British food has carried a reputation for so long, especially among Americans. Whether it’s jokes about bland seasoning or confusion over beans at breakfast, many people think they already know what to expect. That’s exactly the mindset Kareen Hill brought with him when he landed in London for part 26 of his “flying to a random city just because I have free will” series. His mission is to find out if British cuisine is actually as bad as the stereotypes claim.
Hill’s first stop was a classic full English breakfast at Polluci’s. The meal contained baked beans, mushrooms, tomato, sausage, eggs, bacon, and fried bread. The beans were his forest reality check. While he admitted he “can see the potential,” their lukewarm temperature and watery texture left him unimpressed. “Chat, I wouldn’t even survive this sh*t to a f*cking dog. Not even Scooby Doo himself,” he joked, highlighting his disappointment. The mushrooms were even worse. “These mushrooms legit taste like earring back. I am appalled and disgusted at the same time,” he said, pausing mid-bite to stress how far off his expectations were. The bacon is thicker and closer to ham than the crispy American strips he’s used to; it managed to be better, but it did not excite him. Then came the fried bread; he admitted that it was “soft in the middle and not too greasy,” and that this was the only thing that made the runny eggs and beans tolerable in the first place for him. While some items exceeded expectations, overall, the breakfast fell short of the excitement Kareen anticipated.
Next, he ate at Spud Bros for the viral cheese, beans, and tuna bowl. “No exaggeration, this is the worst meal I have had in my entire life,” he exclaimed. The combination of textures and flavors completely failed to meet expectations, earning his harshest critique of the day.
Finally, Hill tried London’s iconic fish and chips at Mayfair Chippy. Hoping for redemption, he was met with another letdown: “When I tell you this was bland, the batter was too thick, the fish had legit zero flavor.” The fish scored a 4 out of 10, and the chips a 2, securing his overall rating for the day at a 3 out of 10.
The comment section was full of mixed reactions. Some viewers joked about the food, saying things like, “I would be sooooo skinny in London, that’s all I know.” While another said,” Nah you gotta dispute this with your bank.” Others defended the food, stating, “Fish and Chips in Mayfair was your first mistake,” and some people even gave suggestions as to where he should have gone, such as a British pub, since it is one of the best experiences that really represents British culture.
By the end of the day, Kareen’s London food tour proved that trying new cuisines can be full of surprises, sometimes good, sometimes not so much. His expectation did not really live up to the reality, which turned out to be far from a pleasant experience. While London might not have won him over with traditional dishes, the trip itself created a viral moment on social media for him and others to remember forever.