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NY Post
New York Post
17 Jul 2023


NextImg:I’m an American in Europe — I demand to know why McDonald’s is so much better here

Big Mac-re Bleu!

Fast food may seem like a cheap, last resort to many Americans, but that’s not necessarily the case elsewhere.

A traveling TikToker left social media salivating after revealing some of the ritzy delicacies found at McDonald’s across Europe — from tiramisu to tortilla breakfast sandwiches, plus other cosmopolitan delectables very nearly worthy of fine-dining establishments in their respective countries.

“These were better than some of the pizza I’ve had here,” ravenous rover Karissa enthused while describing the deep-fried pizza puffs on the menu at McDonald’s in Italy, in a TikTok video with over 11 million views.

The galloping gourmet embarked on a veritable fast food decathlon across the continent, visiting everywhere from Taco Bell to Burger King to see how the outlets differ from the ones on our side of the pond.

Here are some of the tastiest finds from her unorthodox European food tour.

Panzarotti at the McDonald’s in Liguria, Italy.
TikeTok/karissaeats

Highlights of the aforementioned Italian McDonald’s included tiny blocks of parmesan cheese and panzarotti — crackling and pillowy deep-fried dough envelopes of mozzarella and tomato sauce that are basically miniature calzones.

“It’s kind of nutty, kind of salty, I just love cheese,” Karissa fawned in the clip, while visiting a branch of the Golden Arches in northern Liguria.

The epicure’s deep dive into la dolce vita continued with a visit to an ornate McDonald’s restaurant in Rome, said to be the world’s largest, capable of seating up to 450 people.

Adorned with mosaics, arched ceilings and statues, it looked more like the Coliseum than your typical drive-through grease dealer.

The food appeared as opulent as the decor. Encased in glass lay a “Caligula”-esque spread of decadent confections ranging from a marshmallow-bejeweled donut and macarons to a “multi-layered chocolate cake” with “rich chocolate cream” and dark chocolate ganache on top.

Karissa described the latter — a steal at $2.90 — as the “best thing” she’s ever eaten at McDonald’s, gushing: “It actually melts in your mouth.”

Equally mouthwatering was the Mickey Dees tiramisu, boasting “fluffy marscapone cream” and “soft lady fingers that are just soaked in coffee,” the epicure exclaimed while taking a bite.

A marshmallow-festooned donut at the Golden Arches in Rome, Italy.

A marshmallow-festooned donut at the Golden Arches in Rome, Italy.
TikeTok/karissaeats

Next up on Karissa’s epicurean Eurotrip? McDonald’s in Marseille, France, where, as John Travolta observed in Quentin Tarantino’s iconic 1994 crime flick “Pulp Fiction,” the burgers are indeed called “royals.”

She tried the Royal Bacon Burger, which cost her $14.70. The pricey patty was “stacked” with pickle slices, bacon, and “mustard with actual mustard seeds in it,” per her description.

Perhaps the French culinary inflections were most evident in the $3.10 Croque McDo: ham and two slices of Emmental cheese bookended by toasted bread.

“It was kind of simple but really delicious and rich,” Karissa explained. “The bread was all crispy on the outside.”

Despite the king-sized flavor, the fast food connoisseur only gave this sandwich seven out of ten because she thought the juice wasn’t worth the price.

Tired of ketchup? No problem. French McDonald’s douses its fries in Pomme Frites sauce, which Karissa described as “tangy mayo” (although she didn’t specify if it was the aioli sauce that traditionally comes with the dish).

Interestingly, French McDonald’s is home to the most expensive Mickey Dees burger in the world: The Triple Cheddar and Double Beef Burger for a “sacre bleu”-inducing $15.67. France has recently made the news for high fast food prices.

A confection.

Karissa tries a chocolatey confection.
TikeTok/karissaeats

McDonald’s in Barcelona, Spain offered a host of noshes not offered in the US, including fried eggs and Gouda cheese on all their burgers.

Also available at Spanish Mickey Dees was the Tortilla de Patatas, a breakfast sandwich which Karissa described as a “fluffy, buttery, delicious omelet with potatoes and onions.”

She also got the Jamon Iberico Sandwich, a portable version of the region’s iconic cured pork entailing ham on multi-grain bread.

“The meat was delicious,” Karissa dishes. “It was kind of buttery, super thin.”

Last but not least: the fast food buff’s favorite rendition of the McFlurry, with toppings ranging from chocolate sauce to the crunchy, nutty white chocolate Conguitos — named after a popular local candy.

The lavish spread of sweets at the Mickey Dees in Rome, Italy.

The lavish spread of sweets at the Mickey Dees in Rome, Italy.
TikeTok/karissaeats

Karissa’s also tried a Burger King in Barcelona, where the reported highlight was a $8.45 Cheesy Dorito Burger, stuffed with “crunchy, cheese-filled, Dorito-shaped nuggets.”

Not to be outdone were the Chili Cheese Bites, described by the epicure as “super crispy” on the outside with a “gooey” interior.

“They’re filled with melty cheese and jalapenos, they added some nice heat,” she explained.

Her most unique find in the Catalonian capital was a two-level Taco Bell, which she billed as super “bougie.”

The fare didn’t seem so vastly different from the US menu, but included things like chicken tenders dipped in cheese.

The crown jewel of the Spanish satellite of the Tex-Mex chain was the $5.20 Burrito Bowl.

“The Burrito Bowl was so fire, I’ve never had a [Taco Bell Burrito Bowl in America] so I can’t really compare the two, but the ingredients were so fresh,” gushed Karissa.