Most of us know about the entertaining world of strange language translation goofs, particularly from Asian languages into English. There are entire websites dedicated to the phenomenon, and I think they are generally done with good-natured humor and not condescension or racism.
But, can food concepts get lost in translation? Maybe you can just chalk it up to cultural differences, but either way, the following fast food items from around the globe are sure to raise a few eyebrows, if not turn a few stomachs.
(Note:the list is largely skewed towards McDonald’s food. It’s not a conspiracy on my part, just how the cards fell in my research on global fast food items.)
1. Winter Double King Pizza at Pizza Hut (Japan)
I’ve heard of some strange pizza topping, but this one from Pizza Hut Japan takes the cake. With the cryptically named Winter Double King Pizza, you get crab, shrimp, beef, broccoli, corn, onion, mayonnaise, and potato. What do you think? Did they leave anything out?
2. McAloo Tikki at McDonald’s (India)
Who knows, the McAloo Tikki from McDonald’s in India may not actually taste so bad. I go through fits of obsession with non-fast food Indian cuisine, so why not try a fried patty made of peas and potatoes? Sure, it’s vegetarian, but it sure ain’t healthy.
3. McDonald’s McLobster (Canada)
It’s kind of impossible not to snicker at “Mc” in front of any perfectly tasty food. The McLobster has been featured in some Northeastern locations, and north of the border in Canada, as a seasonal item. The first thing that comes to my mind is, when you live in the region that produces some of the tastiest seafood dishes on the planet, why the McLobster?
4. Seaweed Shaker Fries (Japan)
Seaweed has its notable health benefits, but McDonald’s French fries sprinkled with “seaweed shaker,” a nori (seaweed) powder? Not so much. These are apparently also available seasonally in Singapore.
5. McSpaghetti (Philippines)
There are times when I marvel at how some products make it through the entire chain of command of the company looking to market the product. Does anyone go to McDonald’s with ordering spaghetti in mind as a potential option? Well, if you’re in the Philippines, you can pick up the McSpaghetti with its spaghetti noodles, sweet tomato-based sauce, hot dogs and grated pasteurized cheese.
Yum?
