# American restaurants in foreign countries other than fast food? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417 "2013-07-24T21:13:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/1 "2013-07-24T21:13:44Z")
**I don’t care about fast food in this thread.** Here in America, we have Chinese restaurants with what claims to be an approximation of Chinese cuisine. Ditto Mexican restaurants, French restaurants, and so on. They all have their weird interpretations which are alien to natives of the countries the restaurants supposedly ape. Anyway, are there _ **non fast-food** _ examples of American restaurants in other countries? What kinds of weird interpretations do they have, if so? **Again, I don’t care about fast food.** [sub](Right, then. Deluge me with citations to McDonald’s and Burger King.)[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/2 "2013-07-24T21:22:30Z")
In Dublin we have a place called “Captain America’s cookhouse and bar”.\* Menu [here](http://www.captainamericas.com/graftonst/menu/). \*This is not entirely accurate, as they spell their name without an apostrophe, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/3 "2013-07-24T21:31:26Z")
I’ve told this one before: Had a friend that told me when he was in China in Guangzhou they went to some type of American 50s styled place and ordered what on the menu were called beef soft tacos. He said when they brought them out, they looked great, but when he bit into them the meat was seasoned with some type of ketchup/fish sauce mixture, what he thought was cheese was some shredded tofu or something, and what he expected to be sour cream turned out to be something like whipped cream. ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/4 "2013-07-24T21:33:23Z")
The UK version of Kitchen Nightmare’s once featured Mama Cherri’s Soul Food Shack in Brighton. It’s since [closed](http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/sep/03/cherri-kitchen-nightmare-gordon-ramsay), though. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/5 "2013-07-24T21:36:05Z")
There was (and may still be) a restaurant near Mainz, Germany, named “American Bar” (or something similar). On the menu they had what they thought were American dishes and it was a bit ridiculous. Among other things they had “Sloopy Joes” [sic] on the breakfast(!) menu and “Hawaiian Toast” which was just bread with pineapples on them. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Chicago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Dr\_Chicago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Chicago)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/6 "2013-07-24T21:38:01Z")
In downtown Oslo, there’s a TGI Friday’s and Hard Rocks everywhere. I’ve also seen a lot of hamburger restaurants around wherever I go in Europe that aren’t necessarily fast food, but most of them aren’t great. There’s one in Trondheim that actually does a very good job, I think it had California in the name. In Bratislava, my g/f lived above a place called “Pizza Bling” which had a bunch of art of rappers eating pizza. We tried a bunch of times to go but we never did. (Woo, still have my picture of it! - [https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/374420\_10100884407287773\_335336321\_n.jpg](https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/374420_10100884407287773_335336321_n.jpg) ) ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/7 "2013-07-24T21:41:01Z")
> [@hibernicus](#): > > In Dublin we have a place called “Captain America’s cookhouse and bar”.\* > > Menu [here](http://www.captainamericas.com/graftonst/menu/). > > \*This is not entirely accurate, as they spell their name without an apostrophe, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. A gem: > [@](#): > > €14.75 The New Yorker > > Classically American! Topped with melted Bandon Vale mature cheddar cheese over a slice of bacon served with a fried egg on top. Ha. No. The bacon and cheese are fine, even if most American restaurants wouldn’t use that specific kind of cheese, but the egg is weird. I’ve also never heard the word ‘Goujons’ before in my life and the odds of their getting cajun right are pretty much nil. (Not that they should feel too bad about that last. The odds of a Montana restaurant getting cajun right are also pretty much nil, but some still try.) Great examples from the rest of you as well. I should have known the Chinese would have some odd examples. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/8 "2013-07-24T21:42:47Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > There was (and may still be) a restaurant near Mainz, Germany, named “American Bar” (or something similar). On the menu they had what they thought were American dishes and it was a bit ridiculous. Among other things they had “Sloopy Joes” [sic] on the breakfast(!) menu and “Hawaiian Toast” which was just bread with pineapples on them. This is fascinating, seeing your own culture through the distorted lens of a foreigner trying to interpret it. Kind of how an FOB Chinese person must feel when they come across the typical American Chinese restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/9 "2013-07-24T21:42:50Z")
There are any number of “American diner” style restaurants around the UK. [Example](http://www.tinseltown.co.uk/) [Example](http://www.edseasydiner.com/location/soho.php) [Example](http://www.okdiners.com/) Or is that too “fast food” for you? There are also plenty of Texan restaurants, American-style steakhouses, pancake places etc etc, at least in London. They have varying degrees of authenticity but the menus are fairly indistinguishable from equivalents in the US, in my limited experience. [This article](http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/restaurants/londons-best-american-restaurants-6862180.html) on “London’s best American restaurants” is a few years old but will give you an idea. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Chicago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Dr\_Chicago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Chicago)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/10 "2013-07-24T21:53:25Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > [Example](http://www.edseasydiner.com/location/soho.php) I have so been there. I actually liked it. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/11 "2013-07-24T21:58:58Z")
I once saw a Tex-Mex place called in Paris called “Indiana.” Didn’t go in, though, so have no idea what the food is like. Still, seems like they could use a geography lesson. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/12 "2013-07-24T22:07:35Z")
There is a genre of restaurant in Australia called the “Texas steakhouse”, which I avoid because I’m not really into beef steaks. [Here’s one](http://www.oldtexasranch.com.au/) not far from where I live. The [Outback Steakhouse](http://www.outbacksteakhouse.com.au/) markets itself as a chain of Australian restaurants in the U.S., but in Australia I think it qualifies as a Texas steakhouse. (I’ve been to one Outback Steakhouse in Ohio, because my then teenage son liked that kind of thing, but never in Australia.) As far as fast food goes, we have chains like [KFC](http://www.kfc.com.au/), [McDonalds](http://www.mcdonalds.com.au/) and [Pizza Hut](http://www.pizzahut.com.au/) here. (Warning: the KFC Australia site includes a video with sound, so don’t open it at work.) ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/13 "2013-07-24T22:11:44Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > I once saw a Tex-Mex place called in Paris called “Indiana.” Didn’t go in, though, so have no idea what the food is like. Still, seems like they could use a geography lesson. There’s an Indian restaurant (as in South Asian) here called the Indiana Raj Restaurant, which definitely has nothing to do with the Hoosier State. ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/14 "2013-07-24T22:24:19Z")
There used to be a place in Prague called “Buffalo Bill’s Steakhouse and Grill”. Probably the best burger in Prague at the time but in the US they would not be all that great. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/15 "2013-07-24T22:26:34Z")
Restaurants\> Cafe Society. Moved. **samclem** , moderator ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/16 "2013-07-24T22:30:16Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > A gem:Ha. No. The bacon and cheese are fine, even if most American restaurants wouldn’t use that specific kind of cheese, but the egg is weird. I’ve also never heard the word ‘Goujons’ before in my life and the odds of their getting cajun right are pretty much nil. (Not that they should feel too bad about that last. The odds of a Montana restaurant getting cajun right are also pretty much nil, but some still try.) > > Great examples from the rest of you as well. I should have known the Chinese would have some odd examples. Maybe it isn’t a New York thing, but down here (Memphis area) putting a fried egg on a burger is pretty common. I know at least two major chains have it on the menu as well (Red Robin and Steak and Shake). So, yeah, it isn’t that weird. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/17 "2013-07-24T22:35:44Z")
You mean “It isn’t that _uncommon_.” It’s **always** weird. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/18 "2013-07-24T22:41:19Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > Maybe it isn’t a New York thing, but down here (Memphis area) putting a fried egg on a burger is pretty common. I know at least two major chains have it on the menu as well (Red Robin and Steak and Shake). So, yeah, it isn’t that weird. I know at least one Columbian restaurant in NY that serves a burger with a fried egg on it. I wouldn’t exactly call it a New York thing ( I don’t see it in diners) , but it might be a South American thing that’s fairly common in New York ---
**Author:** ![Pitchmeister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pitchmeister/32/3459_2.png) [@Pitchmeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pitchmeister)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/19 "2013-07-24T22:43:06Z")
I think I’ve mentioned it before, but it bears repeating: [The Bird](http://www.thebirdinberlin.com/) in Berlin serves the best burgers in existence anywhere in the world, ever. They also do steaks pretty well, I hear, haven’t had one yet. Don’t try talking to them in German, though! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417/20 "2013-07-24T22:44:30Z")
Not a restaurant, but I did find one supermarket in France that sold “[American Sandwich Bread](http://tinyurl.com/n4y2k5p).” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-restaurants-in-foreign-countries-other-than-fast-food/664417.md?page=2)