Top 15 Most Popular Fried Food Types Worldwide
If asked what my favorite food in the world is, I would confidently say fried chicken—I love fried foods that much. It’s true that I particularly enjoy fried chicken over other fried items, but I believe no one truly dislikes fried foods. However, since fried foods are cooked by immersion in oil, they have a considerably high saturated fat content. Recently, due to blood sugar issues, I’ve had to avoid fried foods, and my craving for them is only deepening. To console myself, I’ve prepared a list of the world’s most popular fried food types.
15th Place: Kroket – Netherlands [Kroket]
The 15th most popular fried food type worldwide is the Dutch kroket. Although it originated in France, it became a staple in the Netherlands. It is made by coating a ragout of meat, seafood, or vegetables in breadcrumbs and deep-frying it, similar to a croquette. Often enjoyed as a snack with mustard, it is commonly available at fast-food outlets and even vending machines in the Netherlands.
14th Place: Ayam Goreng – Indonesia [Ayam goreng]
Indonesia’s ayam goreng ranks 14th among the world’s most popular fried foods. It resembles American fried chicken but is marinated in a spice blend including coriander, turmeric, garlic, and shallots before frying. The chicken is typically boiled or steamed first, then fried, resulting in a crispy exterior and juicy interior. It is a popular street food in Indonesia.
13th Place: Suppli – Italy [Suppli]
Italy’s suppli takes the 13th spot. These are deep-fried rice balls filled with ragù sauce, mozzarella cheese, and sometimes peas or chicken livers. Coated in egg and breadcrumbs before frying, they are similar to arancini but have an elongated shape. They are nicknamed “suppli al telefono” because the melted cheese stretches like a telephone wire when pulled apart.
12th Place: Coxinha – Brazil [Coxinha]
Brazil’s coxinha ranks 12th. Shaped like a chicken drumstick, it consists of shredded chicken mixed with cream cheese or catupiry, formed into a teardrop shape, battered, and fried. It is a staple at parties and as street food in Brazil, with its name meaning “little thigh” in Portuguese.
11th Place: Samosa – India [Samosa]
India’s samosa is the 11th most popular fried food globally. These triangular pastries are filled with spiced potatoes, onions, peas, and sometimes meat, then deep-fried. Originating from the Middle East but popularized in India, they are a common snack served with chutney.
10th Place: Lumpia – Philippines [Lumpia]
The Philippines’ lumpia ranks 10th. Similar to spring rolls, it involves wrapping vegetables, meat, or seafood in a thin pastry and frying until crispy. Variants include fresh (lumpiang sariwa) and fried (lumpiang prito), with the fried version being more popular as a snack or appetizer.
9th Place: Fish Fry – United States [Fish Fry]
The American fish fry is 9th on the list. It typically features battered and fried fish such as cod or haddock, served with fries, coleslaw, and tartar sauce. Popular in the Midwest and during Lent, it is a communal tradition at churches and restaurants.
8th Place: Croquetas – Spain [Croquetas]
Spain’s croquetas rank 8th. These small fried rolls are filled with béchamel sauce mixed with ham, fish, or vegetables, coated in breadcrumbs, and fried. They are a staple tapas dish in Spain, creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
7th Place: Ebifurai – Japan [Ebifurai]
Japan’s ebifurai is the 7th most popular fried food. It consists of shrimp that are peeled, deveined, straightened, battered in flour, egg, and panko breadcrumbs, then deep-fried. Often served with tonkatsu sauce or tartar sauce, it is a common dish in Japanese cuisine, sometimes included in bento boxes.
6th Place: Buffalo Wings – United States [Buffalo Wings]
The United States’ buffalo wings rank 6th. Invented in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, they are deep-fried chicken wings coated in a spicy sauce made from vinegar-based cayenne pepper hot sauce and melted butter. Typically served with celery sticks and blue cheese dressing, they are a popular bar food.
5th Place: Onion Rings – United States [Onion Rings]
The American onion ring is 5th among global fried favorites. Made by slicing onions into rings, dipping them in batter or breadcrumbs, and deep-frying, they originated in the United States in the 1920s. Often served as a side dish or appetizer with dipping sauces like ketchup or ranch.
4th Place: Korokke – Japan [Korokke]
Japan’s korokke ranks 4th. Adapted from the French croquette in the late 19th century, it consists of mashed potatoes mixed with meat or vegetables, shaped into patties, coated in panko, and fried. A common street food and home dish in Japan, often served with tonkatsu sauce.
3rd Place: Chun Juan – China [Chun juan]
China’s chun juan takes the 3rd spot. Known as spring rolls, these are thin wrappers filled with vegetables, meat, or seafood, rolled, and deep-fried until crispy. Originating in China during the Jin Dynasty, they are a popular appetizer worldwide, served with sweet and sour sauce.
2nd Place: Pork Cutlets – Japan [Pork cutlets]
Japan’s tonkatsu is the 2nd most popular fried food. Introduced in the late 19th century as a Japanese version of the European breaded cutlet, it involves breading pork loin or tenderloin with flour, egg, and panko, then deep-frying. Served with shredded cabbage and tonkatsu sauce, it’s a staple in Japanese cuisine.
1st Place: Fried Chicken – United States [Fried Chicken]
The United States’ fried chicken claims the top spot as the world’s most popular fried food type. Brought to America by Scottish immigrants and evolved in the Southern United States, it involves battering or breading chicken pieces and deep-frying them. Popularized globally through chains like KFC, it’s enjoyed in various styles worldwide.
Beyond this, the ranking of the world’s most popular fried food types also included Japan’s karaage, American chicken nuggets, Japan’s tendon, and China’s qianpiqi. However, most were similar to fried chicken, so they were excluded from the list. I was curious about the ranking of Korean chicken, given its high consumption, but it unfortunately placed 42nd. Keep in mind that this ranking lacks precise criteria or verified data, so view it for entertainment purposes only. I hope this was informative today.