A man who’s visited over 100 McDonald’s restaurants around the world shares 10 items he thinks should be on every US menu

We won’t blame you if you mistook this popular Thai dessert for its American equivalent: the apple pie. It’s got the same crusty exterior, but, replacing the crunchy apples, is a soft, sweet, and salty creamy corn filling.

“A lot of countries have special pies, but it’s what they do with them that matters the most,” said He, who loves that “Thailand sells theirs à la mode in a bowl of soft serve.”

It’s been a favorite among locals and tourists — especially South Koreans — which is why, in 2018, the brand introduced the dish at its South Korean outposts, too, for a limited time.

And although the corn pie tops most lists, Thailand McDonald’s is also well known for other pies, including pineapple, curry crab, and carbonara.

But for He, “[This is] definitely on the Mount Rushmore of McDonald’s international menu items.”

In India, where Western outlets not only compete with each other but with food vendors on the streets, the McAloo Tikki was a game changer in the fast-food space: The mashed potatoes and peas cutlet, which is doused in Indian spices, had a familiarity that was relatable to Indian palates but also a foreignness that was appealing.

When the brand launched the burger, it was sold for 20 rupees or 0.24 cents, per a BBC report. This was on par with similar food items served on the streets, making it an affordable and convenient option for eating on the go.

“The McDonald’s version of the Indian street snack is so good,” He told BI, “that you can see why they’ve also sold it in other markets with large Indian expat populations.”

The McAloo Tikki traveled across the Arabian Sea in the early 2000s, when the brand decided to launch a five-dirham (about $1) version in the UAE.

The only vegetarian and affordable offering on its menus then, this burger was a dinner-time favorite among the growing Indian and South Asian expats in the Emirates.

Americans love their coffee, and there’s no lack of fine-tasting cups in the States.

Still, if you’re visiting Australia, He suggests you get your morning coffee fix at a McCafe, simply because this is where the global fast-food giant first conceptualized the café concept.

“When you think of Australian coffee culture,” He told BI, “McDonald’s is usually not the first thing that comes to mind, but McCafe first started in Melbourne and went global from there, focusing on espresso-forward drinks that are far superior to the ones offered by competing chains.”

From the classic cappuccino to the babyccino — a mini milk-only version for your little ones — there’s a variety of drinks to pick from.

The baguette is a French staple — it’s even part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

The McBaguette, a McDonald’s spin on the original, is another item that divides the internet. The sandwich was first introduced in 2012 and has since appeared and disappeared from the menu.

According to He, it is now occasionally reintroduced with new fillings, such as chicken and Béarnaise steak sauce, or during occasional promotional campaigns such as the one in the hit Netflix series “Emily in Paris.”

He says he got to try his first McBaguette “long before Emily arrived in Paris.”

His first thoughts were: “Is it a jambon beurre? No, of course not. But the crispy crust of the mini baguette, Emmental cheese, and whole-grain Dijon mustard were enough for me to deem it superior to any McDonald’s sandwich we have in the States.”

In Guatemala, you can expect to get a taste of local cuisine even at a McDonald’s, given that the brand has incorporated regional elements within its fast-food menu.

For breakfast, which He indicated was his favorite, expect a large (or small, if you choose) spread of scrambled eggs, sausages, plantains, refried beans, salsas, and tortillas — “probably the best breakfast you can get at McDonald’s worldwide,” He told BI.