Takeaway
Nation
Takeaways are more than just a meal – they’re a beloved ritual in the UK. Whether it’s
from the local chippy, a cheeky kebab or a Friday night curry, takeaways have
cemented their spot as a cornerstone of British dining. But what takeaways are we
craving the most and how much are we forking out for our fast food?
Top of the menu: the most popular takeaway
Gone are the days when you were limited to the handful of takeaway options on your local high street. You can now order all sorts of yummy meals from restaurants, drive throughs, cafes and even coffee shops. But what are we ordering the most? Well, when it comes to the UK’s culinary cravings, the classic Chinese takeaway claims the crown, with over half (51%) of Brits placing it in their top three. With a wide array of options to select from, including crispy aromatic duck or tangy sweet and sour chicken, it’s no surprise that Chinese dishes have captured the nation’s taste buds. Plus, it’s easy to bung all your options on the table and share, making it an ideal choice for gatherings or an indulgent night in.
Not many people can resist the cheesy, gooey goodness that is pizza, which is why it follows in second place with 44% adding it to their favourites. It doesn’t matter if it’s a classic pepperoni or a limited edition with a whole concoction of toppings, pizza offers something for everyone’s tastes, solidifying its high score.
And in third place is the iconic fish and chips, with 37% of respondents putting it in top their top three spots. When you think about British food, the first thing that usually springs to mind is white flaky fish covered in crispy batter accompanied by steaming hot chips, usually topped off with lashings of salt and vinegar. This classic dish can be paired with mushy peas, curry sauce, gravy, or enjoyed with nothing; whatever you opt for, it remains a nostalgic favourite for many. So much so, this British staple outnumbered the Indian takeaway by just 1%, proving that Brits are still loyal to the local chippy.
| Takeaway | % in top 3 |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 51% |
| Pizza (e.g. Domino’s, Pizza Hut) | 44% |
| Fish and Chips | 37% |
| Indian | 36% |
| Burgers/American style takeaway | 31% |
| Fried Chicken (KFC) | 15% |
| Turkish/Middle Eastern (e.g. kebabs, shawarma) | 7% |
| Italian (Stone baked/Woodfire pizza, pasta, etc) | 6% |
PIZZA
CHINESE
Takeaways across the ages
Choices and tastes differ across generations and our go-to takeaway favourites are no different. For Gen Z, pizza tops the list (54%), followed by a Chinese takeaway (43%) and burgers (41%). Fast, convenient comfort food that can be personalised, be it with a range of toppings or a selection of entrees, are what the youngsters of today are looking for. Millennials share a similar love for pizza (50%), while Chinese (46%) and burgers (36%) round out their top three.
Gen X and Boomers tastes lean towards more established fare such as Chinese, which is the favourite for both groups (55% and 57% respectively), fish and chips and curry. However, Boomers show a strong loyalty to fish and chips (46%) and Indian cuisine (45%). Gen X on the other hand opt for pizza (46%) and Indian food (40%).
You want any sides with that?
If you’re going to get a takeaway, you might as well go all out, right? After all, you’re not the one cooking or doing the dishes afterwards. Side dishes are a big part of the draw when opting to order in food. Whether you want them because you’re being indulgent or chucking on an extra plate just to avoid paying for the delivery, they’re more than just an afterthought.
The humble chip transcends cuisines and can pair well with almost anything. Be it dunking it in a curry, your favourite condiment, or worryingly, even your milkshake, their ability to pair up with almost anything could be why chips and fries reign supreme with 59% of Brits ranking them in their top three. And it turns out that we are a nation of carb-lovers as garlic bread (26%) won silver for sides and naan bread (23%) took bronze.
| Side | % in top 3 |
|---|---|
| Chips/Fries | 59% |
| Garlic Bread | 26% |
| Naan Bread | 23% |
| Onion Rings | 14% |
| Fried Rice | 13% |
| Spring Rolls | 13% |
| Prawn Crackers | 12% |
| Chicken Wings | 12% |
| Potato Wedges | 12% |
| Poppadoms | 8% |
The top tapped food apps
When hunger strikes and the will to cook what you defrosted earlier in the morning leaves you, there are plenty of apps to help get your food from the restaurant kitchen to your door. Did somebody say Just Eat? Well, the British public just did when asked to name their top food delivery app, with 36% of tapping on it. The main draw for this particular app is that it’s easy to use (58%) and comes with speedy delivery times (48%) – fair enough!
Up next is Uber Eats with a fifth opting to order through the app. Over half (54%) of respondents state that they gravitate towards Uber Eats because of the speed of deliveries, ensuring their food is fresh and still piping hot by the time it hits their plate. However, many people, 19% in fact, prefer to order directly from the restaurant itself and not through a third party. The old adage, “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it”, comes to mind.
Dropping dough on top nosh
Whether you order a pizza on a Friday as a “well done” for getting through to the end of the week or you’re in desperate need of brekkie to cure a hangover, takeaways are a real treat. However, they come at a cost, and it turns out that it’s not cheap. Over one third of Brits are spending £11-£30 a month on takeaways per person, which can add up fast. However, nearly 30% spend as much as £32- £50 per person per month, excluding delivery. This monthly spend equates to up to £600 per year, and in a two-person household, £1,200. That’s a fair chunk of change on opting to eat out.
But what does this look like regionally? Well, the North East are shelling out the most with £51-£100 per person, per month. This could be that Northerners are opting for bougier places than your average takeaway establishment, or they’re relying on apps more heavily than others. No matter what it is, that works out to £1,200 per year, per person. Most other regions, including London and Yorkshire, report more modest averages of £11-£30 per month. So, while the odd takeout might be an indulgence, it still takes up a significant portion of household budgets.
Rise of the fakeaway
With the cost-of-living crisis, everything feels more and more expensive. Which could be why 69% of Brits admitting that they consider ordering a takeaway a luxury. However, when the desire hits for your favourite food, it can be hard to ignore, which could be why 42% are overcoming the expense by opting to recreate their favourite takeout dishes at home. They’re a great little hack to ensure that you save money, eat heathier, and satisfy your cravings.
As ordering food direct to our door is here to stay and clearly a key part in many people’s lives, health consciousness is also something that plays on people’s minds. So much so, over half (56%) state that they would like more nutritious takeaway choices nearby.
Methodology
The survey was conducted using Pollfish of 2,000 UK respondents over the age of 18.
From comforting classics to convenient treats, it’s clear that takeaways are a cornerstone in British dining culture. Whether you’re ordering your go-to dish on the latest iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro Max, searching for the best ‘fakeaway’ recipes on a sleek Samsung S25, or snapping foodie photos on the cutting-edge Pixel 9, there’s a way to satisfy every craving.
Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find plenty of tasty deals on mobile phones (including the best AI phones on the market) as well as unmissable options for SIM free mobile phones to suit your needs.
