Is the McRib really worth eating?

Cafe Society
161

I’ve often marvelled at how a McRib can be sold in our town that has one, two… FOUR great ribs places.

Same applies for any burger (SO many amazing burgers here)…
Or a Filet O’ Fish when there are places that serve a tasty Friday Night Fish Fry any night of the week!

Now, can you do a quick drive-through and get this gourmet food almost instantaneously? No …

… so if you’re so busy that you have to get fast food,
a) Mickey D’s is consistent (I love that); and
b) you might want to reappraise your life.

162

I think most people who eat McDs regularly in preference to local places are not doing it because they’re excessively busy. They are doing it because they are excessively scared of variety / fussy eater / addicted to FF qua FF.

163

They are on the east coast, at least they were a few decades back when I was growing up in Pennsylvania. Back then, the fancier convenience stores (like Sheetz or Wawa) were not a thing anywhere that I knew of, so there was certainly no “food service”.

I still vaguely recall the jingle - to the tune of Rock Around the Clock (I think)
A M P M Mini-Market
You can drive right there in your car and park-it…

I rarely eat at McDs.

When we’re travelling (or, rarely, running errands all over town at home), there are times when we just need to refuel ourselves / use the bathroom. McDs is reliable and reasonably cheap for that purpose. If we have any time at all, we try to find a local spot, or at least a slightly better chain (Panera being a fave).

164

Trying to find a place to eat out with my inlaws is nearly impossible. Two picky eaters. Drives me nuts.

165

Yeah, but when you want a McRib, you don’t want great ribs. You want that weird thing that McDonald’s sells.

166

Indeed. There’s a fundamental category error if you conflate McRib with actual BBQ ribs.

But the clear inferior can still win out due to convenience, ubiquity, or FOMO*.

“Fear of missing out”, if you’ve never encountered the letterism before.

167

The only time I eat at McDonald’s is when I want McDonald’s, not “a hamburger.” Like Taco Bell, it is its own thing.

168

To add to the above posters – my extended neighborhood is about 3 or 4 square miles. It is about 85% Hispanic. There are taquerias, food trucks, and myriad Mexican restaurants, many specializing in certain subcuisines. Yet there are also 2 Taco Bells and 1 Chipotle doing steady business, and their clientele, from what I’ve seen the few times I’ve been in it, reflects the neighborhood at about 85% Hispanic. Even Mexicans go to these places because they want Taco Bell or Chipotle, not Mexican Mexican food. Or maybe they want something Mexican-adjacent that is quick and convenient and has a drive-thru. Or maybe it’s also a bit cheaper than other options.

169

No one has brought up the classic Jack in the Box tacos (still two for $0.99). Grease soaked meat bombs that uniquely satisfy late night nutritional needs, they don’t even pretend to be any kind of “authentic”.

170

With a caveat - you have to order them through the app to get that price, otherwise they’re 2 for $1.99.

It’s been 14 years since I worked there but I still love those “moist envelopes of cat food”. :slight_smile:

171

Yeah this. I don’t consider myself exceptionally busy, but sometimes I just want to sate my hunger without needing to cook or have a whole dining “experience”.

And, within the set of fast food options, McD’s still compares well. It’s noticeably quicker than most; and while, as I say, I’m not super busy, if it’s adequate and quicker, why go to the slower place?

172

I haven’t been eating burgers for a long time now, but once in a blue moon I’ll get a hankering for McD’s fries and will go get a small order to nosh on in the car.

173

McDonalds really does have some weird hold on a lot of us. I, too, am no longer a burger eater but a couple of months ago I saw that Mickey D’s was offering Chicken Big Macs and I got all excited. I like McChickens. Never really had a Big Mac before so I thought it was the perfect time to indulge. Holy shit was it gross. It was just McChicken patties slapped together with special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions and sesame seed bun (two, three, four) …

I don’t know what the hell else I was expecting.

174

Just had McDonald’s for about the one of two times I’ll have it in a year.

Got the $5 meal deal.

McDouble - it was OK

McNuggets - hey, those were great. I haven’t had Nuggets in a long time

Fries - still not the best fries in the business despite their fame

I still think Burger King, Wendy’s, and Culver’s are way better for about the same price.

175

The Chicken Big Mac patties struck me as giant patty-shaped McNuggets. :stuck_out_tongue:

176

The Chicken Big Mac was absolutely horrible in my opinion. The sauce didn’t go and the whole thing just felt weird.

177

I have it once a year and while eating it I am reminded why once a year is enough. In that moment I know I am not missing out by eating healthier than I used too and it makes me a little bit happy.

178

Is that like whacking your forehead on the wall just once so you can savor how much better it is than the headbanging you used to do? :wink:

179

There’s this idea when you begin working out and eating healthier that once in awhile you’ll ‘treat’ yourself to fast food. If you stick with a healthy lifestyle long enough fast food isn’t the treat it used to be and eventually it’s just gross. The salty, oily, sweet notes Fast Food brings to the table are way too much.

Considering the health and now financial cost of fast food, giving it up almost entirely is for the best for me. Eating a Mc Rib once a year just confirms that and I feel nice.

So not like hitting your head on a wall at all, if anything, everyone else seems to enjoy banging their head on a wall and I try it once a year and decide it’s not for me.

180

BTDT, agree completely.

After a year or so eating right, eating wrong doesn’t feel like the glorious freedom of a kid playing hookie. It feels more like a grown-up dutifully going for a dental cavity filling. Ugh.