Starbucks in China

I’m kinda embarrassed to be yet another foreigner who can’t resist going to western chains in a foreign country.

Yeah, okay. I’ll admit it. Every now and then I go to Pizza Hut for a fancy dinner and Starbucks for a fancy cup of comfort while living in China. I enjoy eating out at various Chinese restaurants or snacking on Chinese bakery products, however every now and then when I miss home or need a de-stress from a difficult day, I find myself wandering into an American coffee chain.

Many western chains seem to have adapted well to Chinese culture. For example, KFC’s menu in China is famous for having successfully adapted to Chinese tastes while still satisfying western tourists and immigrants, while burger chains like Mc Donalds and Burger King serve items that are simply unrecognisable to westerners like me.

Starbucks on the other hand seems pretty standard. They serve the usual coffee with the same Italian words underneath Chinese characters. One of the main differences is that many drinks are available both hot and cold, which means you get to enjoy a delicious iced hot chocolate during the summer period. The coffee served at Starbucks is also somewhat sweeter than what UK residents will be used to. (In general, bitter coffee is hard to find in this region of China. Sweet is a favoured flavour in food and drink.)

I was expecting to see various fruit teas which seem to be very popular elsewhere, but then again now that I think about it, Starbucks doesn’t seem to attempt to compete with established Chinese favourites. After all, you don’t go to Starbucks for your dragon fruit bubble tea, you go to Starbucks to get your overdose of caffeine.

Usually there is at least one Starbucks staff on duty that can take your order in English, at least from what I’ve experienced. The quality of the coffee is very good and while it is expensive, because a lot of other aspects of living in China is cheaper than what we’d expect in the UK, the coffee is slightly more affordable as a weekly treat. I enjoy the Starbucks’ specials the most, such as their toffee nut coffee, which was incredible. Unfortunately, I can’t find a photo of the coffee and the Christmas period is now over. Photos of coffee are a little boring though, so I don’t blame my past self for not bothering.

I have noticed that this particular chain of Starbucks sells some stunning cups and glasses that I’ve often been tempted to purchase for friends and family members. Their items are pricey but the quality is strong and the mermaid collection during a summer month was particularly beautiful. Somehow I resisted, worried that they’d break on the long trip home.

We didn’t quite manage to resist their Christmas collections. Friends who know me well may guess which one I now happen to own.

The desserts are also charming and I recommend taking a look during a festive period when they are very special and tasty. Though of course, expect Chinese flavours in many of these desserts, like sweet red bean. International croissants are also available and I personally think the food you can purchase at a Chinese Starbucks chains is better than the taste-like-fridge-costs-a-mortgage sandwich you can purchase in a UK Starbucks chain.

Pizza Hut in China

Or should we say pizza, pasta, steak and salad hut?

Pizza Hut is one of my favourite go to restaurants when I’m looking for a special treat after a stressful day. I had a look recently for reviews online about the Pizza Hut in China and was surprised to see how many negative articles popped up. In my opinion, Pizza Hut in China tops their UK chain by offering such a varied menu with good atmosphere and a stronger chance of decent seating.

It may be of no surprise that the Chinese Pizza Hut uses specialised seasonal menus to attract their regulars to try something a little new. Their halloween themed pizza was by far the best I’ve tried, with a quirky black dough (that didn’t kill my stomach, surprisingly) delicious cheese (a rare find in Guangdong) and tasty bbq chicken.

My second favourite pizza has to be their duck pizza, which has generous servings of sliced duck with cucumber.

One of the downsides to eating out in many places in my local area is the lack of vegetarian options, and Pizza Hut is no exception. Vegetarians will need to be prepared to make a special request to have meat-free meals, however with a phrase book or translator app at hand, staff are likely to listen and be patient with your request. (WeChat is also good for a last resort)

I do however have to comment that their salads are indeed exceptional, and I never expected to enjoy eating a salad at a place I associate traditionally with pizza. Pizza Hut sells an incredible pesto spaghetti salad with sweet and juicy tomatoes and cashew nuts. They also have an American potato salad and a couple of other salads on the menu.

The drinks served in Pizza Hut are your typical drinks you can find in similarly priced restaurants in Guangdong. You have your fruit teas, you have your milk teas, you have your cola. Now and then they might stick a wad of icecream in it but it tastes so weird I wouldn’t recommend it. Honestly, nothing too special on the drink side.

There is a particular soft chocolate pudding that I do enjoy but can’t help but find the price tag associated with the pud a bit too high for my liking, especially after forking out a lot of yuan for the pizzas. The platters are also fairly good too, but many of the options will be loaded with fish items which is great for those who can eat fish.

All in all, Pizza Hut is one of my favourite ‘treats’ of the month. To bite into proper decent cheese… When you live in society that is not so cheesy as the west, you come to appreciate these rare moments of joy. The pizza the chain in China serve is also is not quite so starchy or as ‘heavy’ as I know it in the UK, which makes it easier on my stomach and my waist line too.