# Foods Americans like that non-Americans find disgusting **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 21, 2015, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054 "2015-09-21T01:22:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/221 "2015-09-29T08:21:53Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Let’s look at DC, for example. In the 1968, DC was hit with devastating riots. The heart of the city was destroyed, and the most vibrant neighborhoods literally burned down. Some areas were not rebuilt for decades. For years, much of DC was a no-man’s land, with many areas directly adjacent to downtown being unsafe even in the day. Anyone who could moved to the suburbs. It’s only in the last 10 years or so that the affected neighborhoods have started to recover (and indeed, they have become the most vibrant areas.) But downtown remains devoid of residential space. Very, very few people live there. What little residential space there is is often part-time residences for wealthy people doing business who want to stay close to the office. I know this is off topic but interesting… As a potential tourist from the uk to the US, Washington was one of the cities which was on my list, and I typically stay Downtown when visiting US cities. Are there many other major cities in this is in US? Just to know… I have watched a BBC documentary on Detroit and the concept that there’s a modern American Ghost town, makes me tend to avoid visiting there… I know also that downtown wasn’t always safe in US cities, and it wasn’t that long ago that New York was pretty horrible in the centre… Are there many with this problem… (I have hit such problems such as Seattle downtown, just isn’t actually that interesting, but that’s a different thing). ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/222 "2015-09-29T08:32:07Z")
Well, as someone from the UK, I’ve loved Root beer since I first tasted it in McDonalds in 1987. They don’t sell it in McDonalds in the uk anymore though, and when I’ve been to the US, the big struggle was to find a diet version. I’ve often looked in lots of supermarkets over a two week holiday, and ended up finding a single solitary 500ml bottle of A&W diet in a gas station in Merced or somewhere… Dr Pepper is fine too. Now what I refer to as “squeezy cheese”. Foul stuff. I’m talking about the orange stuff which is near liquid when you take it out of bottle/wherever. Tastes nothing like cheese. I’ve seen this creep into the uk, Wetherspoons, a not particularly salubrious chain now serves it with the “Philly cheesesteak” in a separate dish. I will not be touching that stuff again… Also “Grilled Cheese Sandwiches”. Mainly because its not what we expect. A grill in the uk refers to what I think americans call a “broiler”, where the heat comes from above. So we expect what we would call a “toasted cheese sandwich”. The idea that you “shallow fry” the bread (like we call it, but I believe you butter/spread the outside of the bread, then “grill” it), means we end up with a sandwich with what we’d called “fried bread” and cheese in the middle which isn’t pleasant to us. Fried bread only usage appears in the UK as part of breakfast, and sitting under cooked tomatoes in which it makes a pleasant contrast. Of course the subject of british breakfasts is another thing… I’m struggling to find something else alien to us. Though personally not being a fish/seafood person, I miss out on why people love some restaurants, especially Vegas buffets: Lobster. But I’m sure you can find it over here if you look, but will be suitably expensive. However, the existence of Prime Rib makes up for most things… ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/223 "2015-09-29T10:45:59Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > I know this is off topic but interesting… > > As a potential tourist from the uk to the US, Washington was one of the cities which was on my list, and I typically stay Downtown when visiting US cities. Are there many other major cities in this is in US? Just to know… I think American cities are undergoing a bit of a renaissance as young people look for walkable neighborhoods. DC is thriving- definitely visit! But I don’t think it’s uncommon for central business districts (“downtown”) to be pretty barren at night. The more interesting neighborhoods are probably just outside of “downtown.” In DC, you’ll find it more lively if you stay someplace like Dupont Circle rather than smack downtown (where hotel prices will be insane anyway). But it’s a small city so it’s not a huge deal. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/224 "2015-09-29T12:30:41Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Sicily is in Italy. Well, not _in_ it, but you know what I mean. And they have thick pizza. It’s bread in a lot of respects (focaccia specifically). And it takes a lot longer than 5 minutes. I’m just imagining the vendettas caused by the Neapolitan thin pizzas vs the Sicilian version debate. I’m going to Naples in a few weeks, shall I ask for a Sicilian style pizza there and see if I make it out alive? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/225 "2015-09-29T12:40:06Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > when I’ve been to the US, the big struggle was to find a diet version. Huh, that’s weird. I wonder if it’s a regional thing. Diet root beer is pretty much the only soda I ever buy and I’ve never been short of options (I actually like the Publix brand). ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/226 "2015-09-29T18:27:40Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Huh, that’s weird. I wonder if it’s a regional thing. Diet root beer is pretty much the only soda I ever buy and I’ve never been short of options (I actually like the Publix brand). West Coast from San Diego to Vancouver, CA. Also tried New York and Vegas, so not that far travelled I suppose 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/227 "2015-09-29T18:43:45Z")
I’m from the UK and it’s hard to overstate how much I love a pb&j sandwich. If you eat them in public though, people will not disguise their disgust. Also people here think tend to think putting maple syrup on a cooked breakfast is about as appealing as putting detergent on it. Bacon with syrup sounds pretty nice to me though. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/228 "2015-09-29T18:46:16Z")
> [@Mikeisskeptical](#): > > Bacon with syrup sounds pretty nice to me though. Truly, it is one of life’s simplest pleasures. However, proper form must be observed. One must not simply put syrup on the bacon. That would be gauche. The syrup goes on the pancakes or waffles. Once those have been eaten, the bacon (or sausage) may be dragged through the syrup left on the plate. ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/229 "2015-09-29T22:01:46Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Truly, it is one of life’s simplest pleasures. > > However, proper form must be observed. One must not simply put syrup on the bacon. That would be gauche. The syrup goes on the pancakes or waffles. Once those have been eaten, the bacon (or sausage) may be dragged through the syrup left on the plate. Aw, I love American food I haven’t even tried yet. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/230 "2015-09-30T00:03:53Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > Also “Grilled Cheese Sandwiches”. > > Mainly because its not what we expect. A grill in the uk refers to what I think americans call a “broiler”, where the heat comes from above. So we expect what we would call a “toasted cheese sandwich”. > > The idea that you “shallow fry” the bread (like we call it, but I believe you butter/spread the outside of the bread, then “grill” it), means we end up with a sandwich with what we’d called “fried bread” and cheese in the middle which isn’t pleasant to us. Fried bread only usage appears in the UK as part of breakfast, and sitting under cooked tomatoes in which it makes a pleasant contrast. Of course the subject of british breakfasts is another thing… yep, I’ll cop to the ambiguity. we (americans) use the word “grill” for both an actual grill (either charcoal or gas) or a hot flat metal cooking surface, which you folks call a griddle. so it’d be more like a “griddled cheese sandwich.” > [@](#): > > Of course the subject of british breakfasts is another thing… while I’m ignorant of what a typical breakfast actually is over there, I see pics and descriptions of a full breakfast and I’d totally eat that. I wouldn’t have to eat again for a day and a half, but… ---
**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:** [September 30, 2015, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/231 "2015-09-30T00:24:44Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > West Coast from San Diego to Vancouver, CA. Also tried New York and Vegas, so not that far travelled I suppose 🙂 Diet root beer is in every store in that area. Hire’s, A&W, Barq’s, store-brand…diet rb is everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/232 "2015-09-30T00:53:27Z")
Corn dogs? ---
**Author:** ![McDoogins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@McDoogins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McDoogins)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/233 "2015-09-30T01:01:03Z")
I could never eat cold beans in a can, the water is just disgusting. Foods that make me feel like white trash; hotdogs, macaroni and cheese and hamburgers. Moreso hot dogs and mac n cheese as a meal. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/234 "2015-09-30T01:09:04Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I see pics and descriptions of a full breakfast and I’d totally eat that. I wouldn’t have to eat again for a day and a half, but… Full breakfasts are (from what I understand) seldom eaten nowadays in Great Britain except for, say, farmers and other people who have a full day of physical labor ahead of them. For most others, breakfast doesn’t differ much from what Americans generally eat, e.g., toast, tea, coffee, cereal, and juice. I seldom eat heavy breakfasts (e.g., eggs, bacon, sausage links, pancakes, hash browns) any more myself. I just don’t burn that many calories in a day. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/235 "2015-09-30T01:11:15Z")
> [@McDoogins](#): > > I could never eat cold beans in a can, the water is just disgusting. Your beans don’t come in some kind of tomatoey or brown sugar sauce?!? :dubious: :eek: 😕 ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/236 "2015-09-30T01:13:46Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > yep, I’ll cop to the ambiguity. we (americans) use the word “grill” for both an actual grill (either charcoal or gas) or a hot flat metal cooking surface, which you folks call a griddle. so it’d be more like a “griddled cheese sandwich.” > > . Grill in UK or Aus is typically a heating element above a sliding tray. The hot flat metal cooking surface is generally called a hot plate, I have never heard anyone use the word “Griddle” ever. Having said that, I have no issue with cooking the sandwich that way, in fact I’ve started doing it at home as it’s quicker than heating the griller. I just use a frying pan. The consistency of the bread isn’t significantly different, you can get up a nice crunch on the outside while getting a good gooey melt on the inside. I’m a fan. I don’t get the hate for the white sliced bread, we have the same thing here, but have plenty of other options. The old white bread may have basically zero nutritional value but is mandatory for a bbq sausage with tomato sauce. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/237 "2015-09-30T01:16:13Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Full breakfasts are (from what I understand) seldom eaten nowadays in Great Britain except for, say, farmers and other people who have a full day of physical labor ahead of them. For most others, breakfast doesn’t differ much from what Americans generally eat, e.g., toast, tea, coffee, cereal, and juice. > > I seldom eat heavy breakfasts (e.g., eggs, bacon, sausage links, pancakes, hash browns) any more myself. I just don’t burn that many calories in a day. I’ll often go the big cooked breakfast when on holidays or on the weekend, but it doubles as lunch as well. Have a breakfast meal like that and don’t eat again til evening. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/238 "2015-09-30T01:23:58Z")
> [@stui\_magpie](#): > > I’ll often go the big cooked breakfast when on holidays or on the weekend, but it doubles as lunch as well. Have a breakfast meal like that and don’t eat again til evening. I have a full British breakfast two or three times a year (there’s at least one place in Toronto that stocks all the fixings), and they always last me at least two days! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/239 "2015-09-30T01:32:20Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Full breakfasts are (from what I understand) seldom eaten nowadays in Great Britain except for, say, farmers and other people who have a full day of physical labor ahead of them. For most others, breakfast doesn’t differ much from what Americans generally eat, e.g., toast, tea, coffee, cereal, and juice. > > I seldom eat heavy breakfasts (e.g., eggs, bacon, sausage links, pancakes, hash browns) any more myself. I just don’t burn that many calories in a day. IME it’s often a hangover meal, or just a weekend/special occasion thing. People are a lot more health conscious and generally too busy to prepare one every day. A lot of people still eat them at greasy spoon cafes though. ---
**Author:** ![Rob\_da\_Reese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rob\_da\_Reese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rob_da_Reese)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/240 "2015-09-30T08:47:43Z")
> [@ticker](#): > > American cheese. YES. This. And one step further: cheese in a can. WHAT. IS. THAT? [http://www.retroland.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Kraft-Easy-Cheese.jpg](http://www.retroland.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Kraft-Easy-Cheese.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054.md?page=13)