McDonald’s menus vary around the world, with each country getting its own special treats. America has some exclusive items you can’t find anywhere else.
At the same time, many of us still dream about discontinued classics that once graced U.S. menus.
Let’s explore both the current American exclusives and the bygone favorites we wish would make a comeback!
1. McRib Sandwich
The legendary boneless pork sandwich shaped like ribs comes and goes from menus, driving fans wild with its limited availability.
Smothered in tangy barbecue sauce with onions and pickles, it creates hysteria whenever it returns. McDonald’s even created a “McRib Locator” website for desperate fans to track it down!
2. Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwich
Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside! This American exclusive features a chicken breast filet marinated in buttermilk and perfectly fried to a golden brown.
Topped with crisp lettuce, tomato and mayo on a potato roll, it’s a step above regular fast food chicken. The buttermilk batter gives it that extra Southern-style flavor you can’t find overseas.
3. Egg McMuffin
While now available in many countries, America got this breakfast game-changer first in 1972. Canadian bacon, American cheese, and a perfectly round egg on a toasted English muffin started the fast-food breakfast revolution.
Created by Herb Peterson to mimic Eggs Benedict, this morning classic remains uniquely American in its origins and execution.
4. Steak, Egg & Cheese Bagel
Morning luxury in sandwich form! Thin slices of steak with grilled onions, a folded egg, and melted American cheese come together on a toasted bagel.
The sandwich gets a flavor boost from breakfast sauce – a creamy, slightly tangy spread. While bagels appear on some international menus, this hearty steak version remains a uniquely American breakfast indulgence.
5. Arch Deluxe
Remember the “adult” burger? Launched in 1996 with a massive $300 million marketing campaign, the Arch Deluxe targeted sophisticated palates with a circular piece of bacon and fancy sauce.
Despite the hype, customers weren’t impressed by the higher price point. McDonald’s pulled the plug after disappointing sales.
6. McDLT
“Keep the hot side hot and the cool side cool!” This innovative burger came in a styrofoam container with two compartments.
One held the hot burger patty and bottom bun, while the other contained the cool toppings and top bun. Environmental concerns about the packaging led to its discontinuation in the early 1990s.
7. Onion Nuggets
Before Chicken McNuggets took over the world, McDonald’s tested these bite-sized onion treats in the 1970s. Small chunks of onion were breaded and fried to crispy perfection.
These proto-nuggets never made it to nationwide release but played an important role in fast food history. Their development led directly to the creation of the iconic Chicken McNugget we know today.
8. McPizza
McDonald’s ambitious attempt to enter the pizza market in the 1980s and early 90s featured personal-sized pizzas cooked in special ovens. Available in cheese, pepperoni, and deluxe varieties, these pies took too long to prepare.
The 11-minute cook time clashed with McDonald’s fast service model. Most locations discontinued it by 1991.
9. Hula Burger
Ray Kroc’s unusual meatless creation featured a grilled pineapple slice instead of a beef patty, topped with cheese on a bun. Created for Catholic customers who couldn’t eat meat on Fridays, it competed with the Filet-O-Fish in test markets.
The fish sandwich won by a landslide, and the tropical fruit burger quickly disappeared.
10. McSalad Shakers
Salad in a cup! These portable garden, chef, and grilled chicken salads came in large plastic cups designed to be shaken with dressing.
Introduced in 2000 as a convenient, car-friendly way to eat salad, they were revolutionary for their time. McDonald’s replaced them with Premium Salads in 2003.
11. Spanish Omelette Bagel
This breakfast bagel with a Southwestern kick featured a folded egg with green peppers, onions, and Spanish spices. Topped with cheese and a spicy tomato sauce on a toasted bagel.
Part of the bagel sandwich line of the late 1990s and early 2000s, it offered morning commuters a more flavorful alternative to standard breakfast fare.
12. Chopped Beefsteak Sandwich
This hearty sandwich featured a large oval-shaped beef patty that extended beyond the bun, topped with grilled onions and steak sauce. Served on a special oblong bun in the late 1970s.
Designed to compete with sit-down restaurant offerings, it was more expensive than regular McDonald’s fare. Complex preparation requirements led to its relatively short menu life.
13. Big N’ Tasty
Created to compete directly with Burger King’s Whopper, this sandwich featured a quarter-pound beef patty with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and a special sauce on a sesame seed bun.
Introduced in the late 1990s and discontinued in 2011, it gained fame as part of the Dollar Menu.
14. Chicken Selects
Premium chicken tenders made with whole pieces of chicken breast, these were a step above regular McNuggets in both size and quality. First introduced in 2002, they developed a devoted following.
Despite being discontinued in 2013, customer demand brought them back temporarily in 2015. Their premium breading and all-white-meat chicken made them worth the higher price point for many fans.
15. McStuffins
These pocket sandwiches were McDonald’s answer to Hot Pockets in the early 1990s. French bread pockets stuffed with ingredients like pepperoni pizza or teriyaki chicken, then toasted to a golden brown.
Marketed as a portable meal option, they never gained traction with customers. Their brief test market run makes them one of the more obscure McDonald’s items that most customers never got to try.
16. Hulaburger
This odd creation was McDonald’s first attempt at a non-meat sandwich. A slice of grilled pineapple stood in for the meat patty, topped with cheese on a regular bun.
Created by Ray Kroc himself to attract Catholic customers on meatless Fridays, it failed spectacularly in test markets. The Filet-O-Fish, developed for the same purpose, became a permanent menu item instead.
17. Mighty Wings
These spicy, crispy chicken wings made several menu appearances between 1990 and 2013. Unlike most McDonald’s chicken offerings, they came bone-in and featured a distinctly spicy breading.
Despite their quality, their final 2013 run ended with McDonald’s reportedly left with 10 million unsold wings. The higher price point and spicier flavor profile didn’t connect with enough customers.
18. McSpaghetti
Yes, McDonald’s tried pasta! This 1980s menu experiment featured spaghetti with tomato sauce, a sprinkle of cheese, and optional meatballs.
Part of the “Dinner Menu” concept that aimed to attract evening diners.
While it flopped in the U.S., it remains available in international markets like the Philippines.
19. Super Size Option
Not a specific food item, but a legendary menu option that defined an era. For just cents more, customers could upgrade to enormous portions of fries and drinks that seem shocking by today’s standards.
The 2004 documentary “Super Size Me” highlighted health concerns, leading McDonald’s to eliminate the option that same year.
20. McLobster
This seafood sandwich featured cold lobster meat mixed with mayonnaise and lettuce on a hot dog-style bun. Primarily available in New England and Canadian Maritime locations when lobster prices dropped seasonally.
While technically a regional item rather than fully discontinued, its limited availability makes it a white whale for many McDonald’s fans.