1. McDonald’s Big Mac
Even the Big Mac can’t escape international flair. In India, you won’t find any beef patties due to cultural preferences, so they serve up the “Maharaja Mac” with chicken or a vegetarian patty instead. It’s still a double-decker, but with a totally different vibe.
2. Pizza
If Chicago and New York couldn’t get on the same page about their pizza, there’s no hope for finding common ground with the rest of the world. In Japan, for example, pizza gets pretty wild. Think less pepperoni and more toppings like squid, corn, or mayonnaise. One of their signature pizzas even has eel on it! It’s still pizza, but not as you’ve ever imagined it.
3. Bacon
Bacon lovers, brace yourselves. In the UK, what we call bacon is actually more like “streaky bacon,” and they prefer back bacon, which is meatier and less crispy. It’s more like ham than the crunchy strips we know in the U.S.
4. Ketchup
You might think ketchup is ketchup no matter where you are, but not so fast! In places like the Philippines, ketchup is made from bananas instead of tomatoes. Yes, bananas! It’s sweeter, and the red color comes from food dye. Definitely a curveball for your fries.
5. Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is beloved in the U.S., but elsewhere it’s more of an acquired taste. In countries like France or Italy, it’s seen as strange and overwhelmingly sweet, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find peanut butter-filled snacks like Reese’s in most grocery stores.
6. Coffee
If you’re used to your Starbucks venti cup of joe, you’re in for a shock in Europe. In Italy and France, coffee comes in tiny espresso cups—strong, bold, and gone in two sips. No grande or venti sizes here!
7. Oreos
In China, Oreos have undergone quite a transformation. You’ll find green tea, raspberry-blueberry, or even orange-Mango flavored Oreos. The cookies themselves are less sweet and the filling gets creative!
8. Hot Dogs
In Japan, hot dogs aren’t just a grab-and-go street food. There, you might find them in bento boxes, sliced into cute octopus shapes. It’s the same hot dog but elevated into a work of art that’s just as much fun to look at as it is to eat.
9. Coca-Cola
Yes, even Coke can taste different! In Mexico, Coca-Cola is made with real cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup, and fans argue it tastes way better. You can usually find “Mexican Coke” in some U.S. stores if you want to compare.
10. French Fries
In Belgium, where fries (or “frites”) are practically a national treasure, they’re thicker, double-fried, and served with mayonnaise instead of ketchup. It might sound odd to Americans, but locals swear by the creamy mayo pairing.
11. Chicken Wings
While we douse our wings in buffalo sauce, in Korea, chicken wings are usually fried to a perfect crisp and coated in a sweet, sticky glaze called yangnyeom. It’s spicy but in a different way from what you’d expect at your typical American sports bar.
12. Milkshakes
You know that thick, creamy milkshake you get at diners? In many parts of Europe, a “milkshake” is basically flavored milk—thin, frothy, and nothing like the ice cream-laden shakes we love. You might want to adjust your expectations!
13. Salad Dressing
In the U.S., we have a whole aisle dedicated to salad dressings. But in Italy? They stick to olive oil and balsamic vinegar, maybe a little lemon or salt. Creamy Ranch or thousand island is practically unheard of.
14. Pancakes
American pancakes are thick, fluffy stacks drenched in syrup. In France or the UK, pancakes (or crêpes) are much thinner and can be savory as well as sweet. No maple syrup floods here—think Nutella, ham, or cheese.
