A Chinese takeaway might be a staple for many in the UK, but it seems not everyone shares the same level of enthusiasm when it comes to enjoying this popular cuisine.
For Brits, there's nothing quite like sinking your teeth into some succulent chicken chow mein or crispy salt and pepper chicken. Despite its divergence from traditional Chinese fare, the British twist on these dishes has won over countless taste buds with its irresistible flavours.
However, Nicole Brennan from New York wasn't quite sold on the British Chinese takeaway experience. Taking to TikTok during her UK visit, she sparked a bit of controversy with her less-than-impressed review of our beloved takeaway staples.
In her video, Nicole announced: "A New Yorker visits the UK and tries British Chinese takeaway for the first time." Her selection featured typical favourites such as curry sauce, chicken fried rice, salt and pepper chips, chicken dumplings and prawn crackers.
Yet, despite the array of dishes, Nicole confessed that the meal didn't live up to the excitement, expressing her bewilderment at the lack of taste.
Sampling the chicken fried rice, Nicole was left searching for the flavour, lamenting: "Was not expecting it to taste like that, where's the flavour. Literally tastes of nothing, no hint of flavour, how is that possible?"
She did concede that the chow mein fared slightly better, acknowledging it as one of the more palatable items in her order, though still criticising it for being bland.
Nicole's review of the takeaway was less than favourable, with her lamenting the lack of flavour in all the dishes. She noted that the only discernible taste in the chicken dumplings came from the accompanying vinegar sauce, which she described as not "even a good taste".
The New Yorker gave the meal a disappointing score of just four out of ten, suggesting she might think twice before ordering Britain's favourite takeaway again.
In contrast, Yinrun Huang, a Chinese woman who gained fame on the 2023 reboot of Big Brother, had a more positive experience with UK Chinese takeaway. She shared a video on TikTok showcasing a large plate of food from a local Chinese takeaway and her verdict has left Brits feeling validated.
"British people do make brilliant Chinese takeaway", she affirmed. "As a Chinese girl who is living in the UK, I've never tried a Chinese takeaway yet. I'm going to try them, and rate them one by one", she said, presenting her loaded plate.
Yinrun seemed to enjoy the food, awarding most dishes an impressive eight out of ten.
