Glimpse - Your Stories from Abroad

Ask anyone to define American cuisine and chances are they’ll mention McDonald’s. But Mickey-D’s is more than just an American phenomenon. The McDonald’s Corporation operates more than 30,000 restaurants in over 100 countries worldwide, including outlets in gourmet-food-obsessed countries like Italy and France, and developing countries where local food options are cheaper and healthier than a combo meal.

So what’s its secret? Obviously convenience and a massive global marketing budget play important roles, but McDonald’s also makes an effort to adapt its menu to local cuisine. Its tried-and-true strategy, which has worked for years in the States, also seems to work abroad: Find a popular local dish, cheaply imitate it, name it something cute (usually involving a “Mc”), and make it look really yummy in a poster. Here are five of our favorites:

ISRAEL: McKebab

Grilled meat folded into flat white bread, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and tahini (a sauce made from ground sesame seeds). Says Sara Dover, a study abroad student at Hebrew University, “The tahini added a lot to the flavor. Perhaps more importantly, it also disguised any lack of freshness!”
Bottom Line: “In terms of fast food, it was much better than a Big Mac. But I wouldn’t get a McKebab again—471 calories later, I was full but not completely satisfied, and the kebabs you can get from any street vendor in Jerusalem are tastier.”
Fun Fact: Israel’s seven certified-Kosher restaurants do not offer any dairy products (no cheeseburgers!) and are closed on the Sabbath.

NEW ZEALAND: Kiwiburger

No, it’s not ground kiwi bird. The Kiwiburger features sliced beetroot and a fried egg—a spin-off of the classic New Zealand salad. Says study abroad student David Kelbe, “Leave it to McDonald’s to impart the charm of New Zealand culture between an all-beef patty and a sesame-seed bun.”
Bottom Line: ”The juxtaposition of crunchy beetroot and soft egg is simply unbeatable,” says Kelbe. Whether or not that combination is best experienced atop a McDonald’s hamburger, however, is questionable.
Fun Fact: New Zealand is home to both the world’s southernmost McDonald’s (Invercargill, New Zealand) and easternmost McDonald’s (Gisborne, New Zealand).

INDIA: McAloo Tikki Burger

Aloo tikki is mashed potato, peas, and spices, pressed into a patty and fried. In the case of the McAloo Tikki Burger, the patty is inserted into a bun and topped with tomatoes and onions. The burger pleased vegan traveler Chris Brunn, who stopped in a McDonald’s in Bangalore. Says Chris, “The patty’s potato was tender inside and crispy on the outside, like any cutlet should be.”
Bottom Line: “McDonald’s McAloo Tikki Burger was good in the way that an indulgent meal is when you know it’s only available in a place you may never return to.”
Fun Fact: Because India’s majority-Hindu population does not eat beef, McDonald’s restaurants in India do not offer hamburgers. Instead, they serve up the Maharaja Mac, a Big Mac made of lamb or chicken.
 

SINGAPORE: Chicken Fan-tastic

A crispy chicken sandwich between grilled rice patties (fan means “cooked rice” in Mandarin). According to globetrotter Juston Lin, “It tasted a bit like chicken fried rice ... only reconstructed. It had all the same elements—rice, chicken, soy sauce and vegetables—but in sandwich form.”
Bottom Line: “I wouldn’t say I enjoyed eating it as much as I enjoyed the unique and interesting eating experience. It didn’t taste horrible—I just don’t think I’ll be trying it again.”
Fun Fact: McDonald’s in Singapore offers a 24-hour delivery service called—what else?—McDelivery 24/7.

CHINA: Taro Root Pie

Taro root resembles potato, but with a stronger flavor, and is used in Chinese stir fries, dumplings, cake, tea, and ice cream. Says Joe Bookman, an English teacher in Hunan province, McDonald’s taro root pie “is essentially a deep fried hot pocket.” His closest approximation of the taste: “Home fries drenched in pancake syrup.”
Bottom Line: Says Joe, “My guess is that most Westerners would prefer apple to sweet taro.” Allison Quatrini, who studied abroad in Beijing, agrees: “I enjoyed eating it, but I would definitely characterize it as an acquired taste.”
Fun Fact: With an estimated 900 restaurants in China, McDonald’s is dwarfed by KFC, which boasts over 2,000.