American road trippers can count on McDonald's to provide a familiar, predictable meal for highway-weary travelers. East or west, you can count on a Big Mac or Chicken McNuggets to battle a grumbling tummy. But if your vacation plans take you to international destinations, what was a predictable meal before you stepped on that plane can become a culture shock to the system. We've rounded up some of the most interesting meal options you can expect when dining at the golden arches overseas.
— Additional reporting by Nicole Perry and Erin Cullum
Japanese McDonald's wants customers to do some of the work with Shaka Shaka Chicken: place the fried chicken piece in a paper bag, add your choice of seasonings (red pepper, lemon, or cheese), and shake it for a flavorful bite.
If you love the creamy cheesiness of a croque-monsieur, then try a Croque McDo, filled with ham and two slices of Emmentaler cheese. In Belgium, polish it off with a Jupiler beer.
While it's no longer available, Germany McDonald's has a history of crowd-sourcing menu item ideas like the Pretzelnator, a beef patty sandwiched in a pretzel bun and topped with ham, lettuce, onions, mayonnaise, and American and Italian cheeses. And for fans of the elusive McRib, you can find it year-round at German McDonald's restaurants.
Il Mac may sit on desktops in Italy, but it's not a computer; these McDonald's sandwiches contain a beef patty, cheese, lettuce, and tomato hugged by a ciabatta roll.