That’s the thing about American food culture overseas: it rarely arrives as a general idea. It lands as something oddly specific — a Connecticut lobster shack, a Texas honky-tonk, a Route 66 diner — preserved with the fervor of someone who left and never quite got over it. Sometimes an expat recreates the diner they grew up in, right down to the vinyl booths and bottomless coffee. Sometimes a chef abroad becomes more devoted to East Coast oyster-bar tradition than most East Coast oyster bars.
What follows is our guide to the places doing it best, not a vague “taste of America” abroad, but the sharpest, most convincing versions of very specific American institutions: the New York grand dining room, the New England lobster shack, the 1950s diner, the Southern smokehouse. In some cases, the nostalgia is more convincing than the real thing back home.
Nostalgic New York
Twenty8 NoMad
28 Bow St, London WC2E 7AW, United Kingdom
Located in the luxe NoMad hotel, Twenty8 NoMad brings the elegance of a Manhattan dining room to London. The menu offers moments of New York nostalgia in a grand, historic setting that is centered around a wood-burning hearth.
What to order: The iconic NoMad burger, oysters, Twenty8 martini (of course).
Harry’s New York Bar
5 Rue Daunou, 75002 Paris, France & Port Pierre Canto, Boulevard de la Croisette 06400 Cannes, France
Open since 1911, this legendary Paris institution has long been a gathering place for American expatriates, writers, musicians and travelers (from Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald to George Gershwin), with a classic New York-style bar atmosphere and one of the city’s most iconic cocktail programs.
What to order: Bloody Mary (said to have been invented here), French 75, Dry Martini, cheeseburger, club sandwich.
Classic New England
Burger & Lobster
Multiple locations throughout London
Casual and lively, this seafood-focused restaurant channels the spirit of a New England lobster shack with a polished London twist.
What to order: Connecticut-style Lobster Roll, whole lobster, lobster mac & cheese.
Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill
11-15 Swallow St, Piccadilly, London W1B 4DG, United Kingdom
While distinctly British, Bentley’s evokes the atmosphere of a classic East Coast oyster bar with marble counters, seafood towers and an extensive oyster selection.
What to order: East Coast oysters, clam chowder, lobster thermidor.
American Diners
HD Diner
2 Rue du Roule, 75001 Paris, France
HD Diner recreates the feel of a classic 1950s roadside eatery with chrome finishes, checkerboard floors, vinyl booths and an all-day menu of nostalgic comfort food.
What to order: Classic cheeseburger, chili cheese fries, buttermilk pancakes, Oreo milkshake, banana split.
Breakfast in America
17, Rue des Ecoles, 75005 Paris, France & 4, Rue Malher, 75004 Paris, France & 2, rue Saint-Philippe du Roule, 75008 Paris
Probably the closest thing to an authentic American diner in Paris. Founded by an American expat from Connecticut, it recreates the classic East Coast diner experience with red vinyl booths, bottomless coffee, pancakes, burgers and a 1950s soundtrack—and even bills itself as “the only real diner in Paris.” What to order: Buttermilk pancakes, eggs Benedict, corned beef hash, cheeseburger, pecan pie, chocolate milkshake.
Southern Comfort
Big Iowa BBQ
1/F, 3 Chome-16-33 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0032, Japan
A beloved destination among locals and expats for authentic low-and-slow American barbecue prepared in traditional smokers.
What to order: Brisket, pulled pork, St. Louis ribs, mac & cheese.
Little Texas
Meguro-Daiichi-Bldg. B1F 1-5-19, Meguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
A wonderfully committed Tokyo honky-tonk filled with imported Texas memorabilia, live country music, line dancing and saddle-style bar seats.
What to order: Chicken-fried steak, chili, tacos, Tex-Mex dishes, bourbon and American beer.
