Top 30 Craziest McDonald's Menu Items From Around the World

Hawaii
Variations in McDonald’s menus around the world are designed to cater to local tastes, which is why this unique breakfast offering can only be found in Hawaii. The platter consists of white rice, scrambled eggs, Portuguese sausage, and the star of the show: Spam. The salty canned meat has been a staple of Hawaiian cuisine since World War II, when fishing was restricted and American soldiers introduced Hawaiians to the shelf-stable protein. You can even ask for Spam in place of the traditional sausage patty of an Egg McMuffin, if you’re not hungry enough for the full platter.

Malaysia
In Malaysia, McDonald’s is known affectionately as Mekdi[a], and it’s here that you can find this Mango McFlurry. A base of vanilla ice cream is swirled with tangy mango sauce, mango fruit, and crunchy Oreo bits for a unique flavor combination to satisfy your sweet tooth. This dessert was first offered for a limited time in 2021 for Ramadan. Peak mango season begins in April in Malaysia, which is usually when this McFlurry makes a return appearance. Anytime this dessert can be found on McDonald’s menus, it’s sure to be a hit.

Hong Kong
To the untrained eye, this breakfast might look like something whipped up to use up leftover pantry ingredients, but it’s actually McDonald’s take on a popular Hong Kong breakfast. In this version, pasta and vegetables in a chicken or tonkotsu[b] broth are topped with a hardboiled egg and a sausage patty. Macaroni soup is a breakfast staple in Hong Kong cafés, providing a warming and comforting meal to kick off the day. Toppings for macaroni soup can vary, but generally include vegetables, egg, and some kind of meat, typically ham. The McDonald’s version stays true to tradition, with a fitting substitution of a flavorful sausage patty in place of ham.

Italy
If you’re not feeling like McNuggets, why not try this McDonald’s take on a traditional Italian snack? Panzerotti are similar to calzones, but traditionally smaller and fried instead of baked. McDonald’s panzerotti are filled with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, providing a vegetarian option for peckish customers. With two panzerotti to an order, these fried pockets are the perfect snack option to refuel during a day of sightseeing in Italy’s world-renowned cities. It might seem risky for a fast food chain to take on a regional dish, especially in a country that takes its cuisine very seriously, but this menu item appears to sell quite well whenever it’s available.

Australia
Pineapple on pizza is an endlessly controversial ingredient, but what about pineapple on a chicken sandwich? Introduced in December 2024 for the beginning of the Australian summer season, the Hawaiian McSpicy is the perfect blend of sweet and spicy with a fresh twist. A crispy portion of chicken is paired with Jack cheese, bacon, lettuce, and a pineapple ring on a traditional sesame seed bun. The spicy seasoned chicken is balanced out by the sweetness of the pineapple to create a surprisingly tasty sandwich perfect for tropical summer vibes. After a successful run in Australia, perhaps this sandwich should make an appearance on American menus for summer?

Malaysia
Malaysia’s national dish, Nasi Lemak, consists of fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf, traditionally paired with spicy sambal sauce, anchovies, cucumber and egg. Nasi Lemak translates to “fatty rice,” referring to the richness the coconut milk and pandan leaf adds. McDonald’s version of this dish stays true to tradition, keeping this simple dish close to its local roots. To fill out this meal even more, McDonald’s encourages customers to add a side of Ayam Goreng, or fried chicken in Malay, to their Nasi Lemak. Uniquely Malaysian and a cultural experience, this is one local favorite that tourists should definitely try out.

Costa Rica
This dish is a take on a popular breakfast item in Costa Rican cuisine, Gallo Pinto. This simple dish of beans and rice packs in a ton of delicious Central American flavors and makes for a hearty breakfast when paired with eggs. The McPinto Deluxe contains the traditional rice and beans with sides of scrambled eggs, sausage, fried plantains, tortillas, and a sweet creamy custard. For a fast food breakfast, this dish seems surprisingly fresh, healthy, and balanced. It looks delicious, but most intriguing of all is the custard. Does it go with the rest of the meal, for a savory-sweet flavor? Or is it a sweet treat for the end of the meal? Costa Rican McDonald’s lovers, enlighten us in the comments!

Philippines
In the early 1970s, McDonald’s introduced the McSpaghetti in an attempt to add some variety to its burgers-and-fries menu. The dish was unpopular in America and discontinued in 1980, but thrived in some parts of the world, including the Philippines. Today, you can order a hearty portion of McSpaghetti, served with a ground beef and tomato sauce, with a side of crispy fried bone-in chicken. Spaghetti became popular in the Philippines under American colonialism, and developed into a sweeter version to satisfy local tastes. As a result, the popular McSpaghetti is also sweetened slightly to more closely resemble Filipino spaghetti.

India
When it comes to vegetarian fast food offerings, India will always be number one. The star of this popular sandwich is a thick slice of paneer, a traditional South Asian soft cheese, coated in crispy, spicy batter and deep fried. This delicious cheesy patty is topped with lettuce and tandoori sauce and served on a sesame seed bun for the perfect meat-free sandwich. Paneer is a non-melting cheese, so it retains its shape and texture even after deep frying. The combination of crispy, chewy textures and bright flavorful sauce makes this a staple menu item for McDonald’s fans in India.

South Korea
Bulgogi is a common Korean barbecue dish, consisting of thinly sliced meat marinated in a savory-sweet sauce. McDonald’s South Korea has taken this traditional dish and turned it into, of course, a burger. The Bulgogi Burger consists of a pork patty smothered in thick, tasty Bulgogi sauce topped with lettuce and mayo. Customers describe the sandwich as being rich and sweet, with a distinctive flavor. The epitome of a McDonald’s twist on a local favorite, the Bulgogi Burger is the perfect handheld way to get a dose of that special Korean barbecue flavor.

Indonesia
Other than this one commercial from 1999, there is barely any evidence that the McSatay ever even existed. According to Redditors, it’s definitely no longer available at McDonald’s in Indonesia. Based on this ad though, we’re going to say it was probably pretty spicy. More recently, McDonald’s Singapore debuted the Shiok Shiok[i] Satay in 2014, which may or may not have been similar. That burger featured either a chicken or beef patty, peanut sauce, cucumbers and onions and honestly sounds amazing. Too bad that has been discontinued too!

UK & Ireland
If you live in the UK, you might not even realize that this popular menu item actually isn’t available stateside and is pretty much exclusive to the Brits. The Chicken Legend is simple, but delicious, featuring fried chicken breast and various toppings on a longer bakehouse roll, differentiating it from the standard chicken burger. There are several condiments currently available to dress your sandwich, including Cool Mayo, BBQ Sauce and Hot & Spicy Mayo. Next time you’re travelling through the region, make sure to try one of these, but be warned: they’ll make going back to the regular McChicken pretty difficult.

Australia
Did you know that in Australia, McDonald’s is mostly referred to as Macca’s? In fact, many franchises across the country have actually rebranded to embrace the nickname. Their restaurants offer lots of unique items, but one favorite is the Brekkie Roll. As of 2016, several different versions of this breakfast sandwich were offered, including a Smokey BBQ variety, Tomato Relish, and Spicy Chorizo & Egg. Important to note, these are NOT available on the all-day breakfast menu, so make sure to grab one before 10:30am!

France
Of course, McDonald’s France offered something called the “Camembert Premiere.” Way to play up to your stereotype, France! But the thing is, Camembert Premiere isn’t quite as elegant as you would think. They were just deep fried cheese bites, but instead of your standard mozzarella, they used fancy French cheese, camembert. There isn’t much info about them online though, so we’d love to hear from you guys in the comments if you ever had the chance to try them! In the UK however, something similar was released in the early 2010s called Cheese Melt Dippers, which were also filled with camembert.

Thailand
If there’s one thing McDonald’s in North America is lacking, it’s good seafood options. Sure, they have the Filet-O-Fish, but who really wants that? In the Asian market however, there are a variety of shrimp burgers available that all look really good. In Japan, you can get the Ebi Filet-O Shrimp Burger[k], which is deep fried in Panko. In Korea, you can get the Spicy Shrimp Burger and in Singapore the Wasabi Ebi Burger - or if you’re feeling really daring, the Double Wasabi Ebi Burger.

New Zealand
Leave it to the Kiwis to put an odd twist onto your standard McDonald’s burger. No, the Kiwiburger doesn’t have kiwi in it – fruit or bird – but in New Zealand they do use an unusual ingredient that you wouldn’t expect to find in your burger back home: beets! The Kiwiburger features a slice of beetroot as well as...an egg, obviously. As far as we can tell this isn’t even a breakfast item. And you can thank us for the rest of the day while this catchy song is stuck in your heads.

Japan
When you think of Japanese food, your mind probably goes straight to sushi made with fish, rice and vegetables. Even other traditional types of Japanese cuisines use similar ingredients, as well as meat and noodles, to comprise their meals. If you really wrack your brain, can you think of a single Japanese dish that involves...cheese? That’s why the Cheese Fondue Chicken at McDonald’s Japan is such a mystery. It features a chicken patty covered in a cheese sauce as well as more cheese in the sandwich. There may not be anything quintessentially Japanese about it, but it looks damn good.

Europe
People around the world enjoy Toblerone chocolate bars, but only in select countries can you get bits of it mixed into your McFlurry. It seems to be available in Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden, and based on the other McFlurries you’ve tried, you can probably imagine exactly what it tastes like. Around the world, there are actually tons of unique McFlurry flavors available. One that we’d love to try is the Stroopwafel[l] McFlurry from the Netherlands, which involves a popular waffle cookie that is much loved in the country.

The popularity of this menu item has made it available at a variety of countries across different continents... but you still can’t find it in the US or Canada, regardless of the name. A pita style flatbread sandwich, the McArabia is available in many Arabic nations. It’s found as the McOriental in some parts of Europe, and is known as the Grilled Chicken Foldover in Asia and South Africa. Even Israel – who for the most part has the North American menu board – offers it, as the McKebab. Yet, despite its best known name, this world traveler debuted as the Greek Mac – in Greece, naturally – in 2001.

Netherlands
It's a culinary anomaly, but the Dutch seem to love it. The main component of the McKroket is a creamy beef stew – or ragout – deep fried into something resembling a Filet-o-Fish. We don’t quite understand the science or magic at play here, nor can we quite imagine what the end result tastes like. It’s also topped with a mustardy mayo-sauce, which we think sounds good...? But based on this McDonald's ad, even tourists seem to love it! So if you’ve tried one, let us know in the comments what it’s all about.

Canada
What’s better than a delicious box of gravy and fries? A delicious box of gravy and fries with Quebec cheese curds melted in and around them, of course! Since the 1950s, poutine has been available in Quebec, Canada, and it has since expanded across the country. And, of course, McDonald’s decided to create its own spin on the classic fast food dish. It’s a customer favorite and is as appetizing as its photo looks on the menu. While Canada has had other McDonald’s specialties, such as the McLobster, it’s the Poutine – which was initially only available in Quebec – that has experienced such strong demand that it expanded to menus across the nation in 2013.

Japan
Served up in McDonald’s restaurants around Japan, this burger sure packs a flavorsome punch! Consisting of deep-fried breaded pork cutlets filled with processed, salad, and tonkatsu sauce, it’s another example of McDonald’s’ inventiveness. Originally available for a limited time in Japan, it was revived due to popular demand the next year. It’s not your typical McDonald’s burger, as it experiments with different flavors and ingredient combinations, but just one look - and one taste! - makes it clear why the people wanted the Cheese Katsu burger back on the menu.

Southeast Asia
Ever wanted to order a calorie-friendly burger? The McRice sandwich is the answer, as its two buns are made completely of rice in the form of rice cakes. Available in parts of Southeast Asia, the McRice burger is marketed as a healthier menu alternative, weighing in at roughly 378 calories, compared to the 529 of a Big Mac. It also features a choice between a beef or chicken patty, salad, and mayonnaise. The Taipei Times even reported 5 million of them had been sold after its first six months. Not too shabby for a burger without bread.

Australia/America
In 2014, Australian McDonald’s took customer control to a whole new level and gave them the chance to create their own meals with the Create Your Taste kiosk! While we could’ve gone with the beloved McOz burger as the Aussie favorite, we thought the ‘Create Your Taste’ option is more deserving of a spot here. Why? Also implemented across New Zealand, the United States, and the United Kingdom, it made a mark on the fast food world. With the help of a touch screen, you could customize your burger with a variety of ingredients, ranging from the type of bun to the types of cheese, special sauces and more! Although it didn’t stay around as long as we’d like, it satisfied unique customer tastes!

Israel
Take two slices of flat bread, put some barbecued – and kosher! - turkey meat inside, add some tahini and pickles and you’ve created a McShawarma. Accompanied by a TV ad that parodies Pulp Fiction, this sandwich is a popular menu item in its home country of Israel. As a large quantity of the Israeli consumer market isn’t permitted to eat other types of meat with respect to their religious beliefs, this product has performed very well as an alternative to the regular beef burger. While it’s close in style to Morocco’s McArabia, which features various vegetables, sauce, and two grilled chicken patties enclosed between Arabic flatbread, the name of this Israeli sandwich is much more fun to say: mcshawwaaarma!

Russia
These aren’t your normal kind of nuggets. They’re creamy, crunchy and gooey all at the same time. Did we mention they’re filled with delicious brie cheese? Found in Russian McDonald’s restaurants, these nuggets can arrive with a side of sauce… and yes, said sauce might even be berry jam. The Brie Nuggets are breaded and deep-fried and are sure to satisfy with a crispy outside and golden brown color to go. It’s a sweet and savory fix all in one that sure looks as delicious as it tastes.

India
This crafty invention is another one of India’s popular McDonald’s offerings. Crunchy brown dough coats a delicious combination of tomato sauce, onions, peas, beans, bell peppers, carrots and melted mozzarella. This savory option was designed to cater to vegetarians, as it doesn’t feature meat inside. Thanks to its explosion of flavor and overall inventiveness, and because it’s vegetarian-friendly, the Pizza McPuff wins a spot on our list.

Poland
McDonald’s gets fancy in Poland with this classy invention, taking a world famous meal and transforming it into a fast food burger. The Cordon Bleu Burger is unique from bun to bun. We start off with the delicious top bun, which has onions cooked into its surface. The inside boasts a combination of bacon and cheese, along with mayonnaise, a delicious fried beef patty AND a ham-stuffed fried chicken patty on top! With such appetizing flavors on offer, it’s no wonder the Polish loved this product so much during its run.

Germany
Love the taste of a juicy Bratwurst sausage? Then imagine three of them, inside a soft wide bun, covered in mustard. Meet the Nurnburger, a pure example of McDonald’s marketing genius in creating a menu item out of a well-loved national food. Interesting fact, Japan adopted this strategy as well, as seen with the success of their Mega Teriyaki Burger, and the country also notably hosted the Nurnburger’s direct cousin, the German Sausage Chicken burger. But back to the topic at hand: Need something to wash the Nurnburger down while you’re in Germany? Bring your ID to the counter and order some McBeer. I’m loving it!

India
India boasts a culturally rich McDonald's menu, with the Chicken Maharaja Mac being no exception. Standing tall in popularity among other well-loved Indian McDonald’s items, such as the vegetarian McCurry Pan and the Spicy Paneer Wrap, the Chicken Maharaja Mac caters to those of the Hindu faith by not containing any beef. Featuring two grilled chicken patties, onions, tomatoes, smoky mayonnaise and cheddar cheese, it’s no secret why this is a well-executed asset to the McDonald’s menu and our number one pick.

Which of these international specialties would you try first? Let us know in the comments!

[b]tong-KOT-soo https://forvo.com/search/tonkotsu/
[c]pan-zeh-ROT-tee https://forvo.com/search/Panzerotti/
[d]NAW-see luh-MAWK https://youtu.be/YOeDpwpSB98?si=_LaCehnwmteWxHYg&t=8
pan-dan https://forvo.com/search/pandan/
SAWM-bawl https://youtu.be/YOeDpwpSB98?si=nayB2GTxW5Dax4ae&t=4
EYE-am GORE-ing https://youtu.be/QjrXt-jvWaw?si=iMfDy4Z2ZTM8ml88&t=24
muh-LAY
[e]GUY-you PEEN-toh https://youtu.be/DIo8By1dVG0?si=oVEmgjl3kFM1Bq5T&t=29
[f]MUCK-doh https://youtu.be/4Wehp3gMAqc?si=NaHUurXdOp0BaUPI&t=16
[g]puh-NEER https://youtu.be/E0Ieqkl0w2E?si=puom3wUpBnO2xECn&t=3
[h]BULLGO-ghee https://forvo.com/search/bulgogi/ko/
[i]shook shook / shuke https://youtu.be/qus_lqOOzXU?si=UYpR54Z36G3iV7AX&t=1
[j]french i guess
[k]ebby https://youtu.be/8JAnn6hLGDU?si=qzDyqUGcZV3BrWMl&t=1
[l]stroop-VAW-fle https://youtu.be/Rj2Qt-caY_Q?si=pqdVd_yR598bzpke&t=5
[m]croh-KET https://youtu.be/Q1irip8FwzY?si=8La33zNlfuA4P3Fw&t=22
[n]CAT-soo https://youtu.be/2talfFZupus?si=sREREo-avE6RKdsu&t=1
TONE-KAWT-soo https://forvo.com/search/tonkatsu/
[o]NOORN / NURN -burger https://youtu.be/A1LjzGMw2zY?si=83Ytf9JGrorCvGXy&t=15
BRAWT-voorst https://forvo.com/search/bratwurst/