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FM
Former Member

24 fast food chains from around the world that we wish would come to the United States

PROMO_global food
Can we start a petition to get some of these to open in the States?
Mr. Lee/ Telepizza

 

The INSIDER Summary:

  • INSIDER rounded up 24 of the most popular, highly rated, and unique fast-food chains around the world.
  • Mr. Lee is a popular comfort food spot for beef noodles in China.
  • Telepizza is basically Spain's version of Pizza Hut, but with some unique menu options (like nacho pizza!).


Americans may be the original arbiters of fast food, but that doesn't mean we're the only ones who know how to produce craveable pizza and burgers in mass quantities.

INSIDER rounded up some of the most delicious, enviable, and unique (to American palates, anyway) fast food chains around the world that we wish would come to the United States.

From the ever-popular Nandos peri-peri chicken in the UK, to the Netherland's FEBO fast food machine, we'd love to see the following 24 spots stateside.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Nandos: South Africa and the UK

Nandos: South Africa and the UK
It's easy to convince yourself that it's healthy when you're eating grilled chicken (even with fries on the side).
Nandos

Nandos originated in 1987 in South Africa, but has quickly become one of the most popular fast-food chains in the UK. Famous for its chicken peri-peri, chicken marinated in a sauce made from crushed chillies, the large casual restaurant chain has even become a British meme ("let's go get a cheeky Nandos with the lads"). Of course, most Americans have no idea what they're missing out on.

FM

Toast Box: Singapore

Toast Box: Singapore
This is not grilled cheese: It's Golden Lava French Toast stuffed with salted egg yolk custard.
Toast Box

Can you imagine an entire fast-food chain dedicated to toast? Toast Box is one of the most popular Singaporean food chains and serves unique toasty creations alongside artisan coffee, also known as "kaya toast and kopi" (jam with toast and coffee). Singaporean toast is as thick as Texas toast, with toppings like coconut jam, peanut butter, and even corned beef.

FM

Spudulike: Scotland

Spudulike: Scotland
An entire restaurant chain dedicated to the humble baked potato? Count us in.
Spudulike

Baked potatoes may be seen as a boring side dish, but at Spudulike, they're the main attraction. Their baked potatoes are stuffed with all manner of fillings like the above egg, chorizo, and spinach-stuffed potato. There's even a chicken Tikka Masala potato.

FM

Hell Pizza: New Zealand

Hell Pizza: New Zealand
The number 66 pizza is topped with Chinese fusion-style free range char siu pork.
Hell Pizza

As their tagline says, "The best d*mned pizza, in this life or next!" This hell-themed pizzeria has pizzas based on each of the seven sins (we bet gluttony is the most popular!). Greed is made with double the ingredients, while Wrath is spicy. We think this would do especially well in America.

FM

Chicken Licken: South Africa

Chicken Licken: South Africa
In South Africa, Chicken Licken is just as popular as McDonald's.
Licken Chicken

With a name based on a children's nursery rhyme, this fast-food joint is actually often compared to KFC. Chicken Licken is mostly known for its fried chicken, chicken sandwiches, and spicy wings. Unlike KFC, they also serve cheeseburgers. It's also the largest non-American-owned fried chicken franchise in the world, so you know it has to be good.

FM

Telepizza: Spain and the Middle East

Telepizza: Spain and the Middle East
We can never have enough bacon pizza.
Telepizza

If Telepizza looks familiar, that's because it's often compared to American chains like Pizza Hut and Domino's. The fast-food chain serves pizza in hundreds of locations (mostly in Spain and the Middle East) with a Latin twist, with toppings like barbacoa and Iberico ham. We're particularly drooling over the molten nacho pie!

FM

Hoka Hoka Bento: Japan

Hoka Hoka Bento: Japan
This is part of a chicken steak bento box meal.
Hoka Hoka Bento

Bento boxes are such a huge part of food culture in Japan that it only makes sense that they have an entire quick service restaurant chain devoted to them. Hoka Hoka Bento, affectionately known as HokBen, serves compact meal combos made with dumplings, popcorn chicken, stir fry, gyoza, and more.

FM

Chicken Cottage: The UK

Chicken Cottage: The UK
Chicken cottage is the other famous chicken fast food joint in the UK.
Chicken Cottage

The Brits love their fast-food chicken. Chicken Cottage is popular for its fried, grilled and BBQ halal chicken, as well as its sandwiches and wraps. Of course, they also are known to slather on some peri-peri sauce (we really need to make that a thing in the States).

FM

Supermacs: Ireland

Supermacs: Ireland
When you go to Supermacs be sure to order the "Dressed Fries" (chips) heaped with toppings.
Supermacs

Even though the name sounds like a McDonald's spinoff, don't be fooled by the menu filled with burgers and chicken sandwiches — Supermacs is best-known for their "dressed fries." Pictured above are the ever-popular taco fries, which are topped with cheese and ground meat.

FM

Pizza-la: Japan

Pizza-la: Japan
Scallop Butter Soy Sauce pizza with clams: Very different from American pizza.
Pizza-la

Pizza-la is the largest pizza chain in Japan, and they're particularly famous for innovative pies with a distinctly Japanese twist, like the mochi pizza or the sweet and sour chicken pizza. There's also something called a "shrimp and mayonnaise pie," which definitely does not sound like the pizza we're used to.

FM

Doggis: Chile and most of South America

Doggis: Chile and most of South America
This Chilean-style hot dog looks pretty incredible.
Doggis

In Chile, fast food burgers are overrated: instead, quick service hot dogs are where it's at. Doggis is just as popular as McDonald's in Peru and other Latin American countries, where you are encouraged to top your hot dog with as many toppings as possible. They're known for their "completos" which are topped with a guacamole-like paste made with avocado and mayonnaise.

FM

Mos Burger: Japan

Mos Burger: Japan
Not just beef: Pictured above is the tempura chicken rice burger
Mos Burger

Mos burger is the second-largest fast-food franchise in Japan (after McDonald's), and it's easy to see why. Mos is famous for its unique "rice burger," where the burger "bun" is made from rice patties and stuffed with shrimp, pork, or chicken tempura. The name comes from an abbreviation of "MOSt delicious burger."

FM

Pizza School: South Korea

Pizza School: South Korea
Barbecue Dumpling Pizza topped with bamboo dumplings and sweet corn mousse.
Pizza School

Known widely as one of the best pizza joints in Korea, Pizza School means to "educate" you on what proper pizza is. Wildly different than Western-style pizza, Pizza School's toppings include beef quesadillas, chili shrimp, grilled short rib patties, and sour cream and potatoes (that's actually the Irish pie).

FM

FEBO: The Netherlands

FEBO: The Netherlands
The era of the automat never ended in the Netherlands.
FEBO

This Dutch fast-food joint is actually not staffed by humans. Instead, you put your money in a machine and get your food from a slot, much like the popular automats of the 50s. Pictured above, one customer orders her chicken on a stick. Most of the menu items are on the smaller side, including croquettes, fries, and burgers.

FM

Mr. Lee: China

Mr. Lee: China
The most popular beef noodle soup in China.
Mr. Lee

Originating in Shanghai, this noodle house now has hundreds of locations across mainland China. Aside from their soup, Mr. Lee also offers other Chinese comfort foods like dumplings and wontons. The chain used to be called California Beef Noodle King U.S.A., though it has nothing to do with either California or America.

FM

AlBaik: Saudi Arabia

AlBaik: Saudi Arabia
AlBaik's fried chicken is a cultural phenomenon.
Albaik

We may take fried chicken fast food restaurants for granted in the US, but in Saudi Arabia, chicken from AlBaik is an obsession. In fact, vendors buy tons of it and drive across the country to sell it from their cars in places that don't have a franchise, an occurence known as The AlBaik "Chicken Run." AlBaik offers typical fried chicken meals, as well as fish filet sandwiches and French fries.

FM

Lotteria: East Asia

Lotteria: East Asia
Lotteria's burgers are widely known across major cities like Tokyo and Seoul.
Lotteria

Lotteria's burgers may look like your standard McDonald's fare, but rest assured there are plenty of Asian influences on the menu, like a squid burger, fried shrimp burger, and bulgogi burger (made with popular Korean barbecued beef).

FM

Noodle Box: Australia

Noodle Box: Australia
Stir fried noodles from a cup somehow reminds us of our college days.
Noodle Box

Noodle box is as simple as it sounds: oodles of Asian-style noodles in a "box" (cardboard cup). As one of the largest Asian fast-food franchises in Australia, you can get your noodles made with shrimp, Mongolian beef, honey chicken, and more. We really can't think of an American equivalent to this chain.

FM

Mini Kalzone: Brazil

Mini Kalzone: Brazil
That's calzone with a "k."
Mini Kalzone

If there's something we're lacking in America, it's an entire restaurant chain devoted to calzones. These are basically like cheesy hot pockets that come in a variety of flavors. The menu is simple, but you can also get smoothies and cookies if you're still peckish after a kalzone.

FM

Koni Store: Brazil

Koni Store: Brazil
Sushi cones are basically the greatest invention ever.
Koni Store

Koni store may or may not be named for its "kone"-shaped sushi rolls, also known as "temaki" hand rolls in Japan. There are hundreds of these Koni stores across Brazil, and they're especially popular as a late-night munchery for partying young people, much like pizza and diner food in the United States.

Flunch: France

FM

Flunch: France

Flunch: France
Flunch is basically the upscale buffet cafeteria of your dreams.
Flunch

Flunch, which we assume is short for "French lunch," or maybe "fast lunch," revolutionizes the fast food experience. At Flunch, food is self-served, and customers can pick from a large spread of options, including the famous grilled meats menu. Flunch is cheap and plentiful and gives American buffet chains like the Golden Corral a run for their money.

FM

Kaati Zone: India

Kaati Zone: India
Mass-produced street food reigns supreme at Kaati.
Kaati Zone

Street food is a way of life in many Asian countries. In India, the original kati roll is made with kebab meat wrapped in paratha bread, but at Kaati Zone you can customize your roll with falafel, chicken paneer, tika masala, and a variety of sauces. Kaati Zone used to have a location in New Jersey, but it shuttered.

FM

Nordsee: Germany

Nordsee: Germany
This is the first we've ever heard of a fast food restaurant that specializes in raw and smoked seafood.
Nordsee

A fast food seafood joint, Nordsee is one of the oldest fast food chains in the world, and originally started out as a 19th century fish supply shop before settling into the restaurant business. Try the tuna steak, salmon stir fry, and sushi menu.

FM

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