Maltese Street Food You Have To Try This Summer
In a not-so-distant past, fast food in Malta was exclusively sold from kiosks, carts, and trucks. Franchise restaurants may have taken over, but you can still enjoy simple, delectable, and cheap Maltese street food nowadays. And we know, you really want a six-pack, but you owe it to your taste buds to try the following this summer!
Festa kiosk food
We sure love a good Maltese festa. The lights, street decorations, marching bands, and fireworks are pretty top notch. But nothing goes down as well as a burger or hot dog from a festa kiosk served in a Styrofoam box, except maybe…
…Festa doughnuts!
Or is it donuts? To be fair, we are too busy savouring these sugar coated delicacies to bother about the spelling.
Mqaret
Seriously, just come to me.
If you ever caught a bus to the Valletta bus terminus to meet your friends, you most probably bought a maqrut at least once in your life. And if you still haven’t, stop what you’re doing and try these delicious date palm filled sweet pastries today.
Soft serve ice cream from a beach kiosk (Ġelat tal-magna)
Ice cream is a given when it comes to a Maltese summer. So when you hit one of the country’s beaches, don’t faff about with Magnums or Cornettos. Go for a soft serve ice cream in a plastic cup, topped with crushed nuts, a wafer and the occasional piece of Cadbury’s Flake Chocolate!
A slushie from Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq
Whatever time of day it is, when the craving hits you cannot deny yourself a multi-coloured slushie from Tony’s Ice Cream in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq.
Pastizzi (ovja)!
Butter? What butter?
Pastizzi and qassatat were the original Maltese street food way back, sold piping hot from carts in the streets. These golden butter-rich pastries filled with either ricotta or mushy peas will definitely give your arteries a workout, but the Maltese can’t help love them!
Qubbajt
Qubbajt (Maltese nougat) is a traditional sweet made with heaps of local ingredients including almonds, carob syrup, and Maltese honey. Grab a block from the next stall during a Maltese festa and enjoy with a cup of tea!
Ħobż biż-Żejt
Nothing beats the smell of a fresh Maltese ftira, smothered in kunserva (tomato paste), tuna, fresh herbs, and served with a healthy drizzle of olive oil. Consumption with an ice cold Cisk on a beach is mandatory.
“Tal-Bigilla ħej!”
If you ever happen to encounter this lovely chap selling traditional bigilla in the wee hours of the morning, make sure you ask for a generous spoonful!