Fries are the perfect accompaniment to just about any restaurant meal, sandwich or burger. However, the global shortage of french fries caused by supply chain issues has caused fast food outlets to rush to find other equally tasty side dishes to keep customers happy.
McDonald’s MCD even had to remove their fries from the menu in some countries. When Restaurant Brands International RSQ Burger King was hit by the potato shortage, it did something we never saw coming. To recreate the iconic fry at its restaurants in Japan, Burger King introduced what it calls its “almost potato set” consisting of a burger and fried ramen noodles as a side dish. Good news for you though, the potato supply chain issue has not affected the United States.
McDonald’s offers many interesting side dishes that vary from country to country, often introducing a popular dish important to the country. On July 20, the company introduced a new side dish: Japanese curry rice.
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McDonald’s has a different kind of side dish
Is Japanese curry rice available at McDonald’s Japan? No. Ironically, it is only available in Thailand. Ten years ago McDonald’s had a curry rice in Thailand, but it was a Thai curry. This time they opted for Japanese curry rice.
You can order your Japanese curry rice from a McDonald’s smart machine in the store, where it can take your order without having to place your order with an employee. These systems are not yet popular in Japan, so McDonald’s is a bit futuristic.
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There are two types of Japanese curry rice on the McDonald’s menu. One is Japanese curry rice fried chicken and the second is curry rice fried chicken with egg. The first costs $2.42 and the second costs $2.96. You can also make it a meal with chicken nuggets, fries, and a drink for $4.05 and $4.59.
The curry rice comes in a black plastic box with the fried chicken and rice on one side and a shallow box of curry on the other, which contains vegetables.
McDonald’s is not known to make any changes or additions to its side dish menu in the United States. He knows his customers love what’s already on the menu, and US McDonald’s succeeds despite regularly adding new side dishes. The extra they added is Shaker Fries, a packet of flavored seasoning you can put on your fries and smoked nacho cheese sauce, but these are no longer available.
McDonald’s has sides all over the world
McDonald’s in other countries often add new side dishes to reflect a culturally significant meal in that country. For example, the Australian McDonald’s has ham and cheese pockets, while the Chinese McDonald’s offers congee and red bean boba tea.
The current list of sides on the US McDonald’s website includes the world famous fries and apple slices for the health of your child’s meal. It appears the strategy is working for McDonald’s in the US, as it is America’s largest and most popular fast food chain.
Burger King is handy with sides including onion rings, jalapeno cheddar bites, mozzarella sticks and cheese toddlers. McDonald’s, however, did not introduce an onion ring side dish to compete with Burger King for an onion ring battle.