McDonald's

[93 Turbo]

McDonalds seems to be more a kids thing here. I really didn't expect so many adults would be eating there

Yep Carl, if it weren't for the kids I wouldn't go in there. J

[unixshrk]

McDonald's still has the best fries in fast food. Fuck I'm going to get some fries now.

Wait. You like McDonald's fries but not bacon???

Sadface.

(Don't get me wrong; I like McDonald's fries as well -- but I also like bacon.)

I still maintain bacon is too salty and oily. And usually burnt. Ew.

[marchone]

It might sound harsh, but I compare McDonald's to tobacco companies.
They should be resigned to see their volumes go down in advanced countries, but they still have room to grow profitably in tier two nations in my opinion.

I find the "food" to border on the inedible side, curiously enough the egg sandwich is probably the only think I consider

I don't think it's harsh. Based on some facts I think it's a valid comparison. Their continued growth in new third world markets is a good observation.

I'll grab a Breakfast Burrito or an Egg McMuffin if I have the need too. But that's about it. The fries were great when they still used beef tallow to fry in but that was a long time ago. Like decades. Now they suck by comparison. The hash browns taste good but lay in your belly like a slow burning bomb an hour later.

I still maintain bacon is too salty and oily. And usually burnt. Ew.

Even as a kid I could never stand burnt bacon. Or even too crispy because all the fat is rendered out. If I want a BLT outside I'll ask for the bacon soft. The saltiness and fattiness is a bonus.

[River Rat]

Saw the commercial about McDonalds all day breakfast don't care it's a flop there not a fast food place 50 miles around me. Was in Helena last week stopped at Carl's Jr been so long since I ate a fast food burger it did not agree with my stomach first fast food in 6 months. When in the Navy stationed in Guam the Navy had buses to take you to town being on a sub tender we would get bubble heads on the bus that's a crew member of a sub those boomer guys would be under water a little to long the bus stopped at McDonalds yes Guam has one and one of those bubble head bought like 8-10 big macs and ate all of them at one time plus 4 fries could not believe it after eating all that stuff I wondered how he will fit through the small hatches you had to use to get back inside a sub if he keeps eating like that .

[59yukon01]

They should be looking at Chik Fil A. Smaller menu, higher quality, and no teeth suckers at the cash registers.

In-n-out has been doing this for awhile to much success as well. Higher pay attracts higher quality workers. Small menu, good quality food, good customer experience, full restaurants all the time.

Imagine that! "Higher pay attracts higher quality workers". Sure works for Costco, but most corporation's would rather ignore that.

[JBZ]

My guess is McDonald's will work out these issues with the breakfast all day service, but I still don't see this as saving the company long term. As others have noted, places like In-n-out, Shake Shack, Five Guys, etc. have been poaching their business for awhile now, and they don't know how to respond. Like Wayne said, they've dug themselves into doing something a certain way for years, and they can't just change that on a dime, even though they've been trying other, healthier menu options like salads, wraps, yogurt, etc.

I think it's most telling that my kids almost never ask me to go to McDonald's. They'd much rather go to Five Guys or Mooyah (another burger place with specialty milkshakes - not sure how widespread they are). The burgers and fries at those places simply taste better (though I doubt they're any healthier). My kids would even choose Panera over McDonald's.

Kids have always been McDonald's bread and butter - if they'd rather go somewhere else, Mickey D's is in real trouble.

[marchone]

I don't know their present demographics (except for high ghetto sales) but that sounds right to me.

[CGSshorty]

They have a store in Brick NJ and two on the Island. Hewlett and Roosevelt.

Hewlett? News to me. That's right next to where I lived.

[marchone]

Read my other posts. It might have been a pop-up. Or a name rip-off. Their website blows.

[CGSshorty]

The In N Out in Hewlett is a 24 hour convenience store next to the train station. I haven't been there since I was a teenager.

[jimyritz]

They just opened a Chick-Fil-A near me and that place is packed at lunch...
==========
I think McDonalds breakfast blows away everything else they serve----
Sausage Biscuit and Egg after a night of drinking

They probably need time to modify their set-up and process...

They were the first with Burger King and now they need to evolve. We've seen it
with their McCafes- trying to compete with Starbucks, Peets, etc...

I'd like to see them reduce the size of their menu and focus on quality.. Every now and then
I don't mind hitting the drive-thru for a burger and fries...out of convenience..

If I really want a burger I usual go to Five Guys..

[marchone]

The In N Out in Hewlett is a 24 hour convenience store next to the train station. I haven't been there since I was a teenager.

That makes sense. I wish I could find the page again I read l last night. It was on the in n out website and listed those two plus one in Jersey. I recall an article mentioning them a couple years ago. Maybe they got hacked. I didn't pay much attention to it until last night when it came up In this thread.

[justsellbrgs]

My guess is McDonald's will work out these issues with the breakfast all day service, but I still don't see this as saving the company long term. As others have noted, places like In-n-out, Shake Shack, Five Guys, etc. have been poaching their business for awhile now, and they don't know how to respond. Like Wayne said, they've dug themselves into doing something a certain way for years, and they can't just change that on a dime, even though they've been trying other, healthier menu options like salads, wraps, yogurt, etc.

I think it's most telling that my kids almost never ask me to go to McDonald's. They'd much rather go to Five Guys or Mooyah (another burger place with specialty milkshakes - not sure how widespread they are). The burgers and fries at those places simply taste better (though I doubt they're any healthier). My kids would even choose Panera over McDonald's.

Kids have always been McDonald's bread and butter - if they'd rather go somewhere else, Mickey D's is in real trouble.

Yep.... same with mine... and same for Burger King. Wendy's has some new trendy stores, but tough to compete. Kids 10-18 or older generally will prefer Subway, Jimmy Johns, Chipotle, Qdoba, Moe's, Panera..... and that's not even mentioning Pizza.

this place is going to put a bitch slap on McD

http://www.blazepizza.com/

....and from what I have read to buy a franchise you have have buy minimum 10..... in the news here as LeBron is investing.

[streetracer101]

It's been a should since I went to McDonald's, but last experience I was surprised at how expensive it is now. I'm sorry, but if it's going to cost me $8-9 for a combo there, I'd rather fork over an extra $2-3 and get something from a place with better quality/less processed crap.

[HapaHapa]

We generally don't touch fast food. I appreciate small menu for the few times a year we do eat fast food. Too many choices makes my head swim.

[CoachH]

It's been a should since I went to McDonald's, but last experience I was surprised at how expensive it is now. I'm sorry, but if it's going to cost me $8-9 for a combo there, I'd rather fork over an extra $2-3 and get something from a place with better quality/less processed crap.

I agree. We found out years ago, for a family of four the extra $10-$15 to eat at almost any of the box restaurants (Chili's, TGIF, Applebees) was a much better deal.

[hoppes-no9]

In-N-Out is very hesitant to grow. I'm pretty sure they are only in the states I mentioned. Maybe Utah & Colorado (or soon?) but not east.

They are in Utah

[AtomicTom]

That is something to hear Wayne. You really have to wonder if they should have
began the breakfast all day thing 10-15 years ago. That's when everyone was
also asking for it I bet, and I guess there wouldn't have been as much competition
taking them on either. ..Better late than ever I guess. We'll have to wait, and see.

[sierra11b]

In-N-Out is a machine.

The one by me is always busy and at peak times slammed. It's also the preferred spot for LEO to get food so if there's ever a need for a cop just hit your local In-N-Out.

It's more a Costco theme in that you get paid well and they hire better quality people, but you're working hard. Burger sets and cutting fries until you can't stand to see another potato or onion. But from what I've heard there's room for growth all the way to a managerial spot is not uncommon and they get paid big money at $80K+

Their secret menu is actually many times bigger than their posted menu.

There's a Five Guys about a mile from the In-N-Out. Good burger but it's nowhere near as busy as In-N-Out. Then again, there's no drive thru at Five Guys either.

[outtatime]

I've never understood why they didn't want to do all-day breakfast. People have been asking for it for years.

So they finally do, and basically botch it. Obviously these places are assembly lines, and are set up/trained/conditioned to transition the lines over every day at 10:30. So my guess is someone decided "let's do all-day breakfast!" without any investment in how to actually implement it, instead just passing down the directive. Now people like the guy interviewed are complaining, and when (not if) they discontinue it, McD's response will be that no one ended up wanting it (even though no one wanted it because it clearly made things much more difficult for the customers as well as the workers).

Makes sense to me.

[marchone]

It was a desperate move for McDonald's. They had to install additional equipment into existing layouts. It wasn't just a directive to franchisees. It was debated for over a year and they projected a very small increase in profits for all the effort and additional labor.

[sierra11b]

Food safety is always my biggest concern running all day anything. How do I know I'm getting a fresh breakfast burrito or one that sat 10 degrees outside the temperature danger zone for the last 6hrs? The fact they're already flustered causes more concern that they could be sandbagging food longer.

McDonalds will obviously train their crews to do it properly but all it takes is one lazy manager and crew to drop the ball causing a nationally recognized foodbourne illness case that will cost McDonalds a fortune to rebound from (Jack in the Box).

[marchone]

You are right. I think the whole thing is an enormous clusterfuck.

[blkgsl]

I may take this thread and start a breakfast food only fast food joint. I'll name it wu food mart.

[unixshrk]

I may take this thread and start a breakfast food only fast food joint. I'll name it wu food mart.

No Bacon Mart