# You can "custom order" at McDonalds? You learn something new every day! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 21, 2013, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405 "2013-11-21T03:30:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/81 "2013-11-22T23:35:41Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > One thing I’ve noticed about most of these fast food threads is that no one talks about Culver’s. Does no one eat at Culver’s. Somebody must as they seem to have a lot of stores. I really don’t care for it myself. In spite of a glaring lack of most national chains within 60 miles of me, there is a Culver’s, and it’s great. Almost as great as [Steak 'N Shake](http://www.steaknshake.com/), another highly-regional, but classy fast-food place, at one time only in Missouri, Illinois, and Florida, I kid you not. _In sight, it must be right._ ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/82 "2013-11-22T23:53:31Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Almost as great as [Steak 'N Shake](http://www.steaknshake.com/), another highly-regional, but classy fast-food place, at one time only in Missouri, Illinois, and Florida, I kid you not. _In sight, it must be right._ Are you sure about that? I’ve been going to the same Steak 'n Shake since the 60’s or very early 70’s in central Indiana, and I remember seeing plaques on the wall for best something or other awarded to store #very low number (single digit or teens). I know they were founded in Illinois and it makes sense that they would have originally expanded in nearby states rather than Florida. I won’t however dispute the fact that they are indeed the very best burger available. It doesn’t help my waistline that the one I’ve been going to all these years is about a minute away from my house. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/83 "2013-11-23T00:11:14Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > Are you sure about that? I’ve been going to the same Steak 'n Shake since the 60’s or very early 70’s in central Indiana, and I remember seeing plaques on the wall for best something or other awarded to store #very low number (single digit or teens). I know they were founded in Illinois and it makes sense that they would have originally expanded in nearby states rather than Florida. Just going from memory, but I could be wrong. And I do recall Indiana being included, but at the time MacDonalds was expanding into new states weekly, S&S just sat there. I’m a little surprised to see that they still exist today. But I’ll bet they don’t have car-hops anymore! ETA: Looks like [I wasn’t far off:](http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/the-steak-n-shake-company-history/) > [@](#): > > In 1954, Belt died of a heart attack. He left the Steak n Shake chain–consisting of 24 restaurants in Illinois and St. Louis, and one restaurant each in Daytona Beach, Florida and Hot Springs, Arkansas–in his wife’s hands. Edith Belt ran the business exactly as her husband had, adhering carefully to the standards and practices he had established. During the 15 years under her leadership, Steak n Shake gradually expanded to include 51 locations in Illinois, Missouri, Florida, and Indiana, but little else changed. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/84 "2013-11-23T00:33:39Z")
It is even very likely that they numbered their locations sometime after they moved their headquarters to Indiana. My guess is the guy lived in Illinois but loved to vacation in Hot Springs and Florida so what better reason to go to these places than for “business.” And darn it… I guess I’m going to have to stop by sometime this weekend to validate the store number. Apparently just since I’ve been going there for close to 50 years they were already 30 years old by then. And, no car hops anymore but I do remember them. They do still have the red swivel stools at the counter that I remember spinning on as a kid (just as my kids did later). Sorry… end of hijack. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/85 "2013-11-23T02:01:13Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > Yeah, they always have allowed that, at least since like 1997 when I worked there. A lot of people do it. > > I always got a cheeseburger with no condiments or meat and with lettuce and tomato (so, a sandwich with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion). A lot of times they would give me meat anyway because apparently that’s an incomprehensible thing to want to eat. Five Guys endeared itself to me by offering a meatless cheeseburger as one of their standard menu items. It’s listed as a grilled cheese sandwich, but it is the same cheese and bun as they use for their cheeseburgers. You can get lettuce, tomatoes, or any of their other burger toppings on it, too. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/86 "2013-11-23T02:12:02Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Unless Taco Hell has drastically changed the way they do things, your friend was full of it. No fast-food Mexican place that I know of pre-makes tacos or burritos. They line up the shells in the trough and ladle in the ingredients as needed. I know that’s the way we did it when I worked fast-food, and it’s the way I see it being done everywhere today. It was nearly 25 years ago when I heard that bit of advice, so it may have changed in the meantime. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/87 "2013-11-23T02:22:52Z")
> [@brad\_d](#): > > I like In-N-Out’s burgers, but in my opinion (slightly heretical here in Southern California) Five Guys’ are much tastier - I’ve not noticed the greasiness that **Inner Sticker** reports. Five Guys is also a bit more expensive, so to an extent you get what you pay for… I’ve tried 5 Guys 4 or 5 times just to make sure it wasn’t an acquired taste. But nope, their burgers taste generic to me. In n Out is so much better. Though Shake Shack trumps them both/ ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/88 "2013-11-23T06:15:22Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > I’ve tried 5 Guys 4 or 5 times just to make sure it wasn’t an acquired taste. But nope, their burgers taste generic to me. In n Out is so much better./ Yeah, I had been meaning to try a 5 Guys for a long time because of all the hoopla. I just got around to it and think they’re pretty mediocre. Their patties are, hmmm, a little too crispy maybe? I like In’N’Out way better. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/89 "2013-11-23T07:39:26Z")
I am a huge fan of In N Out but I like 5 guys a lot more. Five Guys is simply the absolute best burger to me. Maybe the different regions do things differently?? No doubt though, In N Out is superb and used to be my absolute favorite. Smash burger is overhyped. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/90 "2013-11-23T15:59:03Z")
I’m a vegetarian, and I’ve been ordering their breakfast sandwiches without meat for decades. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/91 "2013-11-23T17:41:42Z")
The first McDonalds opened in my city in the late 50’s. We have been custom ordering for as long as I can remember. no one in my family wanted ketchup on their hamburgers and since I didn’t want onions either, I had to be the one to order since I was old enough to walk up to the counter with the money. So custom orders ince about 1965. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/92 "2013-11-23T19:44:29Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I had a customer that did this regularly, too (1993/1994). This was her way of getting it made fresh, rather than just pulling a pre-made hamburger out of the sleeve. It wasn’t a big deal. Back in the old days when you could see a stack of cheeseburgers that had been sitting there for hours, if not days, I would ALWAYS special order. I am not a big fan of ketchup, so I simply would order a cheeseburger without ketchup - thus ensuring the one I got was made after I ordered it. BTW, I also worked at a McDonald’s, briefly, in Munich, Germany of all places. We found out that if you have a Big Mac, without meat, it tastes exactly the same as one with meat - due to the cheese, lettuce and heavy-handed special sauce. Also, even though they charge you extra, if is often worth it to ask for an extra slice of cheese on a cheeseburger. Trust me - try it once and you will see it makes even the cheapest version a whole lot better! (Of course, if you take it home, you can add the extra slice of cheese on your own and then zap burger in microwave for 15 seconds.\_ ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/93 "2013-11-23T20:49:57Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > They did try a Sonic in the largest city once, but it didn’t last. Might have had something to do with the no inside seating in the middle of winter thing. On the drive back to Arizona from Florida I saw not only a Sonic with indoor-eating… it had a fucking playground with the giant hamster tubes like you see at McDonald’s. ---
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/94 "2013-11-30T18:56:22Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > We have a chain of a few restaurants called [Dick’s](http://www.ddir.com/menu) that doesn’t have much more than that on their menu. You stay outside and just walk up to the window to order and there’s no seating or anything. It’s really popular, we love Dick’s here. Dicks are pretty popular everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/95 "2013-11-30T19:55:53Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > On the drive back to Arizona from Florida I saw not only a Sonic with indoor-eating… it had a fucking playground with the giant hamster tubes like you see at McDonald’s. Maybe it _was_ a McDonald’s at one time. The clown sold off a bunch of restaurants after buying up defunct Roy Rogers locations; had a RR been close to an existing McD but in a better location, I can see the RR getting rebranded and the McD getting sold. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/96 "2013-11-30T20:05:18Z")
I rate burger joints but their mushroom swiss burgers. “Old” Hardees was the best flavor+price. Steak N shake Portabella Burger wins over “New” Hardees Mushroom Swiss. I think Checkers had a knock off of the old Hardees ones, for a dollar.(discontinued) ☹ All I want was my Big Mac to look like this [BIG MAC WITH MEAT ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGE](http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/product_nutrition.sandwiches.255.Big-Mac.html) so I ordered a big mac with quarter pounder patties, Finally got a real BIG MAC like the old days. I think it was called a “big mac grande” or something, I read someplace. Actually, that was way too much Mcmeat. I need the next patty size down. What they use at the moment, the Mcpatty pucks are way too little meat. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/97 "2013-11-30T20:17:40Z")
This will sound blasphemous, but I lived in LA last year before moving back to Maryland and didn’t think In-n-Out Burger was anything particularly special. I think I was expecting the most awesome burger in existence because of all the people raving about it and when it was merely pretty good, I was disappointed. I actually liked Carl’s Jr. a little better (which we also don’t have in MD). And In-n-Out pissed me off because they didn’t take American Express, only this wasn’t noted anywhere. I expect it at smaller outfits, but not being able to use it at a fast food chain was annoying. McDonald’s has really improved their salad menu, IMO. I had a chicken caesar salad last time I was there and it was very good with tasty grilled chicken. Surprised the hell out of me. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2013, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/98 "2013-12-01T01:55:08Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > This will sound blasphemous, but I lived in LA last year before moving back to Maryland and didn’t think In-n-Out Burger was anything particularly special. I think some people may have it overhyped and just expect way too much. I’m not sure what they expect, because it is a burger. But, every year I make it out west to visit the in-laws, the first stop is In n Out. [How is this not the best fast food burger in the world](https://scontent-b-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p480x480/1392836_10152147865583777_1401919356_n.jpg)? 🙂 (My last In n Out from three days ago, and probably my last for another year.) ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/99 "2013-12-01T03:03:51Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I never worked at McDonalds, but at the Arby’s I was at, we’d customize as long as it didn’t create an existing menu item. If someone ordered a regular roast beef on an onion bun with cheese sauce, fine. If someone ordered a regular roast beef on an onion bun with cheese sauce and red ranch sauce, we rang it up as a beef and cheddar, because that’s what it was. Eeenteresting. I may try this next time I’m at Arby’s–I hate that red ranch sauce, which never came on B&C’s when I used to get them. If I could assemble a B&C sans RRS and get it for less, rather than paying full price for a B&C sans RRC… ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405/100 "2013-12-02T00:32:04Z")
> [@gwendee](#): > > I never do it at the drive through, but I regularly order > [ul] > [li]Sausage McGriddle - subtitute bacon[/li][li]Quarter Pounder with Cheese - with tiny chopped onions (or reconstiuted, as it says on the recepts) instead of sliced.[/li][li]Double Hambrger - ketchup only[/li][/ul] My husband ADDS bacon to the Sausage McGriddle. I leave onions and mustard off the QP altogether. Never seems to be a problem for the nice kid behind the counter (at least in my area, seems that most of the order-takers are 25 or below, and we’re old enough we could have children that age). I have managed to confuse Taco Bell staff a few times by ordering a Crunchwrap and ADDING refried beans. They commonly think I want the beans as a substitute for the meat, so I’ve learned to be very specific on that point. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-custom-order-at-mcdonalds-you-learn-something-new-every-day/674405.md?page=6)