🇬🇧 The food of the United Kingdom

124 dishes from the United Kingdom, best known first, across 43 cities and regions.

British cooking brings together ancient Celtic roots, Roman imports, and centuries of influence from Europe, its former colonies, and global trade. Its food is known for roasts, pies, and puddings, but also adapts dishes and spices from many cultures, reflecting a long history of migration and exchange.

Roast dinners and full breakfasts are iconic British meals.
Pies, both savoury and sweet, are central to British cooking.
British cuisine includes a wide variety of cheeses, beers, and ciders.
Trifle and scones are traditional desserts still enjoyed today.
Immigration has led to the creation of new curries and spiced dishes.

The cooking of the United Kingdom

The food of the United Kingdom blends native traditions with a long history of outside influence. Early Celtic and Roman settlers introduced grains, cheese, cider, and a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Later, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings brought new techniques for curing meats and fish, while the Normans added French words and continental styles. Over time, British food absorbed ingredients and dishes from across the world, especially through trade and immigration from India, the Caribbean, China, and beyond. Classic British meals often feature roasted meats, pies, and both sweet and savoury baked goods. The cuisine is also known for its cheeses, beers, and ciders, and has a tradition of both simple home cooking and elaborate feasts.

Staple foods in the United Kingdom

Bread, often made from wheat, rye, or oats, has long been a mainstay, with its type reflecting social class. Potatoes, introduced from the Americas, became a key food. Meat, especially beef, lamb, and pork, is central, along with fish and shellfish. Butter, cheese, and eggs are widely used. Vegetables like carrots, turnips, and cabbages are common, as are apples and other fruits. Pies, both savoury and sweet, are a hallmark.

Breakfast in the United Kingdom 17 dishes

A traditional British breakfast is hearty and filling, often including eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, and toast. This 'full breakfast' is a well-known feature, though daily breakfasts may be simpler.

Sweets and drinks in the United Kingdom

British sweets include trifle, a layered dessert with cream and fruit, sticky toffee pudding, apple pie, scones, and Victoria sponge cake. Tea is a popular drink, as are beers and ciders. Cheese varieties are numerous and widely enjoyed.

From region to region in the United Kingdom

Each part of the UK has its own food traditions. England is known for roast dinners and pies. Scotland has its own baking, such as shortbread and scones, and is the home of Scotch whisky. Wales and Northern Ireland also have distinct dishes, shaped by local produce and customs. Coastal areas often feature more seafood, while regional cheeses and breads vary widely.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "British cuisine", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Pizza 🇮🇹 Italy and 4 moreFlatbread topped with tomato, cheese and baked at high heat Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

French toast 🇫🇷 France and 5 moreBread soaked in egg and milk, pan-fried and served sweet or savoury Main dish, Breakfast, Snacks

Pancake 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreFlat cakes made from batter, cooked on a griddle or pan and served sweet or savoury Main dish, Breakfast, Snacks

Fish and chipsFish or seafood 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 8 moreBattered fried fish served hot with thick-cut chips Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Pie 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreA baked dish with a pastry crust and sweet or savoury filling Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

LaverbreadVegan 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 1 moreA soft, dark green seaweed paste from Wales, often served at breakfast Main dish, Breakfast

Thanksgiving dinnerMeat 🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreA holiday meal centered on roast turkey with a variety of side dishes and desserts Main dish, Dinner

Peking duckMeat北京烤鸭 🇨🇳 China and 4 moreCrisp-skinned roast duck from Beijing, carved and served with pancakes and condiments Main dish, Dinner, Lunch

Chicken tikka masalaMeat 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 4 moreRoasted marinated chicken in a creamy, spiced tomato-based sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Haggistaigeis 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 4 moreA savoury pudding of sheep offal, oats and spices, boiled in a casing Main dish, Dinner

VindalooMeat 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreA spicy curry of meat, vinegar and chili from Goa, now found worldwide Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Korma 🇮🇳 India and 4 moreA rich curry of meat or vegetables simmered in yogurt and spices Stew or curry, Lunch, Dinner

Stuffing 🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreA seasoned mixture used to fill meat, poultry, seafood, or vegetables before cooking Main dish, Dinner

Macaroni and cheeseVegetarian 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreBaked or stovetop pasta in a creamy cheese sauce, often with cheddar Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Neapolitan pizzaVegetarianpizza napoletana 🇮🇹 Italy and 1 moreSoft, thin pizza with high edges from Naples, baked quickly in a wood-fired oven Main dish

Corned beefMeat 🇮🇪 Ireland and 5 moreSalt-cured beef, often pink, eaten fresh or canned in many countries Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch

Roast beefMeat 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 1 moreBeef roasted whole and sliced, served hot or cold as a main dish or sandwich filling Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Baked potato 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 4 moreWhole potato baked and topped with butter, cheese, beans or other fillings Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Yorkshire puddingVegetarian 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 1 moreA baked British pudding made from a simple batter, often served with roast meats Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Scotch eggMeat 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreEgg wrapped in sausage, coated in crumbs and fried or baked Street food, Snacks, Lunch

Shepherd's pieMeatcottage pie 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreBaked dish of minced meat under a layer of mashed potato Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Gefilte fishFish or seafood 🇵🇱 Poland and 5 morePoached patties of seasoned fish, often topped with carrot Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Deviled eggsVegetarian 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreHard-boiled eggs filled with a seasoned yolk mixture, served cold Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Welsh rarebitVegetarian 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 1 moreToasted bread topped with a hot, savoury cheese sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Roast gooseMeat 🇨🇳 China and 4 moreWhole goose roasted until the skin is crisp and the meat tender Main dish, Dinner

Sunday roast 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreA meal of roasted meat, potatoes and vegetables, served on Sundays in Britain and beyond Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Baked beans 🇺🇸 United States and 3 moreWhite beans slow-cooked in a sweet or savory sauce, often served hot or on toast Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch

Toad in the holeMeat 🇬🇧 United KingdomSausages baked in a puffy batter and served hot with onion gravy Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Black puddingMeatmarag dhubh 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 1 moreA sausage made from animal blood, fat and cereal, cooked in a casing Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch

White puddingputóg bhán, marag gheal 🇮🇪 Ireland and 1 moreA sausage of oatmeal, fat and sometimes pork, without blood, from Ireland and Scotland Main dish, Breakfast, Dinner

KedgereeFish or seafood 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreRice and smoked fish with eggs, herbs and mild spices Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch

Full breakfast 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreA hearty cooked breakfast plate with meats, eggs, bread and regional extras Main dish, Breakfast

Bangers and mashMeat 🇬🇧 United KingdomSausages and mashed potato, often served with onion gravy and peas Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Steak and kidney pieMeat 🇬🇧 United KingdomA British meat pie with beef, kidney, onion and gravy under a pastry crust Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Pasanda 🇮🇳 India and 3 moreMeat strips simmered in a creamy, spiced curry from the Indian subcontinent Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Tikka 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreChunks of marinated meat or paneer cooked in a tandoor oven Main dish, Snacks, Dinner Cawl 🇬🇧 United KingdomWelsh soup or broth with meat and root vegetables Soup, Lunch, Dinner

Grilled cheeseVegetarian 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 1 moreMelted cheese between bread, cooked until golden and crisp Sandwich or wrap, Lunch, Dinner

Ploughman's lunchploughman’s lunch 🇬🇧 United KingdomA British cold meal of bread, cheese, onions and pickle, often served in pubs Main dish, Lunch

Pork pieMeat 🇬🇧 United KingdomEnglish meat pie with pork filling and jellied stock in a hot water crust pastry Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

BaltiMeatبالٹی گوشت 🇬🇧 United KingdomA British curry cooked quickly in a thin steel wok called a balti bowl Main dish, Dinner

Jerk 🇯🇲 Jamaica and 5 moreMeat marinated with hot spices and smoked over pimento wood Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Sweet and sour porkMeat 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreCrispy pork pieces tossed in a tangy, colorful sweet and sour sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Steak pieMeat 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 3 moreStewed beef and gravy baked in a pastry shell, often served with chips Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

ScampiFish or seafood 🇮🇹 Italy and 3 moreShellfish sautéed or fried, served with garlic, wine, and sometimes cheese or lemon Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Jalfreziঝালফ্রেজী 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreA spicy stir-fried curry with meat or vegetables and green chillies Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Fish pieFish or seafood 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreBaked dish of fish in creamy sauce topped with mashed potato Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Roti 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago and 4 moreCurried meat or vegetables wrapped in a Caribbean flatbread Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Neapolitan pizza: Valerio Capello at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
French toast: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Haggis: Chris Brown, CC BY 2.0, source
Balti: ayes, CC BY 2.0, source
Chicken tikka masala: Kelly Sue, CC BY 2.0, source
Steak pie: Alpha, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Roast goose: Jürgen Howaldt, CC BY-SA 2.0 de, source
Pie: Peggy Greb, Public domain, source
Fish and chips: Andrew Dunn, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Macaroni and cheese: Matt MacGillivray, CC BY 2.0, source
Peking duck: Mr Wabu, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Korma: Miansari66, CC0, source
Baked potato: Kjetil Ree, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Pancake: Brandon Martin-Anderson, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Corned beef: BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Vindaloo: Adriao, CC BY 2.5, source
Roti: Jason Lam, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Yorkshire pudding: Trussrod, CC0, source
Scotch egg: Natus, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Shepherd's pie: Abhinaba Basu, CC BY 2.0, source
Laverbread: No machine-readable author provided. Diádoco assumed (based on copyrig, Public domain, source
Deviled eggs: Marshall Astor, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Welsh rarebit: stef yau, CC BY 2.0, source
Thanksgiving dinner: Ms Jones, CC BY 2.0, source
Toad in the hole: Robert Gibert, Public domain, source
Black pudding: Alexbrn, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Kedgeree: User:Justinc, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Stuffing: Biskuit, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Roast beef: Unknown photographer/artist, Public domain, source
Bangers and mash: Qwerty Binary, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Steak and kidney pie: Hellahulla ( Hellahulla ), CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Gefilte fish: Olaf.herfurth, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Ploughman's lunch: Clothahump ( talk ), Public domain, source
Baked beans: Silar, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Sunday roast: by robbie jim, CC BY 2.0, source
Fish pie: Atelier Joly, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
White pudding: O'Dea, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Full breakfast: Rafax, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Sweet and sour pork: Walter Grassroot, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Jalfrezi: Tarquin Binary, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
Pasanda: Miansari66, CC0, source
Pork pie: Palladian, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Grilled cheese: Willis Lam, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Jerk: OUTography.com, CC BY 2.0, source
Scampi: frank wouters, CC BY 2.0, source