Time Out magazine (UK) has just announced the list "Cities with the best street food in the world in 2026", selected from the ranking of cities with the best cuisine in the world this year.
The results are based on a survey of more than 24,000 urban residents worldwide. Participants assess the quality, flavor and price of food types in their places of residence, from cafes, breakfast stalls, sidewalk eateries to high-end restaurants.
Notably, Ho Chi Minh City ranked No. 1 with 63% of survey participants voting, becoming the city with the most highly rated street food in the world in 2026.
According to Time Out, Ho Chi Minh City currently has 6 Michelin-starred restaurants, many of which have brought street food to a new level. However, the most complete experience is still in popular eateries in alleys.
The magazine describes that tourists do not need to book a table in advance, just sneak into the bustling alleys around Ben Thanh market, sit on familiar plastic chairs to enjoy a hot bowl of pho or hold a crispy loaf of bread in their hand to clearly feel the city's culinary culture.
Standing right behind Ho Chi Minh City is Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) with 62% of the votes. Jakarta (Indonesia) and Taipei (Taiwan, China) both reached 59%, followed by Mexico City (Mexico) and Manila (Philippines) with 58%.
Hanoi ranked 7th with 57% of the votes. The remaining three positions belong to Johannesburg (South Africa), Bangkok (Thailand) and Mumbai (India).
This is not the first time Time Out has appreciated the cuisine of the two largest cities in Vietnam. Previously, in the ranking of 20 cities with the most attractive cuisine in the world in 2026, Ho Chi Minh City ranked 6th.
Time Out commented that the combination of old eateries, unique coffee culture and the development of high-end restaurants has helped Ho Chi Minh City become one of the most prominent culinary destinations in the world.
Banh mi, broken rice and iced milk coffee are considered typical dishes reflecting the culinary identity of the city. In addition, the magazine especially recommends that tourists experience snail dishes, because this is not only a dish but also a part of the culture of meeting and living at night of local people.
Meanwhile, Hanoi is also ranked 2nd by this magazine in the list of 10 destinations with the best street food in Asia in 2025.
The magazine describes Hanoi as a place that gathers many unique dishes, from grilled meat bread in the Old Quarter, long-standing pho restaurants located deep in small alleys to famous banh cuon addresses. Among them, bun cha is considered one of the culinary symbols of the Capital thanks to the combination of grilled meat, fresh vermicelli, raw vegetables and characteristic dipping sauce.
