Originally Posted by
harper99
I guess the kebab shops scattered all across Europe are not considered when speaking of how enlightened dining is there. I resent these explanations that Americans are somehow simple because we have chain restaurants. There is junk food in every developed country I have been to and most undeveloped ones as well.
The difference is that kebab shops = McDonalds and other fast food. They serve a need late at night, when drunk, or where there is no other option (Chisinau, Moldova 5 years springs to mind).
The OP's point - and it is a really interesting one - is that there is major chain middle market dining segment which doesn't really exists in the same way in Europe or Asia.