The world’s worst food dishes have been revealed — including a UK classic
The world’s worst food dishes have been revealed — including a UK classic
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Depending who you ask, British cuisine is either marvellous or something to make fun of. Fish and chips, roast dinners, and sticky toffee pudding might all be top tier options, but we certainly do have a few more… questionable dishes. So it’ll likely come as no surprise to some that a UK classic has made it into the top 10 list of the world’s worst food. Hell, it’s even cracked the top five.
![[Bowl of Jellied Eels]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-178713851.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Travel and food guide, TasteAtlas, just revealed the 100 worst rated foods in the world according to roughly 600,000 ratings from their audience database, and in at number five is jellied eels. The traditional Cockney dish dates back to 18th Century London and features chopped eels, boiled in water and vinegar, with various spices like nutmeg or cloves added to create a stock. As it cools, the mixture becomes gelatinous, and the jellied eels can then be eaten hot or cold.
![[England, London, Southwark, Manze Pie and Mash Shop, Plate of Pie and Mash and Jellied Eels]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-1062075148.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
While it’s less commonly eaten these days, it became an especially popular dish during the second world war. At the time, eels were incredibly common in the Thames, and proved a cheap way to feed hungry people. According to TasteAtlas, some might find the dish ‘unpleasant’ but the eels are ‘delicate and soft’ and the flavour is ‘unique, mild, slightly salty like pickled herring, but without the unusual “fishy” scent.’.
Jellied eels were once sold in around 100 eel, pie and mash shops across london, but many of these have closed over the years. However, you can still find the dish at various spots in the capital, including Goddards at Greenwich, F Cooke Pie & Mash in Hoxton, and M.Manze at Tower Bridge. It’s often also avaialable from seafood shacks at the seaside, so keep your eyes peeled if you fancy giving it a try.
