I tried 5 of the most bizarre menu items at McDonald's in Finland, and I'd travel back for the Chicken Pizza Mac

Rachel HosieSep 20, 2020, 15:54 IST

The Chicken Pizza Mac was a winner, but a beef burger in rye bread was less convincing.Rachel Hosie/Insider

The McDonald's menu varies from country to country around the world with items tailored to each nation's tastes.
In Finland, for example, every burger can be served in a rye bun.
When I went to Finland back in January, I ordered five of the most unusual things on the McDonald's menu: the famous McVegan burger, the Chicken Pizza Mac, the Rye Feast burger, the Nordic Chicken Salad, and the Falafel Bites.
I was disappointed by the McVegan and the salad, and I wasn't sure the rye bun went with a McDonald's burger.
I'd travel back for the delicious Chicken Pizza Mac and the Falafel Bites, though.

The entrance to the McDonald's branch in central Helsinki looked much like any other I'd ever been to — it was quite dark, but it was underground in a shopping center after all.

McDonald's in central Helsinki. Rachel Hosie/Insider

The entrance to the McDonald's branch in central Helsinki looked much like any other I'd ever been to — it was quite dark, but it was underground in a shopping center after all.

I got straight down to ordering what sounded most interesting: A Rye Feast, Chicken Pizza Mac, Nordic Chicken Salad, McVegan, and Falafel Bites.

Rachel's order. Rachel Hosie/Insider

It turns out you can customize any burger with a rye or gluten-free bun, which is cool. Order placed, I waited to collect my feast — you can have table service, but I didn't want staff to judge me for having five meals to myself.

Waiting to pick up the order. Rachel Hosie/Insider

It turns out you can customize any burger with a rye or gluten-free bun, which is cool. Order placed, I waited to collect my feast — you can have table service, but I didn't want staff to judge me for having five meals to myself.

After a longer than expected wait, my order was ready and I found a spot to sit down. It was a lot of food.

A five-dish Finnish McDonald's feast. Rachel Hosie/Insider

First up, the much-hyped McVegan burger (€3/$3.50).

The McVegan burger. Rachel Hosie/Insider

Truth be told, all I tasted was mayo and the whole thing was incredibly mushy. It was better when I scraped some of the mayo off, and actually the vegan patty on its own was tasty — but it was overwhelmed by the bun and sauces. Not worth finishing.

It was mushy. Rachel Hosie/Insider

Truth be told, all I tasted was mayo and the whole thing was incredibly mushy. It was better when I scraped some of the mayo off, and actually the vegan patty on its own was tasty — but it was overwhelmed by the bun and sauces. Not worth finishing.

Next up, the Chicken Pizza Mac (€2/$2.36): A chicken burger with tomato sauce and mozzarella. This doesn't look like much, but it was absolutely delicious and I demolished it.

The Chicken Pizza Mac. Rachel Hosie/Insider

Next up, the Chicken Pizza Mac (€2/$2.36): A chicken burger with tomato sauce and mozzarella. This doesn't look like much, but it was absolutely delicious and I demolished it.

The chicken was tender, I loved the tomato sauce and the cheesy bread. It reminded me of a chicken parmigiana, only in a bun. The cheese could have been better melted and it was very squished, but otherwise, I loved it.

It came in a cheesy bun. Rachel Hosie/Insider

The chicken was tender, I loved the tomato sauce and the cheesy bread. It reminded me of a chicken parmigiana, only in a bun. The cheese could have been better melted and it was very squished, but otherwise, I loved it.

On to the Rye Feast burger (€4.25/$5). Now, I really like rye bread but I wasn't convinced it went well with a beef burger. Perhaps it would have been better with one of the chicken burgers. It was also twice the price of the Chicken Pizza Mac.

The Rye Feast. Rachel Hosie/Insider

On to the Rye Feast burger (€4.25/$5). Now, I really like rye bread but I wasn't convinced it went well with a beef burger. Perhaps it would have been better with one of the chicken burgers. It was also twice the price of the Chicken Pizza Mac.

It was very flat and didn't look particularly enticing, but it wasn't bad. It just tasted like a McDonald's burger, in a rye bun.

Rachel eating the Rye Feast, Rachel Hosie/Insider

My fourth dish was the Nordic Chicken Salad (€8.95/$10.60 with a soft drink), consisting of chicken, cabbage, lentils, and kale.

The Nordic Chicken Salad. Rachel Hosie/Insider

No one goes to McDonald's for salad, do they? It was crisp and fresh, but it mainly tasted like mustard. I didn't finish it and wouldn't order it again.

The salad was crisp but not particularly tasty. Rachel Hosie/Insider

The final test was the Falafel Bites (€2/$2.36). Ideally, I'd want a hummus or tahini dip, but obviously this was McDonald's. I settled for garlic mayo.

McDonald's Falafel Bites. Rachel Hosie/Insider

The falafels themselves were surprisingly tasty. They were super crisp and tasted slightly sweet but also nicely spiced. I was full, but they were so yummy I ate them all.

The falafels were sweet and spiced. Rachel Hosie/Insider

The falafels themselves were surprisingly tasty. They were super crisp and tasted slightly sweet but also nicely spiced. I was full, but they were so yummy I ate them all.

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I tried 5 of the most bizarre menu items at McDonald's in Finland, and I'd travel back for the Chicken Pizza Mac

The entrance to the McDonald's branch in central Helsinki looked much like any other I'd ever been to — it was quite dark, but it was underground in a shopping center after all.

I got straight down to ordering what sounded most interesting: A Rye Feast, Chicken Pizza Mac, Nordic Chicken Salad, McVegan, and Falafel Bites.

It turns out you can customize any burger with a rye or gluten-free bun, which is cool. Order placed, I waited to collect my feast — you can have table service, but I didn't want staff to judge me for having five meals to myself.

After a longer than expected wait, my order was ready and I found a spot to sit down. It was a lot of food.

First up, the much-hyped McVegan burger (€3/$3.50).

Truth be told, all I tasted was mayo and the whole thing was incredibly mushy. It was better when I scraped some of the mayo off, and actually the vegan patty on its own was tasty — but it was overwhelmed by the bun and sauces. Not worth finishing.

Next up, the Chicken Pizza Mac (€2/$2.36): A chicken burger with tomato sauce and mozzarella. This doesn't look like much, but it was absolutely delicious and I demolished it.

The chicken was tender, I loved the tomato sauce and the cheesy bread. It reminded me of a chicken parmigiana, only in a bun. The cheese could have been better melted and it was very squished, but otherwise, I loved it.

On to the Rye Feast burger (€4.25/$5). Now, I really like rye bread but I wasn't convinced it went well with a beef burger. Perhaps it would have been better with one of the chicken burgers. It was also twice the price of the Chicken Pizza Mac.

It was very flat and didn't look particularly enticing, but it wasn't bad. It just tasted like a McDonald's burger, in a rye bun.

My fourth dish was the Nordic Chicken Salad (€8.95/$10.60 with a soft drink), consisting of chicken, cabbage, lentils, and kale.

No one goes to McDonald's for salad, do they? It was crisp and fresh, but it mainly tasted like mustard. I didn't finish it and wouldn't order it again.

The final test was the Falafel Bites (€2/$2.36). Ideally, I'd want a hummus or tahini dip, but obviously this was McDonald's. I settled for garlic mayo.

The falafels themselves were surprisingly tasty. They were super crisp and tasted slightly sweet but also nicely spiced. I was full, but they were so yummy I ate them all.