The number one best-selling item at McDonald's globally and in the U.S. is consistently their French Fries, selling millions of pounds daily, with the simple Cheeseburger often ranking second or first in specific regions like Australia, and the Big Mac also a top contender. Fries are a universal favorite, appearing in nearly every combo meal, making them a top seller by volume, even surpassing iconic burgers.
McDonald's most popular item globally is its French Fries, selling millions of pounds daily and often ordered with other favorites like the iconic Big Mac or Chicken McNuggets, though regional tastes vary with items like Hash Browns and McChickens also topping charts.
1. Big Mac. We'll start with McDonald's most famous burger and one of the most popular McDonald's items ever created. This signature item is native to Pennsylvania, where it was created in the 1960s.
McDonald's bestselling licensed items are their french fries and Big Mac hamburgers; other fare includes cheeseburgers, chicken, fish, fruit, and salads.
McDonald's distributes over 1.5 billion toys annually through its Happy Meals—a figure so colossal it dwarfs the output of major toy companies and has turned the fast-food giant into an accidental yet undisputed titan of the toy industry.
The Most Popular Thing at McDonald's Is…
Ever since the first McDonald's menu from when the chained opened in the 1950s, french fries have been a star. The famous Golden Arches sell upward of 9 million pounds of fries per day!
By U.S. systemwide sales, including both company-owned sales and franchised-unit sales, it's no surprise that McDonald's leads the rankings, followed by Subway and Starbucks Coffee. All three chains dominate the domestic landscape and have weathered the recession better than most.
McDonald's most popular item globally is its French Fries, selling millions of pounds daily and often ordered with other favorites like the iconic Big Mac or Chicken McNuggets, though regional tastes vary with items like Hash Browns and McChickens also topping charts.
While no single location is definitively the "most popular," McDonald's top-selling menu items in Australia consistently include the Cheeseburger, Hash Browns, Big Mac, and Chicken McNuggets, with Hash Browns often leading overall orders in recent years, and the Big Mac being the most purchased burger. For sheer volume, the Kingsford store in Sydney is rumored to be the busiest, and the brand itself remains Australia's leading quick-service restaurant.
Beverages, particularly soft drinks and coffee, often have the highest profit margins, sometimes exceeding 80%. Other high-margin items include french fries, pizza, and breakfast items like eggs and pancakes, allowing chains to maximize profitability per transaction.
One Of The Least Popular McDonald's Items Is Probably One You Never Order. Some McDonald's food items are so popular that they've become a core part of fast food culture. But, the chain's menu also includes some duds, and the item that's reportedly ordered the least of all is hot tea.
It's also known as the World's Largest Entertainment McDonald's. It features 3 floors, 19,000 sq ft, a huge arcade, a massive PlayPlace for kids, and menu items you won't find at a regular McDonald's, like pizza, pasta, Philly cheesesteaks, Belgian waffles, and more 🍕🍝🧇
McDonald's generates profit by leasing properties to franchisees with significant markups, leveraging its real estate holdings. Around 95% of McDonald's restaurants are operated by independent franchisees, contributing to lower operating costs and stable revenue streams.
Don Gorske. Don Gorske (born 1953 or 1954) is an American world record holder known as the "ultimate Big Mac fan," having eaten over 35,000 such hamburgers from the U.S. fast food chain McDonald's in his lifetime (as of March 2024), earning him a place in the Guinness Book of Records.
*As of 9/30/2020 • The U.S. is the largest market in the McDonald's System in terms of Systemwide sales with an unrivaled drive-thru presence, modernized asset base, strong unit economics and customer satisfaction near all-time highs.
McDonald's most popular item globally is its French Fries, selling millions of pounds daily and often ordered with other favorites like the iconic Big Mac or Chicken McNuggets, though regional tastes vary with items like Hash Browns and McChickens also topping charts.
The 5-6-7 burger rule is a simple guideline for grilling hamburgers, suggesting you cook the first side for 5 minutes, flip and cook the second side for 6 minutes, then let the burger rest for 7 minutes off the heat for a juicy, medium-done result, though timings can be adjusted for different preferences like rare (5 min/side) or well-done (7 min/side), notes this guide and this one. It emphasizes a single flip and a crucial resting period to redistribute juices for better flavor, according to Food Republic and this article.
KFC's brand is ranked #130 in the list of Global Top 1000 Brands, as rated by customers of KFC. Their current valuation is $32.95B. McDonald's's brand is ranked #85 in the list of Global Top 100 Brands, as rated by customers of McDonald's. Their current valuation is $167.91B.
Few things are as universally iconic as McDonald's golden arches.
14 Discontinued McDonald's Menu Items That Are Gone But Never Forgotten
Buy one, Add one for $1 (Lunch & Dinner)*
McDonald's has a massive presence, with over 13,000 locations in the United States. This makes it the most extensive fast-food chain in the country. Burger King, on the other hand, operates around 7,000 locations across the U.S., which is roughly half of McDonald's footprint.
Notes about the Top 5 Performers
Trophic levels are the order the organism is placed on the food chain. These levels are divided into producers (first), consumers (second, third and fourth) and decomposers (fifth).