You generally shouldn't order the Big Breakfast with Hotcakes (unhealthy), items from the McCafe machines like smoothies and shakes (dirty machines), the Filet-O-Fish (often sits around), or breakfast items near closing time (not fresh), while items like crispy chicken sandwiches or salads can also be surprisingly high in calories/unhealthy, and soda machines can be grimy too, according to employee insights.
11 Things to Never Order at McDonald's
The unhealthiest item at McDonald's is often cited as the Big Breakfast with Hotcakes, due to its massive calories, sodium, sugar, and saturated fat content (over 1300 calories and 122% of daily saturated fat). Other contenders for least healthy include large burgers like the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese, large fries, shakes, and some breakfast wraps, packed with fat, salt, and refined carbs.
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.
The Mc10:35 is a secret menu item that consists of a McDouble with an Egg McMuffin on top of it. It combines breakfast and lunch together in one burger. Some people add flavor to the sandwich by adding condiments like Ketchup, Mustard Sauce, or the McPizza.
There isn't one single "rarest" McDonald's item, as rarity depends on region, limited-time offers, or discontinuation, but top contenders include unique international items like the McCurry Pan (India), Bulgogi Burger (South Korea), Panseri (Italy), and regional favorites like Japan's Shrimp Filet-O, alongside discontinued US items like the McRib, Mighty Wings, or unique McFlurry flavors.
It's called the "Poor Man's Big Mac" and it's a total game changer. 🤩 Basically, you order a double cheeseburger at McDonald's. 🍔🍔 Then, ask them to add Big Mac sauce and shredded lettuce.
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.
McDonald's McChicken is the Least Unhealthy Fast-Food Chicken Burger. The McChicken (14 points) at McDonald's is the healthiest of its type among the fast-food chains we surveyed. The McDonald's chicken burger scores roughly half the unhealthiness points of its equivalents at Burger King (31 points) and KFC (27 points) ...
Grimace, a purple monster, was originally an antagonist that stole beverages and shakes from customers, but has since become a good guy. The Hamburglar, also originally a villain, was a thief that targeted hamburgers and sandwiches, but he is now more of a lovable rogue character.
The healthiest things at McDonald's include apple slices, oatmeal, and a grilled McChicken sandwich. You can still indulge in your favorite burger, but just be conscious of both portion control and your sides.
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The Big Breakfast with Hotcakes represents the ultimate breakfast indulgence, combining scrambled eggs, a sausage patty, a buttered biscuit, a hash brown, hotcakes, butter, and syrup into a single meal that contains over 1,100 calories.
The unhealthiest item at McDonald's is often cited as the Big Breakfast with Hotcakes, due to its massive calories, sodium, sugar, and saturated fat content (over 1300 calories and 122% of daily saturated fat). Other contenders for least healthy include large burgers like the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese, large fries, shakes, and some breakfast wraps, packed with fat, salt, and refined carbs.
McChicken. If you feel like a burger, McChicken is one of your best options with 450 calories, 22g of fat, and 600mg of sodium, it is roughly half the calorie and fat load than many of the other burger options on the Macca's menu.
CosMc's was a short-lived, beverage-focused spinoff restaurant from McDonald's, named after an old alien mascot, designed to compete with Starbucks by offering specialty drinks and snacks in a smaller format. Launched in late 2023 as a "learning lab," it featured custom iced teas, lemonades, blended coffees, and unique treats like McPops and pretzel bites, but all locations were slated to close by mid-2025 due to performance issues, though some popular drinks might appear at regular McDonald's.
The McChicken is considered one of the healthiest items at McDonald's due to its relatively lean chicken patty, which provides 14 grams of protein. It's also lower in calories compared to other items on the menu, making it a lighter choice when you don't want to overindulge.
There's no single "number 1" unhealthy food, but ultra-processed items like sugary drinks, processed meats (bacon, hot dogs), deep-fried foods (fries), and refined snacks (donuts, chips, sugary cereals) consistently top lists due to high sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, and additives linked to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. These items offer little nutritional value while increasing risks for chronic diseases.
Hot tea is by all accounts the least-ordered item on the menu. Its obscurity even made it viral in 2021 when an Ohio McDonald's manager posted a TikTok admitting he had never sold one in his life — and didn't even know it was on the menu until a month earlier. “We sold a hot tea the other day.
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.
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Many people believe it's an astounding $18 after a post on X of McDonald's menu prices at a rest stop in Connecticut went viral and made national headlines.
The McDonald's Big Mac is a 100% beef burger with a taste like no other. The mouthwatering perfection starts with two 100% pure all beef patties and Big Mac Sauce sandwiched between a sesame seed bun.
A juicy grilled burger stacked with hickory-smoked bacon and creamy mac & cheese all sandwiched between two golden grilled cheese sandwiches. It's cheesy, crispy, and downright legendary.