That was the case for me when I lived in Mexico.Everyone there wanted to practice their English with me instead of speaking Spanish. I finally got to where I would tell waiters and people I wanted to speak Spanish with that I didn't understand English.Then I would ask if they could speak German because that is where I was from. I told them this in Spanish of course. I hated to do that but it was necessary for me to get them to speak Spanish.
Researcher
I usually just say "No Ingles" and start speaking Japanese. They look at me funny and go back to Spanish in a heartbeat.
I've never had a problem with street food anywhere in the world - and that's been in a lot of weird places.
