Travel Guides Culinary Vacations
Amanda Finn
When you travel around the world, one of the best things to do is try the local cuisine. But when you’re feeling a little homesick as an American, you usually don’t have to look far for something familiar — though “familiar” might be a misnomer. Countries all over the world have their own idea of what American food and culture are like, so one of the most fun things you can do is experience these restaurants for yourself.
Be it an homage to Kansas in Buenos Aires, a 1950s American diner experience in Florence, or a hodgepodge “King of the Hill”-inspired experience in Beijing, you won’t regret making your way to any of these global, Americanized spots. Trying out these places may give you the idea that all other countries think that all Americans are cowboys. But then again, we aren’t doing a lot of other cuisines or cultures any favors with eateries like Olive Garden, Panda Express, or the unholy cultural amalgamation that is The Cheesecake Factory. Let’s dig in.
Kansas Grill & Bar – Buenos Aires, Argentina
What the heck is a restaurant named after Kansas doing in Argentina? A better question is how is a restaurant that is essentially the equivalent of an Applebee’s one of the most popular eateries in Buenos Aires to the point that there are multiple locations? Apparently, it’s because the food is excellent, even to the familiar palettes of the ex-pats living in the country.
And not to worry, you don’t have to follow a yellow brick road to get to this joint! In fact, the Kansas Grill is so popular that you could end up with a heck of a wait just to eat dinner. Don’t expect much by the way of Kansas or “Wizard of Oz” theme here though, the original restaurant first opened in 1999 and chose Kansas because it was representative of the heart of America – so what better name for an American restaurant?
What you can expect here are American-sized portions, aptly named menu items, and a hearty meal to warm your homesick soul. Why not enjoy some of the Houston’s Barbeque Ribs, Arizona Pasta, or a Kansas Brownie? While we can’t tell you how exactly pasta becomes Arizona-fied, we can tell you that these popular eateries are popular for good reason.
Bronco Billy Steak House – Japan
Hyogo Japan
If you didn’t know any better, it would be easy to imagine Bronco Billy Steak House as a marriage between Outback Steakhouse and Shoney’s, minus the bear mascots. Meat is largely the menu here to no one’s surprise given the name of the eatery. We’d go ahead and assume it was named after Clint Eastwood’s 1980 film “Bronco Billy,” but this place opened in 1978, so perhaps it was the other way around.
Clearly, the main draw here is some good ol’ fashioned American steak. Big steaks, little steaks, chicken fried steaks, and a whole lotta meat. All with sides of fries, corn, and Brussels sprouts, which isn’t exactly a traditional steakhouse side house specialty, but we digress.
Like Kansas Grill, there are several Bronco Billy steakhouses throughout Japan. From Tokyo to Kanagawa, these popular American-style steakhouses will satisfy even a connoisseur like Hank Hill’s need for some Texas grillin’.
1950 American Diner – Italy
Giulia Breschi
So popular that there are six of these diners around Italy, 1950 American Diner is exactly what it says it is. These are mid-century, vibrant, and vinyl diners complete with roller-blading waitresses. Or, to put it as the restaurant does, diners are meant to evoke happiness accompanied by the comfort food a diner offers — and a little rock ‘n roll to soothe a weary soul. We can’t argue with that.
These diners, at least the original, have been around since 2011. In the time since then, they’ve been serving up smiles in the red and white, retro aesthetic diners. While a lot of American-style restaurants are set in diners around the world, not many go the extra mile to include roller-blading waitresses, so 1950 American Diner has a leg up on some of these other locations for sure. You’ll feel like an extra from “Grease” the moment you walk into these diners that feel lost in another time.
Betty’s Midwest Kitchen – Selangor, Malaysia
Betty’s Midwest Kitchen
Unlike the other restaurants mentioned so far, Betty’s Midwest Kitchen isn’t focused on showcasing American food on behalf of the whole country. Instead, as the name implies, this eatery is concentrated in the Midwest specifically. So all of you Midwesterners pay attention because this place has the heartland vibe on lock.
Open since 2009, Betty’s has been serving up comfort food in a way Midwesterners will understand. While Midwesterners undoubtedly know that comfort food is the specialty, folks outside of the fly-over states might not know that.
Minnesotans, Betty’s even has a Juicy Lucy on its menu! For those who don’t know, the original Juicy Lucy was born in Matt’s Bar in Minneapolis in the 1950s. These delectable burgers are special because of the cheese stuffed inside the hamburger to create an even more savory sandwich. And not to worry if that’s not your speed. You can also get a hot dog, ribs, or even Bacon Tomato Spaghetti–you know, like Grandma used to make.
Indiana Café – France
Indiana Cafe
France’s nearly two dozen Indiana Café locations are not going to be what you imagine. If you picture Hoosier memorabilia or Buckeyes swag you’ll be sorely mistaken. There’s no Indy 500 stuff either. Instead, this cafe takes more of a Christopher Columbus, colonialist style. If that’s not clear enough, the theme of these restaurants is, oddly, Native American. So expect to see a lot of off-putting, stereotypical, Native American decor.
Even more bizarre than the aesthetic is the menu. This French restaurant chain with an American bent serves tapas (which is Spanish), tacos and burritos, hamburgers, and a borderline hilarious assortment of cuisine. At a meal here you could order a starter of shrimp tempura, chicken fajitas for dinner, and eclairs for dessert.
Actually, it’s rather fitting that so many things can coexist together on one menu meant to represent an Americanized restaurant setting. After all, Columbus thought he landed in India when he stumbled onto North America for the first time. Who’s to say that the menu isn’t making a commentary on Columbus’ storied confusion?
The Yellow Rose of Texas – Iquitos, Peru
Ah, The Yellow Rose of Texas. A beloved, American-inspired institution that also has showers for weary travelers? In the nicest way possible this is a mass-menu establishment you’d expect to find attached to a Love’s or Pilot Flying J gas station. Yellow Rose will tantalize the neediest visitor’s tastebuds with over 400 items on the menu from Tex-Mex and pancakes to local Peruvian cuisine.
Mosey on up to the bar, take a seat at a saddle-shaped stool and make yourself comfortable. Here, everyone is a cow-poke welcomed to the saloon. Catch the big game, revel in the eclectic decor, or see if you can find some memorabilia from one of your favorite spots back in America. You also don’t have to worry about what time you drop by since Yellow Rose is open all day, every day. Even if you aren’t in the mood for American food here, the restaurant notes that they also specialize in “jungle food” or local cuisine if you want to try something new.
Beverly Hills Diner – Moscow, Russia
If you want to take your American diner experience with an added full bar, the Beverly Hills Diner is where it’s at. Not only can you jam out to the jukebox, eat your weight in crispy fries and think sock-hoppy thoughts, but you can also apparently order giant margaritas too. We guess that would make “Happy Days” a bit more happy hour.
Beverly Hills Diner sees these iconic, casual eateries as quintessential in American life. They argue that since diners are so integrated into American popular culture, it just makes sense to equate them as synonymous with one another.
Though this technicolor time machine has some unique inclusions in its menu, deviating from the typical diner fare of burgers and fries. You can get yourself a chilled soup as any cool cat might do. Gazpacho doesn’t seem like a terrible accompaniment to greasy diner food, although it’s an unusual pairing. Sophisticated palates might like to know that you can also get smoked salmon.
Tim’s Texas BBQ – China
Tim’s Texas BBQ
Picture this: Tables with plaid covers, all-day breakfast, and (of course) a wide selection of beer. What could be more American than that? With a BBQ selection that would put Guy Fieri into shock, Tim’s Texas BBQ is a haven for Chinese-living ex-pats and Americans who wander into their not-quite-honky-tonk doors. With an extensive selection of alcoholic temptations from the built-in bar wall, there is a range of options to wash down those sauce-soaked ribs.
Although they’re more BBQ than pizza, you can also get pizza and even Tex-Mex at this joint. That is if you aren’t tempted by the in-house smoked meat entrees on offer at Tim’s. You can get ribs, brisket, sausage, and chicken that have all been smoked by the restaurant. Not to mention that they serve American-style breakfasts, which can include their house-smoked meats in breakfast tacos. This American-themed restaurant may give Chinese barbecue a run for its money.
Breakfast in America – Paris, France
Cédric Roux
Americans love breakfast. Apparently, Americans also love diners. So why not put the two together? One of the main differences here is that Breakfast in America (BIA) was founded by an ex-pat living in Paris, so these dishes will be very familiar to Americans needing a little taste of home while visiting France. This restaurant has been providing authentic American breakfasts to Parisians and tourists since 2003.
Something you don’t often see on the menu of an American-breakfast place outside of the United States is on order every day at BIA. You can order a NYC bagel and lox even from across the Atlantic. Also, oddly enough, you can order other meals at BIA as well. Despite what its name implies, BIA also serves both lunch and dinner all day every day too (except for Sundays). So if pancakes don’t sound great when you’re here, you can help yourself to some chili con carne instead, which is more of a hangover breakfast in America.
Jones Original American Diner – Munich, Germany
Jones Original American Diner
Surprise! Here’s one more diner to round out the list. This time you’ll find yourself in Germany, where Jones Original American Diner is serving up Chicken Cheese Steaks, a side of grilled mushrooms, and pancakes for dessert – which is definitely a standard dessert offering. With staff that look like they’re supposed to be at an old-school Chicago Ed Debevics, Midwesterners especially will feel right at homes at Jones. Although their baskets are served with newspaper tissue which is more UK fish and chips than a retro diner from the United States.
It’s also worth mentioning that there are several “burgers” on the Jones menu although Americans would typically call them something else. The grilled chicken burger for example would be a grilled chicken sandwich in the States. As for the nacho burger which sounds suspiciously like a burger in Doritos Locos Tacos style, we’d be fascinated to see how that combination works. Sehr gut!
