I am way used to trying McDonalds around the world and in fact I love the subtle differences and additional menu options that make this global behemoth stand out. In some places though it is so devoid of anything from its parent restaurant to such a degree that it is another place entirely. Indian McDonalds is such a place.
And while I am sure you will think I am exaggerating somewhat, I am not. The only things from a regular McDonalds that have survived are nuggets and soft drinks. I shit you not, this is McDonalds like no other, yet still they are everywhere in India and really bloody popular.
Click to read about which countries do and don’t have McDonalds.
Table of Contents
What theIndian McDonalds?
Indian McDonalds opened its first outlet in 1996 in Mumbai and has grown aggressively ever since. Today there are over 300 outlets across the country, mostly in metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. Smaller cities such as Pune, Jaipur, and Kochi now have outlets too.
The chain was one of the first western fast food brands to fully adapt to the Indian market, introducing a menu almost unrecognisable to anyone who has had a Big Mac in the UK or US. It sits in the market as a family-friendly fast food chain, hugely popular with teenagers, office workers, and anyone who wants a quick chicken or veg option in a western-style environment. Despite the localisation, the restaurants still look unmistakably McDonalds from the outside and have the same yellow arches, branding, and interior layout and even the Clown! Taste wise though, very different entirely.
Indian McDonalds occupies an interesting position in the market. It is cheaper than Burger King or KFC in many cities, has a more vegetarian-friendly menu, and serves local tastes alongside international branding. In fact, its aggressive pricing and focus on regional flavours is why it has survived and thrived in a market where western chains often struggle.
The McDonalds India Menu
OK, so fancy a Big Mac? Cheeseburger? Any burger you know from the US or Europe? Well tough luck, because you will not get one at McDonalds India. Instead, they have a bunch of chicken, veg, potato, egg, and other Indian variants served to look like McDonalds.
Now, much of this is understandable. Hindus do not eat beef, but there are alternatives like lamb and buffalo in India. Many years ago I had a lamb Whopper at Burger King, which was fantastic. McDonalds, however, offers only chicken. Pork? Nope. Muslims in the country mean no pork either.
Here’s a rundown of the menu, prices in INR with USD equivalents:
Menu items
- Chicken Maharaja Mac™ – Indian take on the Big Mac with double chicken patties, pickles, lettuce, cheese, and extra salad. Price: ₹250 (~$3).
- McAloo Tikki Burger – Potato patty spiced with Indian flavours, chutney, and salad. Price: ₹120 (~$1.50).
- Chicken McGrill – Grilled chicken patty with lettuce and mayo. Price: ₹180 (~$2.25).
- Egg McMuffin / Egg Burger – Standard egg sandwich, nothing revolutionary. Price: ₹100 (~$1.25).
- Paneer Wrap / Veg Wrap – Indian cottage cheese (paneer) with salad and sauce in a tortilla wrap. Price: ₹150 (~$1.85).
- McSpicy Chicken Burger – Spicy fried chicken with lettuce and mayo, more heat than a standard McDonalds burger. Price: ₹200 (~$2.50).
- McVeggie Burger – Mixed vegetable patty with Indian spices and salad. Price: ₹120 (~$1.50).
- French Fries & Nuggets – The only items really resembling “classic” McDonalds. Prices range: ₹60–₹200 (~$0.75–$2.50).
- Beverages – Coca-Cola products alongside mango lassi, masala chai, and sweet iced tea. Prices: ₹50–₹150 (~$0.65–$1.85).
- Desserts – McFlurry (but local flavours like Kesar, Choco Almond), apple pie. Prices: ₹70–₹150 (~$0.90–$1.85).
Regional Differences and Seasonal Items
One of the strangest things about Indian McDonalds is how different outlets can be depending on the city. In Delhi, for example, the McSpicy Chicken Burger comes with extra chilli sauce and more marinated patties than in Mumbai. In Bangalore, the Chicken Maharaja Mac™ can have a slightly tangier sauce, while the McAloo Tikki is often served with more tomato chutney. Kolkata outlets occasionally introduce fish variants, though not widely, reflecting local tastes and preferences.
Seasonal items are where the chain really tries to show it understands India. During the winter months, many cities get spiced drinks like masala chai and hot chocolate. McFlurries appear with local flavours such as Kesar (saffron) and Choco Almond. Some outlets will roll out the McPaneer or McMasala Veg Burger for a few weeks to gauge response, often disappearing as quickly as they appear.
Even desserts reflect the local palate. While the apple pie survives, it is often replaced in smaller cities by a mango pie or chocolate custard McFlurry. Ice cream cones might come dusted with cardamom powder or jaggery syrup. The menu isn’t consistent across the country, but there is always a sense of attempting to blend the Indian spice and sweet palate into the McDonalds formula.
This regional variation also extends to pricing. Metro cities like Mumbai or Bangalore can be slightly more expensive than smaller towns like Pune or Jaipur. For example, a Chicken Maharaja Mac™ might cost ₹250 (~$3) in Mumbai, but the same burger in Jaipur could be ₹220 (~$2.70). Drinks and fries follow the same pattern.
You will though not get any beef, or even lamb no matter where you are in the country. This is probably less about taste and more about who is currently in power in India.
How does Indian McDonalds taste?
I had a bunch of stuff, but the main meal was the Chicken Maharaja Mac™. This has pickles, chicken patties, cheese, and more fucking salad than in a salad. It was OK at best, and nothing at all like a Big Mac. I also tried the egg burger, aloo burger, a chicken burger, and a random pizza wrap type thing.
And here’s the kicker: every single one of them had exactly the same feel and presentation. All tasted like Indian food that had been shoved into a McDonalds bun. Two great cuisines combined in a way that can only be described as a culinary abortion.
The McAloo Tikki was fine but completely forgettable, the McSpicy was actually spicy but the bread and sauce killed the flavour, and the paneer wrap had enough salad to qualify as a meal in itself. Nuggets and fries were standard, soft drinks as expected.
I love Indian food and I love McDonalds, but together? Just don’t. If you like McDonalds you like McDonalds. If you like Indian McDonalds, you like Indian McDonalds. But one does not necessarily follow the other.
Click to see my ShitCities website that is coming soon. Would you guess but there are a few Indian cities on there? Oh and you can see my review of Siliguri here.
Conclusion
Indian McDonalds is an anomaly, a place where the brand survives but the food has mutated so thoroughly it is almost unrecognisable. It is hugely popular, cheap, and widely available, but it is not McDonalds as anyone outside India knows it. If you are expecting a Big Mac, a cheeseburger, or even a simple McChicken, you will be disappointed.
It has its place in the Indian market, providing chicken, veg, and egg options to a population that cannot eat beef or pork (different people). But if you are travelling India expecting McDonalds to feel familiar, brace yourself. It won’t. It’s just weird and going here is to essentially try a whole different restaurant, or just toe be sure you don’t get the shits….
Click to see my tours to Sikkim, India and beyond