6 American Foods That Are Wildly Popular In Other Countries - Tasting Table

"If you've ever travelled internationally, you'll know that American food is everywhere. There are McDonald's branches in Aruba, Liechtenstein, Azerbaijan, and even Guantanamo Bay. Starbucks, which was founded only two states away from where McDonald's was founded, has more than 32,000 stores across 80 countries. World-dominating corporations aside, however, American foods enjoy popularity around the globe, and sometimes in surprising ways. Few people would be surprised to learn that you can get Big Macs in São Paulo, but there probably aren't many people who know"

"Interestingly, despite the countless chain restaurants and global recognition, American cuisine is nowhere near the world's favorite. In 2023, the adventure travel company The Bucket List Company crunched the numbers based on social media tags and engagement, and it found that Korean food was the most popular, followed by Italian and Mexican (via TimeOut). American cuisine didn't even make the top 10. When it comes to the following six foods,"

"For most Americans, Spam doesn't have particularly glamorous connotations. Invented in the 1930s by the Hormel Corporation, this canned brick of pork, water, salt, potato starch, sugar, and additives is more of a last-resort pantry staple with a vintage feel than a beloved ingredient on heavy rotation. Even at its peak during World War II, it faced plenty of disdain from G.I.s who weren't too thrilled about having nothing better to eat."

American food is widely present globally through chains such as McDonald's and Starbucks, with Starbucks operating over 32,000 stores across 80 countries. A 2023 social media analysis ranked Korean food first worldwide, followed by Italian and Mexican, while American cuisine did not reach the top ten. Six American foods have made lasting international impressions, and at least one of those foods is more popular abroad than at home. Spam was invented in the 1930s by the Hormel Corporation as a canned pork product and is commonly treated as a pantry staple in the United States. Spam gained elevated prestige in the Philippines after being introduced by American soldiers during World War II.

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