I’m a huge fan of their limited-edition options too, with the Big Tasty being a burger I love seeing make its regular comebacks. So, after hearing all the hype about the McRib from older generations, I was excited to try it on its return.
After waiting in the hell that is the Northumberland Street McDonald’s at lunchtime for twenty minutes, the number on my receipt was called and I eagerly grabbed my order. As I walked, I opened the bag to look inside and was hit with the appetisingly fresh smell of the bun, lulling me into a false sense of security. My expectations had been raised higher now, unaware of the shock I was about to receive once I sunk my teeth into the burger.
Calling this a “McRib” feels dishonest, as the patty is simply just pork pressed into the shape of a rib, given fake ridges to show where the bones would be if it actually had any. It’s an incredibly unappetising sight. “But looks can be deceiving,” I told myself.
The “rib” was doused in a tangy barbecue sauce that started dripping down the sides of the bun the moment I picked it up. It was a struggle to get my hands around it without covering them in the condiment, but I carried on nonetheless and took a bite.
The rib itself was near flavourless, adding as much to the overall taste as a patty made of plastic
With the amount of sickeningly sweet sauce slathered on the burger, you won’t be surprised to hear that it was the only thing I could taste, along with the overload of onions piled onto the patty. The rib itself was near flavourless, adding as much to the overall taste as a patty made of plastic would have.
I find it hard to believe that this is the McRib that kids of the 80s held in such high regard. Could it be a case of nostalgia? Maybe, but I’ve heard many claim that something is missing from this McRib revival that they can’t quite put their finger on (I reckon a bit of seasoning would be a good place to start).
Disappointed, disgusted and deceived, I finished the last bite of my McRib. I was defeated - my hands sticky with barbecue sauce and my taste buds tarnished. And in typical McDonald’s fashion, the napkin stand was empty, leaving me helpless in the mess I had gotten myself into. I’m all for bringing back classics from the past, but some things are best left forgotten, the McRib being one of them.
