All summer long, the public were voting. More than 100,000 people – in sixteen countries across Europe – cast their ballot for their street food champion. And – at the Bürgerpark in Saarbrucken – the 2024 European Street Food Awards came down to the Best of the Best. With a menu that borrowed from every corner of Europe’s culinary tradition. The TV cameras were ready. The judging panel – made up of Germany’s finest Michelin-star chefs, food bloggers and street food legends – had the unenviable task of choosing the 2024 Champions. From their AMAZING menus. The winners? MIKI from Slovakia.
In the beginning, the MIKI boyfriend/girlfriend team were known for their smiles – and their “lokša s kačkou” (potato pancake with duck and cabbage). But now – four years later – Mikulas and Majka are married. They have a baby, two much bigger food trucks – and a taco menu that’s based around Slovak ingredients. Like their Smoked Pork Knuckle Tacos with Slovak cheese, traditional pickled cabbage salad, chipotle mayo and pork skin crackers. All that was missing was the ESFA Champion trophy. Until now.
Some traders want to win the People’s Choice – they dismiss the artificial construct of a judging panel deciding who the ‘winner’ is. One such trader was Bao Bun Latvia who took home the 2024 People’s Choice from Saarbrucken. They make every bao by hand. With LEGENDARY customer service, a thumping sound system and a raging fire pit, the BBL crew are also busy developing clever new business concepts – check out their burger bao.
The judges (and what a team of judges we had) had a tough job. And it wasn’t just about the food. The European Street Food Awards is about championing all aspects of the street food revolution. From our new Award for Best Street Food Event Organiser to the Best Looking van, truck or trailer sponsored by Majisign. So here are the winners of all the other categories – in full:
Champion:
MIKI
2:
KUKU
3. Buli
People’s Choice:
Bao Bun Latvia
2.Toni Tanzer
3.Smokey Street Food
Best Burger:
Buli
Runner-Up: Rock Burger
Best Snack:
Kikeriki
Runner-Up: MIKI
Best Main Dish:
KUKU
Runner-Up: Awa, Smokey Street Food, Papelon
Best Sandwich:
Choni & Co
Runner-Up: Freaky Fries, Papelon
Best Vegetarian: Papa Piada
Runner-Up: Awa
Spice Award:
Komo
Runner-Up: Jaybees, Kikeriki
Best Dessert:
M:I Gelato
Runner-Up: 11er GenussBus, KUKU, Jaybees
Future Food Legend for a trader who promises to really CHANGE the industry: Rock Burger
Extra Mile Award for a trader giving something extra in their pursuit of excellence: Seranada
Entrepreneur of the Year for a genius concept and execution: Fumetto
Best Looking sponsored by Majisign: Matalogi
Best Street Food Event Organiser: Die Street Food Familie
Runners Up:
Reykjavik Street Food
The Sustainability Award: Komo
It was an amazing list of finalists. With an extraordinary menu of dishes. And the best team of judges we’ve ever assembled. But no time to relax. With the USA Street Food Awards beckoning, it’s onwards and upwards. The drive for the Street Food Revolution never rests….
Last year saw our best European finalists ever, with the most interest from the world’s media. But this year was even better. With the first ever heat of the USA Street Food Awards PLUS an expanding roster of new countries competing in Europe AND the launch of our new Food St market in London, 2024 was something really special.
These were the national heats:
German Street Food Awards hosted by Die Street Food Familie
3-5 May
Italian Street Food Awards hosted by Eatinero
10-12 May
Swiss Street Food Awards hosted by Foodtrucks Schweiz
23-25 May
Slovakian Street Food Awards hosted by Kino Usmev
30 May-2 June
Swedish Street Food Awards hosted by Mat Coma
31 May- 2 June
Danish Street Food Awards hosted by Reffen
7-9 June
Welsh Street Food Awards hosted by Street Food Circus
15-16 June
Icelandic Street Food Awards hosted by Reykjavik Street Food
19-21 July
Scottish Street Food Awards hosted by the Edinburgh Food Festival
20-21 July
Latvian Street Food Awards hosted by Street Food Latvia
16-18 August
Polish Street Food Awards hosted by Street Food Polska
23-25 August
Bulgarian Street Food Awards hosted by Station Street Festival
5-8 September
Norwegian Street Food Awards hosted by Street Food Norway
12-15 September
British Street Food Awards hosted by Food Mutiny
13-15 September
European Street Food Awards grand final hosted by Die Street Food Familie
4-6 October
Why not get involved in 2025? As we start to find a team to take on the USA and the winners of the USA Street Food Awards? Fill out the application form now….