Why is McDonald's so popular?

[EvaHara]

Not really an AIBU but posting here for traffic.

A new McDonald's is opening in my town centre and there are so many posts about it on local social media. The majority of people are delighted about it and as is often the case, shouting down those who are not and who have concerns about the increase in traffic, parking, rubbish etc in an already busy area.

There are lots of people already milling about outside it, looking in the windows, and it hasn't even opened yet. Will probably get shot down for saying this but said people were very overweight or obese, and in ubiquitous leggings or tracksuit bottoms.

Why do so many people want to eat McDonald's so often?

What is the obsession with it and other fast food?

IMO it's ok as an occasional treat, but surely not every day or thereabouts?

It's cheap and easy. We live 20 miles from town, so we don't have McD's very often, but we had some yesterday after going to the theatre, which was 1pm, so eating around 4pm, it was a sort of very late lunch/early tea. A lot of cafe's are shut by then and the only other thing open is Brewers Fayre or McD's or Wetherspoons.

I always have a happy meal as I only want a small portion of everything.

I don't understand people who go there multiple times a day/week though. For us it's a treat after cinema/theatre etc.

The only tracksuit bottoms I saw were on all the delivery drivers. People order McD's to their doorstep rather than collect it which seems odd to me, but we live rurally so don't get deliveries of anything.

People like different food... so yabu about that.

But I understand your concerns about traffic etc. It doesnt take a lot for drive thru traffic to build up. And despite signs, people were constantly trying to do right turns into the local one. They had to have marshals during lockdown, it was ridiculous.

It’s cheap and quick.
But I totally get your concerns. Had one open near me a few years back and the traffic on a Friday after school is ridiculous- it’s obviously an after school Friday treat! Bit sad really.

Branding

Cheap

A place young people can hang out

Salt + sugar + fat. Humans crave this combination.

Why do all the supermarkets sell chicken nuggets, chips and chocolate?

I assume you are perfect with your judgy fat shaming post too.

Because some people like McDonald's. 😳

I don't understand why that is difficult to understand.

Because it’s delicious and good value for money.

I’m not sure I beleive there is a load of fat people in leggings hanging around looking in thr windows. I really don’t.

Agree. It doesn’t smell good at all. And going past their stores smells horrible too. Lots of fast food places seem to have this same aroma, probably the cheap oil as you say. I often have to walk past the back of a branch of Dominoes and it’s the same smell - I don’t get the appeal! When I walk past other restaurants, or even just the local chippy, I am often tempted by the smells of their food, but never with McDonalds/KFC/Dominoes etc

I bloody love McDonald's

It’s clean, consistent, quick and reliable. Children like the happy meals. Teenagers like having somewhere affordable to go.

I don’t have an ‘obsession and addiction’ to McDonalds but go occasionally. Like most people.

They probably won't be eating it every day though will they? What makes you think they will?

People like it because it's very cheap. quick and presumably they like the taste as well. Could you really not work that out yourself?

Apparently it’s all the fat people in leggings looking in the window.

I haven't had a McDonald's meal for years and years.
It was the stories about the animal cruelty in the slaughtering of animals for burger places that made me stop eating meat.
What I did find when I used to eat them was that although they are cheap they just don't really satisfy - I used to be hungry for something else not too long after eating. So not really cheap if you have to buy something else. Besides which I prefer home made chips that you can actually tell are made from potatoes.

But I do understand the convenience aspect for people who use them.

people were very overweight or obese, and in ubiquitous leggings or tracksuit bottoms

Yeah, yeah, of course they were while you are standing looking on in your size zero high fashion outfit just dying to share some nutrition advice to these poor soils.

Because most people - myself included - enjoy a bit of junk food every now and again.

Love a quarter pounder 🍔

Not sure why one poster said McDonalds is fashionable though. It’s not fashionable. It’s burgers and chips.

I take DS there twice a week for breakfast. It’s convenient and the coffee is far better than costa. It’s also fairly healthy for breakfast.

If you want fast food, a burger especially, it hit the spot. Mostly we eat them when travelling as it's the cheaper option at services. Done people are huge snobs and don't eat at McDonald's, they claim that it's "bad" when in reality it's actually nutritionally speaking little different to shop sandwiches and better than most restaurant options! Enjoyed occasionally nothing wrong with McDonald's, eaten regularly l, certainly more than once a week i question what else they eat!

I eat McDonald's when I'm at services or occasionally when out with the kids and want a quick lunch.
It's nothing special, but it's fine, it's cheap and the kids will eat it.

Because sometimes that combination of fat, salt, and sugar just really hits the spot!
A new shop of any kind opening makes local news on a slow news day, and people are nosy by nature, so probably not surprising that a few folks have looked in the window.

I don’t think I set foot in a McDonalds at all in my 20s.

Once I had kids though? You bet I suddenly got the appeal of not having to fucking cook. What a joy!

I don’t think it’s as cheap as everyone else seems to!

I hate all the packaging but I have family members who have issues with food and need to know exactly what to expect when they order food. McDonald's is exactly the same no matter which branch you visit.

Because I'm a fatty and my leggings stretch to accommodate a Big Mac or two.