An intrepid reporter from Narcity.com set herself the challenge of eating an array of menu items at both McDonald’s in the US and McD’s in Canada – declaring a ‘winner’. You may be surprised to learn that her verdict was extremely one-sided…
Narciry.com contributor Sienna Palmeri (right) – After her first round
of McFood tastings in the country vs country face-off…
Of course, it’s a good idea. And I’m just amazed that no one else in the flood-writer community performed the experiment previously. But I was amazed at the outcome. And I suspect you will be, too…
What she did
Sienna chose one McDonald’s location in each country. Her official Narcity bio says she’s originally from Vancouver, BC. So I presume one was there. The other was apparently in LA – because she refers to a $30 air fare to Vegas in another of her Canada-vs-US essays…
And she set out to eat five of the chain’s universally most-popular menu items at each. With a critical eye…
The ‘tasting menu’…
Her ‘tasting menu’ included: the Big Mac, Fries, Chicken McNuggets, the Snack Wrap, and the ‘Dessert Menu’.
Big Mac
“The Canadian Big Mac generally delivers on both taste and quality. I give the Canadian Big Mac of my memory three Michelin stars, and I rate it a 7/10. […] The U.S. version fell noticeably short. Compared to the Canadian version, it came across as more processed and much less carefully assembled.”
Fries
“Canadian McDonald’s fries are exactly what comes to mind at their best: golden, soft on the inside, and crucially not over-crisped. On [the] fast-food scale, they land around a strong 9/10. […] The U.S. fries came out hotter and saltier — just like your worst ex. Overall, they didn’t hold up beyond the initial bite, landing closer to a 5/10.”
Chicken McNuggets
“Canadian Chicken McNuggets are consistently golden, light, and crispy, with that classic slightly greasy finish. Overall, they land around an 8.5–9/10. […] The U.S. version didn’t quite match that standard. While not inedible, they were less satisfying and felt like a step down in both texture and freshness, landing closer to an 8/10.”
Snack Wrap
“In Canada, Snack Wraps and McWraps are still a staple, with a wide range of [stuffing] options to choose from. […] In the U.S., however, there is a national lack of interest in the Snack Wrap.” Sienna reports only two variants to choose from. In Canada, she had 5 to salivate over.
Fountain Drinks
“The Canadian McDonald’s fountain drinks tend to fall flat. […] Compared to what a fountain Diet Coke should be, it feels a bit watered down and underwhelming, landing around a 2/10.”
Desserts
“Canada has a much more extensive dessert menu than the U.S. […] The U.S. menu covers the basics, but the only items available there and not in Canada are an M&M’s McFlurry and a chocolate chip cookie that… looks questionable.” I wonder… Does Sienna know that Canadian Smarties are essent-ially equivalent to US M&Ms – with more colours in the mix?
Sienna’s overall verdict
“Hats off to you, Canada. You know how to do fast food right. ”
My take
Yea, Canada!
Here’s another challenge we take hands-down over our mega-populated neighbour to the south: Less violence, less gun-fear, fresher air, cleaner waster, and safer mass transit, to name a few…
But I feel obliged to suggest a few factors that might have contributed Canada emerging the 4 to 1 winner in Sienna’s taste test.
First, as she points out, Canadian Beef is superior on a number of fronts – several of them govern-ment mandated.
Second, I wonder how rushed US grill staff are putting together orders compared to their Canadian counterparts. Probably not 10 times, as the population differential would suggest. But I’ll bet crowd traffic has a significant influence over Sienna’s assessment that the US Big Mac, “was squashed and missing key toppings like lettuce, and felt less fresh overall.”
As for the third key factor – the relative pungency of fountain drinks – I have to say, I’ve had Diet Coke at a number of different Fast Food chains in Canada, and down the US Eastern Seaboard, clear to Key West. There was also that week in Los Angeles, back in 2005… All I can say is: ultra-carbonated fountain drinks are a big turn-off for me. And I’ve had over-concentrated Coke in US McD’s and other restos there more times than I’d prefer to recall.
Anyway…
I agree, overall, with Sienna in her assessment of McDonald’s in Canada and the US. I don’t neces-sarily agree with her in the degree of difference she assigns to some menu items. But I do agree who the winner was in each category.
OH, Canada! We stand in line at the ordering kiosk for Thee!
~ Maggie J.