6 restaurant chains that really should be in Beijing

Beijing needs a proper Nando's. Don't @ us

We'll admit that we're spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out in Beijing. And yes, there are chain restaurants galore in this capital already (take the recent and long-awaited debut of Shake Shack and Tim Hortons, for example).

But still, everyone's got that one guilty pleasure that's not yet arrived. Below we’ve rounded up just a few more overseas fast-food and fast-casual chains that we'd love to see in the city. 

Greggs

A British lunchtime staple, in northern English cities like Newcastle and Sunderland, you're never more than ten metres away from a Greggs (probably). Offering a range of pastries, sandwiches, pastries and soups – the sausage roll is an institution – Beijing wouldn't go wrong with a Greggs or two.

Nando's

Photo: @nandosuk/Instagram

Founded in South Africa, peri-peri peddler Nando's is known for its Mozambican-Portuguese-style chicken dishes, as well as being a popular spot for gym lads looking for a post-workout protein load and teenagers on awkward first dates. And yes, we're aware that there was once a restaurant in Sanlitun called Peri Peri that serves knock-off Nando's-style chicken. And no, it's nowhere close to being the same.

Wetherspoons

Photo: @haimeibaole/Instagram

A chain of pubs found across Britain and the Republic of Ireland, Wetherspoons is the perfect place to drink cheap beers, eat tasty, no-frills pub grub and get into an argument about football with someone's dad on a Friday night. A popular meeting point to start your night out, their Tuesday steak night and Thursday curry club help thousands of students make it through university...

Five Guys

Photo: @fiveguys/Instagram

Between Five Guys and In-N-Out Burger, you could say there’s a bit of an American East Coast vs West Coast thing going on, with the big differences being slightly higher price in the former, and plans to invade China in the latter. Otherwise, Five Guys, just like In-N-Out, has that nostalgic, 1950s, tiled-wall American diner feel, with thick, handmade, never-frozen burgers and a wide selection of free toppings.

Jack in the Box

Photo: @jackinthebox/Instagram

Jack in the Box is a fast-food amalgamation of West Coast Americana – burgers, tacos, egg rolls and a clown for a mascot. Though the place is most famous for its tacos, which, in The Wall Street Journal, one fan likened to 'A wet envelope of cat food' and elaborated, 'There are two kinds of people: those who think they're disgusting and those who agree they’re disgusting but are powerless to resist them.'

Hungry Jack's

Sort of like Burger King (it's owned by the same corporation), but dare we say better, this Aussie burger joint is the sponsor company of Australia's National Basketball League but eating there won't make you better at dunking. It's the other home of the Whopper and their Storm ice cream gives the McDonald's McFlurry a serious run for its money.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

Photo: @popeyeslouisianakitchen/Instagram

This fast-food chain specialises in New Orleans ('Nawlins') flavours like jambalaya, Cajun rice and po' boy sandwiches, but its main calling card is spicy fried chicken, second only to KFC. But if you're team Popeyes, that ice cream-suited Kentucky dandy can take his 11 herbs and spices to hell.

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