It’s out with the old and in with the new at McDonald’s this week, as customers wave goodbye to the Chicken Legend to make way for a brand new burger that will be staying on the menu for good.
The arrival of the McCrispy was announced last week, dividing fast food fans who were both excited to try the new menu item, but equally devastated to be losing, quite literally, a legend.
The McCrispy has already won over celebrities like Maya Jama and Leigh Francis following a successful star-studded launch in Salford earlier this month. But now you can get your hands on it and try it out for yourself, as it hit restaurants at 11am this morning (October 19).
Joining the McCrispy on the menu this month is the BBQ Bacon Stack, returning for another stint, as well as the Twirl McFlurry, which replaces Mars and Twix options. Mini potato waffles have been placed on the breakfast menu, too, while Nacho Cheese Bites will be making a return at the end of the month.
I headed into my local branch to try out the new menu and see if all the hype was worth it. I arrived at 10.55am, just in time to order the waffles from the breakfast menu, swiftly followed by the burger and McFlurry.
I placed my first order at the touchscreen, resisting the urge to order my usual sausage McMuffin, and selected the mini potato waffles. The portion costs £1.39, which is cheaper than the cheesy sides at the chain, which are typically around £2.29 for a similar amount of food.
Minutes later, as the clock turned from 10.59 to 11.00, I waited in the queue for the till to order a McCrispy meal with a Fanta, for £6.49. The burger on its own would cost £4.99. I also asked for a Twirl McFlurry. There was a pause. A pause is never a good sign.
“Sorry, the machine isn’t ready yet.”
I’ve found there’s typically a 50 per cent success rate in ordering a McDonald’s McFlurry, and it really is a lottery. You should never get your hopes up too high.
That said, the staff did inform me it would be ready in about 20 minutes, so I decided to eat my waffles and burger, and would order one afterwards.
Sitting in my booth, I unwrapped the potato waffles to discover they’re not actually that mini. In fact, they’re pretty substantial and very good value for money. The fluffy breakfast side comes as a portion of three crispy potato waffles. They’re available on their own, or as part of a breakfast meal as an alternative to a hash brown.
The waffles themselves are thick, with a gorgeously golden coating that offers a satisfying crunch as you bite into them. Their insides are light and flavoursome, albeit they are a little bit greasy - but it’s the perfect ‘hangover cure’ amount of grease.
Nostalgic and delicious, the potato waffles are, frankly, incredible and I’m praying that they’ll be a permanent menu item. They’re such a great option for people who aren’t a huge fan of hash browns, and are well worth getting out of bed early for. They’re beautiful, carby windows of deliciousness.
Find your closest McDonald's so you can try the potato waffles or McCrispy for yourself!
Next up was the McCrispy, McDonald’s first new permanent chicken burger in 15 years. The game-changing burger is said to be the brands 'crispiest, crunchiest chicken burger', so I was excited to try it for the first time.
I usually order a Mayo Chicken, sans mayo, which my boyfriend often likens to ‘eating a chair leg’. I like it, but could the McCrispy spice up my life and see me switch up my regular order?
Made with 100 per cent chicken breast fillet, the McCrispy comes in a yellow box, and on lifting the lid, there’s no denying that it’s attractive. The patty comes served in a four-inch glazed bun making it look like one of the chain’s more premium burgers, topped with lettuce and mayo.
Biting into the stack, it’s evident that this is far superior to the Mayo Chicken, with a definite crunch to the crispy coating. Marinated in black pepper and cayenne, it’s got a bit of a kick to it, but not enough to put a Korma-orderer off. Not only that, but the bun balances any heat with its sweet nutty toasted flavour, making it a really enjoyable and filling meal. Having had the potato waffles prior, I couldn’t finish the last bite, despite being desperate to polish it off.
The McCrispy costs £6.49 for an extra-value meal, which comes with fries and a drink, on its own, it’s £4.99. In comparison, the Mayo Chicken is 99p, but it is pretty bland and far smaller in comparison. It’s your call as to whether you want to pay the additional £4 for a more full-bodied burger and bun.
A friend of mine who tried the burger the same day said: “It was like eating a massive Chicken Select encased in bread.” And when you consider the price of three Chicken Selects is £3.29, the price seems to be put in perspective a little better.
I headed back up to the till to order my Twirl McFlurry for £1.69. There’s also a mini version available for £1.19, ideal for younger visitors. This heavenly dessert is made with smooth dairy ice cream, swirled together with pieces of Cadbury’s Twirl with Milk Chocolate sauce, and is the perfect way to finish off a trip to the fast food joint.
The McFlurry was a welcome change from the usual flavours. I really like that McDonald’s changes their limited edition flavour every six weeks or so to keep it fresh. It’s exciting to see the McCrispy made a permanent addition to the menu, but it was the potato waffles that totally blew me away. I really hope they’re here for good
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