Street Food of Southeast Asia: Eating Your Way Through Six Countries

The most extraordinary meals I've eaten in Southeast Asia cost less than a coffee and came from a woman with a single gas burner and twenty years of practice.

Vietnam: Bánh Mì and Bún Bò Huế

Bánh mì has gone global but nothing beats the original in Hoi An: a baguette shatteringly crisp from a charcoal oven, filled with pâté, pickled daikon, fresh coriander, and chilli. For the most complex bowl of noodles on the planet, skip phở and order bún bò Huế.

Thailand: Pad Kra Pao and Khao Niao Mamuang

Pad kra pao — stir-fried meat with holy basil, fish sauce, and a fried egg — is the Thai worker's lunch. Save room for khao niao mamuang: sweet sticky rice with fresh mango and coconut cream.

Malaysia: Nasi Lemak and Char Kway Teow

Nasi lemak is the national breakfast of Malaysia and an argument that every other country's morning food is doing it wrong. Char kway teow achieves its flavor through wok hei: the intense smoky breath of a seasoned wok at maximum heat.

The golden rule: follow the queue. A stall with locals lined up at 11:30am will be better than any restaurant with a TripAdvisor award. Every time.