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McDonalds UK to launch premium burger line to challenge Five Guys, Shake Shack, etc.
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MilkyJoe
Member
I have to say I've been a big fan of create your own taste in Australia.
There is a significant jump in the quality of the burger and ingredients, at least in my experience.
Its generally got pretty decent reviews by diners too.
These all look amazing. I would go to mcdonalds more if they looked like that.
baudelinog
Member
McDonalds should focuse in his market: the budget one. Don't try to compete with the good burgers, cause you can't.
Krappadizzle
Member
Five Guys is a great burger joint.
McDonalds:
McDonalds:
British Monsoon
Member
Mayo, coleslaw, mayo. Motherfuckers. These may be freshly made, but I never put it past McDonalds employees to fuck up any order that dares deviate from their set menu in the slightest way.
Not really, the quality of the beef is obviously to a much higher standard than other fast-food chains over here. The patties are freshly made, formed on the grill, and the price reflects both of those facts. Sure, you can get a better 'premium' burger at any number of pubs and restaurants, but in the realm of UK fast food Five Guys is pretty much in the very the top-tier.
Not really, the quality of the beef is obviously to a much higher standard than other fast-food chains over here. The patties are freshly made, formed on the grill, and the price reflects both of those facts. Sure, you can get a better 'premium' burger at any number of pubs and restaurants, but in the realm of UK fast food Five Guys is pretty much in the very the top-tier.
As long as McD still uses frozen patties, their Sandwiches will never be a "Premium Burger".
Harry Stewart
Member
I think the recent Maestro ones (blue cheese or gruyere) were not bad. Good quantities of meat at least, not bad for a quick fix.
Example for those not in the know: http://www.mcdonalds.ch/de/menukarte/burger-wraps/maestro-gruyere
But yeah, I'll take Inglewood or Holy Cow over them any day.
To be fair, in the UK, we don't have any competition for McDonald's and Burger King unless you live in a decent size city. I don't, so I'm shit out of luck.
However we do have countless pubs, and the majority sell fucking incredible burgers. My local does a freshly ground double patty burger with bacon and a choice of mature cheddar or stilton, salad, shitloads of chips (fries for you American folk) and a pint of beer or cider on tap. That's £7.99
After you've added a drink and fries to this McDonald's premium burger, you're basically better off going to the pub and waiting a bit longer for some actual legit burger time
However we do have countless pubs, and the majority sell fucking incredible burgers. My local does a freshly ground double patty burger with bacon and a choice of mature cheddar or stilton, salad, shitloads of chips (fries for you American folk) and a pint of beer or cider on tap. That's £7.99
After you've added a drink and fries to this McDonald's premium burger, you're basically better off going to the pub and waiting a bit longer for some actual legit burger time
MilkyJoe
Member
Knife and fork usually.
Pila
Member
I've been to McD the other day. It's hard to believe how small those things are, I swear they used to be bigger. Somehow I feel full after the burger and that's impossible, it looks like a Barbie gadget but it works. Kinda scaring, I don't know how they do that. Lately they're trying to push this "quality" thing over here as well, I heard they have a burger with legit parmigiano reggiano, go figure.
Messofanego
Banned
Still won't be able to beat Roosters Peri Peri burgers. Beef steak and gourmet beef burgers, just drooling thinking about it.
CloverCarr
Banned
Yes, and it's as close to heaven as we'll ever get.
Quickly.
I tend to prefer the quality of burger that most pubs are pumping out these days. Places like Bread Meats Bread in Glasgow or Burger Meats Bun in Edinburgh are also much better quality.
Harry Stewart
Member
You ever try Honest Burgers?
NinjaBoiX
Member
Basically this.
The burgers are thoroughly bland and just really not that good at all, but the fries are tasty.
MilkyJoe
Member
Get yourself a Cost-Co card and get yourself some kirkland burgers, fresh or frozen
Chuck one on the BBQ, put it in a bun with ketchup and frenchis and thank me later.
SoulUnison
Banned
They need to go one way or the other and, honestly, I'm not looking for a "premium fast food dining experience" from McDonalds... I'm looking for "fast food."
Find a way to bring back a Dollar Menu and put things people actually want on it. Bring back the amazing fries you used to have and do whatever it takes to always have enough on rotation that everybody's order is hot and crispy.
I'm never going to stop at a McDs and drop 7 or 8 bucks for food that's terrible for me, but I'll occasionally hit up a drive-thru for two bacon cheeseburgers and a value fry. Or at least I would, when those things were still a buck each.
Find a way to bring back a Dollar Menu and put things people actually want on it. Bring back the amazing fries you used to have and do whatever it takes to always have enough on rotation that everybody's order is hot and crispy.
I'm never going to stop at a McDs and drop 7 or 8 bucks for food that's terrible for me, but I'll occasionally hit up a drive-thru for two bacon cheeseburgers and a value fry. Or at least I would, when those things were still a buck each.
MatrixMan.EXE
Member
The only thing McDonald's has going for them is price. As much as I love the place, Five Guys is so expensive over here, but even with these premium burgers, if people want Five Guys, they'll go to Five Guys lol No one thinks to themselves 'damn I feel like Five Guys, but hold tight McDonald's'.
London has some of the best gourmet burger joints in the western world. Fact. Also, for those of you around the South Coast (Southampton/Bornemouth), try out 7Bone, if you haven't already.
London has some of the best gourmet burger joints in the western world. Fact. Also, for those of you around the South Coast (Southampton/Bornemouth), try out 7Bone, if you haven't already.
Maybe in small towns, but in Manchester for example I can go to:
Five Guys
Byron
Almost Famous
Gourmet Burger
Handmade Burger Co
SoLita
Filthy Cow
Archies
Plus dozens of others.
MilkyJoe
Member
Yeah, pretty much any gastro pub will knock you up a burger that will crush a fast food joint.
There's about seven now. They're opening at a rate of knots.
These new burgers look okay when outside of central London. In central it's going to be pretty hard to compete, because Honest, Patty and Bun and Dirty Burger all exist. Five Guys seems like it still has better topping options though.
I don't see how they're going to compete, it's still McDonald's. If anything they should be trying to reduce prices so all the kids who hang out there for hours actually might buy something.
As far as gourmet burger wars go, Patty & Bun has it in the bag. Their cheeseburger, fries, chicken wings and hot sauce combo is artery clogging heaven.
As far as gourmet burger wars go, Patty & Bun has it in the bag. Their cheeseburger, fries, chicken wings and hot sauce combo is artery clogging heaven.
Yeah still MacDonald's like, I've tried the premium ones they've done in the past - those taste of the US things and other ones of that ilk. End of the day it's still shitty Maccas meat, trying to sell me a thicker patty of that shite? Not exactly an appealing though. I donb't know anyone eating Maccy's outside of being drunk or hungover these days.
Also it means actually having to go into MacDonald's, i mean people here go to a moderately nice or quirky looking place to sit down and get a burger and all the other goodness that goes along with that, nobody's gonna think "Hmm, I wanna go get a nice burger in a fancy bun and all that jazz" only to go sit in a fucking Maccy's.
Also there are some amazing gourmet burger places in the UK, London's got some incredible spots.
Also it means actually having to go into MacDonald's, i mean people here go to a moderately nice or quirky looking place to sit down and get a burger and all the other goodness that goes along with that, nobody's gonna think "Hmm, I wanna go get a nice burger in a fancy bun and all that jazz" only to go sit in a fucking Maccy's.
Also there are some amazing gourmet burger places in the UK, London's got some incredible spots.
Sounds nice, will give it a go. Five guys are ok but massively overpriced.
McDonald's seem OK in the UK. the menu has some healthy(ish) stuff on it, and you can get orange juice or water instead of fizzy drinks. It's no gourmet restaurant but it doesn't seem as bad as descriptions of US McDonalds sound like.
McDonald's seem OK in the UK. the menu has some healthy(ish) stuff on it, and you can get orange juice or water instead of fizzy drinks. It's no gourmet restaurant but it doesn't seem as bad as descriptions of US McDonalds sound like.
This is the truth. Pub food quality has increased immeasurably over the past 15 years or so, and the burgers being sold are damn good. Someone else earlier also mentioned Gourmet Burger and Handmade Burger - both great suggestions.
You go and spend £3, £4, £5 on a fast food burger, it will be average at best. You go and spend just a couple of pounds more - you get bigger, better, tastier, more filling. It's also a much better experience to sit down in a comfy chair and take your time over things - as opposed to being sat on a piece of plastic welded to the table, surrounded by dozens of teen chavs *rumbles off into rant about kids nowadays, shakes fist at sky*
ultratruman
Banned
I don't think this is a bad idea at all.
No other restaurant has the money and power of McDonald's. Coming out with a second tier of gourmet food with proper ingredients etc might be smart, if they keep prices relatively low.
In my city a lot of popular gourmet burger places have opened up recently. The quality is great, but definitely overpriced.
No other restaurant has the money and power of McDonald's. Coming out with a second tier of gourmet food with proper ingredients etc might be smart, if they keep prices relatively low.
In my city a lot of popular gourmet burger places have opened up recently. The quality is great, but definitely overpriced.
So yeah I dont think this will take off, I'm happy to pay £13 for a five guys meal but I'd be upset at paying £10 coming from Mcdonalds, maybe I need to give it a try but I really cant see them competing with the the burger chains in terms of quality.
I guess I'm pretty spoiled for choice as I work in Central London so maybe its a good option to have for other parts of the UK.
Also nothing is fucking with Honest Burger, just found out they've been expanding and there is now a few around the city. Lunch sorted!
Oh in my opinion of best burger (chains as I agree good gastro's are still king for Burgers)
1. Honest Burger
2. Shake Shack
3. Five Guys
4. Patty and Bun
5. Flat Iron
6. Meat Mission
There's a few others that are meant to be truly world class (Tommi's if anyone has ever tried it?)
I guess I'm pretty spoiled for choice as I work in Central London so maybe its a good option to have for other parts of the UK.
Also nothing is fucking with Honest Burger, just found out they've been expanding and there is now a few around the city. Lunch sorted!
Oh in my opinion of best burger (chains as I agree good gastro's are still king for Burgers)
1. Honest Burger
2. Shake Shack
3. Five Guys
4. Patty and Bun
5. Flat Iron
6. Meat Mission
There's a few others that are meant to be truly world class (Tommi's if anyone has ever tried it?)
Garrus Vakarian
Member
I hear you, sometimes keeping it simple is just the best.
Darren870
Member
They've had this in Australia now for a while. Today was the first time I've tried it actually. And you know what? It wasn't that bad.
It tasted like all the recent burger joints that have popped up over the years in the UK and US.
Basically all about how much shit you can fit between the buns and less about the actual meat.
Which I don't really like that much anyways.
It tasted like all the recent burger joints that have popped up over the years in the UK and US.
Basically all about how much shit you can fit between the buns and less about the actual meat.
Which I don't really like that much anyways.
The best thing about Five Guys is ordering your burger with as many stuff as available so you can barely taste the paddy, tho. Will McDonald’s do that?
Seriously, though: I'll try it. It can't possibly be worst than their regular burgers.
And the good thing is, McDonald's is one of the few stores that stay open until late close to home, so I hope this is a decent effort from them, because my late night, drunk food could reaaaaaaally use some more effort.
Seriously, though: I'll try it. It can't possibly be worst than their regular burgers.
And the good thing is, McDonald's is one of the few stores that stay open until late close to home, so I hope this is a decent effort from them, because my late night, drunk food could reaaaaaaally use some more effort.
Agreed on the pub front. Five Guys is nice but I wouldn't necessarily say it was premium or even priced correctly. Shake Shack is good, though there might be just one in the entire country.
Gourmet Burger Kitchen is garbage but I used to get a ridiculous discount on it when I was a Picturehouse member.
SolidChamp
Banned
I'm from Canada, and I'm blown away by how much McDonald's prices have gone up in the 8 years my wife and I have been living abroad.
I think it has to do with the minimum wage in the respective country/state/province.
Here in Taiwan, a Big Mac extra value meal is $5.17USD, or $6.82 Canadian (all-in, no taxes being added onto that). It's pretty darn cheap here.
JonathanEx
Member
Right - this is my issue with Five Guys in the UK. I tried one cos of all the hype, just a burger to go, I probably should have added loads of toppings on it... I mean it was a good patty, but overpowered by the cheese, and I didn't think £8 for a cheeseburger, no sides, was better than say going out for a decent pub or local restaurant. And then as you say there are brilliant ones - a bunch of pubs here all have burgers done with this one company so you know you can get some incredible ones.
Succinct Verbosity
Member
This is all fine and good, but they really need to think about lowering the prices of the food they already have.
Stallion Dan
Member
Nicely worded, not 100% beef patty, but 100% British and Irish.
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