gail

We got pizza delivered to Mena House Hotel from a Pizza Hut near Cairo. We had been traveling for 20 hours with 2 kids and were exhausted and hungry. There was an ad for Pizza Hut in our hotel room. They even spoke English when we called. Even in 2001 pre 9/11, security to get pizza into hotel was tight; husband had to meet delivery guy outside hotel entrance as they would not let him in. Our first evening in Cairo was spent on balcony overlooking pyramids eating pizza and drinking bad wine in little bottles provided on EgyptAir flight.

schmerl

No, but while in Haifa my traveling companions were thrilled to see a McDonald's and enjoyed their burgers and fries.

jacketwatch

suze

Does eating at Pret a Manger count as "eaten at a domestic chain" for me ??? since I'm from the USA.

crellston

Not really. It started life in the U.K. and is now owned by a German company.

suze

I just think this question needs to be more clearly worded. If everyone on this forum was from the United States it would make sense as is, but they are (thankfully) not.

TDudette

McD's when we wanted something quick and cheap--maybe 6 times total in our 20+ years of travel to mostly Italy and France.

Pret a manger in Bologna not realizing it is a chain. Wimpy's in England in 1969 and then again in the 1990's when we finally saw one. One in Paris that we saw again in Montpelier..Entrecote??? Can't remember.

Otherwise, we try to find local places. Part of the fun of travel, yes?

janisj

I think the question is pretty universal -- Lots of countries have domestic chains -- so a Brit eating at a Pret in NYC is eating at a UK chain restaurant overseas, a Yank eating at Burger King in Munich is eating at a US chain restaurant overseas, a Japanese visitor eating at Beard Papa's in Manhattan is eating at a Japanese chain restaurant overseas.

Nelson

Getting of the train at Versailles we had to pee and saw a McDonald's. Based on a famous guidebook author's advice we took advantage of that. Then of course felt obligated to purchase something, So we bought a reasonably good cappuccino and croissant.

Ate in a pizza hut in Singapore once because coworkers wanted to go there. Absolutely horrible.

Traveler_Nick

So just like every other Pizza hut in the world -)

suze

Lots of countries have domestic chains --

I know that.

So it's only a "domestic chain" when it is from your own home country? That was my question. If I, as American, eat in a British domestic chain, then that doesn't count for this survey?

baldone

Let's not get all anal about this. It's just a fun question. If you want to get all nitpicky, is it really considered a domestic chain if it's a locally-owned franchise?

Traveler_Nick

My understanding is has anybody eaten at a chain that could be considered home.

For example Dunkin Donuts is in many European countries. I've no idea why but they exist.

You visit one because it's "American"

The same sort of thing for Starbucks.

OTOH Costa from the UK would be a British chain. I guess someone from the UK visiting Spain and picking a Costa over a Starbucks would fit the question

swandav2000

I'm also confused by the question. If you are in France (whether living or visiting), something "domestic" is French. Like a domestic flight from Paris to Nice, for instance.

So do you mean, do you eat at chain restaurants at home and abroad?

Or do you mean, do you eat at American chain restaurants while abroad?

Thankfully, for me, neither. If I want fast food, I'll have a crepe or a sausage. If I want a coffee, I'll go to a cafe or a Konditerei.

s

Macross

Costa has decent coffee and a bathroom, save your receipt, the bathroom code is on the bottom. I was surprised to see Dunkin in Nurnberg the last visit.

jacketwatch

I agree. You can kill anything by overanalyzing.
This isn't a thesis being presented. Chill.

janisj

I took the question to be "Do you ever eat at chains from your own home country when traveling overseas?"

(But the question is not really fleshed out -- so its open to ALL SORTS of interpretations)

suze

That is the wording I was hoping for, janisj. For clarity in replies.
And especially if they are fishing around for material to use in articles or guidebooks. Questions should be more precise.

sassy27

I do when I want something cheap and quick. I know I can get ice in my drinks and for the most part, know what I can expect. The McDonald's in Paris though is not very good but elsewhere has been ok. You can't beat the fried apple pies that are no longer made in the US but not all have them. I never eat Pizza Hut pizza at home but for some reason in Edinburgh I do. I even went to TGIF in Edinburgh as they had a sandwich on the menu that was no longer on the US menu.

I am not familiar with chains outside the US being in the US. Yes I have tried chain food overseas. Some I like and some I don't.

jacketwatch

I know of only one. Its a Phillipino chicken franchise called Jollibee. I have seen them in Asia, Singapore I think. There is one in a Chicago suburb and I think that was chosen due to the large Phillipino in the area. It is hard to break into the chicken franchise business here with KFC, Popeyes, Browns, etc. Jollibee is pretty good IMHO. It has its own taste. I do think there are several on the west coast, a few on the east coast and a few in Hawaii.