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Have you ever eaten at a domestic chain while abroad?
Have you ever eaten at a domestic chain while abroad?
Why? How was it? |
Yes - I admit to more than once eating at a McDonalds or KFC in other countries (which is sort of weird since I almost never eat any fast food back home). I claim it is to check out cultural differences ;) But it is just that sometimes a fast/cheap burger or fries hits the spot. Now, I don't do this often at all -- but I have in London, in Munich, in Japan, in Paris over maybe the last 12 years.
And last month I had a Sufferin' Bastard and pupu platter at Trader Vic's in London -- for nostalgia reasons. But in general no - I don't. |
With the exception of a very few “high end” venues most chain restaurants serve mediocre food so I don’t frequent them in my home country very often. When traveling I try to dine at places that serve better than average food and wouldn’t think of going to a chain restaurant. |
Since I live in Mexico full time, I have a little different perspective. But yes, wife and I do indulge in domestic (American) chains. McD's for EggMcMuffins when we can find them. Carl's Jr, KFC, Subway, DQ all make the cut when we're on the road. Can't find them at home. Domino's at home sometimes. IHOP & Chili's suck. Do Costco hotdogs count?
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Once and only once -- fries late in the evening at a McD in Edinborough because it had a wonderful picture window overlooking the Princes Street Gardens, with the Castle lit up above the gardens. Awesome view! :)
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Tim Horton's in Madrid.
Blah. No walnut krulers. Limited choice of pastries. Coffee was burnt. Why? I was walking and it was there. Really not much around the first one except for some apartment buildings. The second time a rain storm had hit and I needed a place to wait out the rain. |
What do you mean by “domestic” and “abroad”?
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Also,once and only once, we could not find one restaurant or cafe open for a late lunch while crossing the Champagne region. We stopped at a McDonalds and were interested to find some Moroccan influences on the menu there. We were told many Moroccans work harvesting the grapes. We never eat at McDonald’s when home in the US so it was a real food emergency! |
Starbucks in several countries - mainly for the Rest Room - & a quick bite with coffee.
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No. Not foreign. Not domestic. Life is too short to eat plastic.
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Like a couple others here, once and only once. McDonalds in Portugal, as the kids needed the bathroom and you had to buy something and get the code. It was just as bad as here.
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By "domestic" do you mean a U.S.A. fast food chain?
Is Carl's Jr. a "domestic chain?" I do often have a hamburger from them while waiting for my departure flight at the Puerto Vallarta airport. |
Ate many melw at the green Moules-frites restaurants in Paris . . I saw a lot of them so I assume it was a local chain. Ate once at a god-awful; steak chain in London . . "Angus something" or "Something Angus" . . terrible!
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>>Angus something" or "Something Angus<<<<
Aberdeen Steakhouse - now called Angus Steakhouse. They've been around for decades and have been truly awful the whole time. MY personal opinion the reason so many American visitors think food in the UK is crap is because they ate at one or more . . . ;) |
That's it . . I was stranded and made the poor decision to go for a steak instead of Fishy chips . . but only once!
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If on the road we have run into a McDonalds for the bathroom and get something on the euro menu. We had breakfast at one in Augsburg before catching the train. I bought a Croque Monsier at McDonald's at CDG. It was ok but rarely eat chain food at home. We have so many great local places. burger king in Cadiz had nice bathrooms but the food line was so long didn't feel I needed to buy anything. We ate five guys fries in Paris for the loo and to get out of the rain one afternoon when they were boarding up the stores for the yellow vest protestors. That place is busy all the time. They are easy loo stops for sure. Nothing to be embarrassed about. I love Wagamama's in Dublin and the UK.
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Sure. Starbucks, McDs… Sometimes it's a simple solution to a problem/issue.
Years ago, my suggestions to someone heading to Versailles for the first time included leaving Paris as early as possible, stopping at the McDonald's across from the RER station in Versailles for coffee and a restroom break, and then getting to the palace when the gates open. We re-visited Versailles a couple of years ago and noticed there is now a Starbucks across from the train station and McDs. Better coffee, yay! When we were in Bern a few years ago, the coffee at Starbucks was better and cheaper than the other places we tried. Starbucks is also good at choosing locations and becomes an appealing place for an afternoon pause/snack/internet connection even if you weren't planning to stop. In some locations, we've found locals far outnumber tourists. We were in Japan in December one year and discovered that, while the Japanese don't observe Christmas, they do buy Christmas Chicken at KFC. "Kentucky for Christmas" is the marketing tag line. You have to order well in advance or face long lines. |
IT was not a chain at the time, but we used to eat at the original Hard Rock Cafe in London every now and then. It was not very popular at first, but had good burgers.q. It got too loud and too crowded after about a year |
Originally Posted by kja
(Post 16969460)
Once and only once -- fries late in the evening at a McD in Edinborough
Yes I have eaten in domestic chains whilst abroad, for example, Wagamama and Pret a Manger. They were fine. |
Originally Posted by Odin
(Post 16970072)
It's Edinburgh!.
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