Tourists And NYC Locals Will Get To Experience The World's Largest Fast-Food Chain

If most Americans had to take a guess at what the world's largest fast-food chain is, they'd probably assume McDonald's is the one to take the cake. But actually, an even larger behemoth has been sweeping Asian countries since 1997, and now they're making the jump across the ocean to open their first American location.

Mixue Bingcheng, or Mixue for short, is a Chinese ice cream, tea, and coffee shop that has rapidly accelerated its presence around the world. They have been stealing people's hearts with their affordable fresh ice cream, flavorful drinks, and playful boba teas for almost two decades. 

With over 45,000 locations, Mixue outnumbers McDonald's by almost 3,000 stores. An astounding 40,000 of these shops reside in China alone, while the remaining 5,000 stores span countries like Japan, South Korea, Australia, and now, the U.S. Mixue's first American venture will be located in the Lower Manhattan area of New York City, one of the city's best destinations for history buffs. The company has signed a ten-year lease at 266 Canal Street, and is expected to make a splash. While it's usually expected to pay a pretty penny for food in NYC, New Yorkers accustomed to pricey coffees may turn their heads at Mixue's treats that can go for less than $2 USD.

Mixue Bingcheng — which translates to "honey snow ice city" — was founded in Zhengzhou, China, by Zhang Hongchao, a college student at the time. The global conglomerate started off as a small shaved ice and beverage stall that faced several obstacles within the first few years, including Zhang's stores being demolished three times in one year due to Zhengzhou's rapid modernization at the time. Nevertheless, Zhang persisted, even bringing his brother, Zhang Hongfu onboard in 2007.

As the Zhang brothers installed new managerial roles, expanded new stores, and diversified their menu, Mixue grew into the staggering success it is today. Once the Mixue formula was mastered, the company took off rapidly, with the success attributed to affordable but still delicious treats sold there gaining heightened popularity with college students.

You can expect to see items such as the Super Mango Sundae, Brown Sugar Bubble Tea, and the Kiwi Creamy Drink. While a formal opening date hasn't been announced yet, you can add this currently underrated tourist location to your NYC itinerary.