Americans who have traveled to other countries: what American fast food brands are entirely different overseas, and how are they different?

[-]

ConsumerofGarlic@reddit

I will say the portions of course are a lot smaller. But the thing that stood out to me the most is that cheese Pizza Hut is way nicer, like they have steaks.

Reply

[-]

stevarino1979@reddit

KFC and McDonald's in China is amazing. Also good in Philippines. Burger King in Vietnam is also quite good.

Reply

[-]

the_OG_fett@reddit

McDonald’s in India is probably the most obvious.

Reply

[-]

Ordinary-Tax-7026@reddit

Yes. Half of their menu is vegetarian.

Reply

[-]

AnnaBanana3468@reddit

They don’t eat cows in India. cows are considered sacred

Reply

[-]

In 1999 I went to a McDonald's in Queensland Australia. I ordered a quarter pounder with cheese, and when I sat down to eat it, it had BEET ROOT on it. I took it up to the counter and very timidly said "I didn't order this on my burger." The cashier told me that's how it comes, but she would make me a new one. I *really* didn't want to be an asshole tourist and have her remake it, but she insisted.

Reply

[-]

QueenShewolf@reddit

They serve beer at McDonald's in Italy.

Reply

[-]

Lower_Kick268@reddit

I'm kinda surprised they don't do that in Florida, Miami Subs serves beer, why can't Mickey D's

Reply

[-]

DearGabbyAbby@reddit

But the burgers didn’t taste the same

Reply

[-]

DearGabbyAbby@reddit

In Greece, too!

Reply

[-]

Psychotic_Jester@reddit

They serve beer and wine at the burger kind in a few select airports across the US.

Reply

[-]

spaceguyy@reddit

What kind?

Reply

[-]

ForgottenGrocery@reddit

Fried chicken and rice menus in Indonesia. They even have a nasi uduk (rice cooked in coconut milk) menu with super mean sambal (spicy condiment).

Reply

[-]

QuitTalking81@reddit

The worst part is that sounds American AF

Reply

[-]

Jim_E_Rose@reddit

That’s wild!

Reply

[-]

ttatm@reddit

Any one in India. In the US there is almost nothing vegetarian at McDonald's (their fries are vegetarian in most countries but have beef flavoring in the US), while in India there is an entire separate vegetarian section. And that goes for any fast food brand.

Reply

[-]

manicpixidreamgirl04@reddit

I don't eat fast food when I go to other countries. I rarely eat it here either.

Reply

[-]

Reasonable_Drink_789@reddit

Indian McDonald’s was awesome! Great local inspired flavors, but still felt like McDonald’s somehow. No beef (or at least a lot less, can’t quite remember).

Reply

[-]

According-Couple2744@reddit

I have never eaten American fast food overseas. I’m not traveling to Europe so I can eat KFC.

Reply

[-]

Youcants1tw1thus@reddit

I don’t buy chain fast food here at home, why am I going to do it abroad? No thanks.

Reply

[-]

Little-Pixie-Belle@reddit

McDonald's in China once had a limited time sandwich offering of a Spam and Oreo cookie crumbles with mayonnaise.

Reply

[-]

A_j_ru@reddit

The McDonald’s shrimp in Italy tasted exactly what I thought McDonald’s shrimp would taste like. In Germany I was happy to see the McRib on the menu all the time. In Israel I liked the chicken Big Mac.

Reply

[-]

nottatroll@reddit

Went to Shanghai in the early 2000s. KFC was a nice sit down place with table cloths and silverware.

Reply

[-]

Slydiad-Ross@reddit

Different countries get different flavors, but even beyond that UK Doritos are muted compared to the US ones. I turned to my husband and said “These taste like they were made in a country with meaningful food safety regulations,” which wasn’t a compliment. But everybody (at least in California when I was growing up) knows Mexican Coke is better than US Coke because they make it with real sugar instead of corn syrup.

Reply

[-]

Lobada@reddit

KFC in Japan is notably better tasting to me. Food tastes better quality too. On the flip side, McDonald's isn't horrible but more a let down. Considering the competing options readily available, I wouldn't bother ever trying it there again. Australia tasted similar, but was soured by just how much more expensive it is. Jamaica doesn't have McDonald's but does have Burger King, just as bad as I remembered at home but such some unusual sides local to the area.

Reply

[-]

amphigory_error@reddit

KFC has got Japan convinced KFC is the traditional Christmas dinner, which I find really funny.

Reply

[-]

Disastrous-Special30@reddit

I had McDonalds in France and Germany. Only had a couple days left in France and was really craving a good burger. Don’t remember the menu being too different but the food quality was definitely better. Had McDonalds in Munich the morning/afternoon after being at Oktoberfest. I remember it being amazing but anything probably would’ve tasted amazing with how I was feeling lol.

Reply

[-]

RosyClearwater@reddit

Candy. A lot of countries have stricter regulations about what types of dies and preservatives can be used. Europeans also prefer their chocolate to taste a little bit different than we like.

Reply

[-]

cohonan@reddit

yeah less puke, I tend to avoid american chocolate.

Reply

[-]

amphigory_error@reddit

As an American, I also like my chocolate the way the Europeans like it.

Reply

[-]

CubicleHermit@reddit

Burger King in Australia is "Hungry Jacks" The other amusing thing is seeing brands that have died off in the US still around elsewhere, like Shakey's Pizza and Kenny Rogers Roasters.

Reply

[-]

Rabid-tumbleweed@reddit

When I have traveled to other countries, I haven't eaten American fast food brands. Even when I travel within the US, I avoid chain restaurants.

Reply

[-]

FindYourselfACity@reddit

I personally don’t do it, but I have a couple of buddies, and two travel partners who like to try McDonald’s in other countries. They say it tastes different. There’s also specialty items that you can’t get in the US. For instance, we were waiting for the train in Rome and I think they got arancini and mozzarella sticks. The mozzarella sticks dipping sauce was I think bbq sauce. They said it was good (I had a sandwich, not from McDonald’s). One of my travel buddies actually has a book, the McAtlas, and tells you different items in different parts of the world. It is interesting even if you don’t eat it.

Reply

[-]

MissO56@reddit

i went to mcdonald's in the philippines. the meat on the hamburger was made out of filipino carabao and the ketchup was made out of bananas. it didn't taste terrible, but it wasn't traditional mcdonald's-tasting either.

Reply

[-]

Significant-Pack-108@reddit

Mcdonalds in Brazil was an interesting experience. The frys were more or less the same as what I'd expect back home. But the Cheddar McMelt burger is like nothing I had experienced from a Mickie Ds. It had like little flakes of cheese in the sauce. And the burger pattie itself tasted like actual beef, and not whatever meat-adjacent substance they serve at US locations. Was a heck of a culinary event for my American sensibilities.

Reply

[-]

Psychotic_Jester@reddit

Mcdonalds & Buger King breakfast sandwiches have a layer of refried beans on them in Mexico. They also give you packets or red or green salsa over ketchup (which they still have but aren't asked for as much.)

Reply

[-]

Henrithebrowser@reddit

The McDonald’s fries in Japan are just awful.

Reply

[-]

DMGlowen@reddit

Back in the early '80s. I lived in Paraguay. They had a KFC. They bought local chickens. The chickens raised in Paraguay were scrawny.

Reply

[-]

Usual_Singer_4222@reddit

KFC in Cambodia is like that. So is cheese in burgers is just different

Reply

[-]

SuzQP@reddit

So more like Popeye's.

Reply

[-]

workplacetimesuck@reddit

McDonald's has always been better in France than any time back home. Both quality and freshness. Some had beer. Some of the ones in busier tourist areas feal like home but a slow one off the highway in a medium size town is like going back to the 80s.

Reply

[-]

Grungemaster@reddit

Best McDonald’s I ever had was in the Louvre.

Reply

[-]

LastOfTheAsparagus@reddit

I was hooked on McSpaghetti in the Philippines

Reply

[-]

bonificentjoyous@reddit

I like stopping at a McDonalds in the countries I visit, to compare and enjoy the unique offerings. Favorite country so far... In Belgium, oh my goodness, everything was so fresh! The veggies on my burger, I swear they were picked from a garden that day. Dessert had options like macarons. Happy Meals included cherry tomatoes. The quality of the buns was like bakery bread.

Reply

[-]

ForgottenGrocery@reddit

All American fast food chains serves fried chicken and rice menu in Indonesia. McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Carl’s Jr, A&W even Pizza Hut serves fried chicken Then, instead of just ketchup, all serves chili sauce (something like sriracha but hotter)

Reply

[-]

LongRodVaughnDong@reddit

Mc Donald’s is t as different as people say unless you’re ordering completely different things

Reply

[-]

anneofgraygardens@reddit

depends on country... McDonald's in India is pretty different. They have a variety of veggie burger options, for example.

Reply

[-]

LongRodVaughnDong@reddit

I’m saying ordering same items. And no noticeable difference in quality

Reply

[-]

anneofgraygardens@reddit

oh, well I'm a vegetarian so all those veg options were interesting to me. they don't have them in US McDonald's, so it's not possible to compare.

Reply

[-]

Grungemaster@reddit

A&W in Canada is a completely different company and way better

Reply

[-]

Just-a-nerd2@reddit (OP)

How so?

Reply

[-]

Grungemaster@reddit

Food is fresher and higher quality, more options too. Goes without saying, the Canadian version has poutine.

Reply

[-]

bomber991@reddit

Papa John’s was a sit down place in Cambodia.

Reply

[-]

Beneficial_Pin_7770@reddit

The McDonald’s I have eaten at in other countries have regional items but the basics are the same. The one odd thing was the beer being sold at one in Sint Maarten

Reply

[-]

Many-Rub-6151@reddit

I’ve had big macs in like 10 different countries but I didn’t find too many differences. I was also piss drunk for each of them so maybe I’m not the best to answer this

Reply

[-]

samdex11@reddit

Maharaja Mac in India was pretty good in the Mumbai airport. Don’t worry I ate lots of real Indian cuisine while there with my Indian coworkers!

Reply

[-]

AcceptableBeat6021@reddit

Nova Scotia McDonald's had mc lobster

Reply

[-]

sumfish@reddit

The Starbucks I went to in Japan had amazing food - I had a slice of quiche there and it was clearly freshly made and excellent! The food I’ve had at SB in the US was heavily processed and gross.

Reply

[-]

Bootmacher@reddit

Church's Chicken is Texas Chicken in the Middle East.

Reply

[-]

LSATMaven@reddit

I have never seen an American fast food place in another country that isn’t significantly different, Canada excepted.

Reply

[-]

slipperyDSS@reddit

KFC is SO much better in Colombia

Reply

[-]

strangemedia6@reddit

We don’t hit up a whole lot of fast food abroad, but we do check out the local McDonalds usually. It’s usually pretty similar. The Netherlands had McChickens with a sweet Thai chili sauce that was pretty good. I think Poland had some unusual items, but I can recall. The biggest difference I remember is McDonalds in London charged £1 for a ketchup packet. They were good sized, like Chic Fil A ketchup packets, but still. The rest of the trip we had a running joke about how much something costs. If it was £10, it was “10 ketchups!”

Reply

[-]

JtotheC23@reddit

McDonald's in Ireland has mozzarella sticks, which I thought were pretty cool when I was leaving a pub on my last night there lol.

Reply

[-]

Legic93@reddit

KFC abroad is vastly superior. Specifically for Jamaica, they locally source their chicken instead of shipping it from abroad and they changed the herbs & spices to a better blend.

Reply

[-]

Hot_Depth_3367@reddit

This was a long time ago, when I went to Germany on a student exchange program the McDonald's charged extra for ketchup for fries but mayo was free. My untravelled mind was blown. It's definitely the OPPOSITE in the US! You can have all the ketchup!

Reply

[-]

loveyou-first@reddit

McDonald’s in Paris. The French fries taste differently.

Reply

[-]

dangerrnoodle@reddit

You know how bad fast food is in America? The same places are waaaay worse in India. Especially Taco Bell.

Reply

[-]

nippleflick1@reddit

HEINZ Baked Beans- UK vs US, UK is more liquidity and bland, US thicker sauce and sweeter more flavorful. IMHO

Reply

[-]

Adventurous_Button63@reddit

The big Hasidic community in Buenos Aires necessitated that there were two McDonald’s in the mall food court. One was regular and one was kosher. I’ve never seen that anywhere else.

Reply

[-]

BeneficialShame8408@reddit

we didn't get any...our family didn't take us, and we also didn't take them when they were here. if my uncle is around, he wants beer.

Reply

[-]

Ecstatic-Compote-399@reddit

McDonald’s in Greece was entirely different in terms of menu options. They had a lot more stuff including vegetarian nuggets, espresso milkshakes, etc

Reply

[-]

USAChineseguy@reddit

The chickens in KFC China tasted much more moist, also PRC MacDonalds has local favorites like soy milk and fry dough.

Reply

[-]

Enough-Moose-5816@reddit

I do not eat American style fast food when out of the country. I didn’t travel all that way for a Big Mac.

Reply

[-]

TrooperCam@reddit

My partner won’t eat McDonalds unless it is in another country. We’ve tried them in Japan, Korea and Taiwan and the special foods they had in each country made the trip worth it.

Reply

[-]

Illustrious_News160@reddit

☝🏽this! Thank you! I’m not going to France so I can eat at McDonald’s.

Reply

[-]

ThanosSnapsSlimJims@reddit

Japan's airport McDonald's is really fresh Vietnamese KFC has rice and roasted chicken options

Reply

[-]

Nozomi_Shinkansen@reddit

I'm an American and I travel abroad frequently on business and with family. I never, ever eat at fast food places overseas, and exceedingly rarely in the US.

Reply

[-]

DeekanKwaz@reddit

Pretty much all of them. The food quality is different and the standards are different from place to place. Chains also have regional offerings and unique items based on location. The only thing that seems standard across the globe is McDonald's fries.

Reply

[-]

JennItalia269@reddit

KFC in nearly any other country blows the doors off KFC in the USA/CAN. It’s barely edible here whereas it’s served on actual china in Southeast Asia.

Reply

[-]

Independent_Chef9991@reddit

French Mcdonalds is more like french cooking.

Reply

[-]

OakDionysus@reddit

McDonald’s on Norway and Italy was better.

Reply

[-]

spikelike@reddit

McDonalds in Taiwan was great. The portions were smaller, the fries less salty. I was able to eat a cheeseburger and fry and my stomach did not hurt. I ate there almost every day for a week, knowing I won’t touch it at home.

Reply

[-]

Alarming-While8028@reddit

fast food, not a huge difference. soda and candy (skittles, starbursts) - HUUUUUGE difference

Reply

Reply to Post

86 Comments