18 Breakfasts Around The World

From congee in China to shakshuka in Israel, here are some common breakfasts from around the world.

Breakfast in Argentina is a no-frills affair. You'll find locals typically eating one of two things: toast (tostados) or medialunas, "half-moons," pastries similar to croissants but a smaller and sweeter. Of course, these are typically eaten with coffee. 

Australians love their "brekkie", and one is toast with some Vegemite (a spread of flavored yeast extract), avo (avocado), and tomato. Australians also love muesli with yoghurt, but on the other hand also favor a bacon and egg roll, which can sometimes be topped off with barbecue sauce. 

Warm, fresh-from-the-oven pão de queijos, round cheese buns typically made of cassava flour and cheese from Minas Gerais, are a breakfast staple in Brazil. Fresh fruit or berries, such as the exotic açai, are also commonly enjoyed in the morning.

In Burma (or Myanmar), a morning might start out with a plate of sticky fried rice topped with boiled yellow beans. This savory dish, called kaut nyin paung, is sometimes served with fried fish and a cup of green tea.

Congee, rice porridge, is a popular comfort food and breakfast item in China, as well as several other Asian countries. This savory porridge can be eaten plain or topped with anything from ground meat to squid.

A hearty bowl of oat–based porridge, called puuro, is a common breakfast in Finland, often served with milk, fresh or frozen berries, and a bit of butter.

A piece of baguette, topped with butter and jam — known as a tartine — is a common breakfast in France. Breakfast pastries, such as croissants, are often also eaten together with coffee or a glass of juice.

A typical breakfast in India varies depending on region, but is often quite similar to a lunch or dinner. A breakfast plate in India might include roti (flatbread), dosas (thin crêpes made of lentils), or idlis (steamed rice-dough pancakes), and different dips and chutneys, as well as spiced potatoes

Eggs seem to be loved the world over for breakfast. In Israel, shakshuka — a rich dish of eggs poached in a tomato sauce, with chiles and onions — is a common choice, and it's easy to see why.  

Traditional Italian breakfast is very simple: a cornetto, which is similar to a croissant and often filled with jam, chocolate, or pastry cream, and a good, strong espresso or  cappuccino. 

A breakfast in Japan is usually light, savory, and simple. A bowl of miso soup and rice or rice porridge is often the main part of the meal, sometimes accompanied by a piece of cooked fish and some pickled vegetables, and of course a cup of green tea.

In Korea, a typical breakfast consists of foods that could be found at lunch or dinner as well: a stew of some sort, rice, kimchi, and several side dishes, such as spinach or spicy cucumbers.

Depending on the region of Mexico, typical breakfast items may vary slightly, but often include ingredients such as corn tortillas, eggs, beans, and sauces, compiled in different way. One common breakfast item is chilaquiles — fried corn tortilla chips topped with green or red salsa (or mole), cheese, and refried beans, sometimes with eggs and/r pulled chicken mixed in.

A very popular breakfast food in Morocco is khlea — small strips of dried beef — mixed in with fried eggs. Additionally, Moroccans enjoy eating khobz, or a round, flat Moroccan bread, dipped in olive oil. Tea, often mint tea, is also very popular, not only in the mornings but throughout the day. 

In Spain, a typical morning might start out sweet, with a serving of chocolate con churros (hot chocolate with long, ridged fried doughnuts). The hot chocolate is used as a dip for the churros..

A smörgås, or open-faced sandwich, is a typical breakfast item in Sweden. Two slices of bread are often eaten, topped with a thin spread of butter and a combination of toppings including ham, cheese, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, and hard-boiled egg.

A breakfast item now enjoyed in several parts of the world — muesli — has its roots in Switzerland. Here, the cereal blend of oat flakes, nuts, and raisins or other types of dried fruit, is often eaten with yogurt.

The soft corn flatbread arepa is eaten in Venezuela throughout the day, but most commonly served in the morning stuffed with different fillings such as cheese, meat, or beans.