A Very Important Review - Chain Restaurants in London
Alright, I’ll admit it. I eat McDonald’s.
Is it healthy? Obviously not. Do I feel like garbage after eating it? Most of the time, yes. But in the moment, doesn’t the corporate machine-processed, pesticide-filled classic American slop just taste delicious? Absolutely.
But does it taste better when you’re drunk?
100%
I visited a number of pubs and some gay bars in Soho on day 7 in London. I had small talk with a few strangers at each place, but most places had groups of people older than me. I’ve found that it’s tougher to talk to older people - it’s not easy when you don’t have much in common. However, that did not stop me from enjoying the local atmosphere… or the beer.
The walk home through Oxford Circus was full of lights, sounds and people. Through the thick of it, however, I still saw the iconic Golden Arches that causes the Pavlovian response in many Americans. As if the Bat Signal was lit, I sprang into action to satisfy my guilty pleasure.
I ordered the usual meal - a Quarter Pounder with Cheese, large fries and a large Coke.
Let’s start with the Coke. A large McDonald’s drink in the US is 32 fluid ounces (946ml).
A large drink in the UK is… half that size. 17 fl oz (500ml). That’s the same as a small size 16 fl oz drink in the US.
Don’t get me wrong here - I have no problem with the smaller portion. It was just a jarring observation that I made. I’m sure that drinking a whole bucket of acidic sugar water isn’t great for you - I think Americans could probably benefit a lot from a change like smaller sugar portions.
As for the Coke itself, it tastes different here, both in a can and from the fountain. I can’t pinpoint what it is, but there certainly wasn’t the iconic “McDonald’s Coke” flavor to it. And yes, McDonald’s Coke in the US just hits different.
They also put like 3 ice cubes in the drink. The lack of the drink being ice-cold could also play a factor in the flavor.
Now for the fries - delicious as always! They use the same type of potatoes and they were well salted, but this particular batch had less of the usual crispiness.
Finally, the Quarter-Pounder. Yes, they call it the Quarter-Pounder in UK, but it unfortunately costs more than £0.25. It tasted virtually the same as the American variety.
On the subject of fast food, I’ve tried a number of London fast food joints. Partly because I’m curious, but also because it’s a cheaper way to eat in this ridiculously costly city.
Pret a Manger (pronounced “preht ah mon-JAY” but use a French accent) exists around literally every corner in London. They serve up cheap sandwiches, wraps, pastries and coffee. The experience was pretty mid, but you get what you pay for I suppose.
LEON was surprisingly good. They serve Mediterranean-inspired dishes, but I actually had a Korean chicken wrap and a side of fries that was all quite tasty. They also had tons of vegetarian and vegan options (go here if you ever find yourselves in London, my vegan buddies).
Wok to Walk is an Amsterdam-based stir fry joint. They had lots of customization options and a big portion at an affordable price.
Tortilla is the Chipotle of London, advertising themselves as “California-style”, despite not having an option to add potatoes to your burrito. It doesn’t meet Denver’s Illegal Pete’s, but still delicious!
Other chain restaurantes I have seen in London include Five Guys, Shake Shack, Burger King, KFC, Wendy’s, Subway and Starbucks. I find it interesting to see the American influence on a foreign city. As I continue to travel through Europe, I expect to see dwindling amounts of US culture, and I look forward to expanding my cultural horizons!
Alright, I’ve spent way too much time talking about fast food. I look forward to trying even more foods, especially the weird stuff in Paris!
