McDonald's McGriddle Makes Its UK Debut: A Sweet-Savoury Breakfast Experience
When discussing McDonald's breakfast offerings with food enthusiasts, the morning menu consistently emerges as a firm favourite. The fast-food giant has long dominated the breakfast scene with staples like hash browns, breakfast wraps, porridge, and flatbreads. Many loyal customers still yearn for the return of the beloved bagels, but as a dedicated patron, I remain hopeful. Personally, I adore the combination of sweet and savoury flavours, often torn between a double sausage McMuffin with a drizzle of maple syrup or honey, or simply opting for the pancakes.
Fortunately, that dilemma has now been resolved with McDonald's introduction of a new breakfast item to the UK market: the McGriddle. This American breakfast staple has finally arrived on British shores, featuring two thick pancakes infused with maple syrup, encasing a sausage patty accompanied by cheese and egg.
The McGriddle Taste Test: Indulgent Yet Familiar
A McDonald's representative described the McGriddle as delivering "a flavour profile that feels indulgent yet familiar, celebrating bold contrasts and unexpected pairings." They added, "It's a breakfast that surprises, delights and keeps customers coming back for more." The latest addition landed on March 17, and I had the pleasure of sampling it to see if it lives up to the hype. Upon unwrapping, the golden M emblem embossed on the thick pancake immediately catches the eye.
The presentation is enticing, making you eager to take that first bite. I particularly appreciated the seamless blend of sweet and savoury without needing any personal modifications. However, it might have been slightly too sweet for my taste, though that could be due to recent Easter indulgences. The sausage and egg were as delightful as ever, and the cheese melted perfectly thanks to the warm pancakes.
If you are a fan of thick American-style pancakes, this dish is definitely for you. The interior was incredibly fluffy, though after a few mouthfuls, it became somewhat heavy for my liking. Overall, my feelings were mixed; I would probably stick to my usual McMuffin going forward. On the other hand, my brother managed to consume four in one sitting. Regardless, the McDonald's McGriddle is certainly worth a try for any breakfast enthusiast.
New Collectable Card Game: Win Prizes Including £10,000
In addition to the McGriddle launch, McDonald's has introduced a new, limited-time collectable card game as part of a meal promotion across the UK. Unlike their annual Monopoly game, these are larger physical cards packaged together. Each pack contains four collectable cards celebrating the fast-food chain's iconic characters and cultural heritage, such as the Hamburglar, Grimace, Ronald McDonald, and Fry Girl.
Food enthusiasts have the opportunity to win from over one million prizes, including cash, complimentary meals, and limited-edition merchandise. Top rewards include 10 prizes of £10,000, 700 prizes of £1,000, and 2,000 weekly giveaways of free medium meals for a year. This promotion is now available nationwide and is included with selected meals, such as a Big Mac, a Double Big Mac, nine McNuggets, nine Spicy McNuggets, or a McPlant.
Every pack includes at least one "Character Card," which provides a complimentary food item at no additional charge. Customers can also submit codes through the McDonald's app for the chance to win additional rewards. The card sets and their corresponding prizes are as follows:
- Set One: Collect Hamburgular, Fry Scoop, Straw Dispenser, and Order 000 to win a Free Medium Selected Meal (one million to be won).
- Set Two: Collect Birdie the Early Bird, Can I Take Your Order?, Apple Pie Tree, and McDonald’s Multimixer to win a McDonald's CARDS T-shirt (40,000 to be won).
- Set Three: Collect Grimace, Gherkin Transfer, Coin Spin, and McDonaldland to win £50 Cash (50,000 to be won).
- Set Four: Collect McNugget Buddies, Milkshake Dip, Cheeseburger Chair, and Speedee to win £100 Cash (10,000 to be won).
- Set Five: Collect Phil A. O’Fish, Molten Apple Pie, Big Mac Jingle, and Location #1 to win a Free Medium Meal a week for a year (2,000 to be won).
- Set Six: Collect Fry Girl, Special Sauce, McDonald’s Pizza, and Golden Arches to win £1,000 (700 to be won).
McDonald's is also introducing a rare "Ronald Card." Only 10 of these golden cards are available, each granting its owner a £10,000 prize. To participate, fans can input the code displayed on the back of each card into the McDonald's app, revealing opportunities to claim extra rewards by completing digital sets. Character Cards also display a second code, redeemable for a free menu item in-store, at the drive-thru, or through the app.
