The 30 Best Cuisines in the World, Ranked
Ranking the world’s great cuisines is a game every food lover plays — and nobody ever wins. This is our honest attempt, drawn from our collection of 20,000+ authentic recipes from 194 countries. For every cuisine we link the country’s full recipe collection and its most iconic dish, so you can argue with our order the proper way: by cooking.
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Italian Cuisine
ItalyFew cuisines turn so few ingredients into so much pleasure — pizza, pasta and risotto are proof that restraint is a superpower.
Learn how to make a proper pizza dough and conjure up an authentic Pizza Margherita in your own kitchen. With its glorious trio of ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and fragrant basil, this is the most celebrated of all Italian …
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Japanese Cuisine
JapanPrecision, seasonality and umami: from sushi to ramen, Japan makes perfection look effortless.
Discover Sushi, Japan's most celebrated culinary export and its much-loved national dish! Built around seasoned rice, fresh fish and crisp vegetables, it is a beautifully balanced combination that has been enjoyed across Japan for …
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Mexican Cuisine
MexicoUNESCO-listed and gloriously alive — corn, chilies and mole carry thousands of years of flavour.
Say hello to Tacos al Pastor, one of Mexico's most iconic street foods and a true feast for the senses. Thin slices of marinated pork meet sweet, charred pineapple, all wrapped in a warm tortilla and finished with onion, coriander …
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Thai Cuisine
ThailandNo cuisine balances sweet, sour, salty and hot with more confidence, from pad thai to tom yum.
Discover Pad Thai, the much-loved noodle dish that captures the soul of Thailand on a single plate! Quick to cook yet bursting with flavour, it weaves together silky rice noodles, egg, tender prawns and a tangle of fresh herbs in …
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Indian Cuisine
IndiaA subcontinent of cuisines in one: layered biryanis, slow dals and spice craft without equal.
Discover Biryani, one of India's most celebrated dishes and a favourite enjoyed the world over! This hearty rice dish layers fragrant basmati rice with a fragrant blend of spices, herbs and tender aromatics. Warm with the scent of …
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French Cuisine
FranceThe grammar school of Western cooking — technique, sauces and the eternal pot-au-feu.
Discover Pot-au-Feu, one of France's most cherished comfort dishes! This hearty beef stew gently simmers tender meat with carrots, leek and fragrant herbs until everything is meltingly soft and the broth turns rich and aromatic. …
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Chinese Cuisine
ChinaEight great regional traditions, one wok principle: texture and balance above all.
Discover Peking Duck, one of China's most celebrated dishes! Famous the world over for its lacquered, crackling skin and tender meat, it brings the elegance of a Beijing banquet straight to your own kitchen. Glazed in a glossy …
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Spanish Cuisine
SpainFrom tapas bars to the paella pan, Spain perfected the art of eating together.
Step into the vibrant world of Spanish cooking and savour one of its most celebrated classics: Paella. Born in the sun-soaked region of Valencia, this iconic one-pan dish brings together fresh seafood, tender chicken, colourful …
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Greek Cuisine
GreeceOlive oil, oregano and honest fire — the original Mediterranean diet, moussaka included.
Discover Moussaka, one of Greece's best-loved national dishes! This comforting bake layers tender aubergine with a richly spiced minced meat sauce and a generous topping of melted cheese. Warm, hearty and surprisingly simple to …
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Turkish Cuisine
TurkeyWhere Central Asia meets the Mediterranean: kebabs, meze and the world's most serious breakfast culture.
Fire up the grill and discover Şiş Kebab, the smoky, succulent skewers that crown the Turkish table. Tender cubes of meat are bathed in a fragrant marinade of paprika, cumin and tangy yoghurt, then charred over high heat until …
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Vietnamese Cuisine
VietnamFreshness as philosophy — herb-piled phở, bánh mì and broths of stunning clarity.
Say hello to Pho, the fragrant beef noodle soup that is the pride of Vietnam. A bowl begins with a deeply savoury broth, simmered for hours with star anise, cinnamon and ginger until it glows with warmth and aroma. Add silky rice …
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Lebanese Cuisine
LebanonThe meze table that taught the world to share: kibbeh, hummus and bright herbs.
Say hello to Kibbeh, one of the great treasures of the Lebanese table! These savoury little patties bring together bulgur, well-seasoned minced meat and a warming blend of spices into a dish that is as satisfying as it is …
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Peruvian Cuisine
PeruThe Andes meet the Pacific meet Japan — ceviche alone earns Peru its top-ten place.
Say hello to Ceviche, the pride of Peru and one of the freshest, most vibrant dishes in South American cooking. Delicate pieces of raw fish are "cooked" in nothing more than sharp lime juice, then brightened with red onion, fiery …
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Korean Cuisine
South KoreaFermentation nation: kimchi, bibimbap and barbecue with centuries of banchan culture.
Say hello to Bibimbap, one of South Korea's most iconic dishes and a true feast for both the eyes and the palate. This vibrant rice bowl brings together a colourful array of fresh vegetables, marinated beef and a perfectly fried …
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Moroccan Cuisine
MoroccoSaffron, preserved lemon and patient tagines — North Africa's most seductive kitchen.
Discover Couscous, the proud national dish of Morocco and a true icon of North African cooking! Tiny golden grains of steamed semolina are tossed with crisp, colourful vegetables, tender chickpeas and warm, fragrant spices. More …
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Indonesian Cuisine
IndonesiaSeventeen thousand islands, one rendang — repeatedly voted among the world's most delicious dishes.
Discover Beef Rendang, one of Indonesia's most celebrated dishes! Tender chunks of beef are coaxed into rich, fragrant tenderness in a deeply spiced coconut sauce, brightened with ginger, lemongrass and chilli. This is a …
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Georgian Cuisine
GeorgiaThe Caucasus' best-kept secret: cheese-filled khachapuri, khinkali and walnut sauces.
Meet Khachapuri, Georgia's most famous bake and a dish that locals treat as nothing less than a national treasure. Often described as Georgian pizza, it is a boat or round of golden yeast dough cradling a molten, salty cheese …
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American Cuisine
USABarbecue, gumbo, burgers — the great melting pot turned immigrant food into world food.
Fire up the grill and bring a little American flair to your kitchen with the all-time classic: the hamburger. Few dishes capture the spirit of a US summer cookout quite like a juicy, char-grilled patty tucked into a soft, buttery …
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Ethiopian Cuisine
EthiopiaInjera as plate, cutlery and companion to doro wat — Africa's great original cuisine.
Discover Doro Wat, the fiery pride of Ethiopia and one of the most celebrated dishes in the whole of East Africa. Chicken is slowly simmered in a deep-red, intensely aromatic berbere sauce until it falls tenderly off the bone, …
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Brazilian Cuisine
BrazilFeijoada, churrasco and pão de queijo: generous, festive and impossible to dislike.
Discover Feijoada, the rich and soulful national dish of Brazil! This hearty stew brings together tender cuts of meat and earthy black beans, simmered slowly until everything melts into one deeply satisfying pot. It is the kind of …
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Portuguese Cuisine
PortugalA seafaring nation with 365 ways to cook salted cod and the world's best custard tart.
Meet Bacalhau à Brás, one of Portugal's most beloved comfort dishes! This homely classic brings together salt cod, golden potatoes and softly scrambled eggs, all bound with sweet onions and good olive oil. It is the kind of …
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Malaysian Cuisine
MalaysiaMalay, Chinese and Indian traditions in one bowl — nasi lemak is breakfast perfection.
Experience the flavours of Malaysia's beloved national dish with this easy Nasi Lemak recipe. Fragrant rice simmered in creamy coconut milk and warm spices, topped with fried eggs, crunchy roasted peanuts and a sweet-savoury sauce …
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Filipino Cuisine
PhilippinesSour, salty and proudly its own: adobo, sinigang and the lechon of celebrations.
Meet Adobo, the dish most Filipinos would name in a heartbeat if asked for the taste of home. Pork or chicken is gently braised in a glossy sauce of soy sauce, vinegar and plenty of garlic, then finished with peppercorns and bay …
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German Cuisine
GermanyBread, beer and braises done properly — Sauerbraten rewards days of patience.
Unlock the secret to a perfect Sauerbraten, one of Germany's most cherished classics! This slow-braised pot roast is famed for its meltingly tender meat and a deeply savoury, gently sour gravy that comes from days spent in a tangy …
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Argentine Cuisine
ArgentinaBeef raised on grass and cooked over embers — asado is less a meal than a religion.
Come with us on a culinary journey to Argentina and discover Asado, the country's most cherished dish. Built around tender beef, warm spices and a handful of colourful vegetables, it is the kind of food that brings people together …
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Egyptian Cuisine
EgyptKushari, ful and molokhia: street food with five thousand years of history behind it.
Discover Koshari, the beloved national dish of Egypt! This hearty, thoroughly vegetarian plate layers rice, lentils and pasta with a spiced tomato sauce and a scattering of chickpeas. Simple to throw together yet packed with …
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Persian Cuisine
IranSaffron rice with a golden tahdig crust and stews perfumed with dried lime.
Meet Kebab Koobideh, the smoky, deeply savoury heart of the Persian grill. Made from well-seasoned minced meat pressed onto flat skewers and cooked over glowing coals, it delivers tender, juicy mouthfuls scented with turmeric and …
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Polish Cuisine
PolandPierogi, żurek and hunter's bigos — Central Europe's most underrated comfort kitchen.
Discover Bigos, the rich, slow-cooked hunter's stew that many Poles regard as their national dish. Built on tender sauerkraut and generous helpings of braised meat, it is warming, deeply savoury and famously forgiving — the kind …
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Jamaican Cuisine
JamaicaJerk smoke, scotch bonnet heat and ackee — small island, giant flavour.
Meet Ackee and Saltfish, the beloved national dish of Jamaica and a true taste of the Caribbean. Buttery, nutty ackee — the island's national fruit — is gently folded through flaky salted cod and a colourful sauté of onions, sweet …
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Nigerian Cuisine
NigeriaJollof rice worth starting wars over, egusi soup and West Africa's boldest spice.
Say hello to Jollof Rice, the vibrant, red-hued centrepiece of the Nigerian table and one of West Africa's most celebrated dishes. Long-grain rice is simmered in a rich, spiced tomato sauce until every grain glows a deep red and …
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