I’m a Fast Food Fanatic

as i sit here snacking on my pumpkin spice oreos (perhaps the best grocery store cookie i’ve ever had, by the way), i see a tweet from my travel guru, Jen from My Life’s a Trip:

@jonk why don't you start representing yourself as a fast food sommelier or something?

— Jen Pollack Bianco (@lax2nrt) October 20, 2014

and that got me to thinking — i really do love my fast food, and i should pull together some of the times i’ve had fast food while traveling. to those of you who pooh-pooh this (and i know a lot of you are already), localized fast food joints (even chains) are indeed worth checking out, at least in my book. sure, they may not be as fancy as your Michelin starred destination restaurants, but if they serve something you can’t get at home, why not? in any case, if you disagree with me, thank you for your concern but i’m fine the way i do. 😉

sidebar i’ll make a quick note of my favorite local stuff first: Bacon Western Double Cheeseburger at Carl’s Jr., 10-piece Chicken McNuggets with lots of barbecue sauce at McDonald’s, Crunchwrap Surpreme at Taco Bell, Double Down at KFC, Sourdough Jack at Jack In the Box. i don’t particularly care for In ‘n Out (*GASP*) but if i must, i get a #1 animal style protein style — with animal style fries if i’m feeling particularly oinkish.

so let’s see what we have here. this is just a quick (unordered) list of things that i remember or are easily searchable in my twitter archives. i’m not including places that are fast but are sit-down establishments, nor am i including street or festival/fair food. just think, this is the tip of the iceberg, y’all! OM NOM NOM. sadly many of these pictures were taken with older smartphones which don’t make food look appetizing 🙁

(ugh it’s killing me i can’t find a picture of the limited-edition carbonara burger from Shake Shack…)

since y'all have been clamoring for more: In Which I Try The Japanese McDonald's Black Burger http://t.co/7x2f8ZRZBK pic.twitter.com/9v9Be3IrKw

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 9, 2014

After careful analysis, the McD Halloween Black Burger >> BK Kuro Diamond Black Burger. pic.twitter.com/rpbktalh7b

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 12, 2014

The Big America Texas burger is indeed quite big and has onions and BBQ sauce. pic.twitter.com/frbpnSjkjZ

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) January 17, 2014

Guess who got Burger King delivery pic.twitter.com/esBViamzDS

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) August 15, 2014

I ordered a "pork hot dog & vegetables". Erm, vegetables? Oh wait, I see two teeny tomato slices. #jonksochi pic.twitter.com/8EPDf2rkVk

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) February 16, 2014

Beef yakiniku rice burger from MOS (this one in Bangkok)

Have to go up and order. MOS burger and a "large" white grape soda. Couldn't tell you what that sauce is. pic.twitter.com/3yfdVMJ6

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) November 26, 2011

Ordered this at a Wimpy burger in Johannesburg.

McDelivery is here! pic.twitter.com/xCiNU1JW2k

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) August 13, 2014

Banana and cheese empanada (well, a pastel here, not an empada) topped with cinnamon is much better than it sounds! pic.twitter.com/SPw2S5zxKn

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) March 9, 2013

It's been a while, so I had to get a glazed donut breakfast sandwich this morning. Can't leave Dunkin' country w/o! pic.twitter.com/KPiU7uReSf

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) December 11, 2013

at which point i must also mention:

Drive-thru man: "no glazed donut sandwich today?" Me: What are you trying to say?!?! (at @DunkinDonuts) http://t.co/kGqlZE08G7

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) June 17, 2013

Thanksgiving in a sandwich! #gobbler pic.twitter.com/e3AZh02B

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 15, 2012

i must take a moment and profess my love of Wawa:

Was a little trigger-happy on the Wawa touchscreen and ended up with this hot (cold) mess of a hoagie. #ham pic.twitter.com/UKau2OS3Cg

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) June 17, 2013

Wawa chicken strips on mac & chz, it's been too long! #omnomnom pic.twitter.com/QWTpr6LG

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) July 9, 2012

Trying a "roadhouse classic" and "brokoļu siera bumbiņas" (broccoli cheese balls) @ McDonald's pic.twitter.com/exxqo91tMD

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) May 15, 2013

McDonald’s crepes from Kiev

KFC Double Down

McRib

Disappointed they don't have a McFalafel here but am happy with a McKebab. pic.twitter.com/ScEOVwaBPH

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) January 15, 2014

Ate greasy tacos out of a pot but breakfast was <$2! pic.twitter.com/nQaxnjcoaY

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) February 1, 2014

So this is palabok. Not quite sure what I'm eating but it's good. #fiesta pic.twitter.com/s4bGBVxi3d

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) April 8, 2014

Last night in Philly for a bit, therefore wooder ice! pic.twitter.com/cUZA37oJds

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) June 6, 2014

My first White Castle

In the middle of nowhere so trying this place for dinner. Attached to a gas station. pic.twitter.com/RiS89fWJwE

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) August 16, 2014

Trying pastizzi (savory pastries) for dinner. 3 of them plus a coke zero = only €2.80! Score! pic.twitter.com/Bzdz1iA3nq

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) July 21, 2014

So trying this gourmet hot dog place. "Tex" dog has melted cheese, BBQ sauce, and "tocino crocante" (bacon bits?!) pic.twitter.com/rRijNrGBEM

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) June 10, 2014

Hot dog dinner at 11:20 PM. pic.twitter.com/8b74PYAU0t

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) May 5, 2014

How wrong would it be to get a fried chicken kebab from a Polish KFC? (=you know I'm gonna have to try) pic.twitter.com/cbpDwZnd

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) December 30, 2012

oh, my best fast food secret? KFCs in China have the best Portuguese-style egg tarts. (trust me, they’re better-looking in real life; blame smartphone camera technology of several years ago.)

and to finish it all off:

Y'all, guess who finally has a @BurgerKing crown! Too bad I had to come to Hungary to get it. #royalwave #queen pic.twitter.com/nOmRsZdj4I

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) August 12, 2013

UPDATE: i have been informed i forgot a picture of poutine. SOURRY!