The 10 Most Interesting McDonald's Items from Around the World

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McDonald's is successful worldwide for a number of reasons, one being how well the corporation caters to local food culture. If you've ever travelled abroad, you will no doubt have noticed markedly different fare available at the the D than what we see in the States.

Here's a look at the most interesting local fare from McDonald's locations around the world.

For more great times with Mickey D's, check out this piece on the greatest Happy Meal toys ever produced by the burger giant.

paneer salsa wrap

Paneer Salsa Wrap

Country: India
What It Is: Paneer is a sort of cheese that's integral to Indian cooking. The process behind it is similar to cottage cheese, but paneer has a different consistency, something like springy tofu. The paneer in this wrap is coated in a spicy seasoning, fried, then bedded down with lettuce and salsa. Sexy.

samuri pork burger

Samurai Pork Burger

Country: Thailand
What It Is: Nothing too surprising here: pork, pickles, mayo, and teriyaki sauce. And that photo makes it look pretty damn appetizing. Given the chance, we'd be all over this. But the name...what is up with the name?

german sausage chicken

German Sausage Chicken Sandwich

Country: Japan

What It Is: German cuisine is pretty damn distinctive. Japanese cuisine is too. So, how to process this weird bit of cross-cultural fusion food? A fried chicken breast, a single slice of grilled pork, molten cheese, and sauerkraut, all on the same sandwich. Is this the Japanese idea of German food? Or McDonald's idea of German food? Or a German McDonald's idea of German food Japanese people would like? This situation is making us dizzy.

mcD chicken porridge

McD Chicken Porridge

Country: Malayasia
What It Is: Whatever it is, it doesn't look half bad. Bits of green and fried onion, porridge, and succulent chicken pieces serve as some lighter fare on the Malaysian Mickey D's menu. "Lighter fare" and "McDonald's" are words we don't hear in the same sentence too often, but we know they're trying. Trying so damn hard.

mccurry pan

McCurry Pan

Country: India
What It Is: This delicacy looks a little bit like a deep-dish pizza, but instead of tomato sauce, you have this cream-based swamp with vegetables floating in a boat-shaped bread rectangle. You can get it with chicken too, for those craving meat.

Cheese Katsu

Cheese Katsu

Country: Japan
What It Is: A fried pork cutlet stuffed with cheese, which is then slathered with mayonnaise, cabbage, and tonkatsu sauce, which is essentially a thickened Worcestershire sauce. The Internet is awash in positive feedback for this item. And we trust the Internet.

Twisty Pasta

Twisty Breakfast Pasta

Country: Hong Kong
What It Is: Another gem! No better way to start the day than with a warm bowl of pasta. Not filling enough, you say? We'll take your pasta bowl and raise you an egg/sausage topping (or chicken—your call). But seriously, this is one odd combinations. We'd be wary of ordering any kind of pasta dish over a fast food counter, let alone one with sausage and egg. But that's a Western opinion, one Hong Kong would surely make us part with.

mckroket

McKroket

Country: Netherlands
What It Is: The lovely Netherlands, especially Amsterdam: a beautiful, young, and hip cultural capital. But Dutch food? It can be creamy-heavy to a fault, gut-bombing that ass for days. But, you say, the McKroket looks delicious and deep fried. Well, take a look inside: nothing but beef ragout (a heavy-creamy stew topped with a rich, mustardy sauce). This might have you moving slower than that other product Amsterdam is synonymous with.

mcspagetti

McSpaghetti

Country: Phillipines
What It Is: We are so sorry for this: the McSpaghetti dish, piping hot pasta with tomato sauce neatly packed away in a heat-conserving Styrofoam container. Can't confirm this, but at least one source says it also comes topped with sliced hot dogs. Even better, you can get the dish with a side of nuggets! What country is this supposed to be hailing from? Who asked for this? What's happening?

EBI Filet-O

EBI Filet-O

Country: Japan
What It Is: Can you tell what this excellent pseudo-x-ray image is showing you? Inside of this fried patty is shrimp. Yes, it's a shrimp burger. Miniature shrimp bound together by an egg/flour mixture and then tossed into the deep-fryer. Take heart: reviews from numerous global travellers are positive. But globetrotters tend to be more adventurous (that's why they've left America), leading us to bet against the success of the EBI Filet-O in the USA. Great name, though.