Lagos, Nigeria

Lagos is the street food city that most Western food lists shamefully ignore. Suya — skewered beef rubbed in yaji spice (ground peanuts, ginger, cayenne, paprika) and grilled over charcoal — is sold from sunset onward at every major intersection and is as technically skilled as any yakitori in Tokyo. Jollof rice vendors spark literal national debates between Nigerian and Ghanaian versions. The puff-puff (fried dough balls) cost 100 naira for five. Lagos feeds 21 million people largely through its street food economy.