Official data has revealed which takeaway cuisine fell biggest victim to the cost of living crisis - and the answer is surprisingly close to home.
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) has revealed how fast food in general soared by 19% in Britain last year, yet the price tag of some world dishes increased far faster than others.
Of all the country's favourite takeaways ranging from Indian to Chinese, the dish which saw the biggest price hike was our very own - fish and chips.
The price of the classic British favourite rose by 19% in the year to March 2023, much higher than the average 13% inflation rate on takeaways.
Staying close to home, the cost of a hot pub meal rose too, albeit at a slower 13%.
Figures show the average cost of breaded fish rose by 32% last year for shoppers, while cooking oil costs have boomed.
Burgers, fried chicken and kebabs all saw increases above the average inflation rate too, meaning post night-out munchies are costing Brits around 14-17% more than they did the year before.
Greggs fans will be disappointed to hear their favourites bakeries have also fallen victim to the cost of living crisis, with sausage rolls and pasties now around 15% more expensive, while the cost of a Chinese and Indian both rose by 10%.
The latest data looking at how inflation has hit British purses revealed inflation rates across the board, with the average food shop in March 2023 costing 19% more.
Some items however increased by as much as 52%.
Hardest hit were salad vegetables such as cucumbers (52%), olive oil (49%) and dairy products.
The soaring in energy prices plus dwindling supply and impact of Brexit on imports from overseas has all been attributed to the rising cost of some ingredients, while the war in Ukraine - one of the world's biggest producers of sunflower oil and wheat - has also impacted on supermarket shelves.
Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “The supermarket shop is an increasingly painful experience for all of us, and you’re not safe in the local takeaway or the pub either.
“This new [data] reveals the really horrible price rises that are laying waste to our budgets, and forcing us to cut back or give up on some of the treats we love the most.”
Meanwhile, Britain's biggest foodbank saw nearly three million emergency parcels given out last year as demand from hungry families broke all records.
The Trussell Trust's 1,400 centres provided 2,986,203 aid packages - with enough ingredients for 26.8 million meals - in the last financial year as families were gripped by the cost-of-living crisis. Some 1,139,553 parcels went to children.
