What drink would you grab with your tacos? How about your banh mi or karaage? With their bold flavours, crispy texture, and fresh toppings, these street food favourites are made for a refreshing drink. And a crisp glass of white wine can be the perfect match.
We’re talking about Chablis wines specifically – crisp white Chardonnay wines from the north of Bourgogne (Burgundy), France. The crisp dryness of these wines makes them perfect for a street food pairing, refreshing enough to cut through the rich flavours without clashing. These wines are also easy to enjoy on any occasion, so they’re the ideal companion for casual street food.
Because these wines are rather versatile and can be paired with lots of different cuisines and cooking styles, we’ve narrowed down some of our favourite London street food dishes and their ideal Chablis wine matches.
Tacos with a light Petit Chablis
We’re starting with the quintessential street food – tacos! This Mexican favourite can be hard to pin down for a good wine match given the variety of fillings you can choose from. That’s why we’re going with a fresh and versatile white wine that pairs well across the board.
The Petit Chablis from Domaine Agnès, Didier et Florent Dauvissat – available at VINVM – is a foolproof match here with its light citrus notes. It also complements lime and coriander quite nicely, often key garnishes on tacos.
Pani puri with a lively Petit Chablis
In case you’re not familiar with pani puri, this Indian street snack consists of hollow balls of fried dough, the crispy shell filled with a yummy mixture of potatoes, chickpeas, and water flavoured with fresh mint, coriander, tamarind, and spices like chaat masala.
It’s absolutely delicious with a spicy kick, so we’d pair it with a fresh, lively, and citrusy glass of Petit Chablis from Domaine Daniel Séguinot, available at The Good Wine Shop.
Arancini with a refreshing Chablis
A cheesy Italian classic that can be found both in restaurants and street markets, arancini are best paired with a drink that balances their richness and crispy texture. We’d suggest a glass of Chablis Le Jardin du Curé from Domaine Michaut Frères, available from Majestic; fresh yet rounded and harmonising with all that deep-fried, cheesy goodness.
Falafel with a vibrant Chablis
Who doesn’t love falafel? A textured, saline white wine like a Chablis Cuvée Mademoiselle 2023 from Domaine Pinson Frères (available at BBR) pairs perfectly with this Middle Eastern dish. Expect it to bring out the tahini and spices (such as cumin and coriander) that give this tasty fritter its signature flavour.
Karaage with a crisp Chablis Premier Cru
If you’re heading out for some indulgent karaage (Japanese fried chicken), you’ll definitely want to grab a drink that cuts through the deep-fried, saucy indulgence.
We’d recommend a glass of Chablis Premier Cru Côte de Léchet from Sébastien Dampt (available at BBR); its minerality balances the richness and lets you enjoy the karaage without growing tired of it (yes, even a whole bucket).
Banh mi with an elegant Chablis Premier Cru
Nothing hits like those banh mi cravings – we’ve been there.
If you’re about to grab one of these crunchy Vietnamese sandwiches, we’d suggest pairing it with a Chablis Premier Cru Les Lys from Bernard Defaix (available at The Great Wine). The texture and saline finish of this white wine perfectly complement the savoury pork, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs.
