Have you ever tried British food outside the UK?
Posted by lugonamission@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 571 comments
Ever tried traditional British food, like meat pies in Australia or fish and chips in South Africa? How do they compare?
redmagor@reddit
According to the comments in this thread, British food consists only of fish and chips and fry-ups.
Flat_News_2000@reddit
That's because there's no demand for British food anywhere but the UK lol
FridayGeneral@reddit
That's nonsense. I have yet to find a country that does not have sandwiches or pies or ale or roasts or English-style cakes/biscuits/desserts in some form. British food is abundant around the world. It's actually hard to avoid.
Whoisthehypocrite@reddit
Ale didn't originate in the UK so that doesn't count and most countries don't drink the British idea of ale anyway. And pies dont originate in the UK, we have merely refined them to a British version. Nor are sandwiches British, that is a myth. The earl of sandwich had seen people in Europe eating meat in bread. Though I have yet to find a country that has the British preoccupation with ready made sandwiches.
FridayGeneral@reddit
This is incorrect. Ale was invented in England specifically.
All ale is the British idea of ale, by definition.
Again, no. Pies were invented in UK.
Yet again, no. The name comes from the Earl of Sandwich, a Brit.
It is the other way around. Europeans saw him eating sandwiches and copied him.
If you mean sandwiches made by someone else, rather than yourself, this is common in most countries, but especially France, Italy, USA, Australia, Japan, Canada, and Iceland.
Worried-Cicada9836@reddit
there is but alot of it isnt known as "british".
Jason_liv@reddit
* British food abroad consists of fish and chips and fry-ups. Sunday roasts with Yorkshire puddings (sometimes labelled puff pancakes) can also be had. You don't really find anything else available.
FridayGeneral@reddit
No, you definitely find sandwiches and pies abroad too.
Not to mention all the food and drink we export, like cheese, seafood, beef, lamb, ale, whisky, gin, etc.
Jason_liv@reddit
Yep, I suppose per the initial question you're right re: ingredients - they didn't specifically say meals.
Not_invented-Here@reddit
It's sorta noticeable.
In my defence if on holiday I'd probably only look for a fry up, or maybe a roast.
When living abroad if I've ever wanted UK food like shepherds pie etc. I'd just cook it myself because it's usually better.
himit@reddit
I've had British food made by Brits aimed at other local British immigrants and it's generally top, because they get obsessed with making it just right.
Finding it can be a challenge, though. Other places offering British food generally caters to local tastes.
Australia has their own version of fish and chips which is really tasty - but different. Near where I lived in Aus also had a guy who had a full British fish & chip shop where he imported everything from the equipment to the potatoes, and that was amazing & 100% British.
Fingers_9@reddit
How are the fish and chips different?
NixyPix@reddit
The chips aren’t the same, not proper chip shop chips. The vinegar isn’t right either, it doesn’t make your mouth pucker. Same goes for the pickled onions - I actually looked at trying to import Gold Star pickled onions from Scotland as the ones here are shite.
As for the fish, unsure as I don’t eat it.
Basso_69@reddit
Well, there's no Cod in Aus! Fish tends to be less oily and more flaky. Goes better with other seafood but it's not a 'winter warmer'.
fingers1000000@reddit
Heading out there for 3 weeks over Christmas, I’ve heard good things about the Bay Bugs?
Meal_Material@reddit
If you're in Sydney a visit to the fish market is a must. Used to love sitting out in the sun eating lobster and chips out of a cardboard tray. Happy days...
fingers1000000@reddit
Brisbane, but I’ll be travelling a bit. We’re mostly be preparing our own food as we’re all very keen cooks, will be awesome to play with some new ingredients!
rectal_warrior@reddit
Flathead is one of the best eating white fish, really delicious
fingers1000000@reddit
I’ll take note, thank you
rectal_warrior@reddit
The seafood is good here, really good! Make sure you're getting it fresh, Sydney fish markets may be touristy but you will see and eat some amazing seafood. Christmas and seafood go hand in hand so prices do increase, but you won't struggle to find it.
NixyPix@reddit
Morton Bay bugs are excellent in my opinion.
Basso_69@reddit
But only from a good restaurant. Very delicate flavour that needs to be respected by the chef.
fingers1000000@reddit
Thanks for the info
rectal_warrior@reddit
Traditionally 'flake' is used which is one of two sharks (gummy or school) it needs to be treated properly as it contains lots of ammonia. Some shops will have other fish like flathead on the menu.
I've had fish and chips maybe 30 times in Australia and only once had the fish not been overcooked. Like a lot of places outside of the motherland the obsess with crispy batter over well cooked fish.
Basso_69@reddit
That explains why I hate soggy Cod and Chips! Never thought about it before (Oz resident in Uk)
rectal_warrior@reddit
You need to eat it immediately without wrapping it in paper
doegrey@reddit
I’m sure there is cod?
But can’t be sure, cause whenever I’m there, I head straight for the barramundi!
rectal_warrior@reddit
NEVER BUY FARMED BARRAMUNDI it tastes horrid in comparison to the wild caught stuff, and way better for the environment
Basso_69@reddit
Barra at a Chippie? Excellent!
doegrey@reddit
Yes!! (Not all of them of course but I’ve been to quite a few!)
alex8339@reddit
Probably used proper vinegar instead of non brewed condiment.
knotatwist@reddit
It was white vinegar last time I was there, instead of malt 🤢
Live_Understanding54@reddit
Oh no that’s grim 🥲
CrossCityLine@reddit
Don’t go to Scotland then if you don’t like white vinegar at chip shops.
fingers1000000@reddit
Ohh Jesus, I’m sorry you had to go through that.
CSPVI@reddit
I had an Australian ex who would always bang on about how our vinegar was crap, they have white vinegar not malt
uktravelthrowaway123@reddit
Chips are usually more like fries plus they're actually salted properly, vinegar is pretty unusual, fish is battered a bit differently imo and usually tastier, you'd also be unlikely to find stuff like mushy peas or curry sauce
Fingers_9@reddit
Salted properly? I've never had an issue with UK chippies, salt wise.
himit@reddit
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HEn3tioXvPm9iY2E9?g_st=ac
This is one near where I lived over there.
The options are different, and you generally pick stuff from the display cases. The menu's much larger, usually.
Overall I prefer British fish & chips, but Aussie places have potato scallops which are divine so it's a hard one.
Magic_Fred@reddit
Like a fritter?
Remedial_Gash@reddit
In South Wales we had scallops, they were like an oval of softish potato, battered and obviously fried. Is that the same sort of thing?
Weirdly haven't seen them in a while, but rarely go to a chip shop any more, as have none local and the premium, city centre ones take the piss with their pricing.
himit@reddit
Yes!! This exactly!!
A lot of Australian British-inspired cuisines seem to come from smaller, regional variations in the UK and it's kind of fascinating to me -- in Australia, something called 'chicken salt' is ubiquitous (and delicious) but you can't find it in any other country; however, in Hull there's something called 'chip spice' which is very similar but it's limited to that little area. Somehow that little regional quirk made its way over to Australia and become nation-wide, like scallops.
I wonder if anyone's ever collected them up.
Remedial_Gash@reddit
Ah yeah, the much fabled chip spice, I've yet to try it but it goes with a whole American style branding and then says 'made in Hull' in small letters.
As for 'chicken salt', growing up (mid eighties - I am old) my mum would would make 'chicken in a basket' as a posh treat - look I'm welsh, it was a treat. The deep fried or roasted legs were liberally coated in 'chicken seasoning', which was basically a very salty, mildly spicy, and a bit 'red' mixture of powders. Anything like that?
himit@reddit
so I have tried the proper American Chip Spice (from Hull) in the past and I found it just OK?? I also imported some Australian chicken salt and found it lacking compared to the flavour burst of my childhood, but there's a company in London that does big packs that I want to try someday.
So I've seen chicken seasoning in the supermarkets but not tried it yet. The ones I've seen always look yellow, but chicken salt in Australia is definitely bright red (or sometimes very orange/lurid yellow). I should really pick some up and give it a shot.
Remedial_Gash@reddit
Yeah, the stuff my mum used to use was bright red and probably contained some artificial colourant that is probably long banned, I'll have to ask her where she got it from.
Shame on the chip spice, has dampened my desire to bother now. Oh well,.
bucket_of_frogs@reddit
Potato scallops are common here oop north.
Fingers_9@reddit
It's quite common to see potato scallops here in the UK, but maybe they are different.
justmeinthenight@reddit
The fish is usually shark, it's delicious and light, but different.
farglegarble@reddit
I've had fish and chips in NZ and while the chips were lackluster the fish was superior
Ok_Neat2979@reddit
The chips are always frozen chips, hard outer, nothing in the middle. It's not that common to have vinegar either.
Lachiexyz@reddit
So depending on where you are in Australia, you may get your fish crumbed and fried rather than battered and fried. It's more common in QLD (and possibly NSW?). In VIC, battered is more common. I personally prefer crumbed, it's much tastier, not as heavy/sickly, and is especially nice with a squeeze of lemon.
The other difference is the fish in Australia is usually flake (different to the UK), which is a type of shark meat (Gummy shark I believe). It's quite firm and flakes into nice chunks, and has no bones.
The chips also vary a lot between states. I've found the chips in VIC are closer to what you get in the UK, often made of fresh cut potato. On the other hand, a lot of chip shops in QLD will use frozen chips (which I also prefer) which are longer and thinner (not french fries, but somewhere between the two). I find the chips in australia are more crunchy and go less soggy than chips in the UK (I've only really been to one chippy in the UK that has done chips that I'd happily go back for more). The seasoning salt in QLD tends to be better than VIC as well. Down south they tend to use chicken salt specifically, but in QLD it varies a lot from shop to shop. Also I don't think vinegar is as common as in the UK (I don't personally go for salt and vinegar)
And that is without even thinking about getting into the potato scallop vs potato cake argument (QLD does better there too). Also, the chiko roll is a taste sensation and I really wish I could get them in the UK.
I'm sure others will disagree with me, but hey, do what makes you happy.
Fingers_9@reddit
That's really interesting. Thank you.
LargePlums@reddit
As well as other response in chips and vinegar , the fish is different - they usually use ‘flake’ which is a gummy shark. It’s different but it’s really good.
TrashPandaBoy@reddit
In Chiang Mai, in Thailand, there's a great diner/restaurant called Annie's that's owned by an ex-pat. Does really really cracking British grub, really feels like you're at home in the pub with a full English etc.
The highlight for me was bangers and mash in a huge Yorkshire pudding
Not_invented-Here@reddit
It can vary IMO depending on ease of getting ingredients and cost.
However following from your point, one of the best frys up I have ever had was in Pai in Thailand about twenty years ago when it was still a pretty quiet town.
Some English guy who lived there pretty much had made a fry up from scratch, cured the bacon,made the sausages, made his own bread. It was genuinely incredible.
Different_Usual_6586@reddit
Sweet potato fries in Hanoi, Vietnam - was French fries with sugar as a topping...
Jolly_Constant_4913@reddit
I did have fish and chips in s.a. Jo burg and can't remember so must have been ok.
Good quality ingredients are a must.
Had some things in India but they often fail at some level. Chips tend to be bland. Burger bin way too thick and the meat slab trying fall out.
There's a reason we all miss fish and chips when abroad because it's a uniquely British thing
widgetbox@reddit
I've had "Indian" food all over the world. Not forgetting that British Indian food is one version and that there's a world of difference across India itself. I've had good and bad as in the UK. American is universally not spicey enough even if you ask for it to be Brit level hot. When I was living in SF Bay area all the Indian food was cooked by Nepalis for some reason.
Most of us are looking for the British currey house experience as well. Hard to explain what that is to non Brits..
StardustOasis@reddit
Which is ironic, considering they think all our food is bland and unseasoned.
jjgill27@reddit
Maybe that’s what they thought they were asking for.
Unprounounceable@reddit
Yeah, if I was the cook and heard "Brit spicy" I'd assume very little spice. Fwiw, I'm from the US and most Indian restaurants make the food plenty spicy. I've only been in the UK for a few months so I don't have the largest sample size yet, but I've found the curries I've tried to be bland compared to what I'm used to. I intend to keep trying different spots though before I'd make any sort of generalization.
herefromthere@reddit
Could it be a salt level thing?
A-Grey-World@reddit
Really depends where in the UK you are for curries. It's like, if you go to rural Pennsylvania and get Mexican food, I'd guess it's going to be a bit more bland than if you were in Texas or something.
Some places - Bradford, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, there's a good sized immigrant population and a culture for good and hotter curries.
I lived in Portsmouth for many years and it was awful there, had to get my curry fix when I went home to my parents. Totally bland.
jjgill27@reddit
Just ask for Indian spicy. If you’re staying in London, take a trip to Southall, it’s worth it (try Manjus).
Unprounounceable@reddit
Good tip - thanks!
Hot_Price_2808@reddit
Alot of places say "Indian" even if Bangladeshi/Pakistani/Nepalese as people aren't familiar with these foods and then will do a couple of Indian dishes as although the foods aren't the same they have alot in common.
CheesecakeExpress@reddit
This is true. I’d say it’s even more nuanced than that, Indian food from the south is different to Indian food from the north. My background is Pakistani Punjabi so my food is very similar to Indian Punjabi food, and less similar to Pakistani food from elsewhere. So it really can vary depending on the restaurant, style of food and the chefs!
Hot_Price_2808@reddit
I mean to be honest of you both Pakistan and India have huge regional identities within them with varying cultures and with that different cuisines.
CheesecakeExpress@reddit
Yes exactly my point!
Remedial_Gash@reddit
Tbf most 'Indian' restaurants in the UK are run by Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, especially the predominant curry at the end of the night places.
starsandbribes@reddit
North American Indian food is just salty. It doesn’t feel like it has a rich flavour profile at all. Not sweet, spicy or creamy in any spots. Just salty gravy basically.
Curious because Indians who went to NA are more recent than British Indians, so which of the two are more authentic to real Indian food?
KoreanJesusPleasures@reddit
Lol, did you generalize two of the largest countries in the world to suggest their Indian food is "just salty"?
wildOldcheesecake@reddit
I’ve had decent Indian food in San Francisco where there is a large Indian community. I also seen online that whenever an American is eating Indian food, it’s always some orange looking butter kitchen, naan and rice. They don’t even eat it properly, scooping the curry with a fork into their mouth and then taking a bite of rice.
Whereas here, folks love to eat a different variety
coffeewalnut05@reddit
What would say are some of the biggest differences between British Indian food and Indian food?
pm-me-animal-facts@reddit
Indian food varies massively across the country. In certain parts it will be veg only, some parts, dry meat, some parts fish with sauce etc. Somebody who is Indian/has spent more time learning about this than I have could be more specific I’m sure!
British Indian Restaurant (BIR) food is the same in all parts of the UK and is largely meat with a sauce and the sauce is often mixed with cream (butter chicken, tikka masala etc) or coconut milk (I think Korma is made with this but I might be wrong). Essentially it was created to cater for British tastes. There are of course Indian restaurants in the uk that are not like this but if you walk in to any town from Portsmouth to Inverness you will be able to find a BIR style restaurant.
andyone1000@reddit
Those ‘Indian’ restaurants are nearly all Bangladeshi.
pm-me-animal-facts@reddit
Correct. They still serve BIR style food.
fingers1000000@reddit
I live in Leicester, there are a lot of different styles and some of the best Indian food I’ve ever had, there are some very shit ones as well! I travelled for 3 months in India and had some amazing and fucking terrible food, the variables are endless. It’s a much better situation than the Turkish restaurants, that are akin to a shit BBQ or a Chinese where you can almost order by colour rather than flavour!
CheesecakeExpress@reddit
As a British Pakistani Punjabi there isn’t loads of difference. I would say at home we tend to go for more tomato based sauces than cream sauces, and things are usually a bit spicier. But decent restaurants will have a good mix of stuff that’s eaten at home. For example, I’d have bhindi (okra) and roti, or daal and rice for dinner at home and can find it in a restaurant too.
bucket_of_frogs@reddit
In India, I was disappointed by the similarity to be honest. I expected the food to be fresher, with more depth of flavours and with more variation. I had some great food but nothing really surprised me. The way to experience food in India is to eat where there’s no menu in English and everyone stares at you because they’re not used to tourists being there. Eat in the street at a market stall or some shack by the side of the road.
ChefPaula81@reddit
Trying to make non British people understand the desire to sweat your tits off at 2am while blistering your mouth on a decent vindaloo 🤣
therealdan0@reddit
It’s the closest some of us get to exercise.
ChefPaula81@reddit
Of course it is! Those 6 pints aren’t gonna lift themselves ya know!
Not_invented-Here@reddit
I've had Indian food in Thailand and Vietnam and these are places probably more catering to Indians than Brits.
The menus I found surprisingly familar to decent UK curry houses.
Some of the decor as well tbh.
90210fred@reddit
When I lived in Eastern Europe years ago, we had two Indian restaurants.
One authentic One Indian (where authentic = UK style)
We always ate in the the authentic one
Infinite_Toilet@reddit
I went to an Indian restaurant in Muscat, Oman once and was surprised to find it was British Indian food, and it was banging.
chemhobby@reddit
Yeah I'm really missing British Indian food now that I live in Toronto
andyone1000@reddit
The Brit curries are 90% Bangladeshi.
wildOldcheesecake@reddit
But actual Bangladeshi curries are gorgeous and different to what folks order. I wish it was more popular. Ditto for Nepali food but I’m biased there as I’m a British Nepalese
Crittsy@reddit
Australia is disqualified as they are our brothers when it comes to food, I love meat pies in the UK but the Aussies do a good job on them, I think you can get some great Fish n Chips as well
Whoisthehypocrite@reddit
Meat pies in the UK in general are awful compared to the ones I have had in South Africa. You can go to a supermarket there and get a great hot meat pie that would be like something from a farmers market here in the UK
Greggybread@reddit
Ehhh they do make holes in pies and fill them full of ketchup and call them "pie floaters" though. Make of that what you will. 😂
Fish and chips is very different. Veg oil not dripping and different fish means it tastes more like chain shop or kebab shop fish and chips. Australians prefer their version, but to me it just doesn't scratch that itch somehow.
TheRealVinosity@reddit
Nah, mate. That's not what a pie floater is.
Greggybread@reddit
"The pie floater is an Australian dish sold in Adelaide. It consists of a meat pie in a thick pea soup, typically with the addition of tomato sauce."
All the ones I've seen have been rammed full of ketchup 🤮
Basso_69@reddit
The classic 3am soak up meal
nearlydeadasababy@reddit
I think the problem with "foreign" British food is they are taken at face value, I'm sure that it's common for lots of cultural food but I think it's especially an issue with British food as it's often a sum of it's parts rather than a recipie.
So for example 'Fish and Chips' isn't just any old random fish and some sliced potatoe, it's explicitly Large Flake White fish, cooked in batter and served with very low water content popatoes, cut in a particular style. In the Southern US you get fried fish and chips, but it's catfish, if you ask anybody who as had that have they had fish and chips they would almost certainly say yes, but it's absolutely different thing.
Same with English Breakfast, it's not a random sausage and cut of bacon, it's an explicit style of high fat content pork sausage and back bacon. You simply can't substitue it of a Turkey sausage because that's a completely different meat and style of product.
It's essentially like say a Pizza is just some bread with cheese and a vegtable on top, then serving a nan bread with melted stilton and some raw tomatoes. It's got broadly the same ingrediants but is an entirely different thing.
Zarathos8080@reddit
This is not true. Fish and Chips in the US is not catfish, it's usually cod or haddock. Catfish is an entirely different thing and is noted by name, because there are people who refuse to eat it and who would throw a fit if they ordered F&C and got catfish.
nearlydeadasababy@reddit
I didn't say Fish and Chips in the US is catfish, I said you can get fried fish (I was explicit about Southern US), I never claimed it's called Fish and Chips, I never said they were passing it off as Fish and Chips.
It's fish and it generally comes with fries - it is literally fish and chips (with a lower case)
That's kind of the whole point of the post.
wildOldcheesecake@reddit
This is essentially it isn’t it? The problem is that it’s executed poorly abroad, even by home cooks and often using the incorrect ingredients. Then they say British food is bad.
A bit amusing because you’ve just outed yourself as a bad cook.
uktravelthrowaway123@reddit
Plenty of people try British food in the UK and complain of it being terrible too
nearlydeadasababy@reddit
I think it's a mix of things, ignorance of what the real ingredients are, poor execution as you say and then people not particuarly good at cooking.
Squire-1984@reddit
I appreciate your parrot. You and the above gave scratched a good itch with these posts!
Yeh it's like for a roast some fuckwit doing boiled potatos, spam and overcooked cabbage and then complaining how shit British food is.
Or being ignorant enough to assume all Asian food is dumplings and then declairing it as shit.
SharkReceptacles@reddit
I assume everyone’s seen this classic reddit post which sums up your point perfectly.
Squire-1984@reddit
Pretty much best summary of British cuisine I've ever heard. Can apply this to so many of our different foods including pies, soups, stews, roasted meats and many many others.
That's the difference between us and the others, we don't get all pedantic with others about variations within our similar food groups, and we also tend to down play our food, as it's seen as a bit twatty. I can't imagine a brit getting all erotic over using certain types of flour in pie dough or certain cuts of meat, but at the same time we would use certain foods and techniques to make our food taste nice, we just don't go on about it or obsess over it.
mh1ultramarine@reddit
Fresh cat fish is an Imporment over the old rubber the local chippies do here. Not as good as the rare boat to fryer stuff that gets rarer by the day
Cheap_Interview_3795@reddit
It's always the bacon that lets other countries down.
TweakUnwanted@reddit
Yes, there's nothing quite like traditional British danish bacon
bonkerz1888@reddit
Danish?
We've been eating bacon since before Denmark was even a thing, let alone when they started selling English pig meat back to the UK 😂
Th UK is the highest producer of pork sold in the UK.
docentmark@reddit
To be fair, Denmark existed as a nation before England did.
bonkerz1888@reddit
Neither country existed when Brits were first eating bacon. That's my point.. to say that it's Danish bacon is very peculiar 😂
docentmark@reddit
I can’t comment on the origins of different types of bacon. But Denmark definitely was a thing before the end of the first millennium since there was a king of Denmark already.
bonkerz1888@reddit
People will eating bacon 1000 years before the first millennium. Romans were eating it.
docentmark@reddit
The Romans probably ate Danish bacon, but they didn’t eat English bacon because they left Britain before there was an England.
Nice_Username_no14@reddit
The romans went to invade Britain after hearing British bacon was superior to danish.
docentmark@reddit
That sounds like a promising basis for a Netflix series.
bonkerz1888@reddit
Who said they were eating English bacon?
You ok pal?
docentmark@reddit
My comments are as accurate and consistent as yours, since you randomly brought the Romans in to make some point about something. I’m fine and still have a functioning intellect. You? Who can tell.
bonkerz1888@reddit
I dunno what more I can do to explain that people in the British Isles were eating bacon 1000 years before Denmark was even a twinkle in it's dad's eye.
Really not sure what is so difficult to understand about that 😂
SaltymanfromCarthage@reddit
We do use Danish pork rind for pork scratchings though I believe
baconhealsall@reddit
Denmark was a thing long before England was a thing.
bonkerz1888@reddit
Nobody said it wasn't 😂
cosmicspaceowl@reddit
The early medieval section of the National Museum of Denmark makes a compelling case for England having been conquered by Denmark in the 9th century. At which point in time both sides were probably having bacon for a nice filling breakfast before getting on with their raiding.
bonkerz1888@reddit
Parts of England*
Famously there were numerous kingdoms in 9th century England who constantly warred with each other as they did the Kingdom of Strathclyde.
cosmicspaceowl@reddit
That's a level of nuance the good people of the National Museum of Denmark chose not to include in their displays.
ZaphodG@reddit
To bacon, or not to bacon? That is the question.
myusername1111111@reddit
Knowledge is power, France is bacon.
ZaphodG@reddit
I’m overmatched here. Well played.
ot1smile@reddit
FTFY
Juicylucyfullofpoocy@reddit
The answer is always yes
SweatyNomad@reddit
It's not whether it's Danish or English, it's the cut and processing. Most places either do something that's more like pork belly/ pancetta, or they do super thin US style streaky that goes crisp as soon as it feels heat. Rashers as we know them are almost impossible to find in most places outside the UK and Ireland.
bonkerz1888@reddit
Aye I know that, I'm just taking the piss out of someone who was trying to be a smartarse.
YouCantGiveBabyBooze@reddit
think they were just being daft to be fair. then you got well arsey. over the origin of... bacon.
Mustbejoking_13@reddit
As it should be.
Whoisthehypocrite@reddit
The Chinese invented bacon and it was traditionally pork belly. So it is most places that are correct and the UK that has changed it
YouCantGiveBabyBooze@reddit
"You'll never sing that"
gummibear853@reddit
Liz_Truss_pork_markets.gif
eclectic_radish@reddit
She did more than pork the markets, she outright fucked em!
Pleconism@reddit
That. Is. A. Disgrace.
Remarkable_Movie_800@reddit
"Before Denmark was even a thing", what kind of weird comment is that, Denmark is one of the older countries in the world, the second oldest monarchy in the world and the oldest flag in the world. Denmark was "a thing" before the UK really was.
bonkerz1888@reddit
People have been eating bacon for thousands of years, centuries before Denmark was even a concept. Not sure why you have an issue with what I said?
doc1442@reddit
Denmark: been around since the 8th century
UK: 1801
Mysterious
bonkerz1888@reddit
Ahh yes, the British isles were uninhabited until 1801.
Bravo sir, bravo 👏
doc1442@reddit
Im clearly not talking about the place 🤣
Short-Price1621@reddit
1801! Where did you get that figure from (that’s rhetorical, I know you’re talking about the forming of the Union and the Irish Parliament being abolished)?! 1066 at least for modern English man (Anglo-Saxons), our constitution dates back to 1215 (the first constitution), and the Cheddar man dates back 11,000 years ago!
The Britons were here before the Romans!
WotanMjolnir@reddit
We were talking about bacon, not cheese.
bonkerz1888@reddit
Now I'm craving a bacon n cheese sandwich.
Cheers pal.
Rich-Reason1146@reddit
We invented pigs. That's why we made them look like Churchill
Chunderdragon86@reddit
How long has bacon existed?
thecuriousiguana@reddit
Friend of mine has lived in Denmark for nearly 20 years. He misses British bacon.
Witty-Bus07@reddit
I can taste the British in it.
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
Good thing the Danish bacon sold in UK came from pigs reared to UK welfare standards not Danish. But due to amount of water pumped in, it was never the most regarded product.
Cheap_Interview_3795@reddit
It’s true 😂
pintperson@reddit
Sausages as well, we definitely take them for granted.
AgileSloth9@reddit
Disagree on this one. I like our variety of flavours, but other countries do fantastic sausages, e.g. Poland/Germany.
SecTeff@reddit
I hear what you are saying but also if you have a British breakfast outside the U.K. then 99% time the sausages are just awful quality.
But agree with you other countries do their own different types of specialised sausages nicely eg chorizo
Whoisthehypocrite@reddit
If you have a British breakfast in the UK, 99% of the time the sausages are just awful quality.....
The great sausages for sale, just jot used by most places!
Captainpinkeye3@reddit
You're right, the amount of times i've ordered a full english abroad and been given hot dog sausages has put me off ordering it all together.
Faerie_Nuff@reddit
This guy four in a beds
LanceUppercut104@reddit
Double disagree with you nothing Germany has to offer beats a good Lincolnshire sausage.
Trivius@reddit
Ooooft, that's definitely controversial
hotchillieater@reddit
Triple disagree, paprikawurst is the best sausage.
blubbery-blumpkin@reddit
Depends doesn’t it. If I’m having a full English (actually full Scottish normally cos I’m north of the border and tattie scones are elite) then I don’t want paprikawurst, if I’ve got some chips, some curry ketchup then I want something different than a Lincolnshire sausage.
hotchillieater@reddit
Yea fair enough. Hard to comment any further as your username makes it hard to think about good food haha.
blubbery-blumpkin@reddit
Hahahaha so many people are unaware of blumpkin related activities so most wouldn’t be put off their food. But I always appreciate when someone does know. Go forth and eat all the hottest chilli
hotchillieater@reddit
Will do! Go forth and enjoy your blumpkins, whichever side of them you're on!
cdh79@reddit
It's likely to be hyperbole but, I heard that due to the % of grains etc in a British sausage, they would be classed as bread in Germany.
Scasne@reddit
I know they generally can't be called Pork sausages for the 50% reason but then by those rules I'm more than happy with Hogs pudding not being called pork as they go down better than a bloody german sausage.
MonsieurJag@reddit
Well don't buy Richmond sausages then? Butcher's shops sausages are available!
musicistabarista@reddit
Even butchers sausages here probably contain some amount of rusk, probably up to 10%. German sausages (AFAIK) use egg white or specific seasoning powders as binders.
cdh79@reddit
?
fingers1000000@reddit
You heard wrong, very wrong.
Shoddy_Reality8985@reddit
Most German sausages use hydrolised vegetable protein as a binder instead of rusk so they can halt die klapp with their stereotypical purity obsession.
lionmoose@reddit
Germans are neurotic to the point of incontinence about bread, I find it unlikely they would allow this.
cdh79@reddit
Ha! I like this. Not meaty enough to be sausage, not bready enough to be bread.
Squire-1984@reddit
Double agree with this.
Ginge04@reddit
Sausages in France are absolutely atrocious, it’s like they understand what a sausage is supposed to look like but because they don’t care for them, they make them shit just to spite the Brits.
Speshal__@reddit
Sausage 🌭
DerrickBobson@reddit
Chorizo as they do it in Argentina too 👌🏻
arfski@reddit
The mistake other countries make is to actually add meat to their sausages, the great British sausage is essentially a pork infused bread and fat tube!
BppnfvbanyOnxre@reddit
Oddly had some decent sausages in Thailand before now.
Saotik@reddit
As a Brit living abroad, our sausages are the one thing I really miss. In Finland, it's mostly different sizes of pink hot-dog style sausages and bratwurst.
Bratwurst are fine, but give me a nice Cumberland or Lincolnshire any day.
OverthinkUnderwhelm@reddit
Agreed. The disappointment when you see a cocktail sausage in a hotel breakfast offering…
Turbulent-Tip-8372@reddit
You mean pork, pork and more pork?
Ysbrydion@reddit
I had no idea what we see as a basic old fresh sausage is hard to get abroad. They have all the fruit and veg then the sausages are in jars, or the dried kind.
I know what I'll be lugging through customs next time.
manufan1992@reddit
Bad bacon ruins my Benidorm full English.
Dapper_Ad_9761@reddit
Always
KingKhram@reddit
Whenever I've had bacon in Canada I've always enjoyed it, but everywhere else I agree with
FudgingEgo@reddit
Americans call the bacon we have and how it’s cooked, Canadian bacon.
So I assume it’s the same style?
slashcleverusername@reddit
Canada has "back bacon" and "side bacon". Side bacon is more common. It is I believe what you might call "streaky bacon" in the UK, or "rashers?" To me, the way americans do bacon is similar. Back bacon on the other hand is served as an oval disk of cured meat, cut off a wee little bacon pork roast prior to frying. Most commonly these days it is sold with a rind of cornmeal, but called peameal after the original outer layer. This is fried and served along with the bacon, to the degree that it remains attached after being fried. Americans may find this available as "Canadian Bacon" but to us it is really just "back bacon." Confusingly, other parts of the States offer some sort of thin sliced ham product called "Canadian bacon" which is neither bacon nor known in Canada.
The thing that blew my mind completely was the bacon I saw in Australia, which appeared to be a disc of back bacon joined to one end of a long side-bacon rasher. I had no idea that's how the cuts came off the pig but apparently they do.
For us, side bacon is generally served crisp, and I prefer it that way most times. Except for my grandfather who would warm up a stainless steel pan and spank it with the bacon before serving. Shudder. Back bacon is intended to and is far more preferable when it has a bit of tenderness and give to it when you take a bite.
Ultimately I can't really hate anyone's bacon. The stuff I had in the UK was a bit different than what I was used to but certainly worth having twice.
Walkerno5@reddit
Canadian bacon is just the round medallion bit of back bacon. That is to say; back bacon with the best bit removed.
drtoboggon@reddit
My wife doesn’t like the tail bit on bacon. I’ll cook four rashers and let her have the lean medallion bits and I’ll have all the fat and ends on a sandwich.
GerFubDhuw@reddit
Nah Canadian bacon is like thin not very salty gammon.
Twd_fangirl@reddit
That’s a hell no! Canadian bacon is horrible.
Wide-Height-7936@reddit
I quite like ‘holiday’ bacon tbh
BoutiqueKymX2account@reddit
For me it’s the vintage cheddar cheese. Nobody knows what it REALLY is outside of the UK. “Irish cheddar” in Spain was mid but all i can get. And in the USA its “sharp cheddar” basically Red Lester and no crumble all ways ready grated 😞
I crave a real smoked back bacon with vintage cheddar and Worcestershire sauce on crusty cafe bun with butter 🥹🤍
BppnfvbanyOnxre@reddit
My BiL who I'd introduced to Stilton brought me some cheddar from a local small producer in Massachusetts where he lives. It was really good, massively better than anything I have bought from supermarkets in the US. Also personally bought really good cheese from local producers in Tasmania. However, in Malaysia it was a nightmare and had to make do 90% of the time with Irish cheddar and Danish Blue.
BoutiqueKymX2account@reddit
I love this comment 🤍
I will say I enjoy everything you mentioned
Yet it still leaves me empty that no one is getting REAL cheddar…my perplexness is not to be compared too 🤷🏻♀️ , just wanted people to understand…. You don’t know real cheddar 😭
CrossCityLine@reddit
Yeah there’s plenty of good cheese in the US. You just have to look for it, and take plenty of cash.
Uvanimor@reddit
Vietnam had some of the best, properly smoked bacon that put anything I’ve even been able to buy at home to shame. Generally I found Vietnam creates incredibly good pork products.
Dry_Pick_304@reddit
When I lived in Australia, I used to crave our bacon.
Turbulent-Tip-8372@reddit
I found the opposite, moved to the UK and missed Aussie bacon. Why does all that weird white goo and water come out of the stuff here?
OGSkywalker97@reddit
So true. The bacon from supermarkets here is full of water which is why it shrinks so much when cooked.
If you get bacon from a butcher that doesn't happen and it also doesn't shrink anywhere near as much. My guess is it's a mixture of water preservatives/salt coming out due to the heat.
TheRealVinosity@reddit
I used to be able to get decent bacon in Adelaide.
Couldn't find black pudding though.
TheZamboon@reddit
Until you go to South Africa and the it’s just perfect.
blancbones@reddit
serving streaky bacon for a full English breakfast
chroniccomplexcase@reddit
My mum used to sneak bacon into Malaysia in my baby sister’s nappy bag when we flew over there from visiting home (we lived out there for a few years in the 90’s) when security didn’t exist like it did today. God knows what they’d have done if they’d found a couple kilos of bacon and an ice pack wrapped in a tea towel under her clean nappies and toys, but thankfully they never did. The only other way to buy any meat other than chicken was to drive over into Thailand (we were north Malaysia so not too far)but the Chinese bacon wasn’t great apparently.
v2marshall@reddit
Sausages and bacon always let them down*
gooniegully@reddit
And the chips
FishUK_Harp@reddit
The sausages too. They're nice but they're not the same.
mountman91@reddit
Only exception is China for me. The bacon there is god tier, insane
scs3jb@reddit
Have this argument all the time, some people prefer that burnt up american tat to 'danish bacon'
Accurate_Prompt_8800@reddit
I like bacon in other countries because they make it crispy lol
UeharaNick@reddit
Back Bacon is not meant to be 'crispy' It's too think and too lean. Lol.
starsandbribes@reddit
This is why a lot hate our bacon though, to them its almost gammon or a slice of Christmas ham.
T4Abyss@reddit
There is no such thing as gammon outside of the UK! Suprising I know, I live in Australia now and was shocked to find out they didn't have it here, and to say they are the number 1 or 2 eaters of meat per capita! As others have mentioned British sausage, cheese, ale, and bacon is missed - the curing method for bacon is very different here, though they do have similar cuts. I like Australian sausages though, they do beef pork chicken regularly and all the other types, but, no packers or binders and often 100% meat (I have to eat GF, so couldn't manage a typical British banger anymore🫣)
Accurate_Prompt_8800@reddit
I never specified the cut, last time I checked. I prefer mine streaky.
Bugsmoke@reddit
Makes a shite bacon butty that does tho
Accurate_Prompt_8800@reddit
True, in a bacon butty I prefer the back bacon for sure. Just on an English breakfast I prefer streaky, have no idea why people are so offended at that though lol
Remedial_Gash@reddit
Then you must have 'middle bacon' though I haven't seen it in a while - It's the whole thing from loin to the whole streaky bit. Remember when when we used to have specific pork butchers? Christ I bore myself...
Anyway, found some : https://www.randjyorkshiresfinest.co.uk/product/waterford-middle-bacon-500g-pack/
14 quid a kilo? FFS.
fingers1000000@reddit
I buy Sercombs streaky bacon, you can get any cut and it’s absolutely amazing. You don’t get a drop of water leak out when cooking and it’s a cracking thickness. Ive never had a better bacon. Saying that, we cured our own once and it was something else, worth a go although it’s hard to cut it thin enough.
UeharaNick@reddit
Streaky Bacon is for wrapping Sausages with and laying over a birds breast. Real people eat Back Bacon.
cdh79@reddit
Kinky
son-goku321@reddit
Come here to say that
oojiflip@reddit
Having grown up in Europe but raised by British parents, I've gotta give it to streaky bacon and UHT milk, they're just better imo
dinoduckasaur@reddit
I've been getting gold top milk from the milkman and I'll never be able to go back to anything else
dnnsshly@reddit
UHT milk? Are you mad?
Another_Random_Chap@reddit
Went to an Olde English Tea Shoppe in Carmel, California. Their idea of afternoon tea was Earl Grey tea served with scones (toasted) and orange marmalade.
steveakacrush@reddit
Was out visiting some relatives in Australia and they took me for a curry (knowing I was missing a chicken tikka jalfrezi). The Aussie take on British Indian Restaurant food was bloody awful.
c0tch@reddit
Every Aussie just had butter chicken when we went for a ruby.
It wasn’t what I expected.
But now I see butter chicken everywhere in the uk. I don’t recall seeing it as much 10-20 years ago
sophosoftcat@reddit
Isn’t butter chicken just what North Americans call tikka masala?
c0tch@reddit
Na it’s way sweeter
CrossCityLine@reddit
It’s just a slightly tarted up Tikka Masala-adjacent curry.
hallerz87@reddit
Same in Canada. Butter chicken is pretty much it when it comes to Indian food unless you’re going to an Indian restaurant.
sophosoftcat@reddit
It’s taken a LONG time, but finally where I live (Brussels) is slowly growing to allow authentic curries.
Before that every curry I tried was like… curry that had been reinvented by the people who make hospital food, to be served to someone who considers black pepper to be life-threateningly spicy.
uktravelthrowaway123@reddit
I've had much better Indian food in Aus than the UK, maybe you were just unlucky 🤷
8rummi3@reddit
Aussie meat pies are amazing though
InZim@reddit
How are they different to English pies?
Basso_69@reddit
No relationship any more. Two different things. The Australian Meat Pie has an identity all of its own.
But like all things, don't buy the mass manufactured crap.
InZim@reddit
No but what's different about them? Different pastry? Fillings? Size? I hear about them all the time on the AFL subreddit
Specialist-Emu-5119@reddit
The Aussies love claiming things for their own despite most of it being either British or American.
ZakDank@reddit
The Aussie meat pies I've had are frankly just the same as pies over here in the UK. Most Australians I've met (and talked pies with) are surprised the UK has pies... Which is kind of ironic considering they were the fast food of the middle ages and appeared in the forme of curry which dates back to like the 13th century.
Ok_Neat2979@reddit
There really isn't that much of a difference at all. Mince beef, steak and onion, chicken and mushroom etc. I'd say less meat and more sauce.
Squire-1984@reddit
They pretty much are tbh. Cultural imports and all that.
everybodyctfd@reddit
I can take this one, I spend most of my time between Scotland and country Victoria and partner loves pies. They are pretty much the same when done well, but I'd say that there are more independent pie shops and that pies are more celebrated in Australia than in Scotland at least. Their crust might be slightly lighter too? And gravy less dense? Either way, we have enjoyed some incredible pies both in Scotland and Victoria and are truly blessed. Shout out to Gumtree Pies in Australia and Mhor Bakery or Plenty Pies (which is an English piemaker that is sold in Starter Culture).
fingers1000000@reddit
Mhor pies are brilliant, lived on them for about month when stationed up there.
InZim@reddit
Ooh how interesting. I'll definitely be trying some pies if I make it over to Australia
kat13gall@reddit
Same in France, French friends were raving about it but there was zero spice.
markhewitt1978@reddit
Same in Spain and Portugal. Even when it is seemingly a British or British-Indian person running the place it just isn't right. Usually tasting like it is out of a jar or watered down, certainly not enough oil used.
bloatis123@reddit
There’s an awesome one in Benalmadena, Namaste, which is as good as I’ve found anywhere in the UK
pintperson@reddit
My sister lives in New Zealand and the first thing she does when visiting back home is go for a curry.
azp74@reddit
Meat pies in Australia are, imo, often superior - and you can get a meat pie everywhere (seriously, Gregg's does not sell a meat pie - the steak bake is NOT the same thing).
Curries in Aus are hit & miss. You get a lot of 'butter chicken' which might as well be tomato sauce/ketchup + cream as a sauce (yes, as bad as it sounds) but when you find a good curry restaurant, they are good - just few & far between.
Fish & chips in Aus has the benefit of often being made to order, not sitting in a warmer. But no scraps - definitely a disappointment.
uktravelthrowaway123@reddit
There are an insane amount of Indian restaurants in Melbourne tbf that serve fairly varied, authentic, and tasty curries as well as other dishes
redjet@reddit
The other thing with pies in Aus is that while you have your big bakery chains like Brumby’s there are (or always seem to be) a lot more independent bakeries that of course all have their own take on sausage rolls, steak pies and so on so you will find lots of local variation which is nice.
TomAndOrSven@reddit
Am sure Gregg's sell savoury mince pies, in NE England at least.
Dry_Pick_304@reddit
I found curries in Australia to be pretty mild. I could easy eat a vindaloo there, but over here, no chance.
azp74@reddit
I agree that curries are often less hot in Australia but I think part of that is there's not the culture of lads getting beered up and trying to out spicy each other with a curry ...
Thai food in Australia can be brutal but the hottest Thai I've ever eaten was at Thai Village in Leeds (overall though I found Thai food in the UK quite disappointing).
sophosoftcat@reddit
There’s a fish and chip shop CHAIN where I live (Brussels)… what they serve is borderline criminal. BREADED chewy fish and soggy circle potatoes. They claim to be Irish though, so at least this particular abomination is not on us.
uktravelthrowaway123@reddit
Yes, it's much better in Australia 🤣
FirstEverRedditUser@reddit
Wouldn't eat British food in Brittan let alone when abroad
buginarugsnug@reddit
Full English in a restaurant in Portugal. 'Full English' was a very generous term, it was more like a half English - bacon, sausage, eggs and beans.
ThreeRandomWords3@reddit
Had a full English breakfast in Cambodia once. Apart from a fried egg, there wasn't many similarities.
Much_Performance352@reddit
So dry
Illustrious-Snow-638@reddit
But what on earth compelled you to order a full English breakfast in Cambodia? 😂
ThreeRandomWords3@reddit
Curiosity more than anything.
Not_invented-Here@reddit
OK I've had some sad frys ups in SEA but that one is something else.
One from Vietnam.
https://www.reddit.com/r/fryup/comments/y5cokc/from_the_other_end_of_vietnam_a_fry_up_in_hanoi/
BeastMidlands@reddit
i gasped
joethesaint@reddit
Subtle dig at how unhealthy we are
ImmediateFigure9998@reddit
Woeful English breakfast more like
FeekyDoo@reddit
Roast dinner at the Rusty Keyhole in Kampot Cambodia .... spot on!
bishibashi@reddit
Australia and NZ fish and chips I think is better than ours, especially NZ.
I had a roast dinner in Thailand once. Had been away from home about 4 months. Paid well over the odds for frozen sprouts, bisto, saxo, Bessie’s spuds and some pretty dodgy chicken. Was worth every penny.
joef360@reddit
That's a brave opinion. I've been in Aus for 2 years now and am yet to find a decent fish and chips!
bishibashi@reddit
Could be I’m giving them too much credit by mixing them up with NZ ones!
Exotic-Astronaut6662@reddit
We had fish and chips in Plano, Texas. It was ok, the fish was the sort that comes out of a box in Iceland but at least they tried.
Losflakesmeponenloco@reddit
Lot of Brits in Spain so it’s pretty good. Refuel in Benidorm is the best British restaurant I know. It’s not in the British but and it’s very good quality, not so cheap.
mr_mlk@reddit
I've tried a "greasy spoon" in Greece, and an English Fry Up in China.
The Greasy in Greece was pretty much spot on, but it was a tourist area with lots of English immigrants living there.
The Fry Up in China was... Interesting. Quite tasty. A lot more veg than you would get in the UK, and all the meats were quite sweet. It was (sweet, boiled) sausage, sweet bacon alike, fries (think peri peri fries from Nandos), beans (not beans in tomato sauce, local beans), fried egg, fried tomato, a local (sweet) bread and a load of local veg. If you are ever in Guangzhou, the fusion restaurant in the dinosaur shopping centre is worth giving a go.
I've also had pizza and pasta in China. The pepperoni pizza was spot on, but looked down on by my Chinese hosts. The pasta was sweeter and with more side veg.
KrungThepMahaNK@reddit
I live in Thailand. British food is done extensively here but not the same as back home.
Fish & chips - usually home-made or frozen but definitely not chippy chips.
British-style Chinese - pretty good. There's one expat pub that makes this food and it is pretty much the same.
English breakfast - on the most part it is let down by the bacon which is usually that thin American-style bacon. But there are 1 or 2 gems. If you to go some 5* hotels, they will serve you chicken hot dog sausages rather than pork sausages.
Typical_Nebula3227@reddit
I’m in Australia. It all tastes different unless you make it yourself from scratch.
kairu99877@reddit
Has fish and chips in Korea. It was absolutely abhorrent.
There was only 1 crappy imitation pub in the whole city that did it. Truly terrible.
But funnily enough, I (who worked in a chippy for 3 years) could make the battle myself, and the same fish are available here. So I do wonder if a genuine chippy (run like a cafe in a more korean style, but with authentic food) could be successful or if it'd be a total flop.
It'd be damn cool to run the first authentic chippy in Korea if it kicked off.
Kimbo-BS@reddit
Meat pies in Australia are popular enough to not be considered British anymore. They do them pretty good, too.
This_Rom_Bites@reddit
Only when I've cooked it! And it still doesn't taste right, unless I brought the ingredients with me from home and landed lucky with the water.
Energia91@reddit
I tried fish n chips in Hangzhou, China (where I live) just for the lawlz
I'd say it tastes better because it's tastefully seasoned. But the chips were worst (Chinese don't eat as much Spuds as europeans)
For some reason, beef wellington seems like a very common fast-food dish at Pizza stores in China. Never tried it, but I'm certain it's beef wellington modified to taste the local pallet
flyhmstr@reddit
Not tried it but have it as evidence that Aussies are weirdos. They heat up pork pies....
chokethebinchicken@reddit
You are off your head if you think pork pies are the go in Australia. We have fuck tonnes you f way better flavours, I've actually never seen s pork pie in any decent Aussie bakery. I've never seen a decent meat pie in the uk, you lot just have those povvo bake slice things.
Dry_Pick_304@reddit
That's not weird at all? Warm pork pie with mushy peas and mint sauce. Especially seeing as its bonfire night.
lickalotofcunt@reddit
Init
NortonBurns@reddit
Pie & peas is a well-established dish. Hot pork pie, mushy peas, mint sauce.
I struggle to image you wouldn't have come across it in your life. I don't eat it often but I had it just last week.
Random google result - https://crustypie.co.uk/pie-and-peas/
Howtothinkofaname@reddit
I’m pretty sure warm pork pies are specifically a yorkshire thing, your link being an example.
I love pork pies and have lived my life without ever having encountered it.
NortonBurns@reddit
Hadn't thought about that - having grown up in Yorkshire I'd assumed it was ubiquitous. As London where I now live has its own pie & mash culture I'd assumed they were an outlier.
The rest of you just don't know what you're missing ;))
Howtothinkofaname@reddit
You can pry my cold, porky jelly out of my dead hands.
NortonBurns@reddit
LOL I like them both ways, but I grew up with them both ways. I've no idea how it became just a local delicacy.
lugonamission@reddit (OP)
Slightly warmed is good, melts the jelly a bit
flyhmstr@reddit
but hot... with gravy????
Dapper_Ad_9761@reddit
Fish and chips in sidari were absolutely perfect, after eating Greek food for 2 weeks, which was nice too. It was just a sudden craving on the last day.
R6S9@reddit
Only on a stag do in Portugal- was a classic British sunburn pub tho
RiseUpAndGetOut@reddit
The fry-up is available anywhere where British tourists flock to. They are, in every case i've either seen or tried, appalling.
Mostly if i'm in a foreign place i want to eat the local food. What's the point in having a pie n mash in Croatia?
EndearingSobriquet@reddit
It's perfectly reasonable to want to visit a place without completely immersing yourself in the local culture. It's like insisting people ought to don the local dress the moment you step off the plane or they aren't really experiencing the country 'properly'.
v2marshall@reddit
Sometimes I agree but also when I was in Croatia some of the traditional food I tried was pretty bad. Likely as I wasn’t used to it but also the meat tended to be poor quality
TyrelUK@reddit
I feel half the reason to travel is the food but it does depend on how long you're travelling for. I once went to India for 2 months and craved a fry up, wouldn't reccomend it!
dvb70@reddit
I have had some Ok fry-up's in other countries. The main thing they really struggle with is bacon. It seems not very many countries have our style of bacon. Normally its some terrible ham like thing.
Odidlydokely@reddit
It’s often Turkey bacon as well
fingers1000000@reddit
Had a full English in Portugal for a laugh when I lived over there: frankfurters, fried eggs, thin danish bacon, pickled tinned mushrooms, tinned tomatoes, Heinz baked beans and real Irish white pudding and a petit pain. It was a weird one that’s for sure, 30% for effort. They’re not really big breakfast people so perhaps I’ll bump that to a 55%
jaymatthewbee@reddit
I often see hotdog style chicken sausages on a fry ups abroad.
dvb70@reddit
That seems quite common. Bloody woeful things. Look like a sausage and have the taste of a damp sock.
Not_invented-Here@reddit
Sort of depends on how long your over there. If your living or travelling long term then you start missing food from home.
Tony_Meatballs_00@reddit
I find the quality of meat much better in many places. I simply can't eat pork here without feeling nauseous for a couple of hours after but abroad it's usually fine
fingers1000000@reddit
I buy mine from the local butcher and the difference in quality is vast compared to supermarket shit, even the ‘good’ supermarkets.
BeastMidlands@reddit
Nah I had several great fry ups in corfu.
signalstonoise88@reddit
Fry up at the breakfast buffet where I stayed in Majorca had deep-fried battered broccoli (which I got loads of, thinking they were mushrooms). Surprisingly nice!
Also, a hotel I stayed at in Iceland had some sort of wafer thin bacon - not only did it taste absolutely incredible, but the kitchen where it was cooked was directly below my room and so I woke to the smell of it every morning. Would recommend.
imminentmailing463@reddit
Quite authentic then.
RiseUpAndGetOut@reddit
Oooph, that was below the belt 🤣
imminentmailing463@reddit
Don't worry, I'm sure it'll get downvoted!
RiseUpAndGetOut@reddit
Yeah, I'm gonna start that downvoting right now 😂
geoffacakes@reddit
The cevappi is far better than pie imo!!
AcademicSecond1133@reddit
I had ‘Devonshire clotted cream’ in Seattle. Let me tell you, there was nothing Devonshire nor clotted about that shite
Background-Unit-8393@reddit
I’ve lived all over the world. Currently live in Yangon Myanmar. Love me some civil war living. The takes on fish and chips here are fucking disgraceful but for some reason all the locals know ‘chippy chips’
Teddybear88@reddit
There is only one place in Dubai that can do fish and chips properly. Everywhere else is nothing like proper British fish and chips.
It’s called Saylor’s and it’s in Dubai Hills and it’s always packed. 45 min wait just to get your food.
Background-Unit-8393@reddit
I found nine tails English pub in the hotel that’s done out like Egypt to be good.
Fine_Gur_1764@reddit
I had bangers and mash at an Irish pub in Beijing. The bangers were absolutely bizarre - and to this day I don't know what meat they were made from.
Background-Unit-8393@reddit
Which one? In sanlitun or in Shunyi? Not the swan by any chance ?
Illigard@reddit
Tried fish and chips... sometimes they get it right but sometimes I wonder where their head was
b0ringusern4me@reddit
Cannot get a decent chippy anywhere outside the UK, even the ones made by expats
mikiex@reddit
expats* (Immigrants)
mickthecoat@reddit
I live in NZ and the following are just not right... Sausages, fush'n'chups, Pizza (specifically mozzarella), crisps, bread, cream crackers, chocolate, tea, all indian takeaways. There are more but those just stand out. There are a lot of better things however. Gold Kiwis are bonkers good here!
lexwtc@reddit
I mean.. im in the Caribbean rn on an all inclusive and the fry up is top notch.
Capitao_Caralhudo@reddit
Fish and chips from a local restaurante in the Algarve. Absolutely disgusting, gimme a chippy any day. And I'm Portuguese
iwanttobeacavediver@reddit
There’s a British restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City where I’m currently living. It’s expensive compared to local VN food but really good.
OkFinger2630@reddit
One fine morning on my holiday at an all inclusive in Mauritius they served English breakfast. Hated it! It was a weird mix of Srilankan+South Indian+French+English flavours.
Waited 5 days until my holiday was over to come back to England and hog the full english!
easyandbresy@reddit
When I was in Seoul, there’s a British pub replica in Itaewon me and some friends went to. Apparently the fish and chips wasn’t awful but it wasn’t quite right. We put it down to lack of salt and vinegar which I think is essential
Melsm1957@reddit
Depends , I live in Southern Ontario which has a fairly large British population- and there are lots of pubs . Fish and chips is often fine - not as great as the best in the uk but good, shepherds pie, . What I dont Find here would be a ploughmans , or scampi both are favourites of my husband and he usually gorges on those when we are over visiting
Ok-Morning-6911@reddit
Yup, generally just worse versions of our own. Fish and chips springs to mind, you can get it all over the world but they tend to not be real chips. More like french fries, and not served with all the UK extras like mushy peas.
Chunderdragon86@reddit
Except Canada whichseemstohavebeeencolonisefbythedanesatsomepointintime asthey getit
Chunderdragon86@reddit
Had Gregg's I Morocco steaksliceinmarrakech itwasntofficialjustsomechancerwhomadeprettydecentclonedbakedgoodscateringtoenglish touristsiwaspleasantlysurprisedtoseethestall in thgiantbazaaryhatday.wrongclimateforgr eggs.ithinkitwouldflourish in Northern Europe.
Top-Veterinarian-565@reddit
In Malaysia near Kuala Lumpur, a Chinese owner who lived in the UK for a bit and went back to start her own British inspired cafe.
Of all the most iconic British foods she could have made, she recommended us try her house speicial: tuna mayo sandwich.
I'll leave it at that.
Chunderdragon86@reddit
Hàd an English breakfast bin vietnamfranklyifounditracist an sctofwareven it had all the bit but the bacon was miles off just bad squidgy sausage beansbutnot insauce theyneededtodomoreresearchinto english breakfast they did fluffypancakesthatwerGreat
pikantnasuka@reddit
I've sat and thought about this for a while and I really don't think I ever have. The closest I've come is probably going to Chinese and Indian restaurants in other countries and finding them very different from the British versions of the same- not better or worse, just different.
Ok-Opportunity-979@reddit
Two examples I can think of:
Japan: Fish and Chips at Universal Studios Japan. It was battered fish with potato wedges so not classic chippy tea. But on its own, not too bad.
Spain: Tried Black tea there and unfortunately it was not my ‘cup of tea’
racheltomato@reddit
Yes. I had a sausage in batter at a Chippy in Arizona.
Mentally scarred. It was like a horse’s penis wrapped in pancake batter
SimilarWall1447@reddit
I don't even have British food here.
FridayGeneral@reddit
Are you serious?
You never have British bread, cheese, milk, vegetables, fruit, meat, sweets, seafood, nothing? I am not sure how you could avoid it. It must be a massive effort to rely solely on imported goods.
What a palaver, and for what?
SimilarWall1447@reddit
Op was asking g about traditional British food, to which I responded I have none.
FridayGeneral@reddit
Yes, and I responded to your comment here.
One usually responds to the question, rather than reiterating your previous comment.
To clarify, as it seems you are confused, traditional British food includes bread, cheese, milk, vegetables, fruit, meat, sweets, and seafood. You claim you never have these, which would be extremely eccentric, and I doubt it is even true.
FreshMontrealer12@reddit
I’m in Canada at the moment - my findings :
• I found a sticky toffee pudding once, but they served it with nothing, just dry. I had to go over the road a buy a tub of ice cream.
• fish and chips is good in the British fish and chips places. Passable in restaurants. They triple cook their chips here but they’re not fluffy enough and it’s never the same quality of fish.
• British style chicken korma. It was spicy and had random veg in it I didn’t expect. Blew my brains out. You can get the Pataks Korma sauce which is much better for at home but it’s 5$ a jar.
• bacon of course. You can get back bacon sometimes but not great
• Nandos. Nandos is rubbish outside the UK. Missing half the menu and not the same
snapjokersmainframe@reddit
No. When I travel, I want local food. Otherwise why bother traveling?
southcoastal@reddit
This is my view as well.
FreshMontrealer12@reddit
Home comforts for those living outside the UK
FreshMontrealer12@reddit
I’m in Canada at the moment - my findings :
I found a sticky toffee pudding once, but they served it with nothing, just dry. I had to go over the road a buy a tub of ice cream.
fish and chips is good in the British fish and chips places. Passable in restaurants. They triple cook their chips here but they’re not fluffy enough and it’s never the same quality of fish.
British style chicken korma. It was spicy and had random veg in it I didn’t expect. Blew my brains out. You can get the Pataks Korma sauce which is much better for at home but it’s 5$ a jar.
bacon of course. You can get back bacon sometimes but not great
Nandos. Nandos is rubbish outside the UK. Missing half the menu and not the same
Miserable-Ease-3744@reddit
yes, in british style pubs in Canada before moving to the UK. The fish and chips (usually really fish and fries) are normally not terrible. Typically get coleslaw instead of peas.
FridayGeneral@reddit
I have tried USA's attempt at sandwiches. Some of them are fine. The "Denver" and "Cuban" are good. Arguably a burger is a sandwich too, which is of course well known globally.
Obviously not a patch on a proper English sarnie!
Giddyup_1998@reddit
What is classed as British food?
FridayGeneral@reddit
Here are some examples of British food:
OurSoul1337@reddit
I didn't try it myself but I went to a "British" pub in Tokyo just to see what it was like and they served fish and chips except the chips were actually potato wedges and everyone was eating it using chopsticks. Very weird.
InZim@reddit
I keep being told that there are no British restaurants abroad and that means our food is disgusting
SoggyWotsits@reddit
Unless you go to the Canary Islands, where the many English pubs do a fry up. Not sure that really counts though as they’re run by overweight Brits in shorts and vests!!
juniperchill@reddit
Is this the reason why Dominos and Taco Bell failed in Italy and Mexico respetively? In other words, they don't like to eat their own foods from a foreign company?
FridayGeneral@reddit
British food is huge abroad.
I don't think I have ever been to a country that doesn't have at least one of: sandwiches, pies, roasts, fry ups, British-style cakes/biscuits, ale, etc. in some form or another. Even most "American" food is actually British in origin, e.g. fried chicken, burger buns, etc.
British food abroad is almost hard to avoid, such is its prevalence.
fingers1000000@reddit
Yea that’s bullshit, never been to a good one though!
InZim@reddit
https://lentente.paris/
Try this one. If I go to Paris I'll give it a go
fingers1000000@reddit
I was going to say that when I next visit Paris I’d have to be pressed into eating at an English style restaurant, but looking at the food I have to say that I’m intrigued.
lewiitom@reddit
The Hub?
OurSoul1337@reddit
Yes it was!
RG0195@reddit
I wouldn't say japanese people in japan eating food with chopsticks is weird.
Necessary_Reality_50@reddit
Redditor of the day award
BeastMidlands@reddit
You know what he fucking meant lol
Mean-Construction-98@reddit
You know what he means, come on
NortonBurns@reddit
Younger folks using chopsticks is a bit odd. I haven't been for a long time, but 20 years ago the oldies were complaining that kids were no longer learning how to use them. When we were out eating, many would use 'western' cutlery, maybe a 50/50 split.
GerFubDhuw@reddit
They served fish fingers and fries with no vinegar when I last had 'fish and chips' in Japan.
Parsnipnose3000@reddit
I lived in the USA for 20 years and really struggled to find good fish and chips.
EthanEvenig@reddit
There is no such thing as a "British Restaurant" outside uk, at least not in the same way as you might find an Italian, a French, an Indian... or an american burger place.
Sorry to be blunt but it wouldn't be good business, as non english people strongly disdain english cooking, in many cultures UK culinary habits and its "health benefits" are a recurring theme in jokes.
At best you might find an english/irish style pub, but the focus is going to be on selling pints of Guinnes rather than serving a decent pie; which certainly doesn't help to change perspectives.
FridayGeneral@reddit
There are hundreds of British restaurants outside UK, many of them with Michelin stars.
That's nonsense. Just look at the popularity of sandwiches, pies, roasts, fry ups, etc.
Not to mention all the food and drink we export, like cheese, seafood, beef, lamb, ale, whisky, gin, etc. Much of this is considered world-class by gourmets.
Not_invented-Here@reddit
Man all those Koreans, Vietnamese, Japanese going for a roast dinner or fish and chips at the place near me mustn't have got your memo.
sodium_geeK@reddit
I had a sausage roll from a ‘British Bakery’ in Santa Monica once.
It was on par with ones you used to find in the back of a petrol station fridge in a nondescript white paper bag.
jaymatthewbee@reddit
I’ve had fish and chips in New Zealand. It was good but it just never hits the same as the greasier UK chip shop ones.
FridayGeneral@reddit
It looks like it would taste good, but you are right it is not authentic. The chips are all wrong and is that a spring roll lurking underneath?
Remedial_Gash@reddit
Fush and chups surely?
ThreeRandomWords3@reddit
I'd smash that TBF
Poch1212@reddit
Yes, im Benidorm.
English breakfast and fish and chips.
Felt the same
FoodExternal@reddit
Yes, in Czechia, I tried bacon in the early 2000s. Very bad idea.
mkaym1993@reddit
Yes, I just adjust I often have a ‘Full English’ when on holiday. I also lived in Tenerife for a while and had a Turkey roast dinner one Christmas!
themanfromoctober@reddit
No… but I’ve had Lasagna in all the Low Countries
DarthKrataa@reddit
In New York i went to an Irish pup that served stuff like "banngers n mash" and "Full Irish breakfast" was over all kinda shite, the breakfast for example didn't have Propper bacon.
RS2019@reddit
Not even the Irish square sausage?
JourneyThiefer@reddit
What’s that?
Jason_liv@reddit
The Irish pub near me sells burgers and Chinese food for some reason.
Effective-Pea-4463@reddit
Why would you even want to eat British food in the first place?
Cokezerowh0re@reddit
Had eggs Benedict on English muffins at a cafe in Nerja (Spain) and honestly was rlly good icl. That’s the extent of it tho
Careless-Ad8346@reddit
Had British made British food in France, it was sublime. King of the Beige that was.
Problem is that the french make almost every other British food like black pudding, mash, and stews better.
Superssimple@reddit
One of the best steak pies I ever had was in Taipei.
osterlay@reddit
Goodness, what on earth for?
schaweniiia@reddit
Fish and chips in Australia. Liked it better due to less sogginess.
I have found that Britains somehow don't enjoy crispiness as much as the rest of the world.
IntlDogOfMystery@reddit
No restaurant outside the UK could stay in business selling British food (unless it’s to British tourists).
Worried-Cicada9836@reddit
had a bit of a brainlet moment with my previous comment i deleted... british food would sell just fine in a quality restaurant, british food such as fish and chips or a sunday roast would sell if the ingredients are good quality. Chicken soup as a starter, beef roast for dinner and apple pie for dessert, perfectly fine 3 course meal
Worried-Cicada9836@reddit
true, to make a decent british meal itd cost quite a bit due to the requirement of high quality ingrediants. Imagine a £5 sunday roast, itd probably be like leather and filled with frozen veg
coffeewalnut05@reddit
This just isn’t true lol. There are Irish pubs all over the world and they’re always brimming with people. Their menus serve many classics that are traditional in the U.K.
IntlDogOfMystery@reddit
People aren’t there for the food
coffeewalnut05@reddit
They are. Every table would have people on them eating.
IntlDogOfMystery@reddit
It’s all about the alcohol
coffeewalnut05@reddit
I wish
IntlDogOfMystery@reddit
100% true story
oldboi@reddit
The Cottage in Amsterdam Oost does excellent British food
local_milk_dealer@reddit
I had “English style” fish and chips in America once out of curiosity and it was shit, just don’t lightly battered birdseye ass fish with skinny fries. No salt and vinegar to speak of and I’m fairly certain the fish wasn’t even cod or haddock.
Fun-Breadfruit6702@reddit
English breakfast in Dubai
No sausage or bacon or black pudding
slip-slop-slap@reddit
NZ meat pies are better than British or Australian
Apprehensive-Ear2134@reddit
Meat pies in Australia are Australian.
platebandit@reddit
Live in Thailand. You can get some decent fry ups and Sunday roasts here. It’s improved a lot in the past few years.
However some of the attempts with the dog awful CP (company that owns 7 eleven, Makro and Thailand itself) sausages make me gag even to this day
jamiedix0n@reddit
Once got a full english breakfast in Thailand.. rhe sausage was a hotdog. The egg was yokeless.. but it kinda funny.
simultaneoussuicide@reddit
I had a curry in Marseille. It was terrible.
miguelangel011192@reddit
I went to a vegan restaurant in Barcelona and they had a vegan British breakfast, I don’t know if that counts
docentmark@reddit
Yes, and I have fond memories of it. Verona one Sunday morning on the plaza across from the Arena.
Best English breakfast I’ve ever had.
warm_sweater@reddit
Yes. I’ve regularly had fish and chips, bangers and mash, and sausages rolls here in the US. They are usually quite good.
WishfulStinking2@reddit
I make a point of not trying British food when I’m abroad
GabberZZ@reddit
I've had plenty of good British food because, well... It's Tenerife innit. Including Sunday roasts.
But once I tried one in a cheap seafront restaurant we'd normally eat generic burger and chips or lasagne from.
In initial inspection the roast looked fine but damn if they hadn't used something more akin to blackbean sauce instead of gravy. Ruined it.
ryano_999@reddit
I had a lovely egg chips and beans on the ebc trail in Nepal
HellaHaram@reddit
There is this new café in Brussels called Rascal’s and both locals & expats alike are calling it the best British experience in all of Belgium. There is an all-day breakfast and brunch menu to choose from and the English brekkie is actually authentic; a generous serving of bacon, sausages, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, beans and toast all on the same dish plate. Also to be found on the menu: London fog, scotch eggs, fish & chips, beans on toast, sandwiches, scones, brownies and so much more.
Give it a go and you’ll be glad you did.
batty_61@reddit
I was in a restaurant in Iceland (the country, natch), and ordered the fish and chips they had on the menu out of interest to see how it compared to the British version. It wasn't the same, especially the fish, which was neat little finger-sized fillets fried in a fluffy crispy batter, but god it was good. I mentioned how much I'd enjoyed it to the waitress, and the next thing I knew I had the chef practically prostrating himself next to my table thanking me over and over again for my kind words and how he was trying so hard to get it right and he was so pleased I'd enjoyed it... It was good, though.
CountTruffula@reddit
My cousin reckons a pie from the servo is a 10/10
Jason_liv@reddit
Yeah, Canadian fish and chips on the whole are pretty bad. The fish is usually nut brown, and the chips are usually the thin ones that go in poutine. There's coleslaw on there, which can be good, and the gravy has more salt than the dead sea.
Bgtobgfu@reddit
I used to go to L’Entente quite regularly when I lived in Paris. It hit the spot. But yeah the bacon wasn’t right.
spacespaces@reddit
There is a chain of fast food restaurants in Brazil called Batata Inglesa or English Potato. It sells jacket potatoes; I never had the courage to try.
trysca@reddit
Chrese scones in San Francisco- they added sweetcorn but they were as good as my mum's and we all ordered a second one.
ButterscotchSure6589@reddit
Many years ago I went to a Chinese restaurant in Sweden. In my naivety I expected the nexus to be similar to an engl one with the exception of Swedish words for beef, chicken and pork. Everything was totally different.
trysca@reddit
Swedish food is almost universally vile ( lived there 5years) - I don't know how they escape the criticism that we get
wildOldcheesecake@reddit
Americans like to shit on our take on Chinese food but having lived in Germany, I was appalled by the take on the cuisine
RecommendationOk2258@reddit
Not sure if someone has said but “cheddar” cheese in other European countries could taste like absolutely anything.
anon1992lol@reddit
Had lovey fish and chips in Krakow
trysca@reddit
True, I've had good fish n chips in Gdańsk but it was the Polish version, breakfasts too - they even did grilled tomato, which I happen to love. The poles are just good at food generally.
Underdogdad@reddit
I always try to find traditional food at various “British” pubs and stores in the US. Sometimes they come close but I think you need the uninterrupted awful weather to really appreciate a good meat pie or Sunday roast. Spotted dick and custard just doesn’t hit the same in the sun of California.
hazylazy101@reddit
When I lived in the US I would always try the Fish and Chips when I was out for dinner, never that great…
trysca@reddit
I've had fish n chips in Stockholm, Sweden- it was a travesty- it looked OK until you bit into the fish which was like a toddler had chewed up a fishfinger and spat it out
Mammyjam@reddit
Went to a British restaurant at Lake Havasu in the US… uncanny valley shit
BennyJezerit@reddit
There’s a good roast at a pub in LA.. had some great fish and chips too. Pies suck elsewhere.
Obvious_Flamingo3@reddit
Yes! I was in the New York area with my partner and in-laws and they took us to this Irish themed restaurant (hear me out Irish people) which was basically just a British restaurant, complete with a British wall selling snacks and crisps from the U.K.
The fish and chips I had there was… I hate to admit it, potentially the best I’ve ever had. I’ll dig into my photos to try and find a picture of it
Obvious_Flamingo3@reddit
The fish might not look huge, but honestly after America’s indulgence, I was happy for it. The chips were perfectly cooked and crunchy.
SleepFlower80@reddit
I live in New York now. There’s a few places here that claim to be British or Irish. It’s a mixed review. Some places are better than others. Tea and Sympathy is very, very good. I go there a lot when I’m feeling homesick. There’s a fish and chip shop next door run by a British guy and it’s good but it’s still got a little bit of an American twist, which I kind of understand but at the same time it gets on my tits a bit.
BollockOff@reddit
Fish & chips at a hotel in Orlando Florida. It was nowhere near as good as some from a proper fish & chip shop but was still edible and i finished it.
FordZodiac@reddit
I can get very good fish and chips in Los Angeles, except that the chips are thinner than I like.
NaturalSuccessful521@reddit
I had garlic bread in India and it was a slice of black toast with raw garlic on top
PassiveTheme@reddit
There are a couple of decent fish and chips shops here in Vancouver. One gets the fish right, but the chips aren't quite right. The other has great chips, and decent battered sausage, but doesn't sell fish!
Sea-Television2470@reddit
I haven't tried it yet but in March I'm gonna be in Pheonix Arizona and there's a Cornish pasty restaurant there and as a Cornish person I feel like I need to try it but I'm just hoping they are not crimped on the top or it will hurt my heart.
Remedial_Gash@reddit
I seem to remember that there are a few pasty enclaves in the US, usually around mining/heavy industry towns. Please report back with your findings.
Sea-Television2470@reddit
Yeah I'd expect it a lot more in California than Arizona though! I have high hopes nonetheless :)
delicious_brains818@reddit
I had cottage pie for breakfast in Antalya, Turkey. 4/10.
Adorable_Misfit@reddit
I've had lots of British food at various restaurants in India (I currently live there).
It always seems a little bit... wrong. Like a mirror universe version that's not quite as it should be.
For example, if you go out for breakfast, the sausages are almost always chicken, not pork, or if they are pork, they're not very good quality. The bacon is often turkey bacon instead of pork, I've even had some water buffalo or mutton "bacon" substitute on occasion.
Similarly, you can get fish and chips, but the fish itself is never cod, but usually some sort of river fish, e.g. basa a.k.a river cobbler, at least in the north of the country. By the coast you might get different fish, but it still isn't cod. They also put spices in the batter that makes it taste different - not spicy as in hot, just with flavours that fish & chips doesn't have at home. That doesn't mean it's bad, it's just not "real" fish and chips.
_Acg45@reddit
Aussie pies were decent, but it was hard to find a steak pie and not just a beef pie made with Mince. Their sausage rolls weren't the best as most were made with beef, not pork (the ones I found at least). I only had fish and chips a couple of times, but it wasn't as good. They didn't seem to do it with one fillet, it was usually multiple strips of random white fish.
Novel-Rip7071@reddit
You can't have been looking in the right places. Every good bakery here in South Australia does a chunky beef pie.
UniquePotato@reddit
I had a chicken tikka masala in Budapest, it was like chicken in tomato soup
_franciis@reddit
Meat pies in Australia and NZ are typically snack size, you can get them hot almost everywhere and they are legit.
DEGRAYER@reddit
Do they do a proper roast dinner anywhere else in the world? I've never seen one abroad.
Novel-Rip7071@reddit
erm..Australia? Half our country used to consist of British immigrants.
joesus-christ@reddit
I had beans on toast in Vietnam... Oh dear.
pencilrain99@reddit
The Fish and Chips at the Leaky cauldron in Universal Studios Orlando were OK
GerFubDhuw@reddit
At USJ they served ''''cornish pasties'''' so 4 gyoza sized mini things on salad drowned in dressing.
Demiboy94@reddit
Worth the 20 quid? 😄
ChefPaula81@reddit
Why? Was it on half price special?
Not_invented-Here@reddit
SEA it's improved IMO, first time I went about twenty years ago the quality was definetly not as good. But now ia larger amount of people from the UK, or natives who have lived in the UK and have been catering to expat / tourist crowds are bringing not just the skills, but also finding it easier to get ingredients that are needed. The standard has definetly gone up.
So saying even twenty odd years ago when most was not great, there were some gems hidden about.
AccomplishedAd3728@reddit
Sad to say, the chipper in Alberta I tried blew most UK places out of the water. It was like eating the dream of fish and chips.
thedailyrant@reddit
Fish and chips is a broader white Commonwealth country thing, so I’d be hesitant calling that purely British. Super common just about everywhere in Australia.
DavidWatchGuy@reddit
I have had some great curry in India
Theddt2005@reddit
In Ibiza I tried a full English and it was spot on
allthebeautifultimes@reddit
I think I got served a pie with gravy once in a Spanish restaurant. I had never lived in the UK at that point and was horrified to have brown sauce on a pie.
stevie855@reddit
Yes, I have had it many times in pubs, very hearty, very satisfying and so good with a pint.... Or six
NortonBurns@reddit
I've had variations on the full English around the world. Sometimes it's been close, though often the bacon & sausages are an odd local equivalent. Even your touristy Spanish holiday resort can get that right these days, though. Japan didn't do too badly either. Never really tried it anywhere else - usually if I'm abroad I'm trying the local foods.
BIR curry has been mentioned. Not good in the States, too fussy & 'polite'; damn fine on Tenerife [as good as anywhere I've eaten BIR], surprisingly good in Japan - except they have to use sticky rice, but everything else spot on, including naan bread which many places in Britain struggle to get right.
I've never dared to test any other country's take on fish & chips.
lewiitom@reddit
Indian food in Japan is really good - completely agree about the naan too, far superior to the naan in a lot of Indian restaurants here.
boostman@reddit
The Globe in Hong Kong does better British pub food than I’ve ever had in Britain. Weirdly no British beers though.
fletch3059@reddit
I had a curry at an Indian restaurant in America. Was rubbish, distinct lack of spice.
mupps-l@reddit
I was taken to a “British pub” in Tashkent which was interesting.
Mean-Construction-98@reddit
Were you kidnapped?
mupps-l@reddit
Work trip, our distributor out there was very excited to take me there. It’s a shame as all the Uzbek food I had out there was delicious.
yiminx@reddit
had a few fry ups in tenerife, they actually weren’t too bad, although i’d agree with other commenters that the bacon always seems to let it down. i’ll still eat it though.
corysphotos19@reddit
I had fish and chips in Warsaw Poland in a British themed bar/ restaurant and it was pretty good.
gerflagenflople@reddit
You've not tried anything until you've tried "fish and chips spaghetti" from a mamak stall in Malaysia.
popeyelosthisboat@reddit
I had curry in India once....pretty good
Updates_Due@reddit
I had fish & chips in California. I don’t want to talk about it.
Warzenschwein112@reddit
At Nelson's eye in Cape Town. An "absolute Beast of a Steak" they claimed and they were accurate about that. 👍
Blackintosh@reddit
I had an absolutely banging fry up in Rhode Island. Proper bacon and everything.
The cafe was British themed and the owner is from London though.
I was really second-hand proud at how many locals were eating there though!
Fluffy_Register_8480@reddit
I had fish and chips at the Cheesecake Factory in Baltimore once. Big mistake 😂
lloydstenton@reddit
Fish & chips in Disney World - it’s like somebody told them what fish & chips is and then left them to it
JimmyBallocks@reddit
One of the best fish & chips I ever had was in Canada. Floating seafood restaurant in Victoria BC.
They did everything 100% authentic aside from the variety of fish, which was halibut and it was incredible.
I felt ashamed of myself for admitting how good it was at the time, and I can tell you now sir, I feel ashamed of myself today.
Different-Self-2468@reddit
I've had decent fish and chips in Delaware. But what the stalls call "haggis" at their Highland Games is ghastly: basically a form of stiff liver pate.
SwordTaster@reddit
Americans suck at fish and chips, and the bacon is basically fat with meat attached
richardjohn@reddit
I don’t think I’ve ever tried the food, but if I see a British themed pub abroad I always have to go in to see what their take on it is.
Some highlights include one in Turin which kind of looked like a British pub but was table service and they had Tennent’s Super on tap.
The one in Palo Alto, California that looked like a bomb had gone off in a football memorabilia shop - they had a whole wall with Blackburn Rovers merchandise, and they had Blackthorn on tap… the barman looked really sad when I said only teenagers in parks drink it in the UK.
Then weirdly the one in Shanghai which was just very normal, could have been anyway in the UK. Was funny seeing Chinese families come in for pies and fish and chips though.
Substantial_Fox_6721@reddit
I had a fantastic curry in Bruges last year. It was like eating a fairytale.
The-Mayor-of-Italy@reddit
I had chicken tikka masala in Addis Ababa. It was....okay, I guess. Tasted more like the ones you get as a UK pub meal rather than from an UK Indian restaurant
you_aint_seen_me-@reddit
Fish and chips east coast USA. Surprisingly good, despite the lack of vinegar. Also, notable mention to a full English in Crete many years ago.
QuailTechnical5143@reddit
Big deal. I did this twice the other day…or was it 50 deaths?
BeastMidlands@reddit
Yeah, a few years ago I had the roast dinner at the Harry Potter world at Universal Studios Orlando.
No it wasn’t.
horridbloke@reddit
I had fish and chips in an "English" bar in Bangkok. The chilli in the batter was a novel touch.
First_Folly@reddit
When I went to Japan I got about 2 days in and I think the jet lag still had me a bit as I was feeling a little uneasy, so I went to get something familiar to eat for a break in pace. Went and got a really nice properly done fish & chips at some place in Shinjuku. Salt & vinegar, of course. Washed down with a pint of guinness.
I did eat local stuff for the rest of the trip, but in that moment I needed something I knew.
TheMarvellousMrMaz@reddit
I had a full traditional English roast dinner in Thailand….. is was odd 😂
MK01S@reddit
I tried a full English in Sydney that was absolutely mental. So mental that I went there every day at 9am for 10 days. Was on the pricier side of $15 but worth every cent.
raheemnaz@reddit
To be fair, Full English breakfasts at some 5 star hotels are better than over here.
CaliforniaAvenue@reddit
The real question is, has anyone tried the British section of a Chinese takeaway? Because that shit scares me
El_Scot@reddit
I had a sausage supper in Australia, and it was a battered hot dog with chunky chips you'd get in a greasy spoon. It was weird, because they had a very British chip shop fryer.
Pizzagoessplat@reddit
One of the biggest things I miss is fish and chips.
I currently live in Ireland and they're surprisingly terrible here
Ysbrydion@reddit
I had fish and chips in an Irish Pub in Mongkok.
It wasn't inedible, but it wasn't good.
deanomatronix@reddit
Why on earth would I do that?
Shannoonuns@reddit
The Harry Potter world "British food" was okay but it wasn't an exact match.
conspiracyfetard89@reddit
Every time I go to a foreign I try to have the English fish n' chips at least once. I had an incredible fish and chips in a small town outside Shanghai. They also did a decent home brewed English ale.
mmoonbelly@reddit
Yep. Chateau de Gateaux near Limoges
Well worth a 2 hour one way drive from my place in France.
dandotcom@reddit
Gordon Ramsey's "Fish and Chips" in Vegas is an utter dicksrace. Fries and Fish Gujons might technically be Fish AND Chips, but its isn't 'Fish & Chips', you dig.
Al_Bee@reddit
I tried a lovely traditional, super local speciality, super special dish at a place in Bulgaria once. It was a perfectly decent lamb hotpot iirc. Slightly disappointed it wasnt that unusual but nice enough.
lalalaladididi@reddit
No.
I go abroad to get away from the British.
Why go aboard and then eat the same food you have every day?
That's so British.
We don't travel well
stylesuponstyles@reddit
Fish n' chips in Shanghai.
The fish was decent. Batter and tempura are really not that dissimilar. The chips, however.... ugh
rabbithole-xyz@reddit
I've been conned in to ordering fish and chips in Germany and Austria more times than I like to admit. Crap, every single time. Absolute crap.
Alive_Tell5085@reddit
I had an 'english breakfast' in Berlin that had fruit and salad on the same plate as sausages.
crazyDiamnd67@reddit
Yeah try Thailands take on a fry up 😆 couple of little weird sausages and some slices of processed ham.
Also here in Sweden, fish and chips….. well their miserable attempts at fish and chips. There was a world food fair in the city I live in and one was a stall “traditional British fish and chips” so thought fuck it will give it a go. The chips…. Not chippy chips and the fish… less said about that the better, I also asked for some vinegar “oh sorry we don’t have vinegar” well don’t call yourself traditional British fish and chips then 😅
GunstarGreen@reddit
Shepherds pie in Japan. It had a lot of chopped tomatoes in it
RedBarclay88@reddit
Last year I tried fish and chips at a Pan-European restaurant in Sai Kung, Hong Kong.
It was not good. 😬
404pbnotfound@reddit
I have had your example of fish and chips in South Africa, they aren’t trying to imitate British fish and chips but there’s only so many ways you can do it so it comes out just about the same honestly… only difference is the kinds of fish.
There’s a really good fish and chips place on the strand near Gordon’s bay in the capetown greater area…
OccidentalTouriste@reddit
I have had Cornish Pasties in the USA, Mexico and Bolivia which were pretty good and authentic. All in areas where historically Cornish miners had worked and settled in the 1800s.
Appropriate_Trader@reddit
Swedes kinda love the British culture and they’ll dabble in the food. Fish and chips is a staple but honestly they don’t do it justice. It’s not meant to be gourmet but that’s how they try and sell it.
There’s a little British pub in Stockholm though that makes one of the best Sunday roasts I’ve had anywhere.
lloyddav@reddit
I was in Australia a few years ago and found an "authentic British chippy", so I thought I'd see just how authentic it was. It turned out the owner was from Birmingham and had UK products shipped over to make it legit. Food was pretty good too
friends_with_salad_@reddit
Spent a month stuck in a small tourist mecca in China. Most of their attempts on western food were brave misfires, but there was one place that did apple crumbles that were just beautiful.
ledow@reddit
I was in Italy and there was a "British gastropub" for the locals in a small town miles from any tourist places.
I had a horsemeat burger. It was lovely.
In a way, very un-British, but anyone who remembers the Findus lasagne may beg to differ.
The whole place was a menagerie or chaotic "British" choices lumped together, not just on the menu.
mrskristmas@reddit
Had a roast at an English pub in Egypt.. it was like disappointing school Christmas dinner. Watery gravy and hard roast potatoes. Also ordered a cup of tea at our hotel there and it was Lipton English Breakfast. Just wasn't the same as a good cup of Yorkshire Tea.
ThunderDaz@reddit
Sausages and bacon. Been to a few all inclusive hotels in Turkey, Spain, Greece... they never get the breakfast right.
conrat4567@reddit
Had a full English in Thailand, was surprisingly nice. Pork tastes different over there.
Adept_Thanks_6993@reddit
There's two pretty good places to get British food in New York City. Myers of Keswick on West 17th, and A Salt and Battery somewhere on the Lower East Side (I think). The former sells pies, bacon/sausages, and other British goods. The latter is a chippy.
Plenty-Spell-3404@reddit
No other countries can match the quality of a full English breakfast or roast dinner! These foods are most effectively managed by British hands.
daddy-dj@reddit
I've had the best pies ever from this place just outside Port Elizabeth in South Africa - https://www.nanaga.co.za/ Highly recommended!!!
Here in France, however, I've always been left disappointed when I've ordered fish & chips. I now make sure I have a takeaway fish & chips whenever I'm back in Blighty.
Oh, and the KFC over here doesn't come with gravy :-(
lugonamission@reddit (OP)
Must say the fry up also looks half descent
imtheorangeycenter@reddit
I'm in Maderia at the moment, and my favourite game when abroad has yielded a new best!
Always look for Beef Wellington, and see what you get. This trip it was a piece of steak wrapped in what looked and tasted like Shredded Wheat.
Honourable mention goes to Mauritius. It really looked like a decent Wellington from 30ft away, but in closer examination is was just a hollowed out bloomer load with a joint of roast beef dropped in.
w1gglepvppy@reddit
Fish and chips in Jeju, Korea.
IIRC the owner was Korean-Australian, so it was more modelled on Aussie style chippy dinners than UK style.
I don’t remember if there was much difference between the type of batter, chip thickness, or fish used, but I know that I’d had two weeks of eating Korean food and it was a welcome change- even in 33° heat.
zeldafan144@reddit
The British food in Harry Potter World in Florida was really good imo
mattamz@reddit
I had a sausage roll (idk if strictly british) in Greece it was a hotdog in puff pastry.
failed_asian@reddit
The best meat pies I ever had were in Canada. A pub in Toronto called The Queen and Beaver with a wood burning oven. Such incredible pies, perfect crust, very flavourful. Amazing rabbit pithivier. Their sunday roast was tasty but not particularly traditional.
frankchester@reddit
I ate a full english breakfast at the Harry Potter park in Orlando and it came with a croissant.
illarionds@reddit
Lots of British food that most places struggle with, Australia does just fine. Not surprising, given the shared history, and the huge number of UK-derived Aussies.
Good sausages, great meat pies for example. Chips are actually better, due to the ubiquity of chicken salt.
nucleargeorge@reddit
The Chester British Pub in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) was an unexpected treat on an otherwise bothersome mission.
PopularBroccoli@reddit
I once had a "traditional" British Fish & Chips in Sweden. The fish was covered in breadcrumbs instead of battered. The chips were potato wedges instead of chips. The peas were solid instead of mushy. The fish was wrapped in a piece of a4 paper with a fake newspaper printed on the outside. They put Lea and Perrins on the table, no vinegar in sight.
amanset@reddit
You do not want to see what they think fish and chips is in Sweden.
I swear one time I got breaded salmon.
dread1961@reddit
I once went in an 'English Pub' in Tokyo and had fish n chips. It was essentially tempura fish and a few beautifully shaped fried potatoes. Nice to look at, not exactly filling though.
Human-Call@reddit
I ordered a full English breakfast in Thailand about 20 years ago. It was all wrong. I can’t remember everything but it had an uncooked salad tomato, a bag of crisps (supposedly chips), some cold hotdog sausages (the cheap thin ones you get in a tin in brine). Maybe there was an egg, probably boiled, my memory is a bit hazy.
bowagahija@reddit
I ate what was allegedly a chicken tikka masala in Chicago. It wasn't nice.
FlatTyres@reddit
I've eaten fish and chips in Kuala Lumpur after a craving for home comfort foods after a week on my 3rd visit to Malaysia. The chips were medium-thickness factory cut french fries. I can't remember which white fish was battered but it wasn't too different to the taste of cod. It was satisfying enough but wasn't like a fish and chip shop's to no surprise.
BG031975@reddit
Yes, when I cooked it
Healthy-Drink421@reddit
Fish and Chips in the Greater Toronto Area Canada. In a place very renowned for their food.
I suppose the chips weren't really the nice soggy style, or the nice crispy style but an unsatisfying in between. And God knows where the fish came from 1,000KM inland! So it was OK, but didn't quite hit the mark.
Apparently Gordon Ramsey's restaurants are single handily introducing US Americans to Sticky Toffee Pudding. Good work.
Low_Sodiium@reddit
One of the best British fish n chip shops is in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
bonkerz1888@reddit
I've an online pal who works in a "Scottish" restaurant in Florida and each time she shares the menu or tells me about the food I have to chuckle as most of it sounds alien to me 😂
googooachu@reddit
I had fish and chips and mushy peas and a pot of tea at Tea & Sympathy in New York and it wasn’t bad at all. I would go back.
Figgzyvan@reddit
Had fish and chips in San Francisco. Ordered it without thinking ‘wow SF’. Waitress/owner came over asked us as Brits, ‘is it ok, authentic’?
We told her it was great. ‘’I’m so pleased’
It was great.
boolee2112@reddit
Fish, chips and mushy peas in Singapore. (My middle-born recently moved there). No salt and vinegar shocker.
yourefunny@reddit
Aus and NZ do fish and chips well. Had battered shark there once, it was great. Old colonies like Hong Kong do most things fine.
waamoandy@reddit
Had fish and chips in New York. It wasn't bad but wasn't really British style. Had baked beans at breakfast. Never again. Absolutely disgusting just tasted of sugar which was not good
the_sweens@reddit
San Francisco has a Dickens faire every year where people dress up as Victorian England and play out parts of Dickens in a big cowshed that is transformed with a bunch of stalls, pubs, etc.
They have English food, it's mostly right but kinda like weatherspoons quality. I used to like to order everything in my fakest London cockney accent as a Brit.
KeepOnTrippinOn@reddit
One that stands out is a full English in a bar in faliraki in 1999, I was rough as fuck and the plate was swimming in grease, add to that the funny sausage and bacon you get over there and it was too much for me to handle.
BusterMachineDixNeuf@reddit
My wife swears the best Shepherds Pie she’s ever eaten was in a bar in Manhattan on our honeymoon.
We had fish and chips in Las Vegas this year and the chips were completely different (more like french fries) but I honestly preferred them as I’m not a fan of chippy-style chips.
BanditKing99@reddit
Had a chippy in Alcudia, was 10/10
Martinonfire@reddit
Some of the best fish and chips I’ve ever had was from a chippie in Australia
cgknight1@reddit
I once got served a "full English" somewhere in Peru - I cannot remember where - the sausage was some form of Chorizo, there were slices of ham, avocado and chips in herbs.
imminentmailing463@reddit
Sounds really nice tbh!
coffeewalnut05@reddit
Yes. They were pretty great, some of the best food I’ve ever had. Apart from the mushy peas- it seems no one outside the north of England knows how to make good mushy peas.
Optimal_Collection77@reddit
I had fish and chips in Sydney and they were some of the best I've ever had!!
Well done to the colonials! 🦘🦘
Wise_Monkey_Sez@reddit
I think it depends heavily on where you get the food, and as non-locals you're going to hear a lot of people giving negative reviews of British foods in other countries because they probably ate it at some tourist trap, where as a general rule food is middling to bad.
This is probably the major variable. A good fish and chips or pie shop in South Africa, Australia, or the UK is going to deliver a good product. A bad shop is going to serve up horrible slop.
There are also regional variations, for example the sausage rolls in Durban in South Africa that I ate were a lot more heavily spiced than the ones I generally get in the UK, although it depends on where you get your sausage rolls in the UK. In some areas of London (especially areas with a large Indian population) the local tastes tend towards a heavier hand with the spices. Now personally I like the more heavily spiced sausage rolls, but I know that not everyone does.
But again, the major variable here is going to be the quality of the establishment where you order the food. There's a reason that locals generally steer clear of tourist traps, and that's because they manage to deliver terrible quality at high prices.
Koenigss15@reddit
The best fish and chips I ever had was in Las Vegas
adamMatthews@reddit
In Thailand I stayed at a hostel that had an “English Tearoom” connected for the included breakfast.
They didn’t really have tea, the person working there recommended I had coffee instead, at least I think so because she didn’t speak English and was communicating by pointing at pictures. And the breakfast was either a soup, or two frankfurters with a fried egg.
I wasn’t mad at it, because it was just a quick energy boost at the start of the day before eating delicious Thai food while out. But it was really funny that they called it English.
Dirkdigglersdong@reddit
I've had fish and chips quite a few times in Japan, not bad but feels like wearing someone else's shoes. Meat pies were generally disgraceful though
ClarifyingMe@reddit
https://g.co/kgs/6h7TRn8 the rose and white chocolate scone.
They also had battered fish with tartare (and other fixings) but I don't know whether to claim it, but it was delectable.
Critical-Engineer81@reddit
Brought a sandwich with me on the eurotunnel.
c0tch@reddit
Had fish and chips in (south) Melbourne, Australia. It looked and tasted pretty similar to the uk version. The shop was basically a 1:1 copy of a British chippy.
Chips were exactly what I was missing from home.
GargaryGarygar@reddit
When I went travelling around Australia in 2009/2010 with two friends from the UK, we would have fish and chips once a week. Every time they were very underwhelming and nowhere near as good as in the UK.
composaurus@reddit
I've had 'Nathan's famous fish and chips' at a mall in the states. Taste was fine but it wasn't anything like proper British fish and chips. For starters the chips were crinkle cut! CRINKLE CUT!
CptBigglesworth@reddit
I tried a locally beloved fish and chips in Newcastle, Australia.
It was middling.
Bruntonius@reddit
It's more of a 'Fusion' option, but I once took the Beef Sunday Roast option in a Spanish Tapas restaurant. I was there for the Spanish Tapas, but we'd been to this restaurant at least 3 times already and the temptation was always there to try it.
I would recommend it, though the horseradish in it took me by surprise at the time. I do not regret my life choices.
Embarrassed_Belt9379@reddit
Meat pies from Zimbabwe shit all over their pastry heavy, gravy filled, meat-light UK versions.
If anyone ever visits Bulawayo, go to Oriental Pies for a steak pie. They are incredible and filled with the tastiest beef I’ve ever tasted. Wash it down with a Pine Nut Sparletta for additional taste points.
lugonamission@reddit (OP)
Sounds like a plan, but maybe Zambia
imminentmailing463@reddit
I went to a British style pub in New York once. You know what, the food was fine. It was on a par with average pub food here.
I suppose perhaps there's enough Brits in NYC to make it worthwhile doing a good imitation.
knight-under-stars@reddit
I've had pies, fish and chips in other countries but local versions, not "British themed" meals or however you want to word it.
One of the things I love about going abroad is eating local food.
cityspeaks@reddit
Fish and Chips in a cheesecake factory in Dubai, surprisingly good but not authentic.
MrNippyNippy@reddit
Anywhere there’s a lot of British tourists you’ll find tourist hotels trying to do “British “ food.
I’ve been on package holidays with this and personally, I think it’s awful, however I know a lot of people who lap it up. I remember going on one package holiday speaking to people at the end of the week and then saying that the food was fantastic in the hotel which was far from our opinion.
ibilux@reddit
I had fish and chips in Tbilisi and it was way better than the vast majority I’ve tried in the UK
AutoModerator@reddit
Please help keep AskUK welcoming!
Top-level comments to the OP must contain genuine efforts to answer the question. No jokes, judgements, etc.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!
Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.