These Overseas McDonald's Foods Belong in the U.S.

We are officially #jealous

By Julia Hays Dec 04, 2015 6:43 PMTags
McDonald's Resturant, Golden ArchesGetty Images

Dear international McDonald's locations: you are making us jealous, and you are making us hungry.

Yes, we're #blessed for our apple pies and our Big Macs, but when we see some of the items being launched or tested overseas... our food FOMO kicks in.

We don't like missing out on snacks we see people Instagramming.

These foods may be permanent staples, or limited-time offerings, but regardless, we are seeing Mickey D's items that we need in our lives (and bellies.)

Courtesy McDonald's

The new loaded fries that just launched in Australia are a combination of our favorite things. There's an option of guacamole and salsa fries or bacon and cheese fries. America was founded on bacon bits, McDonald's. To you, the last 'B' in BYOB must stand for 'bacon', huh? Look, we'll bring purse guac for our fries, for now, but we should probably just get our own loaded fries, because we've been good all year.

The cinnamon sugar-covered fried churros now available at South Korean locations hit the sweet spot for us too. We are totally happy for you South Korea, for real, but how does a churro-loving county like the United States not have these yet? Something tells us dipping them in a McFlurry is what heaven is like.

Courtesy McDonald's

By way of sandwiches, we can tell the McArabia Chicken, which is available in Pakistan and several Arab nations, would totally be our jam. Grilled chicken patties with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and garlic sauce wrapped up in some pita bread? Heck. Yes. We love pita more than Katniss loves Peeta.

Courtesy McDonald's

Speaking of wraps, the McFalafel at McDonald's Egypt could fill a huge hole in our falafel-loving hearts. Falafel garnished with tomatoes, lettuce, onion, pickles and topped with Tehina sauce, wrapped inside tortilla bread, has huge U.S. potential. Where else can you get falafel on a U.S. fast food menu? (Please. Tell us if you know. We seriously need it.)

Courtesy McDonald's

Beyond the standard baked apple pie, U.S. McDonald's have played around with some pie flavors in the past. One international offering we don't know how to feel about (but still want to eat): the pineapple pie. Granted, it's popped up at Hawaiian Mickey D's now and again, but it's primarily at locations in Asia. We will never turn down a new pie to try.

Courtesy McDonald's

Now look, we know the chain's gotten out of the McPizza game. #GoneTooSoon. However, it has come to our attention that thanks to the extensive vegetarian options at Indian McDonald's restaurants, we could be enjoying some goodies like the Pizza McPuff. Granted, it's very Hot Pocket-esque, but the idea of a calzone-type treat has us intrigued. Think about it.

Finally, now that we're living in a time of expanded McDonald's breakfast hours (as Drake and Future would say, "oh what a time to be alive!") we have found something the Kiwis have, that we can absolutely argue belongs in the U.S. New Zealand and Australia are offering NYC and Boston-named bagels, and they're on the other side of the world. The NYC Benedict Bagel is pretty standard (bacon, egg, and cheese on a bagel), but they throw that hollandaise sauce on there, and we're smitten.

Which of these overseas options would you most like to try? Tell us in the comments below!

Speaking of fast food, watch the video below to see what one of Padma Lakshmi favorite guilty pleasure foods is...