Wednesday, 02 June 2010
-
McDonald’s Around the World: Menu Items You May Not Know So Well
When I spent a semester in China, I shamefully attempted to escape traditional Chinese meals by running to my old friend Mickey Dee from time to time (come on, you would too – they deliver 24/7 for only a dollar extra!). It took me a couple of visits to the actual restaurant, however, to realize that this was not quite the same Mickey Dee I knew from home.The first indication was the chicken – it was markedly different from that used in the USA (I found out later that this was because it is thigh meat, as opposed to the breast meat that is used in American patties and nuggets). A further glance at the menu lent to other differentiations – Chinese chili garlic sauce with the chicken nuggets and Taro (sweet potato) pie.
This gave me an idea – I decided to look up variations between international McDonald’s menus. I decided to report the ones I found the most interesting (there are way too many differences to report overall!). It seems that every country not only has a McD’s, but also their own version of it.
This is what I found:
EGYPT: The McFalafel sandwich and, introduced this year (Cairo), Egyptian Cookies.
MOROCCO: The Recette Moutarde (Mustard Burger).
BAHRAIN: The McArabia (sold in all Middle Eastern countries), it is grilled chicken and grilled kofta (spicy beef) wrapped together with garlic mayonnaise, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions in Arabic-style pita.
CHINA: The taro pie won my love – I do love sweet potatoes.
HONG-KONG: Red bean and green bean flavored soft-serve ice cream. Shake-shake fries are also available seasonally, and are flavored fries coming in seaweed, chargrill, French onion, and salt & pepper varieties.
INDIA: The Veg McCurry Pan is the most popular Mickey dish in this non-beef-eating nation. It is a rectangular crust topped with creamy sauce and vegetables, and sizzled until the toppings are bubbly. The McSurprise burger is a newer addition to the menu, and is a mutton patty with onion and Italian mayonnaise. (Also sold in Pakistan and Indonesia).
ISRAEL: The McShawarma – a flatbread wrap consisting of shaved lamb, goat, chicken, turkey, and/or beef.
JAPAN: Teriyaki McBurger – ground pork patties with mayonnaise, lettuce, and teriyaki. Also, French fries in seaweed, Italian basil, and barbeque flavors.
MALAYSIA: Kiwi sundaes.
PHILLIPPINES: McRice – steamed glutinous rice serves as hamburger bun for beef or breaded chicken patties. Also, the Hamdesal – a bun served with pineapple syrup and mayonnaise, along with Canadian bacon and a choice of scrambled egg, cheese, or both!
SOUTH KOREA: McBingsoo – a desert based on ice shavings and sweetened azuki beans and topped with ice cream/frozen yogurt, sweetened with condensed milk and fruit syrups. Bits of fruit, rice cake, jelly pieces, and cereal flakes are often mixed in.
GREECE: The Greek Mac – burger patty in a pita instead of a bun. Also, shrimp burgers and shrimp nuggets!
PRAGUE: Smazeny syr – a slice of cheese coated in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, and fried.
GERMANY: Beer was previously served at all McDonald’s locations, but this policy was recently discontinued.
THE NETHERLANDS: The McKroket, which is beef deep-fried into a roll and served with mustard, either with a bun or without one.
NORWAY: McLaks – a grilled salmon sandwich served with dill sauce.
POLAND: “American” deserts launched in 2008, which consisted of fried banana-shaped donut bites (supposedly from New York) and banana or caramel dipping sauces (supposedly from South Carolina).
TURKEY: Ayran (a yogurt based beverage), and also the McTurco, Turkish Kebobs of either chicken or lamb.
IRELAND AND THE UK: Mincemeat & custard pie.
CANADA: The McLobster – a lobster roll.
COSTA RICA: Rice and red beans are sold as a McDonald’s dish, and gallo pinto (black beans and rice with seasoning) is served as a breakfast item, with scrambled eggs and sour cream.
AUSTRALIA: Nudie Fruit juices – 100% fruit juices sold in mango and strawberry flavors. (Also a host of unique health campaigns launched – may result in another post).
NEW ZEALAND: The Kiwiburger was launched due to popular demand – a beef patty with egg, tomato, lettuce, cheese, onion, beetroot, sauce, and mustard on a bun. Also, Large Ravioli Bits and “Pasta Zoo” (animal-shaped pasta filled with cheese and vegetables) are available on the kids’ menu.
ARGENTINA: The McMilla Sandwich – veal cutlet instead of beef.
BRAZIL: Banana-flavored pies, tostado (ham and cheese on bread), and pao de queijo (small, baked cheese breads).
CHILE: The McPalta (or the McAvocado), which is pork with a thick layer of avocado paste. Avocado paste can be added to any McDonald’s sandwich.
PERU: Aji sauce (spicy pepper sauce) is given with fries or as an addition to hamburgers.
VENEZUELA: Arepas, empanadas, and burritos are all on the breakfast menu.
Has anyone seen any strange McDonald’s menu variations in their travels? What about other unusual dishes that you may have seen abroad?
RecommendRelated Posts
Post a Comment
- Back to ireallylikefood's IReallyLikeFood Site!
- Note: your comment will appear in ireallylikefood's local time zone: GMT -05:00 (Eastern Standard - US, Canada)
About the Author
-
- From: fiona
- Name: Fiona
- About Me: I love food, but I'm a much bigger fan of eating it than I am of preparing it! I love traveling to new places and trying new things - which can either be wonderful or disastrous in the food arena. I am a New Yorker situated in Virginia for school, although I try hard not to stay in one place for too long!
Stats: This Week All Time Posts: 0 54 Views: 0 155489 Comments: 0 1720 View all posts by fiona
Comments (61)
Ooooh. McFelafel sandwich sounds delicious. As does the McShawarma. And red-bean soft serve.
And, as I'm Polish, I have to try to defend Poland: perhaps they were going for bananas foster type flavors and attributed them to South Carolina? And maybe NYC is known everywhere for... donuts? Polish McD's, you disappoint.You guys don't have the McLobster?? Weird...
We use to have pizza up here, did McDonalds in the states have that? We also have poutine at some McDonalds in Canada.
India is a non-beef-eating nation? Lol...
ew, lol.
it all sounds sooo goooddd ::drools::
Smazeny syr is AMAZING! If it wasn't so ungodly terrible for the body, I'd eat it every day! I can't wait to go back to Prague in August to have another one
I love that they have Nudie smoothies at McDonald's. They are also sold at supermarkets and health food places. Much tastier than a soda! I also love the apple pies here. They still deep fry them, so they have that yummy crunchy flaky crust instead of the dense baked crusts from back home in California.
However, my other favorite menu item, the Sausage McMuffin with Egg, is a big disappointment here. Instead of that yummy sausage patty I love, the Aussie version uses a regular hamburger patty. You know, like the ones in the hamburger/cheeseburger. YUCK!! Every time I go back home for a visit I make it a point to get the "proper" version at least once. LOL
I've never seen the McLobster in Canada but I wasn't really looking for it. I saw the Greek pita gyro thing in an airport in Athens.
wow, thats different. :)
no taiwan : ( taiwanese are pretty creative when it comes to food (among other things).
They have spam and rice with eggs for breakfast at McD's in Hawaii! :)
The McFalafel sandwich and the McArabia sound great.
Taro is not the same as sweet potato
I'm from Indonesia and the McDonalds menu here consists of rice, so does the KFC menu.
Rice, Rice and Rice.
Here is the one sample of a McDonald menu:
it's called Super panas komplit (and my personal favorite), which is basically, rice, a crispy fried chicken, scrambled egg, soup, and coke.
You forgot Singapore and Thailand! Singapore has curry dipping sauce, Thailand has chili sauce and Hong Kong also has the spicy McWings
Hello,everybody,the good shoping place,In the
summer, click in. Let's facelift bar!
SHOES,HANDBAGS,T-SHIRTS,BIKINI,ECT,... http://www.clotheshops.us
We
need your support and trust!!!
Dear friends, please temporarily stop
your footsteps
To our website Walk around A look at
Maybe you'll
find happiness in your sight shopping heaven and earth
You'll find
our price is more suitable for you. Your presence is our greatest
pleasure.
Designer
Handbags(Coach lv fendi d&g)
Designer
Sunglasses(Oakey,coach,gucci,Armaini)
Designer Tshirts (Polo
,ed hardy,lacoste)
Designer Jean(True Religion,ed hardy,coogi)
Designer Air
jordan(1-24)shoes
Designer nba jersy
The McLobster is actually only served in the Canadian Maritimes. You can't get it in other provinces. You also can only get it in the summer.
I have yet to visit a McDonalds aboard but I have tried strawberry pies at a location in Northern California, which I have yet to see in Los Angeles. Also, I heard from a family friend that her brother owns a few locations in San Francisco that serves chicken noodle soup.
@shoujo@xanga - I don't know which part of California you're from, but a location in Downey, California still serves the fried apple pies. (Florence/Lakewood.) There's a little museum in back with McDonald's items collectibles.
HAWAII- tarot pie, and HAUPIA pie.. thick coconut pudding basically, inside a apple turnover. minus the apple. haha
@babybug329@xanga - Really? I grew up in SF Bay Area and all of theirs is baked. Same with East Bay area. Downey runs right along the side of I-5 doesn't it? I guess I can always stop in there on my way down to LA lol. Thanks for the tip! I'd love to see a McD's museum. That just sounds cute. XD
Shake-shake fries ftw!!!!! lol
i'm from hong kong and i loveeeeeeeeeeeee mcdonalds in hong kong. :)
just so you know, mcdonalds chicken here isn't breast meat. It's basically the entire chicken ground up because the laying hen's meat is often so soft from not being able to move its entire life & the meat no longer retains a shape because it has no muscle so the only thing they can do with it is grind it up. it's cool they use like... not gross chickens in china though lol
we use to have pasta zoo in australia and we have a "deli" choices and a "healthy" choices menu which has the heart foundations tick of approval ohhh and the 1+2+3 happy meal, where you pick
1) a mini chicken snack wrap [seared chicken, lettuce and mayo in a wrap], cheese/hamburger or 3 nuggets. 2) fries or apple slices. 3) fruit frizz [which is fizzy apple and blackcurrent juice yummy], small soft drink or bottled water. also our portion sizes are smaller then the USA.@shoujo@xanga - I think mostly all the locations have switched to the baked ones by now. That location is special, "Oldest operating McDonald's in Southern California." Also, it has the Speedy character rather than Ronald McDonald. Yes, it's right near I-5...it feels strange to hear that because everyone here just calls it the "5 freeway."
@skinnysoulx@xanga - yeah, apparently our medium meals are equivalent to US small and our large meals are equivalent to their medium meal lawl.