McDonald’s McSpicy burger review: Is it spicy?
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Has McDonald’s struck gold twice in 2021? By gold, I’m of course referring to their new chicken burger offerings in the UK this year. The first burger they released was the Homestyle Crispy Chicken burger back in February, with the second being their newly released McSpicy burger.
Contents
Overview
The McSpicy chicken isn’t exactly a new release. It’s a menu item that’s been around for a number of years actually. For example, it’s a burger that I always look forward to eating whenever I visit Hong Kong. In Singapore, McDonald’s even offers to double it up with the Double McSpicy.
However, from 14th July, McDonald’s will be offering the McSpicy burger for the first time in the UK. Now is it something to be excited about? If it’s anything like the ones I’ve had in Hong Kong and Singapore, then yes, I do believe it is!
How does it look?
Unlike the ‘premium’ value burger offerings, you’ll find the burger uses paper wrappings rather than McDonald’s’ signature clamshell boxes.
I have to say, it does feel somewhat cheap. The burger size and packaging feel more like the hamburgers and cheeseburgers on the pound saver menu. Not what I’d expect from a limited time offering, especially when the burger I had in Singapore came with its own dedicated clamshell!
I do, however, kind of like what McDonald’s has done with the packaging design. They’ve tied a social media campaign into it with a simple question and a range of possible answers. At the very least, thumbs up to the creativity!
As for the burger itself, the McSpicy consists of the following:
- Hot and spicy crispy chicken fillet
- Lettuce
- Creamy mayo sauce
- Toasted sesame bun
Other than a burger with a new chicken fillet offering, nothing about it really stands out, visually anyway… But looks can be deceiving.
Regarding spice levels, I didn’t really know what to expect since my previous experiences were varied. In Hong Kong, the McSpicy was reasonably mild. In Singapore, I was ashamedly wiping away a constant stream of tears amidst the other diners!
So how spicy was the McSpicy and how did it taste?
How does it taste?
Upon taking a bite from the burger, the sharp savouriness immediately hits your mouth. The chicken fillet is nice and crispy, complementing the inner juicy and tender chicken meat.
Compared to previous offerings, the crispy coating is noticeably thicker. Thick enough to say that there’s some crunchiness to it in addition to the crispy texture.
If anything, I think the McSpicy burger more resembles the KFC Zinger than the McChicken sandwich.
As for the spices, its flavours are also immediately noticeable. However, in terms of heat levels, it’s the kind of spiciness that builds up over time. I didn’t notice this much on the first bite. But gradually, the heat started to build up quicker after the third mouthful or so.
Wow, did I find it spicy! The burger is spicy enough to enjoy the experience but not unbearably painful (like the one in Singapore).
I don’t exactly have a high spice tolerance, but I can imagine the McSpicy will be in between the two extremes. It’s probably on the milder side for spice lovers and painfully spicy for those who are more averse to hot spices.
For a more accurate point of reference, I’d say the McSpicy burger is a bit spicier than KFC’s Zinger burger.
What makes the savoury and spice flavours stand out even more is how simple the burger is. Other than the subtleness of the creamy mayo, the strong, sharp tones of the chicken fillet truly dominates the overall flavour profile.
It’s a simple but effective burger.
If you’re after more flavours, I’d recommend adding fries to the meal with Sweet and Sour/ Sweet Curry sauce dips. The sweetness from both dips complements the savoury and spicy flavours of the burger.
The enjoyment I had with this McSpicy burger is certainly comparable to the ones I had previously. Good job!
Would I recommend it?
Would I recommend the McSpicy burger? Definitely!
It’s a shame the burger is only around for a limited time. The UK McDonald’s would certainly benefit from it being around more regularly, if not permanently. It would give McDonald’s a more regular spicy offering, as well as a competitor to KFC’s Fillet and Zinger burgers.
Are you up for a spicy challenge? Think it’s too mild or too spicy? Join the debate at #McSpicyDebate. No doubt this will be one heated (sorry) conversation for the time being.
Further Information
Prices: £3.89 (burger), £5.49 (medium meal)
Nutritional Information (Serving size: 1 burger): Click here for details.
The McSpicy will be available from Wednesday 14th July to Tuesday 24th August.
Challenge those taste buds by picking up a burger in store or via delivery through Uber Eats and Just Eat today!