McDonald’s in Mumbai is quite an experience for a couple of reasons, the most important being that there is no beef on the menu. Hindus, of course, don’t eat beef because of the whole sacred cow thing, not quite sure how that works, something about reincarnation, but anyway I digress. In place of beef on the menu they have substituted other things like Chicken or Veggie burgers…you have never seen the fish filet sandwich advertised with so much fanfare as over here. Big Chicken McNuggets culture, obviously.
I decided to step up to the plate and ordered the Maharaja Mac, the equivalent of the Big Mac in India, except with Chicken patties rather than beef. The Chicken version was definitely not as good as the real thing. For one the special sauce has been Indianized, the have added to the Thousand Island base some Indian spices, kind of tasted like paprika. It was also missing the diced onions. Overall verdict, something was definitely lost in translation. But I am happy to report that the fries tasted just as salty and delicious as any Mickey D’s in the USA. The chocolate shake was also up to standards.
While not winning on food, one area in which McDonald’s India has distinguished itself is ambiance. The price point of McDonalds in India, 150 rupees for the Maharaja Mac meal ($3USD), ensures that only middle class and above frequent McDonalds. In place of sweat stained t-shirts and sagged pants, the patrons at the Mumbai restaurant were dressed in button downs and slacks. The décor was also reflective of a “finer” dining experience with granite tables, nice chairs and even a plasma TV on one wall. An interesting culinary experience, but I think I will stick with my “Mystery Masalas” served by the affable, but non-English speaking guesthouse staff.
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