Cheapism / Erich V. / Yelp / Danny Jensen / Pizza Hat
Ever notice a restaurant you think you recognize at first, but then realize it's something else? You might be staring at a classic fast-food restaurant copycat, which our world is absolutely chock-full of, especially abroad.
From Pizza Hat to Burger Queen, here are seven fast-food knock-offs you didn't know existed.
Mr. Charlie's will probably outlive all the knockoffs on this list, because instead of trying to lure you inside with the "same" products you know and love, there's a very intentional menu change. Plant-based burgers and chicken sandwiches designed to look an awful lot like McDonald's are the focus here, and with locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sydney, expect to see them grow even more.
Related: Where to Find Plant-Based Fast Food
You gotta hand it to this now-closed Los Angeles Mexican restaurant. I'd probably pull over for a griddly torta made on a flat-top grill if I was hungry. At least, that's what I would assume was waiting for me inside. The "World Famous" really kills me.
This Spanish donut shop still operates in Oviedo, Spain, with branding almost exactly like the donut shop we know. The question is: Now that the original has changed its name to Dunkin', will this one start going by just Duffin? Either way, I could really use a dagel right about now.
For more fast-food deep-dives, please sign up for our free newsletters.
This Taiwanese spot has a name that means "Happy Chicken" in Mandarin, but as you can see, the branding is nearly identical to a certain fried chicken purveyor we know. I'll take Taiwanese fried chicken over the Kentucky stuff any day, so this seems worth exploring.
In a 2014 episode of his show "Nathan For You," host Nathan Fielder decided to see just how far parody law is allowed to reach, and opened a "parody" coffee shop in a Los Angeles strip mall. He called it Dumb Starbucks, and it barely made it to the end of the day before being shut down by the health department.
Related: Delicious International Fast-Food Chains America Is Missing Out On
No notes. This Iranian copycat spot is actually a creative work of genius as far as I'm concerned. I love how the typical red roof on the Pizza Hut logo has transformed into a big red hat adorned by some Carmen San Diego-looking person.
You've heard of the king? Well make way for the Queen, who's still operating in Lakeview, Oregon. This is clearly more of a reference than a direct ripoff; we won't hold it against you, Burger Queen. Your burgers look delicious.
