An American traveler tried McDonald's in the United Kingdom for the first time during a recent visit, documenting her verdict in a TikTok video. Amber Kacherian, who was visiting with two other Americans, headed to the fast-food chain shortly after landing to compare the UK menu with what they know back home. The clip, posted on Amber's TikTok account, @amberkacherian, captures a string of reactions to menu items, pricing, and packaging as she navigates the British branch of the global chain.
On screen, Amber reviews the British menu and highlights what she sees as notable differences. “All of the sodas are either diet or zero sugar and if you want regular ones, you have to scroll all the way to the bottom,” she comments. “And they also cost more, there is a sugar tax here, so if you want anything that has sugar in it, you have to pay more for it.” She then looks at the dessert options and notes that the UK offers McFlurry flavors not available in the United States. After ordering, she sits down to try a cheeseburger and offers her early verdict: “It’s a bit less salty. I can tell that UK food does not have as much salt as American food.”
The trip-wide observations extend beyond the menu. One traveling companion questions the concept of paper straws, quipping, “Do they really expect me to drink my soda out of this tiny undersized toilet paper tube?” He also samples the Green Apple X Sprite, noting the flavor is not widely offered in the U.S. Amber adds, “We do not have that in America either,” and laments, “UK sodas make us sad because they don’t have the sugar that we’re used to.” The video also shows a drink bin that allows customers to separate liquid and ice before disposal. “That’s actually pretty handy, I like that,” Amber says, signaling a small convenience she appreciates in the UK setup.
Dessert comes next, with Amber trying the Smarties McFlurry and clarifying that the confection is not the same as Smarties candies in the United States. “So, these are not what we would call Smarties in America,” she explains. “These are much more like M&M's; Smarties in America are not chocolate candy, but it looks good, let's try it.” Her travelling partner samples a Jaffa Cake McFlurry and comments on the spoon, remarking that the packaging feels more environmentally friendly. “They’re a lot more environmentally friendly here than we are in America,” Amber notes, adding, “I thought this was caramel but it’s some kind of orange. Pretty good.” The group also tries mozzarella sticks with salsa, with Amber describing the sauce as having an off-putting aftertaste. Meanwhile, the Quarter Pounder is labeled as “palatable” by one friend.
The experience prompts broader reflections on the differences between McDonald’s in the United States and the United Kingdom. Amber sums up a key tension in her verdict: while the UK menu seems lighter on salt and fat, she questions the point of visiting McDonald’s for a “junk food fix” that also feels less indulgent. “The reason I would go to McDonald’s in America is because I want my junk food fix, but in the UK there’s no salt, in the food and there’s a lot less fat and butter and food than American food, as well,” she says. “So what is the point of going to McDonald’s in the UK if you’re not getting your junk food fix, but it’s also not good for you?”
The clip offers a window into cultural and culinary contrasts that travelers often notice when tasting a familiar brand abroad. In this case, Amber’s video highlights differences in seasoning, sweetness, and even packaging that contribute to a different fast-food experience. The broader takeaway underscores how multinational chains adapt to local norms and policies, affecting everything from taste profiles to environmental considerations, and how visitors interpret those changes in real time. The video remains a snapshot of how a new audience experiences a familiar brand when it lands in a different country, reflecting broader conversations about diet, consumer preferences, and global business practices in Culture & Entertainment.