Top 30 Best Breakfasts Around the World (2024)

When it came to judging to best breakfast around the world, we couldn’t choose just one. After all, who doesn’t love a good breakfast?

Ireland: Full Irish Breakfast

First up, we’ve got the full Irish. If you’ve had a full English breakfast before, you’re probably familiar with most of this dish’s components.

Like its English counterpart, an Irish breakfast usually consists of sausage, bacon, baked beans, eggs, tomatoes, and toast. However, it also has one extra ingredient.

Black and white pudding is consistently found in Irish breakfasts. Black pudding is a type of blood sausage. White pudding, while similar, isn’t made with blood.

France: Croissant

Ah, what could be better than a warm, buttery croissant in the morning? Have it with some coffee, and you’ll feel transported to Paris.

They’ve become so widespread at this point, you can get them anywhere. However, they’re not as easy to bake — croissants are notoriously difficult to make yourself.

There’s a couple of tips and tricks that’ll come in handy if you still want to try it, though. Use European butter if you can, and be patient.

Mexico: Huevos Rancheros

Huevos rancheros (a.k.a one of the best Mexican foods ever) is super filling. Topped with an over-easy egg, it’s easily one of the best breakfasts around the world.

Eggs aside, it’s typically made with tortillas, refried beans, pico de gallo, and avocados. You can also add guacamole, hot sauce, and shredded cheese.

This breakfast is traditionally for Mexican ranchers, who needed a heavy meal to start their day off strong. Even if you’re not a rancher, you’ll appreciate it.

China: Congee

If you like oatmeal, there’s a chance that you’ll like congee. They’re different foods, but they’re both types of porridge. Congee, however, is not sweet.

In fact, meat is usually added to the dish to thicken it and make it more filling. The porridge itself is made from boiled water and rice.

Congee isn’t just Chinese. Versions of it are eaten all across Asia. If you were to compare it to an African food, it can be likened to fufu.

India: Masala Dosa

This originates in South India. The flavorful potatoes and onions all stuffed in a delicate wrap cement it as one of the best breakfasts around the world.

If you’re unfamiliar with dosa, think of it like a crepe. It’s a staple of South Indian cuisine. There’s even a World Dosa Day in March.

Like we said earlier, masala dosa has a potato and onion filling. It’s usually seasoned with coriander, green chiles, ginger, and chana dal.

North Africa/Middle East: Shakshuka

There’s no one country that shakshuka is eaten in. It’s a rather widespread breakfast dish, throughout most of North Africa and the Middle East.

And for good reason, too. It’s got everything you could want in a savor breakfast. Sunny side up eggs, tomatoes, chili pepper paste, and the occasional avocado.

This is a great dish to expand your culinary horizons with. It’s flavorful, fairly easy to make, and will level up your breakfasts like nothing else.

Brazil: Pão de Queijo

These cheesy rolls are the perfect light snack. Need something in your belly but not a fan of heavy breakfasts? Pão de queijo will do nicely.

Of course, you don’t have to limit yourself to just one. Trust me — with pão de queijo, you won’t want to. They’re also gluten free!

If you’re familiar with Latino cuisine, this probably isn’t new to you. It’s pretty similar to Colombian pandebono and other cheesy breads throughout South America.

Egypt: Ful Medames

Ful medames might be as ancient as the Pyramids. According to Beans: A History by Ken Albala, ful medames has been an Egyptian staple for centuries.

As you can guess by that book’s title, this breakfast dish consists mainly of fava beans. Hard boiled eggs are sometimes included, but not always.

The rest of the dish is seasoned with garlic and lemon juice, cooked with olive oil, and topped with parsley. It’s usually eaten alongside flatbread.

Turkey: Menemen

If you like shakshuka, you should definitely try menemen. It’s pretty much the same, except the eggs are scrambled, rather than cooked over easy.

So, if you hate runny egg yolks, definitely give menemen a shot. Plus, if you already make shakshuka, you’ll have all the ingredients you need for this one!

For a truly authentic experience, eat this with some toast. It’s what menemen is usually paired with, and it’ll taste great when dunked into your breakfast.

Australia: Vegemite on Toast

If Australia were a breakfast dish, it’d be Vegemite on toast. Seriously, there’s nothing Australians love more than this. It’s similar to Marmite, though Australians swear it’s better.

What exactly is Vegemite? Well, it’s a salty yeast spread left over from beer production. It also happens to be very vitamin-rich (per Food Network).

When it comes to the best breakfast around the world, this is the easiest recipe. All you need is Vegemite, toast, and butter.

Vietnam: Bánh Mì

This Vietnamese staple can be found all over the country. It’s served in a baguette, and usually includes a wide variety of meats and veggies.

According to VnExpress, a Vietnamese newspaper, cucumber and daikon are the most popular vegetables to have in bánh mi. It also typically includes pate and chili.

Bánh mi can be eaten at any point during the day, but these sandwiches can be (and often are) converted into breakfast. Just add egg!

Austria: Kaiserschmarrn

Think of Kaiserschmarrn as Austrian pancakes. The two are made pretty similarly, though the end result is a bit different. Kaiserschmarrn is broken up into little bits.

Though Austrians usually eat this as a dessert, you can also have it for breakfast. Lots of desserts have been repurposed as sweet breakfasts, so why not Kaiserschmarrn?

Dusted with powdered sugar, Kaiserschmarrn is often served with a side of fruit compote. Other countries in the region also have their own versions of it.

El Salvador: Pupusas

Though pupusas are popular throughout Central America, they’re particularly beloved throughout El Salvador. In fact, pupusas were even named the national dish of El Salvador.

Ever had an arepa? If you have, then you’re already familiar with pupusas in some capacity. Both are flatbreads that are often made with maize.

Pupusas are celebrated because of their versatility. You can stuff them with any food you want, and drizzle any number of delicious sauces onto your creation.

Georgia: Khachapuri

This breakfast food is a little less widespread than the others, but that doesn’t make it any less delicious. Khachapuri is made with cheese, bread, and eggs.

As you can see, making this dish requires a little more than just putting those ingredients on the same plate. First, the oval-shaped bread is stuffed with cheese.

Then, the center is filled with an egg. There’s different version of khachapuri, depending on where in Georgia you are, but that’s the gist.

United Arab Emirates: Balaleet

A popular holiday dish, balaleet makes for a great breakfast. The base is vermicelli noodles, but it’s probably sweeter than any other pasta dish you’ve had.

Balaleet is usually seasoned with sugar and cardamom, which is where its sweet side comes from. Don’t worry — it’s not too sweet, though.

It’s topped off with a savory, rolled omelet infused with saffron. If that doesn’t make you eager to try it, then I don’t know what will.

Singapore/Malaysia: Kaya Toast

If you’re in Singapore and you find yourself in a cafe, get the kaya toast. Though it’s best known as a Singaporean breakfast, it’s also popular in Malaysia.

What separates this from a regular slice of toast? If you didn’t know, kaya refers to coconut jam. So, the toast is served with jam and butter.

Sounds pretty good, and not that different from the kind of breakfast you’d find in America. If you can get your hands on some kaya, try making it!

Italy: Frittata

Tired of making the same old omelets? Try making a frittata! This omelet is Italian in origin, and allows for a lot of experimentation.

Have a lot of random veggies or cold cuts in your fridge that you don’t know what to do with? Well, now you do: frittata.

There’s a key difference between this and an omelet, though. Mix in the extra ingredients before frying, and don’t fold the frittata in half.

Finland: Karelian Pasty

Also known as Karjalanpiirakka, this savory Finnish dish makes good use of its simple ingredients. With rice, butter, eggs, and a crust, Karelian pasties are a must-try.

As is to be expected, there’s a little variation in how this is prepared. For example, some pasties include potatoes and carrots in the filling.

Regardless, you can always expect rice to be present. The crust may seem too thin to hold it all in, but it won’t give way.

Colombia: Changua

Changua is both breakfast and comfort food wrapped up in one. It is most definitely not vegan friendly, though — it’s chock-full of eggs, milk, and cheese.

That’s not all it is, though. The soup is served with bread, and topped with chopped scallions and herbs. It’s particularly popular in Bogota, Colombia’s capital.

Even though changua has loads of fans, it has just as many haters. According to Saveur, a lot of Colombians think the flavor is just too weird.

South Asia: Paratha

Paratha is a traditional breakfast food that crops up in many traditional South Asian breakfasts. You can eat this flatbread as is, or stuff it with other ingredients.

How it’s prepared mainly depends on the region. In Hyderabad, for example, paratha is deep-fried and stuffed with chicken and fruit. This version is called dulhan paratha.

Regardless of the region or country, though, paratha is usually topped with a pat of butter. The filling may vary, but the slight buttery taste remains.

Indonesia: Bubur Ayam

Remember congee? This is the Indonesian version. If you like eating your congee with meat, then you’ll definitely be a fan of bubur ayam.

This breakfast is usually made with chicken, not any kind of red meat. The congee itself is made the same way, though with different seasonings.

If you need some inspiration, soy sauce, scallions, peanuts, and celery are always great additions to bubur ayam. You can find it anywhere you go in Indonesia.

Japan: Tamago Kake Gohan

Tamago kake gohan is one of the best breakfasts in the world for its simplicity and taste. All you need is rice and a raw egg.

Well, okay. You might need a little bit more than that. Like all the best meals, tamago kake gohan is topped with soy sauce.

That’s it, really. Three simple ingredients, and you’re done! If you want, you can mix the egg and the rice together, but it’s not necessary.

Canada: Pancakes with Maple Syrup

Listen: we’re well aware that Canada’s penchant for maple syrup is a stereotype at this point. But that doesn’t change just how good it is.

Okay, so we can all agree that Canadian maple syrup is superior. What about the pancakes, though? How are they any different from American pancakes?

Well, there aren’t that many differences. Chances are, if you like American pancakes, you’ll like Canadian ones. However, they are a bit larger and thicker.

Switzerland: Muesli

Oats are a great way to enhance pretty much any breakfast. Alright, maybe not any breakfast. You probably don’t want to sprinkle oats into your corned beef hash.

Still, muesli is a great way to enhance your breakfast food. Don’t make it in the morning, though. Muesli is best when it’s prepared the evening prior.

Yogurt, raisins, and grated apple are all popular ingredients to mix with muesli. People also eat it with milk, like you would with cereal.

Sri Lanka: Rice and Curry

It’s important to note that not everyone in Sri Lanka eats this for breakfast. Sri Lanka is home to many cultures, all with their own breakfast foods.

Rice and curry is popular with the Sinhalese, who make up the majority of Sri Lankans (per World Population Review). Tamils, however, restrict their meat intake.

The rice used in this breakfast isn’t so common abroad. It’s called milk rice, and it’s made with coconut milk, making it slightly sweet.

United States: Bagel with Cream Cheese

The American states have ultra-specific foods. However, bagels with cream cheese have become so ubiquitous, you can get one for breakfast anywhere you go.

Let’s be honest: there’s one place in the States where they’re considered the best. But is it true that New York bagels are actually superior?

Well, if you’re in New York City, you should try the bagels, just to make your own judgment. Apparently, it’s all in the water.

Wales: Welsh Rarebit

You might’ve heard this breakfast food being referred to as “Welsh rabbit.” Well, sorry to say, but there’s no rabbit here. Just toast and cheese.

Much like kaya toast, Welsh rarebit is a light, bread-based breakfast that’s easy to make. Put some cheese on bread, toast it, and you’re done.

Even though the dish is simple, you don’t have to completely limit yourself. Some people like to make the cheese into a sauce, complete with mustard and Tabasco.

Turkey: Simit

Unless you’re immortal, simit’s been around much longer than you. We’re talking Roman Empire old. It’s a descendant of arculata, a bread found in Pompeii (per the BBC).

The dough is shaped into a wide circle and speckled with seeds. It’s one of the best breakfasts around the world to pair with tea.

People throughout the Middle East also have their own versions of simit. Some pair it with fruit, while others eat it with eggs or yogurt.

Norway: Lefse

If you’ve learned anything about breakfasts around the world, it’s that flatbreads reign supreme. Norwegian lefse is no exception. These breads, however, are made with potatoes.

Like most flatbreads, lefse is usually made more flavorful with the help of extra ingredients. It tends to be topped with butter, sugar, cinnamon, and/or jelly.

If you’re from North Dakota or the American Midwest, you might be familiar with this. Immigrants brought this over from their homelands, and it’s still popular today.

Sweden: Kanelbullar

Kanelbullar is basically the Swedish version of cinnamon rolls. In Sweden, though, they’re usually eaten during the afternoon. Doesn’t mean you can’t try them for breakfast, though!

Don’t expect to eat them for breakfast if you’re in Sweden, though. Kanelbullar is a fixture of Swedish culture. There’s a whole day dedicated to it.

If you wanted to celebrate, it’s on October fourth. Trust us — you’ll want to celebrate. Topped with pearl sugar, kanelbullar is as elegant as it is sweet.

Best Breakfast Around the World: How Many Have You Tried?

So, what do you think the best breakfast around the world is? Do you prefer sweet breakfasts, like kanelbullar and kaya toast? Or is savory more your speed?

Well, whatever your preference, there’s definitely a breakfast out there that you’re bound to enjoy. You don’t have to relegate yourself to eating boiled eggs every day.

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