McDonald's

Illinois

I spent my childhood as a foreign service brat overseas and my husband is an immigrant from India. We concurred that while looking at America form afar, McDonald's was its symbol. Like America, the logo is garish but riveting and somehow irrepressibly chipper. Also, the company itself is like America: a monster that takes over everything but also known for its philanthropy. And the junk they sell? It's the diet we love and love to hate.

Laura