You might think that once you’ve seen one McDonald’s you’ve seen them all. Maybe all the Starbucks in your town look the same, but you might be surprised by some locations around the world.

Fast food locations tend to follow a blueprint, but every once in a while, these brands get creative and set up interesting restaurants in unusual locations. These are some of the strangest fast food locations in the world, from a pink McDonald’s to a Subway church. 

1. Linda Mar Taco Bell by the Sea

Taco Bell already has a by-the-beach vibe since it serves quasi-Mexican food, but this location is a true seaside experience. Located in Pacifico, California, it sits right on the shore of Pacifica State Beach. 

The location offers lovely ocean views, iced Baja Blast, and alcoholic drinks! Unlike most Taco Bells, it’s in an isolated, serene area and has an all-wood exterior, making the outdoor patio even more enticing. 

2. Log Cabin McDonald’s

There is a rustic and charming Wisconsin McDonald’s styled to look like a cozy log cabin. There’s a roaring fireplace, taxidermied animal heads on the walls, and wood-carved bears. 

The architecture at the Fort Dells McDonald’s is shockingly beautiful, and the decor is enchanting. While the location might be out of the way, we think it’s worth it just to see this magnanimous stone chimney and fireplace. 

3. Starbucks Container Store

Starbucks actually has several mini stores made out of shipping containers, and they’re mobile. But this one was the first, the largest, and in the same place as when it was built. 

You can find this massive Starbucks made out of 29 recycled shipping containers in Hualien City, Taiwan. The unique architecture is a testament to modern innovation and sustainability, and it’s easily one of the most interesting Starbucks in the world. 

4. House of Frankenstein Burger King

We’re not sure about eating a Big Whopper right before getting on a gnarly rollercoaster but to each their own. House of Frankenstein is a combination rooftop rollercoaster, haunted house, and… a Burger King! 

It’s in Niagara Falls on Clifton Hill and boasts a massive Frankenstein Monster statue snacking on a burger. Technically, the BK and coaster/haunted house are two separate businesses, but they look pretty intertwined to us. 

5. Soviet Sculpture KFC

In Minsk, Russia, there is a KFC restaurant situated beneath a massive, overbearing, mural-like sculpture titled “Solidarity.” It’s a work of Social Realism made in the 1960s when the Soviet Union existed. 

The KFC is normal aside from this intense work of art. The irony of the Soviet sculpture sitting above one of the most American food chains — and an apt symbol of capitalism — is not lost on us. 

6. Glass McDonald’s in Rotterdam

Many of the restaurants we’ve discussed here are lovely, but the Glass McDonald’s in Rotterdam, Netherlands is truly breathtaking. Almost the entire building has floor-to-ceiling glass panels, so you can see inside from every angle. 

But wait, there’s more. It features a chic winding staircase that adds flair to the exterior look. The gold accents and elegantly lit-up signs make it a refined and stylish McD’s. 

7. Starbucks Coffee Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya

The name of this Starbucks location is a mouthful, but the location is beautifully simplistic, as only a Japanese home can be. The location aims to honor Japanese culture and create a welcoming atmosphere that embodies the nation’s atmosphere.

It’s a Starbucks location inside a traditional Japanese house, called a machiya, complete with tatami floor seating, paper lanterns, hanging scrolls, and noren curtains. There is also a tranquil rock garden in the back you can admire while you eat. 

8. Roswell McDonald's

The McDonald’s in Roswell, New Mexico, has something special about it, and if you’re guessing it has to do with aliens, you’d be right. This McDonald’s is designed to look like a UFO, and it definitely does. 

It’s shaped like a flying saucer, complete with bright lights that make it visible from far away. While not much is special about the inside, this is a must-visit location for alien enthusiasts and McDonald’s lovers. 

9. Sanbunchu Station KFC

Inside Sanbunchu Station in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is KFC’s largest restaurant. This historic station was built in the 1920s and was integral to the railway system during the Soviet Union. But like the McMansion, KFC took over the station and redesigned the interior rather than tearing down the significant building. 

It still has cathedral ceilings, intricately painted coffered panels, and other original architectural elements. Don’t ask us why multiple cool KFC locations have connections to the Soviet Union — we have no idea why.

10. McDonald’s DC-3 Airplane

​​Taupō, New Zealand, is home to one of the quirkiest McDonald’s in the world. The location features a repurposed DC-3 aircraft where you can sit and enjoy your Big Mac. 

You order your food in a normal building, but in the back, you can walk through the garden, up a staircase, and into the airplane. The cockpit has a lot of the original equipment, but the rest of the plane has been turned into a plain-jane dining area. 

11. True Bethel Baptist Church Subway

True Bethel Baptist Church is in Buffalo, New York, and has a Subway restaurant built inside the church. Supposedly, it was built inside the church to help the hungry find a good meal and give members job training, but we can’t help but suspect that profits are also a motive. 

As far as we can tell, anyone can walk in and get a five-dollar-footlong, but you can also attend Sunday service. Parishioners often grab a sub on their way out or sit around the church and eat together following a sermon or ceremony. 

12. The McDonald's McMansion

The McMansion, also known as the Denton House McDonald’s, is a McDonald’s inside a 200-year-old house. Built in 1795 as a farmhouse, the Denton house was eventually revamped into a stunning Georgian-style mansion, owned by one of the founders of Hempstead, New York. 

It began to fall into disrepair until McDonald’s bought the location. Rather than tear the house down, they restored the Long Island house to create this charming location. This is the most historic one, but there are other fancy McDonald’s in old mansions, like the Colonial-style McDonald’s in Maine and the Fancy McDonald’s in Ohio. 

13. Helsinki Sauna and Burger King

Downtown Helsinki has a Burger King location that seems like your average restaurant, but it has a full sauna spa on the lowest level. Along with the 10-15-person sauna, the bottom floor also has a washroom, dressing room, and media lounge, where you can watch TV and play PlayStation 4. 

You can bring your food down to the sauna, or even order a Whopper while sitting in the sauna. We’re not sure how we feel about eating a burger drenched in sweat, but some people love it. 

14. Pink McDonald’s in Portugal

In Lisbon, Portugal, you can find an all-pink McDonald’s that follows the city’s colorful and endearing architectural style. The facade has a soft pink color with stone corners and iron terraces, giving the building that Spanish style that we see throughout Portugal. 

And it’s not the only cool McD’s in Portugal. There is also the McDonald’s Imperia in Porto, a fancy location with a large golden eagle statue inside. 

15. Ski-Up Squaw Valley Starbucks

You’ll find a Starbucks at plenty of mountain-top ski resorts, but you don’t even have to take off your skis to get a hot drink at the Squaw Valley location. 

At the Gold Coast Resort in California, you can ski or snowboard right up to the window to order and get your drink, so you can get back on the slopes as soon as possible. Is ski-thru the new drive-thru? Maybe not yet. 

16. McDonald’s Barstow Train Station

This McDonald’s is inside a historic train station in Barstow, California. The McDonald’s restaurant itself, where you order and they make the food, is stylized to look like an old railway station. Outside of the station are old RR cars transformed into dining areas, and the restrooms can be found on a caboose train! 

This location has a lot of charm and feels very authentic, and people also report it’s more comfortable than the McDonald’s DC-3. There is another gorgeous McDonald’s in Nyugati Railway Station in Budapest.

Familiar Food at Unfamiliar Locations

These are just some of the coolest locations, but there are plenty more, especially when it comes to McDonald’s. From the spectacular Vegas McDonald’s to the Arizona McDonald’s with a turquoise logo to the Skinny McDonald’s in New York, this company loves to play with architecture. 

The food at these locations might be familiar, but the settings are unorthodox and surprising, making for a surreal and fun experience.