Although travelling abroad is a fun way to try the local cuisine, many tourists like sticking to their favourite big name brands – and seek them out in different countries. One viral woman and her pals were gobsmacked by the UK McDonald’s offerings
A group of Americans have shared their take on the UK’s McDonalds – from how different the menu looks, taste of food items, utensils, seasoning and more. When we travel abroad, many of us typically try out the local cuisines and avoid food spots that we can easily get at home. But often some of our favourite big name brands offer different menus in different countries – and McDonald’s menus vary by location to reflect local tastes and traditions.
Viral content creator Amber Kacherian, who boasts just short of one million TikTok followers thanks to her comedic videos, is in the UK this week. Upon arriving to London, she and her pals decided to try McDonald’s over here to see how different it is. The Tampa woman, who shared her thoughts in a TikTok video, first observed the different lay out of the ordering screens, and the price points – showing the drinks cost more here due to the sugar tax.
Scrolling through the options she was shocked to see how many McFlurrys there are on the UK menu. Amber said: “They also have a ton more McFlurry flavours than we do – check out the Jaffa Cakes, Smarties McFlurry, Loaded Caramel Flurry.” Tucking into the Smarties McFlurry, Amber said: “It’s like an M&M’s McFlurry. They’re very crunchy.”
READ MORE: American in UK visits McDonald’s and ‘can’t understand why people eat there’
Amber’s friend could not get over that we have paper straws in the UK. “Do they really expect me to drink my soda out of this tiny, undersized toilet paper tube?,” he asked. However he rated the Green Apple Sprit regardless. The pair said it’s “sad” how little sugar there is in the drinks, compared to the US.
The duo also couldn’t get over the cardboard spoon and packaging used. “They’re a lot more environmentally friendly here than we are in America,” she observed.
Diving into the food for a taste test, Amber tried a classic cheeseburger. She commented: “It’s a bit less salty. I can tell that UK food doesn’t have as much salt as American food but you know what, I can do this… it’s not bad.” She observed there is also “a lot less salt” on the fries in McDonald’s than she is used to.
They said the Quarter Pounder burger is “palatable”.
Amber added: “The reason I would go to McDonald’s in America is to get my junk food fix, but in the UK there’s no salt in the food and there’s a lot less fat and butter and sugar than in American food as well. So what is the point of going to McDonald’s in the UK if you’re not getting your junk food fix but it’s also not good for you?”
Shocked Brits rushed to comment. One commented and said: “This has blown my mind because I think McDonald’s is major salt in the UK.” One other wrote: “Mc D’s is very salty. How much salt do you guys consume?”
“This is so weird because the chips are so so so salty,” observed another Brit. One other added: “I’m shocked, I find McDonald’s so greasy and salty. I’d have a stroke trying American McDonald’s.”
McDonald’s chains are different all around the world. The “most beautiful” McDonald’s is based in Rome, Italy, located near the famous Spanish steps. Further into the restaurant beyond the classic McDonald’s stills, stands a separate section devoted to decadent-looking cakes, tarts, and donuts.
The biggest McDonald’s restaurant is in Orlando, Florida, and the “poshest” chain is located in Long Island. In New Zealand, there is a McDonald’s where food is served from an abandoned aeroplane, plus there is a floating McDonald’s service in Germany.