Fast Food in other countries

We enjoy Pizza Huts breadsticks at home. While visiting Whistler, B.C. the kids were delighted that there was a Pizza Hut Express and ordered some breadsticks to bring back to the room. They were entirely different (meaning they didn't have the accustomed seasoning sprinkled on them). Also way too soft. Of course, you don't let a little thing like that ruin a vacation. Also, it was the first place we ever saw a "Bob Evans" (in Squamish, B.C., actually).

In kuwait they serve a sandwich called the McArabia. you can google image search for it and trust me its pretty good. In london and in france they all have their own specialities in a way as well as the traditional menu. In montreal, quebec they have poutine. I guess the franchises try to diversify.

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Originally posted by cathyftr
On a similar note, what about chains that other countries have but we dont have here. Online I saw a TV commerical for Wimpy ( a British fast food chain ), wonder how they compare to say McDonalds?

British food in general is appalling, but Wimpy which is dying out now, is the exception. Not at all like McDonalds (though they tried for a while) much more like Waffle House only without the quality. Pure greasy spoon. Usually owned by people who would rather be making kebabs (and in some locations probably should be making kebabs).

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Originally posted by Adjudicator McDonald's/Japan has what I believe is a Filet 'o Whale, but I only saw the pic, etc.

Also available in Oslo, allegedly.

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Originally posted by salsailsa

I know that in France, McDo's as they call it, sells beer as well. They also have a French burger chain called Quick.

Beer is common is all fast food locations in Europe (other than the UK, Ireland and some of Scandinavia), wine less so but is more frequent in southern Europe. In Germany, Belgium and parts of Holland, Switzerland and Austria cans of beer are still commonly available from vending machines.

Quick used to be well worth a try for people not scared of pink hamburger, but my last 2 trips to Brussels and Paris yielded the standard gray fast food experience :(.

Cochabamba, Bolivia has one Burger King on the El Prado. It was near our hotel but we did not check it out. No sense in wasting a meal out of curiosity when there are too many local flavors to sample.

I went to a McDonalds in Warsaw, Poland and they had the same bad food as on the menu in the U.S.A. I did not go to the KFC, but was told the same thing for them. They also have a few of our Pizza place all over.
When in Poland, I want to try the food, from Poland.

Mike

The McD's in Poland have McKielbasa (Sausage sandwiches). They also have fried and breaded brocolli and cauliflower. Not so great. But their fries are amazing. I think they use lard because they taste nothing like the ones in the US of A.

The McDs in Uruguay and Argentina are good, same deal re the fries. Nothing too weird there, though.

I live in Greece and the McDonalds here has a special menu during lent (called Mc Sarakosti - Mclent) with dishes containing no meat. Stuff like skewers of shrimp and calamari, spring rolls and vegetable nuggets.

The Greek McDonalds is called Goodys and is much much better. It has a salad bar, serves everything on real plates (no styrofoam, no paper). They have pasta and Greek kebabs as well as burgers and sandwiches.

During last Saturday's Derby coverage by the local NBC station in Louisville (sponsored by YUM Brand Foods Inc.) There were several commercials pointing out the Number One Chicken Restaurant in China is now KFC ! 2600 stands have opened in the 20 years they have been in China. I may not eat much KFC, but somebody is eating a lot of it !

I think Canada has a chain the rough equivalent of Dunkin Donuts: Tim Horton's. I remember seeing one of these in St Stephen which is in the province of New Brunswick, and was told they are widespread across the Canadian nation.

Tim Horton's was an Independent operation, then Wendy's bought it. Now it is a spin-off of the Wendy's Corporation. They ran it for awhile and then sold it off. There are several Tim Horton Stands in the Western NY & PA and West Virginia area. We used to stop at one in Niagra Falls ONT when visiting that area. The pastries were ok, the Soup and Sandwiches were pretty good.

Folks, I'm not trying to be a snob. I'm not trying to be Snarky either. But just WHY would anyone want to seek out fast food in other countries?? It's BAD enough here, but suppose you were in Chartres, France or Brussels, Belgium or Saint Sebastian, Spain or Rome or Milan? Are you actively going to LOOK for fast food? If so, stay home. Lock the doors and leave the traveling to us that relish every moment. Again, I am not trying to be snarky........but the love of visiting other countries is eating their food, their native food, the food of their culture. Give me a croque monsieur any day in Paris than a quarter-pounder!

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Originally posted by lleechef

Folks, I'm not trying to be a snob. I'm not trying to be Snarky either. But just WHY would anyone want to seek out fast food in other countries?? It's BAD enough here, but suppose you were in Chartres, France or Brussels, Belgium or Saint Sebastian, Spain or Rome or Milan? Are you actively going to LOOK for fast food? If so, stay home. Lock the doors and leave the traveling to us that relish every moment. Again, I am not trying to be snarky........but the love of visiting other countries is eating their food, their native food, the food of their culture. Give me a croque monsieur any day in Paris than a quarter-pounder!

Ditto.

I lived in Germany for 10 years, I think I may have eaten in a McDonald's there twice. Why, oh why would I make that habit? I don't eat it here either. I'm with Bushie and Ileechef on this one.

I did find it funny how the Europeans would turn their noses up at American Fast Food joints in conversation, but every time I went by one it was packed.

I did find it funny how the Europeans would turn their noses up at American Fast Food joints in conversation, but every time I went by one it was packed.





SOOO TRUE!

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Originally posted by lleechef

Folks, I'm not trying to be a snob. I'm not trying to be Snarky either. But just WHY would anyone want to seek out fast food in other countries?? It's BAD enough here, but suppose you were in Chartres, France or Brussels, Belgium or Saint Sebastian, Spain or Rome or Milan? Are you actively going to LOOK for fast food? If so, stay home. Lock the doors and leave the traveling to us that relish every moment. Again, I am not trying to be snarky........but the love of visiting other countries is eating their food, their native food, the food of their culture. Give me a croque monsieur any day in Paris than a quarter-pounder!

Lisa, I agree with you, however sometimes circumstances prevail that fast food it is.

Case in point, I was in London chaperoning a few newly graduated hs students. I loved eating locally, but every day we had to stop at MCD because the kids were home sick for "real" food.

I agree that there are much more interesting options for eating when you're abroad, but it's always interesting to see the differences from one country to another, because they reflect differences in countries and cultures too. I don't eat at McDonalds when I'm traveling (basically, because I don't like the food), but I'll always go in and look at the menu.

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Originally posted by desertdog


I lived in Germany for 10 years, I think I may have eaten in a McDonald's there twice. Why, oh why would I make that habit? I don't eat it here either. I'm with Bushie and Ileechef on this one.

I did find it funny how the Europeans would turn their noses up at American Fast Food joints in conversation, but every time I went by one it was packed.

Not just Europeans. Every one complains about the Applebees, Red Lobster type of places yet their parking lots are always packed.

John

Lotteria is a fast food brand in Japan and Korea. I thought it was delicious in South Korea. The place was like an oriental In N' Out burger.

The food was really good, especially the Bulgogi burger which was about the size of a McDonalds burger but with sweet sauce and lettuce. The fries were good, it was cheap, clean.

KFC is the biggest fast food place in China. I like KFC for the mashed potatoes. It seems like to me that I am the only one to order it. No beans or cole slaw. Chinese soup. They have a Chinese twister that is fried chicken with cucumber and onion in duck sauce. Had one the other day. They don't have extra crispy here, but the wings are, but they are too damned spicy for me. They make a lot of sales in soft serve ice cream, and honestly, KFc and McDonalds are the only places to get a cheap cup of coffee.

There is McDonalds here, but it doesn't do the business like KFC. The Chinese do not like hamburger. It's mostly chicken. There is no Quarter Pounder, just the regualar burger, the double cheese, and the Big Mac. The McRib sells here but with mayonnaise and lettuce. McDonalds here also just added pancakes and sausage. The rest if the Chinese McDonalds breakfast menu is rather lacking.

I've had KFC in China,Taiwan, Thailand (in Udon Thani, it was the most beautiful fried chicken but it tasted like crap.) Korea and Vietnam. This summer, I'll eat it in Xinjiang, China,the sign written in English, Chinese and Turkic. (Google KFC Xinjiang).

Senor

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Originally posted by Bushie

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Originally posted by lleechef

Folks, I'm not trying to be a snob. I'm not trying to be Snarky either. But just WHY would anyone want to seek out fast food in other countries?? It's BAD enough here, but suppose you were in Chartres, France or Brussels, Belgium or Saint Sebastian, Spain or Rome or Milan? Are you actively going to LOOK for fast food? If so, stay home. Lock the doors and leave the traveling to us that relish every moment. Again, I am not trying to be snarky........but the love of visiting other countries is eating their food, their native food, the food of their culture. Give me a croque monsieur any day in Paris than a quarter-pounder!


Third on this one. I use this word sparingly but WHAT IDIOT goes to Europe and goes to a KFC or Mickie D's? The bistro on the corner has wonderful food prepared w/ care and love. I hate to say this but Americans are such jerks when they cross either the big pond or the little one. The Orientals are much nicer than the Euros which is a bit strange when you consider the grave yards and the people in them in each area.

If you ever fly into Luxumbourg...there is an American graveyard very close to the airport...General George Patton is buried at the top of the hill. It is a very somber and moving place.

Ditto.

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Originally posted by lleechef

Folks, I'm not trying to be a snob. I'm not trying to be Snarky either. But just WHY would anyone want to seek out fast food in other countries?? It's BAD enough here, but suppose you were in Chartres, France or Brussels, Belgium or Saint Sebastian, Spain or Rome or Milan? Are you actively going to LOOK for fast food? If so, stay home. Lock the doors and leave the traveling to us that relish every moment. Again, I am not trying to be snarky........but the love of visiting other countries is eating their food, their native food, the food of their culture. Give me a croque monsieur any day in Paris than a quarter-pounder!

Triple to that thought.

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Originally posted by desertdog


The big joke in Germany is that you will never find a German admitting to have eaten at McDonald's, but the places are always packed. Must only be the tourists eating there....yeah, right.

Ha Ha - it's the exact same thing in France. The only time I ever went into Le McDo was when my French friends forced me to go in them - and I was usually the only American in there. Any time a French person would talk smack about the Arches, I would IMMEDIATELY ask if they'd been, and how recently? The looks on their faces told the story.

But who needs McDo when you've got the best bakeries in the world and "Greek Sandwiches" (aka a gyro with fries in the sandwich)?