Istanbul among world's best cities for street food

Street food is a savior for pedestrians and tourists alike in Istanbul, as the city has a lively street life with vendors popping up on every corner. Compared to the rest of the world, Istanbul's street food surpasses those available in many others major cities including Paris, Marrakesh and Mexico City. CNN International compiled a list of the "World's 23 best cities for street food," including Turkey for having some of the most delicious street food in the world, rated sixth among the 23. The favorite street foods of Turkish locals, namely, "simit," (sesame seed bagels), "dürüm" (Turkish doner rolled in a thin pita) and "lahmacun" (Turkish pizza) are featured in the list. "The most recognizable Turkish street food is probably simit - which is a cross between a bagel and a pretzel. Freshly baked, dipped in molasses and covered in a sesame seed crust, simit entice snacks from push-carts all over Istanbul," the list says. "... Because so many people from around Turkey and the region migrate here, the city's sidewalks are a walkable sampler platter. Durum are basically kebabs turned into wraps. They can appear on menus of fine restaurants but just as easily on street corners. Turkish pizza, properly called lahmacun, presents a simple but satisfying meal at all hours of the night. Under-appreciated overseas, Turkish ice cream is ubiquitous and immensely satisfying, especially with pistachio." Other cities that stand out for their street food are Honolulu in Hawaii, Durban in South Africa, Louisiana in the U.S. and Cairo in Egypt. Bangkok's sweet soymilk and bean curd, Tokyo's sushi and Honolulu's raw fish salads are street foods worth trying, according to the list.