American in UK tries Sunday roast for first time and issues two-word verdict

A Sunday roast is a must-have for many Brits – whether they prefer to cook at home or go out for this classic meal. And it seems that even those who are not from the UK are interested in this tradition, such as one American expat.

Kjordy relocated from the US to London and is well-known on TikTok for sharing his views on British culture and comparing it to America. Referring to himself as a “mere Yank amongst Brits”, he has amassed 280,000 followers and 24.9 million likes on the social media platform. In a recent video, he tried a Sunday roast for the first time and shared his experience.

The American expat arrived at an eatery and after having a look at the plenty of options on the menu he felt that the roast chicken would be the best option.

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His meal was placed in front of him on the table, and Kjordy said: “I’ll be honest now, when that food first came I had to have a stare off with that chicken because no one told me it was a full bird.

"I had to contemplate how in the world I was gonna finish that sucker but like anything else, we keep it moving and might I say that chicken was mighty juicy.

The dish consisted of roasted chicken underneath a bed of lettuce, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, carrots and gravy.

The TikToker was amazed at how crispy the potatoes were. He also sampled a side of cheesy cauliflower, which reminded him of the consistency of mac and cheese.

He placed some of it on his plate and poured gravy over a Yorkshire pudding before digging in.

Kjordy added: “I’ll be honest, the cauliflower cheese had potential but just wasn’t my thing and the Yorkshire pudding, I’ll be honest, it didn’t slap, man. It did not hit.”

The next food item he tried was one that really surprised him. The expat dipped a potato in some mustard and couldn’t believe how spicy it was, revealing that he “genuinely didn’t know British mustard was so strong.”

He found the condiment so spicy that it left his nose burning and he warned others not to “play around” with mustard in the UK.

English mustard is known for its strong, pungent, and spicy taste as it uses both yellow and brown mustard seeds. In comparison, American mustard is milder, sweeter, and tangier, primarily made from finely ground yellow mustard seeds, turmeric, vinegar, and water.

Kjordy noted that his favourite part of the meal so far was the potatoes and carrots. He explained: “I don’t know why but the potatoes are so crispy and cooked really, really well. The carrot has a super, super nice sweetness to it all.”

Final verdict

The US expat left with a full stomach and gave his final verdict on Sunday roast. Summing up the experience in two words, he said: “It’s tasty."

He continued: "Super simple, which isn’t a bad thing. Very similar to a Thanksgiving dinner.” He rated the meal a seven out of ten and mentioned that it was “kind of expensive".

Kjordy’s TikTok video has garnered thousands of views, hundreds of likes and nearly 80 comments.

One user praised: “Brave man with that English mustard!” Another added: “I can’t do English mustard, it’s so hot!”

A number of viewers advised Kjordy to try a Sunday roast from a country pub instead. A Brit in the comments section remarked: “That did not look good! Get yourself to a country pub!”

Several users agreed with comments, including “you need to find a decent old country pub and roast beef is the way” and “beef dinner at a good country pub will be way better.”

A different viewer stated: “You have to go to the right place for a good roast. Most are super mediocre but a proper quality pub roast is truly a thing of beauty.”