The travel experts at hotel chain Premier Inn have analysed global Google search data for more than 150 popular breakfast foods, in order to reveal which breakfast items are most popular around the world.
Overall in the USA, the açaí bowl comes out on top as the most searched-for breakfast food.
To easily digest the findings of beloved breakfasts around the USA, each item has been visualised in a map:
To celebrate the ‘most important meal of the day’, Premier Inn has analysed Google search data for over 150 different breakfast items across every country and all US states, to reveal the most popular breakfasts around the world.
Wake-up routines may vary across the globe, but one thing unites us all: breakfast. Whether it’s a buttery pastry with coffee in Paris, a steaming bowl of congee in Hong Kong, or an açaí bowl on a Californian beach, our first meal of the day reflects culture, comfort, and tradition.
From timeless classics to unexpected local favourites, the new Premier Inn study reveals which breakfasts people crave most around the world.
Every Country’s Favourite Breakfast
Globally, the açaí bowl comes out on top with more than 31 million annual searches. The Brazilian superfood dish, which consists of which consists of a smoothie made with frozen açaí and fruit topped with granola and berries, has become the ultimate Instagram breakfast, from Sydney’s beaches to New York cafés.
In second place is simit, Turkey’s sesame-crusted bread ring, searched for nearly 27 million times a year. Crisp on the outside and chewy inside, it’s often enjoyed with tea and shows that simple, breakfast staples still resonate worldwide.
The croissant takes third place with over 22 million searches, cementing its standing as global breakfast icon, while Japan’s onigiri rice balls rank fourth, attracting nearly 19 million searches. Once a convenience store snack, they’re now a global trend well beyond Japan.
Croissants Take The Top Spot for Brits
The Full English breakfast has been a long-standing tradition in the UK for decades, but Premier Inn’s new data shows that British breakfast tastes have definitely diversified. The croissant has taken the crown in England, Scotland and Wales, showing a growing taste for continental classics, and easy ‘on the go’ options. Northern Ireland meanwhile is embracing the açaí bowl, a Brazilian import that feels worlds away from the local classics.
From pastries to fruit and continental options, it’s clear that Brits are keen to embrace flavour and diversity in their morning meals – though classics like a full fry-up still hold a soft spot as a weekend luxury.
Europe Serves Up Surprises
Across Europe, plenty of results go against expectation. In Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, American-style pancakes dominate, particularly in Norway, Sweden, and Finland. These thick, fluffy stacks are usually served with syrup, fruit, or jam, and area a sweeter, more indulgent option than traditional rye breads and porridges.
Spain opts for the arepa, a cornmeal patty more often associated with Latin America, typically griddled and filled with cheese or meat. France, home of the croissant, instead searches most for boiled eggs, proving that simplicity sometimes wins.
Elsewhere, savoury flavours are winners at breakfast time. Bruschetta, toasted bread rubbed with garlic and topped with tomatoes and olive oil, is the breakfast of choice in Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium. Albania sticks to the savoury byrek, a hearty pastry filled with cheese or spinach, often sold by street vendors as a filling, on-the-go option.
Portugal and Monaco lean into sweet however, with the pastel de nata, a custard tart encased in crisp pastry, taking top spot in both countries.
North and South America Lean Into Their Diverse Cultural Influences
In the United States, 30 states favour the açaí bowl, a shock result in a country better known for pancake and waffle breakfasts.
In Texas, Maryland and Virginia, pupusas, El Salvador’s stuffed corn tortillas, is the most popular breakfast choice. These thick corn tortillas stuffed with beans, cheese, or pork reflect the beautiful influence of Salvadoran communities across America.
In New England, spanakopita, the Greek spinach-and-feta pastry, tops searches in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. This Greek spinach-and-feta pastry reflects New England’s strong Greek American communities, many of whom opened diners throughout the 20th century and made spanakopita as American as apple pie. Missouri stands out with the kolache, a Czech pastry filled with fruit, cheese, or sausage, while North Dakota favours lefse.
