British cuisine isn’t known for being on people’s radar. If anything, it’s known to be quite bland, and some critics have joked that, with all of the spices and ingredients the British Empire had taken in its colonial past, the only “spices” used in its traditional dishes are salt and pepper. Certainly not the most-flavorful and, surely to food pundits, even boring.

However, I beg to differ– yes, much of British cuisine is centered on meat, pastries, and potatoes, but you have to admit, it’s impressive just how many variations the British can make with these simple ingredients. For instance, the humble potato can be made into fries (or chips), shepherd’s pie, a Sunday roast, etc. The cuisine is no-frills, with homely origins using resources that the middle and working class have for an unembellished, but fulfilling meal.

I’d like to share with you some of my favorite British dishes I’ve had, and that I’d recommend anyone to try. This is by no means a comprehensive list, and I’ll only stick to dishes in the country of England (so none in Scotland or Wales, sorry to say). Enjoy them with a pint, while you’re at it– here we go!

Top 10 British Dishes You Need to Try

1. Fish and chips

20230323_122304…and mushy peas on the side!

Considered the national dish of England, fish and chips is a popular takeaway that’s simple, but absolutely delicious. Typically made with cod or haddock, it’s a casual grub to have just about anywhere, from the pub to the seaside to even at home. There’s nothing better than an airy, crispy batter with tender and flaky fish inside– chips included!

2. Scotch egg

20230321_145823Black pudding Scotch egg

Scotch eggs are massive and dense, heavily-breaded on the outside with plenty of meat and filling inside– and of course, with the famed egg in the middle. It’s like finding a surprise after biting through the layers. What especially surprised me was that the Scotch egg is often eaten cold! Not sure if I liked it that way, but nevertheless, it’s a very savory appetizer to enjoy.

3. Cornish pasty

20230321_083039Potato and vegetable Cornish pasty

Local to the Cornwall region, the Cornish pasty is a hand pie filled with meat, potatoes, and vegetables. It’s historically a working-class dish, made to be filling and to last a full day working in the fields. I love a good Cornish pasty, especially with just potatoes and vegetables– and that warm, hearty crust is to die for.

4. Steak and ale pie

20230319_133559One of the best things I had in England!

Continuing with pies, I love a good steak and ale pie: I had one at Borough Market in London and immediately fell in love with it. From the hearty and flaky crust to the tender pieces of beef inside, it’s the ultimate savory meal. What I particularly love is the richness of the gravy, enhanced by the ale– I’m seriously craving one as I write this!

5. Sausage roll

20230322_105205Yum!

Another iconic British pastry, the sausage roll is a convenient grab-and-go for anything from breakfast to snack. It’s made from sausage and wrapped in puff pastry– very simple, but more-ish. I was worried it’d be bland and dry, but when I had it for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised at how buttery and flaky the pastry was and tender the sausage was inside. I would eat 10 more of them, if I could!

6. Ale

20230320_172737Just a pint…

Now, I dislike beer, but I don’t dislike ales– in fact, I love ale! I don’t like beer due to its carbonation, so that’s why I was happy to discover that ale (especially cask ale) has virtually no bubbles. It made for a very easy drink, and I could see myself enjoying it at the pub. Cheers to that!

7. Bangers and mash

20230322_194121Hearty and filling

This cheekily-named dish consists of sausage and mashed potatoes, often served with peas on the side. It’s a popular pub food, as well as a comfort food. The word “bangers” is reference to the sausages, which historically were cooked under high pressure during WWII that they popped or “banged” during cooking. Very clever!

8. Scones

20230322_131717Clotted cream or jam first? That’s the question…

Scones are a must for afternoon or cream tea. Flaky and tender, they are the perfect vessel for clotted cream and jam, and of course, served with a steaming cup of tea. Now, the controversy is: do you put clotted cream first, then jam or jam first, then clotted cream? Personally, I put the clotted cream on first, then jam!

9. Tea

20230317_123649Enjoying a cuppa

The quintessential drink, tea has been around since the 17th and 18th centuries in England due to its colonial ties to China and India, and it’s reputed that the average Brit drinks about 2 kilograms (4 lbs) of tea per year. British tea is usually a strong black tea, with blends to create brands like Earl Grey and English breakfast. Having a “cuppa” before, during, and after a meal is the way to go!

10. Chicken tikka masala

20210130_122432Comforting and flavorful

Created by British South Asians in the mid-20th century, this Indian-inspired dish derives from butter chicken, and it has become a beloved staple in the country thanks to its creamy, buttery and mild taste. Just like with fish and chips, its popularity has made it another national dish of England, and it’s representative of its notable South Asian community and history.

…and there you have it! These were my top-10 British dishes that are worth a try the next time you visit the country. Of course, I’m missing a bunch of other well-known dishes, including shepherd’s pie, full English breakfast, toad in the hole, and many more. Let me know what your favorite British dish is, or what you’d like to try. Cheers!

— Rebecca

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Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

69 thoughts on “Top 10 British Dishes You Need to Try”

    1. I liken clotted cream to a heavier, thicker kind of buttercream; it’s got a distinctive texture that makes eating scones with it a rich, indulgent experience. Pasties are delicious, and I don’t know of any places near me that sell them…guess a return trip to England is needed!

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  9. A scone with a cup of tea is one of the most comforting foods in the world. But it’s always jam before cream (sorry to any Devonians who may read this comment!). I was pleased to see scotch eggs on your list – the best ones are slightly warm with a runny yolk!

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  11. I can tell you that England is the only country where I’ve walked into a bakery, looked around, and gone, “Nah. Nothing interests me here.” 🤣 (I’m British by marriage, so I have joking immunity. 😉)
    Naturally, the husband drools over everything on this list. He complains he can’t get good fish and chips in America, and lots of other dishes are just plain difficult to find. That last one though? Mmmmm. I’ll take Anglo-Indian cuisine any day, whether in England or not!
    P.S. I’ve made scotch eggs before. They’re not too hard.

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    1. Being married to an Englishman certainly exposes you to a new array of dishes, whether you like them or not! I do love a curry and tikka masala is up on that list 😋 Thanks for sharing your insight into British cuisine!

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  12. Scones are the best! I didn’t try a sunday roast when I was in London years ago. I think I need to add scotch egg onto the to try list. When I was reading this, I can see where the stereotypical Australian food comes from (haha!). We’ve claimed meat pies, sausage rolls and fish and chips (minus mushy peas) as ours too.

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    1. I’ve not tried Sunday roast before, either, but I’m keen on giving it a go. There appears to be many similarities between the dishes in Australia and the UK, considering that the former used to be a part of the British colonies. All very delicious, in any case!

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  13. Shepherd’s Pie is my favorite to make at home, particularly since I can make a vegetarian version. I also love the full English or Scottish breakfast; it provides enough calories to power one through a full day of sight-seeing, before hitting the pub late in the day! Fun post Rebecca.

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  14. I’ve had about half of these, the sausage roll, fish and chips, scones are my favorite. We stood in line for Dishoom while we were in London and it was such delicious Indian food! Steak & ale pie looks especially good on a cold, gloomy day.

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    1. I enjoyed Dishoom when I last went to London. Steak and ale pie was such a pleasant surprise when I had it at Borough Market, and I still dream about it to this day! Thanks for reading, Lyssy. 🙂

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    1. Tea is great for when you feel sad, tired, stressed, etc– it’s the perfect drink to make you feel better! Tikka masala was created by the South Asian community living in Britain, so there you go!

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  16. Interesting to read a foreigner’s perspective on our cuisine! You’ve summarised a lot of our traditional dishes here (a shame though that the Sunday roast is missing). I love fish and chips but it’s best had near the coast where the fish will have been caught just that morning! Scones are another favourite of mine but it has to be jam before cream – sorry!

    However I think you’re doing us an injustice in suggesting that our food is bland and we don’t use spices. British cuisine has undergone a revolution in the last few decades and is now considered among the best in the world! Let me know if you’re going to be in London again and I’ll take you to one of my favourite restaurants 🙂

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    1. I actually haven’t had Sunday roast before, but I’ve been very curious to try it! Regarding British food being bland, I had noticed that the traditional dishes (e.g. fish and chips, sausage roll, meat pies, etc) don’t use a lot of spices, but I figured that doesn’t reflect all that the cuisine has to offer. I think with the world getting smaller these days due to international influences, British cuisine is changing to create more fusion food and that’s what I’m interested in trying out! I’ll let you know if I’m back in London. 🙂

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  21. I do appreciate you giving a shout out to my home cuisine, which I feel is often unfairly maligned. You’ve compiled a solid starter’s list for folk who are new to British cuisine and never visited before. If you ever go back and are up for digging deeper into British delights I would recommend Beef Wellington, Melton Mowbray Pork pie, Cottage Pie, Lancashire Hotpot, Cullen skink, Haggis Neeps and Tatties, Jam Roly Poly, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Bread and Butter Pudding, Spotted Dick (better than it sounds), trifle, Eton Mess, mince pies. Oh, and probably a dozen British-Indian dishes that give Chicken Tikka Masala a run for its money.

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    1. A long, but certainly not comprehensive list of more British dishes to try! I’ve had Beef Wellington, haggis, sticky toffee pudding, trifle, and mince pies before, and they were all delicious. I’d love to try more of the specific, regional dishes if I venture out of London, and I’ll have to report back! Thanks for the suggestions, Leighton. 🙂

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    1. Definitely try steak and ale pie! It was my favorite dish I had during my last trip to London, and I still dream about it to this day. British food is certainly comfort food at its best!

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  23. Kippers for breakfast!!!!! Bubble and Squeak Actually not keen on this last one, made from potatoes, cabbage and other leff-overs. However, like the name and reminds me of when I was a kid.

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  26. i must admit when i saw the title of the post I was thinking theres no WAY you could find 10 british dishes let alone 10 you LIKED! I actually like black pudding,. when I’m eating it. not afterward it takes DAYS to get through your system. The scotch egg though looks, i hate to say, flippin AWFUL!

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    1. I haven’t had black pudding in England before, but I’ve had it elsewhere– I like it, too! I do my best to give dishes a try at least once before I decide if I like them or not…I enjoyed most of the dishes when I was last in England, so it was a good experience!

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  27. I’m firmly in the jam-then-cream camp for scones. Perfect with a cup of tea, and super easy to make, too ☺️ Couldn’t convince me to go anywhere near a Scotch egg or a tikka masala though! Mince pies and hot cross buns spring to mind as seasonal staples that are worth a try when you’re next on British soil 😀

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    1. I love scones and have made them before (although it’s a shame you put jam, then cream first, haha just joking). I’ve had mince pies and hot cross buns before; they didn’t quite make it onto my list (as it’s the Top 10 and not Top 100), but they’re delicious and I know there are so many more scrumptious dishes in your neck of the woods!

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  28. Eating British food is not just eating. It is a surrealist expedition into a magical parallel universe that will challenge almost everything your eyes, your palate and your gut know to be proper. Before I became vegetarian and while travelling and exploring the width and breadth of Britain, I tried pretty much everything on your list and decided to stick with scones. Although Fish and Chips is a must try whilst you are in the UK, no matter where you are, you’ll be able to find a delicious plate of fish and chips. Thanks for sharing 🙂 Aiva xx

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  29. I really enjoyed this post, Rebecca. Everything looked so delicious! As you said at the beginning, I think of British food as on the blander side and how potato is cooked in different ways and incorporated into different dishes. Fish and chips, steak pie and sausage role are also considered typical Australian ‘Aussie’ food here. It may have had to do with British settlement in Australia a long time ago.

    Out of everything here I’d say I like fish and chips the most – and I haven’t had it in so long! I haven’t had Cornish pastry. It sounds like a curry puff which normally has potatoes and vegetables with some kind of meat 😊

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    1. Thanks, Mabel! Yes, British influence has extended its arms throughout a large part of the world, even all the way to Australia! Fish and chips is a classic, as it’s comfort food and late-night grub rolled into one. Cornish pasty is blander than a curry puff (i.e. little to no spices), but still a delight to have; I hope you get to try it sometime!

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      1. Fish and chips is indeed a classic! It’s definitely popular here in Australia among the locals and tourists. I haven’t had fish and chips in so long! Would love to try Cornish pastry at some point, including other British dishes 😊

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