Why Don't We Have These?! Fast-Food Bites Found Abroad We Wish We Had Here

The Black Burger at McDonald’s in Hong Kong. (Photo: That Food Cray)

People travel to try local delicacies and experience the unknown. That’s why most savvy travelers wouldn’t dare enter Dunkin’ Donuts in Delhi or a McDonald’s in Chiang Mai.

But the truth is, American fast-food chains abroad have taken food to some extremely localized (and occasionally entertaining) heights. Some combinations really work—like the orange-and-licorice ice cream in Canada or the Algarrobina Frappuccino in Peru.

Others, like the Domino’s seafood pizza, aren’t appetizing at all. And a few of these that we’ve rounded up might be more daunting than hiking Machu Picchu or swimming with whale sharks in the Philippines. Squid ink cheeseburger, anyone?

Black Burger – McDonald’s in Hong Kong

This avant-garde burger seems more like the work of foodie hipsters in Portland than the executives behind the world’s most ubiquitous fast-food chain. The black bun is made from wheat, colored by squid ink. It’s baked and sprinkled with white sesame seeds. Inside there are mashed potatoes, two beef patties, lettuce, several strips of bacon, and a (synthetic) truffle sauce. The burger was a promotional item some time ago, but according to a representative from the brand, it could return. (It’s like the Hong Kong McRib!)

Avocado Shrimp Pizza – Domino’s in Japan

While avocado slices might be slightly strange on a pizza, Domino’s went one step further and liquefied them into a sauce. They then add a layer of mayonnaise, a layer of tomato sauce, and a bunch of chopped-up, steamed prawns. It’s also got small pieces of pancetta … because everything is better with bacon.

Paneer Zinger – KFC in India

Thanks to a nationwide reverence for cows, American fast-food chains in India have to get inventive—and often entirely vegetarian. Paneer is a popular soft, white Indian cheese, and at KFC it’s filled with a spicy cream sauce. The cheese is then folded over to create a double-sized patty, with the sauce inside. It’s deep-fried, topped with lettuce and more special sauce, and sandwiched between toasted sesame buns.

Saffron Pistachio Melody Doughnut – Dunkin’ Donutsm in India

Saffron is a famed luxury spice around the world. Common in India’s renowned curries, it has more recently inspired a savory breakfast at the nation’s Dunkin’ Donuts. A plain doughnut is deep-fried and covered liberally with an icing infused with saffron-laced water. The final touch is a dusting of crushed pistachio nuts. It’s safe to say that you can put anything on a doughnut, and it will result in deliciousness.

(Courtesy: Pizza Hut)

Cheeseburger Crust Pizza – Pizza Hut in the United Kingdom

The toppings on the actual pizza are your choice. It’s the outer edge you need to be worried about. This pie gets a bizarre adornment of eight mini cheeseburgers, embedded in a puff pastry crust around the rim. The verdicts online are prolific … and all pretty damning.

This pizza is also available in the Middle East, but there it’s even crazier. It’s called the Crown Crust Carnival (above), and it comes with chicken cutlets instead of hamburgers. Yikes.

Tuna Pie – McDonald’s in Thailand

In America, we’re used to pie as dessert. Head to a McDonald’s in Thailand, however, and they will happily hand you a lunch-styled pie filled with fish. The outside is a deep-fried pie casing. Inside this missile-shaped monster (one blogger insisted it fed three of his friends) is a thick helping of mayo and pungent, canned tuna. The downside? (Besides eating a pie filled with canned fish?) It’s a promotional item that only appears sporadically.

(Courtesy: Burger King)

Mallorca King – Burger King in Puerto Rico

This is Burger King’s take on the traditional Puerto Rican favorite—the Mallorca Sandwich. It’s a hot combo of ham and melted cheese, with a thin, lightly toasted bun that is dusted liberally with powdered sugar. Although Puerto Rico is part of the United States, you won’t find this one at any location on the mainland.

Perkedel & Chicken Soup – KFC in Indonesia

Perkedel is similar to an American tater tot—a fried ball of mashed potatoes, usually seasoned with garlic, spices, and peppers. Across Indonesia, Perkedel is often served with a warm bowl of chicken soup. KFC added both items in Jakarta. No need to book an immediate flight. This combo is fixed on the menu permanently.

(Photo: Chriss / Flickr)

Tiger Tail Ice Cream cone – Baskin-Robbins in Canada

This ice cream flavor has a nostalgia factor, given that it was popular all over North America a few decades ago. It’s seeing a resurgence in Canada lately and guests at Baskin-Robbins will find it on select menus. The base is a sweet, orange-flavored ice cream that’s then swirled with ribbons of black licorice. The result is something that’s certainly weird, but also quite wonderful.

Salisbury Steak – Wendy’s in the Philippines

The Salisbury Steak was created in America in the late 1800s. Somehow, it’s now become popular at Wendy’s locations around Manila. For roughly $1, you get one beef patty covered in a mushroom gravy and a side of white rice. If you’re still hungry, you can order a side of spring rolls to-go.

(Photo: Starbucks Coffee Company)

Algarrobina Frappuccino – Starbucks in Peru

Algarrobina is quite common in Peruvian food. It’s a sticky, dark syrup made from the Black Carob tree. With a taste that’s akin to raisins and molasses, it is prized for its high vitamin content and can be found in everything from desserts to cocktails. The executives at Starbucks caught on to this Peruvian penchant, and in 2011, the Algarrobina Frappuccino was born. To make it, they pour the syrup in a blender with cold coffee, chocolate chips, mocha, and ice. The garnish is whipped cream, with a fresh drizzle of Algarrobina syrup on top.