US vs UK Christmas Specials 2022 | Food Wars | Insider Food

From festive pizzas to reindeer cake pops, we wanted to find out every difference between UK and US Christmas fast food specials. This is Food Wars.
0:00 - 0:08 Introduction
0:09 - 05:04 McDonald's
05:05 - 07:18 Domino's
07:19 - 17:49 Starbucks
17:50 - 20:20 KFC
20:21 - 21:29 Subway
21:30 - 33:00 Festive Snacks
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US vs UK Christmas Specials 2022 | Food Wars | Insider Food

[@JoeAvella]

Thanks for watching everyone. I hope you like my 🎄Christmas tree / decorative 🐸frog/holiday Sonic the Hedgehog 🦔 outfit!

[@mrnekokittycatsaki1419]

We're gorge from Japan

[@claudiaweidman1004]

Looks festive 🎉

[@fubytv731]

We're gola from Italy

[@andykosec]

my Christmas tree actually got jealous while i was watching you

[@JoeAvella]

@@mrnekokittycatsaki1419South America right now I think.

[@stanttv6479]

Mcdonalds UK also has a festive pie, which is made in the same way as apple pies. instead of apple, its a mince pie and custard filling

[@DeanRavencrest]

Came here to say this too, I feel like its the most festive thing they do

[@CarolineElanorMcloughlin]

@@islagilmour I've tried both the festive pie and celebration mcflurry and I like both

[@martinjmcc1981]

This is a Christmas tradition for me now! Thank you all!

[@xxPenjoxx]

Good call making your own pizza to match the UK. That was a nice touch. Also, Harry's crisp fact has me a bit shocked, I knew we liked our crisps, but we eat more than all of Europe? Holy moly! The lidl roast turkey crisps are delicious. Also, Pepsi and milk? Are y'all okay over there? Poor Joe looked like he was regretting life decisions!

[@EiKk4__]

The Olive & garlic crisps from Lidl were also really good when they had them during the Greek food-campaign (really strong and pleasant garlic flavour + some acidity from the olives). I have to try to find those roast turkey crisps, if they have them here.

[@xxPenjoxx]

@@EiKk4__ ooh I remember all the Greek food, I'll keep an eye out for them next time it rolls around, thanks.

[@Urlocaldrwhostan]

I am in UK

[@aidanharker]

Can't beat a good crisp sandwich are you crisp in or crisp out 🎉

[@ThePixelBuilder1]

@@aidanharkercrisp in gang

[@stuffandfaff]

Why do I love these comparisons so much! Australian vs UK would be good too ☺️

[@uumuu]

The McDonald's near me (in the US) has a "Holiday Pie". I tried it and it was basically a birthday cake flavoured pie.

[@masongrundy4000]

in the uk we have a “festive pie” it’s basically a mince and custard pie, its vile

[@DogeDoesStuffYT]

@@masongrundy4000 I actually found it not that bad, the mince pie filling went well together, but no matter what you think about it, at least it isn't Pepsi and milk

[@Rogan1280]

The McD's close to me had the holiday pie... yuck, my kid liked it though.

[@masongrundy4000]

@@DogeDoesStuffYT it’s not the mince for me it’s the custard

[@doratheexplorer9921]

i bought one expecting something like peppermint, i didnt expect it to be birthday cake. not dissapointed tho

[@caraeuler2927]

The chocolate oranges have been available in America as well for many decades. As a child in the 70s and '80s my parents would get me one every christmas. I assume it's the same brand and I have fond of memories of them.

[@NAcHO-wx5vg]

Both are Terry’s branded which is a Uk based company. So yes they seem to be the same.

[@gokaury]

I just got one last week from a co-woker. Seen them all the time growing up too.

[@peaxn]

60 yr old on yt sounds wack

[@WarthogRacer]

I discovered those in the 90s and they are so damn good!

[@WellBattle6]

@@peaxn Check your math again. They’re around 50 years old.

[@doreenjoybarber1079]

This was great! Would absolutely love, love to see an episode focusing on Japanese Christmas specials. It's really interesting to see some of the differences between US and UK flavours laid out in an easy video format like this. I'm from the US but have been living in the UK for over a decade. Although I saw some chocolate and orange flavoured things in the US when I lived there, it wasn't anywhere near the extent as it is here in the UK, where you can get chocolate orange hot chocolate and all sorts. One thing you don't see over here in the UK as much as you would in the USA is the chocolate and peppermint flavour combo. Mint chocolate is much easier to find as a flavour in America.

[@Ray_Vun]

i don't expect there to be much to say on japan for christmas, since only about 1% of japanese people identify as christian. christmas to most japanese people is more of a funny thing they do that they don't really understand how to celebrate, like americans celebrating mexican holidays. i know it's common in japan to buy big buckets of kfc for christmas. and there's also a christmas cake, because the japanese learned christmas was jesus' birth, so they assumed on his birthday there'd be cake

[@DarkCobra88]

@@Ray_Vun Your right and wrong here. Your correct in that they don't celebrate Christmas in the way the west does (to them its just a festive thing to attach to winter i guess, they don't get holidays or anything special and most work as normal on xmas, though it does usually fall in the winter break for schools though its not 100% to happen) and they kind of just treat it as a romantic thing (younger couples usually have it for a "date night" thing so your right on all that. What is interesting is they do ironically have a fair bit of festive items, its not uncommon for Mc D's and KFC to run festive items (though KFC being their staple Christmas dinner food might reduce much of this), Starbucks too, they of course have their huge range of Kit Kats and a few winter ones is always there. I guess a lot of Japan's items are more Christmas based on their own items which aren't seen abroad though so its probably hard to run comparisons to the west here on snacks local to themselves.

[@zomerkoninkjes]

Loved Joe’s judgement on whether something was Christmassy enough or not!

[@saintthomaspcoh7968]

I might be showing my age, but milk and Pepsi isn’t a new idea. I remember that flavor combination from the old TV show Laverne and Shirley. Laverne would drink milk and Pepsi after a break-up or when she was feeling down. It was sort of her comfort drink, which I found kinda strange given the fact that she worked in a brewery. I know of a few similar combinations similar to milk and Pepsi. One was a Coke float, which was Coke and vanilla ice cream and a cream ale, which was Vernon’s ginger ale with half-and-half. So, milk and Pepsi is neither new or strange. Take care and happy holidays!

[@erwandywijaya9965]

Thats true! My kfc in my town sell it in various mixes besides coke/pepsi and ice cream. Theres ovaltine milk, mocca milk, etc. :)

[@fayesouthall6604]

A coke float is Coca Cola in a glass with a scoop or two of ice cream on top. It’s great, not had one for years! 😊

[@Ray_Vun]

when i was little i used to mix coke/pepsi with mango flavored ice tea. it was delicious

[@peabody1976]

The second I saw the first ad, I thought of Penny Marshall (RIP) and Laverne drinking milk and Pepsi on the show, and in looking it's something she grew up doing (but she knew it was odd, and did it on the show as a joke). I can't believe Pepsi decided to run with it. I'm just sad Penny isn't here to see it.

[@Ceuwchi2Phat]

Yeah I just showed this to my mom and she said it was something my grandma used to drink when she was a teenager

[@Lil-Dragon]

Nice to see Sam return this year, these episodes get me in a Christmas mood.

[@eimaan_editss]

Whose Sam it’s joe + harry

[@quintonlee4107]

@@eimaan_editss I think he means South Pole Sam on the Starbuck's menu

[@eimaan_editss]

Yh ik I didn’t watch it

[@SoCalGuppy]

Joe-- you could mix the Irish cream cold brew with a bit of whiskey! Merry Christmas to Joe and Harry and the entire team of Insider Food!! Thank you!!

[@carlosocasio2247]

1:34 so about the creme flavor, I work in chick-fil-a and I can tell you that the cookies n cream shake there has no other flavorings, it is vanilla. The only difference is we add Oreo cookie pieces to it and then twist it with a regular vanilla milk shake. The cookie pieces MIGHT have a bit of creme, but not by much. Just so you know.

[@DustyJones1997BGCL]

Happy Holidays Joe and Harry Christmas food wars is always a treat for us thank you ❤️😍

[@ilovethewalkinggdead]

I’ve been waiting for this!! Merry Christmas to you both :)

[@JoeAvella]

Thanks you too!

[@themoviedealers]

"Pilk" was actually the favorite drink of Laverne on the TV show Laverne and Shirley...and that show was set in the 1950s.

[@theparttimestitcher]

I didn’t realize that some fast food chains come out with special “holiday themed” menu items (well, except for Starbucks/DD/Krispy Kreme). I was expecting you to pull out the Fruit Cake favored Mtn Dew at the end; however I wouldn’t waste my time 😂

[@lckittyqueen]

as a uk resident I’ve never wanted to try something more than the starbucks sugar cookie latte

[@agamer2024.]

Merry christmas guys and every year harry is an elf while Joe is always something different

[@MegaCooperr]

Would love to see an Australian cuisine comparison and Canada maybe??

[@rivarimimahardikamahalin999]

I agree to you boss Meg

[@eriways2018]

Perfect as always!! 😸💕

[@JoeAvella]

[@hollimurray8856]

I'm just seeing this now! I was on chat last night and I had no idea what the live chat was about lol. Merry Christmas and a Happy Hogmanay 😊

[@Ray_Vun]

i only had ferrero at home growing up at christmas, my grandparents would always gift me a box. they're so good but so expensive, so they're really seen as a fancy treat. if that big ferrero was full like the small ones, i think i'd just be sitting suckling on it all night

[@moogleking]

Nice to see this every christmas keep the tradition going

[@meglinnett26]

Loved this episode! I tried the festive Domino’s a few weeks ago and I have to say, it actually turned out to be one of my favourite toppings! I’ll be quite gutted when they discontinue it 🍕🎅🏼

[@DessertGeek]

Now I want to make some kind of seasonally appropriate hot chocolate (peppermint? gingerbread?) to watch all of this!

[@leighhollis7909]

Ferrero Rocher is around for pretty much all US holidays. The big gold ones pop up for Christmas and Easter. My hubby loves them so I try to stock up for him.

[@Teallen96]

McDonalds in the UK also has a festive Pie (like a hot apple pie, except it has mince meat and custard to make it similar to a mince pie), and the Celebrations McFlurry.

[@jason-uk]

Merry Xmas to you all been another great year of content thanks for the videos

[@JoeAvella]

Thank you

[@TheGarlicShrimp]

Here in Russia, we have the "big tasty" as a standard menu item that is available throughout the whole year. Well, given that now mcdonalds in Russia goes under the "Tasty, period" label

[@JoeAvella]

Yeah, you're doing your own thing over there. Is there Tasty, Period merch? If so can you send me some?

[@childofnature4402]

It's a good job that there's a comma in that slogan. Without it you've got something a whole lot more disgusting lol.

[@emetanti]

Germany also has the Big Tasty Bacon as a stable.

[@screamlikecookies]

I like the expressions from both of them🤣

[@andykosec]

lol ".... if you get sick of the Twix shape" lol. Joe, I lover your off-the-cuff one-liners!

[@Supermikes]

Yay, the Christmas Special! Joe, did you enjoy wearing that outfit? Great special!

[@JoeAvella]

Nope

[@VelvetTeacake]

The mushroom & truffle crisps from Sainsbury's are quite tasty and a little bit seasonal heh.

[@unFILMEDtv]

I’m in the US, but 16 years ago my wife and I were in Italy for 2 weeks for our honeymoon. We were on a daily budget and wanted to buy a piece of art so we decided to have lunch at McDonalds and order whatever wasn’t in America. We had THAT giant Big n Tasty burger and those fried Camembert bites… in Italy 16 years ago! I’ve been saying McDonalds has way bigger portions overseas ever since, but I guess it was probably just a limited time sandwich. That thing should be permanent on every menu, it was far better than ordinary McDonalds.

[@bushidobrown9857]

14:25 Las Vegas based chain Capriotti's has a thanksgiving sandwich that is essentially the same thing. award winning thing, sooo good

[@randymousley1427]

They call it “The Bobby”😉

[@bishalbiswas824]

Loved the episode

[@tylerreed8855]

2020 uk vs us christmas 2021 uk vs us vs japan christmas 2022 another uk vs us christmas i love this show so much joe harry george nikill good job guys keep it up🌲 i miss george he's funny

[@DawnDavidson]

I loved some of the crisps I had in Britain back around 2003. There was something ham flavored I liked. The stuffing balls sounded pretty good, actually. But there’s no way that I’d even try the Christmas Pudding flavored crisps! 😂 But thanks for explaining your obsession with Christmas Puddings in general! I’m surprised I never learned about that from the GBBO! 😉 (But you can give me all your Chocolate oranges!)

[@awesomeadamfrom2099]

Merry Christmas Joe.

[@hopelser]

i genuinely got so happy when i saw this on my home page

[@r9eaper]

Oreo Snowballs are over here in the UK too, have been for few years in fact. Always sold in local cornershops and some supermarkets ( 2 for £1) mainly.

[@vsc1701]

Milk and Pepsi was a thing in (mostly) north eastern America in the 50s. Not so much here in Canada. In fact on the old sitcom Laverne & Shirley one of the characters (Laverne?) used to drink it.

[@dragonwitch27]

Seems like it’s supposed to be some version of an egg cream?

[@StephenShinn]

Gotta love Insider Food!

[@CaspianK]

Some things that they do in scotland (i’m sure they do it otherwise in the UK too!) McDonalds have a specialty mince pie, Subway have pigs in blankets, gravy and something else that I can’t remember, KFC actually changes their gravy recipe too (or I swear they do) we also get Reese’s trees and reese’s advent calendars!

[@BenBulks]

Love the video idea’

[@JoeAvella]

thanks! What did you think of the videos execution?

[@TheOfficalMiki]

UK: *Has a ton of amazing McFlurry options every year* USA: *Our ice cream machine is broken.* Why am I so jealous….

[@yoorbs]

oh trust me, our icecream machines are always "broken" here too xD

[@TheOfficalMiki]

@@yoorbs Makes you wonder if they actually are, or the employees are just playing tricks on you.

[@Ray_Vun]

@@TheOfficalMiki what i've heard is that those machines require a lot of cleaning that takes a long time to do, so they'll say it's broken because they don't wanna have to clean it again. if it really is broken, it's due to the fact mcdonald's got into a contract with a company that provides those machines but also mandates that only the company can fix it, no third party fixers. so if it gets broken and the company can't send someone right away, it might stay broken for a while

[@TheOfficalMiki]

@@Ray_Vun That makes sense, but not sending out to find a cleaner seems like a lazy thing to do, so that pretty much drives people over to the nearest Dairy Queen for their ice cream fix.

[@Ray_Vun]

@@TheOfficalMiki the technician that fixes the machine costs a good amount of money to come over, so they also likely don't always call for one. as for the cleaning, it's done by the mcdonald's employees themselves, so they just finished cleaning that thing and don't wanna have to do it again

[@jytvreal]

Merry crispmas and happy holidays!

[@lukeroberts3464]

Harry is back yay 😁.

[@marilynturcotte5304]

Love Turkey and Cranberry Sammies!! Merry Ho-Ho from Canada.

[@robertadavies4236]

Back in the 1970s "pilk" was called London Fog, and I drank plenty of it. It should be half milk and half cola. Always pour the milk in first, otherwise it foams too much. The basic idea is that you get a fast energy bump from the sugar in the cola, and then longer-lasting and more filling nutrition from the milk. A pint of it makes a pretty decent fast, light meal.

[@kinsleysmith5114]

Coffee and trees ☕🎄 ~ together at last ❤ 😆 Yes, pistachios get extra attention during the holidays, specifically in cookies.

[@MoonlightFlamingo]

Here where I live (UK) we have a celebration mcflurry!

[@lufixu]

this is what ive been waiting for YEAHHHHH

[@CoiuuunmasterUS]

Merry christmas and happy holidays :D

[@DigiRangerScott]

Also the holiday pies are back

[@thedeadman82988]

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all!!!!

[@emilyg1993]

What about the UK Christmas Maccies sweet offerings!? The festive pie and Celebrations McFlurry!

[@izziekawaiicat4127]

this gives me joy

[@amyw6808]

I feel you missed out loads of Christmas goodies here in UK? What about Greggs? Mince pies? Cadburys do loads of festive items, including cakes as well as chocolate.

[@darknorman2914]

We had the Big Tasty as a normal menu item in the UK (at least in my home country of wales) for at least a year or two now and it’s not a seasonal item.

[@fayesouthall6604]

Yes I remember it

[@JHSIUNG98]

Merry Christmas harry and joe (plus george🇯🇵 and nikhil 🇮🇳)

[@pablopablo3834]

A lot of people eat Christmas pudding with Sliced Cheddar cheese or some form of cream, Baileys Cream is quite popular.

[@Flibbles]

We usually eat Christmas cake with cheese.

[@3pehrs]

long time waiting for this clip 👍 yeah HHhH

[@koo44m]

mcdonalds hot choc deluxe is just a regular hot chocolate but they add whipped cream and chocolate drizzle on top, but it melts very quickly so that's probably why it wasnt noticeably different

[@DawnDavidson]

The expression on the gingerbread latte! 😂

[@Star_Joker]

I was wondering if we'd get a Christmas special this year. I know we won't see George for a while, but will we get Nikhil in for a Christmas special - whether it's India vs UK or US?

[@jolanda.c]

Is Christmas a big thing in India?

[@Star_Joker]

@jolandac.5656 I just did a Google search because that was one thing I didn't consider when writing my comment. Apparently, it's a fairly significant event in India. It's possible that they might not, but It's also possible that they do (the fast food restaurants doing this promotion).

[@yazzy3177]

@@jolanda.c ofc not they dont believe in jesus 😂

[@Star_Joker]

@@yazzy3177 about 5% of the population are Christian.

[@V1p3r_spl]

@@jolanda.c It's a holiday and a (few) lights but that's it.

[@RageChocobo]

Eggnog takes better if it is homemade! I should know, my mom makes a lovely homemade eggnog.

[@80sGamerLady]

Sounds wonderful! I always just get the jug from the store. Never made it homemade before.

[@LeilaLamb]

Merry Christmas!

[@liamdempsey6648]

UK McDonald’s also has a Celebrations McFlurry and a Festive pie as well

[@sopdox]

Those of us who remember the 70s know that milk & Pepsi was the favorite drink of Laverne in Laverne & Shirley. It sucked then too.

[@1Jetsurf]

The fact they don't know Pilk has been a trend for 10+ years is wild. Pepsi isn't trying to make you drink it, they are finally joining the bandwagon of people memeing about it over 10 years ago.

[@jessallaround13]

The Snowman is one of the most effed up horror movies I've ever seen! What a random reference!

[@michaelcarter4522]

The Pepsi and Milk was Laverne's favorite drink on Laverne and Shirley.

[@aoc2344]

U missed the UK mcdonalds festive pie and the celebrations mcflurry also elf on a shelf has been popular in the UK for the last few years.

[@JPA65]

No festive stack this year at Maccies in the UK! It was so good last year, we've been shortchanged!

[@irock550]

The sugarplum danish is shockingly amazing 14:08

[@nickmoney]

Pepsi and Milk is a no for me but I think I know where they're going with it. It's a play on Coke Float, Coke with vanilla ice cream so pretty much pop and dairy. I think it's plausible if they come up with a recipe to add something to it.

[@junipeayt]

gingerbread bearista, south pole sam and north pole nat are the holy trinity of starbucks holiday baked goods

[@suzawilo]

Wish my country had festive fast food specials 😩

[@Farquad76.547]

Where do you live? Afghanistan ?

[@311frogger311]

Pilk was first created on Lavern & Shirley. My Dad used to love Pepsi freezes at Dairy Queen before they switched to Coke products.

[@themoviedealers]

Yes there was a Pepsi Blizzard and it was glorious...just Pepsi syrup, no carbonated water.

[@311frogger311]

@@themoviedealers Pepsi freeze was Pepsi and soft serve. So good!

[@ajsworld5042]

i love food wars!

[@ThatCronus]

We have had Terry's Chocolate Oranges in the US for decades. I get one every year at Christmas time.

[@truestefanwhat]

Finnish mcdonalds has peppermint shakes, sundaes and special menu

[@niseplank4527]

Camembert cheese at McDonald's. It sure is different in the rest of the world.

[@SirPanikalot778]

When I saw the thumbnail I genuinely laughed at Joe's outfit.

[@jerranspearman3369]

good video

[@kylegoodwright5874]

I miss the popping candy Terry's chocolate orange! Was the best one! Bring it back

[@duchenefan]

The co-op have roast potato crisps which are quite nice

[@maenad1231]

Those look nothing like branches - with the hood up Joe reminds me of Sonic the hedgehog but celebrating the holiday season 😂 lmao

[@EvHervey]

6:58 Alright, Joe. You got me. It's been a minute... but I called that one wrong. I'm going to try this on a podcast... and so is my buddy Ken. He just doesn't know it yet.

[@JoeAvella]

It's not bad!

[@savannah3760]

I love Terry’s Dark Chocolate Oranges!!

[@beari5hplayz]

I wish you all the best

[@claireishification]

For McDonald's you missed off the festive pie basically a mince pie and custard version of the apple pie. Very tasty

[@danielgill797]

Always love Starbucks Christmas especially their eggnog latte. Always pick up some gingerbread syrup. Unfortunately Subway lost me when they changed the great chilli sauce over to sriracha which in my opinion isn't so good.

[@necroticdemonart]

I would watch all of these before I was diagnosed with type one diabetes and now I pay a bit more attention to the sugar in things due to these vids

[@musicfananita2]

Hot chocolate deluxe has spray cream on and a chocolate powder cocoa thingy dusting hehe

[@iamtheeggman1986]

Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄

[@Alfieiswar245]

in japan (a country i am obsessed of, i am british) they actually eat kf c for their christmas dinner great video btw

[@badjokecoke]

I just wanna say thank you, Harry. I thought I was the only one who thought tomatoes don't belong on burgers 💀

[@ms.antithesis]

tomatoes are peak ngl

[@micgreenson7308]

In your opinion, others opinion is they good nothing really matters tho dose it 😅