Best Handheld Food From Around the World

July 15, 2013— -- intro: We eat with our hands all the time, fried chicken, ribs, burritos or Ethiopian food, but that doesn't mean those foods are handheld, meaning foods that you can eat by hand, on the go (on the contrary, they are messy and require lots of napkins.) Handheld food is portable and especially practical when you're having lunch on the go and juggling texting and walking at the same time.

Here's our top 10 handheld food from around the world.

quicklist: 1title: Empanadastext: Originally from Portugal and Spain, these South American favorites consist of stuffing encased in soft dough that varies from country to country. For example in Argentina empanadas are baked and usually stuffed with meat, boiled egg and olives, while in Colombia they are stuffed with ground beef and are deep fried. In Puerto Rico, they've got the ultimate handheld fast food: pizza empanadas (tomato sauce and melted cheese inside a dough pocket that is deep fried, of course).

And don't forget that National Empanada Day is on April 8th, check out our tour of an empanada truck in NYC we did this year.

media: 19613978

quicklist: 2title:Tacostext: Tacos are one of America's favorite Mexican imports and cultural appropriations -- many self-respecting American city streets and outdoor fairs have their own taco stand or truck. Among summer's favorite are fish or nopales (cactus) tacos washed down with a cold michelada (beer, lime juice and spices).

Check out this video on Mexico City's best street tacos.

media: 19571987

quicklist: 3title: Arepastext: Arepas are flat corn cakes from Venezuela and Colombia. They're also the main point of contention between these two neighboring nations, both claiming arepas as their own invention. Venezuelans split them open and stuff them with chicken and avocado for example, while Colombians have it simply with butter, cheese and a sprinkle of salt.

media: 19571875

quicklist: 4title: SamosasText: Samosas are the Indian version of the empanada: they are fried or baked and stuffed with a mix of spiced potatoes, onions, peas, lentils, ground lamb, beef or chicken.

media: 19571957

quicklist: 5title: Gyros text: A gyro is like a Greek burrito: pita bread stuffed with lamb roasted on a vertical spit. Don't forget tzatziki sauce made with yogurt, a tangy balance to the salty meat. In Turkey, they have a similar version called doner kebab. media: 19571896

quicklist: 6title: Hot Dogstext: Need we say more? America's favorite handheld food, hot dogs are the country's social equalizer. From the simple New York City street hot dog with ketchup and mustard, to the elaborate Chicago style with tomatoes, pickles, relish, sport peppers and celery salt, hot dogs are the country's go-to food.

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quicklist: 7title: Kati Rollstext: Kati rolls originated in Kolkata, India's street food and are the equivalent of a skinny burrito. They consist of a spicy mixture of meat or vegetables rolled in an Indian flatbread. They are popular in New York City and are on the verge of global stardom.

media: 19571997

quicklist: 8title: Jamaican Beef Pattytext: The name says it all, a Jamaican beef patty is a baked pastry stuffed with savory meat filling. It's outside shell is yellow because it's made of an egg yolk mixture or turmeric. Jamaican beef patties can be found in many Caribbean neighborhoods across America.

media: 19571886

quicklist: 9title: Knishtext: They are warm, doughy and full of carbs, this Eastern European snack consists of mashed potato, ground meat, sauerkraut, onions, kasha, or cheese wrapped in dough, although it varies from place to place. They were brought to America by Jewish immigrants.

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quicklist: 10title: Sandwichtext: And last but not least, the allmighty, all-purpose, sandwich. With peanut butter and jelly (US), stuffed with calamari or potato tortilla (Spain), the sandwich accepts any and all components.

media: 19610112