The UK's takeaway landscape has transformed dramatically over the past twenty years, with Korean fried chicken and Pad Thai displacing once-dominant staples like doner kebabs and fish and chips in consumer preferences.

Just Eat has published its most-ordered dishes to mark two decades of operations in the UK, revealing how dramatically ordering patterns have evolved since the platform's 2006 launch.

The delivery service initially featured just seven cuisine categories across the UK – Italian, Indian, burgers, Chinese, kebabs, fish and chips, and chicken. Today, the platform hosts over 100 distinct culinary traditions, spanning Bangladeshi, Brazilian, Greek, and Nepalese offerings among others.

Traditional British takeaway staples from 2006 – including doner kebab, fish and chips, and chicken korma – have dropped from the top 10 rankings. In their place, dishes like Korean fried chicken, loaded fries, and Pad Thai now dominate ordering patterns.

According to Just Eat, social media platforms have become significant drivers of contemporary food trends, complemented by increasing consumer interest in health-conscious options.

TikTok's cultural influence has particularly accelerated demand for specific ingredients and dishes. Japanese-inspired matcha products exemplify this trend, with Just Eat reporting order volumes more than doubling year-over-year – a 120 percent increase accompanied by 120,000 platform searches.

Dubai chocolate represents another viral phenomenon, with related product orders surging 2,684 percent in 2025 as social media exposure drives consumer curiosity.

Leigh Phillipson, commercial director at Just Eat, noted that platforms like TikTok "have a real impact on the popularity of orders, with Korean seeing a boom in the last few years off the back of shows like Squid Game and music by Blackpink".

He observed that products unfamiliar to most British consumers in 2006 – such as matcha beverages and fiber-enriched drinks – are experiencing rapid growth aligned with wellness movements.

The platform's cuisine expansion followed a measured trajectory: sushi arrived in 2008, Thai cuisine in 2009, with Korean options only appearing a decade ago.

Despite the proliferation of international options, established favorites maintain strong performance. Just Eat's platform data confirms over 11,000 independent Indian restaurants remain active on the service.

Phillipson emphasized that traditional preferences persist alongside newer trends: "Despite more choice than ever, great British favourites like Indian, Chinese and fish and chips are as popular as ever."

He added that independent restaurants remain "the beating heart of our platform and a force for good on our UK high streets."