# Why is McDonald's so blah/icky? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 19, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359 "2011-08-19T19:20:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/21 "2011-08-20T00:00:16Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Mom & Pop burger places are pretty rare. You can’t swing a dead Fry Guy in the Chicago suburbs without hitting an independent “Burgers, Hot Dogs, Gyros 'n Beefs” style joint. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/22 "2011-08-20T01:31:23Z")
The Big Mac is OK, and it tastes fresher than most stuff. The original hamburger makes me a bit sick if I eat it(I eat about 1 a year). ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/23 "2011-08-20T01:49:23Z")
Because it expanded on and made larger the White Castle ideal?.. they didn’t steam their burgers and add so many rehydrated onions? They seared and fried and gave a larger serving to compete at a near price to the White Castle Horseburgers? Not quite the same tiny dynamite flavor packed punch of the WC Horseburgers? ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/24 "2011-08-20T01:57:27Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > I know someone will come in here and say they love McDonald’s, but I think most people agree that it’s near the bottom of the chain burger joints in the “fresh wholesome taste” index. Yes they will. Amusing how you discredit anyone with a favorable opinion from the git,I like the burgers. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/25 "2011-08-20T02:07:31Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > This is what I was going to say. Their Angus burgers are the best on the menu. Funny, I know both my wife and I would say the Angus stuff is our least favorite – to me, their Angus burgers taste like a bad “real” hamburger. Whereas a Big Mac or double cheeseburger tastes like a good “McDonalds” hamburger. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/26 "2011-08-20T02:11:56Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Because it expanded on and made larger the White Castle ideal?.. they didn’t steam their burgers and add so many rehydrated onions? They seared and fried and gave a larger serving to compete at a near price to the White Castle Horseburgers? Not quite the same tiny dynamite flavor packed punch of the WC Horseburgers? If you value the continued friendship of your relatives and co-workers, don’t ask for extra onions on several jalapeno cheeseburgers. If you don’t then fuck 'em. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/27 "2011-08-20T02:15:46Z")
Yea, the first ever “angus burger” I had, I “splurged” and had the mushroom one. Horrible, horrible burger. I have had two since and only because I had coupons. Rather have a McRoyale (1/4 pounder with cheese or hell… even a McDLT… the burgers I had were invariably dry, cold, and mealy (drawer dry) and the sauces/condiments just sit there like an angry sister, they are’nt better, it just really shows what you can get past on with profit and market share… shameful ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/28 "2011-08-20T02:16:10Z")
> [@Johnny\_Angel](#): > > Wendy’s is also pretty cheap, and generally tastier than McDonalds. I didn’t realize they had a 99cent chicken sandwich at Wendy’s. They’re slightly further (like four blocks) from my workplace, but maybe I’ll do them the next time I want nasty cheap fast food on a workday. I can’t stand fast food hamburgers, though. Real hamburgers are so good, and fast food ones are such a crime against humanity. I’m fine with a shitty chicken sandwich, but fast food hamburgers? Blaugh! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/29 "2011-08-20T02:21:32Z")
McDonald’s is pretty bad, but it’s not nearly as bad as Burger King, at least the last time I ate BK, which was a few years ago. Oh God. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/30 "2011-08-20T02:22:13Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > You can’t swing a dead Fry Guy in the Chicago suburbs without hitting an independent “Burgers, Hot Dogs, Gyros 'n Beefs” style joint. Yeah I was a bit confused by that too - I can think of 4 joints within 2 miles of my house. ---
**Author:** ![Snupzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/54ee81/32.png) [@Snupzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snupzilla)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/31 "2011-08-20T02:38:41Z")
The strangeness for me comes from the fact I can’t discern any individual tastes in the McDonald’s cheeseburger. In most other burgers, I can taste the meat, cheese, and onions individually. With the McDonald’s burger, all I can taste is the giant wall of McDonald’s flavor. It’s a single hard to define McDonald’s flavor that crowds out everything else. The whole restaurant smells like it. That being said, I’d take the strange McDonald’s taste over Burger King and Hardies/Carl’s Jr. The McDonald’s flavor is certainly strange but it’s not terrible. While McDonald’s tastes like a jelly belly version of french onion soup to me, Burger King uniform tastes like how the black liquid that comes out of back yard grill smells. Grease, coal, and death. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/32 "2011-08-20T02:47:50Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > McDonald’s is pretty bad, but it’s not nearly as bad as Burger King, at least the last time I ate BK, which was a few years ago. Oh God. Man, I don’t know… A few months back I had one of my “last meal” and singularly most terrific, takes two hands, flame broiled burgers from the Burger King! They made me pull my car to the side to wait whilst they flame broiled a fresh-frozen, Steakhouse XL, Jalapeno-Cheddar Burger, hot from the end of the line to my lap. Such a manly and meaty juicy burger I have never had. Beats the angus ten times to surtr. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/33 "2011-08-20T03:06:13Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Yeah I was a bit confused by that too - I can think of 4 joints within 2 miles of my house. That’s because we live in Civilization. Just go a few miles north of my house and you can’t even find a McDonalds. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/34 "2011-08-20T03:11:54Z")
ETA: Much less a decent dog. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/35 "2011-08-20T03:37:42Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > McDonald’s is pretty bad, but it’s not nearly as bad as Burger King, at least the last time I ate BK, which was a few years ago. Oh God. Ah, at last, my brother in arms. I don’t get why people like BK. All their burgers taste like lighter fluid to me. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/36 "2011-08-20T04:05:27Z")
> [@Johnny\_Angel](#): > > I suspect it’s because their menu is geared toward the insipid tastes of children **Ding ding ding!** We have a winner! From what I can see, McDonald’s markets _way_ more agressively to children than any other fast food place: they pioneered the “Happy Meal,” the kid-friendly mascot characters (Ronald McDonald & company), the playground areas… and many of their signature items are children’s-menu staples: the chicken nuggets; the bland, toppingless burgers; the fries; the shakes. Catch 'em while they’re young and condition them to think of McDonald’s as the fun, friendly place to go when you want food. If you want another reason, I conjecture that, the more money a company pours into advertising, the less it pours into the quality of its product. When you buy a McDonald’s meal, a lot of the money you’re handing over goes toward its massive advertising campaigns. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/37 "2011-08-20T04:12:26Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > You mean not counting the Filet-O-Fish, right? Yeah, they have about the best F-O-F sandwich. I also like the Big Mac. Not a stellar burger as burgers go, but like Jack In The Box tacos and Wienerschnitzel Chili Cheese Dogs, sometimes you just have to have one. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/38 "2011-08-20T06:03:36Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Yeah, they have about the best F-O-F sandwich. > > I also like the Big Mac. Not a stellar burger as burgers go, but like Jack In The Box tacos and Wienerschnitzel Chili Cheese Dogs, sometimes you just have to have one. That’s how I feel about McDonalds’ burgers. You don’t go to McDonald’s for a delicious burger. You can’t compare it to the ones you grill at home or the ones you get at Outback or even the ones at Fatburger or Burger King. McDonalds’ hamburgers, cheeseburgers and Big Macs are their own thing, period. You go to McDonald’s to eat some McDonald’s food and nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/39 "2011-08-20T06:09:17Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > McDonalds’ hamburgers, cheeseburgers and Big Macs are their own thing, period. You go to McDonald’s to eat some McDonald’s food and nothing else. Exactly. McDonald’s hamburgers are not where I go when I crave a good burger, but where I go when I crave a McDonald’s. I do like the way they taste, but they are a peculiar flavor that is uniquely their own; I don’t know what it is. I will admit, as particular as I can be about food sometimes, the $1 McDouble is, for me, the best burger a buck will buy you. I know that’s not exactly setting the bar high, but I do think McDonald’s make a decent enough product. 10 times out of 10 I will prefer the McD’s to the much-preferred (at least around here) BK. Now _those_ burgers don’t taste anything like a hamburger should taste like. Blech. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359/40 "2011-08-20T06:17:52Z")
THIS. I spent some of my young life outside of this burg, where my father and brothers counted the minutes of a Friday night until they could eat meat again. (checking the Perpetual Calendar) Sweet Zombie Jesus, that wasn’t 1964, was it? ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mcdonalds-so-blah-icky/593359.md?page=3)