Why are Brits visiting the U.S. obsessed with visiting fast food restaurants?
Posted by ATLDeepCreeker@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 22 comments
Ok, this is admittedly based on British Youtubers, but it did make me remember how our U.K. based team was so hyped to visit all the American fast food.
For the Youtubers, I guess its content, but it happened even with U.K. born team members who spent long terms in the U.S.
We used to have to drag them to other, locally owned restaurants.
Is it just as simple as, "I saw this in a movie or TV show once?"
smcl2k@reddit
A lot of American visitors to the UK are obsessed with places like Greggs and Wethersooons, which is basically the same idea đ€·đ»ââïž
The only weird thing about fast food restaurants is that the UK version is often better.
Jigglypuffs_quiff@reddit
Because ypu guys pretty much invented fast food and it woukd be cool to try good from places I've heard about but never eaten from ...even if just once
Glittering_Win_5085@reddit
Well there's not many ancient cathedrals to visit I suppose
ATLDeepCreeker@reddit (OP)
This conversation is about food.
But there are ancient Indigenous city ruins all over the U.S. as well as countless natural wonders that are millions of years older than the oldest cathedral.
.... so there is that.
HorseFeathersFur@reddit
Donât tell them that. They hate hearing how we actually have culture.
BillWilberforce@reddit
Yeah you've got Disney Land and Disney World!!!!!!!!!
Adept_Strategy_9545@reddit
This is the most British answer I could have possibly wanted
Thpfkt@reddit
Brit who now lives in the US.
When I first visited my now husband I wanted to see:
Olive garden
A Walmart with firearms next to the produce
Wendy's/arbys/taco bell
One of those XXXXL drinks from 7-11
There isn't really much else that's exposed to us in the UK - we see what we see on the most popular US shows over there and that's about it, so that's what we wanna see. The pharma commercials on the TV surprised me the most when I moved here!
National parks are also beautiful.
WashuWaifu@reddit
The same reason I was obsessed to try Nandoâs and Greggâs. Much love from the US - nothing topped Greggâs đ
Estrellathestarfish@reddit
Like going to the supermarket in a foreign country is always a fun little jaunt!
_InstanTT@reddit
People are interested in things that donât exist where theyâre from. If youâve heard about how good in n out or chic fil a are then youâd be curious to try it because you canât get it back home.
Frankly outside of specific fast food places there arenât that many types of food you can get in the US that you canât find in the UK. Maybe BBQ and Mexican food would be the standout things that are better in America? Also diners are something we donât do in the same way. But beyond that Iâm unsure. I donât think the food is the main driver for tourism to the states.
blueroses8000@reddit
Itâs the same as US people wanting to go for afternoon tea or fish and chips in the UK, itâs a âtouristâ type experience as we associate the US with those places.
Itâs becoming less relevant now though as so many of those places are here now - Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, Popeyes, Krispy Kream, Wendyâs, Shake Shack, Dunkin, Tim Hortons, Daveâs Hot Chicken
Like visiting New York and going into the Times Square Krispy Kream felt like nothing at all as we have a big one next to our small town here. But 20 years ago it wouldâve been very exciting.
Obvious-AI-Bot@reddit
content creators from here are targeting you over there. They are doing "look here's that thing you recognise". Just like those "millennials react to Led Zeppelin+first time hearing)" videos. They are looking to harvest the brand recognition.
So it's a safe cultural touchstone. British content creators can say "ooh I've never tried a big Mac before, I wonder what it's like!!". And get lots of American eyeballs.
To see the flip side search for "American visits the UK". There's lots of "ooh I tried a Yorkshire pudding" but all the comments are British people.
PaulBradley@reddit
This is confirmation bias. You're only seeing the Brits who go to the fast food restaurants at the fast food restaurants. They vast majority of Brits couldn't give a shit about trashy American food.
ATLDeepCreeker@reddit (OP)
I think I specifically stated this is based on Youtubers and the 2 dozen or so Brits Ive worked with over the years.
I'm not asking you if all Brits are enamored with fact food, but what would be your guess as to why any Brit would be.
And before you say, "I dont have any idea why these Brits want to try American fast food"....remember you've already given an opinion that most Brits couldn't give a shit.
The opinion you gave was just pulled out of your ass. I'm just asking you to pull out another.
StrangerThings1106@reddit
I'm sure when you say 'British people' to an American, they picture smartly dressed people drinking afternoon tea. Ask a British person what they think when you say 'American' and the first thing that comes to mind, unfortunately, is overweight people scoffing McDonald's, whilst talking very loudly.
So when Brits head to the US, they want to see what all the fuss is about. We have McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Subway, Pizza Hut , Wendy's, Denny's, Popeyes, Taco Bell, Chick Fil-A and all that here but there's an assumption that the original American version is better, since you al can't stop eating it đ« So we have to give it a try, and are almost always disappointed.
skibbin@reddit
We hear Americans mention it all the time and are curious. I guess it's like you gets coming over and having afternoon tea, a sausage roll, fish & chips, a full English, visiting a pub, trying Marmite or beans on toast.
Icy_Flatworm_9933@reddit
You mean your algorithm shows you videos of people eating fast food in the US, because thatâs what you enjoy watching
PlasticSmile57@reddit
because thatâs the cultural product that american media chooses to show off. most people in the world do not think that american cuisine (soul food, bbq, etc) extends beyond fast food because it is not showcased.
ATLDeepCreeker@reddit (OP)
How does American media "show off" fast food?
I'm not receiving it from your end, so I'm generally interested in what they are doing overseas.
cragglerock93@reddit
Yes, it pretty much is that simple.
Fast food is one of the things we associate most with America.
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