Our native cuisine was voted the world's best in a poll of 2,000 Brits, ahead of France, Spain and Mexico.
But World Cup football favourites Brazil had to make do with 17th place.
The ‘unofficial’ international food tournament ranked the countries with the best cuisines, and saw the USA and Japan finish in the top 10.
While this year’s tournament hosts Qatar also featured in the top 30.
The study was commissioned by TUI, which also created its own knockout chart to showcase the top countries in terms of food.
It was designed to mark the launch of the travel company's The World Cook TV series, which will see 16 contestants head-to-head in six holiday destinations with country-specific challenges, to be crowned The World Cook.
It also emerged the average adult eats five international meals per week – nearly a quarter of their weekly ‘three meals a day’.
However, despite expanding their horizons with worldwide cuisine, the classic roast dinner was the most popular world food, snapping up 39 per cent of the vote against things like Mexican tacos (27 per cent) and Belgian chocolate (28 per cent).
Spanish paella (27 per cent), the American hamburger (22 per cent) and Moroccan tagine (19 per cent) are also among the best cuisines, as well as the French classic, coq au vin (21 per cent), Argentinian steak (17 per cent) and Swiss cheese fondue (15 per cent).
Toby Horry, TUI’s director of brand and content, said: “I’m sure our knockout competition of world food will trigger a lot of debate.
“And although we are an unashamed nation of roast dinner lovers, the research shows that international cuisine has become a part of our everyday lives and culture.
“Like the World Cup, The World Cook TV series brings together people with a common passion – always a winning combination.”
Celebration of culture
The study also found eight in 10 adults enjoy eating global cuisines, with 38 per cent also finding satisfaction in cooking them - because it keeps things interesting 63 per cent) and broadens their food choices (53 per cent).
While 56 per cent think eating a variety of foods from around the world has made them more ‘cultured’.
And 69 per cent admitted there’s nothing better than enjoying a range of international cuisines – with those cooking five from scratch each week, on average.
Of the food items made from scratch, the Tunisian dish of couscous (15 per cent), Saudi Arabia’s falafel (13 per cent) and the Swiss cheese fondue (12 per cent) were among the international choices cooked most often.
With 31 per cent spending a 'considerable' amount of time researching international dishes to make and eat.
But 36 per cent have gone as far as visiting another country to try out new dishes with the same number keen to expand their food knowledge further.
And 26 per cent want to make their mealtimes more rewarding, according to the OnePoll data.
While 68 per cent of those who eat international dishes think there’s nothing better than enjoying a range of intercontinental cuisines.
Toby Horry added: “Our new TV series draws inspiration from the teams taking part in the World Cup and is a celebration of the vast variety of foods we enjoy around the globe.
“And like the World Cup, viewers can expect a fast-paced, fiercely contested tournament.
“Sixteen international chefs will cook off against each other in a series of challenges in some amazing locations, with Emma Willis and Fred Siriex compering.”
Top 30 countries with the best international cuisine
- England
- France
- Spain
- Mexico
- USA
- Japan
- Portugal
- Morocco
- Korea
- Germany
- Canada
- Switzerland
- Wales
- Belgium
- Australia
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Denmark
- Poland
- Netherlands
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Tunisia
- Serbia
- Ghana
- Qatar
- Cameroon
- Senegal
- Saudi Arabia
- Uruguay
