Fast Food
When we think of juicy burgers and crispy fries in the United States, what's the first chain that usually comes to mind? It's probably McDonald's!
If you've traveled to another country before, you have probably seen a McDonald's there, too; it's the largest fast food restaurant in the world with over 40,000 locations.
In Sweden, however, McDonald's has a fierce competitor – MAX Burgers. MAX was the first hamburger restaurant in Sweden to outcompete McDonald's restaurants. In Umeå, McDonald's arrived later than in Sweden's major cities in the south, and actually closed their restaurants before returning a few years later. There is only 1 McDonald's in this whole city of 130,000 people, while there are three MAX Burgers.
Coming from the US, I had been so used to McDonald's as the dominant fast food chain that I thought, "What is it about MAX that makes it so special?". While the menu is similar to McDonald's or Burger King, there are a ton of vegetarian options that American chains don't usually have, like ten different types of plant-based burgers and nuggets. There are also burgers with nachos inside to satisfy your experimental fast food cravings.
Miscellaneous Foods
One type of food I especially miss in northern Sweden is tropical fruits. Umeå is so far north that many fruits must be imported. Surprisingly, avocados are a regular sight at the grocery store, but it's rare to see produce like mangoes or watermelon.
