Why can’t you get a chicken mayo toastie in the UK?

For South African expats living in Britain, few things are more frustrating than craving a chicken mayo toastie and finding absolutely nothing on the menu.

It’s a culinary mystery that has left countless homesick souls staring blankly at café boards, wondering how an entire nation could overlook such an obvious sandwich choice.

The chicken mayo toastie reigns supreme back home in South Africa, sitting proudly on nearly every café menu from Cape Town to Johannesburg.

Australian expats share this bewilderment, as do visitors from several other countries where the warm, melty combination of chicken and mayo is considered a lunchtime staple.

The great British toastie gap

Walk into any British café, and you’ll find cheese toasties. Ham and cheese toasties. Maybe even tuna melt if you’re lucky.

But chicken mayo? Forget about it.

The strangest part is that all the ingredients exist separately in British food culture.

Chicken mayo sandwiches are everywhere, filling the chilled sections of Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Pret.

Toastie makers are standard kitchen equipment in most British households. Yet somehow, these two elements never meet.

Theories from desperate expats

South African expats have spent countless tea breaks theorising about this gap.

Some reckon it’s health and safety paranoia about reheating chicken in commercial kitchens.

Others suggest British palates simply prefer their chicken mayo cold, treating it like egg mayo or prawn mayo, which are never served hot.

The most painful irony?

British tourists abroad happily devour chicken mayo toasties without question, seemingly unaware this delicacy doesn’t exist back home.

Taking matters into their own hands

Homesick expats have become DIY experts, wielding their toastie makers with determination.

Some have even attempted to introduce the concept to bemused British colleagues, who often respond with polite confusion.

Until a brave British café chain decides to challenge decades of toastie tradition, expats will continue their quest.

Every now and then, someone discovers an independent café willing to accommodate the request.

That day becomes a small but significant victory in their adopted homeland.

Share your UK food culture confusions

Share some of your UK food culture confusions with us. Have you spotted a chicken mayo toastie on a UK menu? Let me know at info@sapeople.com

Even better, let us know where your favourite chicken mayo toastie can be found back in South Africa.

Is it Mug & Bean, Wimpy, Spur, Ocean Basket, or your local corner café?

We want to hear about the spots that got it right.