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

The capital has attracted record numbers of tourists in recent years, many eager to sit outside drinking beer and eating street food as the city surges past.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

Chaiiwala, which sells Indian street food and hot and iced drinks, sells around half a million cups of karak chai every month.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

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

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