I Ate at Every Fake Fast Food Restaurant in Syria 🇸🇾 (And Got Food Poisoning)
Syria is a country where trademark and copyright law are more of a suggestion than a rule. Brands that you know and love in the West operate here under fake names, slightly altered logos, and in most cases, absolutely zero shame. So naturally, I decided to travel across the entire country, through Damascus, Homs, Idlib, and eventually over the border into Lebanon, to try every single fake fast food I could find, and rank them against the real thing.
I did this in Iran a year ago and the video got over 3 million views! You can check it out below.
#7 — Papa Zeus (The Fake Papa John's)
Okay I’ll admit, this one was a bit of a stretch, hence why I ranked it at the number 7 position. Papa Zeus operates out of Homs and to be honest, the connection to Papa John's… kind of not there. There's a logo that if you squint, resembles the original. But the vibe inside is full Italian. The chef was smoking a cigarette while stretching dough, which honestly I respect more than any health and safety certificate.
The Fake Papa John's Pizza
The “pizza” if you can call it that, was solid. Big, cheesy, New York-style slices with a pepperoni option that had more cheese pull than should be physically possible. The issue? Well, I was deep in food poisoning from the previous day when I tried the fake KFC and McDonalds. So at this point I could barely look at food without my stomach staging a protest. Papa Zeus deserved a fairer shot, but the timing was against it.
#6 — Four Seasons Hotel Damascus
The Four Seasons Hotel Damascus actually had a legitimate partnership with the real Four Seasons from 2005 all the way until 2019, when US Treasury sanctions on the owner forced the brand to cut ties. Since then, the hotel has simply kept going. Same name. Same logo on the sugar sachets. Same everything.
Inside Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus, Syria
Getting in is an experience in itself. Security is extremely tight and filming is heavily discouraged. I just had a cappuccino there and it was about $5 USD. I'll admit, excellent. But there's something genuinely eerie about the place. A weird, secretive energy that makes you want to drink your coffee quickly and leave. Beautiful in theory. Unsettling in practice. Supposedly a lot of high level Syrians, politicans and diplomats stay here, hence the secrecy aspect
#5 — Friends Cafe, Homs
Did you know that English language institutes in Syria routinely tell students to watch Friends to learn English? Every episode. Ten times over. This means the show has a genuine cult following here, which is exactly why a cafe in Homs decided to build their entire brand around it. Photos of the cast on every wall, the iconic logo on the ceiling, and a name that makes the inspiration pretty clear.
They gave us free popcorn, free wine, and something called mate, a herbal drink popular in Syria and parts of South America that I'm now convinced cured my food poisoning. It was a cool experience but compared to the other fake resturants upcoming, nothing special.
Friends Cafe interior showing cast photos on the walls
#4 — Fake KFC, Damascus
Easily the most blatant fake out of all on the list, KFC! Colonel Sanders staring out from the logo, KFC branding on the napkins, KFC printed directly onto the chicken fillet wrapper. I placed my order with my limited arabic and the staff’s limited english.
I met the manager of the branch and he was one of the friendliest people I met, he refused to let me pay after he found out I was from Australia, and literally threw my money back at me. In terms of the food, way bigger portion sizes than any of the real KFC’s will give you. I got a classic chicken burger, nuggets, chips and they gave me a free bucket of chicken. Unfortunately, I think this is what got me sick, a little piece of it…. Pink. Suspiciously pink.
That night I was shivering in bed, vomiting violently, absolutely destroyed. I don't know with certainty it was the KFC. It could have been the fake McDonalds that I tried earlier that day. But the pink chicken is not something I will be forgetting anytime soon.
Eating Fake KFC’s Nuggets
#3 — Syrian Disneyland, Idlib
Yes. There is a Disneyland in Idlib, Syria. No, it is not affiliated with Walt Disney in any capacity. Yes, I went on the rides.
This area of Syria, (Idlib) was heavily damaged during the Assad regime and it was where the revolution in 2024 took place from. This area of Syria is extremely conservative!
The big Disneyland sign out front lights up beautifully at night. You have a shisha lounge (you don't get that in Florida), corn on the cob for $1 USD, and a-lot of child labour… you also don’t get in Florida!
I went on some of the rides, checked out the zoo where they have almost every animal you can think of, and I had a nice meal at their restaurant.
The food at the restaurant inside was outstanding. Kibbeh with a smoky barbecue flavour, lamb dishes, fresh flatbreads, the lot.
Riding a spinning wheel in Syria’s Disneyland
#2 — Chicken World, Damascus (The Fake McDonald's)
The golden arches, flipped upside down and slightly rearranged. Welcome to Chicken World, Damascus's answer to McDonald's, and one of the best ways I've ever started a video. The staff were incredibly friendly, the manager came out personally, and they had shawarma on the menu, which actual McDonald's has never had the courage to attempt.
I ordered the crispy chicken wrap came, which was packed with chicken, mayonnaise and lettuce, and was genuinely one of the better fast food items I've eaten anywhere. The chips came in a container shaped like an upside-down W. Everything about this place is completely committed to the bit.
Chicken World storefront with upside-down M logo
#1 — Four Guys, Lebanon (The Fake Five Guys)
In the summer of 2025 I was in Lebanon and saw my friend eat at Four Guys… a replica of Five Guys. So, I knew to finish off this video I needed to cross the border into Lebanon and check it out. I’ve been to a lot of Fake Fast Food restaurants by now and this, is the fakest of them all. Same red and white colour scheme, same foil wrapping, same overwhelming mountain of fries, and the taste is the same if not better than the real thing.
I've had Five Guys in Dubai. This was better. Not marginally better, noticeably, significantly better. Four guys, it turns out, is the superior number of guys. At roughly $10 USD for a burger, fries and a drink, it's also an absolute steal.
I genuinely think this could be up there as one of the best byrgers I’ve had in my life… a big claim!
In front of the ‘Four Guys’ Restaurant in Lebanon
The Final Ranking
Four Guys, Lebanon
Chicken World, Damascus
Syrian Disneyland, Idlib
Fake KFC, Damascus
Friends Cafe, Homs
Four Seasons Hotel, Damascus
Papa Zeus, Homs
Syria is one of the most interesting countries I've ever visited. Fake Fast Foods aside, the place is just so facinating. So much trauma, so much history, so much compelxity and extremely friendly people.
I enjoy making these fast food videos in these countries because it gets to how people what life in “dangerous’ places is really like.
If there are fake fast food restaurants in your city, let me know. I'll be there. Russia seems to be the most likely destination next but I also heard there is a fake McDonalds in a random city in Kazakhstan… very nice!
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