6 McDonald’s dishes that were a complete failure
You know that feeling when you’re really craving something and then you get it… only to be hugely disappointed. This kind of dish disappointment can happen to anyone, because even a well-oiled machine like McDonald’s occasionally comes up with a creation you’d rather throw away after the first bite.
And no, I’m not talking about my beloved Big Mac, because that always tastes amazing, right? I’m talking about the items on the menu that McDonald’s thought would be a hit, but turned out differently… Maccie D, what were you thinking? Read on and, above all: shudder.
The McDonald’s dishes that turned out to be a complete failure
1. Hula Burger
The idea behind this burger was to create a substitute for the regular burger for American Catholics who didn’t want to eat meat on Fridays. The Hula Burger, a slice of pineapple on a bun with a slice of cheese both above and below it, had to compete with the Filet-O-Fish, which was created by a Catholic McDonald’s franchisee. The Hula Burger never stood a chance. McDonald’s stopped producing it early on because the Filet-O-Fish won the battle hands down. I completely understand, because the Hula Burger honestly sounds pretty disgusting, doesn’t it?
2. McSpaghetti
A classic case of sticking to what you know. McDonald’s should simply keep making burgers and overly limp, salty fries that are almost always medium-hot. That’s fine—that’s how we know them and how we love them. But in the eighties, McDonald’s felt the need to compete with other fast-food chains such as Domino’s and Pizza Hut, and decided to launch McSpaghetti and other Italian items such as lasagna and McPizza. Nobody appreciated it, except in the Philippines, where you can still order McSpaghetti. WHUT? Let’s just hope they don’t tell anyone in Italy.
3. McPizza
As mentioned, McSpaghetti wasn’t McDonald’s’ only foray into Italian cuisine. McPizza sounds pretty good in theory, but the pizza itself wasn’t very good. At least, that’s what most people thought, because it barely sold. Every now and then, petitions pop up calling for its return, but I’m guessing you might as well throw a Dr. Oetker frozen pizza in the oven.
4. McSalad Shakers
Maybe I can’t entirely trust my memory anymore, but if I remember correctly, this was also on the menu in the Netherlands. The Salad Shaker: there was hardly a more awkward thing. Because who eats a salad on the go? Especially when you have to poke all the way down into a cup like that. And the shaking was a fun idea because of the dressing, but that was also its only advantage. In 2003, these terrible things were replaced by Premium Salads—served in actual bowls. Now that’s more like it, now we’re talking!
5. Onion Nuggets
I absolutely love onion rings. In fact, I’m a huge onion fan, but Onion Nuggets? I don’t know; what was wrong with the good old Onion Rings? The onions are still deliciously crunchy that way, whereas in nugget form they’ve turned into a strange purée. No longer recognisable as the vegetable onion. It seems like a very difficult substance to be served. The onion nuggets, introduced in the seventies, never became a success. Unlike their successor—the Chicken McNugget—which has been a true winner since 1983.
6. Lobster Roll
It’s entirely possible that this one tastes good. But I do wonder: if you’re really craving a lobster roll… you’re not going to McDonald’s, are you? I’d love to know whether there are people who have tried this and can give me a review. Did it actually taste like lobster, or just… like McDonald’s?
Also read:
- McDonald’s fans share their best McHacks
- Say what? You can order your own McFlurry machine online
- Is a Whopper ‘healthier’ than a Big Mac?
