The Nation's Favourite Takeaways

Tags - Popular Takeaways UK

There are more takeaway options now than ever before.

But despite the huge variety of cuisine, it hasn’t stopped Brits from ordering the most popular takeaways again and again.

Yes, we’re a nation that loves a good takeaway.

And if you’ve been ordering in more than normal over the past couple of years, don’t worry you’re not alone!

Research reveals that out of 2,000 adults, 42% of them have increased their takeaway consumption since the first lockdown.

And over half of these people admitted that ordering a takeaway was something to look forward to, especially on a weekend.

Now, over a quarter of the nation enjoys a takeaway at least once a week, meaning our spending habits on food are around £1,250 a year!

To put this in perspective, the average adult ordered roughly 24 takeaways a year, with a spend just over £550 annually.

So what exactly are we ordering?

Well, here are 5 of the most popular takeaways in the UK.

1. Chinese 

We couldn’t start the list without mentioning the Chinese takeaway.

The first ever Chinese restaurant in the UK opened in 1908 and since then, the cuisine has only grown in popularity.

With mouthwatering dishes like chicken chow mein and sweet ‘n’ sour pork to crispy duck pancakes and rich hoisin sauce, there’s so much variety for everyone to enjoy.

So whether you fancy noodles or egg fried rice, your local Chinese takeaway will definitely hit the spot!

2. Indian

Next on the list is the delicious Indian takeaway, and 17% of the nation say it’s their number one of all time.

In fact, Indian cuisine has been so popular in the UK that it has spawned new dishes just for the British market, such as the infamous chicken tikka masala, first cheffed up back in the 1960s.

What’s great is that there is an Indian dish for every palette, like mild and creamy kormas for those with a low spice tolerance to fiery vindaloos for people needing a kick.

Plus, there are plenty of sides to complement your main, like rice, naan or poppadoms and lots of tasty chutneys.

3. Fish & Chips

There’s nothing more British than a good old fish and chips.

And it doesn’t matter if you live by the sea or not, this takeaway has been extremely popular across the nation since the 1860s - that’s a long time!

Traditionally, fish and chips were served in newspapers until takeaway bags and boxes evolved.

Now, all you have to decide is whether you want to drench your food in salt and vinegar, dip your chips in ketchup or mayo, or eat this classic with mushy peas or gravy - decisions, decisions!

4. Pizza

From authentic thin and crispy bases to thick, doughy deep pans, who doesn’t love a pizza?

And because there are so many toppings to choose from, you could order a takeaway pizza every night and still make it feel like a different meal every time.

Plus, if you’re feeling extra naughty, you could even opt for a scrumptious cheesy stuffed crust.

No matter the occasion, pizza just works.

And when looking at the data, food giant Just Eat discovered that pizza has been the most ordered dish every year since 2017!

5. Kebabs

Kebabs are great.

Served with pitta bread or a tortilla, this Middle Eastern staple comes in many different forms.

And the most popular being the lamb donner, which is shavings of vertically roasted lamb and served with extras like lettuce, onions and tomato with a dash of your favourite sauce.

Equally delicious, is a Greek kebab - souvlaki - which is skewered meat, complete with salad and finished with a big dollop of tzatziki.

Not a meat eater?

Well, there are lots of yummy vegan kebabs available on the market today, so your taste buds don’t have to miss out on this fantastic dish. 

The Takeaway

Of course, there are a lot of other takeaway options available in the UK, such as sushi, fried chicken, burgers, Thai and many more.

The list above is just 5 of the nation’s favourites, and for good reason too - they’re all delicious!

All in all, takeaways seem to be all about comfort and familiarity, and they offer something to look forward to, adding variety to your meal choices week after week.

Please get in touch for more information.

In the meantime, take a look at our range of takeaway bags and boxes here.

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