# Definitely inferior foods Americans love... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 5, 2020, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990 "2020-01-05T21:10:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/1 "2020-01-05T21:10:50Z")
I realize price is a major factor, but I still won’t chose quality over quantity on some things. I’m eating some Hersey’s Kisses and it dawned on how inferior (though still addicting) it to most other chocolates. Same with See’s chocolates. It’s better than Hersey’s, but really not worth the price, but I still buy it because it’s cheaper than Ethel M’s. My beloved Spam. Spiced Ham my butt! Even canned ham tastes closer to the real thing, but yet Spam I love! American processed cheese. Just bought a prewrapped pack of goodness? today. I also have some less processed (hesitate to say real) cheddar and mixed shredded cheese in the freezer, but grilled cheese sandwiches must be made with the prewrapped stuff. Taco Bell. Mexic…nope can’t say it’s Mexic…food. Mexican food inspired yes, but Mexic…nope. Still, crave it from time to time. Same goes for Pizza Hut, Papa Johns and Dominos. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2020, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/2 "2020-01-05T21:24:55Z")
American cheese definitely. The stuff is awful and I stopped eating cheese for most of my childhood because of it. The American version of a croissant is inferior to how its served in France or Montreal. Less butter and the inside is not flaky at all. Pillsbury crescent rolls are only like the real thing because they have a similar shape – they’re really just dinner rolls. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/3 "2020-01-05T21:39:51Z")
Haven’t been stateside for a while but following those experiences it took a considerable period for the taste of the ubiquitous drip filtered coffee, over-brewed, decaffeinated, black dishwater to leave my palate. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/4 "2020-01-05T22:00:35Z")
McFood. Anything Nestlés. Jerked meaty products. Canned tamales and pastas. Generic weenies. White bread. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/5 "2020-01-05T22:34:14Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > American cheese definitely. The stuff is awful and I stopped eating cheese for most of my childhood because of it. > > The American version of a croissant is inferior to how its served in France or Montreal. Less butter and the inside is not flaky at all. Pillsbury crescent rolls are only like the real thing because they have a similar shape – they’re really just dinner rolls. Those are things you like? ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/6 "2020-01-05T22:36:36Z")
I agree with processed cheese stuff for grilled cheese sandwiches. Ones made with real cheese just aren’t the same, and sometimes that’s just what you want. Accompanied by Campbell’s tomato soup. Accept no substitute. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/7 "2020-01-05T22:47:06Z")
Panda Express Subway KFC ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/8 "2020-01-05T22:51:26Z")
Maruchan Ramen Noodles and Cup O Soup. Kraft macaroni and cheese, whether it’s the powdered cheese or the liquid cheese. Little Debbie snacks, about any variety, but especially the Peanut Butter Crunch Bars. Those are all things I like. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2020, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/9 "2020-01-05T22:57:15Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > Those are things you like? Most Americans do, as the subject line says. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/10 "2020-01-05T23:00:16Z")
> [@Personal](#): > > but especially the Peanut Butter Crunch Bars. You have named my weakness! If I want to indulge, I can only buy a single serving, or else the entire box becomes the single serving. _\_ ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/11 "2020-01-05T23:34:08Z")
Corndogs. Sonic is salty, fatty and much too big serving sizes. But I love it. I’ve recently been warned off it. I’m glad I ate my corndogs while I could. They will be a rare treat now. (:() ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/12 "2020-01-05T23:36:52Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Most Americans do, as the subject line says. But the whole OP is about things that are objectively inferior but that the poster still loves. I was considering by your response, since you seem to very much dislike your selections. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/13 "2020-01-05T23:50:45Z")
I never understood people’s obsessions with “Taco Bell isn’t authentic Mexican food!”, when’s the last time Taco Bell claimed it was Mexican food? You know what else isn’t authentic Mexican food? Nachos, and those are delicious and every single one of my Hispanic family members and friends loves them. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/14 "2020-01-05T23:55:19Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > But the whole OP is about things that are objectively inferior but that the poster still loves. I was considering\* by your response, since you seem to very much dislike your selections. Confused. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/15 "2020-01-06T00:17:06Z")
> [@Personal](#): > > Kraft macaroni and cheese, whether it’s the powdered cheese or the liquid cheese This was my first thought. Not that mac & cheese is a big part of my diet, but I’d rather have the Kraft boxed stuff than some baked macaroni sprinkled with cheddar and goat cheese or however people try to dress it up. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/16 "2020-01-06T00:38:29Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > I never understood people’s obsessions with “Taco Bell isn’t authentic Mexican food!”, when’s the last time Taco Bell claimed it was Mexican food? You know what else isn’t authentic Mexican food? Nachos, and those are delicious and every single one of my Hispanic family members and friends loves them. The issue that some people think Taco Bell IS real Mexican food, just Panda Express IS real Chinese food. I won’t continue my rants about how authentic XXX food is really hard to find in most places in the U.S. According to this site, [https://spoonuniversity.com/place/the-6-foods-that-were-on-taco-bell-original-menu](https://spoonuniversity.com/place/the-6-foods-that-were-on-taco-bell-original-menu) on the Taco Bell menu was at least closer to to Mexican style food than what’s available today. And what my I remember what my brother-in-law brought over for us to try when he became the manager of the first Taco Bell in Hawaii in the early 70’s. Tacos Frijoles Burrito - Red Sauce Burrito - Green Sauce Tostata Bell Beefer was the odd man out. I was in my early teens, but even without the Bell Beefer, I instinctively knew this wasn’t authentic. But still better than the frozen meat tacos and the ketchup/tabasco sauce we had prior to that. Not so for some, probably a lot of young people today. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/17 "2020-01-06T01:28:18Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > You have named my weakness! If I want to indulge, I can only buy a single serving, or else the entire box becomes the single serving. _\_ I plead guilty as well. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/18 "2020-01-06T01:30:15Z")
This is both funny and sad: "Taco Bell may be the home of Nacho Fries, but for many, the fast-food staple isn’t exactly a shining example of authentic Mexican cuisine. However, per the results of a nationwide survey known as The Harris Poll, more than 77,000 Americans have deemed the California-based, Chinese-owned chain the best Mexican restaurant in the country. Taco Bell beat out the likes of Chipotle and Moe’s Southwest Grill to win “Brand of the Year” for the first time since Harris launched its EquiTrend Study 30 years ago." Source: [https://www.usmagazine.com/food/news/taco-bell-voted-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-the-country/](https://www.usmagazine.com/food/news/taco-bell-voted-the-best-mexican-restaurant-in-the-country/) ---
**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:** [January 6, 2020, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/19 "2020-01-06T02:40:52Z")
Since when is Taco Bell “Chinese-owned”? As for that survey, I’m not surprised it won a nationwide poll for “best Mexican restaurant”. How many Mexican food chains are available nationwide? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/20 "2020-01-06T03:57:56Z")
I have heard that Panda Express is very like real Chinese banquet food, except NOT as sugary and greasy. Like diet Chinese food. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990.md?page=2)