The much-anticipated McDonald's Big Arch Burger just arrived in restaurants nationwide.
I’ve got to say that I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the McDonald’s Big Arch Burger at all. When it comes to fast-food burgers, I am not typically drawn to the over-the-top, bacon-heaped, special-sauced concoctions that many chains come up with to sell more beef. My personal favorite burger at McDonald’s, as it turns out, is the simple cheeseburger the chain sells with its Happy Meals.
But I’ll also never turn down any chance I get to taste some of McDonald’s international dishes. Living near the chain’s Chicago location that offers a rotating selection of global menu items, I’m always sampling new and unusual McDonald’s offerings from India, Germany, the U.K. and beyond. When I learned that the McDonald’s Big Arch Burger was coming to the U.S. after being tested out in several international markets, I knew I needed to get my hands on this burger.
It turned out that I’d really need both hands. The Big Arch Burger is, indeed, an absolute unit of a sandwich. Between its toasted sesame and poppy seed-topped buns are two quarter-pound beef patties, three slices of white cheddar cheese, onions (both raw and crispy), lettuce, pickles and a healthy dollop of its signature Big Arch Sauce.
What does the McDonald’s Big Arch Burger taste like?
The first flavor that hit me after biting into the Big Arch Burger was the Big Arch Sauce. It was creamy, but also tangy and slightly acidic, helping to balance out and bring together all the burger’s many components rather harmoniously. Sure, maybe there’s a bit too much of the sauce, but I don’t believe the Big Arch Burger is meant to be a dainty dish. You’ll need at least two napkins.
Beyond the sauce, the burger shines on every level. I appreciated the crispy onions, which added an unexpected crunchy element to the burger. The beef patties were quite juicy and flavorful all on their own. The lettuce added much-needed freshness, while the pickles introduced the perfect punch of vinegary tang. And while I’m not exactly sure the burger necessarily needed three slices of cheese, it was nice to taste the sharper white cheddar here as opposed to the standard-issue American cheese found on the Big Mac.
Overall, the burger was satisfying and a bit decadent. It tasted like something you’d get at a trendy Edison bulb-lit restaurant where the waiters inform you that they “do things a bit differently” and charge $20 for a burger served on a slab of unvarnished wood—side of fries sold separately. Considering this burger is being sold for less than half that amount, I think it’s not a terrible deal. I’ll definitely be ordering it again.
How long will the Big Arch Burger be available?
McDonald’s Big Arch Burger is a limited-time offering at the chain’s restaurants nationwide, so it’s unlikely to stick around for too long. If you want to try it for yourself, you’ll want to make sure that you order one soon.
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