I used to think breakfast was just something you hurried through while contemplating your life choices in the mirror. Cold Pop-Tarts. Microwave eggs. That one banana with the bruises you’ll swear you’ll eat tomorrow. But let me tell you something life—and travel—taught me: the world eats better than that. Especially in the morning.
Whether you’re waking up in Tokyo or just trying to escape the emotional damage of American cereal marketing, there’s a joy in starting your day the way someone halfway across the globe might. A joy that doesn’t involve oat milk confusion or “protein-packed” sadness bars.
So, join me on a mouthwatering tour of morning magic. One bite at a time. One culture at a time. One glorious excuse to delay being productive at a time.
1. Japan: Tamago Kake Gohan (Raw Egg Over Rice)
Let’s start strong with a breakfast that sounds terrifying but is somehow deeply soothing. Tamago Kake Gohan is a warm bowl of steamed rice topped with a raw egg and soy sauce. That’s it.
Before your American sensibilities clutch their pearls, know that the eggs in Japan are pasteurized and ultra-fresh, making this dish safe and creamy perfection.
How to Try It at Home:
- Use the freshest egg you can get.
- Pour it over hot, cooked short-grain rice.
- Add a dash of soy sauce, maybe scallions or furikake if you’re feeling flirty.
- Mix and eat immediately.
It’s simple. Humble. And honestly kind of addictive.
2. Mexico: Chilaquiles
This isn’t just food. It’s a hug for your digestive system after too much tequila and emotional damage. Stale tortillas are fried, simmered in salsa (verde or roja), and topped with crema, queso fresco, avocado, onions, and sometimes eggs or shredded chicken.
It’s messy. It’s bold. It’s everything your sad frozen waffle wishes it could be.
How to Try It at Home:
- Fry tortilla chips or cheat and use store-bought.
- Simmer in your favorite salsa until just soft.
- Top with fried egg, cheese, crema, and whatever toppings your chaotic heart desires.
3. France: Tartine + Café au Lait
The French don’t do breakfast. They whisper it. A tartine is a sliced baguette with butter and jam. Paired with a giant bowl of milky coffee, it’s elegant. Effortless. And passive-aggressively judgmental about your toaster strudel.
How to Try It at Home:
- Slice a baguette, toast lightly.
- Slather on real butter and fancy jam.
- Drink your café au lait from a wide mug and judge someone’s outfit online.
4. Turkey: Kahvaltı (A Full Spread)
The word kahvaltı literally means “before coffee,” which is adorable and terrifying. This is not just breakfast—it’s a lifestyle. Plates upon plates of cheeses, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, honey, jams, breads, and eggs. All meant to be shared.
How to Try It at Home:
- Grab a few small plates and go buffet-style.
- Boil some eggs, slice fresh veggies, throw out some olives.
- Add cheese, bread, and tea—and sit down. Slowly. This is a moment, not a meal.
5. Nigeria: Akara (Black-Eyed Pea Fritters)
Deep-fried balls of black-eyed peas, peppers, and onions. Crispy on the outside, tender and spicy on the inside. Perfect for dipping, stacking, or hoarding all to yourself.
How to Try It at Home:
- Soak black-eyed peas overnight, then blend with onions and spices.
- Fry spoonfuls in hot oil until golden brown.
- Serve with spicy pepper sauce and your full chest.
6. Israel: Shakshuka
Poached eggs nestled in a spicy tomato and pepper sauce. Equal parts comfort food and edible sunrise. Eat it with crusty bread and the enthusiasm of someone who didn’t hit snooze six times.
How to Try It at Home:
- Sauté onions, garlic, peppers, and tomatoes until jammy.
- Crack in eggs and simmer until set.
- Top with feta, herbs, and regret for not trying this sooner.
7. Sweden: Filmjölk (Cultured Milk) and Crispbread
It’s like if yogurt and sour cream had a very chill, lactose-tolerant child. Served cold with granola or berries, often next to crispbread and cheese. It’s simple, minimalist, and exactly what you’d expect from a country that gave us IKEA and emotional restraint.
How to Try It at Home:
- Use kefir or plain yogurt as a swap.
- Add fruit, granola, or honey.
- Pair with Wasa crackers and pretend you’re emotionally stable.
8. Korea: Baekban (Rice + Banchan Spread)
Korean breakfast isn’t a meal—it’s a miniature feast. Rice, soup, kimchi, grilled fish, pickled veggies. All about balance, texture, and starting your day like you’re about to conquer three dynasties and a K-drama marathon.
How to Try It at Home:
- Use leftover rice, miso soup or broth, store-bought kimchi.
- Add a fried egg and pickled veggies.
- Eat while side-eyeing your email inbox.
9. Jamaica: Ackee and Saltfish
Ackee is a buttery fruit (yes, fruit), sautéed with salted cod, onions, tomatoes, and Scotch bonnet peppers. It’s creamy, spicy, salty, and rich—the Beyoncé of breakfasts.
How to Try It at Home:
- Find canned ackee (fresh is toxic if unripe—so, uh, don’t DIY).
- Sauté with flaked salt cod, onion, tomato, pepper.
- Serve with festival (fried dough), dumplings, or plantains.
10. United States: Chicken and Waffles (Because Why Not)
We had to end with chaos. Savory. Sweet. Greasy. Crunchy. The perfect American love story of opposites attracting, clogging your arteries, and sending you back to bed.
How to Try It at Home:
- Use frozen waffles if you must, but fry your own chicken.
- Drizzle with real maple syrup or hot honey.
- Eat without shame. You are your ancestors’ wildest dreams.
Final Thought:
Breakfast isn’t just about calories—it’s about culture. It’s identity in edible form. Whether you’re slurping rice and egg in Tokyo or accidentally setting off your smoke alarm trying to “lightly char” tortillas, morning meals are a love letter from a country’s soul.
So try something new. Explore the globe without leaving your pajamas. And if you burn your first shakshuka—congrats. You’ve already traveled farther than your old toaster ever dreamed.