How to Try International McDonald’s Menu Items in the US

If you’ve been dying to try the Teriyaki Chicken Filet-O from Japan or India’s Big Spicy Paneer Wrap from an international McDonald’s menu, you might not need to book an overseas flight to enjoy them.

Serious McDonald’s fans already know that the company’s headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois, in a pristine facility complete with state-of-the-art kitchens for perfecting recipes and a training center that’s aptly dubbed Hamburger University. But tucked underneath this command center is a location of the chain unlike any other, the McDonald’s Global Menu Restaurant.

As its name implies, this particular McDonald's location has been selling items from menus around the world since it first opened in 2018. In addition to dishing out fan-favorite burgers, offbeat McFlurry flavors, and more regional fast foods, it also offers the staple American McDonald’s menu.

Here’s what you need to know if you want to visit the McDonald’s Global Menu Restaurant in Chicago.

Which foods can you try at the McDonald’s Global Menu Restaurant?

This McDonald's, located in Chicago's West Loop neighborhood, has a selection of rotating international items available, and the lineup of dishes changes every 12 weeks — so the options will vary depending on when you go.

The easiest way to see what’s currently for sale is by looking at a delivery platform like Uber Eats or the McDonald’s app (the address for the store will be listed as either 1035 Randolph Street or 1045 Randolph Street in Chicago). That said, I was lucky enough to visit last week — but about half of the international offerings were sold out, so be prepared for a potentially limited selection.

I did sample four sandwiches and sides while on site, and despite my disappointment that the Biscoff McFlurry was sold out, all of the foods I tasted were interesting and well worth trying.

To start, I had the Crisscut Chips from Malaysia, which you may see listed as “Criss Cut Fries” on international menus. I expected these thin, waffle-cut potatoes to be underwhelming, but they’re thicker than potato chips and super crispy. So texturally they're like a waffle form of a shoestring fry. They also have that signature salty flavor that makes regular McDonald’s fries so irresistible.

Next in my lineup of international McDonald’s dishes are the two main courses: a McSpicy fried chicken sandwich from Hong Kong and a Philly Cheese Stack courtesy of the United Kingdom. If you’re somebody who likes spice just for the sake of spice, then I would recommend the McCrispy — this sandwich has some serious fire. However, this was the one item I actually found to be lacking in flavor. There wasn’t a discernible sauce or seasoning blend that produced the heat, so the fire wasn't accompanied by a specific taste. Instead, it’s just a really spicy crispy chicken sandwich with mayonnaise and lettuce on a bun.

I didn’t think I’d ever eat — let alone enjoy — a British take on a Philly cheese steak, but McDonald’s nailed its Philly Cheese Stack. Unlike its namesake, this is a burger comprised of two beef patties, slices of American cheese, gooey cheese sauce, grilled onions, pickles, and crispy fried onions. If that sounds like a lot, it is, but the combination of creamy melted cheese, acidity from the pickles, and texture from crispy onions works well together.

For dessert, I had Berry McPops — fluffy, filled balls of dough that are similar to miniature doughnuts. The McPops are currently available in three flavors at the Global Menu Restaurant: berry, white chocolate, and Biscoff (although the latter was sold out when I was there). I appreciated the soft and pillowy texture of the treats, and their tart jam filling was a nice contrast to the sweetness.

I also highly recommend ordering the newest addition to the American McDonald’s menu, the limited-edition Chicken Big Mac. It’s crispy, juicy, topped with the classic Mac sauce, and will likely sell out quickly.

What does the restaurant look like?

This space doesn’t look like your average McDonald’s. It’s a modern restaurant with a contemporary design; there are tall, warehouse-style ceilings, plenty of natural wood, and even brown leather chairs. One wall sports a map of the world outlined with thin, white lines and dotted with lit-up golden arches — each appearance of the logo represents a country that currently has an item on the location’s menu.

The global menu restaurant is slightly bigger than most McDonald’s stores — it covers over 6,000 square feet, compared to the average area of the brand’s restaurants which is 4,500 square feet.

Because this is one of the most updated McDonald’s locations you can find, there are, of course, three different ways to order: at the counter, from a digital kiosk, or via the QR codes on top of each table. Your food will likely be ready within two minutes of checking out, so it’s okay to arrive hungry. 

Can you get international McDonald’s menu items at other locations in the United States?

The McDonald’s team confirmed to Food & Wine that the global menu restaurant in Chicago is “currently the only place in the U.S. where customers can try select global menu items through a rotating menu.” However, they also noted that they have occasionally made some popular international menu items available across the country, so never say never.

In 2019, the Stroopwafel McFlurry (Netherlands), Grand McExtreme Bacon Burger (Spain), Tomato Mozzarella Chicken Sandwich (Canada), and Cheesy Bacon Fries (Australia) were sold nationwide in the United States for a limited time.