The food and eating culture in Scotland is very similar to that in America, and like any big city, Edinburgh has every kind of food you could possibly imagine. From Chinese, to Thai, to Indian, to Malaysian, there’s hundreds of different eaters offering food from around the world. There’s no way to get bored with the food here. Scotland and Edinburgh are best known for pub food, though. Foods like burgers, stews, soups, sandwiches, chips (fries), nachos, and all sorts of stuff like that. Definitely not the most healthy food, but you can always get some comfort food when you need it. You’ll love food in Scotland if you like meat and potatoes, that’s for sure.
The one major difference I’ve noticed is that restaurants are not accustomed to serving large groups. Very often, at least in America, restaurants are the perfect place to meet a larger group of friends. In Scotland, this is not the case. When you stroll into a pub and say there are 8 people in your group, the waiters look at you like you’re crazy. They always find some way to make it work, and they’re always very friendly and nice about it. However, it’s very clear that dining in big groups is not the norm. It has exchange students written all over it.
I wish I could eat out every night, but unfortunately, on a college student budget, it’s impossible. Most days I cook and eat food in my flat. Groceries are very similar to what you would typically find in the States. There are usually a lot fewer options in the grocery stores, but you can find everything you need one way or the other. The food also tastes a lot fresher here. I think it’s because the food in the UK doesn’t have as many preservatives as the food in America. This means that food generally goes bad sooner than I expect it too. I haven’t experienced any real culture shock in terms of the food which is very comforting.
I’m also not the most adventurous, but I’ve made it my mission to try every city’s (or country’s) most iconic food when traveling. I’ve tried pastries in Portugal, paella in Barcelona, fish and chips in London, and haggis, neeps, and tatties in Scotland. All have been amazing. I love breakfast and dessert food the most, so here are some typical examples of those around Europe!
