Free Refills & Fast Food Restaurants

Drink Refills in the U.S.
Anytime you go to a restaurant in the U.S., every person will be given a water glass that will be refilled by the waiter anytime it gets low. In the same way, if you order a soda, the waiter will also continually refill your soda glass. There is no limit to the amount of refills you get, and the vast majority of restaurants will only charge you for one drink.

Drink Refills in Australia
Water glasses are provided at some restaurants in Australia along with a carafe filled with water. Waiters do not routinely check on their customers, so if you drink all the water in your carafe, your waiter may not be around to notice. If you order a soda, the glass is about 2/3 the size of a soda glass in the U.S. Free refills in restaurants do not exist. If you want a refill on your soda, you have to pay for another drink.

Fast Food Restaurants in Australia
Fast food restaurant chains in Australia are McDonald's (called Macca's), Burger King (called Hungry Jack's), KFC, Subway, and Red Rooster. If you order a regular size combo meal, the drink and French fries (called hot chips) are about the size of those in a Happy Meal. If you upsize your meal once, the drink and French fries are about the size of those in an All-American Meal. If you upsize your meal twice, you will receive a drink and French fries the size of a regular combo in the U.S. The only fast food chain that has its drink machine in the dining area and not behind the counter is Hungry Jack's, so that's the only place you can get free refills. I think the food at McDonald's, Hungry Jack's, KFC, and Subway tastes about the same as it does in the U.S., however KFC does not sell biscuits or strawberry shortcakes in Australia.

Fast Food Restaurants in the U.S.
There are no Red Roosters in the U.S., but with that exception, the U.S. has the same fast food chains as Australia and quite a few more.The vast majority of fast food restaurants have their drink machines in the dining area, not behind the counter, so you can always get free refills.