street food

American  

[street food] / ˈstrit ˌfud /

noun

1. ready-to-eat food sold on the street or in a park, open-air market, or other outdoor public place.

2. a particular food sold in an outdoor public place.

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Etymology

Origin of street food

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

In 2022 “our little scrappy Indian street food spot in the mountains of North Carolina,” as Mrs. Irani puts it, won a James Beard award for outstanding restaurant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

For dessert, try the taiyaki, a popular fish-shaped Japanese street food, which is served with a delicious passion fruit cream that I wanted to take to go because I liked it so much.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

From the 17th to 19th centuries, spaghetti was a popular street food in Naples, typically enjoyed with one’s bare hands in large fistfuls.

From Salon • Feb. 14, 2026

Yet Japanese chef Satoru Hasuike, who runs a ramen stand in the city, hopes to operate officially in the Azteca "with a street food vibe."

From Barron's • Nov. 5, 2025

I fill her in on Mama’s rules about tap water and street food, and how we managed to avoid getting sick the whole time.

From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan