street food

noun

plural street foods

: prepared food of a kind that is typically sold to customers on a street or sidewalk and that is often designed to be carried and eaten while walking

Pizza is quintessentially a street food: a quick lunch or a quick snack often eaten standing up or on the go.

—Don Lesser

Traditionally eaten as street food, empanadas are ideal for snacking on the go but are just as satisfying to sit down to for a simple dinner.

—Melissa Roberts and Maggie Ruggiero

Satays, which are skewered and grilled morsels of beef, fish, chicken, pork, or vegetables, are street food in Southeast Asia, devoured day and night with gusto.

—Karen MacNeil

Examples of street food in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The city is famous for its distinct cuisine that includes a vibrant street food culture, stunning national parks, and historical sites. —Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2025

Mexico City is a vibrant capital with hotel options in a wide range of prices across many neighborhoods, such as Reforma, Roma, and Condesa—each populated with excellent street food and fine dining. —Adam Wisniewski, AFAR Media, 14 Apr. 2025

Taipei Ancient temples, affordable street food, and modern skyscrapers comprise the bustling capital of Taiwan, and spring is one of the best times to visit. —Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2025

The crowds were big and immediate, drawn by the siren song of authentic Mexican street food and the effortless cool of Coyo’s hidden speakeasy. —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for street food

• accrued
• allude
• collude
• conclude
• construed
• debuted
• delude
• elude
• endued
• ensued
• eschewed
• etude

Kids Definition

street food

noun

: prepared food of a kind that is typically sold to customers on a street or sidewalk and that is often designed to be carried and eaten while walking