The Street Food Salon, supported by NCASS and AMOBOX, is a bold new competition concept taking place at International Salon Culinaire. Designed to reflect the innovation, pace and personality of today’s street food scene, it places street food chefs and vendor teams on the same respected competitive stage as the industry’s finest culinary talent.

Staged within two fully equipped mobile street food kitchens, teams will cook for both the judges and the crowd delivering a high-impact experience. With dishes assessed by leading chefs from across the sector, this is a powerful platform to showcase your brand, sharpen your competitive edge, and gain recognition within one of hospitality’s most influential arenas.

Entry to the competitions is FREE, and the deadline is Friday 20 February at 5pm. 

SCROLL DOWN TO ENTER!

street food gif

Supported By

NCASS logo
amobox
CCE logo

A Message from Chef Director Steve Munkley

steve munkley

 

"Following two years of planning, I’m incredibly excited to introduce the Street Food Competition, celebrating one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic sectors of our industry. Street food chefs continually push the boundaries of innovation, concepts and global cuisines, delivering high-quality food to wider audiences in a relaxed, mobile setting.

HRC and International Salon Culinaire not only showcase competitors and students, but also champion the chefs shaping the future of food and setting the trends of tomorrow."

2026 Competition

  • A maximum of two chefs per entry
  • Competitors must produce:
    • 4 full portions and 20 taster portions of a substantial snack or main course dish
    • 1 full portion and 4 taster portions of a dairy-free, gluten-free vegetarian dish
  • All dishes must be accompanied by a clear and complete allergen list

Competitors will be provided with a kitchen converted from a shipping container. Supplied by our partners at AMOBOX. All equipment is electric only. No open flames are permitted.

The kitchen will include:

a. Work tables
b. Tabletop flat-top griddle
c. Induction pad
d. Tabletop fryer
e. Refrigeration
f. Heat lamps
g. Service counter
h. Double 13-amp socket
i. Preparation area adjacent to the show for set-up and clear-down

Timings & Service

  • Arrival permitted 60 minutes prior to the start, using the designated set-up area
  • 90 minutes allocated for preparation, which will be observed by the judges
  • 60 minutes allowed for service to judges and guests
  • All food must be served in (sustainable) disposable containers
  • Guests will collect food directly from the kitchen and may interact with the chefs
  • 30 minutes allocated for clear-down following service

Judging Process:

  • The 4 full main course portions and 1 gluten-free, dairy-free vegetarian dish will be assessed by specialist judges
  • The 20 taster portions will be served to invited guests, who will score entries as part of the People’s Award

Judges will assess:

  • Working methods and skills demonstrated during preparation
  • Consistency of presentation and service
  • Creativity, flavour, and taste
  • Suitability as a street food concept, including ease of service and consumption

The lead chef will be asked describe their dish, including:

  • The reasoning behind the choice
  • Authenticity and relevance to current trends
  • Popularity within their existing operation
  • Commercial viability

Enter Street Food Salon

Read our full terms and conditions