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- Unique McDonalds Menu Items In The UK
Summary
- McDonald's offers unique menu options in the UK, such as fish fingers, spicy nacho cheese wedges, and Irn-Bru drink.
- The UK menu also includes exclusive items like bacon roll, cheesy bacon flatbread, chocolatey donut, chicken legend sandwich, spicy vegetable deluxe, and McMor burger.
- In the UK, McDonald's serves smaller drink sizes and fries compared to the US, and the ingredients used in their food differ due to varying food regulations.
McDonald's has found its way into the hearts of many. The famous fast-food chain, which managed to conquer the world of quick restoration for several years, is what many consider to be a symbol of the American dream. As it rose in prominence, McDonald's has since extended its grip globally. In doing so, they haven't simply brought along their classic menu but have also successfully incorporated local options as part of their iconic choices. Indeed, each country benefits from its very own curated McDonald's menus. Examples include Teriyaki burgers in Japan, "McBurritos" in Mexico and Nutella burgers in Italy.
Much like the countries cited above, the UK (including England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales) is also one of the lucky places to offer interesting McDonald's food choices that foodies may only get in the country. Not every country has a McDonald's - although almost every European country does. Take a look at these Awesome McDonald's food options you may only find in the UK.
UPDATE: 2023/08/31 18:40 EST BY NICHOLAS MAYAMBA
Unique McDonalds Menu Items In The UK
McDonalds has succeeded in establishing a loyal customer base in almost every market it enters, which can be credited to its knack for tailoring the menu to the tastes of different host countries. In this updated list, find out more unique dishes that are only available in UK's McDonalds
14 Fish Fingers
Surely McDonald's transition in the U.K. called for incorporating fish and chips into its unique menu. These crispy fish fingers have a taste that will most likely bring you into a deep state of nostalgia.
A true lunchroom classic that only makes its appearance on the British happy meal menu options. Add a side of McDonald's fries and enjoy a McDonald's version of "fish 'n chips."
13 Spicy Nacho Cheese Wedges
Ditch the concept of commonality with these spicy nacho cheese wedges. There are so many things going on at once here, and one can only imagine how complex and rich this food item must taste. These bite-sized snacks are only available in the UK and come with a delicious sour cream and chive dip. Moreover, a small bite into these reveals a deliciously gooey inner chore of melty cheese and spicy jalapenos.
12 Irn-Bru
Irn-bru is a Scottish non-alcoholic drink with a tangy taste. This carbonated drink is part of McDonald's Scottish menu and can only be found in this part of the U.K. The drink is so popular in England that it has previously competed with Coca-Cola and Pepsi. As such, McDonald's pulled a smart move in incorporating it within their exotic menu.
11 Banana Milkshake
Although milkshakes are widely available across several McDonald's locations around the world, the flavors do differ based on the country.
Precisely, the fast-food chain's U.K. menu is one of the rare few to offer banana flavor as an option to its thick and enjoyable milkshakes.
10 Bacon Roll
This sandwich was indubitably made for lovers of bacon and long-time connoisseurs. This menu option delivers a personal take on the iconic British bacon butty. Nestled between thick white bread, you will find herein a generous amount of bacon slices with a dash of brown sauce (another British condiment) or simply ketchup.
9 Cheesy Bacon Flatbread
The Cheesy Bacon flatbread, much like the bacon roll, is yet another British delicacy that finds its way into the UK McDonald's menu. This delicious breakfast sandwich is adequate for any lover of bacon and melty cheddar. The sandwich is toasted to a light perfection, so it may melt the cheese and bacon sitting inside. It is a thinner version of the McGriddle, which also includes similar ingredients. Enjoy this fast-food dish fresh out of the toaster on your morning route to work.
8 Chocolatey Donut
McCafe also offers a series of unique options across the globe. The UK benefits from the chocolatey donut in their McCafe's. Moreover, Dunkin Donuts is unfortunately not an option for Brits to enjoy, so luckily, they have this delicious treat at the fast-food restaurant. The chocolatey donut is a thick donut whose chocolate core joyously erupts within the first bite. It also has thick chocolate icing and topping to satisfy the cravings of any chocolate addict out there. And if that is too much chocolate, there is a simple sugar doughnut as an alternative option.
7 Chicken Legend
The UK definitely knows how to take a chicken sandwich to the next level. This crispy sandwich consists of a wheat roll (that can be grilled, FYI) housing a chunky piece of crispy chicken topped with a spread of BBQ sauce and regular or spicy mayo. It is like eating a deluxe version of a McChicken and if you happen to be visiting the UK, you can enjoy this splendor during your stay.
6 Spicy Vegetable Deluxe
London, UK: Eating in a McDonalds fast food restaurant.
Vegetarian and vegan-friendly options have begun to make their way into a lot of fast-food chains. Their inclusion in the menu reflects an attempt to offer delicious, affordable and more varied choices for customers with specific diets.
As such, the spicy vegetable deluxe is one of the exclusive options available to those partaking in plant-based lifestyles (or not, because it is that delicious, apparently) at UK locations. This meatless burger is made of chickpeas seasoned to perfection with cilantro and cumin. On top of this nourishing body is some sweet chili sauce. Therefore, you can still enjoy a meat-free option without losing the spicy component. Clearly, McDonald's UK is onto something.
5 McMor
Although this famous option is not exactly in the UK, it is right next door in the Republic of Ireland. The country has benefited from a limited-edition McDonald's "Irish" burger a couple of years ago called the McMor burger. The latter was marketed as the Irish version of a Big Mac, which is apparently what "McMor" means in the republic's official language of Gaelic.
This option used 100% Irish beef and involved a potato bun, shredded cabbage, kale, bacon garnish, local relish, and cheddar. Although this burger has been discontinued, it has been highly requested by the Irish and McDonald's is considering bringing it back. Moreover, folks in the UK's Nothern Ireland have called this burger "partitionist" because it was only available in the Republic at the time. Thus, perhaps, McDonald's will also consider bringing it to the UK next time.
Hence, those who happen to be in Ireland when this happens may be one of the lucky ones to taste the unique McMor burger.
4 Chicken wraps
Fried chicken crispy tortilla roll with lettuce garnishing served with dips and sauces on a round wooden plank.
When chicken wraps failed to gain traction in the American market, McDonald's started phasing them out of the menu in 2016 and introduced them to the U.K., but with a healthier recipe.
Those who develop a nostalgia for the classic chicken wrap while in the UK are in for a treat. They come in different flavors, including sweet chilli, garlic mayo, and buffalo.
3 Smarties McFlurry
Another first for American McDonald's enthusiasts, the McFlurry is a sweet ice cream sprinkled with bits of candy to boost the flavor. This particular option incorporates chocolate sauce but is made in different ways, including mixing chocolate-toffee Cadbury or Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate sprinkles, depending on what the clients asks for.
2 Fries Are Smaller
London. UK. A real-life Big Mac and medium fries from a McDonald's restaurant.
Around the world, everyone knows things are bigger in America (and bigger still in Texas). The reverse of that is also true - things are smaller in the United Kingdom. Go to the UK and the first thing one will notice as one leaves the airport is that the cars are so much smaller.
Call into McDonald's, one will find the drinks and fries to be much smaller - around 40% smaller (varying item to item). Even the Big Mac is smaller in the UK than in the States. The upshot is that one can visit the UK and eat fewer calories relative to the USA.
1 The Ingredients Are Different
Lincoln, UK: Facade of modern McDonald's fast-food restaurant with drive-thru.
The United Kingdom has different food regulations compared to the United States. This flows through to the ingredients that McDonald's uses on the other side of the pond. For example, fries in the United States have significantly more ingredients with more oils and preservatives than in the United Kingdom.
That means some Americans may find the British menu to be a little boring (although probably a little more healthy). The British ingredients for McDonald's fries are simile with potatoes, oil, salt, and two kinds of oil. In America, fries can have 14 different ingredients.