Look No Further Than Fast Food For Local Fare Overseas

Nevin Barich

LOS ANGELES , September 26, 2017 (Off The Menu) – I recently traveled to Israel for the first time. During my trip, I acquainted myself with the local cuisine: Lamb, shawarma, falafel, fish, and I even tried hummus even though I never liked it back in the states (and I didn’t like it in Israel either). Eventually, however, I was craving fast food, specifically pizza, and while at the airport in Tel Aviv waiting to board my flight, I saw a welcome sight:

Pizza Hut.

I literally ran over there, with thoughts of a gooey cheese pan pizza topped by olives and mushrooms dancing in my head. But when I got there and looked up at the menu, I saw something I had never seen a Pizza Hut serve:

Quiche.

Curious, I asked the woman behind the counter about the quiche. I explained that I was from Los Angeles and that quiche wasn’t a part of Pizza Hut’s U.S. menu. I wanted to know how popular it was with the Israeli locals, particularly in comparison with the pizzas.

“Oh, it’s no contest,” she replied. “Quiche is our most popular item.”

Quiche at a Pizza Hut in Israel is just one of several examples of major fast food chains offering menu items specific to the country. The reasoning is simple: Different countries have different local tastes, so it’s important for these companies to have menu items that cater to these tastes. That’s why if you go to a KFC in Australia, you’ll see chicken pot pie. Or if you go to a Burger King in Canada, you can order poutine, made with fries, cheese curds and gravy.

Other examples of local fare from major fast food chains:

• The Paneer Zinger, a crunchy, double-layered paneer cheese patty filled with a spicy, creamy sauce and topped with lettuce on a sesame bun, available at KFC in India.
• Tofu-Fish McNuggets, available at McDonald’s in Japan. Also in Japan, the Kuro (or black) Burger--featuring black cheese made from bamboo charcoal and black sauce courtesy of black squid ink on a charred black bun—is available at Burger King.
• Pizza Hut patrons in Australia can enjoy a Doritos Pizza, made with mozzarella cheese, smashed Doritos and cheddar.
• If you’re in the Philippines and craving Mexican fast food, head on over to a Taco Bell and ask for the Cheetos Quesadilla, stuffed with jalapeno-flavored Cheetos and a three-cheese blend.

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