Country Specialties
Actually McDonalds is NOT always the same, in fact it is slightly different in every country. McDonalds caters for all different tastes, traditions and religions around the world. The majority of the menu is generally the same as the original USA McDonalds, but with each country having its own few additional menu items.
Some menu items have come about out of necessity and popularity. In India, Hinduism forbids the consumption of beef, and Islam forbids pork, this prompted McDonald's initially to use lamb instead; it later switched to chicken due to its popularity.
In predominantly Muslim countries like Malaysia, pork is not served due to Muslim dietary laws; the hamburger is called the beef burger, avoiding the word "ham". "Veggie burgers" are offered wherever there is a significant demand, including India and much of Western Europe.
McDonalds is always trying to capture a new market and hence they introduce new ideas onto the menu regularly. It would be very difficult to keep up with all of these. Some items are experimental and may only appear for a matter of weeks where others become a staple of the standard menu.
Restaurant Variations
McDonalds has expanded out so much it now has a separate counter on the street selling soft serve ice-cream for the passersby in a hurry. This has been seen in Budapest and Hong Kong. They also have a separate section McCafe, which serves the usual fare of coffee, tea, pastries, muffins and cakes.
The café makes the takeaway stores a little more upmarket. In fact many McDonalds’ restaurants around the world are more elaborate than others. India and Egypt have a porter at the door to open it as you enter while the French version make it a more pleasurable experience by having a fancier premises to visit.
The price of menu items is not however relative to the economic status of a country. So for the poorer nations, the cost of a meal at McDonalds seems relatively expensive compared to a local meal, whereas the cost of a McDonalds’ meal in a well off nation is relatively cheap! As the McDonald's burger menu in the United States is similar to that elsewhere, The Economist magazine devised the Big Mac Index, comparing the price of the Big Mac burger around the world.
Actually McDonalds is NOT always the same, in fact it is slightly different in every country. McDonalds caters for all different tastes, traditions and religions around the world. The majority of the menu is generally the same as the original USA McDonalds, but with each country having its own few additional menu items.
Some menu items have come about out of necessity and popularity. In India, Hinduism forbids the consumption of beef, and Islam forbids pork, this prompted McDonald's initially to use lamb instead; it later switched to chicken due to its popularity.
In predominantly Muslim countries like Malaysia, pork is not served due to Muslim dietary laws; the hamburger is called the beef burger, avoiding the word "ham". "Veggie burgers" are offered wherever there is a significant demand, including India and much of Western Europe.
McDonalds is always trying to capture a new market and hence they introduce new ideas onto the menu regularly. It would be very difficult to keep up with all of these. Some items are experimental and may only appear for a matter of weeks where others become a staple of the standard menu.
Restaurant Variations
McDonalds has expanded out so much it now has a separate counter on the street selling soft serve ice-cream for the passersby in a hurry. This has been seen in Budapest and Hong Kong. They also have a separate section McCafe, which serves the usual fare of coffee, tea, pastries, muffins and cakes.
The café makes the takeaway stores a little more upmarket. In fact many McDonalds’ restaurants around the world are more elaborate than others. India and Egypt have a porter at the door to open it as you enter while the French version make it a more pleasurable experience by having a fancier premises to visit.
The price of menu items is not however relative to the economic status of a country. So for the poorer nations, the cost of a meal at McDonalds seems relatively expensive compared to a local meal, whereas the cost of a McDonalds’ meal in a well off nation is relatively cheap! As the McDonald's burger menu in the United States is similar to that elsewhere, The Economist magazine devised the Big Mac Index, comparing the price of the Big Mac burger around the world.