Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Classic American Dishes Foreigners Think Are Really Strange

Reddit user Seraphicly329 asked: 'Non-Americans what American foods do you find unusual or odd?'

Make us preferred on Google

When American tourists travel abroad, they often find themselves startled if not downright perplexed by several international cuisines.

If haggis doesn't sound disgusting enough, they find themselves even more shocked by how awful it tastes.


What these very same tourists might not take into account, is that visitors from abroad are often equally baffled by several iconic American dishes.

And no, we're not just talking about the gargantuan portions.

Redditor Seraphicly329 was curious to hear all the American cuisines foreigners can't quite wrap their minds, let alone their tongues, around, leading them to ask:

"Non-Americans what American foods do you find unusual or odd?"

Can they Not Taste How The Root Beer Compliments The Ice Cream?

"Used to host a lot of non-American when they came here from Europe or Asia."

"Root beer floats baffles them every time!"

"Tastes just like their toothpaste and can’t understand how we enjoy it."- WhiskeyTangoFoxy

Say CHEESE!

"My friend from the Mediterranean said 'You Americans put cheese on everything'."

"'Cheese on eggs, cheese on meat, cheese on pasta, cheese on salad, cheese on BREAD, on FISH!!'"

"And you know, she's right."

"Love me a tuna melt."- WildAsTheyCome

Sweet And Salty

"I moved to the states years ago and the first time I saw chicken and waffles I was confused by this combo."-SmittenKitten0303

Chicken And Waffles Syrup GIF by F*CK, THAT'S DELICIOUSGiphy

What Is So Offensive?!?!

"I had a Swedish friend who told me he wasn’t even willing to try mac and cheese because it sounded gross lol."- offbrandbarbie

"Kraft boxed Mac and cheese."

"I don't understand how something so processed can taste like the color yellow and yet be enjoyable but here we are."- RagePandazXD

An Aquired Taste, For Sure...

"I had a Portuguese boss once, and our team would often go out for lunch."

"Me, being a bit of a foodie/adventurous, would often recommend lunch spots."

"I decided for a change we should go to this restaurant that served nothing but PB&J sandwiches, with various twists like the Elvis - a warm sandwich with bananas and bacon slices, etc."

"He later recounted it as "'he worst lunch [he] had ever had", and thought I did it out of revenge'."- spaetzelspiff

Kevin Smith Celebs GIF by DiggGiphy

FIrst Impressions Can Be Dangerous...

"Thought smashburgers would make the burger dry and juices ooze out."

"I had one from Shake Shack when I was in NYC."

"It was delicious and crispy and not dry at all."

"A bit salty but oh well."- teems

Most Cakes Don't Have A Shelf Life...

"Twinkies."- vali241

"Those are gross to most Americans over 15 years old too."

"Honestly, most snacky cakes."

"Maybe twice a year I'll get a wild craving for a Star Crunch or a Swiss Roll, but then I'll have one and remember why I rarely buy them."- Not_a_werecat

Carbs And Fat...

"If you've never eaten biscuits and gravy, you're missing out."

"If you've had it and say you don't like it, you've either eaten it at a bad restaurant or you have no soul."- Mother_Wash

Giphy

Oscar Wilde Was The One Who Said "Sugar Is No Longer Fashionable..."

"Unsweetened iced tea."

"Love it."- Quinocco

So Much For Southern Hospitality...

"Things my South African/British wife found weird."

"Scrapple, chicken and waffles, biscuits, sausage gravy, chicken fried steak, okra, Brunswick Stew, real BBQ (as opposed to grilling), grits, pickled pig feet, pork brains, Boudin sausage, pecan pie, Key Lime pie, boiled peanuts."

"If I think about it, a lot of Southern/Soul food."

"She was also unfamiliar with Mexican and TexMex other than those horrid Old El Paso hard shell taco kits."- Shuggy539

A Cute Alternative Word For "Scraps"...

"Many people are repulsed by scrapple."

"I have been enjoying it all my life, but I don't try to push it on anybody."- Warren_Puffitt

hungry pork GIF by Chipotle Mexican GrillGiphy

If You Know The Origins...

"I taught history for years and now I am a chef."

"So food history is a professional area, and a personal passion."

"I have also lived in my 40 years in three country's and 6 states, and I have been to 45 out of 50 states."

"Peanut Butter was invented for medical use and an easy way to get vitamins and nutrients into patients."

"Peanut butter and jelly became popular during world War 2 due to food rationing."

"Most Americans grow up on it, so for many of us its traditional."

"Chicken and waffles is from a subset of American Cuisine, Southern Cuisine."

"Most people outside the South dont get it either."

"Also, if the balance of the savory chicken and sweet waffle/syrup is off, it really is terrible, but if you get it right, it's delicious!"

"Most people outside the South have no idea how to cook grits, or even what they are."

"Many people in the South don't do it right either."

"Gravy in America is NOT the same as in the rest of the world."

"The gravy traditionally used in biscuits and gravy is even more different, and easy to screw up also."

"Southern Biscuits go best with this gravy, and Northern Biscuits and definitely SCONES are not the same as these Biscuits (the South uses a softer wheat to make flour)."

"Many American don't get spray cheese either."

"Combining savory and sweet is not just an American thing, but we do combine them a lot."

"Keep in mind we ARE a melting pot of cultures and different cultures can combine in odd ways, especially in food."

"As an American chef I always tell people to lay off a lot of canned or packaged items in stores because of the amount of salt and preservatives, and even sugars in them."

"I even mix and sell my own seasonings to my local community to help people with this."

"If your in a restaurant and find the food too salty, chances are part or all of it was prepackaged and not fresh."- zeljadis

Fast Food GIF by US National ArchivesGiphy

At the end of the day, one's taste in food is personal, and everyone reserves the right to like and dislike whatever they want.

Even so: WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND DOESN'T LIKE MAC AND CHEESE?!?!?!


More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Screenshot of Donald Trump during ribbon-cutting ceremony
Newsmax

Video Of Trump Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Is All Kinds Of Awkward After Media Ban Backfires Spectacularly

President Donald Trump's decision to ban CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House prompted a network boycott in solidarity and a ribbon cutting ceremony on the White House's South Lawn came with completely indecipherable audio because the press pool has decided to stop filming daily events.

Footage from a Monday ribbon cutting ceremony revealed that the sounds of the Marine One chopper just yards away drowned out Trump's remarks. The far-right network Newsmax was on the scene, and even they had to admit that Trump's attack against the free press seemed to be “backfiring just a little bit.”

Keep ReadingShow less
screenshots from Chris Gallant Instagram reel
@_gallantny/Instagram

Gay Congressional Candidate Refuses To Be Ashamed Of Fetish Model Past After Attacks From Conservatives—And We're Cheering

Openly gay New York congressional candidate Chris Gallant is a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the New York Army National Guard and volunteer firefighter on Long Island. He was an air traffic controller with the Federal Aviation Administration and served in a union leadership role with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

But he is being attacked for another job he once had.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mike Johnson flanked by other Republicans
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

House Republicans Get Hit With Epic Reminder After Tweet Warning About Communists Building Walls

After the official House Republicans X account tweeted a warning that "every communist country eventually builds a wall," critics were quick to point out the party's general hypocrisy.

President Donald Trump has long advocated for the United States to construct a border wall, making it a cornerstone of his immigration policy back in 2016. Since then, Republicans have continued to defend the wall as necessary for reasons of national security.

Keep ReadingShow less
Shailene Woodley attends the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Shailene Woodley's Stylist For The Emmys Calls Out 'Super Rude And Mean' Comments About Actor's Look

Shailene Woodley has plenty going on right now, including her first Emmy win and an ex-fiancé suddenly sharing intimate details about their relationship. Yet somehow, the internet has decided her red carpet outfit is the situation requiring immediate attention.

Woodley attended Monday’s 78th Primetime Emmy Awards after already having a pretty good reason to celebrate. The 34-year-old won her first Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for playing Annie Clay in season 2 of Hulu’s Paradise at the Creative Arts Emmys on September 6.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jennifer Lopez
Marc Piasecki/WireImage

Minnesota Shoplifter's Mugshot Goes Viral After People Think She Looks A Lot Like Jennifer Lopez

BREAKING: Megastar Jennifer Lopez has been arrested for shoplifting in Minnesota—oh wait, it's just a woman who LOOKS like Jennifer Lopez.

But like, really, really looks like Jennifer Lopez. So much so her mugshot is going viral.

Keep ReadingShow less