Unearth The Voyage
What do kings, presidents, and prime ministers eat when they get to choose? From simple comfort foods to classic national dishes, the eating habits of world leaders and royals can tell us a lot about who they really are.
Some favorites might surprise you, while others feel just like something your own family might enjoy. Here is a look at 15 verified favorite foods enjoyed by some of the most powerful and famous people on the planet today.
1. Donald Trump: McDonald’s and Fast Food
Long before he became president, Donald Trump was already famously devoted to fast food. McDonald’s burgers, KFC fried chicken, pizza, and Diet Coke made up a significant part of his regular diet, and that did not change once he moved into the White House.
Former aides, journalists, and authors who wrote about his presidency all confirmed this preference. Trump himself has spoken openly about trusting fast food chains because of their consistent quality and food safety standards across every location.
His habit of ordering fast food for team dinners, including famously serving McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A to college sports champions at the White House, became one of the more memorable and talked-about moments of his presidency. Love it or find it unusual, there is no question his fast food loyalty is completely genuine and well-documented.
2. Barack Obama: Nachos
Barack Obama has made no secret of his love for nachos, especially during sports games and relaxed gatherings with family and friends. It is the kind of food that feels completely at home on a coffee table during a big game, and Obama has mentioned enjoying exactly that kind of setting.
Nachos might seem like a surprising favorite for a former president, but that is part of what makes it so relatable. The dish is casual, crowd-pleasing, and endlessly customizable, which fits well with Obama’s famously easygoing and approachable public personality.
Whether loaded with cheese, jalapenos, and guacamole or kept simple, nachos are a staple snack that millions of Americans enjoy regularly. Knowing that a two-term president shares that same craving makes the humble nacho feel just a little more presidential than it ever did before.
3. Narendra Modi: Khichdi
Khichdi is one of India’s oldest and most beloved comfort foods, made from a simple combination of rice and lentils cooked together with mild spices. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly spoken about his fondness for this humble dish, which holds deep cultural roots across the country.
Modi’s preference for khichdi fits with his broader public image as a leader connected to traditional Indian values and simplicity. The dish is known for being nutritious, easy to digest, and deeply satisfying, which is why it has been a staple in Indian households for centuries.
Khichdi even got a moment in the global spotlight when India promoted it as a candidate for UNESCO heritage recognition. The fact that one of the world’s most powerful leaders enjoys something so straightforward and homemade is a reminder that comfort food knows no boundaries.
4. Joe Biden: Ice Cream
Few things in politics are as well-documented as Joe Biden’s deep love for ice cream. Whether he was on the campaign trail, hosting events at the White House, or sitting down for a casual interview, a scoop of ice cream was never far away.
Chocolate chip is one of his known favorites, and Biden has never been shy about showing his enthusiasm for the frozen treat. Reporters and aides have captured him enjoying ice cream so many times that it became something of a fun personal trademark during his time in office.
Ice cream lovers everywhere can probably relate to that kind of loyalty to a favorite flavor. There is something genuinely charming about a world leader who finds real joy in something as simple and familiar as a cold, creamy scoop on a warm afternoon.
5. Pope Francis: Pizza
Pope Francis has a well-known soft spot for pizza, and given that he leads the Catholic Church from Vatican City in the heart of Italy, it makes perfect sense. People close to him and Italian media have confirmed his fondness for the dish on multiple occasions over the years.
Born in Argentina to Italian immigrant parents, the Pope grew up with strong ties to Italian food culture. Pizza, in its simplest and most traditional form, represents exactly the kind of humble, communal eating that aligns with his well-documented values of simplicity and connection with everyday people.
There is something wonderfully universal about the leader of one of the world’s largest religions enjoying a slice of pizza just like billions of other people do. It is a small but genuinely humanizing detail that makes Pope Francis feel remarkably down-to-earth despite his extraordinary role.
6. King Charles III: Organic Farm Foods
King Charles III has been passionate about organic farming and sustainable food long before it became a mainstream concern. For decades, he has championed environmentally responsible agriculture, and his personal eating habits reflect those values directly through his preference for organic produce from royal estates.
Wild mushrooms, fresh garden vegetables, and seasonal foods from Highgrove, his private estate in Gloucestershire, are all known favorites. Charles has spoken publicly about the importance of knowing where food comes from and supporting farming practices that work with nature rather than against it.
His commitment to organic eating is not just a personal preference but a deeply held philosophy that shaped his public advocacy long before he became king. Whether you share his views on sustainability or not, there is no denying that King Charles practices what he preaches when it comes to food.
7. Catherine, Princess of Wales: Curry
Catherine, Princess of Wales, has publicly mentioned her love of spicy curries and even spoken about cooking them at home for her family. That kind of hands-on enthusiasm for bold, flavorful food gives a refreshingly real glimpse into her everyday life behind palace walls.
Curry is one of Britain’s most beloved dishes, deeply woven into the country’s food culture thanks to generations of South Asian culinary influence. For Catherine to name it as a favorite feels both very British and genuinely personal, especially given her mention of preparing it herself at home.
Home-cooked curry is the kind of meal that fills a kitchen with warm, complex aromas and brings people together around the table. Knowing that even a princess enjoys rolling up her sleeves and cooking a spicy dinner for her family makes her feel remarkably relatable to millions of people across the UK and beyond.
8. Prince William: Roast Chicken
Prince William has repeatedly mentioned his love of a good roast chicken dinner, making it one of the most well-known food preferences of any British royal. There is something deeply traditional about the choice, roast chicken being a cornerstone of classic British home cooking for generations.
A Sunday roast is more than just a meal in British culture. It is a ritual, a reason to gather, and a moment of comfort that many families look forward to every week.
William’s attachment to it speaks to a side of his personality that values warmth, tradition, and the simple pleasures of home life.
Beyond the royalty and the public duties, Prince William comes across as someone who genuinely appreciates uncomplicated, hearty food. A perfectly roasted chicken with all the trimmings is hard to argue with, and his enthusiasm for it has only made him more endearing to the British public over the years.
9. Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukrainian Borscht
Borscht is far more than just a soup in Ukraine. It is a symbol of national identity, heritage, and resilience, which makes it especially meaningful that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly celebrated it as one of his favorite dishes.
His pride in the dish reflects a broader pride in Ukrainian culture.
Made with beets, cabbage, potatoes, and often meat, borscht varies by region and family recipe, but its deep red color and rich flavor are instantly recognizable. UNESCO even added Ukrainian borscht-making traditions to its list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding in 2022, partly in response to the ongoing conflict.
For Zelenskyy, embracing borscht is both personal and political. It is a quiet but powerful statement about cultural identity at a time when that identity is under serious pressure.
Few foods carry that kind of weight, and few leaders wear their food preferences so meaningfully.
10. Emmanuel Macron: Blanquette de Veau
Blanquette de veau is one of France’s most treasured classic dishes, a slow-cooked veal stew finished with a rich, creamy white sauce and served with mushrooms and pearl onions. French media and former staff members have noted Emmanuel Macron’s genuine fondness for this traditional comfort food.
For a French president, favoring a dish so deeply embedded in the country’s culinary heritage is fitting and almost expected. But blanquette de veau is not a restaurant showpiece.
It is the kind of dish that takes patience, skill, and an appreciation for old-fashioned cooking done properly.
Macron’s preference for it suggests a man who values craftsmanship and tradition alongside his famously modern political outlook. It is a small but telling detail about his character.
Sometimes the most revealing thing about a person is not the grand gesture but the meal they quietly choose to sit down with at the end of a long day.
11. Queen Camilla: Porridge
Queen Camilla has spoken about her preference for simple, traditional British breakfasts, and porridge is among her known favorites. In a world of elaborate royal banquets and formal dining, there is something quietly charming about a queen who starts her day with a humble bowl of oats.
Porridge has been a British breakfast staple for centuries, valued for its warmth, simplicity, and staying power through a busy morning. Camilla’s fondness for it fits with her generally understated and unpretentious public image, which has won her considerable warmth from the British public in recent years.
A good bowl of porridge, especially on a cold British morning, is one of those simple pleasures that transcends class and status entirely. Whether topped with honey, fruit, or just a splash of cream, it is the kind of breakfast that feels honest and grounding, which seems to suit Queen Camilla perfectly well.
12. King Felipe VI of Spain: Seafood and Paella
Spain’s King Felipe VI has long been associated with the country’s rich seafood traditions and the iconic national dish of paella. Spanish royal reporting frequently connects him to these deeply regional flavors, which makes sense for a king raised with strong ties to Spanish coastal and cultural heritage.
Paella, particularly the seafood variety, is one of Spain’s most celebrated culinary exports, originating from the Valencia region and built around saffron-scented rice, fresh shellfish, and the smoky char of an open flame. It is the kind of dish that demands good ingredients and a relaxed, communal approach to eating.
For King Felipe, enjoying seafood and paella is not just about personal taste. It is a connection to the land, sea, and people of his country.
There is real cultural pride baked into every pan, and a king who appreciates that understands something important about where he comes from.
13. Justin Trudeau: Poutine
Justin Trudeau has publicly embraced poutine as a favorite comfort food, and honestly, it would be hard to imagine a Canadian prime minister not loving it. The dish, made with crispy fries, squeaky cheese curds, and rich brown gravy, is a Quebec original that has become a beloved national symbol.
Trudeau’s enthusiasm for poutine fits naturally with his efforts to connect with everyday Canadians and celebrate the country’s distinct cultural identity. It is unpretentious, satisfying, and unapologetically Canadian, three qualities that have also shaped his political brand over the years.
Poutine has traveled far beyond its Quebec roots and can now be found at diners, food trucks, and restaurants across Canada and internationally. But the best version still comes from a no-frills spot with fresh curds that squeak against your teeth.
Trudeau would probably agree with that assessment without hesitation.
14. Kim Jong Un: Emmental Cheese
Of all the food preferences on this list, Kim Jong Un’s reported obsession with Swiss Emmental cheese is easily the most unexpected. Multiple intelligence reports and international media investigations have linked the North Korean leader to a strong craving for Swiss cheeses, a taste he reportedly developed while studying in Switzerland during his youth.
Emmental, with its mild, nutty flavor and iconic holes, is a world away from the food realities most North Koreans face daily. That contrast has made Kim’s cheese preference a subject of significant media fascination and political commentary over the years since reports first emerged.
Swiss customs and trade records have reportedly shown unusual cheese import patterns connected to North Korea. Whether the full story is as dramatic as it sounds is hard to verify completely, but the core preference for European cheese appears in enough credible sources to make it one of the more remarkable food stories in modern geopolitics.
15. Vladimir Putin: Ice Cream
Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden share at least one thing in common: a genuine love of ice cream. Putin’s fondness for the frozen treat has been publicly visible during international summits, diplomatic events, and in numerous reports from Russian media over the years.
Russian ice cream has a proud national tradition of its own, with Soviet-era recipes and styles still celebrated today. Putin has been photographed and filmed enjoying ice cream on multiple occasions, and the detail has become one of the softer, more humanizing footnotes in coverage of his otherwise intensely scrutinized public life.
There is something almost disarming about the image of one of the world’s most powerful and closely watched leaders pausing for an ice cream cone. It does not change the broader picture of who he is, but it is a reminder that even the most formidable figures on the world stage have their simple, everyday indulgences just like everyone else.
