Tag: McRib

The McRib is Finally Back

Published on by Michael NusairLeave a comment

McRib Canada
Location: 2439 Steeles Avenue East, Brampton
Website: https://www.mcdonalds.com/

The McRib!  It’s back!  Sort of — for some bizarre reason, McDonald’s has chosen to only bring it back to five random locations in the GTA, mostly in Brampton.  But you know what?  This is the first time in like a decade that the McRib has come back to Canada, so I’m certainly not complaining.

McRib Canada

I seem to recall that the last time the McRib came back, it wasn’t as good as I remembered.  But my McRib nostalgia is strong, so of course I had to try it again.

It’s good!  I was wrong, it’s good.  It helps that I got a freshly-prepared one — it was quite dry last time, and that definitely wasn’t the case here.  It also helps that I ordered it without onions, and with extra pickles instead, and yeah, that’s the way to go.  Raw onions are for jerks.

McRib Canada

It comes absolutely slathered in a slightly smoky, sweet-but-not-too-sweet BBQ sauce, which is a pretty big part of its appeal.

Maybe I just got lucky and got a very well-prepared one, but I think is probably one of the better things on the McDonald’s menu.  Hopefully it’s not another decade before they bring it back again.

Burger King – Fire-Grilled Rib Sandwich

Published on by Michael NusairLeave a comment

Burger King - Fire-Grilled Rib Sandwich
Location: 4141 Dixie Road, Mississauga
Website: http://www.burgerking.ca/

Burger King is the worst.  Seriously.  The absolute worst.  I remember at a certain point, several years back, thinking that it was one of the better fast food joints.  But then the quality started going downhill, and at first I thought “oh, I must be at a badly run Burger King,” but no.  They’re all bad now.

I’m not a fast food snob.  I enjoy it, for the most part.  You have to adjust your expectations, obviously, but a Big Mac can be quite satisfying when the craving hits.

My personal ranking of the big fast food burger chains would probably look something like this:

  1. A&W
  2. Wendy’s
  3. McDonald’s
  4. Harvey’s
  5. Garbage from a dumpster
  6. Burger King

So when I found out that Burger King was serving a McRib-esque sandwich, my better judgment told me to stay away, but hey, you only live once, right?

I should note that I actually do like the McRib.  Maybe it’s because I have fond childhood memories of the thing, but every time McDonald’s brings it back I feel obligated to eat it at least once.

Burger King’s version has all of the same components (barbeque sauce, mystery-meat-pork patty, and pickles), save for the onion.  But it is — surprise, surprise — not good.  The salty patty is a lot chewier and more rubbery than the McRib, and the cloyingly sweet barbeque sauce is one-note and vaguely unappealing.  The bun and pickles are fine, but the whole thing was kind of gross and nothing I’d ever want to eat again.

I tried the new doughnut holes, too, which were also pretty gross.  Can we just use the words Burger King as a replacement verb for gross?  I think so.  The doughnut holes were pretty Burger Kingy. Doughy, soggy, and downright mushy, the only highlight was when I remembered that I am a human being with free will, and can choose to never eat another one of these for as long as I live.  I wish I could make that choice for Burger King in general, but I know curiosity will drive me back here when they introduce something else new to their menu.  Oh well.

Burger King - the menu Burger King - Fire-Grilled Rib Sandwich Burger King - doughnut holes