In an unfamiliar market, the crowded food stall can feel safer because other people become evidence.
That is social proof: when direct information is scarce, behavior nearby becomes 1 clue.
A traveler may infer that local customers know the stall has good turnover or reliable food.
The crowd can still be wrong. Popularity may reflect location, speed, or habit rather than taste.
Treat the line as a signal, then look for concrete evidence: cleanliness, menu focus, and how quickly the food moves.