The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
McDonald's fans, the wait is over — the McRib is finally back in Canada!
I'd never tried the iconic sandwich before and I'm a huge fan of McDonald's in general, so I headed out to my local McD's in the West End of Toronto and got my hands on one to see what all the hype was about — and honestly, I have so many questions for fans of this menu item.
Is McRib back in Canada?
A sign for the McRib sandwich at a drive-thru in the West End of Toronto that says "It's now or never."
Starting at lunch on Tuesday, January 30, the McRib was put on the menu at participating McDonald’s restaurants across the country, and I was one of the first in line to pick one up when lunch started at 11 a.m. ET.
"The elusive sandwich has become a favourite amongst loyal brand fans over the years, reaching icon status," said McDonald's Canada of the returning item. "The last time the McRib was available on Canadian menus was 2014."
It seems the demands of Canadians did not fall on deaf ears.
“In the last year alone, our team received thousands of inquiries on social media from very passionate Canadian McRib fans asking to bring it back here,” said Alyssa Buetikofer, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at McDonald's Canada.
“The McRib is truly a fan favourite. It appeals to guests of all ages—from loyal followers who have patiently waited a decade for its return, to our newer fans who have only heard the legend.”
What does the McRib taste like?
An open box with a McRib sandwich from McDonald's in it on top of a placemat.
When I first opened the bag with my sandwich I was excited as it had a really nice barbecue and pickle smell, which seemed like a great start, and when I opened the box there was plenty of sauce all over it which made me excited to taste it.
My first bite of the McRib was a disappointment as it mainly tasted of onion and pickle but I figured on the next bite I'd see why people like it.
I was wrong. The more I ate, the more confused I was and it led to several questions, first amongst them being, "Why does it taste like a hot dog?" It genuinely tasted like the $1 hot dog that students at my elementary school could buy every Friday, but significantly more expensive.
The hot dog flavour led to my second question, which was, "How is it a rib?" I knew going into this that I wasn't going to get an actual rib in a sandwich, and based on the McDonald's website and what I tasted and saw, this is a pork patty topped with barbeque sauce.
Speaking of barbeque sauce, next on my list of concerns: "How is there barely any barbeque flavour?" Given that the sandwich is smothered in it, it hardly tastes of the sweet and tangy condiment. It acted more as a lubricant for the meat rather than as a flavour enhancement, which is a shame.
My next point of contention is the price — after tax, this sandwich costs $7.22, and unlike other sandwiches, the McRib felt quite insubstantial and did not fill me up. For about $0.50 more you can get a Big Mac, which is a much heartier menu option.
The last question of my list is, "Why do I have heartburn?" but honestly, that's squarely on me as I'm in my 30s and should know better than to eat this kind of thing on an empty stomach.
What are McRibs made of?
A cross section of the McRib sandwich from McDoanld's showing bread, sauce, meat, pickles and onions.
"The McRib starts with a tender and juicy boneless pork patty dipped in tangy BBQ sauce, topped with slivered onions and tasty pickles, all served on a toasted homestyle bun," says McDonald's Canada. "It’s no surprise this sandwich is an icon, with its uniquely delicious balance of sweet, tangy and savoury flavours."
The verdict
A hand holding a McRib box from McDonald's Canada on a table.
While I'm glad I finally got to try the sandwich in order to be a part of the McRib cultural discourse, it's not something I'm likely to order again.
Even though I didn't like the sandwich, I'd still recommend trying it if you're interested if only to have your own opinion on it — and who knows, it might just become your new favourite menu item!
If you want to try the McRib yourself, you'll want to grab one sooner rather than later as they won't be around forever.
"The return of the McRib is another way the brand is giving guests even more of the food that they love," says the company. "And though the wait might be over, time is fleeting. Like anything of true perfection and beauty, the McRib will only be here for a limited time."
The Hot Honey McCrispy which went viral on TikTok has recently left McDonald's Canada, which is unfortunate as it was truly delightful.
To see if it lived up to its social media hype, I tried the sandwich out for myself and in my opinion, it genuinely deserves a permanent spot on the McDonald's menu.
I'm not usually into sweet flavours in my meal, but the touch of honey along with the savoury elements was really nice, and it was much spicier than I anticipated, which was a pleasant surprise. Hopefully McDonald's will bring that back to the menu one day — but please don't make us wait 10 years for it, like you did with the McRib!
Another menu item that's worth the hype is the Kerwin Frost Box, also known as an "Adult Happy Meal." You can choose between either a Big Mac meal or a 10-piece McNugget meal that comes in a nostalgic-looking box with golden arch handles, and it comes with a toy.
Exciting stuff, folks!
These prices are confirmed at the time of publishing, but they can change at any time. Taxes and fees may not be included.
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