Top 10 McDonald's failures: #10 Mc Gratin Croquette - deep fried macaroni, shrimp, and mashed potatoes on cabbage

[rworange]

It boggles the mind to think what is at the top of the list
http://listverse.com/2009/05/30/top-1...

Not all are discountined and some like the Mc Gratin make special appearances from time to time. This is on the menu of McDonald's Japan.

I always wanted to try the McLobster roll. Not so much after seeing a photo.

I'm kind of thinking the #2 spot ... the McAfrica burger ... really should have 'won' the top spot for poor taste.

Some others mentioned in the comments
- Thailand had a rice cake burger ... rice cakes instead of a bun
- Onion nuggets
- Eggs Benedict McMuffin with hollandaise sauce

My own votes for worst were the McShrek shake and the breifly reformated Filet-o-fish.

[nsenada]

McRib was truly vile - I ate one on a dare, and regretted it instantly. The "chomp! swimming in a sassy sauce" commercial really grated on my nerves. I do have an arch deluxe t-shirt somewhere, those actually weren't that bad.

[Fibber McGee]

The McRib has a cult-like following. A true phenomenon when so many limiited issues are forgotten until reintroduced.
I really liked the McDLT. The Jason Alexander commerical, fortunately wasn't the only one they aired for it.
I don't know if you can really call it a failure, and it's not a specific item, but I remember McDonald's Olympic game in 1984. "If the USA wins, then we win," Since all the eastern bloc countries as well as Cuba boycotted those games, the US completely dominated the Olympics, and I can only imagine the amount of free food McDonald's had to give out. My future attorney brother was really worried they were losing a lot of money.

[Davwud]

There's been petitions to bring the McRib back and check out this website.

http://www.bonelesspigs.org/bonelessp...

The Simpson's did a spoof about the Olympic promo in 1984 where Krusty Burger was giving out free food for the same thing.

DT

[Manybears]

They also spoofed the McRib cult following!

[Davwud]

I missed that one.

DT

[nsenada]

Oh yeah - I think Krusty said he would spit in every 5th burger, to which Homer said "I like those odds." I believe Krusty was disgusted that he almost swallowed some of the burger juice during the filming of the commercial. I have to say my memories of the McRib line right up with that sentiment. Extrusion molded to look like "mini-ribs," and a grainy wormy texture. Shudder.

[porker]

I used to have an eclectic summer fast food joint and visited various trade shows. I remember when the McRib knockoffs came along. We went with this
http://www.pierrefoods.com/divisions/food/products/detail/food-item_detail.jsp?myItemNum=1898&marketName=Food Service&myFoodGroupName=Pork RIB-B-Q&pierre=1&myBrandName=Pierre&marketName=Food Service&productUrl=http://www.pierrefoods.com/divisions/... RIB-B-Q&productMarketName=Food Service&prodMarketName=Food Service

Teenagers really loved them "Just like McDonalds!" they'd say. One guy, in his twenties really liked 'em, said it was exactly the same as they served in the chowhall while in the Marines.
The Pierre website has a military subsection, so he was probbably right. was

[nsenada]

Oh, God - there's one with "bbq sauce built right in." I wonder if it squirts in your mouth like Freshen Up gum.

[joe777cool]

omg - bbq sauce squirting out of fake rib meat....am I the ony one drooling?

[im_nomad]

i'd probably eat an eggs benedict mcmuffin, or at least try it....surely can't be any worse than that mcgriddle thing.

re:onion nuggest. KFC I think had/has onion nuggets at one point...I remember them being pretty good.

[vvvalerie]

Anyone else remember the pizza? I used to love it with my Happy Meal as a kid..I wonder what happened to it.

[Davwud]

I do. I thought the pizza was pretty passable.

DT

[Davwud]

Jason Alexander must be rolling over in his grave. And he isn't even dead yet. How much do you think he's pay to have that ad burried??

DT

[Lizard]

I'm actually distressed by the way in which the blogger deals with the McAfrica burger. Yes, it is in bad taste for a number of reasons:

* The prefix of Mc doesn't really work, and comes off as particularly weird in marrying regions of the world.

* Referring to an entire continent comprising multiple nations, communities, languages, etc. is reductive and offensive.

* Similarly, the reference to an 'African' sauce makes no sense. From where?

All that said, I think assuming that all Africa suffers from famine or that calling something the McAfrica burger is akin to creating a McHolocaust burger is equally reductive and reproduces an Africa in crisis model that actually equates an entire continent to suffering and genocide.

We might wish to consider the implications of how we critique things lest we reproduce some of the more problematic aspects we wish to dispel.

[rworange]

I was at a business conference where pretty much all the top tech firms were represented. The CEO of one was talking about new markets to penetrate. He said, "if God appeared to you and said he was giving you all of Africa ... give it back". Pep talks about Africa aren't going to put a happy face on the problems there.

Though your point about a burger representing a continent is valid and as absurd as having a McEurope, McSouth America or a McNorth America burger ... tho I guess the McDonald burgers ARE the McNorth America burger with the breakfast burrito representing our friends to the South. That still does kind of exclude Canada.

[porker]

McBeaver

[FrankD]

And you pronounce that "Mc-Bee-VAY".

[porker]

Perhaps "Mcbeev-EH - a mouthful of fur"

[Lizard]

How is suggesting we consider the implications of promoting an "Africa in crisis" model a "pep" talk or the equivalent of slapping a smiley face on it? It seems you might be missing the point of what I'm trying to say...

[PaulV]

I cant believe they included the McLobster. I always look forward to those when I visit the East Coast. They are not as good as restaurant lobster rolls, but they are also typically much cheaper. The kids love McDonalds and having the McLobster as an option makes me dread the occasional visit that much less.

[im_nomad]

not always cheaper.....around these parts you can pick one up for about $5 cdn in the summer that surpasses the mclobster...

[viperlush]

I remember the #8 the McDLT. I thought it was so cool that there were two compartments and it was a DIY burger. Never had one though, we were more of a BK family.

[Sooeygun]

I remember wanting to order a McDLT, but we never went to McD's cause my dad hated it.

Ah, those were the days, when McD's made all their burgers ahead. There were those little metal tags with numbers so they would know what time the burger was made.

[podunkboy]

I think I'm one of very few people who actually LOVED the Arch Deluxe, no ketchup, please. The McLean however, was awful. And although I've never seen a hot dog on our local menus, they did offer a grilled brat one or two summers that wasn't all that bad, with grilled onions and brown mustard. Wish they'd bring that one back.

[FrankD]

When Toronto's SkyDome first opened, McD's had the monopoly on all food served in the stands (outside of popcorn and peanuts, I believe), and so, in response to popular demand (outrage?), they introduced a hot dog. It wasn't the greatest hot dog I've ever had, but I've had much worse, believe me.

[bbison]

Agreed, Arch Deluxe (w./ bacon!) was good, but the price point was high once the free coupons ran out.

I had something called the McFarmer at Frankfurt airport once. Pretty scary.

Bring back the Cheddar Melt--the test market version with real cheese not liquid goo!

[ipsedixit]

McAfrica?? I can't believe that name actually made it out of the corporate PR department.

Wonder if there was "McAsia Burger" ... maybe a Katsu Pork on a sesame bun with lettuce, tomato and special sauce?

[rworange]

There was mention of a McChina burger in Argentina during the Olymics. However, the comments were vague ... something with curry or sweet and sour sauce or both.

[Manybears]

I had that Beijing Burger at a McDonald's in Peru at that time. It was something like a Big Extra but it was topped with chop suey and some kind of red sauce. It tasted like it should be on the menu as "Salt Ten Ways". It came with rice sticks instead of fries... I think they were going for fried rice patties in the shape of sticks, breaded and deep fried. It did not go very well.

[mrbigshotno.1]

One good thing they do a little different is some of the McD's along I-25 in New Mexico offer fresh sauteed green chilis on your sandwich no extra charge.

[Tripeler]

I wouldn't call any of the Japan offerings a failure by any means. These new and unusual products are strategically developed and released my McD Japan to maintain interest in the chain and its menu. They are essentially designed for short-term marketing (often a few weeks) in order to boost publicity and create buzz among customers here. Quite frequently, they are released seasonally and every year people come to expect them.

[porker]

I always wondered how the McWrap name came about - sounds akin to ordering a
sh!t sandwich: Mc Crap

[energy]

I had the McLobster roll about 5 years ago at a McDonald's outside Boston...for $5.00 it was small, but the bun was fresh, lobster sweet and even though it was very small, it was good.