Admit it if you've eaten American fast food overseas
#211
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: ATL, BHM, DUB, County Wexford
Programs: DL DM, AA ExPlt, Diamond HH, HY, BW, & Titanium Elite Marriott
Posts: 4,864
Well some times you just get tired of eating the same foreign food over and over every day.
In Italy it was great to eat Italian for every meal for about 14 days and then you start wanting something different, on the 20th day I broke down and looked for the nearest anything american restaurant and unfortunately it was a McDonald's.
I spend my summers in Ireland or England. My friends there frequent Pizza Hut and Burger King. I don't care for Burger King but I do have to eat with my friends.
In Italy it was great to eat Italian for every meal for about 14 days and then you start wanting something different, on the 20th day I broke down and looked for the nearest anything american restaurant and unfortunately it was a McDonald's.
I spend my summers in Ireland or England. My friends there frequent Pizza Hut and Burger King. I don't care for Burger King but I do have to eat with my friends.
#212
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Paris
Posts: 577
Count yourself lucky. The McDonald's near my home in Paris once ran out of Coke. It was, for a while, the worst-managed McDonald's I had ever been in – your 18 minute wait to order would have been short in comparison.
#213
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
Forgot to mention Mr. Donut in Japan. Yes, you can get doughnuts, which I don't really care for, but I prefer the only-in-Japan treats such as the curry pie and the sweet potato pie, both of which resemble a McDonald's apple pie...only, you know, with curry or sweet potato puree.
#215
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Berkeley, California
Programs: Starwood Gold, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 560
Whenever I go to Singapore on business, they usually take me out practically every night for these huge multi-course Chinese meals with lots of "interesting" dishes. They'll throw in a Malayasian or Indonesian meal for variety. Lunch? Usually congee with pigs liver, snout, ear, or what-have-you.
Last time I went, I stopped off in Hong Kong for a couple of nights on the way back and I ate at McDonalds and Spaghetti House 'cause I just couldn't face another Chinese meal.
On other travels, I'll duck into a McDonald's simply because I know I'll find a clean bathroom there.
Last time I went, I stopped off in Hong Kong for a couple of nights on the way back and I ate at McDonalds and Spaghetti House 'cause I just couldn't face another Chinese meal.
On other travels, I'll duck into a McDonald's simply because I know I'll find a clean bathroom there.
#217
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: MEL
Programs: QF, VA, VN, BA, SQ, KC - all reds and blues.
Posts: 3,205
The only time I have eaten McDonalds or its ilk abroad was on a trip to New York. Eating a hamburger seemed to be the price you had to pay to use a lavatory. No wonder Americans are so fat.
Anyway, I didn't feel guilty as I don't think there was great food available elsewhere that I was missing out on.
Anyway, I didn't feel guilty as I don't think there was great food available elsewhere that I was missing out on.
#221
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: BKK/SEL/YQG
Posts: 2,543
I try to get something local at McDonalds from each foreign country I visit, its a fun little thing I like to do when travelling. Though, I've only recently started taking photos -
Taipei - Spicy Chicken + Corn Soup
HK - McWings + Corn
Beijing - Grilled Chicken + Aloe Tea
Beijing - Pies
McArabia (Chicken) - Dubai (Had McArabia Beef in Beirut)
Chicken BigMac - Cairo
Fish Fingers - Cairo
McVeggie Burger w/ Cheese - Delhi
Big Tasty - Amman (Largest burger ever)
McBulgogi Burger + Chocolate Triangle + Pasta Salad - Pusan, Korea
Shrimp Rice Burger + Corn Soup - Taipei 2007
Shrimp Burger (no rice) - Narita
'Pollo Premium'- Quito
Tuna Salad + Veggie Burger (new style) - Doha
Green Tea McFlurry - Seoul
Chicken Fiesta + Curry Dip - London
Big Bacon Burger - London
Big Jalapeño Burger + Cheese Sticks - Prague
Crispy McBacon + Curly Chips - Rome
Spinach + Cheese Croquettes - Rome
Thailand - Cheese Melt Fries + Green Curry Burger
HK - Double Mala Spicy Grilled Chicken
HK - Pork and Macaroni Soup (Breakfast)
Guangzhou - ChinaMac (BigMac with Carrot, Radish + Cucumber)
Malaysia - Spicy Malaysian Beef Wrap
Japan - Pork Burger
Ontario - Pizza
Quebec - McPoutine
Newfoundland - McLobster
Taipei - Spicy Chicken + Corn Soup
HK - McWings + Corn
Beijing - Grilled Chicken + Aloe Tea
Beijing - Pies
McArabia (Chicken) - Dubai (Had McArabia Beef in Beirut)
Chicken BigMac - Cairo
Fish Fingers - Cairo
McVeggie Burger w/ Cheese - Delhi
Big Tasty - Amman (Largest burger ever)
McBulgogi Burger + Chocolate Triangle + Pasta Salad - Pusan, Korea
Shrimp Rice Burger + Corn Soup - Taipei 2007
Shrimp Burger (no rice) - Narita
'Pollo Premium'- Quito
Tuna Salad + Veggie Burger (new style) - Doha
Green Tea McFlurry - Seoul
Chicken Fiesta + Curry Dip - London
Big Bacon Burger - London
Big Jalapeño Burger + Cheese Sticks - Prague
Crispy McBacon + Curly Chips - Rome
Spinach + Cheese Croquettes - Rome
Thailand - Cheese Melt Fries + Green Curry Burger
HK - Double Mala Spicy Grilled Chicken
HK - Pork and Macaroni Soup (Breakfast)
Guangzhou - ChinaMac (BigMac with Carrot, Radish + Cucumber)
Malaysia - Spicy Malaysian Beef Wrap
Japan - Pork Burger
Ontario - Pizza
Quebec - McPoutine
Newfoundland - McLobster
Last edited by SirJman; Jan 29, 2009 at 7:15 am
#222
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: United 1K GS, USAIR, Delta
Posts: 175
I have two confessions.
1. Walk to McDonalds 1 morning in Sing for a Lime Juice and a chicken sausage mcmuffin.
2. Eat Burger King at HKG on the way back every time without fail. I will be inline around 11:00 on March 4th so stop by if in the area. ;-)
1. Walk to McDonalds 1 morning in Sing for a Lime Juice and a chicken sausage mcmuffin.
2. Eat Burger King at HKG on the way back every time without fail. I will be inline around 11:00 on March 4th so stop by if in the area. ;-)
#223
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Programs: Emirates Gold, BA Silver, SPG Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 97
I try to be good about eating local food, but I do grab a little McDs sometimes if I know it is something I can get quick, cheap and reliably.
I like that in many parts of Latin America, McD's has really neat ice cream cafes with fun tasting deserts, and that a McNifica (at least used to be) better than the quarter pounder, IMHO.
I have also had Dunkin' Donuts abroad (in Spain) which is really such a waste since the coffee and pastries are so good there.
Love SirJman's list above and may have to start doing something like that myself I'm already keeping a listing of the price of a cup of starbucks in different spots domestically and globally: http://thepurplepassport.blogspot.co...abel/Starbucks
I think Starbucks is a bit like fast food, coffee style (and, um, the price of an entire meal at McD's).
I like that in many parts of Latin America, McD's has really neat ice cream cafes with fun tasting deserts, and that a McNifica (at least used to be) better than the quarter pounder, IMHO.
I have also had Dunkin' Donuts abroad (in Spain) which is really such a waste since the coffee and pastries are so good there.
Love SirJman's list above and may have to start doing something like that myself I'm already keeping a listing of the price of a cup of starbucks in different spots domestically and globally: http://thepurplepassport.blogspot.co...abel/Starbucks
I think Starbucks is a bit like fast food, coffee style (and, um, the price of an entire meal at McD's).
#225
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: ACT/GRK/DAL/ABI/MIA/FLL
Programs: OMNIArchist, OMNIArchy!, OMNIIDGAS
Posts: 23,478
Closest I have come is by eating Swissmeal in Geneva, but it is a FORMER burger king and their menu now is much better than a BK. Interesting breads they have as well.
Not to mention it is way more costly, 30 francs for two meals with drink.
Not to mention it is way more costly, 30 francs for two meals with drink.