Not all McDonald’s restaurants are the same: These are the local dishes you can find around the world
Best-known for the iconic Big Mac and the ubiquitous french fry, McDonald’s also has much more regional offerings.
Everyone has their favorite McDonald’s menu items, those well-known tastes that bring memories of childhood. For some it’s a classic cheeseburger and fries, but there is a whole world of potential options out there.
It seems like the McDonald’s menu is an ever-growing list, with an increasingly wild selection of foodstuffs on offer form the iconic global brand.
Many of the menu stalwarts - the Big Mac, the McNuggets, the french fry - are available around the world. But there is also a long list of nation-specific options, foods that you can only get in certain countries. As listed in Eat This, here’s a list of 25 global McDonald’s menu items that you may not have heard of.
McDonald's around the world
Jalapeno & Cheese McFlavor Fries – Norway
Tomato & Mozzarella Panzerotti – Italy
Spicy Buffalo Chicken Poutine – Canada (Québec)
Cottage Cheese & Radish McMuffin – Poland
Chicken Paprika – Switzerland
Salad Burger – New Zealand
Bubur Ayam McD – Malaysia / Indonesia
Butter Chicken Grilled Burger – India
Bacon Roll – United Kingdom / Ireland
Teriyaki Chicken Filet-O – Japan
McExtreme Pulled Pork – Spain
Chicken McDo with McSpaghetti – Philippines
The M – Germany
Pizza McPuff – India
Double Pork Deluxe Roll – Poland
Shrimp Filet-O – Japan
McChicken Mozzarella – South Korea
Big Arch – Canada / Portugal
Dosa Masala Burger – India
Century Egg Chicken Porridge – China
McVegan – Finland / Sweden
Big Brekkie Burger – Australia / New Zealand
Maestro Spicy Santiago – Belgium
Cheddar Cheese Pool – Brazil
Double Beef Burger – China
McDonald’s is a truly global brand, which means that it has to cater to very different markets. As a restaurant, it must adapt to local tastes, to cultural preferences and to local food restrictions.
In India, for example, the McAloo Tikki and the Butter Chicken Burger are popular options because many locals avoid beef and pork products. These items also have a more familiar flavor with spices more typical of Indian cuisine.
In some countries McDonald’s avoids pork entirely, and in some chooses to sell only halal meats. Similarly, supply chain stresses mean that McDonald’s tends to use local ingredients to make menu items where possible, helping to reduce costs.
As well as these logical, geographical considerations, there is another reason for the region-specific menu options. These unique items help to create a sense of excitement and encourage people, particularly when travelling, to visit more often. It can help to boost brand visibility and acts as a massive marketing effort for McDonald’s, spanning every single franchise restaurant in the world.
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