What is 1 American food you wish was more common in the UK?

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Laorii@reddit

Not the food being new (obviously) but I wish we had pizza places that sold by the slice.

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FleetingWhisp@reddit

None. I've had enough with american crap over here

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St3lla_0nR3dd1t@reddit

To be honest, I would rather have less

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Chick fil A just opened their first UK shop in my town. Half of the place queued a hundred deep, the other half groaned. I was in the other half. And now a Popeye's is opening less than 100m away. GROAN! BORING!

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Straight-Jacket-3280@reddit

I like Chick fil A. Are it as the only gluten free food available and it was good , I'd love some gf fast food here.

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MethodDue2426@reddit

I gave in and tried Wendy's. Genuinely tasteless. First time in my life adding salt to a burger

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ChunkyWombat7@reddit

That's funny because one of the many reasons I don't eat Wendy's anymore is the excessive salt.

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IntrepidMaybe8579@reddit

Thats the best fast food breakfast around tho even in America unless you get fancy donuts

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imtheorangeycenter@reddit

There's a reason there were a few in the 90s but all gone by the early 00s. My OH still stops in occasionally but more for the baked potato (which ain't all that either) and chilli. But it's mostly reminiscing about uni days if we're completely honest!

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Longjumping_Hand_225@reddit

Absolutely. Mondelez, Kraft, Pepsi, McDonald's, Starbucks - all they have brought to the UK is corporate greed and enshittification

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Charming_Effort1611@reddit

Are you kidding me? It's full of chemicals, hormones and anything they can add to make it cheaper but addictive. Most of the crap they eat in America is banned in Europe.

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lovetokvetch@reddit

Ah yes, the famously synthetic smoked pork. As an american, you are infallibly correct I eat plastic filled with estrogen every day

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king_ofbhutan@reddit

do you print out as many receipts as possible at the checkout too?

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lovetokvetch@reddit

Oh yes at least 10 every time and then i kust let go of them in the parking lot so I'm littermaxxing to my fullest potential. It is my duty as an american patriot

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king_ofbhutan@reddit

oh god bless 🫡🦅🇺🇸

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Rude_Reception9649@reddit

This 🙌 American food looks chemically loaded and disgusting. I’m sure there are some good options for occasional treats but all the food seems to be unhealthy and banned for a reason in Europe:

• chlorinated chicken • American beef raised with artificial growth hormones - potential human health and cancer risks • Ractopamine fed pork - linked to heart issues in animals and concerns about human consumption. • synthetic dyes in cereal and sweets like titanium dioxide and BHT (we used natural dyes) - DNA damage and hyperactivity • Brominated vegetable oil in soft drinks - thyroid disruption and neurological effects. • potassium bromate in bread - a possible carcinogen.

I genuinely feel bad for average Americans consuming these things. I watch a lot of Americans trying British food on TikTok and they can’t get over how good our bread tastes, the fruit actually tastes like fruit, et cetera.

*No shade to OP, or the average American.

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theouter_banks@reddit

Proper tex mex.

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Embarrassed_Put_7892@reddit

Oh yeah, I’ve NEVER been to a good Mexican restaurant in England.

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Shelly_Lea_@reddit

I grew up in a California town that bordered Mexico and truly miss Mexican food (I sometimes order ingredients from Mexigrocer in London and make my own). There’s a semi authentic restaurant in Canterbury right off the mall. I’d eat there again

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delthevet@reddit

Inhabe some friends from Arizona that really rated Cafe Pacifico in Covent Garden when we were students in London.

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LupercalLupercal@reddit

Go to Pancho's Burritos in Manchester Arndale Market

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IntrepidMaybe8579@reddit

El guaca

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TotalBeginnerLol@reddit

Mestizo is really good, small chain… not sure if there’s any outside london.

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Espresso-Newbie@reddit

Wahaca is good too

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TotalBeginnerLol@reddit

Meh, wasn’t impressed by wahaca.

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Embarrassed_Put_7892@reddit

I’m from the south coast… there’s none around here!

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Significant-Fan7218@reddit

We've a good one in Rye. Los Gringos . Love the burritos

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Adorable-East-2276@reddit

Proper tacos, Sonora taqueria, and taco bros, in London are all solid

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Opening-Fortune4@reddit

El Macho in Liverpool was good but now sadly closed

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NegotiationMoist938@reddit

Love it there. Best Margaritas in the 80's and 90's🍸!

Dont botihwr with that one on Bold St and its sister shop on Lark Lane. Not nice at all

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strawberrychief@reddit

There's an order online, deliver frozen Mexican restaurant in Liverpool now - La Michoa Khana.

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editorialgirl@reddit

Perro in Kings Heath, Birmingham, is 😘👌

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re_Claire@reddit

Hard agree. The tex mex I've had in America is incredible.

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dwair@reddit

What are you on about? We have "Old El Paso" in the UK, somthing I have been lead to belive is the epitome of Mexican / Southern US fusion cuisine.

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Dense_Bad3146@reddit

My Mexican daughter in law would be horrified by the suggestion that TexMex is Mexican !

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Search-Lite@reddit

lol 🤣

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re_Claire@reddit

How can it not be legit? It's literally named after a city in Texas!!

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Derezzed87@reddit

Danny Trejo advertised it, and that man knows a thing or two about tacos.

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killer_by_design@reddit

The Mexican in my local town has a sign that says it's "Mexcellent".

We are essentially a frontier town.

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Ok_Chipmunk_7066@reddit

The worst American Tex-Mex is still miles above the best I've had in UK.

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zippyzebra1@reddit

You can't get decent Yorkshire puddings in the US either. Go figure eh?

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strawberrychief@reddit

You can, they are called popovers.

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zippyzebra1@reddit

I said decent and i've rarely seen a Yorkshire with jam on

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strawberrychief@reddit

True, but you don't HAVE to put jam on them (and I don't think if they are plain, they are very much different).

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SaltyName8341@reddit

I've had them filled with ice cream in a pub near Keighley

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Ok_Chipmunk_7066@reddit

Lived in Yorkshire (Sheffield) for 18 years, couldn't get a decent Yorkshire Pudding there

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zippyzebra1@reddit

Now don't be silly.

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IntrepidMaybe8579@reddit

El guaca

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AmericanHistoryXX@reddit

You had Illegal Jacks in Edinburgh until Covid shut it down, and that was some great food. Hopefully someone will pick up up the mantle.

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Xerothor@reddit

Me and my partners accidental strategy has been to become close friends with a BritMex and his wife (Mexican)

The food man. The FOOD.

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DanielR372@reddit (OP)

proper mate proper

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Nosedive888@reddit

There used to be an American restaurant near Leeds/Bradford airport called Huckleberry's.

For an out of the way restaurant it was very busy 5 nights of the week. It had a 50s American diner vibe and the food was so good

Then some bright spark thought "well if the people like this, they'll like creole cuisine"

They announced they'll be closing for refurbishment and opening as a creole restaurant. The uproar was astounding, nobody wanted it

They did it anyway and went out of business shortly after

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LilyFantastica@reddit

Hamburger Helper. I wish I did not have to order it with an insane markup from Amazon or from the only American food store in the country that ISN'T a candy shop.

Thats the biggest problem is that America does have some amazing foods (not Hamburger Helper, that's just childhood nostalgia for me) but the only American foods they regularly sell here are candies and soda.

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DanielR372@reddit (OP)

I’ve actually never had hamburger helper

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ChunkyWombat7@reddit

Staple college food. I had so much in college I had to stop eating for 20+ years after I graduated.

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LilyFantastica@reddit

Not missing a lot. It's a nostalgia meal.

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Em1666@reddit

Make it yourself ? Read a packet of ingredients and copy. Dame goeze for rice a roni, sloppy joes.... Vlasic pickles on the other hand... Just bought jar today at an eye watering £6

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zombiezmaj@reddit

Isn't it just mince, seasoning and pasta/rice and you cook it in 1 pan?

So if you figured out the seasoning you could then just use mince and cook pasta etc in same pan so you didnt have to pay crazy prices?

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LilyFantastica@reddit

Basically. But every copycat I've ever tried is missing something and just does not taste right.

it's just not the same.

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borokish@reddit

What is hamburger helper?

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LilyFantastica@reddit

Its a kind of one pan skillet meal. Add mince beef, sauce mix, water, milk in a pot and cook. It's lazy food.

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tasi671@reddit

You gotta try this recipe for hamburger helper. It's SO good! https://houseofnasheats.com/homemade-hamburger-helper-cheeseburger-pasta-skillet/#wprm-recipe-container-15394

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rinkydinkmink@reddit

Mexican food, and american hotdogs. British ones just don't taste the same.

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Healthy_Pilot_6358@reddit

I wish we had more ‘grape’ flavoured stuff. Seems to be a lot in the US and the things I’ve tried are delicious.

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Nosedive888@reddit

Asda used to do an apple and grape juice in a carton.

It was like liquid crack. Soooo good

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mad_king_soup@reddit

I remember a survey from ages ago (probably the 90s) when the consensus from the British public was that grape flavored drinks were disgusting so companies just never sold that flavor.

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strawberrychief@reddit

Yes! My kid got a grape flavoured lip salve and was like "this has never seen a grape" but of course it was grape flavouring flavoured not grape flavoured.

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divorcedhansmoleman@reddit

Just had grape Fanta yesterday. I assumed it was an import but it said made made in the uk

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Phenomenomix@reddit

Grape and Mango are the latest flavours they’ve put out, probably a limited run for the summer but it’s so nice

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Dazzling-Ad6085@reddit

Grape Fanta does match Welch’s grape soda. That stuff is amazing

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Born-Car-1410@reddit

I'd bet that none of the grape flavoured products have been anywhere near an actual grape.

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ulez8@reddit

I thought that too until I was in the USA (in the North East) and tried and "concord grape" from the supermarket.

I initially spat it out because it tasted wrong! It tasted just like the sweets/cough syrup that's labelled "grape".

So their "fake grape" taste is still fake, obviously, but it's very close to a native North American grape vine the settlers found in Concord and then all over Massachusetts and that area.

I didn't buy them again and I don't like the flavour (would prefer berry lozenges or whatever) but it was cool to understand what it was trying to taste like.

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Born-Car-1410@reddit

That sounds delightful!

As they'd in the Simpsons, "Actual fake grape may vary."

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InspectionHot6010@reddit

I love red grape from the fridge section in Sainsbury's or Asda as it tastes like wine.

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ImpressiveStorm8914@reddit

I agree, more grape flavours would be nice. Tried the new grape Lucozade just over a week ago and it was terrible.

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Princes_Slayer@reddit

The grape flavoured skittles are loves, and I always grab grape soda from Aldi when they do their American produce week

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Healthy_Pilot_6358@reddit

Yeah I always get the grape soda when it’s in Aldi.

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MungoJennie@reddit

I totally agree. Black currant just doesn’t scratch the same itch.

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Lady-of-Shivershale@reddit

I've never been fond of blackcurrant. I was that one kid who always felt disappointed with ribena. Fortunately, orange juice was, often available, too.

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MungoJennie@reddit

I thought I was the only one. When I found out the purple in a pack of Skittles, I was heartbroken. The grape ones are my favorite.

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Smokilydokily98@reddit

Grape gatorade is insane

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DanielR372@reddit (OP)

That grape kool aid is no joke man

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thewearisomeMachine@reddit

Clam chowder

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Nosedive888@reddit

Is that the red or the white?

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ToddleWaddle@reddit

This should be higher up! We tried this in Sam Francisco and it was delicious. I've never seen anything similar in the UK.

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SaltyName8341@reddit

Cullen skink is similar you could chuck some clams in that

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Electronic-Air2035@reddit

Chouduer? 👊

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HalfAgony-HalfHope@reddit

I used to want Wendy's and Taco Bell but now we have it and I rarely go.

I'd love an IHOP though. I was just going to say I'm not sure it'd do too well in the UK but there's an 'American style' food place near me that is ALWAYS booked up on weekend mornings. So maybe IHOP would do great 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Special_Artichoke@reddit

I remember people being excited for Popeye's opening but it was totally average. I think watching American content makes you think their fast food is good cos they seem to eat so much of it and love it but the reality is once it's made to British food standards it's not addictive gloop, it's just cheap, lousy food exactly like what we already have.

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Nosedive888@reddit

Popeye's is the worst fast food I've ever had. I'd have a Five Guys before I have Popeye's again

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mad_king_soup@reddit

I live in the US, Popeyes is just shitty KFC.

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MethodDue2426@reddit

White people always say this and black people always say the opposite

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IntrepidMaybe8579@reddit

Its the worst chicken place in america that i can even think of dont understand the obsession.. even churches chicken is better and churches is the cheapest of the cheap and is always in the worst neighborhoods, popeyes is bad and every store ive been to is nasty dirty and understaffed and usually empty

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draaj@reddit

IHOP and cheesecake factory would do well in the UK. When I lived in the US I developed the most horrendous chronic stomach ache & ended up with kidney stones though, so we need to protect our food standards as much as we can.

I would be happy to keep most American foods as occasional treats you can get when travelling

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BiologicalMigrant@reddit

They asked about food.

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Special-Audience-426@reddit

I first had Wendy's in Japan and thought it was absolutely amazing.

My first experience with American Wendy's was extremely disappointing.

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Reetgeist@reddit

UK taco bell is the best advertisement for British originating "Tex mex" that I can possibly think of. To quote Trump " they aren't sending their best".

It's doggo but my kids love it so we get it once or twice a month.

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UglyFilthyDog@reddit

Do Cheetos count? You can find cheeto puffs all over the place but the proper ones that are a similar texture to niknaks but so clearly more toxic are so bloody difficult to find.

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SaluteMaestro@reddit

jumbalaya

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Nosedive888@reddit

I love jambalaya!! It's soooo good.

I remember the first time I made it, I went to the market for chorizo. The guy behind the counter asked what I was making and when I said jambalaya, a Jamaican woman within earshot came over and said "BOY, what do you know about jambalaya!!??" So I told her all I know about it and she just sucked her teeth and walked away lol

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weedywet@reddit

Good Cajun and creole food.

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yourefunny@reddit

I love smoked BBQ. I do it at home to the best of my ability. Would be lovely to have some proper relaxed BBQ joints like in the south of the US. I know there are some in London but the reviews are mixed for many. Id love to open my own out in the countryside like they have in Texas but I know the footfall would be so low.

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Ignatiussancho1729@reddit

Man, I wish we had some of that Texan BBQ and I'm now in Colorado!

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thekaliebridgel@reddit

I’m a Coloradan living in east miss and I would dies for some green chili from home. Please has some for me

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Appropriate-Tax-1864@reddit

Yes!!! Coloradan here in the UK. Can't bear a green chili breakfast burrito.

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slappy_mcslapenstein@reddit

I moved to Arizona from Colorado and I miss green chile smothered burritos the most. There's one place in town who makes them and they're on the opposite corner of town from me so I rarely go.

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slappy_mcslapenstein@reddit

That's actually my plan for when my family and I relocate to the UK from the States. I want to open a proper BBQ restaurant.

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uglygirldinner@reddit

Blues Smokehouse in Reading has imported Texas smokers. It's the most authentic BBQ I've ever had in the UK.

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Wise-Independence487@reddit

Hickory’s is ok but still nothing on American smoke houses

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Phillyfuk@reddit

It used to be good. Then they sold out.

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GlumAd9856@reddit

I went to one in London and had their set menu. It was good, but expensive.

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SaltyName8341@reddit

Somebody is ahead of you.

https://youtu.be/5rG_AeIQvJg?si=Ozp8Kg0E7ScrI4lA

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Prudent-Memory-6129@reddit

Black cactus in London is better than alot of ones I went to in Texas. It's insanely good.

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uglygirldinner@reddit

Cheesecake Factory and Panera Bread

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weedywet@reddit

That’s not a food

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snaynay@reddit

The US has a lot of nice looking regional sausages and their own Frankfurter/Wiener (hotdog) culture. Making a bunch of them though is quite a tall ask for someone at home without the equipment.

Also we have plenty of people into US style BBQ and bigger grills and doing everything right. But finding it out and about is rare.

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theavocadolady@reddit

Creole/Cajun is lacking here. A crawfish boil is extremely rare because we don't really have them living here.

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Slight-Brush@reddit

Signal crayfish count as an invasive species in the Thames, you can get permits to catch/ trap them, and they are delicious.

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Eddie-Plum@reddit

Bibury trout farm near me will actually pay you if you find/catch crayfish, as they're obviously eating the trout. We caught a bunch of fish for a barbecue recently and also grabbed a couple of crayfish. It just about halved our fish bill.

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theavocadolady@reddit

That's cool. I'm quite jealous of your BBQ!

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theavocadolady@reddit

Yeah, there used to be a guy, not sure if he's still going, called Crayfish Bob who did proper boils in London. He caught all the crayfish he served. The only time I've ever seen it in the UK though I think.

Edit before I've even finished writing the comment, but he's got stuff coming up this year! Crayfishbob.co.uk. The one I went to was good.

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SaltyName8341@reddit

They're £20 a kilo to buy

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theavocadolady@reddit

Live or already in a boil? Where from?

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SaltyName8341@reddit

Frozen, the Nordic countries farm them

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theavocadolady@reddit

Raw? Where from?

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SaltyName8341@reddit

Obtain a fishing licence which are free, pretty much any river in England has them and bait them out with cat/dog food and catch with the kind of net you give kids at the beach. Alternatively Google is your friend.

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theavocadolady@reddit

I'm just asking you about the £20/kilo. Not sure why you won't just give a straight answer?

I'm really not interested in going fishing.

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SaltyName8341@reddit

I simply googled it

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theavocadolady@reddit

Cool, can you please tell me where you found them on Google for that price so I can look into buying them? Thanks

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Toc13s@reddit

Plenty in the right areas - or at least used to be.

Although I do agree with you about Cajun. It's the one thing that's different & interesting enough

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Oyster49@reddit

Not really American, because the American version is inedible, but the Japanese version of KFC would be great to have in the UK.

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thisisliss@reddit

Maybe controversial but I love ranch, and the ranch here is always more of a salad dressing and too liquid. I want that thick ranch you get to dip your fries in.

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ConnorA94@reddit

Flamin hot Cheetos

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Persephone0410@reddit

Queso

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hengehanger@reddit

We have a kind of tinned processed meat in the UK which we call corned beef. It is NOTHING like what corned beef is in the USA. I want American corned beef.

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Kind_Ad5566@reddit

We call them different things.

The US corned beef is what we call Salt Beef.

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hengehanger@reddit

When I was in the states corned beef and salt beef were often listed separately on menus, I didn't think they were the same thing, although they did seem similar. But why would a deli differentiate between corned beef and salt beef if they're the same product?

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Kind_Ad5566@reddit

I know the word "corned" comes from the corns of salt used to cure the beef.

So both just means salt cured beef.

We probably need an American to explain the difference.

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seafox77@reddit

American here!

It's essentially the same thing, though in the US we typically cure the meat with pickling spices like mustard seed, coriander seed and clove. UK generally just sticks with good salt.

We tend to use the German-style mustards for it, or horseradish, whether it's plated or in a sandwich. Personally, I prefer Coleman's which is frankly the king of all mustards, but not so common over here.

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Kind_Ad5566@reddit

Thank you.

Do you have powdered Coleman's?

That is preferable for retaining the heat as it goes milder as it ages in the jar.

Maybe mail order could get you some.

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hengehanger@reddit

I guess!

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Dense_Bad3146@reddit

Nothing, I’d like most of them removing

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Nickoakley58@reddit

Bob Evans

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visual_revelation@reddit

Half and Half in coffee

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narnababy@reddit

Corn dogs and tater tots

I love corn dogs, I wish they were available to either buy frozen and cook yourself or that more restaurants sold them.

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cakesforever@reddit

They are really easy to make.

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narnababy@reddit

I know but they make so much mess I’d rather just chuck them in the air fryer 😂

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Routine-Cicada-4949@reddit

I'm a Londoner who's been in the US for many many years & I think Philly Cheeseteaks would be a great fast food for drunks in the UK. Just have to make them a bit spicy.

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Cpt_Jigglypuff@reddit

Ordered a Philly cheesesteak from an American Diner themed place in East Midlands and got the weirdest sandwich - asymmetrical, cube-sized chunks of overcooked steak with some random sauce on the hardest French baguette I’ve ever seen. Pretty sure it even had lettuce on it.

It’s like those medieval paintings of cats. They’ve heard of it, but definitely have never seen it themselves.

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timiny74@reddit

Gerry’s Hot Subs in Exmouth Market in London. Authentic Philly cheesesteaks and other sandwiches are Awesome, authentic food from Philadelphia folks. Delicious!

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Cpt_Jigglypuff@reddit

Yeah, I don’t doubt you can find lots of good authentic foods in London. Outside of London though? Slim pickings.

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spnelson@reddit

Disagree, have had a few good Philly cheesesteaks in England and none of them in London.

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Japhet_Corncrake@reddit

Where? I have never found one. I've seen lots of things on menus that are called a "philly cheesesteak", none of which resemble a real one.

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spnelson@reddit

Had one in Bristol at the market not long ago. And I mean, you’re in the UK - they’re not going to be the real thing but that doesn’t stop them being good

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timiny74@reddit

Gerry’s is the real thing and in the UK. They’re from Philly.

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Japhet_Corncrake@reddit

Shaved steak, caramelised onions, provolone cheese, hoagie roll?

The trouble I always have with UK attempts is the steak is never shaved, it's always like tough chunky slices. Then the bread is often crusty, and the cheese is Cheddar.

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spnelson@reddit

Not shaved but thin slices. Was very good

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SleepShowz@reddit

Must be that Nissi’s Diner place on Mapperly Top? The one that complained on their FB page or a local group, and local press (or press picked the story up), about their lack of customers and nobody giving them a chance. As I recall they got a lot of flak about their opening hours.

They used to close at 5pm weekdays which people said was too early, and at some random times they’d do ‘pop up evenings’ where they’d stay open until 8pm, but unless you followed their page and happened to see every post about when this was, you just wouldn’t know. I don’t know if they’ve changed to something more predictable since then.

I’ve never come across anything in the UK claiming to be an American diner that’s come close unfortunately.

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Japhet_Corncrake@reddit

Nowhere in the UK seems to understand what a Philly Cheesesteak actually is. It's not a steak and cheese baguette, fuckers!

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spnelson@reddit

Are you okay?

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Japhet_Corncrake@reddit

?

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Breakwaterbot@reddit

Wasn't the 50s diner in Swadlincote was it? I've been there a few times and it used to be really good but it's absolutely terrible now.

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Cpt_Jigglypuff@reddit

Nah, it’s one in Mapperly.

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DanielR372@reddit (OP)

I’m not a big fan of Philly cheesesteaks but I definitely think the UK would enjoy them.

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Charliesmum97@reddit

Are you in the Philly area? If not, then understandable. If you are, why?? (Kidding, it's not compulsary to like them)

With you on the Nandos thing. I actually messaged them once to ask about them opening in PA, and they were all 'well look into it, but alas nothing so far.

Go Birds

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Marknhj@reddit

You could be onto something. Especially with curry sauce.

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Routine-Cicada-4949@reddit

I was think some kind of chili peppers but knowing the UK......

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MethodDue2426@reddit

What does that mean lol

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Marknhj@reddit

I’m a Londoner living over here for years too. A couple of days ago I told my American wife that the English pour curry sauce over Chinese food. She thought I was winding her up.

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Ok_Neat2979@reddit

Don't forget rice and chips half and half with your Chinese and Indian meal.

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Japhet_Corncrake@reddit

Chinese curry sauce is quite different to Indian.

Only some people do it, and it's usually people who've got the most random pile of unhealthy shit on their plate anyway.

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Ok_Neat2979@reddit

Lol thanks for the obvious statement

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spnelson@reddit

They said they were different because you said ‘Chinese and Indian meal’ insinuating that it’s partly Indian due to the curry sauce..?

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Puzzled-Job9556@reddit

Chinese curry sauce is quite different to Indian.

And both are different to chip shop curry sauce.

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surreyade@reddit

I’ve seen a Chinese fella put custard on a cooked dinner. This stuff goes both ways.

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zombiezmaj@reddit

Eww "some people" do. Ive seen it online but never in person so its definitely not everyone.

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oxfordfox20@reddit

…you are winding her up though..?

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SaltyName8341@reddit

French dip sandwich with curry sauce instead of consomme

[-]

Saintsman1980@reddit

“Passyunk Avenue” in London. There’s a few locations. Great cheesesteaks.

[-]

tasi671@reddit

If you ever make it around Birmingham way, Slice of New York restaurant makes some really lovely Phillycheese subs! It absolutely scratches that itch for me https://www.sliceofnewyork.co.uk/order#/restaurant/42129/collection/72692

[-]

Which_Loss6887@reddit

Buffalo sauce is fantastic on cheesesteak. Spicy, and an American flavor 2-for-1.

[-]

Appropriate-Read7966@reddit

Try Bara cafe in Peckham it’s a Welsh cafe they do a Caerphilly cheese steak sandwich looks amazing

[-]

Less_Duty7681@reddit

I honestly didn't really enjoy any USA food better than UK food tbh, sorry.

[-]

kebabby72@reddit

I went to Chicago and apart from a place that served a sandwich dipped in gravy and an independent burger place, I was a bit disappointed. Really didn't like the deep dish pizza, gave us chronic indigestion. Tried a few high end restaurants and they were okay, nothing special. I'm not trying to put down UA food, I just wasn't that impressed overall with our choices. I do love a good US smoked brisket but never found one when there.

[-]

lovetokvetch@reddit

Smoked brisket is a Texas thing - our food is quite regional. If you were in chicago, you would have been disappointed. Barbecue is a southern thing. Chicago's things are deep dish, their famous hotdogs, and honestly deep dish is a bit of a gimmick - most chicagoans eat thin crust. Barbecue varies hugely from.state to state and region to region within that state. Im from tennessee and never had smoked brisket before I moved to the uk because our local barbecue is pulled pork and sometimes pulled chicken with a vinegar based sauce - that's middle Tennessee, memphis style bbq is totally different. Northern Alabama has a white sauce nowhere else has. Very very regional food which should be researched bc youre going to get shitty barbecue anywhere that's touristy- that's a deep south backwoods small town thing if you want actually good barbecue

[-]

Less_Duty7681@reddit

Yes, I'm not trying to be a downer either, just honest. Perhaps the Jelly Belly jelly beans tasted better, but I don't tend to eat Jelly Beans these days.

[-]

SaltyName8341@reddit

Jelly belly beans are well expensive now

[-]

Less_Duty7681@reddit

Yeah, I find they stick to my teeth too much too.

[-]

lovetokvetch@reddit

I really think this is because people visit places not having any idea what local food will be like - any fancy gentrified place is not local food. My in laws think we put cheez wiz on Caesar salads bc they had it in las vegas. Not a thing, tourist trap lol. I think most people also dont go to the south and if they do, they dont leave the city. The us has absolutely fantastic food but we are a corporate hellscape so you have to find the good local places and drive for them

[-]

RelativeMolasses9135@reddit

Haven't found good Chinese or Japanese Hibachi in the UK.

[-]

mimi_la_devva@reddit

Mission BBQ, or any BBQ to be honest! And a really good bagel deli and Waffle House

[-]

lovetokvetch@reddit

Huge agree as an american. I live in london and the barbecue here is eyewateringly expensive and not to my taste, it's all trying to be Texas style and there are so many other kinds of BBQ. Also miss the proper sides and iced tea. The only BBQ available here is gentrified BBQ which makes sense but does make me sad lol. Bagels and waffle house also top-tier choices I approve of your list

[-]

NoPalpitation9639@reddit

We passed dozens of waffle houses on a road trip. Never been more disappointed when we finally went into one, it felt like a cheap crappy truck stop

[-]

lovetokvetch@reddit

It's a roadside diner, what did you expect? 😂 the food is cheap, delicious, and if you stopped in the middle of the day, you probably missed the entertainment of going at 3 am lol

[-]

IntrepidMaybe8579@reddit

Fuzzys tacos would do well in england, definitely a great casual drinking place for women and dates

[-]

Hungry_Hannah23@reddit

I hate to say it but I do live Chipotle...I believe there is one in London now but I live up north and think of their burrito bowls often

[-]

ChateauLaFeet@reddit

They are very good with gluten free, as well

[-]

peterbparker86@reddit

Theres a few in London

[-]

TrousersTrousers@reddit

Buffalo wings in bars. No matter what bar you're in you can get wings.

[-]

whatformdidittake@reddit

Proper Dunkins

With all the Food Dyes and e numbers that are band here.

I'd be dead within 3 months but what I wouldn't give for a daily Blue Raspberry Energy Punch 😂😂

[-]

Foreign_Emu_7943@reddit

Good lord, none of it. Sweet fillers

[-]

Automatic_Union8147@reddit

I wish we had Denny’s in the UK. When I say that to American friends they screw up their faces and say ‘no!’ but I love the breakfast. Also, I’d like to import their employees because usually they’re very down-to-earth, friendly people. I was fight in a storm once in Texas and sought sanctuary in a Denny’s and what a great time I had, chatting with the ladies who worked there. They gave me a Denny’s mug to bring home, which I use all the time

[-]

daftcockneytwat@reddit

General Tso chicken

[-]

Optimal_Collection77@reddit

We don't want any more American chains! I'd take home cooked food though

[-]

Acrobatic-Turn-792@reddit

Gruba grape

[-]

Think_Substance_1790@reddit

Pop tarts.

Now before anyone states the obvious, yeah I know we have pop tarts, settle down Betty, but we have maybe 4 or 5 flavours? And only chocolate and Strawberry are really available everywhere, the others are either limited edition or only sold in a few places...

My friend brought me Pop Tarts back from America (he knows I like to have them in the house just in case I need a quick breakfast or take a notion) and some of the flavours he brought me! Oh man the S'Mores ones have my heart forever....

[-]

Eddie-Plum@reddit

I've seen the s'mores ones in B&M. I also like Aldi's own brand cinnamon ones, but I'm a sucker for anything cinnamon flavoured.

[-]

Think_Substance_1790@reddit

Oh my god, random Internet person you are AMAZING!!!!!

THANK YOU!!!

[-]

He_ofshadowsandtouch@reddit

Nandos is so basic, I don’t enjoy much at all

[-]

DumCrescoSpero@reddit

None. Or take some back, please.

My high street already has:

Taco Bell
KFC
Three McDonald's
Two Subways
Captain D's
Five Guys
Wimpy
Popeyes
Domino's
Burger King
Pizza GoGo

All within a 5 minute walk from each other.

[-]

cakesforever@reddit

You still have a whimper? That's unusual.

[-]

Interesting_Quiet_88@reddit

Going out on a limb here because I know there’s a lot of hate for it but… candy corn. Yea I know. A friend sent some from America years ago and I just fell in love with it. Can’t get it here in any shops. Did manage to get some through Amazon a few years ago but it’s hard to track down.

[-]

cakesforever@reddit

It's just a halloween thing so that's when you will find it easier over here.

[-]

No_Editor_6895@reddit

None whatsoever in fact it would be great if you would take some away please.

[-]

GoldenAmmonite@reddit

New York style bagel shops.

[-]

FarRequirement8415@reddit

Pecan pie.

A slice probably takes a day off your life but..

Worth it.

[-]

punky63@reddit

Buffalo wings

I don't know why, but for something so simple, the wings you get here are nowhere near as good as anything I've tried in the USA

[-]

Fairybite@reddit

The American version of Chinese food. Especially orange chicken

[-]

Okily-Dokily_@reddit

Why is this sub so obsessed with Americans?

[-]

ss89898@reddit

Good Pizza. I find in the UK you can go to 20 restaurants and its mediocre at best. In the US, walk 5mins down the street, its gonna be fire.

Whoever says UK make their pizza a different style on purpose hasn't been to the US! Ain't no way a British person would prefer the pizza we have here if they really tried whats across the pond!

[-]

EUskeptik@reddit

“Is there any American foods or food chains you wish was more common in the UK?”

No thank you, we have more than enough American fast food here already.

-##-

[-]

PretendingIts1995@reddit

I think you made your own point though.. the only chains that have made it over here are the ones that can mass produce cheaply enough to make that sort of expansion (ie, the crap fast food). There are some great American chains that make quality food, that will never make it here because their profit margins are too low to make it feasible or they would have to import ingredients.

[-]

EUskeptik@reddit

Agree 100%. ✅

-##-

[-]

MaverickFegan@reddit

There were some nice whole food shops in Hawaii but I think there are enough chains in the uk, we need more unique fantastic cafes/restaurants to be supported rather than standardisation, local businesses are under intense pressure, food/energy prices, competition from chains with easier access - free parking, better advertising, the attraction of eating as a convenience rather than an experience.

There are some great hot sauces in the USA, but there are many high quality uk suppliers now.

[-]

NegotiationMoist938@reddit

Nothing!

[-]

Sepa-Kingdom@reddit

Good lord. Off you think the UK is dedicated to sports, you need to visit Australia!

[-]

paper_truck@reddit

Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia, which isn’t widely available here. Also there’s a place on Martha’s Vineyard called Backdoor Donuts that does an apple fritter that I still think about.

[-]

Corrie7686@reddit

Honestly I wouldn't want any more US fastfood chains. But a few places that do really good Texas BBQ would be great.

[-]

green-chartreuse@reddit

I really wish we could buy frozen hash browns in the supermarket easily. The American style grated potato ones I mean. I like proper hash browns but it’s so much effort to grate and squeeze the water out of potatoes.

[-]

Striking-Speaker2609@reddit

I like them if you boil potatoes first, so they are slightly soft then mash add some salt pepper and fridge to cool, then shape into preferred shape (use cookie cutters to get triangles) then coat in breadcrumbs and put on baking tray and freeze) then place into bags later.

[-]

Rorosanna@reddit

They are called a potato rosti here, maybe look for that name instead. I agree, they are delicious and a pain to make!

[-]

Free-Purpose-542@reddit

Oh me too! I love them like this. I make my own now- grate & freeze a massive batch of them.
My tips to make it easier:
get a cheap rotary handle grater,
grate a load of potatoes (i leave the skins on too),
rinse thoroughly, put them in a salad spinner to get rid of a huge amount of water with little effort, sprinkle in some salt at this stage & let them sit for a while (this will release even more water & help you get crispy hash browns later) spin them again, pat them with some kitchen paper or a clean tea towel if they need it, get some sealable freezer bags and lay the potato in flat (i find it easier to cook later).
Enjoy my fellow hash brown friend :)

[-]

green-chartreuse@reddit

I think I had assumed if you didn’t flash freeze them like a commercial factory they would be too clumpy. But I will give it a go, thank you kind sir/madam 🫡

[-]

ToddleWaddle@reddit

Yeah hash browns were a nice surprise in the US! What we have here are nothing like what you get there.

[-]

Sad_Pie_3862@reddit

Dehydrated hash browns are better. They come in a waxed cardboard carton, just rehydrate them and cook them on a griddle. Sadly not available here.

[-]

Sasspishus@reddit

Can you not just grate a big batch and freeze it yourself?

[-]

Dietcokeisgod@reddit

I get them frequently from aldi.

[-]

green-chartreuse@reddit

Ooh. I don’t usually go to aldi because it’s not that easy to get to but this is compelling new information… thank you.

[-]

ChallengingKumquat@reddit

You can. supermarket hash browns are in every supermarket; own brand ones, plus McCain, usually.

[-]

green-chartreuse@reddit

I don’t mean the little triangles, I mean frozen grated potato.

[-]

the_speeding_train@reddit

Not a food but a drink. And while it’s originally American it’s gained cultural relevance in Canada and Mexico. I choose Camato. Expect elbow’s up, I’m Canadian as well as British and won’t be buying American.

[-]

Worldly_Sun_1971@reddit

You can buy this is Sainsbury’s

[-]

the_speeding_train@reddit

I knew someone would say this. It’s just the tiny bottles and only the original flavour. Give me pickled bean or lime or everything flavours or give me death.

[-]

PretendingIts1995@reddit

Oh really? My local Sainsbury stocks bottles, not cans. Only the small bottle though (less than 1L). I haven't seen the flavours over here, only original. I'm not fussed on the pickled bean myself, and I always add lime juice to my caesars anyway, so I'm not bothered. I've never heard of everything. Is that like everything bagels seasoning?

[-]

PretendingIts1995@reddit

Yes. Ridiculously expensive, but it is available. I always make Caesars in Xmas day, so it's part of my Xmas good list, so I grit my teeth and swallow the expense.

[-]

the_speeding_train@reddit

It is expensive but discounted with nectar.

[-]

Eddie-Plum@reddit

What is it? It sounds like an STD.

[-]

the_speeding_train@reddit

It’s a tomato and clam broth drink that’s hugely popular in Canada as an ingredient to our version of the Bloody Mary, called a Caesar.

[-]

Eddie-Plum@reddit

The name makes more sense now, thanks. I'm not sure whether it sounds appealing, but I'll reserve judgement until I've tried it.

[-]

Hcmp1980@reddit

Big pizza pies, you do them tremendously.

[-]

DanielR372@reddit (OP)

Now that you say that I don’t think I saw a single pizza spot in England both times I went

[-]

tommyk1210@reddit

According to Google there’s 5400 active pizza places in the UK. If you’re not in a tiny village, then there will be at least one in almost any town you’re in.

And that’s just restaurants or takeaways selling pizza (near) exclusively. You’ll also find pizza on the menu of most restaurants that sell a variety of food (like most pubs). Conservatively that’s probably another 20,000 pubs selling pizza.

Certainly less than the US, but we also have 1/5 of the population.

[-]

PassiveTheme@reddit

Where the fuck were you!? There aren't many pizza by the slice typed places in the UK, but most mid-sized towns have a Domino's/Pizza Hut/Papa John's fast food delivery place, and/or a Pizza Express/Franco Manca/other fast casual pizza restaurants, and/or more local/independent pizza places, as well as Italian restaurants

[-]

ChallengingKumquat@reddit

I mean, Greggs serves ready-to-go pizzas, and Greggs are flipping everywhere!

[-]

ChallengingKumquat@reddit

You can't have been looking very hard. In a town or city centre, there'll be somewhere selling pizza at least every 50 metres.

[-]

FearlessBanana81@reddit

Don't believe that for a second. Pizza is huge in the UK and there are so many chains and independents. Pizza is probably the easiest food to got no matter where in the UK you are.

[-]

Fuzzy_Jaguar_1339@reddit

What?! There are over 300 Pizza Express locations alone in England!

[-]

DanielR372@reddit (OP)

I’ve never heard of pizza express. Where was I lol

[-]

Ochib@reddit

There is even one in Woking which was frequented by a certain ex-prince

[-]

geesegoosegeesegoose@reddit

Tater tots.

[-]

Sea-Still5427@reddit

FWIW, Nandos is South African.

Personally I can't think of anything. Not a fan of the global UPF peddlers.

[-]

Scrombolo@reddit

I've been to NYC a few times, and I really liked the deli idea there, which we don't really have here. I mean the thing where you can go in, take bits of what you want, they weigh it at the counter and then go and eat. You can eat really cheaply like that. We don't really have those here.

[-]

the_speeding_train@reddit

We have them in London no?

[-]

Eddie-Plum@reddit

Yes. We've got them where I live in the countryside too.

[-]

superfiud@reddit

There used to be deli counters like that in supermarkets but they got phased out about 30 years ago.

[-]

Scrombolo@reddit

Not these. These are basically self-service restaurants where you take a disposable clear plastic tray with a lid, take a bit of meat, some veg, some rice, whatever you want. Take it to the counter. They weigh it and charge you accordingly. You can either eat in or take the tray away. Very cheap and filling. Not a supermarket deli counter.

[-]

Wooden_Astronaut4668@reddit

No, supermarkets definitely used to have this. A self service salad/deli bar.

I used to go into waitrose, take a medium sized clear plastic container and fill it with a variety of salads, pasta, rice, potatoes, cheese, pickles. Stuff it all in.

about £3.

Its a real shame nowhere seems to do this anymore.

Like pick n mix mini cheeses in the 90s in supermarkets. Just gone!

[-]

Scrombolo@reddit

What, you could get a hot meal and they'd charge you by weight?

[-]

kebabby72@reddit

I don't think you've explained the food very well.

[-]

Eskarina_W@reddit

Tesco express opposite Liverpool at station has one.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/u9USaC82eLAJatL2A

[-]

surreyade@reddit

Sainsbos used to have them, they phased them out after Covid. Morrisons still had them last time I was there.

[-]

Sasspishus@reddit

Like a buffet restaurant? We definitely have those

[-]

Scrombolo@reddit

What, what they charge you by weight and it's really cheap?

[-]

MrMikeJJ@reddit

Pretty sure there is one of these in my local morrisons. I have never used it myself but walk past it many times. Don't think they even weigh it. Just pay per plastic container full.

Will have a gander next time i am there.

[-]

Eddie-Plum@reddit

I love Creole and Cajun cuisine, but it's hard to find good, authentic restaurants here.

I know it's more Mexican, but I agree with others that good tacos are hard to find here too. There's a Mexican couple who run a street food trailer near me and their tacos are top drawer.

[-]

Krakshotz@reddit

Fritos and proper American Mountain Dew, the version we have here is awful and basically an energy drink

[-]

Unhappy-Ability-7235@reddit

I would love affordable tacos and sea food places, with a big variety.

[-]

el_duderino_316@reddit

Tacos aren't American, and Britain has great seafood.

[-]

Bitter_Tradition_938@reddit

I get the tacos part, but sea food?! The UK is amazing when it comes to sea food!

[-]

Unhappy-Ability-7235@reddit

I’m talking more of price in USA seafood boil is much cheaper than uk:)

[-]

ValidGarry@reddit

Used to be. Prices are climbing in the US as well.

[-]

tasi671@reddit

I've been let down by so many tex mex places. The salsas are too sweet and he seasoning mix is wrong. God forbid you get something free like chips and salsa. They'd never do that here lol

[-]

DanielR372@reddit (OP)

I love both. Everyone here knows a taco spot that had the best tacos for under $2 per taco. Seafood is good in the right places too

[-]

ChallengingKumquat@reddit

When I was I the US, I had a sub roll "eggplant parmesan with marinara sauce" (it wasn't from Subway, just a non-chain eatery). It was one of the best things ever. When I returned to the UK, I tried cooking aubergines (ie eggplants) with pasta sauce and cheese, but it wasn't at all good. Nearly 30 years on, and I can still remember how good the eggplant parm was!

[-]

SaltyName8341@reddit

Did you char your aubergines?

[-]

oj81@reddit

Mexican food, not the mediocre (at best) chains we have.

Bagels, although supermarket bagels are beginning to improve.

As others have mentioned, Philly cheese steak. I’ve been on a multi-year mission to have a really good Philly cheese steak, but I’m yet to find one I was happy with. I even went to Philadelphia and picked one in the museum cafe. I had high hopes, but it was soggy and disappointing.

I’m not planning on going back to the US any time soon, but when I do I’ll continue my search

[-]

SaltyName8341@reddit

Find a Jewish bakery for bagels

[-]

abibofsweat@reddit

Bloomin Onions!

[-]

SaltyName8341@reddit

Fallow

[-]

fleurmadelaine@reddit

Did you know Nando’s is actually South African. It’s much better in South Africa too.

[-]

Every_Individual_25@reddit

Tamales 🫔

[-]

chainey44@reddit

None at all. Cheap and nasty stuff; low standards and quality.

[-]

ValidGarry@reddit

You sound well travelled, rational and unlikely to be judgemental with sweeping generalizations.

[-]

Special-Nebula299@reddit

Which part of the USA did you travel to? They do actually have good food over there

[-]

Seanacles@reddit

Better barrittos an stuff

[-]

Resipsa100@reddit

Nan’s is overpriced compared to to Greg’s

[-]

ValidGarry@reddit

Because they are exactly the same and serve the same products?

[-]

Billabong1066@reddit

Real New York Pizza slice places .

[-]

Waspkiller86@reddit

Pizza places. Every time I visit America and go to a city there's lots of places to go in and get a pizza or a single slice

[-]

Halban00@reddit

Hot fudge sundaes are something the UK has no idea they're missing out on. Warm, thick chocolate sauce on cold vanilla ice cream? What's not to like?

[-]

Prestigious_Flan8035@reddit

In n out

[-]

PretendingIts1995@reddit

Decent tex-mex. Somewhere that does "breakfast" foods (pancakes, waffles, omelette.. there is 1 Dennys in Swansea and apparently they are looking to expand, so hopefully one day!). Also miss decent muffins (I find British muffins too cakey and sweet. There's Tim Horton's now, but they must have amended the menu for a British palate, because even their muffins are more like cake).

Products - Ranch dressing mix (the powder. An oddity, I know, but I have recipes I used to make that use it, that need the dry mix. While I'm on the topic.. why cant you get big bottles of salad dressing?). Au jus mix (it is not gravy or beef stock with Worcestershire Sauce, no matter what the internet says, and again won't work in recipes that call for dry mix). Kraft PB (I keep trying other brands, but they're not the same and don't make good cookies). All the Pillsbury products (there are some fair substitutes, but it's just not quite the same). Chicken noodle soup (and before everyone jumps up and down and says you can buy it here.. it's not the same. The noodles are too fine, the broth too thin, and it has corn in it! Yuck!). Montreal Smoked Meat or decent pastrami (I long for a real Reuben!)

Not American but Canadian - I miss proper poutine! I can't seem to find cheese curd anywhere, and you can forget it being served in a restaurant!

[-]

Comfortable-Fall1419@reddit

Can’t think of one I want but one thing I never want to see here is a proper Chicago Deep Dish pizza. Had one in Chicago and it was like trying to eat a sea of cheese flavoured lava or a bucket of fondue with no bread.

[-]

kebabby72@reddit

Indigestion burger is what we named it. It ain't no pizza.

[-]

EvilRobotSteve@reddit

Nutter Butters. I fucking love those things.

[-]

Ok-Goat-3589@reddit

Proper smoked BBQ and Texas portion sizes

[-]

cronus89@reddit

Honestly put me Terry Blacks or a HardEight in the UK 😀

Would be astronomically expensive over here though.

[-]

porpoise251@reddit

Less Starbucks

[-]

Eskarina_W@reddit

Nando's is a South African chain that serves Portuguese style food. It's massively popular in UK but Britain can't claim it.

[-]

DinkyPrincess@reddit

More Popeyes

[-]

DanielR372@reddit (OP)

it’s not all that

[-]

DinkyPrincess@reddit

No but it’s considerably better than KFC if you’re travelling and don’t have a trusted independent

[-]

Eskarina_W@reddit

Definitely better than KFC but I feel their marketing made people expect more of it than a better KFC so overhyping it may have backfired for them.

[-]

DinkyPrincess@reddit

Maybe. I had it in US and Canada before here. For the cost it’s tasty and good value

[-]

JustDifferentGravy@reddit

Grape jam.

[-]

Japhet_Corncrake@reddit

Your sandwiches.

I would love to be able to get a proper Philly Cheesesteak, or a Beef on Weck (Buffalo stand up!), or a shrimp Po'Boy,

[-]

ToddleWaddle@reddit

I had the most amazing Ruben sandwich in some tiny backwater village. I can't even remember what was on it, but it was so good.

[-]

Japhet_Corncrake@reddit

Love a reuben sandwich.

[-]

skibbin@reddit

The trick to the Cheesesteak is Lawry's Seasoned Salt. It really is what transforms it from a shaved steak sandwich to a Cheesesteak.

Go Bils.

[-]

Traditional_Rice_123@reddit

It's ridiculous that peanut butter M&Ms are not readily available in supermarkets. And my other request comes from the north - Canadian bacon. I've literally never seen it in the UK. If anyone has any suppliers please let me know!

[-]

Eskarina_W@reddit

I don't like peanut butter but I LOVED the brownie m&ms and now they are gone. 😭

[-]

strawberrychief@reddit

Ewww! Just buy some lard and fry it with streaky bacon.

[-]

ohsaycanyourock@reddit

My husband got obsessed with chicken alfredo in New York - I sometimes see it on menus here but it's never got the amount of cream and butter required to make it good 😆

[-]

Sad_Cardiologist5388@reddit

Peanut butter m&ms

[-]

ToddleWaddle@reddit

Denny's! Although a friend told me they were coming to the UK?

[-]

tgy74@reddit

In and Out Burgers (if they're still a thing)

[-]

ToddleWaddle@reddit

For such a basic looking restaurant, their burgers were delicious.

[-]

Nyko_Neon@reddit

We need Bojangles. Give it to us.

[-]

masterdavros@reddit

I think we have way too much American fast food in the UK. Happy to lose them all.

[-]

zippyzebra1@reddit

I'd be happy to have none

[-]

Paulstan67@reddit

We have enough of our own shite food without importing more.

[-]

BigD-UK-@reddit

I loved the different chewing gum flavours! Here it's almost all variations of mint: spearmint, peppermint, bubble-mint. You do get some other flavours strawberry, blueberry or apple but they are not available every where and are a bit crap. I loved Big Red and I'm sure I brought back some cocktail based ones last time I went over (several years ago!).

[-]

Major-Pi@reddit

I must admit in-n out..

[-]

TheBestOneLeft@reddit

No. None whatsoever. Please keep them away from us. You can have Nandos. It's a shop that sells undernourished bony chicken.

[-]

Stabwank@reddit

Captain Spaulding's fried chicken.

[-]

Wise-Independence487@reddit

Not really, maybe one of those proper deep dish pizza places.

My current obsession is Greek food. I wish where I was there was an independent good
Quality Greek place

[-]

VincentVan_Dough@reddit

Bagels. I lived in NYC and am cursed with knowing what real good bagels taste like. Now every bagel in UK and everywhere else pales in comparison. I may or may not have flown back to NYC to get bagels from a particular lower east side shop.

[-]

accordionshoes@reddit

Caramel M&Ms

[-]

skibbin@reddit

The freeze dried exploded ones are awesome

[-]

kat0id@reddit

Butterfingers. I always buy so many when I’m over there and my friends bring them back for me if they travel

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Zo50@reddit

Wienerschnitzel's simply for the chilli fries. So good.

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BadBacksFuryToad@reddit

Nope.

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Eyup_Amigo@reddit

Real BBQ or southern food. And waffle house. Never been to America but when I've seen videos that's what I imagine "real" American food to be like

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Consistent_Wonder509@reddit

Maybe the pizza slices that you have in NYC….The best pizza I’ve had in my life. And also I liked the big salad bars in NYC where it’s like pick and mix. Not sure what they are called ha

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lawrekat63@reddit

The blooming onion. I have always wanted to try one

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BurkesRoad@reddit

Proper corn tortillas (not this ridiculous blend of corn and flour) in supermarkets would be a good start. Then we could use recipes to make our own Tex-Mex/ Cali-Mex.

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Flavour-saver@reddit

boarshead deli sandwichs it's like subway on steroids..

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Ruby-Shark@reddit

Slow cooked barbecue

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Egg_allergy@reddit

Peanut butter M&M's. Such a good flavour that I bring back a kg every time

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Breakwaterbot@reddit

I may get hate from people for this but I wish actual Mountain Dew was more readily available and not that shite excuse for it we have here.

Although it's probably best it's not because I would drink far too much.

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HopeTerminator@reddit

I had our version of Mountain Dew for the first time recently it's repulsively sickly sweet and has even more sugar than Coca Cola. I shudder to think what the yank version would be like. Drinking carbonated golden syrup would be my guess.

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Breakwaterbot@reddit

A small can of it has 46g of sugar 😂

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HopeTerminator@reddit

Look what this idiot did, in America.

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BecozisaidSo40times@reddit

I agree with everyone. Grape flavoured anything. It’s something that is a core memory from living in the USA when I was a child

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wise_groan@reddit

Popping into a bodega and getting a cheap pastrami sandwich

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wise_groan@reddit

Potato buns

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Obvious-Pride-8849@reddit

Biased American answer here but Peanut butter and chocolate. There are so many times that it seems like a shop should have peanut butter and chocolate as a flavor (fudge, ice cream, brownies, etc), but it's a rare combination. Millionaire's is much more common. Thank goodness Reese's is here though.

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Sensitive_Syrup1296@reddit

Corn dogs

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hankmolotovjnr@reddit

While we have a growing number of, in my view, unwanted US chains like Taco Bell and Pop-Eyes, their best breakfast and sandwich game can be so much better than ours. I would love for there to be a market for more widely spread high quality restaurants/delicatessens: Canter’s in LA, for example. And a lot more American bacon options, but with UK animal welfare standards. I’m also partial to bright orange cheese-adjacent products.

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pinklepickles@reddit

Zatarains black beans and rice

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Spiritual_Smell4744@reddit

How about a bit more Chlorine washed chicken that's been on the floor? Sounds like the rest taste of the good ol' US of A.

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Sad_Pie_3862@reddit

Good grits.

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Distinct-Tour-5654@reddit

Proper bbq places. Oh and diners instead of the standard KFC/BL/Maccies at every service station.

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MilkEnvironmental709@reddit

I was a big fan or Arbys at one point in my visits to the States. Ponderosa too haha.

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movienerd7042@reddit

Coffee cake

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Sasspishus@reddit

Coffee cake is pretty common in the UK, try your local cafes

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movienerd7042@reddit

Not American style coffee cake, which is a cinnamon cake that’s not coffee flavoured at all.

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Sasspishus@reddit

Oh, well that's confusing! Why call it coffee cake then if it's not actually coffee cake? I mean do have a variety of cinnamon cakes here though

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movienerd7042@reddit

It’s cake that’s designed to be eaten with coffee 😂 I hate the taste of coffee so I’d much rather have the American version but I’ve never seen it in the U.K., I only discovered it on holiday in America 😂

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Sasspishus@reddit

Any cake can be eaten with coffee! But yeah if you're specifically looking for a cinnamon cake then fair enough

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Special-Nebula299@reddit

I like some American sandwiches/bagels.

Chilly cheasesteak is a big gloppy mess but tastes good. The cuban had so much going on. I also love all the varieties they have with bagels and really think a bagels deli in major cities in the uk would actually take off

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tasi671@reddit

Ocado has a line of wonderful bagels that remind me of the ones you get in the US https://www.ocado.com/products/cohens-bakery-artisan-bagels/409958011

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Rico1983@reddit

https://www.newyorkdelicardiff.co.uk/

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InspectionHot6010@reddit

You would like Hickory's Smokehouse restaurant , I had a garlic bagel starter other day 🤤

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Hippadoppaloppa@reddit

There are definitely bagel shops here, I know of at least 2 in my provincial town. I don't think there's a a bagel chain though, if that's what you mean.

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Weary-Mouse9932@reddit

https://bagelfactory.co.uk/locations/

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Special-Nebula299@reddit

You're lucky. I'm in a city of 100k and we dont have one yet.

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Worth-Chemistry8993@reddit

American-style deli counters in supermarkets.

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Affectionate_Yam5748@reddit

US version of hash brown and corned beef hash.
Catfish is also good.

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TumbleweedMaterial53@reddit

Trader Joe’s “anything gluten free” bagels 🥯

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SnooMacarons9618@reddit

Not a food, but a drink. Root Beer. I still remember the days when McDonalds use to serve it.

And a convenience form of a food - 'biscuit' dough in a tin (like we get croissants). Ready to cook almost scones would be awesome. My wife would probably leave me though - she makes the best ever scones, and if she knew I was cheater on her with some fly by night American floozy in a tin... it could be bad.

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BigJDizzleMaNizzles@reddit

Aerosol cheese.

Twinkies.

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snowmanseeker@reddit

Colby Jack cheese.

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DanielR372@reddit (OP)

Let me be real with you. No idea what that is.

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Crafty-Zebra3285@reddit

Where are you from?!?

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InspectionHot6010@reddit

Pancake waffle houses , sometimes they pop up but then close within 6months or they are still open just mega expensive.

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me_thisfuckingcunt@reddit

Biscuit gravy (country gravy)

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terryturbojr@reddit

I think I may make that for breakfast

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terryturbojr@reddit

Tacos tacos and more tacos please

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Impressive-Pie-5464@reddit

I quite like the idea of biscuits n gravy. I live in Leeds and just outside the city centre there used to a nice US style cafe pre-Covid (I think the owner was actually Canadian maybe) that had a few American/Canadian style menu items but unforunately it disappeared during Covid, havnt found another similar American diner in the city since.

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DanielR372@reddit (OP)

Hell yeah brother

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PlanetSwallower@reddit

I'm a fan of your country's Tex-Mex cuisine, more authentic chili's would be welcome.

And I love Green Goddess salad dressing.

There's loads of pizza places in Britain. Pizza Hut is here but is inedible. Our homegrown chain Pizza Express used to be a world-beater but is sadly mediocre now.

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DanielR372@reddit (OP)

Mexican food in general is great

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qualityvote2@reddit

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