10 Different Breakfasts in Asia From Around The World

Last Updated on 2023-04-24 , 4:36 pm

For Singaporeans and Malaysians, we more or less have the same kind of breakfast meals every day which includes the all-time favourite Nasi Lemak, Chee Cheong Fun, Roti Prata, assorted Pau, Kaya Toast, Dim Sum and others.

Now, let’s take a look at what some other Asian countries around the world have for their breakfast. Brace yourself because you’re going to get really hungry by the end of this article!

Thailand

One of the most common breakfast dish that the Thai people eat is the Jok or rice congee.

It is thick and served with a soft-boiled egg that’s cracked into the bowl of congee while it’s still very hot and also minced pork, meatballs, some liver, and intestines and sprinkled with ginger and coriander.

Next to the Joke is what the Thais call Patongo, which is their version of our Yau Char Kway or Yau Tiew. Then there’s the Kanomkrok, which is hot coconut pancakes that are sweet and tasty that’s often served on a banana leaf.

In Thailand, other common breakfast meals also include Dim Sum and Pau.

South Korea

A lot of Asian countries nowadays including South Korea usually opt for cereal and toast for breakfast.

However, there are some who also still prefer the most traditional meals like steamed rice, kimchi, Doenjang (soybean and vegetable) soup and stew in the morning.

There’s also the simple but delicious Tuna Mayo Kimbab too and is simple to make at home.

India

Indian cuisine is full of flavour and is very aromatic as most of the dishes are cooked with lots of herbs and spices.

The Methi Ka Thepla is a type of crispy paranthas often eaten for breakfast and is a Gujarati cuisine, one of the oldest Indian culinary treasures that are mostly vegetarian.

The Misal Pav, on the other hand, is a Maharashtrian cuisine from a different region of India, which is a curry made out of potatoes, spices and sprouted beans and is eaten with bread rolls.

China

Basically, whatever Chinese dish that we have for breakfast is the same as what those in China also have. So there’s the dumplings, dim sum, wanton noodles and others.

What we probably don’t normally have is the Shandong Pancake which is a dish that’s originated from Shandong Province in East China. It’s thin and crepe-like with fillings like lettuce, onions, meat, egg etc.

Besides that, the wandou huang which is normally eaten as a snack is often eaten for breakfast in China as well.

It’s pea flower cake made by mashing the peas and mixing it with jujubes and a special herb before turning them into small blocks which are sweet to the taste.

Japan

Most Japanese folks usually prepare and eat their breakfast at home before heading out to take on the day so it’s not just about sushi and sashimi.

The Tanuki Udon is quite a common easy home-cooked breakfast which is udon in soup with flakes of deep-fried tempura batter and sprinkled with spring onions and chilli flakes.

Then there’s the simple meal of rice (yes, they’re very Asian like that) and fried pork with ginger as well as miso soup on the side.

Indonesia

Yep. The Indonesians love their porridge/congee just like we do and they often have it the same way we do, with peanuts, fried shallots, spring onions and char kway.

Indonesia is also known for their very famous Nasi Kuning dish which is yellow rice served with sides like fried fish or chicken, tempe, sambal, fried shredded potato and coconut bits, pickled veggies and boiled egg.

Philippines

The Philippines is another Asian country that is very big on food and there’s a wide variety of breakfast to choose from.

There’s the Putong Puti which is a savoury rice cake with cheese or salted egg filling/topping which can also be eaten as a dessert apparently.

Another breakfast which is much common is the Longsilog, which is fried rice served with  scrambled eggs and Pinoy-style sausages or known locally as longganisa.

Vietnam

One of the most sought after breakfast dish by both locals and tourists is the Bahn Mi or Vietnamese Sandwich which was made popular during the French Colonization.

The baguette used for the dish is almost similar to that of the French baguette. Fillings of the sandwich include sliced pork meat or pork belly, shredded chicken, cilantro, pickled vegies or just about anything else!

Besides that, the Pho is another famous dish which is rice/wheat noodles in soup with meat like pork, chicken or beef. It’s often topped with cilantro, bean sprouts, shallots etc.

Laos

Laos is a neighbouring country of Thailand and Vietnam and the Loa breakfast dish includes the simple Warm Lao Bread which in actual fact, is not bread at all but sticky rice formed into a thick patty and coated with scrambled egg mixture then deep fried.

It’s basically the Lao version of Thailand’s Pattaya fried rice. It’s often served with chilli sauce.

Then there’s the Chew Makork which is simply hard boiled eggs cut in halves served with fresh cucumber slices, steamed rice and a chilli and soy sauce dip.

Turkey

One of the most common breakfast meal in Turkey is the assorted breakfast platter which includes a Turkish bread, different types of cheese, veggies like cucumber and tomatoes, fresh fruits, yoghurt, honey, olives and sometimes eggs and Turkish sausages too.

Besides that, there’s a dish known as Turkish Crack in Turkey called the Kaymak which is an addictive dish that consists of honey and clotted cream and is spread on soft bread. It’s big amongst both locals and tourists.