Everybody loves a Big Mac, but when was the last time you had Fish McDippers? Or a McFarmer? Despite it’s international appeal, McDonald’s often finds itself creating regional menu items to better serve its customers around the world.
In this, the first part in our three part look at the ever-changing McDonald’s Menu, we explore some of the international flavors that the McMenu has to offer outside of The Americas.
McDonald’s Japan
Over in Japan they’ve got a number of McOddities that you just won’t find anywhere else. Take EbiChiki for example. Sure it looks like your standard nugget meal, but then you take a bite — and guess what? Shrimp! And what’s even stranger is that EbiChiki isn’t just Shrimp McNuggets, but Chicken McNuggets too. Each meal comes with two Shrimp and three Chicken. A surprise in every bite (especially if you’re allergic to seafood.)
EbiChiki isn’t the only great oddity coming out of McDonald’s Japan. There’s also the Tamago Double Mac. Seeing as I borrowed these two Japan-pics from GameLife, the blog of game journalist extraordinaire Chris Kohler, I figure it’s only fair to borrow his words to explain the Tamago Double Mac;
Anyone who believes that the Japanese are healthy eaters needs to look at this monstrosity. Two beef patties and cheese topped with a fried egg and bacon. Cutely referred to as “heart attack on a bun.” However, I think it gets a bit of a bad rap. Really, it’s just convenient. If you missed breakfast, but it’s already lunchtime, you can get your breakfast INSIDE your lunch, all in one handy package.
McDonald’s Israel
Not only is the McShawarma one of the few middle eastern cuisine items on the international McDonald’s menu, but it’s television ad recreated a surprisingly appropriate scene from Pulp Fiction (easily earning it’s spot in my heart as the best McDonald’s ad to date.) The McShawarma is a turkey shawarma served on flatbread, and despite the shawarma’s popularity in a number of countries around the world, has remained an item only available in Israeli McDonald’s.
McDonald’s Middle East
Joining the McShawarma on the short list of middle eastern McDonald’s items, the McArabia was introduced in 2003 in an effort to salvage the market that due to the poltical climate was seeking alternatives to US products. The McArabia is a grilled chicken sandwich on Arab bread with lettuce, tomatoes, and Arab sauce. For a product intended to identify itself with the Middle Eastern market, one can’t help point out the irony that the Arab bread was imported from the UK and the chicken was shipped in from Malaysia.
McDonald’s Greece
With a name like Greek Mac it’s pretty easy to figure out where this came from, but it’s success in Greece helped move it past Grecian borders pretty quickly. It debuted in Greece in 2001, but by 2003 the Greek Mac could be found in Belgium, Spain, Cyprus, Portugal and the Czech Republic. The Greek Mac is McDonald’s take on the gyro. It’s comprised of two burgers wrapped in a pita with yogurt sauce, tomato slices, iceberg lettuce and onions.
McDonald’s Netherlands
Croquettes are a regional oddity. In the Netherlands they’re sold and consumed everywhere, yet even in neighboring countries like Belgium and Germany interest in the foodstuff is nil. As the number two food item in the country (second only in popularity to the frinkandel, a mincemeat hot dog) it’s incorporation into the McDonald’s menu was an inevitability. The McKroket is a deep fried roll containing beef ragout and served on a bun.
McDonald’s Singapore
If I were to tell you that McSpaghetti was a staple of the Italian McDonald’s menu, I’m sure you’d be less than surprised …but Singapore? Well, believe it or not, you can hop off the plane in Singapore and get your pasta under the golden arches. Chicken McSpaghetti isn’t only in Singapore, though. A friend of mine was recently in the Phillipines and she brought me back a book of McCoupons that confirm that McSpaghetti is available in nearby countries as well.
McDonald’s France
What better way to wash down the first part in our three part series than with a frosty glass of McDonald’s beer? Available in France, as well as Germany and the Czech Republc, a McDonald’s beer in Paris is one of those great cross-cultural experiences that really shows the difference between European and North American Attitudes.
Speaking of America you’ll be seeing an awful lot of it in part two of our three part series, McMenu Madness. Next time around we’ll be exploring regional oddities on McMenu’s across the USA, Canada and Mexico.
I’d certainly eat some of those if they were available here.
Hellz ya @ McBeer! However in detroit on the lo key you can usually find a nice enough employee to sell you a Mc8ball to suppress your appetite or a McOunce to stimulate it…
As a Greek-Canadian who feels a certain affection toward both traditional Greek cuisine and North American fast food, I can honestly say that the Greek Mac is the work of God himself.
McSpaghetti?
Man they don’t even TRY to be creative at coming up with names.
When I was in Barcelona a few years ago, I’m 99% certain the Greek Mac was called the McGyro on the menu signs.
That beer is Kronenburg (or as it is also known, 1664) nothing to do with McDonalds other than it appears to be sold there… sorry to spoil your fun
In Hawaii the have selections of value meals using spam, and in Philippines the have things like fried chicken
I am reasonably cetain that I have seen reports on Russian McDonalds which serve small shots of vodka. Also, a friend who came back from Australia said that over there, a “burger with everything” included hard boiled egg slices and sliced beets, but I don’t know if that applied to McDonald burgers.
I had almost forgotten, but in Rome they had this Carribean promotion going on. I don’t remember the burger, but there was a criss-cross cut fry, and ice cream with pineapple. And in Scotland, we were completely puzzled by what the hell a McQuorn was. Turns out it’s some sort of non-meat alternative made of fungus. So, not entirely unlike the hamburger, I suppose.
hellz yeah in detroit you can also get a mcblowjob!!
the Aussie burger March refers to is a McOZ, and the egg isn’t boiled it’s that American fake/powdered egg grilled same as they use on the egg McMuffin.
In Korea, at least on Camp Casey (USA Army base) you could get beer at the Burger King. At least intil some asshole under-age MP got caught drinking beer in the Burger King. He claimed he was he was doing his own tests to see if they were checking ID’s. I hope that it didn’t help him, but they did stop BK from selling beer while I was there. Oh. BTW mp’s are punks.
they don’t use fake powder eggs on the mcmuffins in america
What About the McLobster in Nova Scotia Canada!!!!
they do have a worm farm for their burger meat
I’ve been in many Mickey D’s all around the world. Netherlands also has “Frite Sauce” a national favorite, kinda like really bad mayo to dip your fries in.
I remember Austria McD’s sold beer in glass bottles like you get at the store. And they had a “McCountry” burger, which was basically a Quarter Pounder with barbeque sauce. Australia sells an “Oz Burger” that has a whole slice of beetroot on it, an aquired taste at best! South Korea had a Shrimp burger: a deep fried-butterflyed jumbo shrimp on a bun, very tasty!
I’d Eat any of that stuff before all the healthy crap they’ve started selling in Maccas Australia. You go to Maccas because you WANT to eat unhealthy food. Why would anyone go to a restaurant and buy an ordinary apple? I don’t know whats happening in other countries but maccas australia is really aiming its market at hippies these days.
In Finland we have a hamburger called “Ruis Quarter Pounder”. It is a basic Quarter Pounder but with sesame seed bun replaced with one made out of rye. The taste is ok and it is healthier but as Oz pointed out: Do we really need healthier food at McDonalds.?
Swiss McD’s also sell beer. They also do seasonal local menus such as the McGruyere with Gruyere cheese and the McRosti which is a big burger filled with hash browns. Yumm.
what about in asia they have the mcasshole its a flamebroiled asshole between 2 whites buns and a side of grape jam
No to be rude but its frikandel not frinkandel, how I know? I’m dutch, still funny to see all those different menu’s.
In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick you can get a MC Lobster, it’s like a tuna salad sandwich, but made with lobster. It’s actually pretty damn good!
they sell beer in belgium MC donalds 2 and Croquettes are eaten in belgium 2 but not as often as in the netherlands, and surely not in a burger
About the Greek mac.. it is called the McGyro i went to athens and san torini last may (2006)
also.. in australia they had the aussie burger, or oz burger (cant remember) which had egg and beets as well,
and subway had really delicious breakfast sandwiches.. i wish they had those breakfast sandwiches herein the states
When I spent some time in Amsterdam, I tried one of the McRokets, and they rock balls. I also tried one of the real croquettes, which are also great, but dont try to compare the two. Youll be dissappointed, but if youre coming down in Amsterdam and need something to take the edge off, the McRoket will do that easily. I was just happy that the McBeer in Paris was cold and they didnt have a 5 beer max.
You can also in Finland get a pint of beer with your BigMac
at Messukeskus (Helsinki Exhibition Center) McDonald’s !
I guess there’s not so many minor at Exhibition Center…
Here in America you can get a Cheeseburger and Fries.
At the Marseilles MacDonald in France, zey have Red Wine. Oui mon ami….the red that leaves spots on your wite shirt.
I have a peek-ture.
In McDonalds India, we have an item called McCurry Pan where it’s a baked curry dish. Also the Big Mac is called the “Maharaja” Mac. Another funny item that I didnt see in other McDonalds around the world was Pizaa McPuff.
I was in Bitburg, Germany in 1988, and I got a Big Mac, Large Fries, and a Heineken beer in a can at the DRIVE THRU! Cool!
Beer is sold at Mac Donald’s in Austria too!!!!!
In China, they have chili (as in red hot peppers!!) dusted fries and taro soup. When I first walked into HK’s Micky D’s I was thinking WTF?! Taro Soup!? Its good too!
I know for a FACT they have the McRice in Thailand. My friend is over in SE Asia right now and he sent back a picture of the Mc Rice. How genius is that?
I have issues with the new McGobbler Project, a/k/a: The McRib Creation, a/k/a: The Pork McCutlet, a/k/a: The Liquid Pork Experiment
To th comment above, yes there is a McRice burger here in Thailand. It’s the same as any other burger except with 2 rice patties instead of a bun.
We also have deep fried pork burgers with various sauces, the chicken nuggets come with plum sauce. We also have fried chicken (in both original and spicy varieties.
I have a new sandwich for the McGobbler Experiment: The Turkey McGobbler Select Strips, the Happy McGobblerMeal with French Fries and Select Sauce…
Here in New Zealand we had a McKiwiburger with egg and beetroot in it - yuck! Cos apparently they’re great Kiwi traditions. So why can’t we buy a BEER at McD’s here? That’s a bloody great Kiwi tradition! Ah geez I’m getting all emotional now…
why are they carrying a palestinian around in the trunk?
“…Arab sauce”?
Who eats the Greek Mac? Who?! In Athens, on Monastiraki square, there is a fabulous gyro stand RIGHT ACROSS from the McD’s. And the prices are comparable.
Also, you can get Heineken at the McD’s in Greece, but then again, you can get Heineken at most newspaper stands.
I about flipped out when I saw the McRice in the philippines last week. It is really what the other two people said. Take out the bread and put two rice patties in the shape of the bread and you’ve got… a McRice. I can only imagine some very naive marketing people who know little about asian culture trying to figure out how to increase sales in the asia market, “…sales are dropping in asia, how can we sell more burgers? I know, asians love rice, how about we sell them rice burgers! Good job, you’re promoted immediately!”
i saw Mc Pizza in an orlando florida mcdonalds. also hard ice cream…not the soft serve we’re used to! wish they would expand they’re menu in usa.
Not EXACTLY a special menu item, but it seems like a few years back I remember reading something about all the burgers at McDonalds in India being made out of goat meat instead of beef (since cows are sacred in India). Can anyone confirm this?
In Hawaii (back in the mid 1980’s) they had sushi on the menu.
Here in Germany we currently have ‘dahatma’ sandwiches with an indian twist. There is a chicken burger served between thick pieces of ‘nan’ with curry sauce, tomato, and cucumber - very good. There is also a pork version that is spicier. And there are ‘fakir’ rolls that are little chicken rolls with indian spices. (check out mcdonalds.de for pictures - if you don’t speak German hit the left button and then to top left ‘produkte’
Another thing we recently had were curly frieds and emmentaler hearts with preiselberry sauce.
And we also recently had a dessert that were fried potato balls filled with nutella.
We are constantly getting new foods here and have different national ‘weeks’. I recall the yin yang burger and the wasabi burger.
Also we have McCafe’s with smoothies and delicious pastries - these are inside our mcdonalds.
I seem to remember McDonald’s in Antartica having some interesting “regional” items. The penguin nuggets sure were a treat! A little tough, but they went very well with the “Walrus McBlubber” sauce. I also liked the Polar Bear Testicles.
The new Mickie D’s search engine works great! Try it McGoogle.com. Chuck, come on? The PB Testies were way too rubbery and salty. I would have to say the most delicious of all menu items was the Mcboiler. This is a tasty 6 pack of boiled eggs with a spicy German beer mustard. Once you have one you can’t stop. Try the family pack of 28 boilers. Wash this fabulous treat down with a one of a kind McMukas Shake. Made only from the finest nose hairs and inner thighs of the Sumatran Rhinoceros.
The MacArabia’s in the middle east also have lamb patties in it on request. The Netherlands, at least the airport branchs, also serve beer.
McDonalds is gross no matter what country it’s in!!!
eeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwww…McDonalds!!!
The typically Dutch meat snacks are called ‘frikandel’ and ‘kroket’ of which only the latter made it into the McMenu. ‘Kroketten’ are traditionally served with fine musterd and with or without bread. Smaller sized ‘kroket balls’ are called ‘bitterballen’.
Where do they get the chickens that lay those strange McMuffin eggs?
And in true doublespeak, you can get a double cheeseburger value meal, and a double, cheeseburger value meal. Depends on the interpreter on the other end of the drive thru whether you get two cheeseburgers, or one double. Also, the s-l-o-w-e-s-t drive thru McDonalds in the world has to be Cumberland Avenue, near The University of Tennessee.
How about the Mc in Africa?
Do they have any typical menu?
Now in Japan we have “Teriyaki mega mac”.
It’s same as BigMac but Teriyaki taste.
I tried yesterday, so tasty.
In McDonald’s in Israel they have kosher burgers. Also in Japan the regular drink is so small (almost half the size of the american drink). I was disappointed by this, but since they have chocolate pies, mango shakes, tamago mac (big mac w/egg) and all other kinds of things it was okay. I tried a regular chicken sandwich one day and I have to admit it was way better than US version - they actually cooked it fresh instead of pulling it out of a drawer that it’s been sitting in for hours.
sweet god!!!!!!!!!
where is the mCrib?
you gd bitch
I’m pretty sure the McSpaghetti started in the Philippines. Filipinos are crazy about “American” food and they associate spaghetti with more with America than with Italy. So, what could Mickey D’s serve that’s more American than a burger and a fried apple pie? You know now.
Frinkandel is misspelled it should be Frikandel. A frenchmen invetne dthe “kroket” however we the dutch eat it way more, even when in spain or other holiday spots the dutch often visit the kroket is made available.
cool!
I have had Happy Meal with a beer in Italy. Pretty awesome snack.
In Hong Kong, there are a lot of different pies besides the usual apple pie. There was blueberry pie, pineapple pie :D, and chicken pie, pepper steak pie… Unlike the American ones, these are deep fried. It’s got a very unique flavor.
Black pepper burger is my fave. It is just any regular burger with the black pepper sauce. There is also the occasional “Samurai burger”. It is a pork burger (using breakfast sausage) with the tonkatsu sauce. It taste like McRib actually.
Shake Shake Fries are available all across Chinese communities once every 2-3 years. They give you a paper bag and a powder seasoning of your choice and you mix the fries in the bag and shake your way to a new flavor!
What about TRIPLE BIG MAC from Japan?! I don’t even know if my mouth is large enough!
did you know what they offered in Taiwan You won’t find any of the above to be surprising. they have rice burgers and grain burgers with kimchi…also fried chicken is a regular offered item (like KFC). There is also corn soup..