Traditional breakfast dishes from around the world

How you enjoy the most important meal of the day differs based on your location. Some opt for something sweet and light, while others go for something filling and savory. But there’s one thing that everyone can agree on — it has to be good. Fortunately, there are some truly incredible breakfasts around the world to tantalize your tastebuds. No matter your travel destination, your vacation is set to be a delightful affair with these epic meals to start the day.

The best breakfasts around the world

If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are the best breakfast foods around the world, each one sure to start your days off perfectly.

Medialunas, Argentina

They don’t call Buenos Aires the Paris of Latin America for nothing. Argentines like nothing more than something small and sweet for breakfast, just like their French counterparts. Medialunas are crescent-shaped pastries, much like croissants, which are typically smothered with rich dulce de leche (a kind of South American caramel) and accompanied by milky coffee.

Gallo pinto, Costa Rica

Literally translating to ‘spotted rooster’ and found throughout Costa Rica and Nicaragua, this popular breakfast of rice dotted with beans and cooked in chicken stock. This just makes the base of the breakfast, with cheese, tortilla, eggs, fried plantain, and a little salad adding the final flourish.

Waakye, Ghana

Found at roadside vendors and street stalls all over the country, waakye is a mouth-watering mix of rice, beans, spices, stewed meats or fried fish, boiled eggs, and vegetables, often eaten with kelewele and fried plantain. It has a number of other names depending on which region you’re in — such as waache and awaakye.

Teishoku traditional Japanese breakfast, Japan

If Japan’s rich history, breathtaking natural beauty, and vibrant cultural experiences weren’t enough to convince you to plan a Japanese vacation, their breakfast is sure to seal the deal. Teishoku is Japan’s beloved way to start the day. The traditional breakfast features a beautifully arranged tray of small dishes, with miso soup and steamed rice taking center-stage. Alongside these staples are pickled vegetables, sheets of seaweed, perfectly grilled fish, and a form of egg.

Ceviche, Peru

If you are traveling down Peru’s coast, be sure to try ceviche, a zingy blend of raw white fish marinated in a mix of lime and other citrus juices, chili, and red onions. The side of corn, either fresh or fried, and sweet potato give the breakfast some necessary crunch and texture. Although you can find it in the highlands, for freshness, we suggest only eating it on the coast.

Congee, Thailand

The beauty of Thailand is that there are no breakfast dishes — you can eat anything you like at any time. However, if you had to pick one commonly eaten in the morning, it’s congee, a thick porridge-like bowl of overcooked rice soup that originated from China. It’s either eaten plain with a little soy sauce or including ginger, spring onions, a selection of meat, and a poached egg.

Fuul, Jordan

A scrumptious blend of boiled fava beans, chilies, lemon juice, and plenty of olive oil makes it onto most breakfast tables in Jordan. Hot flatbreads called khubez are used to mop up the paste in the absence of cutlery. You’ll often find cold hummus, falafels, and a chopped salad to add variety and bulk up the meal.

Kahvalti, Turkey

The perfect blend of savory and sweet, kahvalti is the traditional Turkish breakfast that makes mornings worth waking up for. The symphony of taste features an array of bite-sized dishes showcasing Turkey’s culinary diversity. The breakfast spread often features creamy cheeses, olives, tomatoes, spicy Turkish sausage, hard-boiled eggs or menemen, jams, cured beef, and more.

Changua, Colombia

This Andean breakfast is a creamy concoction of milk, coriander, spring onions, and poached eggs. Yesterday’s slightly stale bread thickens the soup, and the garnished cheese will melt if you leave it long enough. It’s simple and delicious! To try changua at its finest, head to the capital, Bogotá.

Balaleet, United Arab Emirates

Balaleet is enjoyed for breakfast not just in the UAE but also in other countries in the Persian Gulf, so you know it’s good. At its most basic, the dish combines sweet and savory with an omelet layered atop noodles. What makes it special are the fragrant noodles, sweetened with saffron, sugar, or cardamom.

Parathas, India

The circular paratha is a staple on the breakfast menu across northern India. Either plain or filled with paneer (a type of Indian cheese) or potato, the flatbread is used to mop up a range of vegetable curries, curd (a type of yogurt), and pickles. For tea lovers, the espresso-style shots of milky tea are the perfect pick-me-up.

Full English breakfast, England

Found on hotel menus aplenty, the “fry-up” is right up there with the best breakfasts from around the world. This hearty breakfast staple typically includes fried eggs, baked beans, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, toast, and sausages. Optional extras like hash browns, baked potatoes, and black pudding add to the burst of flavors. Of course, nothing completes England’s finest morning meal like a cup of breakfast tea.

Huevos rancheros, Mexico

With Mexico being one of the best foodie destinations, it’s only right to include this rural dish. Chili, refried beans, avocado, eggs, and spicy rice are piled onto freshly toasted corn tortillas. This isn’t an early meal: being a farmer’s breakfast, it’s often served later in the mid-morning.

Pho, Vietnam

Pho is a perfect way to start the morning during a Vietnam vacation, with it offering enough to keep you full during the morning but light enough to sightsee without getting stitches. One of Vietnam’s traditional breakfast dishes, bowls of pho consist of fragrant rice noodles swimming in flavorsome beef or chicken broth. These are grouped with slices of meat, a garnish of herbs, and a squeeze of lime or Sriracha sauce.

Calentado, Colombia

If you believe food tastes better the next day then Colombia’s favorite breakfast, calentado (or calentao), will be a delight. The hearty dish is built around reheated leftovers, typically featuring rice and beans from last night’s dinner.

Of course, the actual composition depends on what was served the evening before. But in restaurants, calentado often comes with a delicious combination of chorizo, rice, and pinto beans, accompanied by a creamy slice of avocado and perfectly-cooked egg. No Colombian breakfast would be complete without the iconic arepas, making for a filling meal to start the day.

Pingado, Brazil

Up next on the list of the best traditional breakfast around the world is pingado, which isn’t actually a food but rather one of many delicious breakfast drinks. It is typically prepared by adding a small splash of steamed milk to a cup of hot coffee, with sugar tying it all together. Some do it the other way around, which makes for an interesting drink best paired with cheese or French bread.

Nasi lemak, Malaysia

Malaysia is where much of Southeast Asia meets in one big cultural melting pot, and this obviously means it’s where you’ll find the best breakfast from different countries, all in one place. Despite this diversity, there is none better than nasi lemak, centered around aromatic rice flavored with coconut milk and pandan leaves. It’s often served with hard- or soft-boiled eggs, fried chicken, fried anchovies, and roasted peanuts.

Make it happen

Reading about these popular breakfasts from around the world is sure to work up an appetite for a culinary adventure. What better way to get your fill than by letting our local experts help you discover these traditional delicacies on vacation? Find out how it works, and you’ll soon be enjoying the best traditional breakfasts around the world.