So I’m American but I never really thought about this until traveling. Other countries McDonald’s are WAY more interesting than American McDonald’s. They are always adding new items that make people want to go to McDonald’s to try it. And they are usually unique or different. We rarely have anything like this. We get celebrity meals that are just the same menu items with different packaging. And every once in a while we get something actually different and unique like the grimace shake and everyone went crazy for it. So what gives? Why does our McDonald’s suck so much?

Edit: seems like wanting McDonald’s to be better has really upset some people

24 comments

  1. I assume they’re doing enough business that there’s no reason to spend money on developing new items. Smaller menus mean fewer things to ship and prepare, they can streamline the process better with a small menu.

    My guess is in other countries McDonalds is less of a staple and they have to entice people to come in by offering new things.

  4. Come to the McDonald’s on International drive in Orlando if you want something different. FWIW other countries menus are trying to get new customers. And have menus designed for them specifically. We’re already going there

  5. I don’t go myself, but the point of McDonald’s business model isn’t to be exciting, but to be consistent. One Big Mac is pretty much like another (any variation in the branch itself is down to execution, like someone’s good at cleaning or not).

    If you drove to another town and ordered from their McDonald’s, your experience is likely to be the same- that’s the plan.

  6. My thought is it has to do with demographics and area served and logistics. McDonald’s in the US is practically ubiquitous and people from all walks of life eat there so they have to create a menu that is the same across the entire country, which attracts all kinds of people, with ingredients that every location can get.

    Elsewhere, it’s my understanding that the McDonald’s demographic skews younger, is more homogeneous, and is concentrated in smaller urban areas. The McDonald’s in these areas have to be more unique to attract the young adult crowds, for whom the restaurant is newer, instead of the American boomers who have been eating there forever.

    Not to mention adding familiar flavors and foods from these other regions.

  8. Most USA McDonald’s in my experience in the last several years actually have good bathrooms, WiFi over 80 mb/s and very brightly decorated interiors. Not some 5 star hotel mind you, but in various aspects they range from not bad to pretty good. I have to give them credit where credit is due

    Wish they had better food though, even if they are a baseline. Fries are good when fresh, ice cream is solid when machine works, coffee though kind crud is better than other chains and does give you a solid wake up kick. that’s about it. Wish they could do something exciting like add fried chicken to the menu.

  9. Probably because fast food chains in other countries monopolize the burger scene.

    they just don’t have the variety the US has.

    And since the burger scene is monopolized in those countries by they can do more compared to the US where we have dozens of not only fast food chains but diners and real restaurants that specialize in burgers

  11. American McDonald’s is boring to you because it’s American food you can get anywhere

    Foreign McDonald’s has cool items you’re less familiar with

  12. Because they are common as fuck over here lol. I can think of like 20 of them around me right now. We go for the consistency, not the quality of variety.

  13. When I go to McDonald’s I want to order the same food I always get. I don’t go there for a unique dining experience.

  14. They used to change it up and add amazing items like the McLean. It seems they just changed it to the boring stapes people enjoy. Seems to be working as they beat their recent profit goals.

  15. Because McDonalds isn’t hip here or an adventurous choice. It’s just a consistent go-to. Curry sauce for nuggets or a McTeriyaki would be cool, but it probably wouldn’t make me to go McDonalds any more than I currently do.

  16. I think it’s because we all think McDonald’s sucks a bit. It doesn’t matter. I kinda hate McDonalds but it’s familiar and always our go to for emergency fast food.

    No new item is going to win me over, get me excited about McDonalds. Franchisees aren’t into jumping through hoops. Basics. All they need to do is add a cool toy and parents will go.

  18. McDonald’s got a lot of bad press in the 2000s for appealing too much to kids and contributing to the obesity epidemic, so they slowly and quietly started remodeling their stores and changing their marketing. Anything appealing to kids (b-day parties, mascots, playplaces) slowly having been phased out.

  19. Mcdonald’s fried chicken is fawkin awesome. There’s a spicy one in Malaysia that’s especially great.

    It’s fun how every month Mcdonald’s in Asia has special items. We had a lobster roll before and this month it’s a burger with shrimp tempura on it.

  20. I take it you’ve never been to the McDonald’s in Orlando. It is crazy. I wish they were all like that.

  23. I wonder Are you really so obsessed with the Mcrib in the USA, because in Germany it is always available and almost nobody orders it.

  24. I never really get this crap. Like people shit on the US being fat as shit, but then want better options to promote fast food? My brother in Christ

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