10 surprising ways that ordering fast food is different around the world
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In 2013, The Guardian reported that 12o countries worldwide had a McDonald's, a number few travelers should find surprising. In the face of increased globalization, it can feel like the fast food world has reached all corners of the globe — although Antarctica does still remain untouched.
Although fast food may be readily available throughout the world, the culture surrounding it can differ immensely. Here are just a few examples of how fast food is different in other countries.
Japan eats KFC on Christmas.
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Every year an estimated 3.6 million Japanese households celebrate Christmas with a feast from KFC, according to the BBC. It's common for orders to be placed weeks in advance or for customers to have to face hours in line on that day.
It all started when the first KFC opened in Japan in 1970 with Takeshi Okawara as manager. A few months after opening Okawara had the idea to sell a Christmas party barrel based on the elaborate American Thanksgiving meal. In 1974 the idea was released nationally, dubbed "Kentucky For Christmas." Following the success of this idea, Okawara went on to be CEO of Kentucky Fried Chicken Japan.
Some McDonald's locations can be very fancy in other parts of the world.
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When my family and I went to Paris, my brother insisted on getting food from a McDonald's. Housed in a beautiful building near Versailles, I was amazed at how pretty the McDonald's was compared to the ones I had been to in the United States.
As I traveled around Europe, I consciously took note of other locations and found that many were of a similar standard.
In Australia, Burger King is called Hungry Jack's.
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In 1971, Burger King teamed up with Australian businessman Jack Cowin to launch Burger King in Australia. Unfortunately, they soon discovered that an American had opened his own restaurant called Burger King in Australia, as the name had not been trademarked there.
They decided to name the Australian locations "Hungry Jack's." While Cowin now owns the Burger King trademark in Australia, the name Hungry Jack's remains.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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