The World Cup has brought some unexpected joy to social media by watching foreigners try American soul food for the first time and it’s truly something!
If there’s one more positive thing to come out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it’s that people from all over the world are finally getting a taste of American cuisine. Specifically, if you take one look at social media, you’ll see a myriad of foreigners trying soul food for the very first time. Trust us when we tell you, it’s some of the most hilarious and wholesome content!
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English People Trying Cajun Food
Take, for instance, Harry Guns, an English soccer fan on TikTok, who recently documented his experience eating food from a Louisiana roadside shop and restaurant. He ordered an alligator po’boy, crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice, and boudin, and was clearly taken aback by the flavors.
(Author’s Note: Now, as someone who has roots in both Arkansas and Louisiana, trying fried gator for the first time coming from England is a bold choice. But then again, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. And when in Louisiana, you just gotta eat that fried gator and prepare to be shocked at how good it is!)
“You can taste it before it hits your mouth; it’s phenomenal,” he said at one point.
After trying boudin, he later added, “It’s very fragrant, and it obviously has a lot of spices. That’s really, really nice.”
We bet this plate beats beans on toast any day!
RELATED: The Origin Story of Some of Our Soul Food Favorites
Canadians Trying Philly Cheesesteaks
Then there are the three men from Canada who were in Philadelphia to enjoy the Ecuador vs. Côte d’Ivoire game recently. But before heading down to all the action, they stopped by a local restaurant to indulge in a Philly cheesesteak for the first time—and clearly, their taste buds were blessed!
“Neither the Canadian or the English brain can comprehend this right now,” one guy said in part. “This sandwich was made by the Lord himself, oh my God.”
And you know what, he’s probably right because a good Philly cheesesteak does make you want to do a little praise dance. We know we’ve busted a few moves before and thanked the Lord for that good food.
His friend later added, “Genuinely, this is one of the best things I’ve had in my whole life… I don’t know what we’re doing wrong in Toronto, but my goodness. You’ve [America] done something right.”
Japanese Folks Loving Soul Food
And we can’t forget about user Kawaiiguyty, a Japanese soccer fan who recently sat down with a Texas local to try some soul food. From the fried chicken and catfish, to cabbage greens and collard greens, all the way to candied yams and Kool-Aid, his palate ran the gamut of some of the best of the best. And while his words were few (as his mouth was too full of the food), his reaction told the whole story.
But we can’t lie, all these reactions thus far have us questioning exactly what they’re doing in the kitchen overseas! Being silent and shocked over some greens and yams? Yes, this is what true, seasoned food tastes like, and we’re sorry you had to go this long without it!
Foreigners Being Absolutely Flabbergasted Over BBQ
Shoutout to the Black man who course corrected these innocent foreign gentlemen on the correct way to eat BBQ. To think that you’d need to take a fork and knife to some ribs that we all know have been in the slow cooker for hours and are fall-off-the-bone tender is something truly blasphemous!
Eat with your hands, fellas, there are wet wipes available and possibly some delicious dessert waiting for you on the other side!
“American Food Is What Happens When You Let the Whole World Cook”
For user Eumiexx, who’s been taking enjoyment (like we are) in watching people from all over try Southern, soul food, BBQ, and more while here in the U.S., she derived a spot-on analysis of why folks appear to be so amazed by how good the food is.
“American food is what happens when you let the whole world cook. Because every wave of immigration has contributed different spices, different dishes, and different techniques that then got remixed and Americanized. And if you want to protect what makes American food great, you should also protect the communities that created it,” she explained.
Now that’s a message that we’ll wash down with a cold drink any day because it’s the truth!
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Source: The Root
