Elevate Your Business Lunch: Top Street Food Spots in London, Mumbai, New York, and Tokyo
Tired of bland boardroom sandwiches, instant coffee, and plastic-cup water? On your next city business trip, skip the lunchtime rut. Step outside for fresh air and memorable street food that outshines any conference room offering.
London
In a vast city like London, great on-the-go eats depend on your location. Near the Hammersmith & City line? Take the Underground to Ladbroke Grove for Portobello Market's Moroccan tagines and kebabs—follow the longest queues and aromas. Or visit Exmouth Market (Farringdon Tube) for Gujarati Rasoi's pure vegetarian thali (Thursdays and Fridays), custom paninis at 50-year-old The Gazzano’s (167-169 Farringdon Rd, Farringdon tube), or Borough Market (London Bridge tube) for Brindisa's chorizo rolls, Mrs King’s British pork pies, and Veggie Table's vegan options.
Mumbai
In Mumbai, embrace street food like locals: choose stalls with fresh ingredients and crowds for safe, superior bites. Start at Chowpatty beach for chaat snacks like pani puri (potatoes, mung beans, tamarind sauce in crispy puris) or bhel puri (puffed rice, chickpeas, potato with chutneys). Near KC College on Churchgate, try students' favorites: batata wadas (spicy potato patties with chutney) and dosas (crisp rice pancakes with potatoes, onions, sambar, and coconut chutney). After hours, visit Bade Miya (Tulloch Rd; open from 7pm) behind Taj Palace Hotel for legendary kebabs.
New York
Manhattan's lunch scene buzzes with food trucks redefining street eats. Check online locations: Schnitzel & Things (www.schnitzelandthings.com) offers breaded pork, cod, or chicken schnitzel with sides like sauerkraut and sriracha mayo (Mon-Fri, Manhattan). NYC Cravings has Taiwanese fried tianbula (fish cakes) and zongzi (tamales). Rickshaw Dumplings (www.rickshawdumplings.com) roams Manhattan/Brooklyn with pork-chive dumplings and edamame dips. For sweets, track Big Gay Ice Cream Truck via tweets for Monday Sundae or Salty Pimp, or Treats Truck's oatmeal jammy cookies.
Tokyo
Tokyo boasts world-class street food: walk, sample, repeat. Head to Shinjuku's Yakitori Alley for grilled skewers, Kabukicho for top takoyaki (octopus dumplings), or spots for okonomiyaki pancakes and ramen. For bold flavors, try Nihon Saisei Sakaba (Marunaka Bldg, 1F, 3-7-3 Shinjuku) with yakitori like pork brain, tongue, and tripe salad. On cold days, warm up at oden stalls with fish cakes, eggs, and daikon.
