Do You Eat at American Chains While in a Foreign Country?

September 24, 2008

41 Comments

I like to go to the ones that do "local" food, like McDonalds. It is fund to see how they market to the country they are in - like tons of pork items in Spain. I don't go because I need to eat there for comfort, and I really avoid places that just have the same stuff as in the US.

desidesi 4 years 33 weeks

my stays abroad have typically lasted 3 months or so. so yes, i go ahead and try out the american chains of fast food for comparison when in need of a quick bite, it's actually pretty interesting. i also try out the fast food joints of the country i'm in, some have been pretty good. one time in scotland we were starving and stuck in the rain so we stumbled into a fridays. now THAT one i'm embarassed of :P

CaterpillarGirl 4 years 33 weeks

I never eat american while away, thats cheating

Rancher'sGirl 4 years 33 weeks

Back in the '80's (yes, dahlinks, I am a dinosaur LOL), I had the privilege to be an exchange student in Australia. Just before I left Australia, a McDonalds opened in a nearby town and my host parents wanted to go. It was fantastic, much fresher than U.S., and the Big Mac was garnished with grated carrots and beets and a fried egg! It was soooo delicious! Not what I knew as "McD's" but definitely glad I tried it. Learn something new every day! :) May I add that I still have cravings for traditional Australian food? Bubble and Squeak, steak and mushroom hand-held pies, Pavlova, and best of all, VEGEMITE! :drool: :faint:

bellaressa 4 years 33 weeks

No, I can always have it when I get back if I want it. I want to experience the country and the authenticity of the place.

cravinsugar 4 years 33 weeks

Ok, so if I was near a hard rock, i would go....I LOVE hard rock cafe! I collect the pins and must go to everyone I travel near! Other than that, I might check out the menus but will def dine local.

misslilad 4 years 33 weeks

Generally the answer is no. However, when I was living in Paris in the 90s, I was considered a bit of anomaly - a girl who drank and smoked but was a vegetarian. Occasionally I would get a hankering for a veggie burger and the only one I knew of was at the Hard Rock Cafe so I did go there once or twice. Maybe being a vegetarian though helps you stay away from these chains normally though. Of course, I lived in Paris and wasn't traveling so that probably helped too.

bento barista 4 years 33 weeks

You know, I can't help but be curious to see how different the restaurant chain's menus are in different countries. In the U.S. I would hardly give the McFlurry the time of day ...but in Italy, they have the Baci McFlurry (it's made with Baci chocolate crumbs...mmmm) and it is fantastic.

I mean look at it. I just looks sooo good, & believe me, IT IS!!!

lexichloe 4 years 33 weeks

It's great fun to eat at "American" places when abroad. Sometimes you just need a home cooked meal, ya know? ;)

chiefdishwasher 4 years 33 weeks

I can not imagine going thousands of miles to have a big mac. I was just in Ireland and we would ask the locals where they would eat....they were always right on leading us to good local food.

justanerd1975 4 years 33 weeks

NO.except for coffee.gotta have 'normal' coffee(like I am used to,lol.)I tried traditional coffee in PR and I wanted to cry. All I wanted,needed,had to have to start the day and wake up properly was a medium-strength coffee with extra cream and sugar. I did NOT enjoy the super strong sludge that was served to me with no cream or sugar. *cries* I did succumb to Taco Bell in PR, how wierd is it that they serve fries with the taco bell value meals over there?? still giggle at that one :) "papas fritos" LOL

fjaril 4 years 33 weeks

Uhm, most places have regional foods anyway. So it's always fun to pop in and see the non american item. McD's in the UK have the best veggie burgers every!

cravinsugar 4 years 33 weeks

NO! My fiancee and I want to go native all the way...not because we want to avoid all things american, but becacuse we love to try new things!

itsme3683 4 years 33 weeks

I almost always eat locally while abroad, but usually after about 3-4 weeks I'm craving something with a little grease, and McDonald's it is!

codewhiz 4 years 33 weeks

I've eaten at CPK and Pizza Hut in the Philippines. They also have a lot of other chains such as TGIF, Tony Roma's, Kenny Rogers Roasters, and of course McDonalds. They even have their own knockoff of McDonald's called Jollibee that has opened up some outlets here in CA. Well I've tried some Jollibee food and I say no thanx! :P

suziryder 4 years 33 weeks

ohhh yum, NLM!! I think a mini cadbury egg mcflurry would be the only reason I'd go to an American chain abroad.

Soniabonya 4 years 33 weeks

I was abroad the entire summer and I found myself craving my home cooked meals of mexican and italian variations. i got plenty of home cooked hungarian meals while staying with family in Hungary. . .i stuck to mostly local/regional food while traveling through Europe. I found myself at McDonalds about 4 times. 3 of which were in Italy because the prices were so expensive ($75 for 5 simple sandwiches and drinks in Venice) and the food did not look appetizing. I know Italian food is supposed to be good but not at the places I saw and ate at. Maybe southern Italy is better. . . eh, I'll stick to the mom and pop shops in Little Italy's throughout CA. I refused to eat any "american" hamburger. ordered cheeseburgers with no meat at each McD's :)

Soniabonya 4 years 33 weeks

I was abroad the entire summer and I found myself craving my home cooked meals of mexican and italian variations. i got plenty of home cooked hungarian meals while staying with family in Hungary. . .i stuck to mostly local/regional food while traveling through Europe.I found myself at McDonalds about 4 times. 3 of which were in Italy because the prices were so expensive ($75 for 5 simple sandwiches and drinks in Venice) and the food did not look appetizing. I know Italian food is supposed to be good but not at the places I saw and ate at. Maybe southern Italy is better. . . eh, I'll stick to the mom and pop shops in Little Italy's throughout CA.I refused to eat any "american" hamburger. ordered cheeseburgers with no meat at each McD's :)

Blackwidowchick 4 years 33 weeks

I just got back from my honeymoon in the Bahamas (first time out of america) and we were staying at this great resort where all the meals were included and it was 5 star gourmet food...but 4 days into the trip I was jonesing for pizza and beer, so we walked across the street from the resort to go to Domino's pizza. I know it was so american of me, but it really hit the spot.

ilanac13 4 years 33 weeks

i don't usually eat fast food here in the United States but when i went to school overseas and was on a really limited budget, i have to admit that in each country i did find myself at a fast food chain that i knew. it was cheaper and easier when i was on my own...and you typically know what you're going to get which is a big plus .

MindayH 4 years 33 weeks

travel for a week or 2 then of course. But I studied abroad twice, and in asia, I couldn't hang with the msg in everything so I ate the occasional fast food meal...plus I also was majorly craving a soda on ice, and McD's was the only place to get it!