| Some of the best places to grab something to eat
in China
are at the street venders. They are a quick fix when you don't have time to
stop for a meal, and the best part is that it doesn't cost very much at all;
even for Chinese standards. Most of the venders that I have come across are
extremely friendly and helpful. They are always tolerant when I butcher my
Chinese. My conversations with the venders mostly consist of pointing and the
little Chinese that I learned. The food ranges from meat on a stick, to fruit
smothered in sugary syrup. Regardless of the vender, you can always find
something appealing, and you never spend more than 1 US dollar. | | One of my favorite venders is actually right
outside the campus. He serves chicken on a stick, along with just about every vegetable
imaginable. He cooks them right there on the spot, and he will add spices to
your food if you want them. A lot of Chinese enjoy grabbing a quick snack at
these venders because they are either on their way to work, or just because they
prefer the taste of them over that of a cafe or restaurant. Sometimes there are
so many people at these venders that they actually block the sidewalk. Some
people think that the venders are similar to the people in the street markets
who enjoy grabbing at you or shouting to get your attention. This is false.
Most of the time, the venders are busy preparing their food for possible
customers. I personally prefer these street venders over a fancy sit down
restaurant. This might sound strange because people typically think that
restaurants have superior tasting food, but my experiences have proven
otherwise. Some of food that I got from the venders were at least just as good
as restaurant food, it not better. Not all venders have high quality food, but
the same can be said about restaurants. |  | | Local Beijing style chestnut snack |
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