Rick Steves' Favorite Type Of Street Food Is A Go-To For Cheap Eats In Europe

Imagine yourself on a European vacation. You sit down for a meal, relaxing as you savor the delectable foods and drinks laid out before you. It's absolutely perfect ... until the bill comes. Eating out can swallow up a big chunk of your vacation budget, so anything you can do to offset that is welcome advice. If you're looking to save some money, travel pro Rick Steves has plenty of useful tips. Previously, he explained how to eat like a local by skipping restaurants with menus written in several languages and looking at daily specials, and he's suggested picnics as a budget-friendly option. Another of Steves' tasty yet affordable food options when in Europe is the local kebab stand.

On his website, the guidebook author gives tips for eating on the cheap in Europe and says, "Of all the international options in Europe, the ubiquitous kebab stand is my favorite. Kiosks selling Turkish-style döner kebab (rotisserie meat wrapped in pita bread), falafel (fried chickpea patties), and other Middle Eastern dishes are popular in many places, including Germany, Florence, and Paris." On a thread in Reddit's r/Shoestring, a number of commenters also list kebabs as a good, inexpensive meal on the other side of the Atlantic. Plus, if you're a vegetarian, falafel from one of these stands is a good, meat-free way to get some protein.

You may have passed a döner kebab stand before and seen meat on a vertical spit. Pieces are sliced off and put into a pita or lavash. (There are also shish kebabs, which is cubed meat on a stick, just to clear up any confusion.) "Döner" comes from "dönmek," which means "turning" in Turkish. You may find lamb, beef, or chicken turning on the spits, with sauce and seasoning. This is also a great on-the-go meal if your sightseeing itinerary is packed and you want to eat while walking. 

One commenter on Reddit's r/TravelHacks says, "I have been to Amsterdam and Brussels, and when I was hungry I could always find a kebab shop where I could get a delicious fresh kebab with veggies, fries, and a drink for 8-10 Euros! Was a go to when I wanted cheap, quick food." In a 2024 Instagram post, Rick Steves discusses street food in Berlin, including döner kebabs and a variation, "Gemüse kebab (with lots of veggies, and sometimes falafel)." He also talks about kebabs in a Rick Steves' Europe YouTube video on Istanbul, with an additional recommendation to try simit, which is a sesame ring that may remind you of a street pretzel.

If you're looking for something to drink with your kebab, falafel, and simit, Steves suggests trying ayran, "a healthy yogurt drink popular with Turks." It consists of yogurt, water, and a bit of salt to bring out the flavor. Finally, if you're dining on a budget, check out Steves' clever tip to avoid paying extra at European restaurants.