The Most Unusual McDonald’s Items Ever Sold

McDonald’s has long been known for its iconic menu items, such as the Big Mac, McNuggets, and fries, but the fast food giant has also experimented with a range of unusual and sometimes bizarre offerings over the years. From regional specialties to one-off promotions, McDonald’s has tested the limits of its menu to cater to diverse tastes, spark curiosity, and create buzz. Here’s a look at some of the most unusual McDonald’s items ever sold.

1. McLobster (1993 – 2007)

One of the most unusual items to ever grace McDonald’s menu was the McLobster sandwich. First introduced in 1993 in New England, this sandwich was essentially a lobster roll served in a bun, complete with a mayonnaise-based dressing and lettuce. The McLobster was only available in select regions, often along the East Coast of the U.S., where lobster is a beloved local delicacy. While it didn’t make waves in the fast food world like the Big Mac, it did become a unique offering that reflected McDonald’s efforts to adapt to regional tastes.

Despite the positive reviews from seafood lovers, the McLobster was discontinued in 2007, partly due to its high cost and relatively limited popularity. Despite its discontinuation, McLobster sightings still surface from time to time, particularly in certain regional McDonald’s promotions.

2. McPizza (1989 – 2000)

In the 1980s, McDonald’s made an ambitious attempt to enter the pizza business with the McPizza. The chain experimented with a full-sized pizza, which was offered as a dine-in menu item at select locations. The McPizza was not like the typical pizza you’d find at a pizzeria—it was fast food’s take on the classic Italian dish. It came in different varieties, including cheese, pepperoni, and deluxe, and took about 11 minutes to bake, making it a far cry from McDonald’s typical quick-service fare.

The McPizza was met with mixed results. While some customers enjoyed the novelty of having pizza at McDonald’s, the item was impractical for fast food service due to the time required to prepare it. Eventually, McDonald’s pulled the McPizza from most of its locations, though a few franchisees continued to offer it for years afterward, making it one of the most unusual and long-lived experiments in the chain’s history.

3. The McAfrica (2002)

In 2002, McDonald’s made headlines with a controversial product: the McAfrica. This sandwich featured a beef patty, lettuce, tomato, and a special McAfrica sauce, all served in a pita-style bread. The sandwich was part of a promotional campaign to highlight the brand’s support for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, and to introduce a more global approach to the menu.

The name, however, sparked a great deal of backlash. Critics claimed that the McAfrica was insensitive, particularly because it was launched just as reports of famine in parts of Africa were making headlines. The timing and choice of name made the McAfrica an instant controversy, and McDonald’s quickly pulled the sandwich from its menu, making it one of the most unusual and short-lived items in the company’s history.

4. The McTaco (1990s)

Before Taco Bell became the king of fast food tacos, McDonald’s tried its hand at the taco business with the McTaco. This was a soft taco filled with seasoned beef, lettuce, and cheese, designed to compete with other fast food taco offerings. McDonald’s even marketed the item as part of its “Mc” lineup of products, which included McChicken, McFish, and McRib.

Though the McTaco was not a complete failure, it was a short-lived experiment. The taco didn’t resonate with customers in the same way other fast food staples did, and it was quietly discontinued in the late ’90s. While the McTaco is largely forgotten today, it represents one of McDonald’s more unusual attempts at branching out beyond its signature burger offerings.

5. The McDLT (1984 – 1990)

The McDLT, short for “McDonald’s Lettuce and Tomato,” was a unique take on the classic burger, marketed as a healthier alternative. What made the McDLT stand out was its innovative packaging. The sandwich was served in a styrofoam container with two separate compartments: one for the hot, cooked burger patty and one for the cold, fresh lettuce and tomato. The idea was to keep the hot and cold ingredients separate until the moment of consumption, allowing the customer to assemble the burger themselves.

Though the McDLT was praised for its innovation, it didn’t last long. The environmental concerns over the use of styrofoam containers, combined with the rise of more streamlined burger options, led to the McDLT’s demise by 1990. Nonetheless, it was one of McDonald’s most unusual and innovative offerings of the 1980s.

6. The McRib (1989 – Present)

Perhaps one of McDonald’s most famous unusual items is the McRib. Introduced in 1989 as a limited-time offering, the McRib is a boneless pork patty shaped to resemble a rack of ribs, slathered in barbecue sauce, and served in a bun with onions and pickles. While it was initially met with skepticism, the McRib has developed a cult following over the years.

What makes the McRib so unusual is its sporadic availability. McDonald’s has made a habit of bringing the McRib back for limited-time promotions, leading to a phenomenon where fans eagerly await its return. Despite being one of McDonald’s oddest creations, the McRib has become a beloved part of the fast food giant’s menu, with some even arguing that it is the ultimate example of fast food nostalgia.

7. The Pumpkin Spice Latte McCafé (2016)

McDonald’s took a step into the realm of seasonal beverages with the release of its Pumpkin Spice Latte in 2016. The McCafé Pumpkin Spice Latte wasn’t as unusual as some of the other items on this list, but it was part of a larger trend where McDonald’s tried to tap into the fall beverage craze dominated by Starbucks. The drink featured espresso, steamed milk, pumpkin flavoring, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Though pumpkin spice is now a staple of fall menus at many coffee shops, McDonald’s entry into the pumpkin spice craze was considered an unusual move for a fast food chain that wasn’t traditionally known for its coffee offerings. The success of the McCafé Pumpkin Spice Latte led to its return in subsequent years, making it a staple of the autumn season for many customers.

8. The Hula Burger (1960s)

In the early 1960s, McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc was keen on diversifying the menu to attract a wider range of customers, including those who didn’t eat meat. This led to the creation of the Hula Burger—a sandwich made with a slice of grilled pineapple in place of the beef patty, topped with cheese and served on a bun. It was introduced as a potential alternative to the standard burger, especially for those who observed fasting during Lent.

The Hula Burger never caught on, largely because of its odd combination of ingredients and the popularity of the Filet-O-Fish, which was also created during this time to appeal to Catholic customers. The Hula Burger was quietly phased out, but it remains one of the most bizarre and failed experiments in McDonald’s history.

9. The McVegan (2017 – 2019)

As veganism became more mainstream, McDonald’s made a short-lived attempt to cater to plant-based eaters with the McVegan. The sandwich was introduced in Finland in 2017 and featured a plant-based patty, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and vegan mayo in a bun. While the McVegan was praised for its commitment to plant-based ingredients, it was ultimately discontinued in 2019 due to low sales outside of the Nordic countries.

Despite its failure to take off on a global scale, the McVegan represented a growing trend of fast food companies expanding their menu options to cater to vegan and vegetarian customers, paving the way for future plant-based offerings.

10. The Kiwiburger (1991)

In New Zealand, McDonald’s introduced the Kiwiburger as a limited-edition item to celebrate the country’s love for unique local flavors. The Kiwiburger was a regular hamburger but came with a slice of beetroot and a fried egg, making it a distinctly local creation. The beetroot gave the burger an earthy, sweet flavor, while the egg added a creamy richness.

Though the Kiwiburger is no longer on the menu, it remains a beloved item in New Zealand and a symbol of McDonald’s attempt to cater to regional tastes.

Conclusion

McDonald’s has shown time and again that it is willing to experiment with its menu to create unique, if sometimes odd, offerings. While some of these items, like the McRib and McPizza, have earned their place in the fast food lore, others, like the McAfrica and McTaco, serve as reminders of how McDonald’s tried and failed to capture the ever-changing tastes of the global fast food market. These unusual items are part of what makes McDonald’s a fascinating company to watch, always balancing the familiar with the adventurous.