Ella Scott
When it comes to fast-food, the United States historically has it all.
Classic institutions such as Burger King, Shake Shack, and McDonald’s are dotted across the nation; Raising Cane’s has fried chicken seriously wrapped up; while Small Slides was recently crowned the one of the fastest-growing eateries.
Other major players include Five Guys, whose latest burger sparked debate online, and Popeyes, the company that finally launched Mega Dips in the UK late last year.
Now, the States is adding another string to its bow after welcoming the ‘world’s biggest fast food chain’ across New York City and Los Angeles.
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According to expert analysis, this Asian institution dethroned Maccies and Starbucks in store count in 2024, has 2,600 stores in Indonesia alone, and is famed for its ultra-low, budget-friendly prices.
Introducing Mixue Ice Cream & Tea: a Chinese favourite offering up ice cream, freshly brewed coffee, and delicious boba teas.
Last month, the first American brick and mortar store opened up on LA’s Hollywood Boulevard, and now Manhattan residents can head down to shops in Hell’s Kitchen or Koreatown to get their sweet treat fix.
The Hell’s Kitchen outpost, situated on 8th Avenue, serves up $1.19 soft-serve cones, $2 lattes, and speciality oolong tea for $2.48, which is said to have been sold out daily during its opening week.
Other menu highlights from the largest restaurant chain on the globe include: lemonade squeezed from selected Eureka lemons, pudding milk tea made with egg-based custard, and the MIXUE original bestseller: the Strawberry Mi-Shake.
If it’s coffee you’re after, then the uber-affordable establishment has you covered - and Starbucks should be worried.
Choose from an ice cream latte, an iced mocha toped with a swirl of soft serve, or a standard Americano with ice, with nothing costing more than $5.
Mixue’s adorable Snow King mascot is a prominent feature throughout the store.
Originally introduced in 2018, the cartoon character wears an icy crown, is swaddled in a red cape, and carried an ice cream sceptre. You’ll find him on your store-bought goodies.
Speaking at the Los Angeles store opening, the head of Mixue US said that the Stateside stores played into the company’s ‘actively advancing global strategy’.
“Given the substantial market potential in the United States, the first store serves as a starting point," they said.
"Moving forward, the company will steadily expand its store footprint, allowing more local consumers to enjoy high-quality, affordable drinks.”
Redditors have been having their say on the viral store, with one typing: “Just bought shares of MXUBY. This is massive in all of Asia. Cool to see if hitting the West.”
Someone else described the chain as ‘aggressively underwhelming compared to dessert places [they] have out here in Los Angeles, especially tea places.”
A third commented that it served ‘the best affordable soft serve ice cream you’ll ever have in your life’.
Others have been debating where the next Mixue will open, with one social media user reporting: “Mixue could thrive in San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Minneapolis, Boston, etc!”
The China-based beverage brand could be in your state sooner rather than later, so it’s worth keeping an eye on developing activities.