NationStates Jolt Archive

McDonalds. the fast food Empire that spans the globe. Tailor made menus for whatever area/region/country their in. so my Question is not do you like them, but what menu items are there that is not found everywhere else. Oh and not limited to McDonalds, but any international Fast Food conglomerate.

Example. Hamburgers are practically sold at every outlet, but I've heard that in Germany they sell beer, France has Wine, Japan has Sushi... so what does your fast (fattening) food outlets sell by way of Ethnic/Culturally enriching foods?

Hawaii
Saimin: Egg noodles in a fish baised soup w/ Garnishes.
Scrambled Eggs and Portugese Sausage platter: Breakfast plate that includes Eggs, Rice, and Portugese Sausage
Local Breakfast Platter: Eggs, Rice, and spam
Hot Taro and Hot Pinapple Pies: for limited time, with their Hot Apple Pies, they offered pies with pinapple filling and Taro fillings.

And for some locations, they tried plate lunches. Uhg...

Yuck :gundge:

"Mickey D's"

ICK! [ hurls! ] :gundge:

Every fastfood place in the Philippines (southern at least) has fried chicken and spaghetti.. that includes McDonalds and Wendy's.. I decided not to visit either one when I was there, but I did see their commercials on t.v... The only fastfood place I visited was Jolibee, for a soda. They also had fried chicken and spaghetti.. loaded with sugar.

"Mickey D's"

ICK! [ hurls! ] :gundge:
Yuck :gundge:
as I said, this thread isn't about what you like about fast food but the fact that a company as big as McDonalds takes the time and... well the time anyway to see what the locals like and... attempts to meet those tastes.

Every fastfood place in the Philippines (southern at least) has fried chicken and spaghetti.. that includes McDonalds and Wendy's.. I decided not to visit either one when I was there, but I did see their commercials on t.v... The only fastfood place I visited was Jolibee, for a soda. They also had fried chicken and spaghetti.. loaded with sugar.
Sugar in the Spaghetti and fried Chicken? err... okay...

"One taste, world-wide," more like, "One taste, to rule them all!"

In Finland, I think the menu is normal. However, in metric. I don't really know though, there isn't a McDonald's within six hours of me by boat. Hesburger squeezed them out.

I don't really know what McD is like in other countries. In Sweden there's a lot of salads and fruit and such lately. (I usually order a side salad instead of fries.)

Oh, and our Quarter Pounders are abbreviated to QP.

Sugar in the Spaghetti and fried Chicken? err... okay...

Nah, just in the spaghetti.. my grammar suffers when I'm tired. But seriously, the spaghetti they have there (or make at home) is almost a florescent red color.. it's like sugar, with some tomato thrown in.. one whiff would drop a diabetic. :p

I am proud to say i haven't had it for nearly 5 years.

I don't really know what McD is like in other countries. In Sweden there's a lot of salads and fruit and such lately. (I usually order a side salad instead of fries.)

Oh, and our Quarter Pounders are abbreviated to QP.
Oh, yeah, Canada has really good wanna be Subway sandwhich-like things! :D

Our McDonalds has...burgers...and uh, burgers...soft drinks...and "fries" (if they truly adapted, they would be called "chips" :p)

In Paris, you can buy a beer in McDonald's. And you know what they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris?

They call it, uh, Royale with Cheese

And you know what they put on french fries in Holland instead of ketchup?
Mayonnaise.

Haven't seen sushi over here, but McDonald's Japan is selling shrimp burgers right now. And during the winter I can get very, very yummy corn soup to warm me up.

The only soda it sells is Coke, but I can get about 5 kinds of tea if I want.

but I've heard that in Germany they sell beer, France has Wine, Japan has Sushi... so what does your fast (fattening) food outlets sell by way of Ethnic/Culturally enriching foods?

Er, I don't even know if they sell beer. Never paid any attention to that. I hardly ever go there (I *hate* their burgers), when I go I have a salad & fries. I'm thinking hard, but I don't think the menu is very "ethnically adapted". Like, no sausages or Black Forest gateau :D .

ETA: Oh, oh, what never fails to piss me off: while ketchup at US McDonald's is free, here we have to pay for it and it comes in those tiny, tiny packages which cost like €0.20 or something each.

And you know what they put on french fries in Holland instead of ketchup?
Mayonnaise.

Over here if you put tomato sauce on them, people look at you all funny-like.

Micky D's sells beer in Spain. :p

Haven't seen sushi over here, but McDonald's Japan is selling shrimp burgers right now. And during the winter I can get very, very yummy corn soup to warm me up.

The only soda it sells is Coke, but I can get about 5 kinds of tea if I want.actual whole shrimp or shrimp cake?

Er, I don't even know if they sell beer. Never paid any attention to that. I hardly ever go there (I *hate* their burgers), when I go I have a salad & fries. I'm thinking hard, but I don't think the menu is very "ethnically adapted". Like, no sausages or Black Forest gateau :D .

ETA: Oh, oh, what never fails to piss me off: while ketchup at US McDonald's is free, here we have to pay for it and it comes in those tiny, tiny packages which cost like €0.20 or something each.
Here in Hawaii, the state threatened business with an increase in taxes. McDonald's reply was "ok, all we'll do is charge 1 cent for every condiment given. :D

The tax hike didn't go through for some reason... :rolleyes:

I don't actually know if they do this elsewhere, but in Wisconsin, during football season, McDonald's sells Bratwursts. They are actually quite good...I believe they use Johnsonville brand brats, which are quite decent in terms of tastiness and non-unhealthyness (for brats anyways :p ) but they only sell them for a month or two. :(

They sell Brats here in Michigan too sometimes.

Anyway, I can't stand McDonalds. I'll take Tim Hortons over them any day.

actual whole shrimp or shrimp cake?
Actual shrimp. There's a pic on the McDonald's Japan page.
http://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/
Doesn't beat MOS Burger's rice burger though.

One thing I noticed no one mentioning is the prices. I have noticed in my travels that if you figure out the local currency to US dollar exchange rate. McDonalds pricing is nearly exact everywhere you go. From the third world to the US the same price is being charged. Also in Morocco the menu is the same as France. The royale and all being the substitute for the Quarter Pounder. Also they charge for the ketchup there. Funny thing is I asked why that is. They said because it came from the US which if you check the packaging it is made in the US. So I can understand that they have to pass the "shipping" costs on. In fact alot of "third" world McDonalds ship nearly everything from the US in containers for there outlets. Reason is quality standards. They want everywhere to have the same "taste".

Funny thing is I asked why that is. They said because it came from the US which if you check the packaging it is made in the US. So I can understand that they have to pass the "shipping" costs on. In fact alot of "third" world McDonalds ship nearly everything from the US in containers for there outlets. Reason is quality standards. They want everywhere to have the same "taste".

Eh, I don't think that applies here though. I think most of it is made in Australia, from the paper wrapping to the meat patties.

As for price, i've heard that argument before (the Big Mac index) but i'm not sure. A burger, fries and drink would cost about $5-6 in our money... so $4-5 in yours?

Eh. I eat at Mcdonalds not because I like the food, but because they're A. cheap, and B. One of the only places open late at night, which is when i'm usually in the vicinity of one.

I know that in Argentina they sell actual proper good burgers, not the crap they sell here.

Over here if you put tomato sauce on them, people look at you all funny-like.


I've never been to a fast food place of any kind. My vote for things to go on chips would be mayonnaise, brown sauce or, preferably, mushy peas.

mmmmmmmmmmm... peas.

One thing I noticed no one mentioning is the prices. I have noticed in my travels that if you figure out the local currency to US dollar exchange rate...Reason is quality standards. They want everywhere to have the same "taste".
They's is more expensive here.

*points to comment on front page*

"And one taste, to rule them all!"

I've never been to a fast food place of any kind. My vote for things to go on chips would be mayonnaise, brown sauce or, preferably, mushy peas.

mmmmmmmmmmm... peas.

I vote "salt".

I've never been to a fast food place of any kind. My vote for things to go on chips would be mayonnaise, brown sauce or, preferably, mushy peas.

mmmmmmmmmmm... peas.
some people put malt vinegar... I preferre ketchup...


tho peas... that sounds interesting...

They's is more expensive here.

*points to comment on front page*

"And one taste, to rule them all!"
... one taste to unite them,
one menu to serve them all
and at Hamburger U, bind them. :D

some people put malt vinegar... I preferre ketchup...


tho peas... that sounds interesting...

Vinegar works, but only with fish. (and not too much of it)

some people put malt vinegar

I had that in Ireland once, and believe me, once was more than enough. *shudders*

Salt & ketchup is the way to go.

Vinegar works, but only with fish.
Nope. The fish didn't help one bit. *shudders some more*

I live in Japan. They don't sell sushi at the McD's here. Sushi is too expensive to sell at fast food joints.

They do have teriyaki burgers though.

Nope. The fish didn't help one bit. *shudders some more*

You're not supposed to saturate it...

...that said, I prefer it with salt rather than vinegar.

I live in Japan. They don't sell sushi at the McD's here. Sushi is too expensive to sell at fast food joints.

They do have teriyaki burgers though.
Here in Hawaii also. $.99 menu item.

I eat at Mcdonalds not because I like the food

Wow... you found one that serves food?! :p

Wow... you found one that serves food?! :p

Yeah, well, I have a pretty loose definition on what is and isn't edible. :p

If you eat at McDonald's, you should really read Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. Although, you might not want to read it while or soon after eating McDonald's, cause when you learn there's a good probability that you're hamburger contains some cow shit, you'll probably change your mind about them.

If you eat at McDonald's, you should really read Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. Although, you might not want to read it while or soon after eating McDonald's, cause when you learn there's a good probability that you're hamburger contains some cow shit, you'll probably change your mind about them.don't think too much on that hot dog (sausages) either, unless you make em yourself. ;)

Subway in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India:

they had two entirely separate kitchens, pure veg. and non-veg. :D included soy meats, no beef of course, choice of green chilis and cucumber raita. and chai. otherwise everything else was the same!

Yes, in Germany we have beer at McD. Our Quarterpounders are named Royal as well, since we use the metric system and our pound has 500 gramm. A "Viertelpfünder" weighing less than 125 gms would not go down well.

Yes, in Germany we have beer at McD.
Heh, so I really only never noticed. Just out of curiosity: what brand? Is it any good? Or do they have generic McDonald's beer :eek:;) ?

In Paris, you can buy a beer in McDonald's. And you know what they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris?

They call it, uh, Royale with Cheese

And you know what they put on french fries in Holland instead of ketchup?
Mayonnaise.

What do they call a whopper?

McKroket :p

The BBQ McLongPig is okay in New Guinea

What do they call a whopper?


I dont know, I didnt go to Burger king while I was there.

The BBQ McLongPig is okay in New Guinea
??? Boneless Pork rib sandwich?

??? Boneless Pork rib sandwich?
Consider it lost in translation.

Consider it lost in translation.
*Looks through Translation.*
Damn... can't find it... :D

but really, what is a BBQ McLongPig?

Or were you joking?

Eh, I usually insist on going to a KFC and getting hot wings over McDonalds. That or Burger king - the burgers are much nicer. McDonalds burger buns are so sweet...I heard a rumour that if they didn't put pickles in they would have so much sugar overall that the burgers would be classed as confectionry, and so have more tax put on it.

But when I go to Amsterdam I get fast food a lot (for obvious reasons ;)) and noticed that at Burger king they have different burgers - like a Aberdeen Angus and Cheese + Jalapeno pepper burger. They also give you special sauce for the fries, which isn't quite mayonaise but similar and delicious - they serve it all over the place.

McDonalds. the fast food Empire that spans the globe. Tailor made menus for whatever area/region/country their in. so my Question is not do you like them, but what menu items are there that is not found everywhere else. Oh and not limited to McDonalds, but any international Fast Food conglomerate.

Example. Hamburgers are practically sold at every outlet, but I've heard that in Germany they sell beer, France has Wine, Japan has Sushi... so what does your fast (fattening) food outlets sell by way of Ethnic/Culturally enriching foods?

Hawaii
Saimin: Egg noodles in a fish baised soup w/ Garnishes.
Scrambled Eggs and Portugese Sausage platter: Breakfast plate that includes Eggs, Rice, and Portugese Sausage
Local Breakfast Platter: Eggs, Rice, and spam
Hot Taro and Hot Pinapple Pies: for limited time, with their Hot Apple Pies, they offered pies with pinapple filling and Taro fillings.

And for some locations, they tried plate lunches. Uhg...

No sushi at McD's in Japan - at least not 'that I've ever heard of in the 15 years I've lived here.

They do have several local menu items in addition to the "Ebi Filet" (shimp burger) and teriyaki burgers mentioned above. They usually have at least one local limited run item on the menu at any given time. These have included:

The Tsukimi burger - a bacon cheese burger with a "slice of boiled egg". It's usually available during the fall "moon viewing" season, a traditional holiday in Japan. (Tsuki is "moon", mi is "to look/view".)

The Macaroni and Cheese Burger

The Chicken Tatsuya Burger - a grilled chicken breast with a ginger sauce

"Corn Potage" soup

Bacon and Potato hot pies

"Castella" Pudding (Castella is a Portugese derived cake)

Fish McDippers - a fish McNugget (which was also available in Malaysia, I hear)

Also, NERVUN, they have Ginger Ale and Fanta, not just Coke.

MOS Burger is definately much better. The Rice Burger is a totally unique menu item there, and my fave. It's made with a special "bun" made (mostly) of rice. Varieties include grilled beef, shrimp, ground chicken, and burdock root.

But an even more local for fast food is Yoshinoya.

Well, I'm just back from Germany. I went to McDonalds with a friend for milkshakes, and nearly split my sides with laughter when I found that they had a "McRoesti" on the menu.... It's basically a hash brown on a burger, but the reference is to some very traditional Swiss potatoe dish.

I know that in Argentina they sell actual proper good burgers, not the crap they sell here.

No. It's completely vile in argentina too.

I'm not a big fan of most fast food chains. Popeye's fried chicken is the only exception. God damn, that spicy recipie chicken with the rice and beans on the side is good.

*Looks through Translation.*
Damn... can't find it... :D

but really, what is a BBQ McLongPig?

Or were you joking?
Mc LongPig is a tasty treat available only in Mc Donalds locations where government oversight of meat processing plants and missing persons is somewhat lax.

Here you now get these fresh baked deli sandwhich things, and i have to say the white bread chilli chicken one is the bestest thing MD ever did.

Mc LongPig is a tasty treat available only in Mc Donalds locations where government oversight of meat processing plants and missing persons is somewhat lax.
:confused:
:rolleyes:
:eek:
:(

No sushi at McD's in Japan - at least not 'that I've ever heard of in the 15 years I've lived here.

They do have several local menu items in addition to the "Ebi Filet" (shimp burger) and teriyaki burgers mentioned above. They usually have at least one local limited run item on the menu at any given time. These have included:

The Tsukimi burger - a bacon cheese burger with a "slice of boiled egg". It's usually available during the fall "moon viewing" season, a traditional holiday in Japan. (Tsuki is "moon", mi is "to look/view".)

The Macaroni and Cheese Burger

The Chicken Tatsuya Burger - a grilled chicken breast with a ginger sauce

"Corn Potage" soup

Bacon and Potato hot pies

"Castella" Pudding (Castella is a Portugese derived cake)

Fish McDippers - a fish McNugget (which was also available in Malaysia, I hear)

Also, NERVUN, they have Ginger Ale and Fanta, not just Coke.

MOS Burger is definately much better. The Rice Burger is a totally unique menu item there, and my fave. It's made with a special "bun" made (mostly) of rice. Varieties include grilled beef, shrimp, ground chicken, and burdock root.

But an even more local for fast food is Yoshinoya.how's the bacon and Potato hot pie?

and I've tried the Fish nugget... it was a limited run thing here in the Islands.

Really the only thing I would ever eat in Mac Donalds is a 'Bacon and Egg McMuffin' or if i'm in France beer.But hell I'd drink beer any time.Why is it that you cannot get a Bacon and Egg Mc Muffin after 11am.

Really the only thing I would ever eat in Mac Donalds is a 'Bacon and Egg McMuffin' or if i'm in France beer.But hell I'd drink beer any time.Why is it that you cannot get a Bacon and Egg Mc Muffin after 11am.
Having once worked in the exciting field of fast food, I think I have the answer to this question. At 11 am the temperature setting on the grill at the place where I worked was changed to more efficiently cook the burgers. It was too hot for eggs, so we stopped selling breakfast items at that time.

I think they sell Lobster Rolls at some locations in New England, certain times of the year though.

I never really notice what they got variant. I hardly ever go to McDonalds. If I do, it's usually quick stops on road trips or very very late at night with no other options. Last time: Dec. 29th at Orlando Int'l Airport (only cause it was 6 am and the only thing open there)

I think they sell Lobster Rolls at some locations in New England, certain times of the year though.

I never really notice what they got variant. I hardly ever go to McDonalds. If I do, it's usually quick stops on road trips or very very late at night with no other options. Last time: Dec. 29th at Orlando Int'l Airport (only cause it was 6 am and the only thing open there)
What's a lobster roll? Is it anything like pork roll? They sell pork roll sandwiches at 7-11s in New Jersey. Do they sell them at 7-11s anywhere else in the country?

Having once worked in the exciting field of fast food, I think I have the answer to this question. At 11 am the temperature setting on the grill at the place where I worked was changed to more efficiently cook the burgers. It was too hot for eggs, so we stopped selling breakfast items at that time.
But.. but there the only things that are edible.

But.. but there the only things that are edible.
We're talking about fast food here. Edible has nothing to do with it.

We're talking about fast food here. Edible has nothing to do with it.
True the burgers are wrong in the extreem but for some reason the breakfasts aren't too bad.Or maybe my taste bubs don't wake up that early.