Have you ever gone to a restaurant and seen an Irish breakfast or English breakfast on a menu and wondered what the difference between them was? We sure have. Both are loaded with eggs and meat, requiring a big appetite, but they slightly differ on their other components.
A full Irish breakfast has bacon, sausages, baked beans, eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, and drisheen (black or white pudding). There will also be toast, butter, marmalade, orange juice, and a strong cuppa (Irish tea served with milk).
Sometimes it includes potatoes made into hash browns or thick fries. To differentiate it from an English one, the bread served will often be Irish soda bread, fried potato farl (flatbread), or boxty (Irish potato pancake).
While an English breakfast is similar to an Irish one, it lacks black or white pudding. An English breakfast may include fried potatoes as well.
Many of the foods have become interchangeable as part of a full breakfast in Ireland and Britain. Other items you may see are eggy bread, crumpets, kippers, Penclawdd cockles, pancakes, fried onions or onion rings, omelets, fried bread, corned beef hash, and English muffins.
These breakfasts are usually served at breakfast time on the weekends and sometimes they can replace lunch. People also enjoy them while they’re on vacation in hotels or bed and breakfasts.
