McDonald's

Update Review, April 2024

It had been ages since I actually sought out McDonald's, in my own country, other than when they were giving out a random freebie like free fries for National French Fry day or something like that (as I've reviewed before).  But this past year, I got a craving for a Big Mac, and I realized that I've never had a Filet-o-Fish, despite being primarily a pescatarian.  And I was sorta craving soft serve.  And thus ... a trip to McDonald's was in order.

Sandwiches

Filet-O-Fish® w/ extra tartar, add pickles, double patty.  $5.69 +$1.99.

"Dive into our wild-caught Filet-O-Fish, a classic McDonald's fish sandwich! Our fish sandwich recipe features a crispy fish filet patty made with wild-caught Alaskan Pollock on melty American cheese and is topped with creamy McDonald’s tartar sauce, all served on a soft, steamed bun. "

Ok, I was genuinely excited for this.  My first ever Filet-o-Fish.  Um, I think my first ever fast food seafood.  I didn't grow up eating any seafood (besides canned tuna), so during my McDonald's years, I just never would have gotten it.  Since becoming mostly pescatarian (I still have a little meat probably 1-2 days a week on average), I can't say I have sought out fast food seafood.  Because, well, why.  But finally I did.  I can safely say I was the only person at McDonald's who seemed genuinely excited about their upcoming meal.  Given my excitement of the promise of yummy crispy fish, I opted to get a second patty added, a risk, but one I hoped would pay off (it did!).

Side note: I found it interesting that it comes in a round bowl cardboard container, rather than square like the burgers.  I'm sure there is a reason why ... 

At first glance, it looked simple, but attractive: the bun glistening, the patties and cheese nicely stacked.  It uses the generic regular bun, just like the plain burger (the quarter pounder has the upgraded bun with sesame seeds, the Big Mag has smaller buns, and the chicken sandwiches use a potato bun).  The bun was fine - soft, fluffy, not stale.  Inoffensive, but not something you really cared about.  **+ bun.

The Filet-O-Fish comes with only half a slice of cheese, something they say is intentional to create the right balance.  It has no lettuce, pickles, etc, only tartar sauce (but I added pickles).  I also added extra tartar sauce, since I was adding an extra patty.  Even with my additions, it still looked pretty basic.

The regular sandwich is 390 calories - 90 calories for the tartar sauce, 50 for the cheese, 150 for the bun, 120 for the patty.  My additional patty added another 120, and extra tartar another 90, so this beauty was 600.  Standard price is $5.69, which seemed pretty reasonable for seafood.  

Double Patty! ($1.99 extra patty).

My requested pickles came on top, between the top layer of tartar sauce and the patty.  They are just standard McDonald's pickles, but I liked the acid and extra pickle flavor punch, along with the crunch, they added.

The patty was pretty decent - lightly breaded, lightly crisp.  Not quite what I'd consider "crispy" as advertised, but, I did not mind.  It was a bit fishy, as in, I could taste the pollock, but I wanted that.  It *is* fish stick style fish though, obviously not a lovely filet of unprocessed flaky white fish.  Reasonable thickness too.  No real seasoning.  Basically, about the same quality as a generic grocery store frozen fish stick, reasonably well cooked.  ***.

My additional patty was $1.99.  From the receipt, I could see that this was not added to the sandwich exactly, but just as an a la carte side.  I think this means you can order *just* a patty if you want, no sandwich.  I'd definitely do that in the future, to make my own fish sticks - cut them up, dunk in tartar (or any of the great McDonald's sauces really).  

Mmm, extra tartar.

The bottom bun also had a VERY generous layer of tartar sauce.  Since I ordered extra tartar, I'm not sure what is normal - does it always have tartar on both top and bottom, just, less?  This was definitely a lot, but, I wanted that since I had so much fish with the extra patty.

The tartar was pretty generic.  Very mayo forward.  Very creamy.  But it lacked any real depth to it, it just had a touch of relish.  I actually think I might like bbq sauce more with the fish in the future.  Low *** tartar.

The cheese was against the bun, not really very melty.  The cheese was fine, but not necessary really.  

So overall, simple, basic, and kinda plain, but, if I was at McDonald's for some reason, and wanted a non-burger, I'd get it again.  I think I'd try my bbq sauce suggestion though, or just get patties and sauces to dunk into.  I'm glad I tried this, but I wouldn't actually go to McDonald's to get it again.  ***.

Big Mac® w/ extra Big Mac sauce, extra onions, extra pickles. $6.29. 

"Ever wondered what's on a Big Mac®? The McDonald's Big Mac® is a 100% beef burger with a taste like no other. The mouthwatering perfection starts with two 100% pure all beef patties and Big Mac® sauce sandwiched between a sesame seed bun. It’s topped off with pickles, crisp shredded lettuce, finely chopped onion, and a slice of American cheese. It contains no artificial flavors, preservatives, or added colors from artificial sources. Our pickle contains an artificial preservative, so skip it if you like."

I also had to get a Big Mac, which is what I was really craving.

If you are going big at McDonald's, the Big Mac is it right?  For me, the Big Mac always reminds me of my father: he rotated between that or double cheeseburger meal when we used to go when I was a child.  I remember always being jealous of the Big Mac, as it was deemed inappropriate for me as a kid.  Once I was more adult-like (or at least teenager) I certainly had a few, generally drawn in more by the special sauce than anything else (yup, I guess I've always been a sauce person).  Big Mac sauce, if you are curious, is, well, not very wholesome as you likely can imagine.  Made with relish, yes, and garlic/onion powder, yes, but also a whole bunch of oils, stabilizers, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, etc.  It had been a long time since I last had it, so I went all in, asking for extra (along with extra pickles and onions as I do on any burger at McDonald's).

Nutritionally, a Big Mac isn't quite as bad as I imagined, 590 calories normally: mac sauce (regular) is 140 calories (gulp, I'm not computing what my extra was), the patties are 180 each (which is a bit surprising given how thin they are), cheese is 50, the bun(s) 200.

The Big Mac looked pretty attractive, again, a nice glistening bun.  The bun was fine - it wasn't stale, it was soft.  The top had sesame seeds, the other two pieces did not.  The middle bun was toasted on both sides.  Pretty standard McDonald's bun.   Low ***, and I never actually eat the whole thing.

Overall, I found my Big Mac extremely satisfying.  I consider this one a pretty textbook Big Mac, exactly the consistency you expect from a well run McDonald's, and assembled far better than most.  High *** overall.

Extra pickles!

My sandwich was well assembled, with the pickles (4) actually evenly spaced out.  My extra onions and pickles were free, as was the extra Big Mac sauce.  

I adored the pickles as always.  I just really like McDonald's pickles.  Crisp, flavorful, and somewhat classic "burger" flavor pickles for me.  ****.

Extra onions.

The chopped onions were on both patties, and added good acid.  I had forgotten they don't use sliced rings of onion.

The beef patties are thin, and not really juicy, but, well seasoned enough, and taste relatively beef-y.  Good enough for a fast food burger patty, but obviously not what you'd ever expect at a real restaurant.  *** for what it is, would score lower in a more relative scale.

Extra Big Mac Sauce, Cheese.

There was Big Mac sauce on both the top and bottom buns, the bottom one had quite a generous amount.  I'm not sure how much is normal, but this was tons, as requested.  It was creamy, tangy, essentially the quintessential "special sauce" after all.  I did find myself actually just wanting ketchup though.  Not quite the magic I remember.  Low ***.

The cheese was also on this layer, a full slice, under the bottom patty only.  (Note: this makes me question the online nutrition stats, as it shows 50 calories for the cheese in the Big Mac, same as the Filet-O-Fish, which has only a half slice).    The cheese wasn't really melted, just a tiny bit where it touched the patty.  Nice classic American cheese though, and it went well with onions and beef.  ***.

Sides

World Famous Fries® (Medium). $4.59.

"McDonald's World Famous Fries® are made with premium potatoes such as the Russet Burbank and the Shepody. With 0g of trans fat per labeled serving, these epic fries are crispy and golden on the outside and fluffy on the inside."

My first thought when I picked up my fries was, "did they accidentally give me a small fry instead of medium?", but then I saw the bag clearly said "medium".  I swear a medium fries used to be bigger!  Or maybe just the change from the old red cardboard holders made it seem smaller?

I usually do no salt so I get a fresh batch, but decided to just not care this time, and left them as-is.  My order was ready nearly instantly.  I dug in, and ... yup, those are McDonald's fries.  Not really very crispy, a bit limp.  I was surprised by how not salty they were too - granted, it has been a few years since I ordered standard with salt, but, I thought they'd have more salt than this.  And inside?  Yup, vaguely potato mash, but clearly quite processed, and didn't really taste like potato.  They did seem reasonably fresh, and weren't too greasy.

But yeah, these are McDonald's fries, no more, no less.  Not as magical as my childhood memories, and not something I'd ever actually purchase.  I'm still amazed people pay $4.59 for these!  **+.

Medium Fries (free with McD app offer).
(April 2024).

A few months later I tried the fries again.  My bag seemed a bit better stuffed than my previous visit, properly "medium".  Besides the quantity though, the fries were much like my previous visit.  Just not nearly as good as I remember.  Minimal salt.  Not greasy.  Very pale and a bit soft.  I wanted them crispier.  As an adult, I don't find myself wanting these fries all that much (unless I bring them home and air fry them a bit longer).  **+.

Desserts

Chocolate Chip Cookie. $1.79.

"Enjoy a warm & tasty Chocolate Chip Cookie from McDonald's! An amazingly delicious, soft and chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie—our Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe features a perfectly warm, soft baked cookie loaded with gooey chocolate chips. Enjoy it on its own as a snack or pair it with your favorite McDonald's meal."

This was a first for me.  I'm not, or at least wasn't for years, a cookie person, so getting a cookie anywhere is kinda novel to me.  When I grew up, we didn't get dessert of any kind at McDonald's (which, in retrospect, is kinda odd, given that we are a family that has dessert at home after every meal, including lunch, but, I have zero memory of getting any kind of dessert at McDonald's as a kid.  Once I was in high school, I learned about McFlurries, and those were definitely part of my order when my field hockey team stopped on the way home from a game).  But anyway, I didn't even know McDonald's had chocolate chip cookies.  I've never heard anyone mention them. (Side note: I do vaguely remember packaged little cookies from McDonald's ... I think they came in a little box?  And maybe were part of Happy Meals?  I'm really not sure).

Anyway, but then I was going through a cookie phase, and I saw them on the menu, and got curious.  A quick internet search revealed that people actually like these.  AND they do serve them warm.  So ... ok, chocolate chip cookie it was! 

The cookie was warm, but not hot - the chocolate chips weren't particularly melty for example, not like at Insomnia.  That said, I liked this cookie considerably more than those from Insomnia, which is notable given that they specialize in cookies.  It was also considerably better than any other fast food cookie I've had, like, Subway.

It was a good cookie.  It doesn't taste wholesome, or bakery fresh exactly, but, it was really quite enjoyable, better than a regular packaged cookie.  Nicely soft, with lightly crisp edges.  Reasonable number of chocolate chips well distributed throughout.  Sweet but not cloying.  It reminded me a bit of soft grocery store cookies, just a bit bigger, a bit nicer, and warm.  I suspect it would make a great base for an ice cream sandwich with their soft serve, or even be tasty to crumble unto a sundae.  ***+, and far better than I expected.

The size is not mega, but not a mini cookie either.  If you weren't eating a feast of burgers and fries first, eating two doesn't seem unreasonable.  Only 170 calories each.

Baked Apple Pie. $2.39 single / $3.59 for two. 

"McDonald's Baked Apple Pie recipe features 100% American-grown apples, and a lattice crust baked to perfection and topped with sprinkled sugar. There are 230 calories in McDonald's apple pie. Pair it with a Hot Caramel Sundae for your own twist on Apple Pie A-La-Mode! "

As I mentioned, my family didn't get dessert at McDonald's when I was growing up, so I only discovered the pies a few years ago.  I've only had the classic apple pie once.

The pie was decent.  It was a little over baked though, the edges lightly burnt.  The pastry was reasonably flaky, sweet, enjoyable.  I liked the pearl sugar on it.  The lattice top looks slightly classy.  Inside was well seasoned chopped apples.  Actual cubes of apple, not just goo.  Soft, not quite as al dente as I prefer, but not mush.  Overall, a decent pie.  Even better topped with soft serve and caramel from a sundae.  ***+.

Hot Caramel Sundae. $4.79.

"This Caramel Sundae combines creamy vanilla soft serve and warm, buttery caramel topping."

I actually *do* like the hot fudge sundaes from McDonald's, or at least, I've enjoyed the very few that I've had.  Basic vanilla soft serve, hot fudge, nuts ... what's not to at least like?  I was pretty excited to get one during this visit, but, alas, 1) they no longer have nuts for sundaes due to nut allergies?! and 2) my McDonald's was out of hot fudge.  So ... basic caramel sundae it was.  Boo.  I've had the caramel one before, and thought it was ok, but really too sweet.  Alas.

I like caramel in general, but I just greatly prefer hot fudge on a sundae.  The McDonald’s version is quite sweet, and with the sweeter style vanilla soft serve base, it just eats pretty sweet overall.  I do like that it is a real sauce though, not a thin syrup.  If I have the foresight to bring chopped walnuts and/or bananas to balance it out a bit that helps, but this visit, I had it as-is.  I still enjoyed the nice creamy ice cream, and the warm sauce, but, a touch too sweet, and a touch too one-dimensional.  ***.

This treat is 330 calories: 210 from the ice cream, 120 for the caramel.  You can add M&Ms or caramel for $0.45, Oreo for $0.50, or whipped cream for free.  Amusingly, a plain sundae with no toppings is $4.69, only 10 cents less, so if you started with that and added caramel, it would be more expensive.  And even though Oreo and M&Ms are priced differently to add on to sundaes, the two McFlurries are the same price ...

Hot Fudge Sundae (add whipped cream). $4.79.

"Treat yourself to a delicious Hot Fudge Sundae from McDonald’s! Our classic Hot Fudge Sundae is made with creamy vanilla soft serve and smothered in chocolatey hot fudge topping. "

I was very excited for my sundae.  The past few times I’ve gotten ice cream at McDonald’s, it has either been evening (and thus, no hot fudge due to caffeine) or it has been a sunny afternoon where I was explicitly craving a soft serve cone in the sun, so the hot fudge sundae has been locked away in my memory banks as a blissful creation of days of yore.  I was delighted to visit during the day, when it wasn’t also “soft serve cone weather”.

I also learned, as I was ordering from the kiosk, that you can add whipped cream to a sundae for free.  Why have I never done this before!  Or, moreover, why is it not standard, as it is for shakes?  I also confirmed that at least in the SF Bay Area, McDonald’s no longer carries the chopped peanuts topping.  I could still add M&Ms or Oreos to my sundae, or double up on sauces and add caramel too, but I stuck with just the hot fudge and whipped cream.

The person applying my whipped cream was generous, and this delighted me greatly.  It is just canned whipped cream, but I really don’t mind the brand they use.  I will definitely add this in the future at all times.

The soft serve itself was very good - the machine was functioning well that day, no off taste, no graininess, just, really nice creamy sweet vanilla soft serve.  It melted slightly nearly immediately due to the warm fudge, so it definitely needed to be consumed relatively quickly, at least the top portion.  The melted pool of vanilla shake-like liquid wasn’t really a bad thing though anyway.

And finally, the hot fudge.  Warm, thick, real hot fudge, not just syrup.  Classic for a reason, and I enjoyed it too.

I'll definitely be going for the hot fudge sundae myself in the future, and the whipped cream was a great touch.  I’d probably bring some chopped nuts and/or fresh strawberries with me in the future to craft the perfect treat, but this definitely worked fine as-is.  ***+.

McFlurry® with M&M'S® Candies. $4.69.

"The McDonald’s McFlurry with M&M’S® is a sweet combination of creamy vanilla soft serve with crunchy M&M’S® chocolate candies swirled in."

I was pretty excited for a McFlurry, but sadly McDonald's only has the standard two options available right now: M&M or Oreo.  Boo.  You can add chocolate or caramel sauce (for a fee), and/or whipped cream, if you wish.  Strangely, they seem to only come in one standard size now.

The treat was absolutely loaded with mini M&Ms, as you can see on top here.  They were pretty well mixed throughout, although they didn't reach all the way to the bottom.  The creamy ice cream, the crunchy M&Ms, it was all enjoyable (although, really, the amount of M&Ms on top was perhaps borderline too much).  I really do like the general McFlurry/Blizzard/etc concept.  The cup was full to the rim, but no further.  My second McFlurry was more generously filled.  

Overall, it was good, ***.  I'd consider getting this again, but really I just wish they had another kind available.  And next time, I think I'd get whipped cream too.

Although not huge, this treat is 640 calories: 370 calories are from the ice cream, and amazingly another 270 are just from the M&Ms (Oreos are only 140).  I was surprised by this, but then again, there *were* a lot of M&Ms!

McFlurry® with OREO® Cookies. $4.69.

"The McDonald’s McFlurry® with OREO® Cookies is a popular combination of creamy vanilla soft serve with crunchy pieces of OREO® cookies! "

For completeness, I also tried the OREO McFlurry.  The cup was more generously filled than the M&M one, but it less well mixed.  The top was full of Oreo bits, but after the top 1/4, it was just vanilla ice cream.  The part that was mixed though was loaded with Oreo.  It was fine, very cookies-n-cream tasting, as expected.  Since I don't really like Oreos though, I didn't particularly like it. I could appreciate it imagining that I liked cookies-n-cream though, and I bet it would be even better with hot fudge mixed in.

** for my own preferences, and due to the poor mixing job.

Vanilla Cone.  $3.99.

"Treat yourself to a delicious Vanilla Cone Treat from McDonald’s! Our Vanilla Cone features creamy vanilla soft serve in a crispy cone."

Since I had several items to carry, I asked for a cup for my cone, a suggestion given to me by another staff member.  So no photo of the perfect cone, but, it really was perfectly swirled, not tipped over, generously filled.  

The cone itself was crisp, not stale.  It was properly filled, with ice cream going all the way into the cone, not hollow.  The ice cream was creamy and not too airy, not icy, sweet but not cloying, just, classic vanilla soft serve, clearly dispensed from a well calibrated machine.  No off / slightly sour taste that sometimes happens with fast food soft serve.  As good as fast food soft serve can be.  ****.

Update Review, May 2023

Sometimes ... I can't resist a freebie.  And by sometimes, I mean often.  Even when that freebie is chicken, which I don't really eat.  I was still lured in by a McDonald's promo for a free McChicken.  After all, I'd certainly never had one before.  I had my first Chicken McNuggets in many years just a few months prior, when McDonald's was celebrating the anniversary of said nuggets, and, you guessed it, gave out free nugs (see below for that prior review).  I was actually curious how they compared, or, so I rationalized my decision to take a one block detour to McDonald's on my way home that day.

McChicken (no mayo, extra pickles).$3.39.

"It’s a classic for a reason. Savor the satisfying crunch of our juicy chicken patty, topped with shredded lettuce and just the right amount of creamy mayonnaise, all served on a perfectly toasted bun."

The standard McChicken comes with lettuce and mayo, nothing else, on the standard simple bun.  I also added pickles (extra!) because they were a free add-on, and asked for no mayo, opting for mayo/mustard/ketchup packets on the side so I could apply as much/little as I wanted.

The bun was exactly what you expect from basic McDonald's, the same used with a regular burger too.  Soft, moist, with grill marking on the inside, but not actually crispy.  Shredded iceberg was minimal, but seemed fairly fresh.  For pickles, there was exactly 3, all clumped together on one corner.  It made me wonder what the regular number was, if "extra" was only a scant 3.  Even if I had properly spread them out on the patty, they wouldn't have given a pickle in every bite.

Anyway, the patty ... well breaded, but not crispy, rather, it was soft.  The coating was flavorful, tasted greasy and well seasoned, and was quasi-enjoyable.  Under the coating was a very thin patty of compressed chicken bits ... it did vaguely taste like chicken, and definitely was made of scary leftover chicken parts.  If you want the chicken to actually be a breast, or even rib meat, you need to splurge for one of the higher end chicken offerings.  It definitely needed the mayo to add a creamy element.

To answer my question of how it compared to the nuggets, I think it was similar, in that it was ground compressed chicken bits with a decently flavorful and greasy crumb coating, but, I'm really not sure how much alike they taste, as my McNuggets memory is pretty vague.

***.

Update Review, Jan 2023 Visits

No intro needed.  It is McDonald's.  You know this place.

Chicken McNuggets. (6). $5.19.

"McDonald’s 6 piece Chicken McNuggets® are made with 100% chicken breast meat in a deliciously crispy coating, just waiting to be dipped. A firm favourite with everyone."

When I was a kid, I did eat McNuggets from time to time.  And then ... I had an incident.  I had McNuggets for lunch, got bit by a speckled fly, and broke out in hives.  My mother believes the fly was responsible, but my child brain blamed the McNuggets.  I was convinced that either the nuggets, or the dipping sauce, gave me hives.  I never ate them again (I eventually caved on the sauces, as I do love their sweet & sour and bbq so!).

I didn't have another McNugget until 2015, when I had one (which I reviewed before, below), and liked the coating, but not the insides.  Another 8 years passed without even the thought of having another.  And then it was the 40th anniversary of McNuggets, and McDonald's was giving out free nuggets.  Even if I don't like chicken, a freebie is always too much for me to resist, so I walked the extra half a block out of my way on my way home to snag my free nugs.

My nuggets were only lukewarm when I got them.  This was easily fixed with my toaster oven once I got home.  I was impressed again with the coating - so crispy! Well seasoned! Greasy but not oily!  But inside?  Eh.  Its ground chicken-ish.  Not really my thing, but actually, for me, since I don't care for chicken generally, it is less offensive than actual not processed chicken.

My order of 6 nuggets contained 4 balls, 1 boot, and 1 bell, no bones (you did know those were the 4 shapes they make right?).  They were nice for a freebie, but I wouldn't normally pay $5+ for these. ***.

I did love the bbq sauce as always, even though its a sweet, not particularly complex, style.

Large Iced Coffee, Black, No Ice. $2.89.

My father is a very frugal man (yes, this is where I get it from).  He definitely does not splurge on things like getting coffee.  He finds coffee prices outrageous (which, to be fair, I do too).  That said, if you ask him about getting a coffee somewhere, while he'll go on and on about the price and low quality of places like Dunkin' Donuts, he'll also tell you that McDonald's makes good coffee, both hot and cold, and that he used to get it when he needed to commute for work sometimes.

So when it was a hot day, and I was really wanting coffee, I decided to give it a try, opting for the iced version.  I went for a large so I could take it home and use it over the next 2-3 days (since I normally have just one cup).  

It was ... fine.  Very average, totally unremarkable, iced coffee.  The flavor wasn't complex, it had no interesting notes I picked up on, but it also had no funk to it.  Just, overall, fine, decent coffee.  Even with no ice I did find it a touch weak, but, that wasn't really a problem for me.  If you want a nice deep dark coffee though, this was more of a light-medium roast.  Inoffensive coffee, and cheaper that most anywhere else, even the gas station.

I'd get it again if I needed coffee and was near McDonald's.  ***.

Update Reviews, 2021-2022 Visits

No intro needed right?  It is McDonald's, and I went for the classics: fries and sauces.

Medium Fries. (2018).

"Our French fries are born from premium potatoes such as the Russet Burbank and the Shepody. With zero grams of trans fat per labeled serving, these epic fries are crispy and golden on the outside and fluffy on the inside."

I truly loved McDonald's fries when I was younger, particularly when dipped in the different sauces, but somehow, they have just lost their touch for me.  They are just ... fries. ***.

That said, I still adored some of the sauces.

Medium Fries, No Salt. (2021).

My first time having the fries in many years, to celebrate National French Fry Day, or, you know, a freebie I couldn’t resist.

I ordered mine without salt, so they’d be fresh, and, I was thrilled to see them indeed come out as a fresh batch. 

They were … well, fries?  Thin, crispy, hot.  But just … fries.  Eh.  I dipped them in sweet and sour 

sauce, which I do like, but they still weren’t particularly awesome to me.

**+.

Large Fries, No Salt. (2022). $3.99.

Another year, another National Fry Day, another free batch of fries.  This time, McDonald's offered a large.  As I did the prior year, I asked for no salt, to get them fresh, which, just like last year, did mean I needed to wait.

As for the fries, um, yeah.  They are McDonald's fries.  Thin, crispy, kinda boring, honestly.  Note to self: there really is no need to get these again :)

Normally $3.99, which seems high for such cheap fast food!

***.

Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce.

"Sweet and sour apricot and peach-flavored sauce with savory spices and slight lingering heat."

McDonald's sweet 'n sour sauce was always my goto sauce when I was younger.  Sure, I used the bbq and the honey (yes, honey, not honey mustard, just honey) with my fries too, but the majority of my fries went into the sweet 'n sour.  The others were there just to add a bit of variety, and because I'd run out of just sweet 'n sour.  Yes, even with a small fries, I always used the entire sweet 'n sour, and then some.  I loved it.

But it had been many, many years since I last had it, and of course I assumed it was one of those things that is better left in our memories, as it never lives back up in adulthood.

Turns out ... nope, McDonald's sweet 'n sour sauce is still just as good as I remember.  Definitely more sweet than sour, and I dunno about that "lingering heat", but the apricot-ish flavor really does it for me, particularly with greasy foods.  It reminds me of Chinese duck sauce a little bit, which also goes so well with greasy foods.

I like it with onion rings in particular (or, you know, McDonald's fries or nuggets I suppose). ****.

Update review: Yup, I still feel the same way about this not-very-complex sweet and fruity sauce.  I love dipping fried things (even chicken tenders!) into it.  <3. ****.

Honey Mustard.

"Zesty Dijon mustard sauce with sweet notes of honey."

I never had the honey mustard growing up, or at least, I don't remember ever having it.  I used honey, just honey, with my fries, loving the sweet contrast with the salty fries.  Grown up me does enjoy honey mustard in general though, so I was interested to try this one out.

I liked this honey mustard.  It clearly isn't wholesome honey mustard, with far more in it than honey and mustard, e.g. soybean oil, egg yolks, and all sorts of preservatives, but the flavor was good (slightly zesty, slightly sweet), and I liked the creaminess.

It went really wonderfully with some onion rings I had at home.

***+.

Tangy BBQ.

"Our perfect Tangy BBQ Sauce is made with a tomato paste base and has a sweet hickory smoke flavor, vinegar, and savory spices."

Ah, McDonald's BBQ, my other standard sauce for fry dunking when growing up.  Another I was a bit hesitant to try again.

The description of this sauce mentions a hickory smoke flavor, which I didn't detect in any way.  Nor really, savory spices.  But that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it.  Much like the other sauces, it trended very sweet (HFCS *is* the primary ingredient), and I've definitely grown up to appreciate more robust and smoky bbq sauce, but, this still hit the spot (again, best suited for greasy fries, not something like bbq chicken or ribs).

***+, reliable, but I won't seek it out.

Update Review, 2021 Visits

Another year has passed, and with it, a few visits to the Golden Arches, this year, exclusively for, um, the desserts.  You know, what McDonald's is totally known for? 

Sometimes an ice cream, or pie, craving hits, and, well, a girl needs to take immediate action.  And thus, McDonald's.

Ice Cream / McFlurry

I've only had 2 McFlurries in my adult years, once when Doordash (or wherever I ordered from at the time), messed up my order, delivering me a hybrid Oreo-Rolo McFlurry (which, you can read all about), and once when I tried out a special seasonal pralines n cream McFlurry (review). 

While they aren't things I'd go far out of my way for, I've always found them enjoyable, after all I do love soft serve ice cream (yes, even McDonald's), and I sure love toppings mixed in (although, as you know from my caramel sundae review, I'm partial to the hot fudge at McDonald's).

Caramel Brownie McFlurry.  $3.99.

On May 4, 2021, when McDonald's introduced a new McFlurry, and offered it for free to "anyone who ever thought the McFlurry spoon is a straw", um, I obviously jumped on the opportunity for a freebie.

Like all McFlurries, it came out of the same machine as the soft serve ice cream and milkshakes, with sauce and topping quasi-blended in, mixed using said spoon-straw, e.g. the part that attaches to the machine to do the blending.

Caramel Brownie McFlurry. Regular Size. Top.

"The Caramel Brownie McFlurry®is what sweet dreams are made of—spoonfuls of creamy vanilla soft serve with caramel topping and chocolate brownie pieces blended throughout. Available in regular and snack sizes. There are 630 calories in a regular size Caramel Brownie McFlurry®."

I opted for the regular size (snack is a smaller option).  It was a decent size cup filled primarily with vanilla ice cream - classic McDonald's ice cream, smooth, creamy, nicely melty, but not exactly high quality nor complex.  It wasn't icy nor too soft though, just, basic fast food ice cream, good enough.

Mostly on top, and mixed into the top layers a little, was a ridiculous amount of sweet caramel.  Very thick, very sweet, very rich caramel, and, yes, seriously, tons of it.  But it was good, better than I remembered from the sundae I had before.  

The brownies were the weakest element,  plenty of chunks, but the quality just wasn't there.  They were strangely dense, reminded me of Little Debbie brownies actually, but less good.  Sure, cover them in caramel and ice cream and they were fine, but still not very good.  

If I were to get another, I think I'd leave off the brownies, and just have this as a quasi blended sundae.  But really, I'd prefer the hot fudge.  It isn't clear to me if I'd prefer a sundae or McFlurry if only adding in the sauce ...

***.

Soft Serve Cone.

"Enjoy our creamy vanilla soft serve in a crispy cone! It's the perfect sweet treat in addition to any McDonald's meal or on its own!"

Eh.  I mean, I know McDonald's isn't known for their soft serve (well, they are known for the machine always being broken ... ) but it was a warm day, and I wanted a soft serve cone.  I knew McDonald's has no sprinkles or dip, and only has vanilla, but, it would do, right?   Plus, of course I had sprinkles in my bag.   #alwaysPrepared

It was creamy, it wasn't grainy, but it tasted ... fake?  Like a milkshake almost.  It needs mix-ins, which I think is why it works as a McFlurry or sundae, but as a cone ... eh.

And the cone, very stale.

Eh.

*+.

Pie

Last year, I had my first ever McDonald's pie, the seasonal strawberry & crème, and let's just say ... I wasn't impressed.  But I still had never had the classic Apple Pie, always on the menu (although it was reformulated a few years ago).  So this year, post Thanksgiving, when I was still craving pie, I sought it out.

Pie Box.

The apple pie, like any pie offered, comes in a cardboard box, kept warm under a warmer all day.  It proclaims to be from their "oven", but, I don't think these are actually baked onsite anywhere.

Apple Pie.

"McDonald's Baked Apple Pie recipe features 100% American-grown apples, and a lattice crust baked to perfection and topped with sprinkled sugar. There are 240 calories in McDonald's apple pie. Pair it with a Hot Caramel Sundae for your own twist on Apple Pie A-La-Mode!"

I opened my box to find my little pie, and honestly, it actually looked fairly good.  The lattice top really adds a bit of class to it, far nicer looking than a Hostess snack pie or other similar convenience store item, and it was a lovely golden brown. 

My pie was moderately hot, certainly not hot enough to burn myself, but, more than just lukewarm.  Kudos to McDonald's for having good food warmers.

Looks aside, it also tasted better than I expected.  Sure, it is not grandma's homemade apple pie, but the filling had actual hunks of apples, not just goo.  The apples weren't mushy.  The filling was lightly spiced, I think with just cinnamon, so not particularly complex, but, more than just apples and sugar.  So, filling?  Above average for a non-bakery pie, no question.

The crust is certainly interesting, not pie crust really, not flaky, but not like a cookie or tart crust ... not like the snack pies you get in grocery store either ... it is a unique thing, but was nicely crisp, went well with the apples, and wasn't burnt nor dried out.  Again, better than average.

McDonald's suggests pairing it with a hot caramel sundae, which I think is an excellent idea - I brought it home and served it a la mode with vanilla ice cream and spiced chantilly cream, and that just really sealed the deal.

I enjoyed my pie, it totally fulfilled my apple pie craving, and I'd get it again, if in the mood.

***+.

Update Review, 2020 Visit

My First Pie!

McDonald's pies.   A brand new item to me.  Yes, seriously, I never had a McDonald's pie before.

When I visit McDonald's, and do get dessert, I'm just incapable of moving past the soft serve ice cream creations (McFlurries, sundaes, simple cones).  I really like their soft serve (as you know from my 2018 update review)!  And really, why would I think a pie from a fast food place would be good anyway?

Except, well, I know people like them.  And I've been super interested in some of the seasonal special pies, particularly the winter one.

So I finally tried one.  I had the choice of apple or "Strawberry & Crème".  The later sounded fancier, so, that was my pick.

It came in a cute little box, served warm, with vents for the escaping heat, and lots of warnings about the hot nature of the item inside.

Strawberry & Crème Pie.

"A sweet and creamy Strawberry & Crème Pie made with strawberries and vanilla flavored crème, baked side by side in a sugar-coated crust." 

I really liked that it was hot.  I'm all about hot pies.

But ... uh ... this was not a good pie.  Or a pie really, but, form factor aside, I still didn't care for it.

The crust is really hard to explain.  Certainly not traditional pie crust.  Nor is it like a danish.  Nor a PopTart (which I do like!).  Nor a cookie.  I thought it would be something like one of those things, but really, it was its own thing.  Not flaky.  Not buttery.  Not even really particularly sweet (and where was that "sugar-coated" element?).  Kinda dry.  Kinda stale-ish.

I'll give a point for it being warm though, and the presentation with the slit in the top revealing the strawberry filling.

Strawberry & Crème Pie: Inside.

Inside revealed the two promised fillings, one strawberry, and of course the "vanilla flavoured crème".

The crème is made from ... chemicals and cream cheese.  It wasn't creamy.  It wasn't really vanilla.  Just kinda sweet stuff.

The strawberry was equally "eh".  I think it really was made from berries, but it wasn't particularly fruity, just kinda sweet.

I'll give a point for being really well stuffed though, as you can see, it was really filled completely, and, the two sides were done equal.

Update Review, 2018 Visit

 Hot Caramel Sundae.

"A caramel sundae that combines cool and creamy vanilla soft serve with warm, rich, buttery caramel."

I've somehow never had a caramel sundae from McDonald's before, which is surprising, given that I do really enjoy their soft serve, and I generally opt for caramel over chocolate in other areas of life.  I also seem to have forgotten that I did have the caramel in the random mistake McFlurry (Rolo McFlurry - Rolos + Oreos) that wound up on my doorstep via delivery once .  So I recently mixed it up when I visited McDonald's, and went for caramel rather than hot fudge, particularly when a friend told me this sundae was her favorite comfort food.

I ... should have stuck with the classic!  I greatly prefer the hot fudge sundae.

The soft serve is still great of course, creamy, classic vanilla McDonald's soft serve, that somehow manages to melt perfectly.

But the caramel? Eh.  Too sweet.  Not very buttery.  I liked that it was hot, I liked how thick it was, and the slight pull to it, but, with the sweet vanilla ice cream, there was just nothing to balance it.  Turns out, the fudge works better, particularly with the peanuts.

Next time, back to hot fudge.

(Ok, really, what I want is the ability to make a real sundae.  Hot fudge AND caramel AND nuts AND whipped cream (from the McCafe drinks).  McDonald's has greatly expanded in the customization options lately, but alas, custom desserts are not on their radar yet it seems.  #priorities)

Update Review, October 2016

This is a tale of an unexpected order.

Not a Rolo McFlurry.

McDonald's had 3 McFlurries on the menu: Oreo and M&M (which are the regular offerings) and a limited addition Rolo McFlurry.

The Oreo and M&M McFlurry both are simple: vanilla ice cream base with candy blended in.  The Rolo one however is more complex.  It doesn't actually blend in chopped Rolos.  Instead, it blends in caramel sauce and chopped Rolo shells (the chocolate part only).  I imagine this is because the regular Rolos caramel doesn't deal well with freezing?

I wasn't necessarily excited about the Rolos, but, the caramel sounded great, so I opted for that one, really, just for the caramel.

At least, that is what I ordered.

What I received was something else ... entirely.

"Rolo McFlurry", Snack Size. $2.69. Top View.

"Dig into spoonful after spoonful of vanilla soft serve packed with ribbons of caramel and chunks of creamy, milk chocolate."

I was confused when I got my McFlurry.  There was tons of visible caramel on top.  That was surprising, as I thought the caramel was supposed to be blended in.  I assumed it was just "bonus" caramel, and pressed on.

And then I got more confused.  There was some of the expected chopped chocolate shells on top, but once I got into the blended part, there was ... Oreo.  Lots of Oreo.  And no caramel.  And no Rolos shells.

Uh, what?

It was like the person making it realized they made an Oreo McFlurry by accident, and "fixed" it by dumping the other toppings on top.

"Rolo McFlurry", Snack Size. $2.69. Side View.

"NEW Chocolately, caramel-y, awesomeness."

The side view isn't much clearer, and I was so confused I didn't take a good photo of just the layer beneath the caramel, but, there is no doubt, it was an Oreo McFlurry.

Which makes this review a bit odd, as I'm no longer reviewing a real product.

The ice cream was actually quite good.  Creamy, standard McDonald's soft serve (the new, fewer chemicals recipe!).  It melted nicely.

The caramel was thick and sweet, and actually kinda nice to have on top, it made it more like a sundae.  I still prefer McDonald's hot fudge though.

The chopped Rolos shells on top I didn't really care for actually, they were just mediocre milk chocolate, not particularly good.

The Oreo McFlurry ... that was actually good too.  I think I liked it more than I would have liked the Rolos one, to be honest.  It was loaded with plentiful bits of Oreo, and was well blended.  I'm not a big Oreo or cookies and cream fan in general, but, this was very good for what it was.

I wish McDonald's would bring back the Butterfinger one, or Reece's, those are my favorites ...

Original Review, March 2016

Somehow, I haven't ever published my review of regular old McDonald's. Sure, I've reviewed the slew of ridiculously sweet beverages from McCafe, and the decent holiday McFlurry, but somehow, I haven't ever told you what I think of McDonald's staples, aka, burgers and fries!

I ate my share of McDonald's growing up, but it certainly wasn't a regular thing. Mostly my memories are of birthday parties held in the placespace at the McDonald's, where they served that crazy orange drink. I remember collecting the toys from Happy Meals. But, I don't think I was ever a really huge McDonald's fan.

Then, in high school, I played field hockey. Our bus often stopped at McDonald's on the way home from away games. I recall really loving the fries then, when dipped in sweet and sour, bbq, and honey (yes, usually all three, often combined). I also liked the sundaes.

And then I didn't really go to McDonald's again for years. Even when on road trips (or, driving to and from college), I always just went to Dunkin' Donuts and got a muffin, no matter what time of day.

So now, McDonald's is a novelty to me. It is a place I go very rarely, and usually only when travelling (which, is even more fun when out of the country, because foreign McDonald's have some really unique menu items! Stay tuned!). Even then, it is never on the top of my list, but Ojan does sometimes get a craving for chicken McNuggets or a Big Mac, and thus, I go too, hoping to again enjoy it as much as I used to, but never succeeding.

 Quarter Pounder with Cheese.

"A quarter pound of 100% pure beef simply seasoned with a pinch of salt and pepper, two slices of melty cheese, slivered onions and tangy pickles all on a sesame seed bun. "

To ensure I got a fresh burger, I ordered mine with extra pickles (and, because I love pickles!) and only one slice of cheese (for some reason, two seemed like too much).

I was really surprised with my first bite.  The beef was … seasoned.  It had some pepper and salt, just as described.  Sure, it was a thin patty, with no actual beefy flavor and a mealy texture, more akin to cardboard than beef but, someone did season the thing.  Points for that.

The patty, as always, was very well done, as in, cooked through.  Even though a quarter pound, it was quite thin.

The onions were sharp and there were too many, but they combined well with the mustard.  I did really like the mustard and onion flavors.

My extra pickles translated into two pickles … is normal just one?  I liked my pickles, and wanted more.

The cheese was nicely melted but pretty standard fake american cheese.

The bun was a little soggy, boring, and about as generic as could be.

This was a quinesential generic McDonald’s burger, pretty much exactly as I remembered.  I have no desire to have another.

10 Piece Chicken McNuggets. $4.59. Small French Fries. $1.39.

"Our tender, juicy, Chicken McNuggets are made with USDA-inspected white meat. They're tempura battered and cooked to golden perfection."

The nuggets were Ojan's, but of course I had one, mostly out of curiosity.  I don't like chicken, and I did not ever get nuggets as a kid, but Ojan was so excited by these, I had to try.  They had a great crispy breading, but the chicken was soo fake and ground up and just strange to me.  Meh.

"Golden on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. Made with quality potatoes and cooked in our Canola oil blend for zero grams of trans fat per serving."

Who doesn't love McDonald's fries?  (Or, at least, who didn't at some point in their lives?)

The fries were thin and crispy.  I didn't love them, nor hate them.  They were just ... fries, very fried, and clearly not fresh.  These have definitely lost their magic on me.

But you know I'm a sauce girl, so, what about those sauces?

The sweet and sour sauce always looks so horrible.  It is goopy.  Thick.  Nasty looking really.  But I still really like the taste, as unsightly as it is, and it is my preferred McDonald's dipping sauce for my fries.

The bbq looks a little better, but is always my second choice.  Really, the best is mostly sweet and sour, with a touch of bbq.  I dip first in the sweet and sour, and then do a quick dunk in the bbq afterwards.  My magic combo.  I've done it for as long as I can remember.

I enjoyed some fries, with my sauces, but I can't say I have any craving or desire to have them again.

A few months later, we went back to McDonald's, another time when traveling.  I again noted that the bbq sauce was only ok, but I loved the sweet and sour.  I found the fries flavorless and again not what I remembered.

Big Mac.

"A double layer of sear-sizzled 100% pure beef mingled with special sauce on a sesame seed bun and topped with melty American cheese, crisp lettuce, minced onions and tangy pickles"

If I thought the patty in the quarter pounder was thin, that was nothing compared to the Big Mac. Seriously, seriously thin patties. They were completely flavorless.

The lettuce is just standard shredded iceberg, but it really has its place on the big mac. But of course, the best thing going for it is the Big Mac sauce. Creamy, mayo-y, delicious.

I don’t particularly want another one, but for what it is, it was good.

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Hot Fudge Sundae with Nuts

"Reduced fat soft serve vanilla ice cream, smothered in chocolatey fudge sauce."

I love soft serve ice cream, and I don't get it often, as silly froyo has taken over.  Also, I kinda think soft serve ice cream just isn't as much of a thing on the West Coast, even before the whole froyo invasion?

Anyway, not that McDonald's is where I'd go for great ice cream, I wanted soft serve, and I know theirs is decent.  And it was.  It was perfectly creamy, although it didn't have much flavor to it.  The fudge was hot, thick, and pretty tasty.  I liked the crunch from the peanuts, but they were just generic peanuts.

Was this an awesome sundae?  Of course not.  But it hit the spot.