International McDonalds Menus: The Recipe For Survival In The US?

Published February 15, 2015
Updated May 22, 2018
Mcdonalds

Source: Huzlers

The Golden Arches may soon be only a memory in the States, as McDonald’s has seemingly lost its flame in the American market. Fast food restaurants like Chipotle and Shake Shack offer healthier options just as quickly as the aging fast food chain, and have a better public image. Even Burger King’s sales have risen by going back to the basics.

McDonald’s will have to make changes in order to survive, but if their non-American menus prove anything, it’s that they can meet local needs and tastes. If they transfer that to the domestic market, they might come out of their slump. Keeping plastic out of their chicken nuggets would also help.

Malaysia

International McDonalds Menus Malaysia
Bubur Ayam is a favorite dish in Malaysia. It is a tasty porridge topped with scallions, ginger, fried shallots, chilies and the coup de grace: chicken strips. With the popularity of Asian restaurants in America, there’s no way this could fail. Source: CN Traveler

Brazil

International McDonalds Menus Brazil
When McDonald’s Brazil does breakfast, it does it with class. This breakfast sandwich features a thick slice of tomato on top of Emmental cheese, with cream cheese and oregano. That sure beats a microwaved egg. Source: McDonalds

Croatia

International McDonalds Menus Croatia
Croatian cuisine is an amalgamation of Mediterranean, French and Turkish traditions, so the use of flatbread was a great idea for McDonald’s McToast. The sandwich is stuffed with strips of ham and cheese. This would make a great competitor for Dunkin Donuts’ Wake-up Wrap. Source: Food Network

Egypt

International McDonalds Menus Egypt
The McArabia is a folded pita sandwich available in Egypt, other Arab countries and Pakistan. Two grilled Chicken or Kofta patties are topped with vegetables and garlic sauce. That’s way better than the ranch sandwich. Source: Flush News

Germany
Germany’s McDonald’s restaurants offer fresh bread and rolls with honey, Nutella and ham for breakfast. They also knock the socks off of American McDonald’s by offering the McCurrywurst, a popular German sausage with curry sprinkles. Source: Fox

India
There’s no beef on the menu at McDonald’s in India, just juicy chicken and vegetarian meals. The McVeggie is made of spicy peas, carrots and potatoes and the Big Spicy Paneer Wrap features deep fried paneer cheese in a tortilla with vegetables. Source: Fox

Japan

International McDonalds Menus Japan
McDonald’s has combined traditional Japanese flavors by way of the green tea McFlurry, the McTeriyaki burger and the fried shrimp patty burger. You can also get cheddar cheese and red pepper seasoning packets for your chicken filets. No more boring strips. Source: Fox

Mexico

International McDonalds Menus Mexico
The coolest item on Mexico’s menus is the McMollete, which is a miniaturized version of a traditional Mexican breakfast served on a roll. Refried beans are topped with cheese and salsa. Source: McDonald's

New Zealand

International McDonalds Menus New Zealand
McDonald’s bought out Georgie Pies fast food in 1996, and only brought the pies back in 2013 due to popular demand. Options for fillings include minced steak, chicken and vegetable, and apple and blackberry. Source: McDonald's

Spain

International McDonalds Menus Spain
McDonald’s Spain sells a vast array of interesting items, including gazpacho, which originated in the Andalusian region of the country. Desserts are quite diverse as well, featuring doughnuts, ice cream coffees and more McFlurry options. Source: Fox

Taiwan

International McDonalds Menus Taiwan
Forget that soggy bun. In Taiwan, you can order the Rice Burger with chicken or beef. You can also visit the maid café, where the female staff dress in Lolita styled maid outfits and refer to customers as “Master,” because there’s nothing strange about that at all. Source: Woman's Day

Turkey

International McDonalds Menus Turkey
The Turkish Breakfast Plate might actually be a healthy choice, with eggs, vegetables and feta. Their menu is additionally exciting because you can completely spend those saved calories from breakfast on the MegaMac for dinner: a four beef patty sandwich with cheese. Source: Fox

Italy

International McDonalds Menus Italy
If your family is torn between the pizza place and McDonald’s, a trip to Italy can solve your problem. This is the Pizzarotto, a Stromboli-like pocket filled with tomato and mozzarella. If that’s not enough, you can also pick up a hunk of Parmesan cheese, too. Source: CN Traveler

Venezuela

International McDonalds Menus Venezuela
Venezuela features the Pollo CBO, which is a hunk of fried chicken topped with sautéed onions, bacon and nacho cheese. The American version was available for a limited time but had white cheese. You can also order yucca and arepas for side dishes. Source: McDonald's

Norway

International McDonalds Menus Norway
Norway’s McDonald’s menus are uniquely American. They serve Cajun and barbecue burgers alongside hot wings. However, their most interesting sandwich is the Chicken Salsa, which consists of a fried chicken patty topped like a taco. It even includes nacho chips. Take that, Taco Bell. Source: McDonald's

author
Susan Sims
author
When she's not fighting crime or cleaning the garbage disposal, you can find Susan writing about travel, science and things that go bump in the night.
editor
Savannah Cox
editor
Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.
Cite This Article
Sims, Susan. "International McDonalds Menus: The Recipe For Survival In The US?." AllThatsInteresting.com, February 15, 2015, https://allthatsinteresting.com/international-mcdonalds-menus. Accessed April 18, 2024.