Food
10 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Get At McDonald’s! (Part 2)
You know the Big Mac, you know the McNuggets, and you know the Happy Meals. McDonald’s has built such an empire for itself; you probably know the menu like the back of your hand – or at least, you thought you did. If you’re willing to do a little bit of traveling, here are 1o Things You Didn’t Know You Could Get At McDonald’s (Part 2).
10. Birthday Cake
Who here has ever been lucky enough to celebrate a birthday at McDonald’s? You know, spending the day playing at the PlayPlace playground, stopping only for a brief second every once in a while to grab a bite or two of your McNuggets? Ahh, the good old days. But, the only inconvenience was that you always had to bring your own cake, as McD’s didn’t offer any – or so you thought! It turns out you can get a birthday cake at McDonald’s, and all you have to do is ask! A TikTok recently went viral and shed some light on the subject, when the secret menu order of a Ronald McDonald Birthday Cake was revealed at a McDonald’s in Omaha. The video, posted by user @kayrock93, sent people into a frenzy. Even die-hard fans had no clue this was even a thing. The birthday treat consists of chocolate cake with white, vanilla icing, some red decorative swirls, and a printed picture of Ronald McDonald juggling on top. This simple, rectangular cake comes frozen, meaning you’ll have to wait a bit before you add your birthday candles. With no information whatsoever about the cake on the McDonald’s website, this secret item might just be one of the most exclusive offers to date. The only catch is, the availability of this cake seems to vary from one location to another, so your local McDonald’s might not carry this delicious cake. And, even if it does, with the news spreading like wildfire, chances are, the Ronald cake might sell out real quick.
9. Flaming Hot Doritos Quarter Pounder
What could possibly be better than merging two of the ultimate junk foods to create one heck of a tasty creation? Seriously, if there’s one thing fast-food chains have proven over the years, it’s how Doritos go with everything. Just look at Taco Bell and its Doritos Locos Tacos – they’re like a gold mine. So, naturally, McDonald’s had to get in the Doritos game and they released the Flaming Hot Doritos Quarter Pounder. Yes, that’s a McD’s burger with the genius addition of one of the most popular yummy snacks. The Quarter Pounder is made from Angus beef, a dab of guacamole, and spicy Doritos, which sounds like a savory dream come true. The only problem? This baby is only available at McDonald’s in Mexico and has yet to cross the border to grace our menus. No, the Flaming Hot Doritos Quarter Pounder is a pure Mexican delight, and let’s just say that the surprising twist of flavors has been quite the hit over there. But the real question still remains: why isn’t this already-iconic menu item in our hands yet? Quarter Pounders? Good. Doritos? Good. The two of them together? It can only be fantastic. Maybe McDonald’s is worried about its performance here, which would be so bonkers. Why should we only have to dream about this delicious concoction? Just give it to us, please!
8. Banana Shake
In life, there are two types of people: those who love banana-flavored treats and those who can’t stand the darn things. People in the haters camp are probably reminded of the medicine they had to take as children, or they simply don’t like the yellowish color. Meanwhile, fans of the flavor can never seem to get enough. In any case, the banana flavor usually drives people, well, bananas, and this is exactly what happened when a new Banana milkshake was introduced at McDonald’s. Obviously, America wasn’t one of the lucky countries that got to experience this sweet nectar, but it’s nothing a quick trip won’t fix. If you visit the UK, Italy, or even New Zealand, you will be able to get your hands on a tasty, creamy banana milkshake, which could quickly become your new “regular.” There’s also another place you could go to get your banana fix: Japan. While the drink has been around there for ages, last summer a new version was introduced. This was in collaboration with The Minions – who also seem to generate a “sink-or-swim” type of reaction. The lovable – or overrated, depending on who you talk to – yellow minions are popular all over the world, and Minions-themed everything is still going strong today. At McDonald’s Japan, to celebrate the little guys’ 10th anniversary, a whole new line involving the Minions came out, and yes, it included the Banana Mac Shake. Bananas and Minions really are taking over the world, so be on the lookout.
7. Chicken & Egg Burger
Ever since McDonald’s stopped serving all-day breakfast due to the pandemic, our lives haven’t been the same. No more midnight McMuffins and no more early morning Big Macs. It was a good run while it lasted. Before, you could still hack your way into breakfast/lunch hybrids and create whole new personalized items, but that’s now a thing of the past. Well, unless you’re willing to go to Hong Kong, then you might be in for a treat. Until recently, to experience the greatness of chicken and egg on the same sandwich, you had to tweak it or be content with only bacon, sausage, or ham. But, in Hong Kong, you don’t need to make any changes; it’s all there, in one prepared burger. Canada also got into the chicken and egg game early as the chain released a Chicken McMuffin and a Chicken McGriddle in 2020. But enough about what you can get elsewhere, and more about what you can now get at your local McDs. Earlier in April, the chain launched a new limited breakfast chicken sandwich that’s guaranteed to satisfy your needs. The sandwich features a fried chicken filet, applewood-smoked bacon, and a butter honey sauce on a choice of biscuit or toasted English muffin – and the best part is, you can add an egg! With testing in Sacramento and Stockton, California, hopefully, this breakfast genius will roll out nationally soon.
6. Poutine
Even though Canada is only one border away, their McDonald’s menu tends to be somewhat different. Sure, there are a lot of similar offers, but there are still some things left undiscovered by U.S. fans – and one such thing is poutine. For those unfamiliar with this Canadian delicacy, poutine is a staple dish from Quebec that was invented in the 1950s. It consists of French fries covered in gravy, and most importantly, cheese curds. It can’t be just any kind of cheese, no, sir. Ask any Canadian, and they will most likely give you a speech on how crucial the cheese curds are. They will also tell you how the gravy needs to be thick, rich, and warm to perfectly cover all the fries and melt the cheese just right. Oh, and the fries. Just imagine how delicious McDonald’s poutine must be with their World Famous Fries as the star? Of course, with so many other great poutine places all over Canada, the one at the Golden Arches may not be considered the tastiest or the “ultimate” representation, but it still comes pretty close. It’s served at a reasonable price in a decent portion size, so giving it a go will certainly not hurt.
5. Mashed Potato Burger
Throwing a bunch of fries in your burger is nothing new. Heck, even throwing a bunch of chips in there is a common practice. Potatoes and burgers just seem to get along very well, so why not mix things up a little bit? It’s the perfect way to add a few extra carbs to your already pretty greasy meal. So, if you’ve ever been guilty of looking at your McDonald’s burger and thinking that something was missing, then this next item is probably going to be your new favorite thing. In China, they took burgers and spuds to a whole new level by creating a mashed potato burger back in 2012. The burger featured 2 all-beef patties, crunchy bacon, lettuce, and a generous scoop of mashed potatoes. Putting mashed potatoes in a burger might seem a little too adventurous for some, but think about this: when have mashed potatoes ever made anything bad? Sure, it’s a little unconventional as a topping, but trying new ideas never hurt. This carb overload was released as part of China’s Manly Man Beef Campaign tailored to Chinese men. Maybe the name is one of the reasons why this burger hasn’t made its way to America yet. Name aside, it just seems like a match made in heaven.
4. Apricot Sundae
In America, our sundae toppings are pretty straightforward: chocolate or caramel. Yes, there are way more than that if you really look for them, but in general – and at McDonald’s – the decision is typically made between these two classic sauces. However, we bet you didn’t know that in other parts of the world, the selection is a little wider and even more interesting. Let’s take Turkey, for instance. Over there, your soft serve ice cream can be served with a sweet apricot syrup, along with little chunks of the fruit here and there. The apricot sundae is a regular summer treat and is a very popular item. Not only does it taste divine, but it’s also a relatively healthy choice. Studies have shown that apricots are actually pretty good for your diet, as they contain a lot of antioxidants, which help protect your body from oxidative stress. They are also low in calories and fat but high in vitamin A and vitamin C, and they even have nutrients to help protect your eyes against damage. Not too shabby for a dessert, right? The fruity apricot sundae is extremely loved back in Turkey, especially on hot summer days. And since we have our fair share of hot days here, having this sundae on our McD’s menu could only mean more enjoyable summers.
3. Chicha Purple Temptation
While we’re on the topic of desserts, we can all agree that McDonald’s serves some of the best desserts in the fast-food industry. No matter where you are in the world, you can always count on a delicious selection that fits the tastes of the country you’re in. Here it’s apple pies and sugary milkshakes, and in Peru, it’s something called a Chicha Purple Temptation. What exactly is this enticing treat? It’s a decadent dessert made with blue corn! And decadent doesn’t even begin to cover it. McDonald’s is, without a doubt, always full of surprises. The Chicha Purple Temptation is so fancy, it looks like the kind of homemade pastries you would bring at an important event, or like it belongs under an old-fashioned, charming pastry glass, or like…well, not in the refrigerator of a giant fast-food chain. And yet, it can be enjoyed in Peru, at the end of every meal. This unique dessert gets its wild and satisfying color, not from dyes but from actual blue corn. Good-looking, appetizing, and made from real ingredients – what more could you want? The recipe is based on the popular antioxidant-rich Latin American beverage Chicha Morada. Even though the Chicha Purple Temptation looks way too elegant to be sold at McDonald’s, we wouldn’t mind having a little taste of that beauty too.
2. McCurry Pan
Have you ever thought to yourself: “Gosh, I wish I could eat the plate my food was served on?” Well, okay, chances are you’ve never actually thought exactly that, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not doable. At McDonald’s in India, you can order a specific meal and get the chance to eat the container! The McCurry Pan looks like a regular, innocent menu offering, but it’s so much more than that. It consists of curried vegetables baked in a creamy white sauce with a little bread-bowl-style twist – meaning you can eat the rectangular bread pan it comes in. The McCurry Pan is featured on the vegetarian menu at McDonald’s across India. As many of you know, India, as a country, isn’t the biggest consumer of meat, as more than half the population doesn’t eat it. That can pose major problems for most fast-food chains – but not McD’s. McDonald’s usually isn’t the hotspot for vegetarians, but with this menu item – that strangely resembles a deep-dish pizza – the needs of the large Hindu population are catered to. Because, well, if you can’t eat meat, at least you can eat the bowl, right? But, if you truly need your meat fix, there is a version with chicken available, so there, everyone’s stuffed and happy.
1. A Wedding Reception
Okay, if you can have your birthday at McDonald’s and get a birthday cake, it begs the question: what other important things can you celebrate under these Golden Arches? As it turns out, you can also tie the knot with your special someone! That’s right; you can get married and have a full wedding reception in certain McDonald’s locations in Hong Kong! McDonald’s weddings originally launched back in 2011 and were only available at 3 outlets, but as the demand skyrocketed, so did the number of lucky locations that could host a wedding ceremony. For less than $600 dollars, brides and grooms can celebrate their “happily ever after” with the wedding packages offered at McD’s. If you choose the Love Forever package, you will be able to celebrate for two hours at the venue and receive a pair of McDonald’s balloon wedding rings, a bridal bouquet, guest party favors, 50 invites, more balloons, a party MC, and the piece de resistance: a tiered apple pie cake display. Let McDonald’s make your special day even more special by walking down the aisle with a balloon bouquet in one hand, and chicken nuggets in the other – it’s every kid’s dream wedding.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login