Bites On A Budget: The Best Street Eat Staples From Southeast Asia

Penang Assam Laksa is street food made famous by media coverage over the last few years. Currently ranked on CNN's World's 50 Best Foods list at #7, the CNNgo staff describes the dish as: "Poached, flaked mackerel, tamarind, chili, mint, lemongrass, onion, pineapple … one of Malaysia’s most popular dishes is an addictive spicy-sour fish broth with noodles (especially great when fused with ginger), that’ll have your nose running before the spoon even hits your lips." It's debatable where the word Laksa is actually derived from, and many theories exist, but as I sat on a small plastic stool in Penang City next to a bustling Laksa cart, the vendor recounted that it originated from the Cantonese world meaning "spicy sand." Upon further research, I saw that his theory held some merit, as it's been said that the name is attributable to the sandy or otherwise gritty texture of the dish's signature ground dried prawn sauce (yum!). Sandy or not, and origin aside, it's a dish to be had and enjoyed by all. The thin rice vermicelli noodles and unique combination of flavors is something that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world.