I want to say right at the beginning that this is not a "bash America" post. I am just trying to understand.

My friend asked me to join her for lunch at the Burger King - it is fairly new in Prague and so I told myself Ok, lets give it a try! I mean - it is a famous American chain, people eat this stuff in America - so I was curious.
The first dilemma came right at the beginning - the burger is huge!! And no cuttlery in sight ..I mean - how do you eat it??? Do the Americans have bigger mouth then we do? When I took the first bite - the onion made her way to my lap - leaving a nice mark saying: serves you right! When I took the second bite, the ketchup dribbled down my wrist....As far as the taste - I don´t know....could be worse ...I guess...

So my question stands: it is huge, it is not very tasty, it is a self service so there is not even the "I want to feel spoiled " moment - so why, why do the Americans do it?
And as far as cost - for the price of a burger I could get a nice meal in a Czech restaurant (with cutlery and real cups:) So this is really a mystery for me....

It was fairly empty around lunch hour , but I am sure it will find their customers...American tourists probably:))

And just for the record: my friend loved it!

I understand your confusion! This is a small sample of the huge burgers offered with fries..Why the chains are making them much larger than anyone should eat is why so many are overweight..and, the prices have gone up. I ate a quick lunch at a drive in burger place not too long ago and ordered some sweet potato fries with an ordinary sized burger..and drink..Around $8..I could have had a nice meal for that with real dishes..exactly my thoughts too:-) One thing, it's fast, convenient and doesn't taste that bad..some of the chain fast food places are better than others like Wendy's.and offer better and more variety..good salads too..A lot of the boys and young men like the big meal burgers..not my husband :-) NellyBly · 2012-05-17: 12:50

if you build it, they will come..... that's all there is to it. Why else would we eat this "food" (and I use the term loosely) and why would we feed it to our kids? McMommy · 2012-05-17: 12:55

Nice post. Being kosher, I eat in better places. I won't sicken you with what a friend who worked in Burger King once told me. Actually, if most people saw what goes on in the kitchens of most eating establishments they would eat at home... CHOSSID · 2012-05-17: 13:01

Nice views Great angles, details and colors Wonderful report Great job eiram helys · 2012-05-17: 13:01

What the the movie...."Super Size Me" ......that will explain it perfectly. It's a great movie on the fast food industry in America. qsilver1 · 2012-05-17: 13:14

I agree with Sara and you and owing to such places I still have mu work - eat more and bad - more fat people- more diseases - more used drugs and other medical interventio - SHOW MUST GO ON! gonia · 2012-05-17: 13:41

I hate Burger King Marie. I mean, I really hate it. I never eat it. EVER. It is horrible and has a terrible taste and has no nutritional value at all. I'm so sorry they are invading your lovely city. And you can go ahead and bash America for its love of this crap. I'll join you. liveandletlive · 2012-05-17: 13:45

Nice idea, this post for this new place. Me, I like real hamburgers, this is why i don't go to this kind of restaurant. benjamww · 2012-05-17: 14:37

What a great editorial of your observations on the Burger King experience, Marie. I can't argue with one thinig that you have written. I do not like BUrger King. The taste is horrible. The portions large and the after taste bad. I hope that you can get the ketsup stains out of your clothing!!! Have you tried McDonald's yet????? danrav · 2012-05-17: 14:58

Well, I will confess, from time to time I like it. Burger King is not here in Georgia yet so I have to visit the other one. It has one great advantage. On about 400 km from Tbilisi to the coast it is the only clean toilet, so there are always a car full of pro arguments :-) GKorts · 2012-05-17: 15:14

Why are the Americans doing this? Well dear Marie, I live in America (well, actually Canada...whatever) for 25 years and I’m still chewing on my first burger since 1987. I hope that someone will come up with a good explanation for this. Why are they doing this? Well, after you manage to stuff your self with one of those you’re full. After you manage to stuff your self with one of those you’re not hungry anymore. After you manage to stuff your self with one of those you keep wandering what made you to eat it on the first place. After you manage to stuff your self with one of those you will swear to you self that next time you will eat something else (meaning anything else). I only visit one of those fast food establishments when I’m traveling and there in nothing else on the highway. You can have a burger handed over to you from a drive in window and you could be on your way in minutes. Driving and eating a burger is fun and it is North American most challenging sport. I know some people that can eat a burger with no mess and they even look that they are enjoying it. My self, I need to go inside. Drive thru windows will just not do it for me. Only the occasional coffee at the window is fine…. When I’m eating a burger I take it all apart and using those tiny plastic forks and knifes to create more manageable pieces. ……yes, I’m aware that some people are looking weird on me… I guess they fit much better to some country than other and to some mouth than other also. Lisa said after we returned back from Europe this April that the McDonald’s are the best public toilets. Yes, that is the only thing that we were using them for. Nothing against fast food joints. honzicek · 2012-05-17: 15:58

I'm just a Belgium lady who does not like to eat burgers ... Ryana · 2012-05-17: 17:07

l do not eat burgers, l also don't like this type of food, finbarr · 2012-05-17: 18:12

I'm American and really enjoying reading everything written here. I like the post, Marie. I remember a man here in Germany telling me that he needed a course on how to eat a hamburger so he would not drop everything out of it. I laughed because I thought everybody knew how to eat a hamburger. It never occurred to me people could not pick something up and eat it, especially since it was not moving like it was alive. I guess the Chinese used to wonder what was difficult about eating food with little sticks. Anyway.... I make "real" hamburgers at home, if I want them, and they taste much better. But, my question is from the other side: "Why are the NON-Americans allowing it in?" We aren't forcing it. :-)) LOL :-)) The Germans asked the same thing, but I haven't seen anything go out of business yet. I like local foods wherever I am. P.S. Eat a hamburger at someone's private home, and you will taste the difference. Come on over anytime :-)) Fun post. lookwhatisaw · 2012-05-17: 18:50

Burger King is TERRIBLE....I hate it and NEVER eat there. Makes me sick thinking about it....I don't blame you. lookagain · 2012-05-17: 20:49

I don't like BURGER or hot dog etc. It make me sick, but I LOVE OCTOBER FEAST WITH SOURCROUT AND ONIONS,,,, LisaMarieGeorge · 2012-05-17: 21:31

I agree with Gonia: she really hit the nail on the head! pandka · 2012-05-21: 07:59

We have these fast food chains, too, and they were a hit in the beginning, especially for the youngest and they still are, for some. I prefer good and healthy home made food, even if this gives me more work to buy and prepare. Your description about eating a giant burger is hilarious. :))) Unchained · 2012-05-21: 19:32

I never try burger king so I don't know how its taste :D love those ornaments on the surrounding buildings :) piti07 · 2012-05-26: 22:43