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?

Why are you obsessed with fat people OP? Your last goady OP was about why are so many British people obese. You need to get a life.

I've been in hospital all morning with DD3 - we just stopped for one on the way home - I had a cheeseburger - a whopping 217 calories - it's all I've eaten today - I don't think I'll die of a heart attack any time soon!

DD3 also had a small fries and McFlurry - no biggy she's not been able to eat much in the past week due to pain.

We are tired, a bit stressed and hungry - it's a quick fix

It is an interesting question though how out of all the fast food restaurants that exist in all the world it's only McDonalds that is this successful. I don't think people get quite so excited about a KFC or a Burger King. And it's successful all over the world in places with really different food cultures isn't it? I find it quite bizarre and have no idea why.

Of course

I do enjoy a Big Mac meal occasionally but my pet hate is when the fries aren’t piping hot. My grandchildren cringe when I go back to the counter and ask for fresh ones 😆

This thread has reminded me of the bizarre happenings when the country was in lockdown in the early months of the pandemic. Families were doing homemade “fakeaways” and even printing look a like paper to wrap them.

Then the first day when McD’s etc reopened there were folk sitting in 2 hour queues at their drive thru’s. 🍔 🍔

Is this going to be another thread like your last one about why so many British women are obese or overweight? You start an unpleasant thread poking fun (albeit quite subtly) at overweight people and then disappear after perhaps one or two posts from you, usually saying "HTH" at some point.

Did you not learn anything from your previous thread about some of the causes of the obesity epidemic?

So why do you think they'll be eating if every day OP?

I don't know anyone who eats it more than once every week or two.

Because they are disgusting and are inflicting it on their children.

Why are you going through OP''s previous posts?

Perhaps OP is genuinely concerned about the obesity and health crisis in the UK and the effects it will have on the NHS?

I don't have children.

People like it because it’s cheap compared to eating out elsewhere, it has saver options from just 99p. The food is the same whichever restaurant you go to so you know what to expect. It’s an easy place to feed kids. You don’t have to wait long for the food. It’s convenient as it tends to open early and shut late so the food is readily available and there are take away and delivery and drive through options. It’s good if you need food after a night out, during a long drive, hungover in the morning, to take the kids for a treat etc; lots of different situations where the food will please. It’s also familiar and nostalgic to a lot of people. Obviously if you don’t like fast food you won’t get it but for those who do it just ticks a lot of boxes; cheap, quick, familiar, easy, convenient, tasty etc.

No idea our local drive through causes endless congestion and is an accident waiting to happen.
Thankfully even my kids don't like it so other than the odd mcflurry if we parked there anywhere we don't bother.
It's also getting pretty expensive.

No idea!!!

And people weren't doing the 2hr queuing for other takeaways were they? What is it that McDonalds has got to inspire that level of devotion because I can't see it myself

I'm not trying to claim to be morally superior because I don't like McDonalds (or Greggs) BTW. I probably buy from Pret or Costa once a week or so and I expect they are just as bad for you but with a more middle class image!

It's more why is it McDonalds particularly that is so sort of iconic? It has to be very good marketing I guess.

Everyone likes different things...things you like others might not like.

Because you know exactly what you are getting. And it’s cheap.

I am a foodie.

However, when out and about running errands or on the motorway- I will always default to McDonalds and grab a wrap of the day or a cheeseburger because it’s tasty for a couple of quid. The coffee isn’t bad either.

I know there is always pret or Joe and the juice or Leon where you can have a slightly healthier option, but for a quick bite I always prefer McDonalds.

I like it there, but it’s not a ‘treat’ in our household. Just cheap fast food.

Because the food is delicious. Why do you care if others want to wear leggings and tracksuits and eat McDonalds. Does it make you feel superior?

We eat it about once a month and we choose mcdonalds because its cheap - literally feed the kids for £2.50 each, and they are one of the only places that my boy hasn't been given one of his multiple allergens by mistake

We know when we go that his chips and veggie dippers are fried in their dedicated fryer and he isn't going to come up in hives from egg contamination or be doubled up in pain from being glutened or cross contaminated with milk and soya

It's a safe choice and people like an affordable and predictable treat on occasion, doesn't mean they are going to eat it daily

Because they are common and LAZY and can’t be arsed to cook EVER and can’t be BOTHERED to parent their kids and feed them proper meals so they have McDonalds every single day and you are morally superior to them!

We don’t get it either…..always queues at the drive in when we go past. DH actuallly hates their food and would choose Burger King or KFC. I’d prefer subway.

Junk food no longer appeals, it did in my twenties and I can see the attraction for kids but no thanks.

YABU - it is the exact opposite of a treat. It's a convenient but unappealing place to go, if you are in a hurry/travelling, and want to know what you are getting and how much it will cost.

I don't mind the wraps, but it would never be my first choice of takeaway. However, if one opened in my town, then I'd be quite pleased, as it would be an easy option with the kids if we were getting home late at the weekend from a day out, every now and again.

And actually, portion sizes are probably better than other takeaways.

*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?*

How do you know people want to eat it "so often"? Just because you have seen people milling about or wondering when it might open doesn't mean they are in there 3 times a day and eat nothing else. I would imagine that most people are like our family, and our friends with kids similar ages. It's a "quick meal on the way home from swimming" thing, or my eldest will grab a breakfast on his walk to his part time job, or it's an alternative to pizza/chinese takeaway when we're having a lazy night in.

It's a brand which is standardised across the UK, walk into any McDonalds and you know exactly what you're getting and what quality/price to expect. It's not expensive and it's filling and tasty. There are kids options. All these "oh I simply can't understand McDOnald's" posts are so fake - at least own it OP and admit you're sneering at people who choose to eat there and see yourself as superior to them.

I am not a regular Maccies customer, but have often had their food in the past and don't struggle to understand why people want to eat there.

It's quick easy and somewhere people go to socialise especially if it's open 24/7 which many are. It's not about the food.

There's a marketing expert I follow on TikTok. He explains that McDonalds is popular because it's the same every time. You know what you're going to get. And it's never "terrible".

I went to vegas for 5 days and lived on bunless burgers whilst I was there - there's nothing wrong with the actual beefburgers/cheese. Lost about 5lbs when I came back. (I'm an average weight)

It's not just fat people who go to McDonald's. It's cheap, quick food with free WiFi.And it's open long hours.