McDonald's recently added a new item to their menu in Canada which you've probably seen all over your FYP as the Hot Honey McCrispy has caused quite a stir on TikTok.
Before heading out to my local McDonald's in the West End of Toronto to try it myself, I did a little research to see what I was getting myself into.
"The Hot Honey McCrispy is a crispy chicken sandwich made with tender, juicy 100% Canadian-raised seasoned chicken, sweet spicy hot honey sauce and mayo-style sauce," says McDonald's of the item.
"It’s topped with shredded lettuce and crispy jalapenos, and served on a soft potato bun. It’s the perfect sandwich for McCrispy and hot honey lovers alike."
I'm usually not a huge fan of sweet and savoury combined together, so I wasn't sure if I'd like it — and I was skeptical on whether it'd actually be spicy — but I was so pleasantly surprised by the sandwich.
What does the Hot Honey McCrispy taste like?
An open McDonald's McCrispy box on a table with a Hot Honey McCrispy inside of it.
The box that my sandwich came in was a little bit mangled but that didn't seem to affect the item itself, so I wasn't mad about it.
When I opened the box, it smelled pleasantly of fried chicken and I could see the hot honey sauce peeking out of the top and the mayo-style sauce at the bottom as well as shredded lettuce and bits of crispy jalapeno.
The first bite I took of the Hot Honey McCrispy totally surprised me as I think I was imagining that the chicken would taste like a McNugget which can be pretty dry without dipping sauce. Instead, the chicken was super tender and moist on the inside with a pleasantly crunchy texture on the outside that stayed crisp despite the double sauce action.
The main star of the show is definitely the hot honey sauce, which is much spicier than I anticipated. I'm pretty good with heat and this sandwich made the inside of my mouth buzz (sort of in the way that Thai chilli peppers make your mouth a bit tingly) and the honey added just a pleasant amount of sweetness without verging into the realm of too much.
In fact, I found it to be so spicy that the addition of the mayo-style sauce was both a pleasant and necessary addition to add some remedying coolness after the initial deliciously spicy attack.
I can't speak much about what the lettuce and the crispy jalapeno brought to the sandwich as they kind of got lost in everything else that's going on, but getting some greens in is never a bad idea, and I enjoyed eating the jalapeno bits that fell out of the sandwich on their own.
I don't think I've ever had a potato bun from McDonald's before as this bun feels different than the one I usually get with my Big Mac or Double Cheeseburger (my two go-to items) and I prefer it much more as it is softer and feels less synthetic. Perhaps they should introduce the potato buns to their burger menu!
The final verdict
An open McDonald's McCrispy box on a table with a hand holding a Hot Honey McCrispy.
McDonald's Hot Honey McCrispy is maybe the best thing that they have on their menu at the moment and should be a permanent fixture on it — and I say that as someone who is a huge fan of the brand.
In fact, I would absolutely order this again over my beloved Big Mac, and I truly never thought there'd be a menu item I'd pick over it.
The sauce is hot honey is 100% the star of this item and honestly, it needs to be a dipping sauce ASAP.
I will say that I did get a bit of heartburn from the spiciness (I am in my thirties and my stomach simply won't stop reminding me of that fact) but it's nothing a bit of yogurt or an antacid can't fix.
In fact, it might just be the reason you should order an ice cream along with your sandwich — the dairy will help soothe everything!
How much does the Hot Honey McCrispy cost?
An hand holding a McDonald's McCrispy box on a table.
If you're getting just the sandwich, the Hot Honey McCrispy costs $7.19 without tax.
It's a pretty substantial menu item and it definitely filled me up, so it was well worth the price.
There's also the option to get a Bacon Hot Honey McCrispy which sounds interesting!
If you want to try either of the sandwiches, you might want to grab one sooner rather than later as McDonald's says this item is only available for a limited time.
It's not clear when it'll be departing (hopefully never!) but best to get one before they disappear.
As well as the Hot Honey McCrispy, McDonald's recently debuted an "adult Happy Meal" in Canada at the end of 2023 which is formally known as The Kerwin Frost Box.
Just like when you were a kid, your meal will come in a box with golden arches along with a fun toy, but as an adult, you can order either the Bic Mac Kerwin Frost Box or the 10-Piece McNugget Kerwin Frost Box.
The Happy Meal box and the toys are named for and designed by Harlem, New York-based artist Kerwin Frost who collaborated with the brand for the new line.
If you're looking to try out other fast food items in Canada beyond McDonald's offerings, there are a bunch of new and returning options from Subway, Mary Brown's, Arby's, Tim Hortons and Wendy's to check out.
I personally tested out the new Omelette Bites from Tim Hortons which come in two flavours: Bacon and Cheese or Spinach and Egg White. I also picked up Starbucks' Egg White & Roasted Red Pepper Egg Bites and Bacon & Gruyère Egg Bites to see how they compared to Timmies, and the winner was extremely clear.
Happy eating!
These prices are confirmed at the time of publishing, but they can change at any time. Taxes and fees may not be included.
The three Fruit Splashes.
The bottom burger. 