I have found that when I travel, the best food is often that sold by street vendors. Obviously, you have to be careful about not getting sick, but sometimes it is worth it for a great flavor! What is your favorite Egyptian street food?

I haven't been to Egypt, so I can't really comment on my favorite street food. What I can say, though, is that I wouldn't be hesistant in trying it! I had so many good experiences with street vendors in Guatemala...it is so much cheaper than other places, and is usually very fresh. You just have to be very aware of your surroundings, and look for any signs that a particular food stand may not be as "clean" as others. Anywhere you go, you generally want to look for places that cook or prepare the food just for you, and don't have it sitting out (already prepared) for long periods of time.

I think one there's something to remember about eating street food in foreign countries ...while the food may be prepared properly and be clean there may also be things in it that can cause a bad reaction. I learned this while on a long stay in japan ...and eating a lot of sushi. I became quite ill with swollen lymph glands and had to see a doctor there. He said that in any culture foods are different and the locals have a built in resistance and antibodies whereas tourists don't. That's why we often will get tourista. So, I still eat food from street vendors but I'm careful on amount. Just a taste!

I am with you that I love to try the local foods and yes I have found that street vendors usually have great food, but I try small portions. I am always afraid of getting sick like the above poster mentioned.

Right...always in moderation. Sort of like drinking water...even if a foreign country has decent filtering facilities for water, you can still get sick from drinking it because it is "different." I'm almost foolishly adventurous though, and will try a bit of everything if it looks safe.

I'm afraid I'm like that, too. I know that I need to keep new food and
drink in the moderation zone... but problem is that things taste so good,
it's difficult to imagine not feeling well after eating or drinking them. It's
a hard lesson to learn sometimes.

My husband learned the hard way about drinking the water while out of the States. He was in El Salvador and got VERY sick. Of course, after that, he didn't hesitate to eat the local fare. He figured he already had the bug, how much worse could it get? LOL

It happens ...and it's usually the water whether you drink it or whether it is used on uncooked foods. Pays to travel with some medication from your doctor. I do!

I am curious do the locals that drink the water also get sick. Or don't they because they are used to it? I hear this alot with traveling. Not to drink the water.

When I visited Egyptian homes I have never seen them with bottled mineral water, they usually drink and serve water from the tap - but they are used to it and immune, a foreigner most probably would get sick from it. So not advisable.