One thing we were really excited about before going to America?
The food.
Specifically… the fast food.
Because let’s be honest—everything always looks better in the US. Bigger, cheesier, more over-the-top. But is it actually better?
Here’s our honest take after trying it all as a family.
What We Tried
We made it our mission to try a mix of everything:
- Panda Express
- Taco Bell
- White Castle
- Shake Shack
- Wendy's
- IHOP
- Cracker Barrel
- Golden Corral
And honestly… it was a mix of wow and what is this?
The Differences (US vs UK)
Portion Sizes
Everything is bigger. And I mean everything.
Even “small” meals felt like a full UK large—and drinks are on another level entirely.
Flavour
Food in America is:
- Sweeter
- Saltier
- More intense
Some things were incredible… others felt a bit too much.
Eggs Are… Confusing
Ordering eggs in America is a whole experience on its own.
You’re suddenly asked:
- Over easy
- Sunny side up
- Scrambled
- Over medium
And if you don’t know what you’re picking… you might end up with something a bit slimy (which definitely happened to us).
Mac & Cheese… Everywhere
One thing we didn’t expect?
Mac and cheese is on everything.
Every menu seemed to have it—sometimes as a side, sometimes part of the meal. It felt a bit strange to us at first…
But our 7-year-old pasta lover? Thriving.
Butter Is… Different
Even the butter caught us off guard.
It’s often whipped and slightly sweet, which just felt a bit odd compared to what we’re used to in the UK.
Not bad—just different.
Our Favourites
- White Castle – surprisingly one of our favourites, easy to grab a few and share
- Shake Shack – really good quality, felt like a step up from typical fast food
- IHOP – chaotic but fun, especially for the kids
Not For Us
- Panda Express – just didn’t hit the way we expected
- Taco Bell – one we had to try, but not one we’d rush back to
Final Thoughts
Is American fast food better than UK?
Not always.
But it’s definitely:
- More varied
- More of an experience
- Full of things you just don’t get at home
And honestly, trying it all became part of the trip itself.
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