An American woman has shared her 'honest verdict' after sampling British takeaways for the first time, offering ratings from 4 to 9 out of 10. Karissa Dumbacher, originally from the United States, took to Instagram to review dishes from Pepe's Piri Piri and a traditional fish and chip shop, prompting mixed reactions from UK residents.
Pepe's Piri Piri Impresses with Heat and Flavor
First up, Karissa tried Pepe's Piri Piri, which she had been told was the 'best fast food chain' in the UK and 'better than Nando's'. She ordered chilli-loaded fries and extra hot chicken and rice, accompanied by three pots of garlic mayo to temper the spice.
'The chicken was delicious and it had a citrus zesty kind of spice... it's every hot, they weren't playing around,' she raved, awarding the chicken a solid eight out of 10. 'The chicken was so tender and the garlic sauce was creamy AF.'
Regarding the fries, Karissa admitted she was 'sceptical' at first, but the jalapenos and crispy onions won her over, earning a seven out of 10. She noted the fries could have scored higher with a more generous cheese portion.
Next, she tucked into a 'heavy' quesadilla, which she described as 'packed with really moist chicken'. 'So much protein, I'm honestly upset they don't have Pepe's in America. Nine out of 10,' she said.
Chip Shop Classics: Battered Pizza and Mars Bar Disappoint
After being advised that no British adventure is complete without a trip to a chippy, Karissa headed to a fish and chip shop. Instead of fish, she opted for a battered pizza. 'It's half a pizza instead of fish,' she explained. 'It was more like a bread crust than a crunchy one. Very fluffy, but only a tiny bit of sauce on top. Six out of 10.'
She then expressed astonishment at discovering a battered Mars bar. Praising its 'soft gooeyness', she was underwhelmed by its lack of crispiness. 'It was very warm and caramelly though and I didn't hate it - but it was too soft and really needed a sauce,' giving it a six out of 10.
Karissa also sampled chips and curry sauce. 'I think I was expecting more of a traditional curry flavour with a nice warm Indian flavour,' she admitted. Instead, she found it 'very tangy' and 'kind of vinegary', awarding a disappointing four out of 10. 'It was a little sweet and kind of cold... I don't know if that's normal, but the chips are definitely better without it.'
Brits React: Mixed Opinions on Takeaway Choices
Responding to the post, one Instagram user joked: 'You gotta go Pepe's when drunk for the full experience.' A second pondered: 'Sounds like the only thing that was really good was the quesadilla.' A third slammed: 'Nobody ever in my life has ever wanted, asked for or requested deep fried pizza. That isn't English take away, that's just grim.' While a fourth commented: 'Not sure about that chip shop if honest and it doesn't look like curry sauce. That pizza thing well that looks shocking. Try a different chip shop and get curry sauce.'
