Banh Mi To Bagels: Breakfast Around The World Slideshow

In the U.S., a "typical" breakfast can shift depending on what part of the country you're in. One might argue that there is no more typical New York breakfast than a bagel (pictured left) with lox and cream cheese. Eggs, bacon, and hash browns (with some variations), as well as waffles and pancakes, appear on breakfast tables across the country. In the South, biscuits and gravy is a classic breakfast, as is grits or porridge. Northeasterners are particularly fond of coffee and donuts, or traditionally, a slice of pie. Then, states in the Southwest tend to eat Mexican-inspired dishes like "huevos rancheros." There is always the old half-grapefruit (with sugar) standby, as well.

The British, not necessarily known for their health-conscious cuisine, traditionally enjoy a "full breakfast," otherwise known as a "fry-up" or "The Full Monty" (pictured left), which consists of scrambled eggs with sausage, black pudding, bacon, half of a tomato, baked beans, hash browns, and a cup of tea or coffee. Larger breakfasts have been replaced on weekdays by quick fixes like buttered crumpets, yogurt, toast with jam or marmalade, and "eggs and soldiers" with soldiers ranging from asparagus points to sausages.

In many Eastern countries, savory meals that are often associated with lunch or dinner can serve as typical breakfasts. For example, in Vietnam, breakfasts can commonly mean a steaming bowl of pho (pictured left) or a banh mi. In Japan, you find steamed rice paired with miso soup, broiled or grilled fish, a rolled omelet, and dried seaweed with green tea for the first meal of the day. Then in Indonesia, a "lontong sayur" counts as breakfast, which is compressed rice with a spicy curry sauce and vegetables. 

Breakfasts across Europe can vary greatly by country. To the north, in Scandinavian countries, the basic combination of bread, meat, and cheese is very common. In Sweden, a crispy or rye bread can be topped with butter, cheese, and a choice of cucumber, sliced tomato, or sliced cold meats – called "smorgas." The French are known for "tartines," or open-faced baguettes with butter and jam, while Greeks often spread a mixture of raw egg yolk and a few heaping tablespoons of sugar on their toast, a dish called "htipito avgo." Other European countries like Italy, Portugal, and Spain favor longer (and larger) lunches during the day, having only a coffee and small pastry (biscotti or galletas) in the morning.

An Egyptian breakfast could easily consist of tea and "t'aamiyya," a sandwich with falafel, or a dish cooked with fava beans in olive oil and lemon juice. In Afghanistan, people drink chai in the morning with "rhot," a sweet flatbread alongside dried fruits like apricots. Many Middle Eastern countries enjoy yogurt with dried fruits and nuts, like pistachios, as well. In Israel, you can find coffee, hard-boiled eggs, and an Israeli salad consisting of diced cucumbers and tomatoes, as well as hummus and baba ghanouj in the morning. Then you can start your day with traditional strained yogurt with honey, cheese, olives, and bread with marmalade in Lebanon.

When traveling in Kenya, you might enjoy a "mandazi" (pictured left), a sweet, flat donut, served with sweetened, milky chai. In Ghana, "sugar bread" is thick, sweetened bread eaten in the morning with a cup of tea. In South Africa, you might try a "rusk" or hardened cookie to dip in coffee or tea, although you can also often find a full English breakfast here, as well. Traveling through Mozambique can mean munching on an egg or fish sandwich, or a small piece of cake, with your coffee. Mozambicans place more emphasis on lunch, though, keeping breakfast light.

Many Latin countries share a similar breakfast style with slight variations based on region. For example, breakfast in Mexico can consist of "chilaquiles" while in Guatemala, scrambled eggs are served with beans, tortillas, cheese, and fried bananas. Peruvians often drink "emoliente," a drink with flax seeds, aloe, barley, alfalfa juice, and lime, but on Sundays have been known to make tamales, "pan con chicharron" (a sandwich with slow-roasted pork), and scrambled eggs with cheese and bread. Brazilians sometimes enjoy a cornmeal "fuba" cake with tropical fruits and strong coffee, while in Argentina you can taste a "medialuna," which is a pastry similar to a croissant that can be made sweet or not sweet.