Korean McDonald’s and McDelivery
Being an American living in Korea, finding reasonably priced American food was difficult. I’ve grown up on my mom’s home cooking, so eating spicy food and rice all the time was difficult for me. Eventually I caved from my ‘fast food ban’ and tried the McDonald’s down the street from my University. I’d heard a lot about how McDonald’s around the world all adapt and serve menus based on the local environment, and the Korean McDonald’s menu was no different.
Though the menu is very similar to it’s American counterpart, it has it’s own Korean-inspired flair. Though I found myself eating many Quarter Pounders, I also adored the Bulgogi Burger: a pork patty covered in bulgogi sauce, with some lettuce and mayonnaise. The Double Bulgogi Burger was even better, it added an additional pork patty with a slice of cheese. Many girls also liked the McSpicy Shanghai Burger, a fancy chicken sandwich with a kick. Not to mention the fries, they are extremely tasty compared to the current offerings of American McDonald’s. These were like the fries I grew up with.
Double Bulgogi Burger
One of my favorite things about Korean McDonald’s though? McDelivery. Sometimes it took what seemed like forever, but my food always came. McDelivery runs for 24 hours a day, so if you crave McDonald’s at either 3am or 3pm, you’ll be able to have it. There was a 10,000KRW minimum for delivery, but since tipping is not commonplace in Korea, it was worth paying for an extra item for the convenience of having food brought right to the doorstep. The employees had cute little yellow and red scooters with the iconic “M” on the built-in compartment, which held the food and beverages. It still baffles me that McDonald’s doesn’t deliver in every country. You can place your order either over the phone or online, the latter being a great option for those who haven’t mastered the Korean language. The site gives the user multiple options for payment, and even has you leave your phone number so the delivery person can call when they are arriving. The website even has a tracking device so you can see when your order is placed, being cooked, out for delivery, and finally delivered.
McDonalds and McDelivery Scooters
Even if you want to fully immerse yourself in Korean culture, stopping by a McDonald’s while you’re in the country is worth it. Comparing and contrasting the food from your home country to that of Korea is always fascinating, not to mention the taste is beyond what you’d expect of a typical fast food restaurant.