familiarity still matters, even as tastes widen.
Britain’s takeaway habits have changed sharply over the past 20 years, and the shift is hard to ignore.
According to Just Eat, fish and chips, once the go-to order, has fallen out of the top 10.
In its place are dishes that reflect a more global, trend-driven appetite. Korean fried chicken, loaded fries, and Pad Thai now rank among the most popular choices.
The data shows how quickly tastes have moved.
What people order today is shaped less by tradition and more by exposure, social media, and changing priorities around food.
A Wider Menu
Takeaways in 2006 were built around familiarity. Orders leaned towards dishes people already knew, with little room for experimentation.
The top 10 included pepperoni pizza, chicken tikka masala, sweet and sour chicken, and fish and chips. Doner kebabs and chicken korma were also regular picks.
That reflected the limited choice at the time.
When Just Eat launched in Britain, it offered just seven cuisine types. These included Italian, Indian, Chinese, burgers, kebabs, fish and chips, and chicken.
The structure of the menu shaped the habits of the customer.
The platform now offers more than 100 cuisines. That expansion has steadily changed expectations.
Sushi was added in 2008, followed by Thai food in 2009. Korean cuisine arrived a decade ago and has since moved into the mainstream.
The latest rankings show how far things have shifted.
Fish and chips no longer appear in the top 10. Smash burgers and veggie burgers have taken its place, while Korean fried chicken and Pad Thai reflect a broader set of influences.
Some dishes have held their position. Chicken tikka masala and chicken chow mein remain among the most ordered. Their staying power shows that familiarity still matters, even as tastes widen.
Leigh Phillipson, commercial director at Just Eat, said:
“Despite more choice than ever, great British favourites like Indian, Chinese and fish and chips are as popular as ever.”
The data suggests people are not replacing old favourites entirely. They are adding to them.
Social Media’s Role
The biggest change is not just what is available, but what people are drawn to. Platforms like TikTok now play a direct role in shaping orders.
Matcha has seen one of the clearest spikes. Demand for matcha-based products rose by 120% over the past year, alongside 120,000 searches on the platform.
What was once niche is now widely recognised, driven by visibility and perceived health benefits.
Phillipson said: “Items most Brits in 2006 would be confused by, like matcha and fibre drinks, are surging aligned to wellness trends.”
Dubai chocolate shows how extreme that influence can be. Products linked to the trend increased by 2,684% in 2025.
Korean food has followed a similar path. Phillipson said broader cultural backing “have a real impact on the popularity of orders, with Korean seeing a boom in the last few years off the back of shows like Squid Game and music by BLACKPINK”.
Food is tied to what people watch, share, and recognise online. Visibility now drives curiosity, and curiosity turns into orders.
At the same time, health is playing a bigger role. The rise of veggie burgers points to a shift towards plant-based options. Interest in functional drinks and ingredients also continues to grow.
Despite these changes, independent restaurants remain central. Just Eat still lists more than 11,000 Indian restaurants. These businesses continue to anchor takeaway culture across the UK.
Phillipson added:
“Independent restaurants are still the beating heart of our platform and a force for good on our UK high streets.”
What people order now reflects how much access has changed.
The menu is wider, the influences are stronger, and decisions are made faster.
Social media has shortened the gap between discovery and demand, while new cuisines have become part of everyday choice.
Fish and chips dropping out of the top 10 stands out, but it is only one part of a bigger shift. The modern takeaway order pulls from a much broader mix of cultures and trends.
That range is unlikely to shrink. If anything, it will keep expanding as new dishes move from niche to mainstream.
Britain’s takeaway habits are no longer predictable, and that is exactly what defines them now.
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