Mini calzones. Anti-fast food. Ovaltine milkshakes. Puffy, cheesy bread.
And… action-packed hot dogs?! Sign us up.
Did you know there's actually a lot of Latin American fast food chains that haven't graced
your palette? Stay tuned to find out which of these fast food chains to keep an eye out for!
Just so everyone is clear, Bob's Burgers in Brazil predates the show "Bob's Burgers"
by about 60 years. While lacking in kitschy names for specials,
the burgers here have withstood the test of time.
Bob's features simple burgers with "Big Bob Sauce" and specializes in Ovaltine milkshakes.
That's not entirely surprising, as Ovaltine, (yes, the powdered malt mix),
is a standard household item in many kitchens in Argentina and Brazil.
Bob's has also been on the cutting edge of creative and unusual
marketing gimmicks when they launched "edible packaging" for their burgers.
More than curbing environmental waste, Bob's pivoted the move to advertise to
hungry consumers, too ravenous to waste time unwrapping their meals. Honestly,
we've all been there. A clever new slogan encouraged diners to eat the wrapper itself,
and if there's anything America really needs, it's ways to be more environmentally friendly.
Whether washing down wrappers with Ovaltine can become a hit in the U.S.,
we're not sure, but we're ready to give it the ol' Belcher family try.
"They'll try the samples, and they'll love 'em. But they'll want more. More!
They'll be craving these burgers. Itching to get their fix!"
Hamburguesas El Corral specifically refers to itself as "anti-fast food," and that title
may very well be deserved. The restaurant tops Colombia's charts as the biggest burger chain.
However, while this affordable, counter service stop checks all the boxes of what
you would expect fast-food to look like, it's everything and more outside of being fast.
The restaurant features a wide variety of burgers, with endless toppings and styles.
Burger portions are huge, with big meaty slabs competing in thickness to surrounding buns.
As if that's not enough, the restaurant also serves specialty hot dogs (called "Cowboys"),
as well as fries, salads, and standard American fare.
While El Corral may be American fare, the restaurant did not fare well in
Miami. Whether the popular chain will give a new Stateside location a shot,
it's unclear. Still, with North America's seemingly never-ending demand for craft burgers,
El Corral may find a welcoming home with a few tweaks to its game plan.
Much like the States, many of Latin America's fast-food
franchises don't solely specialize in traditional cuisine. In other words,
many Latin American countries have found local acceptance in international flavors, served fast.
Mini Kalzone in Brazil has had just this sort of success by introducing fast Italian, mainly
in the form of cheese and meat-filled pockets. With almost 20 different kinds of calzones, from
"Premium" varieties to their popular "Maxi Beef" pocket, Mini Kalzone keeps the variety baked in.
Similar to Taco Bell's Nacho Cheese Locos Tacos made with Doritos flavored shells,
Mini Kalzone likes to mix traditional style with recognizable brand favorites.
On the dessert side of the menu, you'll find a Kalzone mixed with the popular dessert spread,
Nutella. Without sticking to standard fillings favored in Italy, Mini Kalzone
does its own thing — and that's okay, too. Takeaway: These aren't your ordinary calzones.
"Just a stunning culinary innovation."
"It was a calzone."
"It was literally just a small calzone."
Bembos is a Peruvian burger joint that features a whole lot of flair. From their eccentrically
decorated restaurants to their creative burgers, you know when you're in a Bembos. With more than
55 stores in the country, Bembos was one of the first restaurants to introduce Peruvians
to hamburgers and fries. That means only one thing — they've had the chance to perfect them.
In this way, the company was able to make their menu all their own — creating new
burger combinations and interesting offerings by incorporating traditional ingredients and spices.
Toppings include string potatoes, chimichurri mayo sauce and Bembos' own
"Chili Sauce," to name a few. Bembos also offers Peru's own Inca Kola,
which is a sweet, fruity drink also known as the "Golden Kola."
Lastly, for dessert, Bembos also features another local favorite,
condensed milk ice cream with toppings. An entire meal at Bembos can be a unique and
flavorful partnership of Peruvian and American foodie favorites. The best of all worlds.
If North America is missing out on rotisserie chicken fast-food,
we welcome Pollo Pepe to bring its bird and step up to the plate.
The menu has a bit of an ambitious collection outside of the chicken combinations — hosting
pizza and hamburgers, in addition to the chicken. Sticking to the restaurant's namesake, however,
one can get a delicious, slow-cooked and glazed chicken with some equally delicious sides.
To wash down a pollo (Pepe-style), opt for a horchata or Tamarindo drink.
It's a wonderful flavor combination that we feel would fill a fast-food niche in the U.S.A.
Simply put, Juan Maestro specializes in sandwiches
made Chilean style. The sandwiches they serve feature piles of shredded meat,
avocado, and homemade mayonnaise. Yet they also serve empanadas, fries, and ice cream. Juan
Maestro is the ultimate quick-serve sandwich shop for everything you're in the mood for.
These traditional Chilean sandwiches use buttered burger buns rather than sliced bread.
Additionally, rather than appealing to crowds as a greasy, quick bite,
Juan Maestro focuses on fresh ingredients and "healthier" options
like meat that's grilled rather than fried. With dozens of locations around Chile and growing,
it's clear that Chileans are favoring the fresh and healthy options as well.
This sandwich shop has yet to break into the North American market,
but as it continues to grow, it's possible we may begin to see international expansion
in the near future. Healthy fast food? It can't come soon enough.
At Tipicas Empanadas, you can enjoy your delicious meat-filled pocket to go
with a variety of flavor combinations influenced from all over the world. Choose a "Typical Meat"
for the Colombian version of a corn empanada with spiced beef, potato, and house stew. Branch
out for other "Typical" collections, including Hawaiian, cheese, Mexican, Ranchera, and Thai.
Outside of the traditional corn offerings, Tipicas also does a "baked" wheat version and arepas.
With so many different sauces and even more varieties of empanadas, we believe
that this little Colombian establishment has the key to our collective American hearts.
Pozole is a traditional soup or stew in Mexico made from hominy and featuring meats,
cabbage, chile peppers, garlic, avocado, radishes, and limes.
At La Casa de Toño Restaurante in Mexico, it's really the star of the show.
While more like a 24-hour diner than a traditional fast-food establishment, La Casa de
Toño is well-known for its quick service and busy atmosphere. Rapid fire food is part of the scene
as this little restaurant serves up bowl after bowl of pozole and hefty plates of delicious food.
They're also known for breakfast foods, inexpensive offerings, and friendly
staff. With La Casa de Toño Restaurante being voted as one of the quote, "Best Restaurants
in Mexico City," by the Independent, we'd love to see a version pop up in the States.
Self-described as a "pioneer in the commercialization of cheese bread," Casa do
Pão de Queijo had us at "hello." With success in the 50-year-old company's signature bread,
franchises featuring a little grandma as its mascot soon spread across Brazil.
In addition to cheesy breads, the bakery restaurant also claims a dessert
named the "Best Chocolate Cake in the World."
Casa do Pão de Queijo is known in Brazil as being the go-to quick service place
for breakfast and coffee. Also serving paninis, sandwiches, savory stuffed puffs and pastries,
you might even consider Casa do Pão de Queijo to be Brazil's version of a Starbucks.
It's somewhere reliable to grab a quick bite and pick-me-up around the city.
Hopefully, sometime in the near future, the United States will find itself enjoying a hot
cup of Brazilian coffee with a cheesy puffball in the morning. Frankly, we are so down.
If you're looking for something exciting in the Latin American fast-food world,
head to Doggis in Chile for a hot dog that feels like it's action packed.
The hot dog toppings get kind of radical at Doggis. We're meaning it's way beyond little
wavy lines of mustard and ketchup. Try mayonnaise, salsa, ranch, guacamole, or queso — or everything
at once for those reckless customers that know no fear. These big dogs are known as "completes"
at Doggis, with the large version going as long as 8.5 inches. Yes, that's a whole 'lotta dog.
If that seems a bit intimidating to you, no worries. Doggis also features delectable sides.
Order empanadas, fries, a chicken sandwich, or ice cream with candy toppings.
This fun Chilean restaurant is more than just a hot dog stand. For avant-garde hot dogs,
we'd love to welcome Doggis to the North American landscape of fast-food.
It's entirely possible that you think that a sandwich is just a sandwich.
Sure, there's some pretty delicious ones out there, but if you don't get
excited over the prospect of grabbing one for lunch, that's because you don't live in Peru.
Peru really does a sandwich right and for too long, the United States has been missing out. At
Pasquale Sanguchería, one can get all the exotic flavors of this beautiful Latin American country,
nestled right between two buttered buns. The restaurant also features
a variety of classic and international dishes.
Local favorites to try include the chicharrón sandwich, which is made with pork and potato,
and the classic stir fry. Pasquale is also famous for its sauces which include rocoto and huancaína.
Slathered on crusty bread and with warm turkey breast, grilled chicken, or pork and plantains,
these sandwiches are packed with flavor and come with infinite ways to mix it up.
While an American sandwich can be boring at times, Sanguchería brings the power of Peru to the plate.
If you ever find yourself in Lima, be sure to grab a bite from your
local Pasquale to get a taste of what the United States is missing out on.
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