American Tries UK Fast Food: Is It Better Than US Fast Food? (McDonald's, KFC & Taco Bell Review)
We travel for the sights, the history... and, let’s be honest, the food. But sometimes, you just want to see how the other side of the pond does a cheeseburger.
On our recent trip to the UK, we decided to skip the fish and chips for one night to take on the ultimate UK Fast Food Challenge. We wanted to answer one burning question: Is British fast food better than American fast food?
We hit up four heavy hitters—McDonald's, Wendy's, Taco Bell, and KFC—to hunt down menu items we can't get back home in the States. From "Halloumi Fries" to the legendary "Chicken Big Mac," here is our honest (and sometimes brutal) review.
Stop 1: McDonald's UK
The Contenders: Philly Cheese Stack, Mozzarella Dippers, Chicken Fajita Wrap, Sweet Curry Dip
We started strong at the Golden Arches. In the UK, the menu is surprisingly different. First off, Mozzarella Dippers are a permanent menu item here (why don’t we have these year-round in the US?!).
The star of the show was the Philly Cheese Stack. It was honestly better than we expected—good texture, plenty of sauce, and a solid 7/10. We also tried the Chicken Fajita Wrap, which might just be the best wrap McDonald's has ever produced. It was crispy, juicy, and actually had enough sauce.
The Surprise Hit: The Sweet Curry Dip. We don’t have this in the States, and it changed our lives. McDonald's, please bring this across the Atlantic!
Stop 2: Wendy's
The Contenders: Halloumi Fries, Chili
Wendy's is somewhat new to the UK market, and unfortunately, it showed. We had high hopes, but the menu was limited, and many items were unavailable.
We did manage to snag some Halloumi Fries (squeaky cheese that doesn't melt). They were breaded well, but overall, the experience was a letdown. As we said in the video: "My disappointment is immeasurable." Wendy's UK needs to step up its game to compete with the US version.
Stop 3: Taco Bell
The Contenders: Volcano Burrito, Loaded Fries Burrito, Churros
Next up was Taco Bell. We were excited to try the Volcano Burrito, a spicy option that comes and goes in the US. The verdict? Mixed. The flavor was decent, but the rice was a bit crunchy (and not in a good way).
We also tried the Loaded Fries Burrito (similar to a California Burrito). It was cheesy and comforting, but nothing mind-blowing. The Churros came with a dipping sauce that tasted more like maple syrup than caramel, which was a confusing twist. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't a freshly fried Disneyland churro, that's for sure.
Stop 4: KFC
The Contenders: Tower Burger, Zinger Burger
Our final stop was KFC, and it was... an experience. We waited nearly 45 minutes for our food! By the time we got our "Tower Burger" (a chicken fillet with a hash brown on top), we were starving.
Sadly, the wait wasn't worth it. The chicken was greasy, the fries were just okay, and the salt levels were off the charts. Compared to the crispy, savory goodness of US KFC, this was a miss for us.
The Final Verdict: Who Won?
After a night of grease, carbs, and taste tests, we have a clear winner and a clear loser.
🏆 The Winner: McDonald's UK. They are consistent, the exclusive menu items (like the Curry Dip and Wraps) are fantastic, and the quality was top-tier.
❌ The Loser: Wendy's. The limited availability and lack of "wow" factor put them at the bottom of the list.
Watch the full video above to see our live reactions (and the 45-minute KFC saga)!
