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What Is the Only Country Where You Can Order “McSpaghetti”?

People all over the world are familiar with McDonald’s, and it's no surprise why. The fast food chain has more than 38,000 locations in over 100 countries, each offering a variety of menu choices – though not all menus are the same. McDonald's tries to cater to the various communities being served, which can result in an interesting array of foods besides the usual burgers and fries. Not all of these culinary forays are hits, however. One such menu item was McSpaghetti, which was introduced in the United States in the 1980s. Although it never caught on in America, it's still served in the Philippines.

When McDonald’s tried to compete with Italian-inspired fast food by creating McSpaghetti, U.S. customers just weren’t interested. The dish, served with tomato sauce, sausage, and shredded cheese, did not impress. While the texture of the noodles was alright, the sauce was deemed too sweet.

The original McSpaghetti was introduced in the US in the 1980s but it never caught on; it’s now only served in the Philippines.
The original McSpaghetti was introduced in the US in the 1980s but it never caught on; it’s now only served in the Philippines.

McSpaghetti has since found a home in the Philippines. The dish caters to the palate of its Filipino customers, who tend to prefer food that is more sweet than sour. McSpaghetti isn’t the only uniquely Filipino dish at McDonald’s in the Philippines, though. There’s also the Burger McDo, which has a sweet dressing instead of mustard and ketchup, Eggdesal, and fried chicken.

More about Mickey D's:

  • McDonald’s was founded by Richard and Maurice McDonald in 1940. Ray Kroc bought out the brothers in 1961 for $2.7 million.

  • Happy Meals made their debut in 1979 and were a huge success. In 2004, they accounted for approximately 20 percent of sales, which made McDonald’s the biggest toy distributor in the world at the time.

  • McDonald’s isn’t welcome in certain countries, including Iran, Bolivia, Macedonia, Barbados, Iceland, and North Korea.

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    • The original McSpaghetti was introduced in the US in the 1980s but it never caught on; it’s now only served in the Philippines.
      By: Bro. Jeffrey Pioquinto, SJ
      The original McSpaghetti was introduced in the US in the 1980s but it never caught on; it’s now only served in the Philippines.