McDonald's Options Worldwide

May 20, 2007 8:01 PM

Sure, you probably know in France that McDonald’s serves the Royale with cheese (thanks to the famous scene in Pulp Fiction) but did you know that McDonald’s all around the world offer a number of different items catering to their cultures? Ok, you might’ve known. But you might not know exactly what they serve. Here are some of your McDonald’s options in countries all over the world.
posted by ColdChef (102 comments total)

Must... think up... ColdChef pun... argggggh!

neat post though
posted by spiderwire at 8:04 PM on May 20, 2007

I am not very interested in what McDonalds is marketing/selling.

Warmest regards,

Joseph Mama
posted by zerobyproxy at 8:11 PM on May 20, 2007

McDonalds in Australia also has the "McOz" (and our version of Burger King, Hungry Jacks, has the "Aussie Burger"). Both are attempts to recreate the artery-hardening burgers you get from road houses and truck stops - generally involving the addition of a fried egg, and beetroot.
posted by Jimbob at 8:12 PM on May 20, 2007

I think that was the MeFi equivalent of "First!" -- I feel guilty now. Don't you just hate it when someone comes along and does that?

After a further reading of the post, I find myself alternately disturbed and intrigued by the fact that some of those menu items actually sound... somewhat enjoyable. I'm not used to this from McDonalds. I wonder: is the quality different, or is it just regular McDonalds hamburgers with different sauce on top? I don't see anything discussing how it all actually tastes.
posted by spiderwire at 8:12 PM on May 20, 2007

McPepsi Blue.

Seriously though, yes, I knew that McDonalds had different items on their menu for different countries. Seems to make smart business sense to do so. I was however surprised to find that the Deli Options rolls they have here in Australia are pretty much only limited to Australia. Which is a shame (if you live outside of Australia, that is) since the Chicken Caesar roll is actually a decent menu item compared to the cardboard crap that makes up 99% of the McDonalds menu.

My friends and I used to have a joke (probably not an original one but still) where if you went up to the counter of a McDonalds and asked for some food they would tell you they don't sell that there. Perusing this international McMenu, it wouldn't surprise me if people elsewhere in the world made a similar joke. And it's not surprising to me that obesity is becoming more and more prevalent the world over as Maccas continues its virus like spread across this floating rock in space.

Nice post ColdChef, but kind of depressing, really.
posted by Effigy2000 at 8:15 PM on May 20, 2007

Still no McCajun burger, though (they probably couldn't decide between crawfish or red beans).

On a more serious note, there should really be a Chicken McFry Sandwich, that I'm sure would be popular in the southern states. The gravy would be a little messy, though.
posted by yhbc at 8:16 PM on May 20, 2007

Okay okay, we get the point E2k ;)

That kid's pasta + sauce looks pretty dreadful, though. Even in the photos, it looks like bits of rubber with some kind of acrylic paint poured over it.
posted by Jimbob at 8:17 PM on May 20, 2007

(On further though, maybe the menu photo was bits of rubber with acrylic paint poured over it...)
posted by Jimbob at 8:18 PM on May 20, 2007

Tripple stutter, yay! (not sure I've seen that before).
posted by AwkwardPause at 8:18 PM on May 20, 2007

Just remembered - one of my favorite pre-internet ads from one of those wacky compilation books was a Pizza Hut ad featuring "Curry Mutton Pizza". I don't know where it was from, but I always wanted to try it.
posted by yhbc at 8:19 PM on May 20, 2007

the addition of a fried egg, and beetroot

I don't understand. A burger with fried egg and beet? Like the purple root vegetable? What kind of "sauce" does one use?

Locally, some McDonalds in Maryland's eastern shore sell crab cake sandwiches, but I guess that is not as exotic as beets and fried eggs.
posted by stbalbach at 8:23 PM on May 20, 2007

I don't understand. A burger with fried egg and beet? Like the purple root vegetable?

Yes. Observe slice of purple root vegetable in this photo. Strange but true.
posted by Jimbob at 8:25 PM on May 20, 2007

Oh great. Now I fancy a burger with a fried egg on it. Thanks.
posted by motty at 8:26 PM on May 20, 2007

stbalbach: The Australians love their beets to the point that when you order pub food, instead of pickles on your steak sandwich, you get beets. Beets beets beets. Going to Australia? Better like beets.

The fried egg is just a no-brainer, though. I live in SF, and one of my favorite mainstream joints (Sparky's on Church St.) serves fried eggs on their Rocky Burger. It's an amazing experience: you can actually feel the cholesterol as it muscles into your circulatory system!

I fancy that Brazilian sausage/vinaigrette sanga, tho.
posted by electronslave at 8:29 PM on May 20, 2007

McDonald's made me fat.
posted by ColdChef at 8:29 PM on May 20, 2007

Even more questionable: Some New England McDonald's offer lobster rolls. More amazingly, people must actually buy these, since I've seen them offered multiple places.
posted by chowflap at 8:30 PM on May 20, 2007

Trapped in the Madrid Airport for three days last summer as a result of the Air Iberia strike, I subsisted on cheap beer and cheaper gazpacho from the airport McDonald's. Not too shabby. Also, the architecture was nice, even if the floors were clammy and the stewardesses were slightly irritable as a result of the circumstances.
posted by koeselitz at 8:30 PM on May 20, 2007

Jimbob: I guess you or E2K can answer my question. Is it just a regular McDonald's burger, straight up? (Although I guess you might need to see our burgers for comparison)
posted by spiderwire at 8:31 PM on May 20, 2007

I so want a McShawarma. The Lebanese community in my town is so huge that it would really make business sense.
posted by Space Coyote at 8:32 PM on May 20, 2007

Screw McDonald's menus from around the world. I still can't figure out what is on the menu in my own town.

I am one of those people who look at the menu for a few minutes whenever I am at McDonald's. What the fuck do I think I am looking for? I have no idea. I always just get those new chicken tenders they have (Now made with actual chicken!).
posted by flarbuse at 8:34 PM on May 20, 2007

I'd eat the McShawarma. And for fried egg on meat wrapped in a bun and garnished with some rabbit food, I'd heartily recommend Fattburger.
posted by carsonb at 8:34 PM on May 20, 2007

Cool post for a ColdChef.

But do they serve Water Salad or Guarana Jesus, non-usa Coca Cola concoctions?

"In some locations in the Maritime Provinces of Canada McDonald’s offers a lobster roll called a McLobster (McHomard in French). In the province Quebec, McDonald’s also offers poutine which is fries with gravy and cheese."

mmm McLobster.

"In Chile, customers can add avocado paste to any sandwich, less the McPalta (Chilean Spanish for: McAvocado) whose basis is the avocado paste along with lomito or pork."

wow, Sounds good. Love avocado.

Must... think up... ColdChef pun... argggggh!

For a funeral director/embalmer and a food post?...cold cuts.
posted by nickyskye at 8:35 PM on May 20, 2007 [1 favorite]

I am ashamed to admit that many years ago I tried a lobster roll at a McDonald's in Rhode Island.

It was pretty good. You know, for McDonald's. Or something. Digging a deeper grave for myself?

I also remember a very strange McDonald's in Tennesee that I visited when I was probably ten years old. It was decorated like a nice Southern home, and they had comfort food on the menu in addition to the regular McDonald's fare.

Interesting link, Cold Chef. Danke!
posted by brina at 8:36 PM on May 20, 2007

McDonald's in Louisiana should do a "Cheeseburger Poboy." It's all about the length, not the width.
posted by ColdChef at 8:36 PM on May 20, 2007

I guess you or E2K can answer my question. Is it just a regular McDonald's burger, straight up?

Well, I guess it's basically a Quarter Pounder + Beet and egg. It's not based on a Big Mac, because it doesn't have that oh-so-special sauce.

I'm kinda embarrased to be discussing this.
posted by Jimbob at 8:37 PM on May 20, 2007

The lobster is quite good, and dollar for dollar the best deal for a lobster sammich going.
posted by Space Coyote at 8:38 PM on May 20, 2007

Hawaii McDonald's offer breakfast meals with eggs, white rice and your choice of Spam or Portuguese sausage. And it's not available anymore, but for awhile you could get taro pies for dessert. I had high hopes when those were announced, but it was kind of terrible.
posted by flod at 8:40 PM on May 20, 2007

I remember a promotion when I was a kid called "Chicken McNuggets Shang-Hai". It was regular nuggets served with "Asian" sauces and chopsticks in a Chinese Take out box. I felt so worldly eating that. I remember being really, really sad when the promotion ended.
posted by ColdChef at 8:42 PM on May 20, 2007

I'm Loving My Heart Disease
posted by ColdChef at 8:43 PM on May 20, 2007

Jimbob: I have to admit, I resent the McOz for it replaced the infinitely superior McFeast.

nickyskye: The chilean burgers are pretty good, actually. Tasted much better than the Aussie equivalents at least. And you can get Avacodo paste on ANYTHING there -- we used to head to the gas station for 50c hotdogs, with up to 9 different sauces on them (including a garlic one, and naturally Avacado). Yum!
posted by coriolisdave at 8:45 PM on May 20, 2007

A tale told by an Meifite, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing
posted by KokuRyu at 8:47 PM on May 20, 2007 [1 favorite]

Also on the McMenu is Japan is a smile, for free.

Seriously.
posted by gottabefunky at 8:50 PM on May 20, 2007

The McCalabresa sandwich served in Brazil sounds really good!

I had a very tasty pasta salad at a McDonalds in London a few years ago.
posted by SisterHavana at 8:53 PM on May 20, 2007

flod - You can still get the taro pies at McDonalds if you're willing to fly to the Philippines. I think they're a part of the regular menu. I'm not a huge fan of McDonald's and, unlike some people I know, don't subsist on a steady diet of the local incarnation of a BigMac and Fries when traveling. Localized McDonald's is more of a curiousity for me, for the service level instead of the menu. It's a little unnerving to walk into a McDonald's and see a spotless high-gloss floor and an unnervingly chipper and upbeat staff --- who, incidentally, speak far better English than their US counterparts. (I'm looking at you, East Lake Street McDonalds).

For the record: Chicken McDo with rice & gravy is quite good. And Philippines McDonald's have much much better soft serve ice cream than we get in the US.
posted by nathan_teske at 8:56 PM on May 20, 2007 [1 favorite]

This makes me think of the Crown Jewels line of "premium" beef- and chickburgers that Burger King has been offering in NZ.

I can't vouch for the food (which BK's HQ is apparently watching closely), but the commercials are quite cute.
posted by rob511 at 9:03 PM on May 20, 2007

My sister and I ate at a McDo in Tokyo's Narita Airport, and she fell in love with the chocolate pie. I wish I'd known about the Mac 'n Cheese Burger, though, I definitely would've tried that instead of settling for boring Filet o Fish.

And I really loved that at French McDos you could get McFlurries with Lion bar. I miss those =(
posted by estherbester at 9:07 PM on May 20, 2007

I recently noticed that in my area, McDonald's Big Mac is priced 4 cents higher than In & Out's Double Double (except on $1 Big Mac Mondays which is only at 'participating' McD's). Can you say "no brainer"? They are also bringing back the Supersize (42 ounce) soft drinks without the brand name that Morgan Spurlock so skillfully ruined. They're now serving "McCafe" coffee drinks (hot or iced, mostly flavored either chocolate or vanilla). And they are finally getting into the 'premium burger' chase with the "Angus Third Pounder", which I tried and found seriously unimpressive (the bun was noticably wider than the burger patty - it's 'where's the beef' all over again) (Also a quick tip to Burger King: your next ad theme should be "We Had Angus First") Basically, Mickey D's has nothing to offer this Supersized Fastfood Freak anymore.

And one thing I've been wondering for a long time - if almost everything "tastes like chicken", then why can't McDonald's come up with a chicken menu item that tastes like chicken?

Hey, are you gonna finish those fries?
posted by wendell at 9:20 PM on May 20, 2007

I remember a promotion when I was a kid called "Chicken McNuggets Shang-Hai". It was regular nuggets served with "Asian" sauces and chopsticks in a Chinese Take out box. I felt so worldly eating that. I remember being really, really sad when the promotion ended.

Wow, I remember that. I also remember the Jurassic Park fries, which was a portion of fries about the size of a KFC bucket.

Good times.
posted by evilcolonel at 9:20 PM on May 20, 2007

Once while travelling in Honduras, we ate at Burger King for breakfast because it was the only damn place we could find open on New Years Day. They had the regular fare, and I don't remember what I had, but man, the Coffee was great! At least they were getting that locally...
posted by Eekacat at 9:23 PM on May 20, 2007

In France they have potato wedges served with aioli. They're called Deluxe Potatoes.

That's where I learned to love aioli. Not in a fancy French restaurant, but in a Parisian Mcdonalds.
posted by cmgonzalez at 9:26 PM on May 20, 2007 [2 favorites]

After a further reading of the post, I find myself alternately disturbed and intrigued by the fact that some of those menu items actually sound... somewhat enjoyable. I'm not used to this from McDonalds. I wonder: is the quality different, or is it just regular McDonalds hamburgers with different sauce on top? I don't see anything discussing how it all actually tastes.

My Malaysian friend tells me that both McDonald's and KFC in Malaysia sell food that he would consider to be 'good' - not the slapped together fast food. The McDonald's there changes their menu based on what's in season. He had been looking forward to tasting the authentic thing when he got to the US and was disappointed.
posted by frobozz at 9:27 PM on May 20, 2007

I recently noticed that in my area, McDonald's Big Mac is priced 4 cents higher than In & Out's Double Double (except on $1 Big Mac Mondays which is only at 'participating' McD's). Can you say "no brainer"?

The no-brainer part is you have In 'n' Out. Sigh.

(Also a quick tip to Burger King: your next ad theme should be "We Had Angus First")

Jack In The Box has been running commercials where they imply Angus really means anus.
posted by dw at 9:33 PM on May 20, 2007

When I used to drive back and forth from Louisiana to Austin, I used to stop at a McDonald's in Columbus, TX that served a "Texas-Sized" french fries. It was a 42 ounce cup full of fries. A 42 OUNCE CUP FULL OF FRIES! By the time you got to the bottom, it was a cold, congealed, salty mess.

Much like your arteries.
posted by ColdChef at 9:37 PM on May 20, 2007

in France...McDonald’s serves the Royale with cheese

FWIW, it just called a Royal Cheese, not a Royale *with* cheese. I once tried to order a Royale with cheese, got a look somewhere between blank & derision, and settled for a Numero Trois.

France also has the Croque McDo, the McDonald's version of the French grilled/ fried ham & cheese sandwich, the croque monsieur.
posted by The_Partridge_Family at 9:46 PM on May 20, 2007

I think it was in Guangzhou, China that I dropped in a McDonald's that was serving fried corn pies for dessert, like the apple and cherry pies we have in the USA. I hadn't previously considered corn a dessert item, but it wasn't bad.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 9:49 PM on May 20, 2007

Some New England McDonald's offer lobster rolls.

That's only in New England? Wow.

I don't eat lobster at McDonald's because, hi, I live in New England. I can get better seafood salad at the grocery store. If I want a lobster roll, I am by virtue of living in the Ocean State never more than 30 miles from a lobster shack.

I thought the lobster roll was like a national "summertime" item. Then again, I wouldn't want to see what the processed lobster product would like by the time it was shipped from "Maine" or wherever to, say, Kansas. It's foul enough as is.

The only other international McItem I've been familiar with is the Alpen Mac, which I have also not eaten, but about which I have heard a great deal when I was living in Germany. There were commercials for it with guys in Lederhosen climbing up ladders to like, raid McDonald's or something for these pork burgers with mayonnaise.

The most astonishing thing about the Alpen Mac is the Germans' disbelief that such an atrocity doesn't exist on this side of the Atlantic.

(I will say that I'll eat a Quarter Pounder in a pinch - road trips, etc., but I vastly prefer Wendy's.)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:54 PM on May 20, 2007

Anyone old enough to remember when McDonalds stopped using those tiny little plastic coffee stirring spoons, on the grounds that they were being used as coke spoons? I think this happened in the mid 1970's.

In the early 1990's I discovered that both Canada and Switzerland still used the little spoons.

This is my only McDonalds anecdote.

McDonald's food sucks.
posted by Tube at 9:56 PM on May 20, 2007

you know, mcdonalds should really try offering some of these things in the states. an "international menu" promotion. tie it in with the 2008 olympics. i bet there'd be a hit or two!
posted by sergeant sandwich at 10:08 PM on May 20, 2007

Kiwiburgers aren't terrible. They aren't great, still being McDs after all, but really aren't terrible. It has your general burger tomato sauce I think, it's been years since I ate any McDonalds food let alone that type of burger.

We make basically the same thing at home (sometimes with a slice of pineapple) and that's what I'll be having for dinner in a couple of hours. My version is really really really good.

Beetroot is crimson red, btw, and yummy.
posted by shelleycat at 10:12 PM on May 20, 2007

They did note the McShwarma, but much more interesting about McDonald's in Israel is that the menu changes during passover -- all the burgers are served on (revolting) unleavened buns.
posted by camcgee at 10:18 PM on May 20, 2007

.
posted by trip and a half at 10:23 PM on May 20, 2007

German Mcdonalds restaurants charge for each packet of ketchup, odd but you get used to it. They also have bad beer, which is pretty hard to do in Germany.
posted by aerotive at 10:23 PM on May 20, 2007

Here are some more. They have a Ski-Thru service in Sweden!
posted by tellurian at 10:51 PM on May 20, 2007

Oops
posted by tellurian at 10:52 PM on May 20, 2007

He missed the McTurco, sold only in Istanbul.

That's ok, so did we while there.

in case anyone wants to see what else we did while there...
posted by Mutant at 10:57 PM on May 20, 2007

I remember having a McBier with my burger when I was in Germany many years ago. And it was *good* local beer, too.
posted by seawallrunner at 11:02 PM on May 20, 2007

you know, mcdonalds should really try offering some of these things in the states. an "international menu" promotion. tie it in with the 2008 olympics. i bet there'd be a hit or two!

Oooh, that's a great idea!
posted by SisterHavana at 11:04 PM on May 20, 2007

I was in New Delhi once, at the time when they had just opened the very first McDonalds in India. In spite of it being about a 45 minute autorickshaw hike across town to the rather middle-class suburb of Vasant Vihar, I felt that this just had to be experienced.

For a start, from the point of view of Indians, McDonalds was (and I understand, remains) some kind of luxury, status-symbol food. You could eat fantastic curries at restaurants for no more than 20 rupees (50 cents), but the cheapest burger at Maccas was something like three or four times that price. The excitement of shelling out so much for such shitty food was so great that there were velvet ropes to control the crowds, and ex-army guards, complete with shotguns chained to their belts, for added security.

Inside, western-dressed professional-looking people would be chattering away on their cellphones in hindi or punjabi - "blahdeblah McDonalds blahdeblah", munching away on vegetable nuggets with McImli (tamarind) sauce, or maybe Maharaja Macs. I decided to try the latter ("100% lamb patty"), and it was quite disgusting. Naturally, the menu was divided into veg & non-veg sections, with plenty of choices for the vegos, including vege burgers, and I think some kind of pakoras as well. I seem to recall McLassis, too, in addition to the shakes.

The division into veg & non-veg menus & kitchens was taken quite seriously, with reassurances all over the place also that no pork or beef was used in any products - the company obviously had no desire to spark another mutiny. Beyond what is stated in the linked article, the separate kitchens were required not just "out of respect" for vegetarians, but because Hinduism is apparently quite strict about its food-preparation rules, perhaps moreso than Judaism or Islam. As I understand it, a vegetarian Hindu should not eat food cooked or served in anything that has ever even touched meat (or, for real pure-veg people - Brahmins, particularly - things like eggs, alcohol, garlic, onions, coffee, tea, etc).

I think the restaurant stopped short of having a special room for Brahmins, though. Techically, I think they are not even supposed to eat in the same room as non-Brahmins, but I imagine that they might have stayed well clear of the place, since McDonalds globally is probably responsible for more slaughter of Mother Cow than any other organisation.

Even with these precautions to not offend local religious sensibilities, there was a lot of controversy about the new restaurant - both from a religious & an anti-westernisation point of view. McDonalds may have escaped relatively unscathed, but at the same time I remember riots in Bangalore, resulting in a KFC being burned to the ground in protest.
posted by UbuRoivas at 11:09 PM on May 20, 2007 [1 favorite]

The fast food chain McDonald's has had to reassure its customers in India that the French fries it serves are prepared without using beef fat.

McDonald’s India births a creepy Baby Ronald.
posted by UbuRoivas at 11:26 PM on May 20, 2007

The Swiss Mcdonald's also makes the "McRösti"
posted by slater at 11:27 PM on May 20, 2007

Chicken, chicken, chicken, chicken, chicken? Chicken chicken chicken chicken—chicken chicken chicken-chicken chicken chicken chicken. Chicken chicken chicken chicken chicken?! (Chicken chicken.)
posted by stavrogin at 11:39 PM on May 20, 2007

I was in Austria for Christmas 2001 & they were switching to the Euro on January 1st. I remember that McDonalds was selling french fries shaped like Euro symbols.

Not kidding. At all.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:41 PM on May 20, 2007

I love beets (or beetroots, as they seem to be called in other hemispheres), but it had never occurred to me to put them on a burger. Australia, you gave us Vegemite, but with this idea I think you may have just redeemed yourself!
posted by infinitywaltz at 11:52 PM on May 20, 2007

infinitywaltz: FYI, the standard aussie burger-with-the-lot should contain at least the following between the buns: tomato, lettuce, fried onion, beef patty, beetroot, pineapple ring, bacon, egg & cheese. You get your choice of either tomato sauce (ketchup) or BBQ sauce. Pickles & mustard are never an option. The beetroot is mandatory.

As for Vegemite: I am guessing you've never tried it in hot milk, or on raisin toast with butter, right?
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:02 AM on May 21, 2007

Australia, you gave us Vegemite, but with this idea I think you may have just redeemed yourself!

Do Australians do this too? I thought it was a kiwi thing (as in, New Zealand). I didn't see any beetroot containing burgers listed under Australia on the linked site and we don't use it as some kind of Australian addition to our menu (unlike vegemite which is pure Aussie).

FWIW, we have the deli choices stuff here too although I've never tried it.
posted by shelleycat at 12:22 AM on May 21, 2007

Tried the Maharaja Mac in Delhi just for the hell of it. It was fine.

Me and the missus sometimes go for an early breakfast at McDonald's in Gifu or Nagoya if we're heading off for a trip, and have latched onto the McGriddle. But hadn't realized until googling it that it isn't another wacky Japanese item, but available in Canada and the U.S. too.

I will say that there is a separate cashier for soft ice cream at McDonald's in Medan, Indonesia, and the line is always very, very long.
posted by dreamsign at 12:36 AM on May 21, 2007

Here in northern/central New Mexico, McDonald's offers green chile for their hamburgers—something which is pretty much required for any burger shop around these parts. Otherwise, though, there's no other deviations from the standard menu.

I sort of like McDonald's. I almost don't even think of the Big Mac as a hamburger—it's like its own category of fast food. It's not good; but for some reason I occasionally want one. The Quarter Pounder isn't very good, either, but it's more recognizably a burger. Usually, I get the Big'n'Tasty, which I think is the best burger they serve. It's funny, though, how pretty much every other fast food's hamburgers are better.

On the other hand, I'm in that group of people that think that McDonald's fries are the best fast food french fries you can get. Really, it's the fries which get me to McDonald's. Other than that, I will say that their chicken caesar salad is pretty good. But these days everyone sells one and they're all pretty good, I think.

ColdChef, I do remember in the 80s that for awhile McDonald's sold "international" versions of Chicken McNuggets that basically just had some "exotic" sauces. I remember this very well because they had a teriyaki sauce that I loved for the nuggets. I really miss that sauce.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 12:41 AM on May 21, 2007

Warning: Do not read this post when you are high. You will have an undeniable urge to run to the airport and take a plane to Japan just so you can get some shrimp nuggets.
posted by tehloki at 12:45 AM on May 21, 2007

UbuRoivas writes "In spite of it being about a 45 minute autorickshaw hike across town to the rather middle-class suburb of Vasant Vihar, I felt that this just had to be experienced."

What I would like to experience are the mini indian restaurant on the street restaurants I saw in a foodumentary some time ago. I am a little suspicious about the sanitary conditions (expecially for refrigeration considerations) , but the incredibly variety seemed stunning and attracting : maybe I am spoiled as I am used to daily italian cousine.

There's an aspect to McDonald that still needs to be incorporated into some food joint : speed. I can have a big mac in 2-3 minutes and while I enjoy "slow" food, fast delivery isn't but convenient.
posted by elpapacito at 2:09 AM on May 21, 2007

When I lived in Japan, Makudonarudo liked to put beets on burgers, as did the other fast-food chains. I assume that was the Australian influence, but I'm not sure.

I really hate beets.

That said, Burger King's grilled chicken salad is not the worst thing I've ever eaten.
posted by bardic at 4:28 AM on May 21, 2007

In Venezuela, the Happy Meals (IIRC) are called 'Las cajitas de felicidad'- little boxes of happiness.
posted by MtDewd at 4:53 AM on May 21, 2007 [1 favorite]

I was with you on the beet until you said beet and pineapple. That's is a really unneccessary combination. Bleh.
posted by miss tea at 5:06 AM on May 21, 2007

I am un-australian and don't eat beetroot on my burgers- not because I don't like the taste, but because I am convinced that it would jump off the burger and smear itself all over my clean, white, favourite, irreplaceable, shirt. This fear persists even when I'm wearing my brothers ratty old clothes. I think my mum was a bit too convincing when she told us beetroot stains clothes.
posted by jacalata at 5:24 AM on May 21, 2007

They had McPizza in Arizona about 10 years ago.

Say what you will about McDonalds, I want to have SMS notifications the second they bring Mighty Wings back.
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 5:47 AM on May 21, 2007

I was kind of hoping that McDonald's would fade away.

1. Their 'food' is made entirely of puréed dogshit mixed with toxic quantities of lard and sugar
2. The people who work there are miserable, underpaid and rude
3. They are now a symbol of American obesity, and hence a worldwide laughingstock
4. People have written bestselling books and made successful documentary films about the health risks of consuming their products
5. Their drones seem to pour boiling coffee on people at regular intervals
6. Their stock price has been down

Have they managed to rebound, somehow? I know they're hardly successful in most of Europe...
posted by chuckdarwin at 6:17 AM on May 21, 2007 [1 favorite]

Whither the McRib?
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:17 AM on May 21, 2007

McRib was so good.
posted by bardic at 7:08 AM on May 21, 2007

Mmmmmmm... McRib.
posted by dreamsign at 7:14 AM on May 21, 2007

I went through a phase of trying to weird out the counter staff in every McD's I visited by asking them to put my hot chocolate fudge sauce into the Big Mac instead of the sundae. Most of them wouldn't do it, and I was actually asked to leave a couple of times.

But every now and then, I'd find one who would. And you know what? It made onlt the most marginal difference to the flavour of the Big Mac.

I have yet to succeed in my quest for a sundae with Special Sauce.
posted by flabdablet at 7:20 AM on May 21, 2007 [2 favorites]

I have a bitter streak for McDonalds because I was in Italy with my mother and everyone else was all 'OOH MCDONALDS!' and insisted on eating there instead of at some local sandwich place. Those sandwiches were fucking AMAZING. Seriously? In a country where just about everything is tasty and fresh, you go to McDonalds? Are you fucking kiddding me?
posted by sperose at 7:20 AM on May 21, 2007

In Taiwan, they have corn soup, and were experimenting with rice dishes: chicken curry with rice, beef and vegetables with rice, and a couple more. That was a few years ago, though, and I don't know what they're trying now (though I'm sure the corn soup is still there -- that's a permanent item rather than a temporary experiment).
posted by jiawen at 7:28 AM on May 21, 2007

Some New England McDonald's offer lobster rolls.

Yep ... and the pizza chain Papa Gino's has them as well in the summer.
posted by ericb at 8:20 AM on May 21, 2007

They don't actually serve the pizza in Toronto anymore, goddammit.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 9:04 AM on May 21, 2007

My favorite is in Mexico they have the McPachuga, which literally translates into the McBreast.
posted by afx114 at 9:07 AM on May 21, 2007

A part of me wants to try the Peruvian Guinea Pig burger, but another part of me is a MickyD's purist and wants to stick with the beef patty whose parts come from 100 different cows. Its just a power trip. Its like driving down the expressway, seeing hundreds of cattle, and knowing for 99 cents I can taste a little of each of those guys.
posted by damn dirty ape at 9:29 AM on May 21, 2007

The McPizza was suprisingly good and very cheap - the deli sandwichs being served in Canada are no good, though cheaper than say Subway
posted by Deep Dish at 9:33 AM on May 21, 2007

McDonald's (I've read) has been experimenting with pizza for decades now. They'd love to get part of that market. And (I've read) they've just never gotten it to really work.

Which reminds me that a local pizza chain here in the early 90s experimented with drive-through very fast pizza. They had a complicated two-story conveyer-belt hot-air oven system where the cooks up top would quickly make the pizza and a couple minutes later it'd come out by the drive-through worker hot and ready to eat. And it was pretty good, too.

They didn't last. Probably, I'd guess, because is relatively expensive.

I see that PepsiCo has been experimenting with combo fast-food joints and I've seen numerous Taco Bells that also sold Pizza Hut pizza, even through the drive-through. Only small, personal sizes, though. It's okay, not great.

Back to McDonald's—it's pretty amazing how influential they've been to the whole American food experience via their domination of fast food. They quite deliberately realized that there was money to made at breakfast-time and created from scratch fast-food breakfast. In recent years they have been responsible for combo meals. Dollar menus. There's lots of similar examples.

And in spite of the fact that most of their food is crappy, even by fast-food standards, there's a reason why they're still the most successful (beside the reasons implied in my previous paragraph): as a several decades-long frequent fast-food eater, I can tell you that the quality of the food and service is far more consistent at different stores and different times in the US than any competitor. And, in terms of quality, the service is—on average—notably better than any large competitor. I've had individuals that gave excellent service at all places, of course. But McDonald's workers are consistently more friendly and professional.

Consistent production quality and consistent pretty good service are two things that most people don't consciously value highly—and which snobbish consumers like mefites often denigrate as the lowest sort of priority—yet in the long run make a huge difference in customer loyalty. Just one bad experience drives people away from any kind of restaurant/retailer—it's far more powerful than one good experience. Thus, avoiding any badness below a certain threshold is a low-profile goal that reaps large long-term benefits. McDonald's obviously understands this. In many ways they are the very essence of mediocrity, but it's extremely consistent mediocrity.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 9:38 AM on May 21, 2007

I got plastered at a Burger King in Oslo, Norway.

Buying a big ol' beer with my Whopper was pretty cool.

I ended up eating half of the Whopper and going back for a few more beers.
posted by drstein at 10:16 AM on May 21, 2007

FRAK THIS NOISE!! JUST TELL ME WHEN THE MCRIB IS COMING BACK!!
posted by cavalier at 11:01 AM on May 21, 2007

On preview, dang it, I missed the first McRib mention.

My favorite McRib anecdote is that whatever animal/chemical compound they're using, it's so dangerous that it can only be survived in short doses. Hence, the seasonal arrival and departure. Makes me feel real good about 'im.
posted by cavalier at 11:03 AM on May 21, 2007

And EB, you make a great point. I forget where I read it, but this one dude opined something to the effect of:

Q: What business is McDonalds in?

A: Comfort.

Not food, not fast food, but the idea of knowing no matter what part of the country you were in, at what time of day, you could get something you were used to in a McDonalds. Now if only I could find something I want to eat to be comforted by...
posted by cavalier at 11:10 AM on May 21, 2007

Similarly --

Q: What business is Hewlett Packard in?

A: Ink.
posted by ericb at 12:08 PM on May 21, 2007

Q: What business is McDonalds in?

A: Comfort. Real estate, apparently. I had a high-flying corporate consultant tell me once that their business model is such that stores might operate on the slimmest profit margins, but meanwhile they are sitting on the best possible land for drive-through businesses, stores or restaurants. They may sit on the land for ages, but when they eventually sell, it pays off big time. Given the franchised nature of the business, though, I am a little sceptical of this theory.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:08 PM on May 21, 2007 [1 favorite]

elpapacito: What I would like to experience are the mini indian restaurant on the street restaurants I saw in a foodumentary some time ago. I am a little suspicious about the sanitary conditions (expecially for refrigeration considerations) , but the incredibly variety seemed stunning and attracting

If you are talking dhabas (hole-in-the-wall restaurants), my experience is that the food is quite mediocre: simmered until all nutrients & consistency are destroyed, mostly identical in flavour, and usually following the exact same punjabi menu almost everywhere (aloo mattar, anybody? palak paneer?). The snackier street stalls are a hell of a lot better, imho, with each vendor usually specialising in one single thing, eg potato patties (like rosti), served in a leaf bowl, with chickpea curry, yoghurt, tamarind sauce, onions, coriander & chilli.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:14 PM on May 21, 2007

Not food, not fast food, but the idea of knowing no matter what part of the country you were in, at what time of day, you could get something you were used to in a McDonalds.

Yup. I might choose to eat at McDonalds once or twice a year when I'm at home, but anytime I'm travelling alone I don't even need to think about where I'm going to grab a bite at the airport.
posted by Cyrano at 4:16 PM on May 21, 2007

eg potato patties (like rosti), served in a leaf bowl, with chickpea curry, yoghurt, tamarind sauce, onions, coriander & chilli.

Damn I am hungry right now, and it's your fault, Mr Merdre.
posted by Wolof at 6:30 PM on May 21, 2007 [1 favorite]

Ethereal Bligh writes 'I can tell you that the quality of the food and service is far more consistent at different stores and different times in the US than any competitor.'

Interesting - in the UK, that's absolutely not the case. Here they veer wildly between places that make Big Macs that actually verge on being tasty and nicely presented to those that punt out absolutely hideous dessicated burgers with a couple of perfunctory scraps of salad; similarly some are filthy and staffed by incredibly rude folk, others are spotless and jolly.

My favourite fact/urban myth about MacDonald's, though, is that the reason for the UV lights installed in some of their restaurant toilets is to discourage smackheads, because they make it harder to find a vein. (If true, this would go some way to explaining why 50% of the clientele in every Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant I've ever been to are scab-handed heroin addicts poking listlessly at those little tubs of baked beans.)
posted by jack_mo at 6:45 PM on May 21, 2007

the reason for the UV lights installed in some of their restaurant toilets is to discourage smackheads, because they make it harder to find a vein.

Who on earth told you that? The UV lights are for the ravers who turn up at five in the morning to buy happy meals & play with the little plastic toys inside.

The toilets function like a semi-adult equivalent of the kiddies' playgrounds outside - a magical glowing playroom that ensures that Maccas is the obligatory halfway stop between the rave & home.
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:41 PM on May 21, 2007

We should start a petition to get McD to bring back the McRib.

I actually quite like the chicken wraps they have right now; they must have changed the batter on their chicken fingers [which they briefly offered and had awful batter].

I've noticed a difference in the quality of the food between Canadian McD and American ones.

/Shamefully misses Hardee's monsterosities.
posted by porpoise at 8:13 PM on May 21, 2007

chuckdarwin, what makes you think that Macca's is not successful in Europe? My understanding is that they are actually surprising even themselves with their success over there - see this article about France.
posted by jacalata at 9:13 PM on May 21, 2007

In my teens, I worked at a MickyDees that happened to be within spittin' distance of Hamburger U., the McDonalds corporate headquarters. So 2 stories:

Anyone old enough to remember when McDonalds stopped using those tiny little plastic coffee stirring spoons, on the grounds that they were being used as coke spoons? I think this happened in the mid 1970's.

My manager, a delightful and mischievious man, often used those tiny spoons to snort "snow", often in fairly full view of our early eighties clientele. I still remember the wounded look on his puss when he mumbled the news about the spoons being banned. He grabbed all of the overstock for his home use; we were left with soft drink straws as coffee stirs until the hateful, useless little brown stir-straws arrived.
Given our proximity to Hamburg U, and the managers tastes, I've always wondered if maybe he was The Guy Who Ruined The Little Spoons For Everyone.

And those McRibs-

A lot of commenters here seem to have fond memories of these sandwiches. Our grill employees (heavy hallucineginic users all) invented this little game where they'd flick the thawing McRib patties against a corner wall of the break room, handball style, to see how many times the meatwads bounced before disinegrating. In the regular world of thawing meat, this wouldn't work as a game or even a diversion because in the regular world of thawing meat, thawing meat doesn't bounce. But the McRibs-- They bounced. Con Gusto. These games dragged on for long periods, until the patties, molded with faux bones mimicing the appearance of a real rack of ribs (a detail that still squicks me out today) were spackled with grime and dust from the breakroom floor. The break would end, and the abused patties would lie there, no ones responsibility and covered with filth, until the retirerees showed up with thier brooms hours later.

I'll never understand why those retirees didn't go ballistic- they had every right. Ugh.
posted by maryh at 1:20 AM on May 22, 2007

Added value from an Australian - Beer Battered Deep Fried Bacon Double Quarter Pounder.
posted by tellurian at 11:02 PM on May 29, 2007