Ultimate Guide to Finding American Food in the UK
Where can you find your favorite American food in the UK? It’s not always easy or cheap.
Here I’ve compiled the ultimate guide to finding American food in the UK, including why ingredients are so different here, why our favorite brands look and taste different, and how to locate your favorites.
I understand the cravings for those classic American treats! Let’s look at exactly where to find American foods in the UK.
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American Foods UK: Why the Differences?
Because the UK and Europe have stricter ingredient and production laws than America, many products available in the UK are very different than their American versions.
American Heinz ketchup, for example, contains high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup, while the UK version of the same product does not.
So what does this mean? British versions of your American favorites will not taste the same. And to find true American products – the ones you’re used to back in the US – you’ll have to buy the imported version.
So if you’re looking for American Doritos (which taste totally different in the UK, even in the same flavor), you’ll need to buy imported Doritos.
Some foods are allowed to be imported, some are not, and some are subject to hefty import fees. So depending on what you’re looking for and how difficult it is to import to the UK, you may or may not find the product you want.
If you do find it, it’ll be way more expensive than back home in America.
American Food in the UK: Where to Find It
If you really want those same products you buy back home in America, you may have to do a little legwork to hunt them down.
You have 3 options for finding American food in the UK:
- In person shop at an American-themed store (most expensive).
- Buy American food online in the UK (possibly a bit cheaper, especially in bulk).
- Search your local grocery for an American section (most affordable but hit or miss).
Let’s explore each of these options and the pros and cons of each.
1. American Shops in the UK
You have several options for American shops in the UK. Most major cities will have at least one of these, if not more.
If you’re in London like me, here are the best choices you have:
🇺🇸 The American Food Store in Ladbroke Grove. They have everything from Kraft Mac n Cheese to Hidden Valley Ranch. They also have an online shop.
🇺🇸 Panzers, St. John’s Wood. A Jewish deli that has a large selection of American favorites.
🇺🇸 Partridge’s, Chelsea: A royal-warranted shop that carries a great (though pricey) selection of all your American necessities.
🇺🇸 Whole Foods: various locations across London. They generally carry UK versions of your American foods, though some are imported. Stop by to see if they have your favorites!
❌ AVOID: American “Candy Shops”. You’ll find these all over, especially in touristy areas like Oxford Street, and they are well-known fronts for money laundering and other less-than-legal activities.
2. Buy American Food Online in the UK
If you’ve done a basic Google search, you’ll see that you have a large variety of choices in online American food retailers.
Because there are so many, I’ve researched them all for you to find out which one has the best deals.
I looked at their shipping costs, selection, and the price of a standard American item: Kraft Mac n Cheese. The results are in the chart below.
To rate the selection of each, I searched for the same items on each website: Stove Top Stuffing, Kraft Mac n Cheese, Hidden Valley Ranch, canned cranberry sauce, butterscotch chips, and graham crackers.
If they had all of these items, I rated it 10/10. If they had less than the complete list, the ranking is lower.
American Food Mart
7/10. American Food Mart has an okay selection, but not great. They didn’t have many of the standard American items I searched for, or they had non-standard flavors (like Stove Top Cornbread Stuffing, instead of original).
I still gave it a 7/10 because they have a wide variety of stock. They did not seem to have a free shipping threshold like all the others.
⭐️ American Fizz
10/10. American Fizz – even though it sounds exclusively like a candy supplier by the name – actually blew me away with their selection. They had everything on my list and more. They also had the lowest price on Kraft Mac n Cheese of every retailer I researched.
Shipping is free over £50 and with their huge selection, it would be easy to fill your cart beyond that amount.
A Taste of the States
6/10. The lowest-ranked retailer on my list, A Taste of the States didn’t have many of the items on my American staples list. Plus, the items they did have were not the original flavors (fat-free or chipotle ranch instead of regular).
They also had the second highest price for Kraft Mac n Cheese at a whopping £3 per box.
World Food Shop
6/10. World Food Shop is exactly that – foods from all over the world. But their American section didn’t stack up to the rest. They had little on my list of basics.
If you have different culinary needs, they might have foods from your country or cuisine, but not the American staples you need.
⭐️ Amazon
10/10. Of course Amazon UK has got you covered for most everything you need. My one tip is to filter by Prime delivery, or else you may be paying more for shipping than necessary.
Many American staples on Amazon come in multipacks, so do a little math to figure out the price per item and compare to other retailers.
Some of the prices are a little crazy, so keep scrolling until you find a more reasonably priced item.
Broadway Candy
7.5/10. For a retailer with “candy” in the name, I was pleasantly surprised by Broadway Candy.
They didn’t have a few of the staples I searched for, but they did have a good variety of Mac n Cheese (Annie’s and Kraft), a variety of ranch dressings and mixes, and all of your favorite sweets.
3. Buy American Food in UK Grocery Stores
Most major UK grocery stores will have a small American section. And some of them really show what the Brits think of Americans!
The bad ones will have mostly spray cheese, cereal, Nerds, Gatorade, and (strangely) hot dogs in jars, which I’ve never actually seen in the US.
The good ones, however, will have canned pumpkin, Stove Top, baking supplies, pancake mix, Ranch dressing, and so much more.
Here’s what I’ve found in each of the UK’s major grocers.
Sainsbury’s: A big Sainsbury’s will have an American section, but it will usually not be labeled as such. You’ll have to do a little searching for it. It’s usually in the back on the end of an aisle, or hidden away in the middle of an aisle.
⭐️ Tesco: Tesco’s American sections tend to be a little better than Sainsbury’s. They will usually have items like Pop Tarts, cereals, Hershey’s syrup, mini pretzels, Newman’s Own dressings, etc.
Aldi: Aldi sometimes has a small American section with marshmallows, peanut butter, (tinned) hot dogs, Twinkies, etc. It’s not great, but it’s not terrible.
Lidl: Has their own American range that’s a bit puzzling to most Americans.
Waitrose: Has their own versions of some American favorites (their version of Tajin is actually pretty good).
Morrisons: Sad little American section with candy.
⭐️ Selfridge’s: Not technically a grocery store, but Selfridges Food Hall on Oxford Street has a decent American section with pancake syrup, Bisquick, Stove Top Stuffing, canned pumpkin, chocolate chips, and more.
American Food in the UK: Exactly Where to Find Your Favorites
Where to Find Cheez-Its in the UK
Cheez-Its are surprisingly easy to find in the UK. Many American sections of grocery stores will have them, or you can order them on Amazon from £5.
Where to find Canned Pumpkin in the UK
Canned pumpkin is pretty easy to find on UK grocery store shelves, either in the baking section or in the American section. I’ve never seen the iconic American Libby’s brand, but you can get a different brand that tastes the same.
It’s not cheap, though. Expect to pay about £3 per can, or order in bulk from Amazon for a better deal.
If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving in London, this is a taste of home that’s totally worth the price!
Where to find Mexican or Tex Mex Foods in the UK
Most UK grocery stores will have a Latin American or Mexican section. But don’t expect your American staples like taco seasoning to taste exactly the same (avoid “smoky BBQ” taco seasoning flavors at all costs – they are awful).
Still, you can find a small selection of seasonings, tortillas, tinned salsas and peppers in most Tesco, Sainsburys and Waitrose. For the best deals, order in bulk from Amazon below.
- Best taco seasoning: Old India from £7 for a massive bag
- Best salsa verde: Herdez, from £6 for a 2 pack
- Best red enchilada sauce: San Miguel, from £3 for a big can
- Best enchilada seasoning: Chef’s Larder, from £7 for a big container
Where to find Saltines in the UK
One way in which the UK is far behind the US is in their cracker selection. And sometimes, especially if you’re sick to your stomach, Saltines can heal all that ails you.
I’ve seen them in a few American sections, or order on Amazon here in bulk. I haven’t found a good UK substitute for Saltines.
Where to find Graham Crackers in the UK
One of the most searched-for American items in the UK is graham crackers. Whether you want to make S’mores or a graham cracker crust, or just want a snack for the kids (of yourself!), this is something Americans deeply miss while living in the UK.
In person, I’ve only seen them at Selfridges Food Hall here in London, where they went for about £6/box.
If I need them I usually buy on Amazon, or make them myself. Sometimes you can save by buying the crumbs themselves if you’re using them for baking, or substitute another type of biscuit (like plain digestives) for making a crust.
Here’s the best deals on Graham Crackers in the UK on Amazon, or snag this 3-pack of pie crusts if you’re using them for baking.
Where to find Jiffy Cornbread Mix in the UK
Ah, the convenience of a Jiffy corn muffin mix. I miss it!
Your best bet is to track down cornmeal (which you may or may not find in a UK grocery store – here’s a 2 lb bag for £5), and make the mix yourself using a copycat recipe.
But if you just want a taste of home, you can order Jiffy on Amazon.
Where to find Velveeta in the UK
If you can track down Velveeta in store, you’ll likely pay less than on Amazon. I’ve seen it at large Sainsbury’s in the American section from £7 per box.
I’ve never seen Velveeta Shells and Cheese in person in the store, but some of the American-specific shops may have them!
Where to find Slim Jims in the UK
Meats are heavily regulated for UK import, so snacks like these are hard to find.
You can find Slim Jims at some American shops, but in UK grocery stores you’ll likely only find the equivalent of different brands of pepperoni sticks (like these Jack Links).
My favorite is Pepperami, which you’ll find in the refrigerated section with the deli meats. They’re not nearly the same, but passable.
Where to find Sweet Tea and Iced Tea in the UK
Sweet tea or iced tea is commonly found in the UK as Lipton in single-serve bottles or slightly larger 1.5 litres.
There are also some store brands and fancier brands like Harry Brompton’s. Try them all and figure out which one you like best.
UK brands commonly do not have as much sugar as American brands, so don’t expect it to be as sweet.
For buying in bulk or to make at home, your best bet is to order powdered tea on Amazon, or buy bottles in bulk on Amazon for ready-made.
Where to find Root Beer in the UK
You would think that with the British obsession with pubs, there would be more root beer options here. But it turns out root beer is a more American thing, and it’s harder to find in the UK. Ginger beer is more common here.
That said, most UK grocery stores will have at least one variety. A few pubs will have their own brand or offer it bottled.
But to buy it in bulk for for home is a bit more tricky; you’ll need to look carefully at the grocery store (usually in the American section) or order on Amazon.
Where to find Spray Cheese in the UK
Apparently spray cheese (Easy Cheese) is synonymous with America, because I’ve seen in in most American sections in grocery stores, and American stores will definitely have it.
But if not, order on Amazon here.
Where to find Butterscotch Chips in the UK
There’s something so comforting about baking with butterscotch chips. We American bakers are constantly looking for butterscotch chips in the UK, but they’re not exactly easy to find.
Sainsbury’s has their own brand of them, but I’ve hardly ever seen them in stores and can usually only order them with Sainsbury’s delivery or here on Amazon.
Where to find Canned Cranberry Sauce/Cranberry Jelly
Cranberry sauce is easy to find in the UK, but the American Ocean Spray canned variety is harder. If you are okay with a substitute, most stores have their own version in small jars where the condiments are.
If you absolutely need that jellied variety, some American stores and sections will have it in stock around Thanksgiving time. If not, try Amazon.
Where to find Coffee Creamer in the UK
I miss Coffee Mate terribly, especially the seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice and peppermint mocha.
Sadly, it’s just not available here as 1) it contains ingredients banned in Europe, and 2) as a refrigerated product it’s harder to import.
The best option is to either make your own, or buy the powdered Coffee Mate (oddly called “coffee whitener” here) and add real cream or milk to top it up.
Where to find Little Debbies in the UK
Personally, I think the UK equivalents of Little Debbie (Cadbury Swiss Rolls = perfection) are better than the American versions. But that doesn’t mean I don’t crave an oatmeal cream pie sometimes.
American stores will usually have a small variety in stock, or order here.
Where to find Jello in the UK
J-E-L-L-O! Whether you miss it for baking or for making a snack, Jello is an American staple that you can definitely track down in the UK.
American sections of grocery stores will sometimes have one or two varieties, either of the gelatin mixes (here called ‘jellies’), or pudding mixes.
Finding American Food in the UK: Final Thoughts
Sometimes you have to let go of your past and embrace your future. But for expats missing home, a taste of America can help ease those anxiety-filled changes.
What foods do you miss most from America?
More on Living in London:
33 Terrible & Wonderful Differences: London Houses vs American Houses
Ultimate Smackdown: UK vs US: Which is Better?
Moving Abroad Checklist: 7 Steps to Create Your Dream Life
5 Types of UK Visas and How to Get Them
Moving to the UK from the US: 10 Ways Your Life Will Change, Guaranteed
New in Town? Here’s 17 Easy Ideas for How to Make Friends in London
The Cheapest Places to Live in London
A Feast of Facts: Understanding Thanksgiving in Europe
