15 Delicious Scottish Dishes You Must Try When You Visit Scotland
30 April 2020
When I think of Scotland, the first things that come to mind are castles, rainy weather, and that lovely Scottish accent that's sometimes hard to understand. But let me tell you, Scotland was actually one of the best foodie destinations I've been to in my 10 years of traveling. The food in Scotland was so good that I went back a year later just to eat at some of the places I wanted to return to and some of the places I didn't get to try. So, here's a list of 15 Scottish dishes that you've just got to try when you visit. And don't worry, I've got you covered. I'll also write a blog post on the top foodie places you should be eating at in Scotland.
1. Haggis
What: Obviously, this famous dish has to be mentioned first. Haggis is a traditional Scottish meal made with various parts of a sheep that you probably don't want to think about. But forget what's inside and just think of it as a local delicacy that tastes a lot like a crumbly sausage. Traditionally served with neeps and tatties (next on this list), it tastes amazing with a whisky gravy. Don't miss this when you are in Scotland. It's so much better than it looks and sounds.
Where: We tried our first dish of haggis as an appetizer on our Scotland road trip at the Old Mill Inn, located in Pitlochry (stay tuned for our upcoming 6-day Scotland road trip blog post!). Haggis is not difficult to find. You can find it in a lot of pubs and restaurants. I highly recommend having it somewhere nice for your first time because that way it will be well-presented with the right accompaniments.
2. Neeps & Tatties
What: Neeps and tatties are the perfect traditional accompaniment to haggis. Tatties are mashed potatoes, and neeps are mashed turnips, traditionally known in Scotland as rutabaga.
Where: Enjoy them with your haggis!
3. Scottish Fry Up Breakfast
What: I'm sorry to my English family, but the Scottish fry-up (breakfast) wins by a long shot. The picture above really doesn't do this breakfast justice. In fact, I took the picture with my iPhone, thinking it would not be worth a proper shot with my camera. It turned out to be one of the best breakfasts I've ever had. The Scottish fry-up consists of fried egg, streaky bacon, link sausage, black pudding or haggis, tattie scones, fried tomatoes, fried mushrooms, and on this particular fry-up, there was a fried fruit pudding.
Where: We had this at a cute little bed and breakfast near Loch Ness. We have since returned to Scotland and not found a Scottish breakfast as good as this initial one. However, a Scottish fry-up can be found in pubs, bed and breakfasts, and restaurants that offer breakfast.
4. Scotch Egg
What: We won’t get into the origins of a Scotch egg, but they sure do them well in Scotland. A Scotch egg consists of a whole soft or hard-boiled egg that has been wrapped in meat, coated in breadcrumbs, and then baked or deep-fried.
Where: A gastropub staple, we found a fabulous Scotch egg at a local pub in Edinburgh called The Ox. You can also find them in many other pubs and restaurants across Scotland.
5. Deep Fried Mars Bar
What: When my Scottish friend recommended that I try a deep-fried Mars bar at a fish and chip shop, I was a little perplexed. But I did it anyway, and it was delicious! Gooey chocolate and caramel on the inside, crunchy batter on the outside, with a side of ice cream - it was an indulgent treat, that's for sure. As it turns out, these fish and chip shops fry more than just fish and chips. We found one that had deep-fried pizza, burgers, haggis, and various other things you wouldn't normally think to deep fry.
Where: We had ours at a fish and chip shop on the Royal Mile called Clam Shell.
6. Smoked Salmon
What: Scottish smoked salmon has a unique flavor that comes from how it is smoked. The salmon is smoked using old oak barrels that were previously used for whisky, giving it a distinct and flavorful taste. It's a must-try dish if you're a fan of smoked salmon or salmon in general.
Where: We had smoked salmon on numerous occasions at different restaurants, but my favorite was the smoked salmon appetizer at Kyloe, a steakhouse in Edinburgh.
7. Fish & Chips
What: Fresh local fish and local potatoes - need I say more?
Where: Pictured above is a fabulous fish and chips dish we had at Element in Edinburgh. We also came across some fresh fish and chips on the local docks of Oban during our 6-day road trip.
8. Seafood
What: The Scottish seafood scene was a pleasant surprise and by far the highlight of our foodie journey around Scotland. We should have known considering the country is surrounded by deep, icy, cold waters. Oysters, langoustines, mussels, and lobster – these are the dishes that should be stealing the spotlight.
Where: You can find seafood everywhere in Scotland, but the best places we tried were in Oban and on the Isle of Skye.
9. Locally Sourced Meat
What: With vast and lush green landscapes for animals to roam, it's no surprise that the local meat in Scotland is amazing, fresh, and full of flavor.
Where: We had some great steaks at Kyloe in Edinburgh, a steakhouse that serves locally sourced produce. Their 28-day aged steaks are definitely worth a try!
10. Scotch Pie
What: A traditional Scottish pie with flaky pastry and a warm, oozy filling is the perfect comfort food after a cold day trekking in the Highlands. Is there anything better?
Where: We had ours at a quaint little restaurant named Skye Pie Café on the Isle of Skye. They serve both sweet and savory gourmet pies made fresh daily. It was the perfect lunch between sightseeing spots on our road trip around the Isle of Skye.
11. Scottish Cheese
What: Another pleasant surprise was the cheese in Scotland. Artisan cheeses from farms around the country are something that shouldn’t be missed on your Scotland vacation. Some of my favorites were the Isle of Arran oak-smoked cheddar, Morangie brie, and the Stratton Blue cheese. We had our cheese fried with local pickles at one restaurant and fresh on a cheeseboard at another, and it was all amazing!
Where: One of our favorite foodie spots in Edinburgh is Pickle, a cute little restaurant serving cheese and meat platters with house-made pickles and fresh, locally-sourced bread. It's the perfect place to relax with a glass of wine, beer, whisky, or coffee.
12. Cullen Skink
What: If you ever wanted a hug in a bowl on a rainy day in Scotland, then this is the soup for you. Cullen skink is a thick and creamy soup made from smoked haddock and potatoes. It's the Scottish version of an American clam chowder, if you need a comparison.
Where: We had many different variations of the soup as an appetizer in pubs and restaurants after long days of trekking, road tripping, and sightseeing.
13. Scottish Tablet
What: I would describe this sweet treat as the Scottish version of fudge. It’s a little harder than your typical fudge and is usually made from sugar, butter, and condensed milk. Tablet can be found in different flavors, such as vanilla or whisky.
Where: If you are looking for a holiday gift to take back home to family and friends, then I highly recommend Scottish tablet. They often come beautifully packaged in Scotland-themed tins and can be found in local souvenir shops.
14. Whisky Flight
What: A whisky flight is like a whisky sampler where you get small nips of different whiskies. There are hundreds of different whiskies, so this is a great way to try a variety in one sitting without getting completely drunk.
Where: Our first whisky flight was at The Devil's Advocate, a cute little bar and restaurant located in the Old Town. However, I feel like you can have a whisky flight almost anywhere in Scotland. Another great place to try whisky is to take a tour of a local distillery and then at the end you can sample their whiskies.
15. Scottish Gin
What: Scotland is second to none when it comes to whisky, however they are also artisans at producing gin. You’ll just have to taste it to believe it.
Where: In any bar or restaurant you should be sure to find a decent local gin. We had ours with Fever Tree tonic at our favorite pub, The Ox.
