Twilight cravings: late night dining around the world

After an evening out on the tiles, late-night eats are a godsend for soaking up the evening’s excess or just to send you off to a blissful, carb-induced sleep. Here’s how night owls, party animals and late workers in some of the world’s biggest cities refuel when hunger strikes in the small hours.

1. Breakfast at night, Shanghai

Looking for comforting breakfast food after a long night out? Shanghai boasts several shops that serve these classic staples well into the night. Fill up on dabing (sesame and spring onion flatbread), youtiao (fried dough sticks), or baozi, a variety of soft steamed buns stuffed with juicy minced pork and other delicious fillings for some serious carb-loading. 

Wash them down with a bowl of sweet or savoury doujiang (soy milk), another surefire hangover cure. You’ll find them all at Awen Yeshi Doujiang Youtiao Dian in Hongkou, one of the city’s most popular round-the- clock breakfast purveyors.

203 Huoshan Lu, Hongkou District, Shanghai, China

2. Mandu dumplings, Seoul

Dumplings make for another great late-night snack. The Korean mandu, which can be filled with everything from beef and pork to shrimp and kimchi, and are steamed, boiled or fried in multiple ways (the latter the preferred cooking method of the party crowd), is a must. 

Goobok Mandu in Seoul has found fame for its version of the dish, even claiming a mention in the Michelin Guide, but it closes at 11pm, so hungry night owls should hit Myeongdong Night Market, where stalls selling mandu and other local street food open until 1am.

Goobok Mandu: 7 Duteopbawi-ro, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea

Myeongdong Night Market: 8-3 Chungmuro 2(i)-ga, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

3. Halal snack pack, Sydney  

One of the best-known takeaway dishes Down Under, the Halal snack pack (locally known as HSP) consists of a generous pile of chips, topped with grilled Halal-certified lamb, chicken or beef, and melted cheese, all drenched with a multitude of sauce options, such as chilli, garlic, barbecue and yoghurt.

Served in cardboard containers, this beloved riff on the kebab is the ultimate late-night hangover meal after a boozy outing. Sydney’s western suburbs offer some of the best HSPs: try one at Glebe Kebab House (which opens until 2am), whose Turkish stuffed flatbread gözleme is another draw.

109 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, New South Wales, Australia

4. Pizza, New York City

Traditional New York pizza means a thin crust, sold as a foldable slice, with tomato sauce, mozzarella and your choice of toppings. Streetside food carts, pizza trucks and other takeaway options abound, but Joe’s Pizza, which has been dishing out authentic New York slices in Greenwich Village since 1975, is a no-brainer. Now with several locations across town (some of which are open until 3am or later), Joe’s is where you can satiate your late-night craving for a cheap and cheerful cheese and pepperoni slice – or three.

5. Hot dog, Chicago  

The hot dog is another American classic beloved at all hours. When ordering one in Chicago, the frankfurters in question must be all-beef, boiled or steamed, and served in a plain or poppyseed bun with yellow mustard and onion relish – pickles, peppers, tomatoes and celery salt are also featured. Among plenty of choices, Jimmy’s Red Hots and Gene & Jude’s both stay open until 1am to sate the city’s late-night crowd.

6. Currywurst, Frankfurt  

There’s no denying that currywurst, Germany’s most popular fast food, originated in Berlin, but Frankfurt also contributes many of the 800 million portions served annually across the nation. 

The types of sausages vary depending on location, with beef a more popular option in Frankfurt than the usual pork. However, it’s the sauce slathering them that’s the star – a mix of ketchup, curry powder and any number of secret spices and seasonings. Open until 6am on Friday and Saturday, Currywurst Tannus 25 serves this staple in five heat levels alongside its acclaimed chips.

7. Döner kebab, London  

Kebabs have been feeding Brits from lunch through to post-the-pub for decades, with the first döner kebab, featuring lamb meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie spit and then served in pita bread with sauces and salad, having opened in London’s Newington Green district back in 1966.  

The popular Kebab Kid in Parsons Green has been serving this staple for nearly five decades. It stays open until 2am on Friday and Saturday, offering fresh-off-the-grill chicken or lamb shish kebab and shawarma throughout the day. It’s a favourite among the cabbies, too – a solid seal of approval.

90 New Kings Road, London, United Kingdom