Drunken Farang Idiot In Mcd's Last Night

[Ulysses G.]

If you truly don't like McDonald's - can't tell you how many pretentous British friends I've caught sneaking out of the place with a guilty look on their face - that is fine, but you are in the minority

This I disagree with. I don't know of a single expat here who ever goes to Macdonalds - I always assumed it was only tourists and gullible Thais who've fallen for the advertising who ever frequented the restaurants. I guess you prove this theory wrong UG - but, still, from my experience it's actually you who are in the minority.

I can't tell you how many people I've caught coming out of McDonalds over the years that swear they hate it and never go - and they were often carrying a bag of food to go, so it was hard to deny. Face it, it is fashionable to say that you don't eat at McDonalds!

It is gullible, trendy, psuedo-intellectual phoneys who have fallen for the propoganda of other psuedo-intellectual phoneys that say they don't go, but actually can't resist when they think that no one is watching.

I do remember when Chiang Mai didn't have a McDonald's and all the expats used to dream about having one and talk about it all the time. Every time we would go to Bangkok, it was the first place that EVERYONE would go including all the folks that claimed to have no use for them. That is why the place is so popular all over the world!

Edited January 1, 2008 by Ulysses G.

[camerata]

In my experience, a Big Mac tastes far better in Japan than in Thailand. But that goes for other things like Heineken beer and Starbuck's latte too. There is no consistent quality in Thailand. My favourite fast-food burger in Japan is Wendy's Classic Bacon somethingorother. Anyone ever seen a Wendy's in Thailand?

[dantilley]

If you truly don't like McDonald's - can't tell you how many pretentous British friends I've caught sneaking out of the place with a guilty look on their face - that is fine, but you are in the minority

This I disagree with. I don't know of a single expat here who ever goes to Macdonalds - I always assumed it was only tourists and gullible Thais who've fallen for the advertising who ever frequented the restaurants. I guess you prove this theory wrong UG - but, still, from my experience it's actually you who are in the minority.

I can't tell you how many people I've caught coming out of McDonalds over the years that swear they hate it and never go - and they were often carrying a bag of food to go, so it was hard to deny. Face it, it is fashionable to say that you don't eat at McDonalds!

It is gullible, trendy, psuedo-intellectual phoneys who have fallen for the propoganda of other psuedo-intellectual phoneys that say they don't go, but actually can't resist when they think that no one is watching.

I do remember when Chiang Mai didn't have a McDonald's and all the expats used to dream about having one and talk about it all the time. Every time we would go to Bangkok, it was the first place that EVERYONE would go including all the folks that claimed to have no use for them. That is why the place is so popular all over the world!

Well, I guess there could be a few closet McDonalds eaters among my friends who aren't letting others know about their dark secret then!

Personally, I've never been to McDonalds in Thailand, and haven't been for years back in the UK before I moved here either. It's sub-standard food at best, all of the other fast food options, Burger King, KFC, Subway, etc., while not exactly fine dining are still much better than McDonalds in my opinion. I used to put their success down to the fact that they were very quick, convenient and cheap back in the UK - here in Thailand there are hundreds of options quicker, more convenient and cheaper, not to mention healthier and tastier. Can't understand why any expat would ever eat at McDonalds here.

[bulmercke]

Got told off for taking a photo inside China's first McDonalds - Shenzhen - March 1991 - the security guard went postal - however still have the photo in the UK.

McDonalds or McShix?

Walmart or Slavemart?

[Ulysses G.]

Can't understand why any expat would ever eat at McDonalds here.

The same reason that they eat Lay's potato chips or Foremost ice cream instead of the much cheaper copies from some Thai push cart.

By the way, Wendy's was at MBK for many years, but, like many businesses, went under in the 1997 during the fall of the baht.

[dantilley]

Can't understand why any expat would ever eat at McDonalds here.

The same reason that they eat Lay's potato chips or Foremost ice cream instead of the much cheaper copies from some Thai push cart.

Now this I agree with, Thai locally made crisps (chips) and other similar snacks are usually absolutely rank.

Not the same with "proper" cooked food though. A Thai meal or snack bought from a street stall is usually far better, healthier and cheaper than McDonalds, and most expat pubs or restaurants serve burgers far superior to McDonalds offerings, not to mention the fact that Burger King is much better as well.

I'm not massively anti-fast food - I do crave the occasional junk food fix. But when I get those cravings, I'd never even consider going to McDonalds. Tasteless, wafer thin "burgers" inside a limp, thin bun, with vegetables which are all really just dried, preserved and then brought back to life by adding water. Much like the cheese and sauce they chuck in there too - although the sauce is about the only part of a Big Mac that provides any sort of taste; pity the vegetables, meat and bun (which surely must be the key ingredients for any proper burger???) offer none at all.

Edited January 1, 2008 by dantilley

[Ulysses G.]

Not the same with "proper" cooked food though. A Thai meal or snack bought from a street stall is usually far better, healthier and cheaper than McDonalds, and most expat pubs or restaurants serve burgers far superior to McDonalds offerings, not to mention the fact that Burger King is much better as well.

Many of us don't particularly like Thai food. I LOVE Japanese and Singapore style Chinese and enjoy Vietnamese, but just put up with Thai food - something about the sugar and choice of spices that they use.

Maybe you have better burgers in pubs in Bangkok than Chiang Mai, but the only ones that I was impressed there were The Big Mango in Nana (which I think that I read has closed) and Tony Roma's burgers which are something like 300 baht.

As to Burger King, here is what I said to Mr. Toad, but your description of McDonald's burgers - other that a few tasteless tomato slices - could easily go for Whoppers in Thailand as well:

Personally, I don't like McDonalds, but I do like Burger King.

This is another thing that I don't get and a lot of people say this.

In the US, Burger King uses a much better grade of beef than McD's and char broils its burgers. I also prefer Burger King to McDonalds there.

Here, they use the same beef as McDonalds and if they char-broil them, I can't taste it. Anyway, to me, McDonalds burgers - in Thailand - are better because the sauce makes the whole sandwich taste pretty good, where the taste of the cheap Burger King patties stands out without anything to improve them.

I'll take a Thailand Big Mac over a Thailand Whopper any time, and if you get the set deal, McDonald's is almost half the price!

Edited January 1, 2008 by Ulysses G.

[dantilley]

Not the same with "proper" cooked food though. A Thai meal or snack bought from a street stall is usually far better, healthier and cheaper than McDonalds, and most expat pubs or restaurants serve burgers far superior to McDonalds offerings, not to mention the fact that Burger King is much better as well.

Many of us don't particularly like Thai food. I LOVE Japanese and Singapore style Chinese and enjoy Vietnamese, but just put up with Thai food - something about the sugar and choice of spices that they use.

Maybe you have better burgers in pubs in Bangkok than Chiang Mai, but the only ones that I was impressed there were The Big Mango in Nana (which I think that I read has closed) and Tony Roma's burgers which are something like 300 baht.

As to Burger King, here is what I said to Mr. Toad, but your description of McDonald's burgers - other that a few tasteless tomato slices - could easily go for Whoppers in Thailand as well:

Personally, I don't like McDonalds, but I do like Burger King.

This is another thing that I don't get and a lot of people say this.

In the US, Burger King uses a much better grade of beef than McD's and char broils its burgers. I also prefer Burger King to McDonalds there.

Here, they use the same beef as McDonalds and if they char-broil them, I can't taste it. Anyway, to me, McDonalds burgers - in Thailand - are better because the sauce makes the whole sandwich taste pretty good, where the taste of the cheap Burger King patties stands out without anything to improve them.

I'll take a Thailand Big Mac over a Thailand Whopper any time, and if you get the set deal, McDonald's is almost half the price!

Well, I do take your point that Burger King is better back in Europe than here (never been to the US though so can't compare with there). As I said before I'm yet to visit a McDonalds here in Thailand - in the UK McDonalds is far, far inferior to Burger King. Maybe I'll try McDonalds here and see if the gap in quality is a bit smaller; I'd be happy to be proved wrong, and based on what you've said here sounds like I could be pleasantly surprised...

But, yes, there are many more options in Bangkok for a proper burger. My current favourite is from a steakhouse restaurant right near my place in Ari - a large, juicy home made burger char grilled and topped with cheese, onions and decent, chunky slices of tomato and lettuce, then a couple of rashers of back bacon (not this processed rubbish you often get in Thailand) and a fried egg. All inside a bun which has been every so slightly toasted, and with a side salad, coleslaw and some thick steak cut chips. A very satisfying meal, in fact I struggle to finish it sometimes. And the price for all of this? 150 Baht!

[Ulysses G.]

But, yes, there are many more options in Bangkok for a proper burger. My current favourite is from a steakhouse restaurant right near my place in Ari - a large, juicy home made burger char grilled and topped with cheese, onions and decent, chunky slices of tomato and lettuce, then a couple of rashers of back bacon (not this processed rubbish you often get in Thailand) and a fried egg. All inside a bun which has been every so slightly toasted, and with a side salad, coleslaw and some thick steak cut chips. A very satisfying meal, in fact I struggle to finish it sometimes. And the price for all of this? 150 Baht!

Is this place difficult to reach from Nana? Are you willing to give up the name?

Where is the drooling smiley?

[dantilley]

Is this place difficult to reach from Nana? Are you willing to give up the name?

Where is the drooling smiley?

Well, it's reachable by Skytrain so I guess relatively easy, yes. Head to Ari station (on the north section of the Sukhumvit line, 2 stops before Mo Chit) and then you can see from the station on one side of the road is a newly fitted out small-ish Villa shopping centre with a big Heineken "Green Zone" or whatever they call it on the roof and a Fitness First gym in there also. In this mall, on the 2nd floor (that's Thai style 2nd floor, one above the ground floor anyway!) is the place, called "Grill & Gravy". Terrible name, I know, and it sounds like it would be some crappy chain restaurant or something and put me off of going in there for ages. Anyway, it's pretty good actually, as well as the burger I mentioned they do good steaks too, especially the imported New Zealand and Australian stuff.

[tijnebijn]

Occasionally I do go to McDonald's here in Chiang mai .

I think they taste reasonable , the double cheese burger and

some chicken legs will do , a big mac tastes the same as back home ( do not like it too much ).

Not that I overly enjoy it but compared with other choices in Chiang mai

like burger King ( who opened the only and new branch lately ) , back home

I can enjoy a quarter pounder (which they don't sell in Thailand ) , but here

especially the whoppers are totally crap and overpriced compared with Mac too !

Then you have some farang cafeterias which is worse then I could imagine ,

understand the idea but you have to make it delicious when open such , I suggest

they go work at a place back home to upgrade it a bit , then you can make a fortune .

Anyway there is not much choice in Chiang mai for Burgers(eatable) , at least mac has got a

familiar taste and ofcourse it says enough about the quality of farang restaurants in CM .

Some may disagree but then I seriously doubt the food quality and choices available in their homecountries .