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Top Street Vendors In NYC

The city of New York is famous throughout the world for its unique atmosphere and identity – which would not be what it is without the contribution of the street vendors.

Think of any film set in New York and the chances are that at some point the stars are spotted grabbing a snack from one of these out and about eateries, so ingrained in the culture is street vending and the local support for it.

Street vending is synonymous with the New York spirit and the trolleys and carts that offer there wares up and down the city blocks are as much a part of what New York is as the Empire State Building or Statue of Liberty.

Far from being a tourist trap avoided by the locals, as in some European cities, New York’s Street vendors are an institution – with the act of grabbing a chilli dog or pretzel on the go being as natural to the native New Yorker as taking the subway or cheering the Yankees.

New York “Street Meat”

New Yorkers refer to the act of snacking on the go as eating “Street Meat” and they partake of this pastime with pride. Street vending is popular because it suits New York’s style – this is a city on the go where the people hardly pause – so grabbing what you need on the go works well with the local temperament.  And far from being restricted to the simple staples mentioned before, New York Street vending reflects the cultural smorgasbord that this truly international city has become – with world cuisines from Jamaica to Japan all represented by the city’s trademark vendors. And all US specialities can be had here too – no need to look into car hire so you can drive up the East Coast to the fishing towns of Massachusetts if you want a great clam chowder – just keep walking and the likelihood is you’ll find it.

Street Vending an “Art Form”

For New Yorkers, street vending is an art form – these are Americans who take their food seriously and there is no special dispensation for food that is dispensed on the thoroughfares of Manhattan, Brooklyn and The Bronx, so street food in this city can easily rival that which you will find in nearby restaurants – often at a fraction of the price and with minimum fuss. Plus when you buy from a street vendor in the Big Apple, you get the satisfaction of knowing that you are taking part on a time honoured NYC tradition – eating a street vendors offering is more than just a snack or a treat it is an initiation into the city’s rites and rituals.

Of course, there are so many street vendors on New Yorks ‘sidewalks’ it can be hard for a visitor to know where to start, but never fear – the local have got this covered with the annual Vendy Awards picking out the top street food sellers and honouring them for their achievements. Recent nominees include purveyors of Greek souvlaki, Dominican burgers, Mexican Tamales and Pakistani Biriyanis to name but a few.