Random Food Generator

157 real dishes from around the world, all of them in the table below. Press the button when you cannot decide what to eat — you get where the dish is from, how it is cooked, and the handful of ingredients that actually define it.

Press the button for a dish.

no repeats until the list is used up

157 dishes in this list.

All 157 dishes on this list

Dish	Where it's from	How it's cooked	What defines it
Pizza margherita	Italy	Baked	Dough, tomato, mozzarella, basil
Spaghetti carbonara	Italy	Pasta	Pasta, egg, pecorino, guanciale, pepper
Lasagne	Italy	Baked pasta	Pasta sheets, ragu, bechamel, cheese
Risotto alla milanese	Italy	Rice	Arborio rice, stock, saffron, butter, parmesan
Osso buco	Italy	Braised	Veal shin, white wine, stock, gremolata
Ribollita	Italy	Soup	Stale bread, cannellini beans, cavolo nero
Cacio e pepe	Italy	Pasta	Pasta, pecorino, black pepper
Coq au vin	France	Braised	Chicken, red wine, bacon, mushrooms, onions
Boeuf bourguignon	France	Braised	Beef, red wine, carrots, bacon
Cassoulet	France	Baked	White beans, duck confit, sausage
Ratatouille	France	Stewed vegetables	Aubergine, courgette, pepper, tomato, herbs
Quiche lorraine	France	Baked tart	Pastry, egg, cream, bacon
Bouillabaisse	France	Fish stew	Mixed fish, saffron, fennel, rouille
Croque monsieur	France	Grilled sandwich	Bread, ham, gruyere, bechamel
Paella valenciana	Spain	Rice	Rice, saffron, rabbit, chicken, beans
Tortilla espanola	Spain	Egg	Potato, onion, egg, olive oil
Gazpacho	Spain	Cold soup	Tomato, cucumber, pepper, bread, oil
Patatas bravas	Spain	Fried	Potato, spiced tomato sauce, aioli
Pulpo a la gallega	Spain	Boiled	Octopus, potato, paprika, olive oil
Caldo verde	Portugal	Soup	Potato, kale, chorizo
Bacalhau a bras	Portugal	Fried	Salt cod, potato, egg, onion
Fish and chips	England	Fried	White fish, batter, potatoes
Shepherd's pie	England	Baked	Minced lamb, vegetables, mashed potato
Full English breakfast	England	Fried	Egg, bacon, sausage, beans, tomato, toast
Ploughman's lunch	England	Cold plate	Cheese, bread, pickle, apple
Toad in the hole	England	Baked	Sausages, batter, onion gravy
Cornish pasty	England	Baked pastry	Beef, potato, swede, onion in pastry
Haggis, neeps and tatties	Scotland	Boiled	Sheep offal, oats, swede, potato
Cullen skink	Scotland	Soup	Smoked haddock, potato, onion, milk
Irish stew	Ireland	Stewed	Lamb, potato, onion, carrot
Colcannon	Ireland	Mashed	Potato, kale or cabbage, butter
Welsh rarebit	Wales	Grilled	Cheese, ale, mustard, toast
Wiener schnitzel	Austria	Fried	Veal, breadcrumbs, lemon
Goulash	Hungary	Stewed	Beef, paprika, onion, potato
Sauerbraten	Germany	Braised	Marinated beef, vinegar, spices
Currywurst	Germany	Grilled	Sausage, curried tomato sauce
Bratwurst	Germany	Grilled	Pork sausage, mustard, bread
Pierogi	Poland	Boiled dumpling	Dough, potato and cheese, or cabbage
Bigos	Poland	Stewed	Sauerkraut, cabbage, meat, mushrooms
Borscht	Ukraine	Soup	Beetroot, cabbage, beef, sour cream
Beef stroganoff	Russia	Sauteed	Beef, mushrooms, sour cream
Pelmeni	Russia	Boiled dumpling	Dough, minced meat, butter
Moussaka	Greece	Baked	Aubergine, lamb, bechamel
Souvlaki	Greece	Grilled	Skewered pork or chicken, pita, tzatziki
Spanakopita	Greece	Baked pastry	Filo, spinach, feta
Dolma	Turkey and the Levant	Stuffed	Vine leaves, rice, herbs
Kebab (doner)	Turkey	Grilled	Stacked meat, bread, salad
Menemen	Turkey	Egg	Egg, tomato, green pepper
Hummus	The Levant	Dip	Chickpeas, tahini, lemon, garlic
Falafel	The Levant	Fried	Chickpeas or fava beans, herbs, spices
Shakshuka	North Africa and the Levant	Egg	Eggs poached in spiced tomato
Tabbouleh	The Levant	Salad	Parsley, bulgur, tomato, lemon
Manakish	The Levant	Baked flatbread	Dough, za'atar, olive oil
Tagine	Morocco	Slow-cooked	Meat or vegetables, dried fruit, spices, in a clay pot
Couscous royale	Morocco	Steamed	Couscous, lamb, chicken, merguez, vegetables
Harira	Morocco	Soup	Lentils, chickpeas, tomato, lamb
Koshari	Egypt	Layered	Rice, lentils, pasta, fried onion, tomato sauce
Jollof rice	West Africa	Rice	Rice, tomato, pepper, onion, spices
Egusi soup	Nigeria	Stew	Melon seeds, leafy greens, meat or fish
Suya	Nigeria	Grilled	Skewered beef, groundnut spice rub
Injera with doro wat	Ethiopia	Stew with flatbread	Teff flatbread, chicken, berbere, egg
Bunny chow	South Africa	Street food	Hollowed bread loaf filled with curry
Bobotie	South Africa	Baked	Spiced minced meat, egg custard topping
Piri piri chicken	Mozambique and Portugal	Grilled	Chicken, chilli, garlic, lemon
Butter chicken	India	Curry	Chicken, tomato, cream, spices
Rogan josh	India	Curry	Lamb, yoghurt, Kashmiri chilli
Chana masala	India	Curry	Chickpeas, tomato, onion, spices
Dosa	India	Fermented pancake	Rice and lentil batter, potato filling
Idli sambar	India	Steamed	Fermented rice cakes, lentil stew
Biryani	India	Rice	Rice, meat or vegetables, saffron, spices
Dal tadka	India	Lentils	Lentils, cumin, garlic, ghee
Pav bhaji	India	Street food	Mashed spiced vegetables, buttered rolls
Chole bhature	India	Fried bread and curry	Chickpea curry, deep-fried bread
Tandoori chicken	India	Roasted	Chicken, yoghurt, spices, clay oven
Samosa	India	Fried pastry	Pastry, potato, peas, spices
Vada pav	India	Street food	Spiced potato fritter in a bun
Fish curry	South India and Sri Lanka	Curry	Fish, coconut, tamarind, curry leaves
Hoppers	Sri Lanka	Fermented pancake	Rice flour, coconut milk, sometimes an egg
Momo	Nepal and Tibet	Steamed dumpling	Dough, minced meat or vegetables
Pho	Vietnam	Noodle soup	Rice noodles, beef, star anise, herbs
Banh mi	Vietnam	Sandwich	Baguette, pork, pickled carrot, coriander
Bun cha	Vietnam	Grilled with noodles	Grilled pork, rice noodles, herbs, dipping sauce
Pad thai	Thailand	Stir-fried noodles	Rice noodles, egg, tamarind, peanuts
Green curry	Thailand	Curry	Coconut milk, green curry paste, chicken, basil
Tom yum goong	Thailand	Soup	Prawns, lemongrass, lime, chilli
Som tam	Thailand	Salad	Green papaya, chilli, lime, fish sauce
Laksa	Malaysia and Singapore	Noodle soup	Noodles, coconut or sour broth, prawns
Nasi lemak	Malaysia	Rice	Coconut rice, sambal, anchovies, egg
Rendang	Indonesia	Slow-cooked	Beef, coconut milk, spice paste
Nasi goreng	Indonesia	Fried rice	Rice, kecap manis, egg, shallots
Satay	Indonesia and Malaysia	Grilled	Skewered meat, peanut sauce
Adobo	Philippines	Braised	Chicken or pork, vinegar, soy, garlic, bay
Sinigang	Philippines	Sour soup	Pork or fish, tamarind, vegetables
Peking duck	China	Roasted	Duck, pancakes, hoisin, spring onion
Mapo tofu	China	Stir-fried	Tofu, minced pork, doubanjiang, Sichuan pepper
Kung pao chicken	China	Stir-fried	Chicken, peanuts, dried chilli, Sichuan pepper
Xiaolongbao	China	Steamed dumpling	Thin dough, pork, soup inside
Char siu	China	Roasted	Pork, honey, five spice
Dan dan noodles	China	Noodles	Noodles, sesame paste, chilli oil, pork
Hot pot	China	Simmered at the table	Broth, raw meat, vegetables, dipping sauces
Fried rice	China	Fried rice	Day-old rice, egg, spring onion, whatever is in
Sushi	Japan	Raw and rice	Vinegared rice, fish, nori
Ramen	Japan	Noodle soup	Wheat noodles, broth, pork, egg
Tempura	Japan	Fried	Prawns or vegetables in light batter
Katsu curry	Japan	Fried with sauce	Breaded pork or chicken, curry sauce, rice
Okonomiyaki	Japan	Griddled	Cabbage, batter, pork, sauce, bonito
Gyoza	Japan	Pan-fried dumpling	Dough, pork, cabbage, garlic
Udon	Japan	Noodle soup	Thick wheat noodles, dashi broth
Bibimbap	South Korea	Rice bowl	Rice, vegetables, beef, egg, gochujang
Kimchi jjigae	South Korea	Stew	Aged kimchi, pork, tofu
Korean fried chicken	South Korea	Fried	Chicken, twice-fried, sweet chilli or soy glaze
Bulgogi	South Korea	Grilled	Marinated beef, soy, pear, sesame
Tteokbokki	South Korea	Simmered	Rice cakes, gochujang, fish cake
Tacos al pastor	Mexico	Grilled	Pork, pineapple, corn tortillas
Enchiladas	Mexico	Baked	Tortillas, filling, chilli sauce, cheese
Mole poblano	Mexico	Sauce	Chillies, chocolate, spices, over turkey or chicken
Chiles en nogada	Mexico	Stuffed	Poblano chilli, picadillo, walnut sauce
Pozole	Mexico	Soup	Hominy, pork, chilli, garnishes
Guacamole	Mexico	Dip	Avocado, lime, onion, coriander, chilli
Ceviche	Peru	Cured raw	Fish, lime juice, onion, chilli
Lomo saltado	Peru	Stir-fried	Beef, onion, tomato, chips, rice
Aji de gallina	Peru	Creamy stew	Shredded chicken, yellow chilli, walnut
Empanadas	Argentina and Chile	Baked pastry	Pastry, beef, onion, egg, olive
Asado	Argentina	Grilled	Beef cuts over wood, chimichurri
Feijoada	Brazil	Stewed	Black beans, pork cuts, rice, orange
Moqueca	Brazil	Fish stew	Fish, coconut milk, palm oil, peppers
Arepas	Venezuela and Colombia	Griddled	Corn dough, split and filled
Ropa vieja	Cuba	Braised	Shredded beef, peppers, tomato
Jerk chicken	Jamaica	Grilled	Chicken, scotch bonnet, allspice, thyme
Ackee and saltfish	Jamaica	Sauteed	Ackee fruit, salt cod, onion, pepper
Roti and curry goat	The Caribbean	Curry	Goat, curry spices, flatbread
Hamburger	United States	Grilled	Beef patty, bun, whatever else
Barbecue brisket	United States	Smoked	Beef brisket, salt, pepper, twelve hours
Buffalo wings	United States	Fried	Chicken wings, hot sauce, butter, blue cheese
Clam chowder	United States	Soup	Clams, potato, cream, bacon
Mac and cheese	United States	Baked	Pasta, cheese sauce, breadcrumbs
Gumbo	United States	Stew	Roux, okra, sausage, seafood, rice
Jambalaya	United States	Rice	Rice, sausage, prawns, the holy trinity
Cobb salad	United States	Salad	Lettuce, chicken, bacon, egg, avocado, blue cheese
Philly cheesesteak	United States	Sandwich	Sliced beef, onion, melted cheese, roll
Chili con carne	United States	Stewed	Beef, chilli, beans, tomato
Poutine	Canada	Fried	Chips, cheese curds, gravy
Tourtiere	Canada	Baked pie	Minced pork, spices, pastry
Meat pie	Australia	Baked pie	Minced beef, gravy, pastry
Hangi	New Zealand	Earth oven	Meat and root vegetables cooked underground
Smorgasbord	Sweden	Cold table	Herring, cured meats, bread, cheese
Kottbullar	Sweden	Fried	Pork and beef meatballs, cream sauce, lingonberry
Gravlax	Scandinavia	Cured	Salmon, salt, sugar, dill
Rye bread with pickled herring	Denmark	Open sandwich	Rye bread, herring, onion, dill
Stamppot	Netherlands	Mashed	Potato mashed with vegetables, sausage
Waterzooi	Belgium	Stew	Chicken or fish, cream, vegetables
Rosti	Switzerland	Fried	Grated potato, butter
Fondue	Switzerland	Melted	Cheese, white wine, bread
Plov	Central Asia	Rice	Rice, lamb, carrot, cumin
Manti	Central Asia and Turkey	Steamed dumpling	Dough, minced lamb, yoghurt
Khachapuri	Georgia	Baked bread	Bread, cheese, sometimes egg
Khinkali	Georgia	Boiled dumpling	Dough, spiced meat, broth inside

The ingredient column names what makes the dish that dish, not a full recipe. Carbonara is egg, cheese, cured pork and pepper — the argument about cream is settled by its absence from that list. Sweet dishes are on the dessert generator instead, which is why this list is savoury throughout.

How this list was built

This is a list of dishes, not of foods. 'Chicken' is not an answer to what to eat tonight; chicken adobo is. Every entry is something you could cook or order, with the four or five things that define it.

The spread is deliberate and wide. Well over half the list is from outside Europe and North America, because that is where most of the world's cooking is. A random food generator that returns pizza, burger, pasta, tacos and sushi on a loop has not helped anyone decide anything.

Defining ingredients settle a few arguments quietly. Carbonara has no cream. Jollof rice belongs to West Africa rather than to any one country in it. Where a dish is claimed by more than one place, the origin column names the region, not a winner.

Sweet things are not here. They have their own page, because 'what shall I cook' and 'what shall I make for pudding' are different questions and mixing them makes both lists worse.

Sources. Each dish is a well-documented one; origins and defining ingredients follow standard culinary reference. Where a dish is claimed by several countries, this page names the region rather than choosing between the claims.

Common questions

How many dishes does this pick from?

157, from every inhabited continent. All of them are listed in the table on this page, so you can scan rather than press repeatedly.

Can I use it to decide dinner?

That is what it is for. The last column tells you what the dish needs, so you can see at a glance whether you already have most of it before you commit.

Why are there no desserts?

Because they are a separate question and they have their own generator. Mixing a hundred puddings into this list would make it useless for deciding a main meal.

Are these recipes?

No. This names the dish and what defines it. Quantities and method belong in a recipe, and a hundred half-recipes on one page would help nobody.

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