Food news
WorldOktoberfest celebrates German food, culture in ErieIndiaThe New York Times. . Surprise raids of Mumbai kitchens called for by Maharashtra’s new top food and drug official have made him an unlikely celebrity and set off a conversation about food standards in India. https://trib.al/29fuVVuHeritageThe National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo capped off its 2026 ‘Magbasá Kita: A Reading Program for Young Learners’ with an immersive storytelling session at the museum’s Book Nook on September 23, 2026. The activity introduced the localStreet foodNew Northern Kentucky café brings Thai street food and specialty shoppingHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesStreet foodMan dead, 3 in custody after shooting outside Piada Italian Street Food in Mayfield HeightsStreet foodBrick-and-Mortar Restaurants Need to Stop Blaming Street VendorsStreet food1 dead, 3 detained in Mayfield Heights shootingFarm and marketYour guide to Harvest Fair 2026 at Wisconsin State Fair ParkWorldOktoberfest celebrates German food, culture in ErieIndiaThe New York Times. . Surprise raids of Mumbai kitchens called for by Maharashtra’s new top food and drug official have made him an unlikely celebrity and set off a conversation about food standards in India. https://trib.al/29fuVVuHeritageThe National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo capped off its 2026 ‘Magbasá Kita: A Reading Program for Young Learners’ with an immersive storytelling session at the museum’s Book Nook on September 23, 2026. The activity introduced the localStreet foodNew Northern Kentucky café brings Thai street food and specialty shoppingHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesStreet foodMan dead, 3 in custody after shooting outside Piada Italian Street Food in Mayfield HeightsStreet foodBrick-and-Mortar Restaurants Need to Stop Blaming Street VendorsStreet food1 dead, 3 detained in Mayfield Heights shootingFarm and marketYour guide to Harvest Fair 2026 at Wisconsin State Fair Park
Thali

Lunch around the world

The midday meal: in much of the world, the main one.

Pilaf 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan and 5 moreRice cooked in stock with spices, meat or vegetables, with each grain kept separate Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Biryani 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreRice and spiced meat or vegetables layered and cooked together Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Paella 🇪🇸 Spain and 1 moreRice cooked with meat, seafood or vegetables in a wide shallow pan from Valencia Main dish, Lunch Risotto 🇮🇹 ItalyCreamy Italian rice dish slowly cooked with broth and finished with cheese Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Bariis iskukarisMeat 🇸🇴 SomaliaSomali rice cooked with meat, spices and vegetables in one pot Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Bibimbap비빔밥 🇰🇷 South Korea and 1 moreKorean rice bowl with mixed vegetables, meat, egg and chili paste Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Fried rice 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreCooked rice stir-fried with eggs, vegetables, meat or seafood, and seasonings Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Nasi goreng 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreSoutheast Asian fried rice seasoned with sweet soy sauce and spices Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Kabsaكبسة 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia and 4 moreRice and meat cooked with aromatic spices, a staple of the Arabian Peninsula Main dish, Lunch, Dinner KhichdiVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 4 moreRice and lentils cooked together, often with vegetables and spices Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Jambalaya 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreLouisiana rice cooked with meats, vegetables and spices in one pot Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Jollof rice 🇸🇳 Senegal and 5 moreWest African rice simmered in tomato, chili and spices, often served with meat or fish Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Donburi丼物 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese rice bowl topped with simmered meat, fish, or vegetables Main dish, Lunch, Dinner KatsudonMeatカツ丼 🇯🇵 JapanDeep-fried pork cutlet and egg served over a bowl of rice Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Sarma 🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 moreLeaves wrapped around a filling of rice, minced meat and spices Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Kabuli pulaoMeatقابلی پلو 🇦🇫 Afghanistan and 5 moreAfghan rice pilaf with caramelized carrots, raisins, and meat Main dish, Lunch, Dinner LemangVegan 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 3 moreGlutinous rice cooked with coconut milk in bamboo tubes lined with banana leaves Main dish, Lunch, Dinner MujaddaraVeganمجدّرة 🇮🇶 Iraq and 5 moreLentils and rice cooked together and topped with fried onions Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Arròs negreFish or seafood 🇪🇸 Spain and 5 moreRice cooked with squid ink, cuttlefish or squid, and seafood broth Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Hyderabadi biryani 🇮🇳 IndiaBasmati rice and spiced meat cooked together in the Hyderabad style Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Chazuke茶漬け 🇯🇵 JapanCooked rice with green tea or broth poured over and topped with savory garnishes Main dish, Snacks, Lunch LontongVegan 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreCylindrical rice cake wrapped in banana leaf, served with sauces or soups Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Hayashi riceMeatハヤシライス 🇯🇵 JapanBeef, onion and mushroom in demi-glace sauce over rice, a Japanese Western-style dish Main dish, Lunch, Dinner KedgereeFish or seafood 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreRice and smoked fish with eggs, herbs and mild spices Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch UnadonFish or seafood鰻丼 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 moreGrilled eel fillets served over steamed white rice in a bowl Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Tumpengꦠꦸꦩ꧀ꦥꦼꦁ 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreCone-shaped rice surrounded by assorted Indonesian side dishes Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Nasi udukꦤꦱꦶ​ꦮꦸꦢꦸꦏ꧀ 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreSteamed coconut rice with spices, served with assorted side dishes Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Phat kaphraoผัดกะเพรา 🇹🇭 Thailand and 2 moreThai stir-fry of meat or seafood with holy basil, served over rice Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Pongal 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreRice cooked in milk, central to the Tamil harvest festival Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Nasi kuningVegetarian 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreRice cooked with coconut milk and turmeric, served for celebrations across Indonesia Rice dish, Breakfast, Lunch KiribathVeganකිරිබත් 🇱🇰 Sri LankaSticky rice cooked in coconut milk, served for celebrations in Sri Lanka Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Tahchinته‌چین 🇮🇷 IranIranian rice baked with yogurt, saffron, egg and meat in a golden crust Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Pabellón criolloMeat 🇻🇪 VenezuelaVenezuelan rice with stewed beef, black beans and often fried plantain Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Yangzhou fried riceMeat扬州炒饭 🇨🇳 China and 3 moreChinese-style fried rice with pork, shrimp, egg and mixed vegetables Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Thai fried riceข้าวผัด 🇹🇭 ThailandStir-fried jasmine rice with meat, egg, and Thai seasonings Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Nasi Kerabuناسي کرابو 🇲🇾 Malaysia and 3 moreBlue-tinted rice with herbs, salad, and assorted sides from Malaysia and southern Thailand Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Ló͘-bah-pn̄gMeat滷肉飯 🇹🇼 Taiwan and 1 moreSteamed rice topped with braised minced pork in soy sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Nasi padang 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 3 moreSteamed rice with a spread of spicy Minangkabau dishes from West Sumatra Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Bisi bele bathVegetarianಬಿಸಿ ಬೇಳೆ ಭಾತ್ 🇮🇳 IndiaSpiced rice and lentils cooked with vegetables and aromatic masala Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Shirin poloVegetarian 🇮🇷 IranPersian rice pilaf with saffron, nuts, and dried fruits for festive occasions Main dish, Dinner, Lunch Nasi goreng pattayaMeat 🇲🇾 Malaysia and 2 moreFried rice wrapped in a thin omelette, often served with cucumber and crisp crackers Main dish, Lunch, Dinner AkhniMeatআখনী 🇧🇩 BangladeshSpiced rice cooked with meat, vegetables and yoghurt from eastern Bangladesh Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Moros y Cristianos 🇨🇺 Cuba and 1 moreCuban rice and black beans cooked together with vegetables and spices Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Khao kha muMeatข้าวขาหมู 🇹🇭 ThailandStewed pork knuckle served over rice with pickles, egg, and spicy sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Sabzi poloVegetarianسبزی پلو 🇮🇷 IranPersian rice cooked with fresh and dried herbs, often served with fish Rice dish, Lunch, Dinner Baghali poloباقلا پلو 🇮🇷 Iran and 2 moreRice cooked with fava beans and dill, often served with lamb Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Xôi 🇻🇳 VietnamVietnamese sticky rice, eaten plain or with sweet or savory toppings Rice dish, Breakfast, Lunch Red bean riceVegan 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 moreRice cooked with red beans, eaten for celebrations and winter in East Asia Rice dish, Lunch, Dinner

Photo credits on this page

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

The weekly plate

Every Monday: seven dishes you may not know, what the world is cooking this week, and one way of eating.