“Fast food” is not a term in Chile, especially referring to the world fast. I am not saying it a bad way at all. I mean it on the contrary. I think that it is very fascinating the way that Chileans approach fast food style restaurants. I have been only in two: McDonald’s and KFC. Also, I saw Subway and Dunkin Donuts as well but I have not been there and honestly not really planning to, since Chile has amazing local bakeries and cuisine restaurants.
First of all the menus are different. For example, bacon is not that popular here like in the United States, but on the other side avocado is huge here. This results in that McDonald’s has much less burgers containing bacon and more having avocado. I actually had a sandwich in KFC where the fried chicken had mashed avocado on it. Instead of ketchup and mustard.
Secondly, one waits good 15 to 20 minutes after you order for your food. One enters the fast food and has to grab a ticket number (This system is very popular in Chile). Fast food workers always call a number. When one’s number is called, one goes to order the food. Usually you have to wait 5 to 10 minutes even for your number to be called, so you can place your order. Then you wait another 15 to 20 minutes for the food, so in the end, in a “fast” food restaurant you wait 30 minutes for a burger with fries and Coke. The first time it was kind of a shock because we were really hungry, but the second time we went to McDonald’s, we just took it with humor and laugh at it.
