The popularity of American fast food has grown rapidly in China since the first KFC opened in Beijing in 1987. Chains like McDonalds, Subway, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, and Burger King now seem to be everywhere in China.
And they may be eating in American fast food chains more often than Americans. According to ACNielsen, 41 percent of respondents in mainland China ate in a fast-food restaurant at least once a week, compared to 35 percent of their U.S. counterparts.
To add a more authentic Chinese flavor and to answer demand for local dishes, many of the chains have added menu items that you might not find in the West. Here’s a look at some of them.
KFC
Two limited edition burgers: Roast chicken and cheese burger on rose petal bread, and spicy black diamond bacon chicken leg burger.
New Orleans roasted rice
Deep-fried dough sticks with egg and congee (rice and water porridge)
McDonald’s
Green tea and milk
Chicken rice bowl
Sausage and egg twisty pasta, and mixed veggies mini twisty pasta
Starbucks
Limited edition mooncake collection for the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
Red bean green tea Frappuccino
Zongzi (Rice packets in bamboo leaves）
Haagen-Dazs
Ice cream hot pot
Green tea and chocolate mousse cake
Yogurt ice cream mooncake
