a part of breakfast. It is easy to make and cheap. Obviously, there are many takers and a combination of kachuri and jilebi is always on the cards for the common man. Kachuri is also very popular and ovens begin making these items even before the day breaks. Customers literally queue up to share the hot kachuris with a few jilebi. In Maharashtra, jilebis do not find a place at breakfast but are a welcome treat later in the day. They also appear during marriage feasts.

Vada pav is an Indian version of the burger and is popular in Mumbai. The outer portion is a bread-like casing stuffed with a mixture of mashed potato, onion, chilly, chopped coriander leaves and spices. The mixture is made into balls. These are then dipped in a batter of besan (powdered gram) and are deep-fried. Each of these balls is then stuffed into the bread (better known as pav) and then served.

Other street foods country wise (alphabetically) are –

Bangladesh – Fuchka
Bhutan - Ema datshi
Brunei - Kuih cincin
Cambodia - Lort cha
China - Jianbing, Jiaozi, Laping, Tibet, Rou jia mo, Xiao long bao
Hong Kong - Cheong fun, Curry fish balls, Egg waffles
Indonesia - Gado gado, Getuk, Kerak telor
Japan - Sofuto kurimu, Takoyaki, Yakitori
Laos - Khao jee, Nam khao
Malaysia - Asam laksa, Nasi lemak, Rojak
Maldives - Kavaabu, Khuushuur
Myanmar - Lahpet thoke, Mohinga
Nepal - Momos,
Pakistan - Bun kebab, Falooda,
Philippines - Halo-halo, Kwek kwek
Sri Lanka - Achcharu, Hoppers
Singapore - Chili crab, Kaya toast
South Korea - Kimbap, Tteokbokki
Thailand - Crab omelets, Khao soi, Sai krok Isan
Taiwan - Salt & pepper fried chicken, Stinky tofu
Vietnam - Banh mi, Iced coffee, Pho

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Deolali, the destination of the Mumbai crowd during summer

Deolali was a calm and quiet neighborhood when I landed up there. It was the beauty of the place with the clip clop of hooves on the tar road breaking the monotony of the quiet evenings or nights that impressed me. It was the sound of the tonga – or horse drawn carriages. These were an accepted form of transport and were available at the railway station alongside the taxis – those with money took the taxi, those who did not have that kind of money would opt for the tonga.
Anyway, as summer set in, the Mumbai crowd would arrive and put up in the various sanatoriums – these belonged to different communities like the Bohra Muslims or the Guajarati families. And – since HAL was still getting its family quarters built in Ojhar at the location of the factory, it had taken many of these sanatoriums on rent.
To go back to the Mumbai crowd – the women and girls would showoff the latest trend in dresses. It is of interest to note that the famed Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar was from Deolali! The Lewitt Market and surrounding areas would be where the Mumbai crowd would gather haggling over the price of flowers or fruits.
Or – they would head for Hill Temple … a hillock from where one could get a clear view of the surroundings.
For entertainment there were two cinema halls – one was in the military area called Cathay, the other in the civilian area and known as Adelphi. While most of the movies in Cathay were English, the Hindi movies would be screened in Adelphi.
And – for food, snacks and refreshments, the pick of the town was Bharat Cold Drinks. Its faloodas were beauties as were its ice creams. Just for information – the cost of a bottle of Coca Cola in the 1967 era was just 25 paise while a glass of fresh lime juice could be had for only 10 paise!! (to be continued …)

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