French Phrase
Les vendeurs de street food ont souvent ce qu'il y a de meilleur.
Meaning
This sentence praises street‑food vendors, saying they usually offer the very best—whether it’s flavor, creativity, or freshness. The idiom "ce qu'il y a de meilleur" is a slightly formal way to express "the best of".
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to compliment the quality of street‑food offerings, for example in a casual conversation with friends, a food‑blog review, or when recommending a food market.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lesvendeursdestreet foodontsouventcequ'ilyademeilleur
Ce qu'il y a de + adjective
The structure "ce qu'il y a de + adjective" means "the most/ the best" and is used to evaluate a whole category rather than a specific noun.
Partitive "de" after superlative adjective
After a superlative adjective used in this idiom, "de" links the adjective to the noun phrase (e.g., "de meilleur").
Agreement of "ont"
"Vendeurs" is plural, so the verb "avoir" must be conjugated as "ont".
Borrowed English noun
"Street food" is an English loanword; in French it stays invariable and is treated as a masculine singular noun.
Adverb placement
Adverbs like "souvent" normally go after the conjugated verb in French.
🗨In Conversation
J'ai goûté le taco du camion rouge, c'était incroyable !
I tried the taco from the red truck, it was amazing!
Oui, les vendeurs de street food ont souvent ce qu'il y a de meilleur.
Yes, street‑food vendors often have the best.
✕Common Mistakes
Les vendeurs de street food ont souvent le meilleur.
Using "le meilleur" changes the meaning to a specific noun ("the best"), losing the idiomatic nuance of "the best of".
Les vendeurs de street food le souvent ont ce qu'il y a de meilleur.
Placing "souvent" after "le" is unnatural; adverbs normally follow the verb.
Les vendeurs de street food ont souvent ce qu'il y a de meilleurs.
The idiom requires the singular adjective after "de"; "de meilleurs" would be a comparative, not the idiomatic superlative.
↔Alternatives
Les marchands de street food proposent souvent le meilleur.
Street‑food merchants often offer the best.
On trouve généralement le top de la cuisine chez les vendeurs de street food.
You usually find top‑notch cuisine with street‑food sellers.
Les food trucks offrent fréquemment ce qu'il y a de plus savoureux.
Food trucks frequently offer the most tasty things.
Cultural Tip
In France, "street food" (often called "food trucks" or "camions-restaurants") has exploded in popularity since the 2010s, especially in big cities like Paris and Lyon. While the term is English, French speakers use it without translation. When praising street food, it's common to use informal, enthusiastic language; the idiom "ce qu'il y a de meilleur" adds a touch of elegance, making the compliment sound both sincere and slightly refined.