Street food, great food

I looooove street food! Living in Manila, I’m never too far from a stall selling barbeque, isaw (pork or chicken intestine marinated and grilled), banana-Q (banana coated in brown sugar and deep fried), fish balls, and anything else you can deep fry. Though as much as I love eating street foods, I am also wary about its possible effect to my health. Whether I’m traveling or just here in Manila, I can be quite picky about the stalls I buy food from.

Budget Travel Online has some good tips for avoiding traveller’s diarrhea while enjoying glorious street food:

Follow crowds

“A line of people is always a good indicator that the food is tasty and fresh — it never sits idle for long. If a vendor on a busy street has no customers, there’s probably a reason.”

Ask the locals

“The best recommendations I got were from taxi drivers, policemen, shop owners and office workers. Locals are discerning: They only eat what they like and what doesn’t make them sick.”

Read the rest of the tips over at CNN.com.

Care to share your favorite street food stall?

For isaw and barbeque, my favorites are the isaw stalls in UP Diliman; one in front of Kalayaan Residence Hall, the other in front of the Ilang-Ilang Residence Hall Hall. Another favorite is the barbeque stall at Proj. 4, near Glori’s supermarket along P. Tuason.

Outside the UP Dilimall, there’s one stall selling fish balls, chicken balls, tokneneng (quail eggs covered in batter then deep fried), and some bottled drinks. I also like the fresh fishball sold in front of the Quiapo Church.

What’s your favorite street food and where do you buy them?