Fast food is all about convenience and price over quality. We're not just talking about ingredients and taste, either. Usually, stores look as stale and greasy as the food they serve.
But around the world, some fast food stores have decided that low-quality food doesn't need to be served in uninspiring settings. From traditional Japanese houses to futuristic stores, these are some of the world's most surprisingly eye-catching fast food locations.
The Most Beautiful Popeyes You'll Ever See
Location: Paris, France
People who say Paris is overrated know nothing. In the City of Lights, even fast food joints are elegant. Need proof? Check out this gorgeous Popeyes in the 18th arrondissement.
Sci-Fi McDonald's
Location: Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell is known for its purported UFO and extraterrestrial activity, so it makes sense that the town's McDonald's would look like it belongs in a sci-fi movie. Hey, maybe if the aliens see it, they'll be inclined to try some Earth food.
Container Store Starbucks
Location: Hualien City, Taiwan
Starbucks opened this 320-square-meter store in 2018 to much fanfare. The store was built using 29 upcycled shipping containers, so besides being aesthetically pleasing, it gets environmental points.
A Burger King With a Sauna
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Have you ever been in a sauna and thought, "the only thing that could make this better would be a greasy fast-food burger?" No? We don't think anyone else in the world has, either. And yet, this Helsinki Burger King decided to have its own sauna so people could simultaneously take care of and destroy their health.
Before you get overly excited, the experience reportedly costs over $300 and must be booked in advance.
Proof That McDonald's Can Be Elegant
Location: New Hyde Park, New York
Similarly, this New Hyde Park McDonald's serves happy meals from a 19th-century mansion. The building was in bad shape when the franchise purchased it in 1985. To its credit, it could've demolished the house and just built another generic store. Instead, it decided to restore this piece of history and keep it part of the town's landscape.
Or Extremely Chic
Location: Batumi, Georgia (Eastern Europe/West Asia)
This building is so beautiful that it almost makes us want to eat at McDonald's. We're not the only ones who fall victim to the allure of this 2013 glass design by Giorgi Khmaladze, as tourists in Batumi go out of their way just to snap a picture of the landmark.
A Truly Classic Starbucks
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Starbucks strikes again with a beautiful location in a traditional neighborhood in Japan. Customers can sit on tatami mats and enjoy the chain's modern take on coffee in a historic setting. The contrast makes waiting in line worth it.
Soviet KFC
Location: Minsk, Belarus
Once part of the Soviet Union, Belarus has Soviet sculptures and monuments around its most important cities. Ironically, this sculpture by Anatol Yafimovich Arcimovich, called "Solidarity," now stands above a KFC — truly an example of when worlds collide.
A Burger King Fit for Royalty
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Though Argentina's capital has many fast food locations that don't deserve a second glance, this Burger King location decided to stand out from the crowd. Set in an elegant building from the late 19th century, it boasts hanging chandeliers, a glass dome in the ceiling and tall columns.
This McDonald's Jazzes Things Up
Location: Melbourne, Australia
No one would think a McDonald's would be part of Australia's National Heritage List, but this isn't just any fast food location. Once housing the United Kingdom Hotel, the building dates to the late 1930s and is a perfect example of Jazz Moderne architecture.