McDonalds in China

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am not a big fan of McDonald's. Its not that I am against this type of fast food chain, I love KFC and enjoy the occasional Burger King but for some reason I am not keen on the food at the golden arches. I can't say I never go there because that would be lying, on occassion I have been taken at gun point by family and friends who love the place.

I have lived my life as an outcast, a loner walking the streets in a world I share with of McDonald's fanatics, and I have never truly understood the appeal. Until now that is. I don't know what it is, but in China I love going to McDonald's. It is a place I go at least once a week, I believe it is because in a week that features rice or noodles in just about every meal, I like the taste of home and as my mum's cooking and pub grub is in short supply over here I have to settle for Maccie D's. I say settle, which is a bit harsh as there is no settling at all, it never fails to hit the spot!

Even writing up the last blog on Old McDonald had my mouth watering at the prospect of double bacon cheeseburger... I knew then I had a problem, and the idea for this very blog post was born.

More choice on the menu than any McDonald's back home

I thought given my usual dislike for all things McRelated, I needed to consider why I like it so much here so I have come up with a few reasons why McDonalds in China rocks!

Price - It is a lot cheaper than back home, a meal costs in the region of 21RMB to 29RMB (£2.10 to £2.90)!

Delivery - What? Yep that's right they deliver. I often see mopeds covered with the infamous McDonald's logo on its way to someone to ensure they have their McFix without leaving the sofa (well apart from getting up to answer the door...).

Half Price at Lunchtime - Perhaps one of the strangest differences is that every McDonalds is half price between 11am and 2pm, every day. Having studied Business at college and university, in addition to working in Marketing for several years, the concept of purposely reducing your profit margin is lost on me (and during the busiest period no less!?!) but as a consumer it something I am all for!

Breakfast menu - Ok, so I have not strayed from the familiarity of a sausage and egg McMuffin yet but I do love their breakfast menu. As well as the usual things, they also offer a hotdog and if that is not enough how about all the burgers you can get during the rest of day, only in a muffin? Yes these are real options and cost just 8RMB (about 80p), the breakfast muffins are 20RMB (£2) though and I will stick with them for now, though the idea of a chicken burger in a muffin at 9am is very tempting...

24 hour - I cannot speak for the rest of China but seemingly every McDonalds in Beijing is 24 hour, which is very hard to turn at down when you are falling out of a club in the early hours of the morning before getting a taxi home.

Coffee - It is very hard to find a good cup of coffee here and though there are Starbucks littered around amongst other coffee shops they usually charge the equivalent of £3.50 for a cup, McDonalds on the other hand charge just 85p, plus they offer refills.... it's a no brainer!

I dare say that when I return to England, I will go back to avoiding McDonalds but for the time being I am happy for it to be my little taste of home on those rare occasions that I don't fancy noodles or rice.