A new study has found that French food is Britain’s favourite foreign cuisine, knocking Indian cuisine off the top spot in public preference.
The survey, conducted by meal-kit company Mindful Chef to mark a partnership with French restaurant chain Côte Brasserie, found 77% of respondents rated French food as the best foreign cuisine. British cuisine remained the most favoured overall, with 90% naming it their top choice, but 65% of those surveyed said they preferred a classic steak frites to fish and chips.
Respondents associated French food with indulgence and sophistication: 67% described it as more indulgent and sophisticated than other world cuisines. Seventy percent said they believe French fries are better than traditional British chip-shop chips, and 66% said the French cook a steak better than the British do.
The survey asked participants to name favourite French dishes. Steak frites topped the list with 44% support, followed by chocolate fondant and profiteroles at 37% each, and boeuf bourguignon at 30%. Other popular items included French onion soup (28%), quiche Lorraine (25%), and steak tartare (23%). Lesser-cited favourites were coq au vin and fondue (18% each), ratatouille (17%), croque monsieur (16%), tarte Tatin (16%) and moules marinière (15%).
Despite the high regard for French cuisine, many respondents said they find it daunting to cook at home. Seventy percent said the idea of preparing a French classic at home was intimidating, and 66% judged French dishes among the hardest to make. Fourteen percent said they only cook French food for a treat or on special occasions.
Jesse Kempner, head of food at Mindful Chef, said the research showed a national affection for French food albeit with hesitancy about home preparation. “It's clear from the research that as a nation we love French food, even if we are intimidated to cook their dishes at home or feel they are too indulgent for a midweek meal,” Kempner said.
Steve Allen, executive chef at Côte Brasserie, said the findings highlighted a common misconception about French home cooking. “The data reveals a common misconception, that French cooking at home is overly complex – it doesn't need to be,” he said.
Mindful Chef did not disclose the full methodology or sample size in the material released with the survey results. The findings were publicised in September 2025 as part of the companies’ promotional announcement of their partnership.
The results add to an ongoing public conversation about evolving tastes in the UK, where international cuisines have long competed with traditional British favourites. While British dishes remain the most popular overall, the preference for French cuisine in the foreign-cuisine category underscores the continued prominence of continental dining habits and the appeal of dishes often associated with indulgence and technique.