I am a 90s child so grew up with Ronald Mcdonald and Birthday Parties at Mcdonalds. I went to one remember wearing a hat and going downstairs to the play area and a cake?

Over the years many food items have come and gone some becoming iconic like the McRib. Staples stick around while others change out seasonally. I had the idea to look back at what was and also look further afield to some of my travels. My boss jokes i get overly excited when going away and visiting Mcdonalds.

Mcdonalds first came to the Uk in 1974 and opened their first restaurant in Woolwich, there are over 1270 restaurants in the Uk. In 1982 Breakfast was added to the menu and in 1984 the iconic Chicken Nuggets were added to the menu. 1986 saw the introduction of the Happy meal and the 1st drive thru restaurants. I did not know this myself but Mcflurries came out in 2000 and more dishes and restaurants opened over the years.

This year Mcdonalds celebrated 50 years in the Uk and had the Birthday inspired menu out. With 2 Mcflurries, a Birthday Cake Donut and the Grimace shake ( not the same as the USA one)

They seem to have got rid of the presence of Ronald here in the Uk and Europe, but not in the USA. The Mcdonalds i went to in California near Knotts Berry farm, has an Arcade and a minature Train display inside.

I will look at European menus like Spain and Amsterdam and also the USA as well as here in the UK. But it seems there are some interesting dishes across the globe. Spaghetti in the Philippines. Pizza in the USA Florida one. Chicken wings.

Starting on home turf. I did not really eat much at Mcdonalds growing up. I am not overly fond of the Burgers, more or a Chicken nugget or Burger person. I also tend to go for the Drinks and sweet treats like Pies, Mcflurries and coffee drinks. I looked back through my gallery of pics to find evidence of menu items gone. Some i had forgotten and some remember. I can remember though not many can, The Hot diggety Hotdog in the Uk, it must have been brief. I got one with my grandad after or before i went to the Dentist to have my braces tightened. Just a basic ketchup/Mustard .

  • Hot dog Hot diggety check out the ad on youtube
  • Chocolate Raspberry Flake Mcflurry 2011 comes back
  • Tiramisu Mcflurry 2022 Choc coffee sauce
  • Toffee Apple Mcflurry Apple flavoured sauce and chocolate shapes 2023
  • Skittles Mcflurry 2024 freeze dried skittle pieces and a flavoured sauce
  • Ruby Kitkat Mcflurry Ruby chocolaate and kitkat pieces and a sauce 2024 valentines
  • Munchies/Milkybar Ripple Mcflurry for the 5oth bday celebration 2024
  • Easter Galaxy Bunny Mcflurry 2024 chocolate sauce and bunny shaped chocolate shapes
  • Lotus mcflurry 2023
  • Toffee crisp Mcflurry
  • Twix Mcflurry and Twix Latte
  • Strawberries & creme frappe summer 2022/2023
  • Mint chocolate chip frappe summer 2021
  • Oreo frappe 2024 blended with oreo pieces cream on top
  • Lotus Biscoff frappe blended drink with caramel cream on top 2024
  • Caramel and mocha blended frappes
  • The pies Double chocolate, Mincemeat& Custard, Hot cross bun pie, Chocolate Raspberry,Raspberry white chocolate, Toffee Apple, Galaxy caramel
  • The coffees:Hot cross bun latte, Caramel waffle, Millionaires Latte, Waffle latte, Spiced cookie, Marshmallow latte.
  • McRib
  • The Grimace Shake
  • Birthday Donut, Millionaires Donut, Berry muffin, chocolate Brownies, Donut,
  • Spicy spanish stack burger 2022
  • Crispy chicken Italiano burger
  • The Chicken fiesta 2022
  • Nacho spicy cheese wedges.

The list goes on, their are ones i can remember but do not have photos of or remember the names. Feel free to add a comment of your Mcdonalds Memories and fave dishes from the past.

Moving across the Pond to the USA. In my recent trips i made it a mission to go to Mcdonalds and get some of the new foods out. Whilst in California, Vegas and Florida. The cup sizes are vastly different to ours. I ordered the Large iced coffee omg lol. Their is a big range of Coffee drinks on offer as well as Sundaes and regional specialitiy drinks.

  • The OG Grimmace shake Berry flavoured and the Birthday Meal 2023
  • Oreo Frappe this is definitely different than the one we had, as had coffee
  • Bacon Ranch Mcrispy burger
  • Strawberries & Creme pie soo good
  • Seasonal holiday pie filled with custard and sprinkles on top 2019
  • Various bakery goods like Cookies and muffins on the menu
  • Iced Lemonade sweet Tea
  • Mcgriddles like a Pancake but syrup on the inside in pockets
  • Granny Mcflurry with like a butterscotch chips flavour
  • Frozen Fantas
  • They also have had Guava Pie and Cookie and creme pies.
  • Iced french vanilla coffee ( so many coffee options on the menu )
  • Shamrock shake for st Pats would love to try that
  • Sausage Biscuit Breakfast
  • The Apple pies are different too, baked not fried and taste different too

Moving across the pond to Europe to Amsterdam and Spain

I researched both of these before i went and looked out for new releases and menu items, some they didn’t have must be regional or lapsed by the time we got there.

  • Amsterdam
  • Honey Mustard Chicken Burger soo good (Crispy Onions,Cheese, Lettuce, Bacon and a Sweet Mustard sauce)
  • Coconut Milkshake ( was there even Coconut in it?)
  • Pop dots like donut Holes various flavours
  • Mint Tea
  • Machiatos
  • Paprika Mcshaker fries
  • Mckroket Burger ( like a breaded patty with a filling inside
  • Chocolate stroopwaffle Mcflurry
  • Stroopwaffle Mcflurry
  • Raspberry meringue Mcflurry

In Amsterdam also you had to pay to use the Toilets in Mcdonalds 50c, there was also Cheesecake on the menu, but damn was out of stock when we went. They also served the Mcflurries in taller plastic cups which are reusable. The touchscreen has an option to customise your own Mcflurry. So that is what i did for the Chocolate Stroopwaffle one. Adding sauces and toppings from different ones. The Mcshaker Fries are also in Spain but not in the UK. You get a big bag and then the chips, you put them in the bag for the sachet of seasoning and shake shake shake.

Spain

I also googles Spanish Mcdonalds menus before going also, i am guessing some are regional as i did not see some of the offerings, where i was. Mcdonalds in Spain sells BEER! i have no interest myself in Beer but still. Also have gazpacho

  • Beer
  • Gazpacho
  • Mcshaker fries sour cream
  • Top fries/wedges with Cheese and Bacon
  • various Ice cream sundaes and Mcflurries
  • Coffee with icecream ( cup with Icecream in the middle with cold coffee around soo good
  • Donettes Mcflurry like a chocolate cake donut

I do have much more pictures, but just added some to illustrate the idea.

Do you have a forgotten about McDonald menu fave? or current let me know in the comments. Or have you visited somewhere aborad and tried somethign different at a Mcdonalds?

I watched a lot of old retro commercials and saw so many ones. Like onion Nuggets. I try to try as many on home turf when they come out, whether they are good or bad which appeal to me.