I popped into McDonald's which I've found is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and more so famous for its Big Mac hamburger.
The chain was actually put on the map by two brothers, Richard and Maurice McDonald (yes, there were real McDonald brothers!) They set up shop in San Bernardino, California and in a few years transformed their restaurant into a hamburger stand which sparked nationwide interest. Now, the franchise is indeed a global phenomenon with a mind-blowing 40,000+ restaurants around the world, serving over 69 million people just like us every single day. If you are curious, do check out more about McDonald's on their website.
Where are McDonald's restaurants usually found?
Since McDonald's is a global brand, you can find it everywhere. A McDonald's restaurant can be found in over 100 countries, that's over half of the countries in the world! Unbelievable, right?!
Close to 40,000 McDonald's stores are distributed across the world, with more than 13,000 stores in the United States alone. From North America to South America, McDonald's restaurants can be found in countries like Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina.
Apart from these, there are McDonald's stores all across Europe including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Germany. With strong presence in Asia, McDonald's are located in several countries such as China, Japan, India, Philippines, South Korea, Hong Kong, and there are also a number of them in Australia, New Zealand and India.
In the Middle East region, McDonald's stores can be found in countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and many others. In Africa, there are McDonald's stores in South Africa, Nicaragua, and Morocco.
What food does McDonald's serve?
What I've always loved about McDonald's is their endless variety of options, their signature hamburgers, often served with fries and a soft drink have never let me down. In terms of specialities, the Big Mac burger is a classic favorite, tasty beef patties, served with cheese, lettuce, and their unique burger sauce inside a well toasted sesame seed bun is something I never get tired of.
Off late, I've also noticed the expansion of their chicken burger range. Seems like chicken burgers are catching up to the number of hamburgers on their menu! They've got fish patty burgers as well.
Also, McDonald's breakfast options aren't to be overlooked. I absolutely adore their McMuffin range, which includes combinations of sausages, bacon, and egg, inside a muffin. These can be served with crispy hash browns and coffee. The perfect way to start your day!
Besides their mouth-watering burgers, McDonald's also serves a variety of wraps and salads which are perfect for when you fancy something light. Their desserts selection is delicious too, with the McFlurry range topping my list. Soft-whipped ice cream topped with chocolatey toppings like Oreo and Twix, simply heavenly!
How to order food at McDonald's?
Ordering food at McDonald's has always been easy for me. I usually find a large counter where I can place my order. There are large screens displaying the McDonald's menu behind the counters. You can just place your order at the counter, wait a while for your order, and eventually take it to your table or take it away if you're in a hurry.
Lately, McDonald's has changed the game and introduced digital self-ordering screens where you can place your order and either wait at the counter for your food or request table service. This is definitely a huge plus for easing the ordering process.
I’ve noticed many McDonald's restaurants right across the world have Drive-Thru’s where I can order from the McDonald's menu without even leaving my car. That's convenience at an optimal level!
Does McDonald's cater to vegetarians?
Yes! They do. If you're a vegetarian, be prepared to be spoilt for choice. McDonald's vegetarian menu has a number of delicious options to choose from. Here are a few that I recommend:
- Vegetable Deluxe Burger – Red pesto veggie goujons with sandwich sauce and lettuce in a sesame seed bun
- The Spicy Veggie One Wrap – Veggie dippers with spicy relish, lettuce, onion and tomato, wrapped in a scrumptious tortilla wrap
- Side Salad
- Their iconic fries are suitable for vegetarians too
- And of course, you can't forget the drinks, there's a plethora of soft drinks to choose from
Does McDonald's cater to vegans?
To meet the increasing customer demands, McDonald's has introduced a vegan menu which includes the McPlant burger. It is a plant-based, meat-free take on their signature BigMac burger. Vegan certified and served with vegan sandwich sauce, ketchup, mustard, onions, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and vegan cheese in a bun.
Does McDonald's offer a delivery service?
Absolutely! Many McDonald's stores offer a home delivery service so you can enjoy McDonald's menu from the comfort of your own home. Online food ordering has simplified this process. All you would need to do is to go to their website and check the delivery options in your locality.
Does McDonald's offer spicy food?
While McDonald's is not particularly known for spicy food, they occasionally have special items on the menu that lean towards spicy. In the United Kingdom and in some other countries, they had a special promotion for Spicy Chicken McNuggets which was quite popular. They also offer a selection of spicy wraps and dips like the Spicy Sweet Chili to add some heat to your meal. If you're someone who likes to steer clear of spicy food, then there are also plenty of non-spicy options just for you.
Are McDonald's meals healthy?
McDonald's is constantly evolving to provide healthier meal options to its customers. Apart from the age-old image of being a fast food chain, they've made significant strides over the years. They now include options like wraps and salads for those who prefer healthier alternatives. They also show meals that are available for under 400 and 600 calories, with some of them being burgers where the fries are replaced with salads.
While McDonald's is making an effort to introduce healthier options to the menu, the onus is on we as customers to choose wisely and balance our meal options. Full nutritional information is available in stores and on their website as well.
Does McDonald's serve alcohol?
Although McDonald's doesn't usually serve alcohol, one exception can be found in France where a selection of bottled beers are offered with your food order. It surely piqued my interest. We rarely see McDonald's serving alcohol, do we?
Does McDonald's serve gluten-free food?
Many products on the McDonald's menu are devoid of gluten. However, due to McDonald's kitchens not being 100% gluten-free, it is possible that cross-contamination of gluten may occur. Hence, it is advised that those with severe gluten intolerance or allergies should exercise caution while ordering.
Does McDonald's serve breakfast all day?
While some McDonald's stores do offer their popular range of breakfast items throughout the day, this option is not available everywhere. Most McDonald's stores stop serving breakfast at 10:30am or 11am. Be sure to check it with your local Mcdonald's restaurant, You never know, you might just get lucky and they might be serving breakfast all day!
My visit to McDonald's: The Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Variety: The food options are numerous and cater to all dietary needs.
- Convenience: Offering ease of ordering with their digital self-service and Drive-thru options.
- Availability: The availability of McDonald's almost everywhere makes it a "go-to" place for a quick meal.
- Taste: The food taste consistently good, regardless of which country you’re in!
Cons:
- Health Factor: Despite introducing healthier options, the traditional menu items are fattening, high in calories and sodium.
- Handling Allergies: For people with severe allergies, cross-contamination is a risk that is not worth taking.
- Consistency: Sometimes the quality of food and service can vary from store to store.
- Limited breakfast service: Breakfast throughout the day isn’t an option in all locations. A bummer for all-day breakfast enthusiasts like me.