World Cup fans have arrived in North America for the cheering, but many are leaving with firm opinions on the food. From Chick-fil-A in Atlanta to poutine in Toronto and barbecue in Texas, visiting supporters have given host-city restaurants a steady stream of new customers and public praise.
Jack Goodwin, a soccer fan from London, tried American food in Dallas, Boston, New York and Atlanta and described it as greasy, oversized and “absolutely glorious.” Harrison Murphy, also traveling from London with his brother for the knockout rounds, made Chick-fil-A part of his Atlanta visit and singled out the free sauces, especially Chick-fil-A sauce.
In Toronto, Gary Bishop of Glasgow discovered poutine at the Toronto FIFA Fan Festival while wearing a Scotland jersey. He compared it to chips with gravy and cheese, noting the thicker gravy and vinegar, and called it “absolutely delicious.”
Some visitors also looked for familiar tastes. Andrews Distributing hosted a bus full of Dutch fans at its Dallas warehouse for Heinekens and dancing.
Restaurants In Host Cities Welcome World Cup Crowds
The attention has stretched across the tournament map, from Cuban restaurants in Miami to barbecue spots in Kansas City and taco trucks in Mexico City. Paul Barker, principal and founder of Pauli’s in Boston, said fans from Scotland, Brazil, England and elsewhere have lined up for the restaurant’s lobster rolls and taken photos with staff.
Waffle House, the all-day breakfast chain with 2,000 restaurants across the South, opened a downtown Atlanta pop-up selling soccer balls, jerseys and patriotic gear. Whataburger, the Texas-based chain with 1,100 locations, drew organic social media attention after visits from fans from Japan and elsewhere, with Whataburger President and CEO Debbie Stroud saying the chain did not expect so many visitors to leave talking about a patty melt.
Texas Barbecue Becomes A Must-Try Stop
Terry Black Barbecue planned for World Cup traffic at its Dallas and Fort Worth locations, each about 20 minutes from the stadium. The small Texas chain prepared extra meat and leaned on its round-the-clock pits, which smoke turkey, pork and sausages and handle brisket that spends 12 hours on the barbecue.
Darien Kapture, Terry Black’s senior vice president of food and beverage operations, said the extra crowds required planning but brought memorable moments, including Argentina supporters packing Terry Black Dallas after a victory over Austria. Goodwin called the Texas barbecue in Dallas “unbelievable” and “the most gorgeous food ever.”
Not every review was glowing. Some fans complained about stadium food prices, and a British fan told the BBC that breakfast tea from Dunkin was “not great.” Still, ranch dressing gained enough fans that the Transportation Security Administration reminded travelers to pack bottles in checked bags rather than carry-ons.