British Food Glossary

Confused by British food names? Our glossary explains common UK food terms, phrases, and dishes to help international students navigate mealtimes.

• Baked Beans - beans in a tomato-based, often sweet sauce, usually served hot. A common side dish for breakfasts or on toast as a quick meal.
• Bangers and mash - sausages (pork) with mashed potatoes.
• Cornish pasty - a baked pastry filled with chunks of meat, potato and gravy.
• Cottage pie - minced beef and gravy topped with mashed potatoes (or shepherd’s pie if it’s minced lamb).
• Crumpet - soft, round, and spongy bread-like snacks with little holes on top — perfect toasted with butter. Often eaten for breakfast or tea.
• Full English Breakfast / Fry-Up - a big cooked breakfast that might include eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, toast, and sometimes black pudding. Hearty and filling!
• Jacket potatoes - roasted potatoes in their skin, usually with a filling such as baked beans or bean/meat chilli.
• Sausage roll - puff pastry wrapped around sausage meat, eaten hot or cold.
• Scones - a baked treat that’s crumbly on the outside and soft inside. Usually served with jam and clotted cream at afternoon tea (sweet), but savoury versions exist too.
• Scotch Egg - a boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep-fried or baked. Often eaten cold as a snack or picnic food.
• Sunday roast - roast meat (beef, pork, chicken, lamb) or vegetarian/vegan equivalent (mushroom ‘wellington’ or nut roast) with potatoes and vegetables, often eaten on a Sunday.
• Trifle - a layered dessert made with sponge cake, custard, jelly (gelatin), fruit, and whipped cream. Served cold in a glass dish.
• Yorkshire Pudding - a baked batter dish, crispy on the outside and soft inside. Traditionally served with roast beef and gravy as part of a Sunday roast.
• Victoria Sponge Cake - alight sponge cake filled with jam and cream or buttercream. Named after Queen Victoria and often served at tea time.

Chips or french fries? UK vs US food vocabulary

If you're new to the UK, some everyday food words might be confusing - especially if you've learned English using American vocabulary. This article explains some of the main differences between UK and US food terms, so you can feel more confident when reading menus, shopping for groceries, or chatting with friends about your favourite snacks.