McDonalds in Europe vs. McDonalds USA

[rollingrock]

I don't like eating at McDonald's, but when I go on vacation overseas I don't mind eating at one at all. There's no cheesy plastic decor, and unlike the states, the Euro-style burgers and fries on the McD's menu actually taste good, lol. It taste nothing like the slop they serve you in the states.



McD's London













McD's Germany

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. :-)

IN Spain they serve alcoholic beverages

[marmar]

2. Les McDonalds in Paris serve wine.....

..... that said, there's still no reason to visit one in Europe. The street food in cities such as Paris, Rome, Brussels etc. blows it away and is cheaper.

[paulsby]

35. and yet per capita france is (last i checked) mcd's 2nd strongest market

iow, the french love their mcd's.

[marmar]

38. Doesn't make it any less crappy, n'est-ce pas?

[paulsby]

55. i don't think it is crappy.

you can.

[tj2001]

3. The McDonald's in South America (e.g. Argentina) are also very nice

[rollingrock]

4. More pics

Florence


Swiss branch


Frankfurt






Budapest (I believe)


Rekjavic

[MilesColtrane]

23. Does the Rekjavic Mickey D's serve McNarwhal?

[rollingrock]

28. I don't know

I hope not. I don't like to see anyone eating whale meat, lol.

[Canuckistanian]

24. That last one can't be Rejkjavik

They don't use cyrillic letters in Iceland.

That must be from a from a former East European communist country.

[rollingrock]

29. Yeah, you're right

I think I got the last two shots mixed up.

[AsahinaKimi]

51. McDonalds in Osaka, Japan

Talk about a happy meal!:D

[MrScorpio]

5. I've had McDonalds on three separate continents

And of the three, I liked Europe the best, and in Europe, the ones in Holland were my fave.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

6. The only time I tried McDonald's in Tokyo,

the burger was awful. Turned out the meat came from fishmeal-fed cattle.

I understand that's been rectified, but, ugh........................

[Hardrada]

14. The McDonald's in Berlin I visited was fine but as I was taking

a picture of the pastries and cakes in the McCafe there was a chorus of laughter from some German teens. I wondered what it was all about and later overheard that the young folk were amused by my whiskers and mustache which resemble, apparently. those of Kaiser Wilhelm II in later life (and here I thought I looked like Robert E. Lee!!) After I thought about this, I was amused too.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

17. See?

Travel broadens and enlightens.

That's so obvious - now - and very, very funny............

:hi:

[Hardrada]

56. I would have been broadened if I'd eaten those pastries!

:D

[comrade snarky]

30. Ha! Like you I have moderately odd facial hair for the US

A handlebar mustache and pointed goatee. Kind of a musketeer thing.

It gets noticed in Europe.
When my wife and I were in Prague (her hair was blue at the time) we were stopped by a gaggle of Italian teenagers. At first I thought they wanted us to take a picture of them... but no. They all wanted pictures with us! Middle of the Old Town Square and we were the tourist attraction.


edited for typo

[Hardrada]

57. I think Europeans have some kind of problem with facial hair

that Americans don't. Must be historical. I wonder how many others have run into this.

[comrade snarky]

59. It seemed to fade as I went East

There was never any kind of problem but I saw a lot of people noticing and even a few double takes.

Surprising when you see how often the German team wins the International Beard and Mustache Championships.
http://www.worldbeardchampionships.com/

Here's Elmar Weisser of Brigachtal, Germany who fashioned his beard into London's Tower Bridge

[Hardrada]

61. Well, if one makes it a competition, it must be OK!!

[JI7]

7. there is a show on mcdonalds around the country/would on one of those travel, food discovery etc

channels.

i think they tried to make one in america that served other food that was more homestyle like but they didn't do well and it closed.

you can do a search for the mcdonalds site of other countries. just google the words Mcdonalds and the name of the country and you will find menus for the mcdonalds food served in those countries.

when i went to india i said "nooooo way" when i saw the mcdonalds. but i should have gone in to just take a look at the menu and other stuff to see how it differs from here.

[Sebastian Doyle]

10. Yeah, that menu in India is a bit different.

Haven't actually been there, but I've seen the menu

http://www.mcdonaldsindia.com/menu.html

Not surprised there aren't burgers, of course. But I WAS surprised to see that they sell Chicken, but they don't do eggs. They don't appear to have a breakfast menu at all now, but when they did, it was conspicuously free of any McMuffins McBiscuits or McBreakfast Burritos that would have had eggs.

And of course there are things on the menu that would seem unique to the Indian franchise, but no doubt a bastardized fast food version of those food items, just like anything they serve in this country.

[JI7]

8. they had this at Mcdonalds Singpore which looked good to me

but i didn't get it. mcdonalds in singapore also does delivery

[UnseenUndergrad]

9. SWEEEEETT...

I like the British and German decor the best.

And I thought the McD's on Notre Dame avenue (Winnipeg, just south of the eastern railyard from my 'hood in the North end) was trippy after going all "Green Tea" on us, buit this is just frickin' sweet.

And as to the German restauants, as long as any horse-meat dishes are clearly labeled and safe for human consumption, I might even try them (even though I've heard it's sickiningly sweet for red meat).

[Imajika]

11. McDonalds Thailand...

...is also better than the ones in the US. Dunno why exactly. They look about the same. Menu is somewhat different. I guess the food is usually just cooked properly and served neater than the McDonald's in America.

I don't eat it hardly ever, but now and again I will and always notice the Bangkok McDonald's are noticeable better than the ones I eat at in the US.

[excess_3]

12. please post prices

especially for places that are better than the US

[anigbrowl]

15. You ask, DU delivers

http://www.economist.com/markets/bigmac/
http://www.economist.com/businessfinance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14036918

[excess_3]

26. thanks .n/t

[SoCalNative]

13. They're still evil

I wouldn't support them ANYWHERE.

[Shagbark Hickory]

16. Wow! I can't believe my own eyes. Those look like beautiful restaurants. n/t

[Arctic Dave]

18. McD in Germany - Beer = Good

McD in Hong Kong - roaches, big ugly roaches = bad, very bad.

KFC in Bahrain = worse

[Glory89fan]

19. It may taste better in Europe

But it's still crap

[rollingrock]

21. Well, McD's have to abide by the EU food laws

like any other restaurant in Europe. So the ingredients used in their EU operations are probably held to a higher standard. Where fresh, organic, high quality ingredients are the norm...unlike the hormone-filled, overly-processed GMO mystery meat we get in the US.

[paulsby]

36. even julia childs praised McD's fries

as do i. i am a major foodie, but mcd's is satisfying too. and quite cheap. two apple pies for $1.

i can enjoy haute cuisine and also enjoy basic meat and potatoes fast food.

i don;t think it's crap at all, and i make a point to eat there occasionally.

i think mcd's hate is just one of those reflexive things.

they are a classic american success story.

[marmar]

41. "they are a classic american success story"

Generic crap for the masses? I can't argue with that.

[paulsby]

53. not generic

innovative. look at the history. they were the first with all sorts of stuff. recently, look at the egg mcmuffin. they practically invented the fast food breakfast sandwich.

mcdonald's is a great company and one with a history of charitable giving (ronald mcdonald house, etc.). many other companies have studied their business model noted for its remarkable efficiency, cleanliness, and intelligent management.

i applaud mcdonalds

[Cid_B]

20. I still prefer McDonald's America

McCafe in Europe is nice but frankly if you want items from the American menu ( MOST ESPECIALLY BREAKFAST ) you are screwed. Europe is catching up though. I think they just got McGriddles.

When in Europe I tend to gravitate towards BK for burgers and McDs for fries, nuggets and a cheap sundae.

[demigoddess]

33. last time I bought a breakfast at mcd , it was uneatable.

How can they wreck scrambled eggs???

[kevinbgoode]

22. OMG...but they give you MAYONNAISE with the FRIES!

It is absolute sacrilege. I count on that ketchup with my fries so I'll have a vegetable with my happy meal.

[Occulus]

34. Mixing the two is actually sort of tasty.

Although I wouldn't want to look at the sodium and calorie count...

[mamaleah]

54. Mayo+ketchup=heaven

Love it.

We don't go to McD's (kosher issue) but at home I am always using ketchup and mayo on fries. Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[lildreamer316]

25. The McD's in Asheville at Biltmore Village is supposed to be pretty nice.

Food Network did a short segment on it.

[Sultana]

27. A McDonald's near Trafalgar Square is quite shite but that one is NICE!

:)

[comrade snarky]

I've only stopped in two

One outside the main train station in Budapest. The food and decor were standard crap but it was the only thing open besides a sandwich shop in the station. With the guy nearby who'd been eying our bags.

The other I will always remember fondly because it was the only warm place I could find in a little Romanian town at 5 in the morning in early November. The coffee may have been bad and the food inedible but to me at the time... one of the best cups a joe ever. brrrrr

[TlalocW]

31. In France, McDonald's don't have Quarter Pounders

Etc. etc. etc.

I ate at a McDonalds or two in Mexico in college when I was there for five weeks taking my last Spanish class for a major. Kind of disconcerting to see large windows with the Arches logo on them ruining hundreds of years old Spanish colonial buildings. They had a guacamole burger that was okay.

My first trip to Mexico in high school was on an interchange program (students from Puebla came up and stayed with our families, and we went down and stayed with theirs). I came in a day later than everyone else from America (everyone spent the night in Mexico City) so my teacher met me at the airport and took me to McDonalds where everyone was waiting. McDonalds for teenagers meant getting dressed up and looking cool because it was the place to hang out believe it or not.

TlalocW

[proteus_lives]

32. I've had McD's in Europe.

The fries were awful!

[exboyfil]

37. Just watched Supersize Me with my oldest last night

I think I got her out of the McDonalds thing. I am hoping my youngest and wife will watch today (it is free on Hulu.com).

[hobbit709]

39. The last place I would eat at is a McDonalds here in the US

And it wouldn't even cross my mind in some other country. Not with the variety of local foods in any country I might visit.

[marmar]

40. That's what I'm thinking.....

Who wants Mickey D's in Europe?

[Amaya]

47. exactly what i was thinking

:wtf: .... yuck!

[Dorian Gray]

46. When I lived overseas

I'd hit McDs occassionally. But when I travel for a week overseas? No way. I'm all about the local cuisine.

[erasmia]

42. Mac Donalds in UK

I have notice that in UK the Mac Donald's are not more or less consider as a really nice place to it. The two stores I have visited did not have the same comfortable and nice place to seat and eat as in other EU countries such as Italy and France. I do not like to eat them as well but once in a while I might drop in. What although comes to my attention is that a massive number of teenagers and children visit Mac Donald's really often, I have also seen babies to eat MD fried potatoes! Imagine the bad effect on the children when they will grow up? Instead of cooking at home they will prefer junk food and we will have a community with non energetic people; named as "Coach potato".

[jakeXT]

44. It worked for Bulgaria

Germany's Defeat a Disgrace
The Washington Post | July 12, 1994 | Copyright

Here's a translation of an article in yesterday's Bild, Germany's largest circulation newspaper. Translation by Aaron Green. Note that the peculiar style is indeed reflective of Bild. This portion is from the lead story in the sports pages.

We had really looked forward to Wednesday. The semifinal against Italy. The soccer classic!

Nothing! Over! Out!

We're out. Instead of the classic, the tragedy.

Germany choked against Bulgaria. Against a team which, rather than practicing, preferred lying by the pool,stuffing itself with french fries, lying on their bellies in the sun.

[jakeXT]

43. it could cost more

[KG]

45. mcd's obviously understands the avg american will scarf up any garbage shoved under its nose.,

[Bluenorthwest]

48. Well it looks better than a Wimpy Bar

When I first visited the UK, I was a kid, and the only 'burger' available was the Wimpy.

[JCMach1]

49. Ummm the ones I went to had the same old crap (i.e. food)

and the same horrid interiors... there is no McStyle in BeNeLux

[ThomWV]

50. When I'm on the road I always stop at McDonalds - best place to piss in the USA

Allways clean restrooms, always on the right hand side of the building in the rear, in case you're in a hurry they are never hard to find. Best place to piss in the United States of America.

[Hardrada]

58. In Germany, you are expected to tip an attendant when you use

the McD pisser. Didn't notice this in the UK.

[conspirator]

52. fuck them both. and fuck burger king too nt

[TheKentuckian]

60. They call it a Royale with Cheese.