The cheapest, nastiest, most horrible food you've experienced

[Halcyon]

Since people are posting about the ugliest car and given that I'm a huge fan of Stuart Ashen's channel, I'd love to know about the weird and horrible processed foods in your country.

I personally tend to steer clear of anything canned, shrink-wrapped or highly processed (with some exceptions) and with the abundance of cheap, fresh produce in Australian supermarkets, you'd have to be coconuts to buy any of that other crap.

The worst stuff I eat regularly would be Bánh mì (Vietnamese pork rolls). They contain two "mystery meats" which I'd rather not question, one being Vietnamese sausage sliced thinly. But they are so good, especially first thing in the morning and with extra chilli - AUD$4.00 from a good bakery gets you a nice filling breakfast.

This is the video that got me hooked on Ashen's food videos, he has a brilliant way of articulating out of date or just poor quality food...

[brucehoult]

The worst I've actually *eaten*?

On New Year's day 1999 when I was visiting the USA, driving through eastern Washington State, we couldn't find anything open at lunch time in some town (Yakima?) except a Taco Bell. My god, it was foul.

Fortunately, at the next town where we were hungry we found an open Dennys. That felt like a big step up.

[Avacee]

Cheese in America - especially the yellow chemically saturated slice of plastic that comes with a Big Mac.
Meat in America - especially the brown chemically saturated slice of plastic that comes with a Big Mac.

I actually had a second Big Mac several days later because I couldn't believe the first one was so awful but it merely confirmed that McDonald's USA is really a chemical company.
In fact - I'm not even sure Big Mac's should be in this thread as I'm not sure they qualified as food.

And to be fair I did experience the other end of the spectrum at a german restaurant in Virginia which had the most amazing meats dishes imaginable 

And Big Mac's in Argentina = WOW!.. prime steak from a local ranch with no chemicals

Edit: Anyone else here remember Jamie Oliver and "Pink Slime"?

[Halcyon]

The worst I've actually *eaten*?

Or come across.

I don't imagine Americans actually *eat* this stuff... Surely it's just a novelty...

[tszaboo]

Worst food: soya meat
Most disgusting thing that I did not dare to eat: Insect burger, raw fish (aka sushi),
Most disqusting thing that I eat and enjoy: Bifi salami snack knock-off
Worst drink: Budweiser tie with K?bányai Instant Sickness and "once i accidentally put salt in my cafe instead of sugar".

[Halcyon]

Most disgusting thing that I did not dare to eat: ... raw fish (aka sushi),

Awww, you are missing out. I'm not a huge "seafood person" myself but Sushi (or Sashimi) is among my favourite food. My best friend was like you, swore he'd never eat it, since trying it drunk one night, he has loved it ever since. Especially with soy and proper wasabi paste (not that horseradish stuff with food colouring).

[gonzo_the_great]

Do you mean that there is anything else, worse than a 'Pot Noodle'?

[brucehoult]

Most disgusting thing that I did not dare to eat: ... raw fish (aka sushi),

Awww, you are missing out. I'm not a huge "seafood person" myself but Sushi (or Sashimi) is among my favourite food. My best friend was like you, swore he'd never eat it, since trying it drunk one night, he has loved it ever since. Especially with soy and proper wasabi paste (not that horseradish stuff with food colouring).

Even in Japan, 95+% of "wasabi" is actually horseradish&mustard. The real stuff is super expensive, and has to be grated within 15 minutes of consumption.

[Halcyon]

Even in Japan, 95+% of "wasabi" is actually horseradish&mustard. The real stuff is super expensive, and has to be grated within 15 minutes of consumption.

Yep, it's chemical compounds are pretty volatile. They lose their piquancy quickly one the root is cut/grated.

You can find it fresh in Australia where it's grown in cooler climates (mostly in Tasmania and Canberra) but it's not super-common.

[bd139]

Do you mean that there is anything else, worse than a 'Pot Noodle'?

In the spirit of this thread and being pro pot noodle, you need to try the Itsu Chicken Udon Noodle in a pot. Worms (soggy noodles) and slugs (quorn lumps) in a soup of spicy boiled dog shit. You'll be begging for a pot noodle again after that.

https://www.ocado.com/webshop/product/Itsu-Chicken-Udon-Noodles/319519011

That is simply the worst thing I've ever eaten. It was VILE. I've eaten goats testicles and pickled fermented fish if that's any comparison.

Most American supermarket food and chain restaurant stuff is nearly as bad from experience.

[Halcyon]

Itsu Chicken Udon Noodle in a pot.

Code: [Select]

Noodles (79%): Wheat Flour, Water, Lactic Acid, Corn Oil, Salt, Soup Paste (21%): British Chicken Stock Base (25%) (Cooked British Chicken Meat (50%), Yeast Extract, Salt, Chicken Fat, Dried Vegetables (Leek, Onion), Sugar, Lemon Juice from Concentrate, Black Pepper, Sage), Roast Onion Puree, Tomato Puree, Maltodextrin, Sugar, Garlic Puree, Ginger Puree, Sunflower Oil, Ground Spices (Coriander, Cumin, Turmeric, Chilli, Cinnamon, Cardamon), Dried Tomato, Spirit Vinegar, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Yeast Extract, Water, Skimmed Milk Powder, Salt, Natural Flavouring, Lactic Acid, Coriander Leaf, Fenugreek, Rosemary Extract, Dried Vegetables & Tofu sachet: Tofu (Soya Beans, Maltose, Starch (Potato, Tapioca), Firming Agent: Calcium Sulfate), Wakame Seaweed, Spring Onion.
Surprising lack of E-numbers. But what the hell is "British Chicken" ?!

[bd139]

It's chicken, except when it's slaughtered they soak it in tea for a few hours.

[Halcyon]

It's chicken, except when it's slaughtered they soak it in tea for a few hours.

Sounds moist. :-)

[RGB255_0_0]

• Tuna
• Spam
• Mushroom

Pot Noodle isn't the worst snack in a pot food going.

[Lord of nothing]

Surprising lack of E-numbers.

I would say it depend on the National Law what kind of ingredient must be declared.

The worst food ever? US 3rd Party MRE.  (MRE * )

[Gyro]

Most disgusting thing that I did not dare to eat: ... raw fish (aka sushi),

Awww, you are missing out. I'm not a huge "seafood person" myself but Sushi (or Sashimi) is among my favourite food. My best friend was like you, swore he'd never eat it, since trying it drunk one night, he has loved it ever since. Especially with soy and proper wasabi paste (not that horseradish stuff with food colouring).

Eleven courses of Sushi in Taiwan. Lots of the courses were components of a fish that I didn't even recognise - and some I wish I hadn't.

Apparently a very expensive meal (our CEO was over there from the US at the same time), but totally wasted on my English palate.

There wasn't even any pudding to settle it down!


EDIT: Sorry, I failed the "Cheapest" test.

[Lord of nothing]

I got the best Sushi i ever had in Japan from the local supermarket. 

[Cyberdragon]

You guys know sushi can have worms right? Even if it has been frozen, you're still eating dead worms...just think about that next time you eat anything raw.

[Lord of nothing]

the are natural. Better than US Food who is genetic manipulate stuff have in. 
And other stuff who can harm the health.

[bd139]

You guys know sushi can have worms right? Even if it has been frozen, you're still eating dead worms...just think about that next time you eat anything raw.

I prefer my worms cooked!

[vk6zgo]

Back in the early 1970s, I spent some time in the UK.
The fast food there was seriously dire.----Aussies, Yanks, Kiwis, & Canucks would get together & whinge about it.

Even English Fish 'n' Chips wasn't as good as I expected----the quality in Scotland was far better.

In Southampton, there was a roadside burger van I sometimes attended.
The burger "patties" were slices off a sort of big sausage, the onions were half cooked, & the buns soft.

I once drove 70miles to London to buy KFC, but it was a bit cold, & served with chips, which I found weird.
( KFC in Oz didn't do chips back then)

From what I've heard, fast food has improved out of sight in the UK since those far off days.
 

[bd139]

Couldn't agree more. It hasn't improved. British food is dire generally. Bland, tasteless, overcooked crap covered in gravy and shit. The humble roast dinner is one of the biggest offenders being a ritual rather than a meal. The success of the foreign restaurant and takeaway is testament to how shit it actually is.

Yes I'm a whinging pom

Although I'm not too proud to say my guilty pleasure is a KFC Fillet Box meal.

[Connoiseur]

Porotta (also spelt as parotta, parantha etc.) Chicken made by some guy like this

[bd139]

I've seen that before.

To be honest any food you get from a country who's entire hygiene system is based on eating with one hand and wiping your arse with the other one doesn't inspire much confidence in me.

[CatalinaWOW]

Deep in the heart of poor parts of Mexico.  What we called "dogmeat" tortas.  Cooked on the spot over waste oil fires by street venders who had washed their hands and equipment at least once in the last decade.  The meat was whatever they could catch.  Roof rat.  Lizards.  Real rats.  Whatever.  Chopped into tiny bits to disguise origin and spiced with best local peppers for both flavor and disguise.

When you are young and hungry you will eat anything.