Kate Taylor/Business Insider
I like to consider myself a fast-food expert.
Having reported on chain restaurants for almost seven years, I have done a pretty good job eating my way from Applebee's to Zaxby's. But, my fast-food repertoire has been pretty focused on the US.
Most of my knowledge of menu items outside the US has come from social media. Years of browsing Twitter and Instagram helped convince me that fast-food chains are willing to be a bit more adventurous in menu creation in Asian countries. And, South Korea in particular has some gems.
On a recent trip to Seoul, I made it my mission to try as many fast-food menu items that I could not find in the US as possible. Here are 17 of the best and most bizarre things I ate at chains like KFC, McDonald's, and Taco Bell.
Kate Taylor/Business Insider
This simple burger with a small, soft pork patty and sweet goopy sauce was the highlight of McDonald's South Korean menu.
Kate Taylor/Business Insider
The worst thing I ate at McDonald's in South Korea was the McChicken Mozzarella. The McChicken, plus two mozzarella sticks, plus spicy Arrabbiata sauce was undone by the sauce, which was gross and ruined any other flavors that could be found in the sandwich. The mozz sticks quickly turned rubbery, with their outer fried layer growing soggy and almost moldy in texture.
Kate Taylor/Business Insider
KFC was my favorite fast-food chain that I visited in South Korea. And, the Double Down was a definitive standout on the menu — two pieces of fried chicken, sandwiching together a hash brown, cheese, and bacon.
The hash brown elevates the massive mount of deep-fried decadence. Hopefully if this menu item ever returns to American menus, the hash brown will provide the necessary carby counterbalance to the fried chicken.
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