McDonald's Exotic intrenational Menu

I must admit that my favorite Pizza restaurant is DaVinci’s Pizza in Seattle, since no one can beat them in taste but growing up with Pizza Hut’s deep pan is a stigma that I have to live with and relive with for rest of my life. It is like getting nicotine fix knowing it is bad for you.

It is always fascinating to see the international menu of our national fast food chains. The Pizza Hut menu for US consumers is very boring compare to our counterparts in Asia or Europe. Take this Pizza Hut menu from Pakistan. Beside the items available to US customers they got Fajita Pizza, Euro Pizza, Chicken Tikka Masala, Karahi Chicken, Kebab Pizza (Bihari) and a lot more. However, the selection for the Middle Eastern consumer is very limited.

While visiting London in 1993, my Mickey D taste buds forced me to stop by the local McDonald. While I was waiting in the line for my turn, I realized that Britts were ordering something known as McCurry. Until then I never heard of McCurry. It turned out to be Chicken Tikka Masala on a bed of rice. I believe I was the only one ordering the wrong type of food sic Mickey D.

While McDonalds is an All American franchise but it has successfully converted its menu into an international outfit prefect for local taste buds? I bet most of the Americans will be shocked to see some of the items on the McDonalds international menu. No offense to Mikey hater, but I always stop by at McDonalds while traveling oversea. You would agree with me that while traveling internationally in stange places any American looking thing offers comfort like Mama’s hug. Not sure if you want to call it patriotism or comfortsism.

Maharaja Burger India

A great number of Indians do not eat beef however; they have the Maharaja Mac, which is a twin brother of Big Mac made of lamb or chicken meat. McAloo Tikki is available to vegetarians. If you hate fast food, the mutter paneer pan is a perfect choice for you.

Here are some interesting facts about McDonalds International menu.

Middle East

McDonald offers the McArabia to Mid Eastern consumers as a local sandwich. The McArabia is made of two patties of grilled Kofta kebab topped with Tahina sauce, wrapped in Arabic bread that is familiar to locals.

Israel

Kosher cheese burger and have the McShwarma, which is lamb with Mid Eastern spices stuff into pita bread. They also have the McKebab, two patties with Middle Eastern spices, stuffed into Pita bread.

Newzeland

You would expect Tandoori Chicken wrap on the menu of an Indian restaurant but McDo will surprise you again. A delectable seared chicken fillet, freshly sliced tomato, cucumber and lettuce, topped off with tasty mint yoghurt and Tandoori sauce in a warm tortilla wrap. I read about the Kiwi Burger. It is just a hamburger with salad, beetroot and an egg on it. However, I did not see it on the menu when I visited the local franchise.

Around the world

Kimchi burger in Korea, Guacamole burger in Mexico and Peru, Mcspaghetti and rice burger in the Philippines, Teriyaki burger in Japan, McEgg in Germany, Vegg and Lamb burger in India, beer is served in McDo in Germany, France, Spain and Pourgal, in El Salvador French fries are made out of yucca.

To cut the cost of apple filling (expensive fruit in Philippine), the filling of apple pies sold in the McDonalds are actually made of sayote or chayote marinated in apple sauce and syrup. In Hawaii they have Taro Pies, filled with Taro (kinda like a sweet potato), Spam and Eggs Breakfast in Hawaii,

Religion and faith

McDonalds has taken religion into consideration in order to win Muslim and Jews business. Pork and bacon are not served because pork is prohibited by Islamic and Jewish laws. To respect the faith and the expectations of the Muslims in Middle East and East Asia, culinary specialties are offered in form of Halal meat that is a keystone to Muslim consumers.

Mat Chaudhry PhD. (c)