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?

We only ever tend to have one if we're on out way home from somewhere or perhaps out around lunch and want something quick. I reckon about 3 or maybe 4 times a year. But I'm not a big fan. The smell from outside is enough to put me off.

It's cheaper than other takeaways and is yummy. I don't go that often because I'll put weight on but wish I could.

It's not a patch on 35 years ago. Back then the restaurants were massive, relaxing places to eat. Mind you there were less oiks generally. You went to the counter to give your order, they fetched it, and I swear the portions were larger. They gave you a Trivial Pursuit Challenge card and you won a free Big Mac and everything was grand.

I don't understand their business model now. Their outlets are busier than ever but the restaurants get smaller and smaller. It's like fucking feeding time at London Zoo. They are so crowded and tiny. And the toilets? They are so small you have to reverse in. Just why?? And now you have to order at a machine and mill around with 50 other people while your order sits on a worktop going cold.

So it's a no from me, Clive.

I really like their coffee, it’s much nicer than Costa (for eg) and it’s cheap. They also do a fabulous apple pie!

People are mugs to advertising and big cooperates.

I haven’t eaten in a Mac Donald’s I’m about 40 years but the thing about fast food is it’s cheap, hot and you don’t have to cook it yourself. A pretty good combo.

I'm not a food snob at all. I can enjoy unhealthy food like fish and chips, jam donuts etc. However I really don't think Macdonalds tastes good.
As a teenager I loved it but as I got older my palette developed and it just tastes like nothing to me. I can't help thinking that the people who love it and eat it frequently just aren't used to good food. Once I started eating really good quality, delicious food, Macdonalds started tasting bad!

Oh and I'm not a coffee drinker but apparently it's a really decent coffee in there at a reasonable price ☕

I'm in my sixties. Size 8. Very fit and health conscious. I eat McDonalds 3 or 4 times a year because although it's not healthy, it is DELICIOUS. I had a Sausage' McMuffin breakfast earlier today. The first meat or processed food I've had this week and it was bloody lovely.

It’s cheap and convenient. People used to have a lot more time to cook when one parent was at home all week and parenting was more hands off.

Now it’s very difficult for families to have time to cook two to three meals every day. There might only be an hour between getting home from work and kids bedtimes. During the weekends most families and going back and forth to different activities.

Eating out is expensive. Being able to grab something quick like McDonalds or subway makes people’s lives easier.

It's cheap, precisely engineered to be highly palatable, and you know exactly what you're going to get.

Personally, I don't like McDonalds and haven't been in one for years, except maybe to use the toilets. But I can easily understand why it's so popular.

I'm indifferent to their main meal food but I do love a sausage and egg muffin and hash brown!

Mostly though, they are just convenient, predictable and not too expensive. If we're travelling long distance, particularly if we're setting off early, then having somewhere like that to pop into/drive-through is helpful.

Personally I prefer KFC if it's just me or me and DH but I haven't converted DD yet!

It's not every day food, and it isn't meant to be, but that doesn't mean it's the devil incarnate either!

@EvaHara

Why does it matter to you so much what other people enjoy? Maybe you need to get yourself a few hobbies and interests. Then you won't be so wrapped up in and obsessed with other people's lives, and what they do.

We had a Maccies open in our town a year and a half ago. Closest one was 20 miles before then. Many of the 10,000 people within 2-3 miles absolutely roared with excitement and joy. You could hear the collective cheer when it was announced on Facebook.

It makes an absolute killing every day of the week, especially as it's placed on an A road (as truckers and van drivers and passers by go there too.). And SHOCKER! it's a middle class town, with upper-middle class, and upper-class villages surrounding it.

There's a lot of lovely people around here, who are not snobs, who think they're better than others because they don't eat McDonald's food. 🙄

I don't think it's that cheap anymore, probably because the kids are older and can eat a burger meal each and 20 chicken nuggets between them and still want more food 2 hours later

I do have a bit of a thing about greggs sausage baguettes atm though

It’s cheap, fast and convenient. And when you compare the lists of additives in things like burgers, they are actually not as bad as some supposed higher end meals like Charlie whatever his name is who puts food in wooden basket things. I think it’s snobbery that makes people say it’s shit food. It’s no more shit that most other food if eaten to excess.

I love when people get confused about stuff like this.
Or pretend to get confused. It feels like a subtle looking down on people.
Most people in this country love McDonalds. It's so easy to see why and their success says it all. And I think there are a lot of snobby people who can't accept that the majority of the country are not like them.

Because the majority of the population is now genetically coded to seek out highly processed food with large fat, sugar and salt content. McDonald’s fits the bill perfectly.

It’s the modern day equivalent of a herd of cattle moving in next door to cavemen. They’d be very excited too.

Ah, I see. The feckless bastard poor, wanting to eat food again, when they should be knowing their place, and quietly starving to death in garrets (what's a garret?) like they did when Britain was actually great.

It's cheap, you generally know what you are getting.

I was in McD’s for a treat last week with 2 of my grandkids. I was surprised to see the amount of home deliveries being dispatched. There were 4 delivery folk waiting to complete their orders and set off. Surely by the time it reaches its destination the food is lukewarm and the fries are limp?

They often can’t get it to the restaurant tables hot enough. My fries were lukewarm that day and I asked to swap them for some from the fresh batch just coming out. I didn’t even get a chance to speak. They immediately said “do you want hot ones”. So presumably it must be a regular occurrence to serve up lukewarm and hope nobody minds.

Nah I've been around the world trying all kinds of stuff and appreciate beautiful food. I still love a Maccys.

Not had a macdonalds meal in over 10 years.horrid stuff

ooooo

I like Mcdonalds, after my hyrox event yesterday I got myself two plant burgers, large fries and a black coffee, yummy. Their coffee is good and very very cheap.

It is cheap, has a drive thru, people are tired and it is convenient. I mean they don’t even have to get out of their car.

I have never been a fan. I used to like their lattes, but lately they’ve changed and have been a bit too milky (maybe somebody hasn’t topped the coffee up in the machine)? They always forget, or skimp on the syrups (pretty sure they’re selling them on the blackmarket)! 😂

They do amazing sugar ring doughnuts, I’m unsure if they are now discontinued? The porridge is good, and the hash browns are spot on, esp dipped in maple syrup. I hate everything else there though, it just all tastes a bit like beige cardboard to me, and isn’t filling. What have they done to the McFlurry as well ? The toppings and syrups used to be in abundance, and stirred all of the way through, and now there is hardly any, a dusting just sitting on the top.

We like a Mcdonalds in our house. It is a cheap meal consistent. It always makes me giggle a bit when collegues say I couldn't eat a Mcdonalds then tuck into their M&S meal deal which has more calories, more preservatives etc.