A landmark survey has revealed that almost half of the British public back fish and chips as the nation’s true national dish, refuting persistent online claims about modern alternatives.
Fish and chips has secured a resounding victory in a poll asking Britons to name the UK’s ultimate national dish in their own words.
A staggering 49 per cent of the public selected the classic deep-fried pairing, placing it comfortably ahead of every rival option.
Curry claims collapse in national poll
Despite internet search engines and social media platforms frequently claiming chicken tikka masala holds the title, real public support tells a very different story.
Only 3 per cent of Britons named chicken tikka masala as the national dish, with an extra 2 per cent citing curry in general or an alternative curry variant.
The public remain unconvinced about the dish’s national identity, with just 39 per cent considering chicken tikka masala to be a British dish. A larger portion of 46 per cent explicitly say it is not.
Although the curry is thought to have originated in Britain and is often linked specifically to Glasgow, a quarter of the public say they never eat it at all.
Overall approval for chicken tikka masala sits at 68 per cent, well behind the 90 per cent who like roast dinners and 86 per cent who enjoy fish and chips.
Roast dinners remain a weekly staple
The traditional roast dinner took second place in the national contest, capturing 24 per cent of the vote across the country.
That total includes 6 per cent of voters who made a point of specifying a roast beef dinner.
While fish and chips won the overall title, roast dinners remain the most regularly consumed meal among the top contenders.
More than half of the public – 52 per cent – eat a roast dinner at least once a month, including 16 per cent who eat one every single week.
In comparison, 35 per cent of Britons eat fish and chips at least monthly, while only 21 per cent eat chicken tikka masala as often, though 52 per cent eat some form of curry monthly.
Just 4 per cent of people say they never eat a roast dinner, compared to 8 per cent for fish and chips.
Demographic split highlights generational shift
Fish and chips proved universally popular across all age brackets, remaining the top choice for between 45 and 50 per cent of every generation.
Significant differences emerge among younger adults, however.
Only 14 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds named a roast dinner as the national dish, compared to between 21 and 29 per cent of older age groups.
Younger Britons were also far more likely to select chicken tikka masala, with 11 per cent choosing it compared to between 0 and 2 per cent among older demographics.
Other traditional classics received only minor support in the poll:
- Full English breakfast: 2 per cent
- Bangers and mash: 1 per cent
- Cottage or shepherd’s pie: 1 per cent