Most Loved Breakfasts Served Around The World

When traveling for business as well as for pleasure, the wide variety of foods that you can taste and enjoy is often one of the most exciting aspects of the entire trip. Regardless of where in the world you find yourself awaking or how tired you may feel, a hearty breakfast is a great way to start the day, lift your spirits and make you feel like a local.

Courtesy Patrick Nouhailler

Western-influenced breakfasts have crept their way onto menus around the world, but be adventurous and tempt your taste buds with the following hotel breakfasts from countries across the globe during your travels.

American Style Breakfast

In the United States, a usual hotel breakfast is commonly comprised of two fried or scrambled eggs, served with slices of bacon or sausage links and a starch such as toast with jam or butter, pancakes or waffles with syrup or cereal and milk. A cup of coffee is often the beverage of choice, but hot tea and orange, grapefruit or tomato juice are also served.

Belizean Breakfast

Belizean cuisine is a unique blend of Caribbean-, Mexican-, African-, Spanish- and Mayan-influenced foods. A typical Belizean breakfast includes scrambled eggs and refried red or black beans cooked with onions and herbs along with tortillas, Johnnycakes or fry jacks. Johnnycakes are a type of round biscuit topped with butter or paired with ham and cheese while fry jacks are deep-fried pieces of dough. Eggs can be served with bacon or sausage as well as tomatoes, and just about every table in Belize contains a bottle of Marie Sharp’s hot sauce, a Belizean specialty made from habanero peppers.

Courtesy Kent Wang

Chinese Breakfast

Breakfasts in China can vary by province, but common breakfast food choices include sweet or salty pancakes; youtiao, fried strips of dough known as fried bread sticks or Chinese crullers; rice porridge; and fried or soup-based noodles. Chinese breakfasts are usually paired with tea or sweetened soy milk. In Hong Kong, dim sum served with tea is a popular restaurant breakfast, as is Western-influenced French toast spread with peanut butter, honey or butter.

Courtesy Cumidanciki

Continental Breakfast

A light morning meal provided free of charge by many American hotels and motels, continental breakfasts are often served in continental Europe. Continental breakfasts, which are typically served buffet style so that guests can serve themselves, generally include sliced bread with butter, jam or honey; croissants or pastries; fruit juices; and hot coffee and tea. Some hotels, especially those that cater more to business travelers than tourists, may also offer other quick choices such as fresh fruit, breakfast meats and eggs.

Courtesy Jayne and D

English Breakfast

A traditional English breakfast, also known as a full breakfast or Full English, is commonly served at inns and guest houses in Britain. This customary morning meal may include porridge, fried eggs, bacon, sausages, fried bread, fried mushrooms and baked beans along with a cup of coffee. Modern English breakfasts, which are served in hotels and motels, include cold cereal with milk, bacon and eggs, toast with marmalade and tea or coffee.

Courtesy Mike Fleming

Scottish Breakfast

A full Scottish breakfast is similar to its full English counterpart with the addition of a few local favorites. Scottish hotels and bed and breakfasts commonly offer a morning meal comprised of porridge; eggs; bacon and sausage; black pudding, also known as blood sausage; and potato scones. Hot smoked herring known as kippers, smoked haddock, and slightly salty oatmeal biscuits known as oatcakes are also popular in northern Scotland.

Courtesy Igor D.

Turkish Breakfast

In the Middle East where Istanbul became Constantinople you will find wonderfully light breakfasts that typically come with many fruits and vegetables. Nuts and dried fruits are also common, and a wonderful egg dish that is often mixed with peppers and tomatoes and seasoned delicately is a staple. Fresh bread, in the form of a bun or loaf is served on the side to round out your carb intake for the day.

Courtesy Crystal Martel

Japanese Breakfast

In Japan, a traditional hotel breakfast consists of plain steamed rice or rice porridge; miso soup made from ingredients like tofu, chopped green onions, and seaweed; and a variety of side dishes. Sides commonly include fermented soybeans known as natto, which is often served on top of steamed rice; dried seaweed known as nori; a rolled omelet known as tamagoyaki; and broiled fish.

Courtesy Esme Vos

Russian Breakfast

Traditional Russian breakfast foods include oladushki, which are similar to American pancakes, and blini or crepes. Sirniki is another type of pancake made with fried cheese. Buterbrod, open sandwiches made with cold cuts and cheeses, is another popular Russian breakfast dish. Smoked sturgeon is a common breakfast meat, and black caviar served with sour cream has also been found on Russian breakfast tables.

Courtesy Bev Sykes

Interacting with new people and experiencing new cultures are fundamental components of traveling to other countries. It is often necessary to step outside of your comfort zone, especially at the table. While some foods are found almost anywhere around the globe, others are unique to a particular country or region or prepared differently than they are “at home.” Having a basic understanding of traditional breakfasts, lunches and dinners and how they are prepared before you arrive at your destination should help make mealtimes easier. Bon appétit!

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About The Author:  Lorena Starkey enjoys both travel and breakfast, and would like to have more of both while taking business travel trips to Minot, ND and the Hyatt House with which she works.

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