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Fast Food For Thought

By , Creative

One of the best things about vacationing is getting to eat out at restaurants just about every meal. Expensive, sure, but hey, you’re on vacation, and just like the extra calories in vacation food, the extra lines on your VISA statement don’t really count. At the moment. While Rose and I were vacationing in Australia, I had the chance to eat at many restaurants and sample foods I had never had before. For example, on our last night in Sydney we dined at Wolifies, where I enjoyed – really enjoyed – a delicious kangaroo and crocodile entrée and a bottle of Taltarni, an Australian sparkling wine which I had not seen in the States. But it wasn’t all big ticket meals in white linen joints – we ate at our share of fast food at places like Mr. Pie and Burgerlicious. And also at a place called Hungry Jacks.
hungry-jacks-brisbane

Look familiar?

When Burger King wanted to move into Australia in the early ‘70s, they found that the name was already used by a restaurant in Adelaide. The full story is on Wikipedia, but the gist is that they had to come up with a brand look that would be immediately recognizable, just with a different name.

hungry-jacks-syndey

As you can see, it looks just like any Burger King in the States, and while most of the menu is different, it all tastes exactly the same. Because the name is different, there are no ‘Creepy King’ ads in Australia, which is a shame since I think Australians would love the strange sense of humor.

For the record, kangaroo is a darker meat which has a strong, beefy taste reminiscent of a quality dry-rub steak. Crocodile? Yup, taste like chicken.

Post Your Comments

  • DeannaVarble

    I remember going to a Burger King in France because none of us (but one) spoke French and the one that did was so jet lagged she kind of shut down. We ate there because none of the places we stopped at would acknowledge what we were sadly pointing at – not knowing the French words and just wanting food. Of all the places we stopped at in France trying to eat that night becauseat last we knew if you got in line and said “deux” you could get food. But still the Burger King was the MOST mean (of all the places) to us non-French speaking people – Which I just found so odd. So odd in fact that I will never eat at a America abroad fast food chain again. Ever.

    I’ll point until I find the one nice cafe that will help feed me. (Which happened in France. And we ate there everyday for 3 days straight. It was awesome – and so was the lady who owned it.)

  • CharlesBenoit

    I do the same point-and smile routine when I travel, the smile being the most important part. I guess the smile was what through them off at the Burger King in France since they may not see a lot of smiles in a BK in food-obsessed France and it may have made them suspicious.

  • Megan Guhl

    Even after I practiced for months my perfect pronunciation of “May I have a table for two” in french, I was offered an english menu at all of the nice restaurants. It was disappointing, but still kind of a relief.

    As for Australian fast food…Pizza Hut will but catsup on your bread sticks and Most places put Beet Root on your burger. These things I cannot forgive.