• Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Destinations
    • Cambodia
    • Canada
    • Egypt
    • Finland
    • France
    • Germany
    • Iceland
    • Italy
    • Kenya
    • Morocco
    • South Korea
    • Spain
    • Sri Lanka
    • Tanzania
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    • Vietnam
  • Travel Planning and Advice
    • Travel Photography
    • Travel Products & Services
    • Travel Blogging
  • Travel Research
  • Work With Us
    • Travel Partners
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Independent Travel Cats

Savvy Travel Advice

Home » Travel Destinations » Germany » The McRib in Germany
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links it means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The McRib in Germany

Last updated: November 22, 2017 18 Comments
Published: October 7, 2013

Did you know that Germany happens to be the only country that serves the McDonald’s McRib sandwich year round? I bet that interesting fact about the McRib in Germany isn’t in your guidebook! For those of you who don’t know, a McRib consists of a boneless pork patty, barbecue sauce, onions, and pickles served on a long roll that was first introduced by McDonald’s in the 1980’s, but didn’t become part of the permanent menu. McRib sandwiches have a legendary cult following in the United States and the sandwich often appears suddenly on menus to then disappear again with similar gusto with no word on its return. There have been many “Farewell McRib” tours and even a “Save the McRib” campaign, but so far the McRib keeps coming back. While the McRib (and its variations such as a chicken McRib) have made appearances on menus around the world, I believe that Germany is the only country that includes the McRib on its regular menu year-round.

McRib in Germany

OK, so first let me admit that I get really excited when the McRib pops back up on menus and I always try to have at least one McRib (or three) before they disappear again. Try not to judge me for liking and eating some sort of barbecue slathered rib-shaped pork patty from McDonald’s. I admit it is not the tastiest thing in the world and certainly not the healthiest, but it always makes me happy. Probably because I used to eat them occasionally growing up in the Midwest so it’s the nostalgia more than the taste. It is also a sandwich that is hard to get tired of as it keeps disappearing for long periods of time.

So we found ourselves in Germany last year, and tried all kinds of great German food. But after a couple of weeks of mainly subsisting on hearty German food—wursts, sauerkraut, potato salad, leberkäse, spätzle, cakes—we headed to a McDonald’s to test out the myth of whether or not the McRib truly exists in German McDonald’s year round. Well, to be honest, it also happened to be that McDonald’s was the only place open in the evening on Pentecost Sunday in Friedrichshafen. We got to the counter and were not disappointed—the McRib really is on German McDonald’s menus! So I ordered a McRib and some fries and chowed down. During that hour, there was nothing better than eating a McRib in Germany.McDonald's McRib in Germany sandwichMcRib in Germany McDonald's

So perhaps it wasn’t on my travel bucket list, but I can now truthfully say that I ate a McRib in Germany, the only place they exist permanently on the menu. Perhaps it wasn’t the greatest cultural experience, but we had a lot of fun and the place had sort of a festive atmosphere with lots of local teens and twenty-something trying to get in some time with their friends during the long holiday weekend. Sometimes it is nice to just sit back with some familiar food in a familiar place and take a break from cultural sightseeing.

And for those wondering if the McRib is still around, yes as of 2018, the McRib is still being served daily at many McDonald’s locations around Germany!

Have you seen the McRib in Germany? Or have a similar experience of just needing to take a break to do something familiar during while traveling?

 

Share this Post!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related articles from my site

  • A Guide to Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Planning a Perfect Day in Rothenburg GermanyA Guide to Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Planning a Perfect Day in Rothenburg Germany
  • A Guide to Shopping in Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Best Souvenirs from Rothenburg GermanyA Guide to Shopping in Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Best Souvenirs from Rothenburg Germany
  • Burg Stahleck in Bacharach, Germany: A Castle Stay at Hostel PricesBurg Stahleck in Bacharach, Germany: A Castle Stay at Hostel Prices
  • Bavarian Castle Pass: Is Buying the Bavaria Palace Pass a Good Deal for you?Bavarian Castle Pass: Is Buying the Bavaria Palace Pass a Good Deal for you?
  • Munich Greeter Program: Explore Munich with a Free Local Tour GuideMunich Greeter Program: Explore Munich with a Free Local Tour Guide
  • An Anniversary Surprise: Crossing The French Laundry off my Bucket ListAn Anniversary Surprise: Crossing The French Laundry off my Bucket List
Like what you are reading?
Keep up with our latest posts and support our blog by following us.

Thank you! Please check your e-mail to confirm your subscription

Want to keep up to date with us and our latest travel tips? Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dannielle Post author

    October 8, 2013 at 3:50 am

    We actually went to McDonalds in Germany as well! I didn’t notice the McRib phenomenon though haha. I agree though, as much fun it is to soak up the culture and food of the place you are visiting, sometimes you need something familiar.

    Reply
    • travelcats Post author

      October 9, 2013 at 9:09 am

      Yes, sometimes you just need something fast and familiar:)

      Reply
  2. Seana Turner Post author

    October 9, 2013 at 4:34 am

    I totally get it. I love McDonalds! When I was a student in Germany we often went to the McDonalds just for something predictable. Have to admit I’ve never been drawn to the McRib, but it is funny that Germany has it year round. Surprising and predictable all in one!

    Reply
    • travelcats Post author

      October 9, 2013 at 8:57 am

      Yes, I think Germans eats more pork compared to Americans which makes the McRib more popular. The other great things about McDonald’s is that they generally have clean free bathrooms and free public wifi.

      Reply
  3. Mercedes Post author

    October 10, 2013 at 4:36 am

    Hi there, new follower from the Happy Kids hop! I live in Scotland, and I’ve been to the McDonald’s a couple of times–mainly for a milkshake or a fountain drink than anything else! Drive-throughs aren’t really a thing, here, and sometimes I miss that, especially with two babies–getting in and out of the car is just too much of a hassle!

    Look forward to reading more from you!

    Reply
    • travelcats Post author

      October 10, 2013 at 7:30 am

      Yes, drive-throughs can really be helpful, especially on long drives or with kids! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  4. Deanna @ From Casinos to Castles Post author

    October 13, 2013 at 1:05 am

    That’s hilarious! I had no idea actually that the mcrib was even on the menu here! let alone that it always is! I may have to have one now just because I can. 😉

    Reply
    • travelcats Post author

      October 13, 2013 at 8:54 pm

      Haha, yes, you should try one just to do it!

      Reply
  5. Ace Post author

    October 14, 2013 at 9:48 am

    This is really funny only because I never heard of the McRib leaving the States. I generally try to avoid McD’s even in the States, but it’s always good to know that they’re the one thing that will be open when you don’t expect something to be a holiday.

    Reply
    • travelcats Post author

      October 14, 2013 at 9:05 pm

      Yes, we have actually driven 20 minutes to a McDonald’s in rural France as it was the only place open with public wi-fi in the area on a Sunday afternoon.

      Reply
  6. Meghan Post author

    October 16, 2013 at 12:06 pm

    I went to McDonalds when I was in Germany too…I was super excited to find a veggie burger on the menu!

    Reply
    • travelcats Post author

      October 16, 2013 at 4:57 pm

      Yes, they also have a McBaguette sandwich in Paris and they sell macarons:) It is interesting to see the differences in the same franchises across countries.

      Reply
  7. Cheryl Cholley Post author

    November 25, 2013 at 8:22 am

    That’s amazing about the McRib. I’ll have to drop that little tidbit on Tom if we just happen to be in Germany sometime.

    McDonalds is one of those places you can find just about anywhere, it seems, which works out great for my husband. He has four things on his list when he visits a new country. First, he wants to know what it costs to rent an apartment for a month. Second, he wants to learn how much it costs for a gallon (or a liter) of gas. Then, he wants to learn how to say “Thank You” in the local language. And finally, he wants to know how much it costs for a Big Mac. Those four items give him an overview of each country he visits. I wonder if he’ll substitute a McRib when we go to Germany?

    Reply
    • travelcats Post author

      November 25, 2013 at 10:41 pm

      He can safely get a Big Mac in Germany as well, but the McRib is a bit unique as I believe Germany is the only country that currently has the sandwich all year long. If you are in France, your husband might want to try a McBaguette:)

      Reply
  8. Markus Dorst Post author

    May 5, 2014 at 7:31 am

    In Bulgaria they serve fish fingers at McDonald’s. Seems they have different stuff in most countries.

    Reply
    • travelcats Post author

      May 5, 2014 at 7:35 am

      Yes, I’ve found stopping into a McDonald’s in different parts of the world to be quite interesting. McRibs in Germany, macarons in Paris, and fish fingers in Bulgaria:)

      Reply
  9. gabby s Post author

    June 18, 2014 at 12:58 am

    I live in Guatemala and at McDonald’s they put different “specialty” burgers and breakfasts almost every 2 months, now you can get a Brazilian style burger and a Chicken Parmesan burger as a promotion for the FIFA world cup. The normal breakfast has scrambled eggs, black fried beans, beef patties, maize tortillas and fried plantains. The weirdest flavors always get out on summer: a mango pie or maracuya sundae, but I think those aren’t that popular. I’ve never tried it. The McRib you can get it once a year in November I think.

    Reply
    • travelcats Post author

      June 18, 2014 at 11:02 am

      Hi Gabby, thanks for sharing! Yes, it is so fascinating to see the differences in food served in a standard fast food place across countries and cultures.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter where we share our latest travel news and tips?

We only ask for your name and e-mail so we can verify you are human and if requested notify you of a reply. To do this, we store the data as outlined in our privacy policy.

Primary Sidebar

Laurence and Jessica Norah Independent Travel Cats
Welcome! We're Laurence and Jessica Norah, a travel blogging couple sharing our adventures from all over the world. We hope you'll stick around for our travel advice, tips, and stories. Find out more about us here.

Follow Us


Subscribe by e-mail

Thank you! Please check your e-mail to confirm your subscription

Want to keep up to date with us and our latest travel tips? Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter!

Search

Instagram

Follow along on our travels via our Instagram photos!

Travel Partners

FIG Clothing Discount Code

Recent Posts

  • Where JK Rowling Wrote Harry Potter in Edinburgh April 22, 2018
  • 15 Tips to Avoid the Crowds on the Isle of Skye in Scotland April 6, 2018
  • 2 Week Route 66 Itinerary: The Ultimate American Road Trip March 31, 2018
  • A Guide to How to Get From London to Edinburgh March 25, 2018
  • 14 Reasons to Drive the North Coast 500 in Scotland March 17, 2018

Archives

Connect on Snapchat

Badges

  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Sitemap
  • About Us
  • Work with us
  • Contact us
  • Home

Logo design Kevin Turchik. © Copyright 2013 - 2018 Independent Travel Cats® All Rights Reserved.