McDonalds in Thailand
I don't really make a habit of going to McDonald's in Thailand. I know a lot of tourists do. I usually stay away, partly because the price is a little expensive and also because there is so much good Thai food here at a fraction of the price. It is funny really, because back home McDonald's is somewhere you go for a cheap meal when you go out. However, in Thailand it is almost the opposite. As it costs more, it is prestigious to be seen in McDonalds! Actually, KFC is a lot more popular here in Thailand compared to McDonalds. But still, you will quite often see the place packed.
When I was backpacking across Asia, I made a note in my diary of the price of a cheeseburger in every country that I visited. I thought it would be interesting to compare. So, I did a bit of a McDonalds Tour of the World! From Pushkin Square in Moscow and on to Beijing and finally Bangkok. That was back in the early 1990's when there wasn't many around. But, now there are hundreds in each country.
I know we get quite a few students visiting our blogs who are doing projects on comparing cost of living and lifestyles between two different countries. So, today I will give you a rundown of a menu at McDonalds so that you can compare to your homecountry. However, the size of portions might vary. I believe the Big Mac here is a lot bigger than the one in the UK for some reason. Anyway, at present, US$1 is about 40 baht.
Cheeseburger (29 baht), hamburger (19 baht), Pork Burger (19 baht), Pepper Chicken burger (19 baht), Big Mac (60 baht), Filet-O-Fish (48 baht), McChicken (48 baht), Samurai Pork Burger (48 baht), Double Cheeseburger (60 baht), Crispy McD 2pcs (63 baht), Spicy McD 2 (63 baht), McNugget 6 pieces (39 baht), McSalad Shaker (32 baht), McFries regular size (19 baht), Coke small size (19 baht), McFloat (19 baht), Cone (9 baht), Pies (19 baht)and Sundae (19 baht).
If you are learning Thai, you might be interested in the conversations my students wrote a year or so ago:
http://www.learningthai.com/mcdonalds.htm
You will find menus, conversations and a lot more!
| Don't forget to visit the forums to discuss Thai food!
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| Stella | | | How I loved Maccy D's in Thailand, best Hangover cure around and even better with delivery. So I sat mourning my hangover while waiting for my Samurai pork burger with fries anda large coke to be delivered!!!! Memories!!! | | aj | | | I'll add that McD's in Thailand tend to be staffed by college grads as an entry-level "career move". Many, if not all, of the fast food places there tend to be quite clean, pleasantly serviced, and have a hand sink in the public area for quick clean-up. The U.S. based franchises could learn a thing or two! | | JackJumblies | | | McDonalds may be relatively expensive and bad for you, but I will give up cigarettes and alcohol before I deny myself the occasional Filet-O-Fish fix. Or as the Thais call it, "Mac Feesh." | | EJ | | Speaking of "Fast-Food Nation", check out the film "Super Size Me". The guy who made the documentary ate nothing but Ronald's for one month. During the course of this 'diet', he gets regular checkups by a doc. His bodyfat percentage soars, along with his cholestorol count and blood pressure. Definitely something to be eaten on limited occasions..if at all.
On a side note, I must say, that everytime I go to Thailand, I need to go to KFC. The crispy strips there are made with dark meat, rather than white meat that is the only choice here in the US (yuck). I drench them in the sweet chili sauce that is on every table. Truly a guilty pleasure. | | Sujitra | | | Who would of thunk McDonalds would be a cool place to take your date out to?? | | soohk | | | I love McD in BKK as the differrence between the McD in KL is that they have samurai pork burger. In Malaysia its samurai Beef.... | | Khun Don | | There has been a huge lashback concerning junkfood and kids in the UK.
Don't know if it is happening elsewhwere in the world, but here, McDonalds, being the prime target, is now offering wholesome things like carrot sticks, fruit and salads along with its regular fare -its a bit weird seeing McD TV adverts offering the choice of carrot sticks or fries with the kids meals ! | | Wit | | Oh man..Mickey D's ..Inkslinger is right if they translated that book 'Fast Food Nation' into Thai and Thai people knew what goes into that food they'd too be turned off on it permanently ;)
Besides what the heck is the point of traveling halfway around the globe to Thailand just so you can eat the same mass produced American junk that you can go to eat on just about any corner in America, or any other country for that matter, even if they do have 'Samurai pork burgers' in Bangkok ;)
My apologies to any McD fans out there :D
Wit | | Khun Don | | | The only time I have seen the McDonalds in Chang Klan Road Chiang Mai completely packed out was on Childrens Day 2004 -obviously the most popular venue along with the Pandas at the Zoo and the party at the Airforce base for the celebrations ! | | oakmonster | | Gosh...that's what I miss sometimes. Samurai pork burger. Yummmmm...
Oh yeah. And McRibs. A few items that would actually get me to Mickey D's. |
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