We now have burger king!!

[BigBallinStalin]

other places like Arby's

OMG, the French would go apeshit over horsey sauce. Betiko and I should open an Arby's franchise in Paris. We'd be $$$.

Plus France already has lots of surly, annoyed people to work at the Arby's, so we wouldn't have to import those from wherever the U.S. Arby's locations find them at; like this guy ->

that's a good question... would a higher quality american burger restaurant work in france? I don't thing planet hollywood or hard rock café are doing that great to give an example...

Probably, but those are semi-casual restaurants that appeal to tourists and families and tourist families. They're not optimized for convenience.

Now I've been surprised a quality USA casual hamburger franchise concept like Five Guys hasn't made any effort to expand off the continent. I've talked to people from Australia who have eaten at Five Guys and are perplexed the only U.S. franchises they get are the downscale shit ones like McDonald's, as they love Five Guys.

I suspect it must be a lack of operational expertise by Five Guys to expand abroad. Either that or their margins are slimmer than McDonald's, due to the expense of the more robust ingredients, and they can't make it profitable to open outside U.S. / Canada due to tax considerations and so forth. Plus, since they don't freeze their meat they would have to source it locally which wouldn't work because of the issues with European cattle (though that wouldn't be a problem in Australia). After all that, you're looking at $13 for lunch instead of $8, which is too high for people to pay to eat in a garage ... and if you make your restaurant ambiance nicer you've basically become Planet Hollywood and the cycle starts over.

BBS what do you think?

Good-blooded Americans don't establish franchises overseas.

[BigBallinStalin]

Eating out in Beijing is so cheap that I only cook during the first 2/3 days after Chinese New Year, when literally everywhere is closed. It's great.

I can go out with friends, stuff my face on decent food and get pissed up for the grand total of about $7 if I go to a little local restaurant.

Does it really make sense to compare going-out prices from your native land? It's not like you're going take a left, a right, go past the police station, and find yourself in the US...

Buying groceries is cheaper, is it not?

I was just sharing a story about the joys of dining in my neighborhood.

You're weird.

[Vid_FISO]

I went to a Burger King in 1987, took 3 days to get the taste out of my mouth, I still remember it vividly.

[mrswdk]

Eating out in Beijing is so cheap that I only cook during the first 2/3 days after Chinese New Year, when literally everywhere is closed. It's great.

I can go out with friends, stuff my face on decent food and get pissed up for the grand total of about $7 if I go to a little local restaurant.

Does it really make sense to compare going-out prices from your native land? It's not like you're going take a left, a right, go past the police station, and find yourself in the US...

Buying groceries is cheaper, is it not?

I was just sharing a story about the joys of dining in my neighborhood.

You're weird.

You're the guy who updated his avatar by pasting Jack Nicholson's face onto what appears to be a photo of a stuffed dinosaur.

[BigBallinStalin]

Eating out in Beijing is so cheap that I only cook during the first 2/3 days after Chinese New Year, when literally everywhere is closed. It's great.

I can go out with friends, stuff my face on decent food and get pissed up for the grand total of about $7 if I go to a little local restaurant.

Does it really make sense to compare going-out prices from your native land? It's not like you're going take a left, a right, go past the police station, and find yourself in the US...

Buying groceries is cheaper, is it not?

I was just sharing a story about the joys of dining in my neighborhood.

You're weird.

You're the guy who updated his avatar by pasting Jack Nicholson's face onto what appears to be a photo of a stuffed dinosaur.

That's because I'm mentally healthy.

[mrswdk]

Conformist.

[BigBallinStalin]

Nearly all young foreigners in China go out to eat frequently. That is boring. Why not master the skills in order to bring that deliciousness wherever you may go?

[mrswdk]

Never fear - I've long since learned enough Chinese to pick up the phone and have food delivered to me, no matter where I am.

[nietzsche]

Never fear - I've long since learned enough Chinese to pick up the phone and have food delivered to me, no matter where I am.

They spit in your food because you can't pronounce.

[mrswdk]

There are worse things in the food here than the delivery boys' spit, believe me.

[2dimes]

I'm tired of eating at Burger King every fucking day.

This might not be helpful and you may have done it already but, you can get a hot tea and salad with your combo.

[Serbia]

I went to a Burger King in 1987, took 3 days to get the taste out of my mouth, I still remember it vividly.

Was this good or bad?

Bollocks.

[2dimes]

I went to a Burger King in 1987, took 3 days to get the taste out of my mouth, I still remember it vividly.

Was this good or bad?

Bollocks.

Now that's a paper cup half full response right there. Excellent work Bollocks.

[mrswdk]

I'm tired of eating at Burger King every fucking day.

Probably time to start driving that extra block from time to time then.

[betiko]

this made me lol after fruitcake's post early in this thread:

[2dimes]

I'm kind of angry about this. We went to the airport and checked in. Proceeded to US customs and entered the area to wait to board the plane. Now we were in an area I can only access if I am going to fly somewhere. There is a kiosk labeled "Whopper Bar." This place makes Whoppers but not just regular ones, oh no. Fancy toppings. I had one with a Cajun sauce and blue cheese. Further it was excellent. They also are licensed to sell beer. Fortunately it was just Molson products or I might have lost my temper right there.