McDonald’s Hamburger Review
McDonald’s Hamburger:
What they say:
100% beef patty with onions, pickles, mustard and a dollop of tomato ketchup, all in a soft bun. A classic, every time.
Price: £0.89.
Calories: 250 kcal.
I’m back at McDonald’s… systematically ticking each burger off the menu and up next is the Hamburger.
The McDonald’s Hamburger is not much of a looker, but what do you think you are going to get for an 89p fast food burger?
I’m not going to pick on it either – this has been a cornerstone on the McDonald’s menu for over 60 years and helped build the brand into what it is today. Respect.
But it is very basic. You cannot deny that.
What can you say about McDonald’s Hamburger?
You’ve got the classic 10:1 beef patty with the “true taste of McDonald’s” ensemble of ketchup, mustard, onions and pickles. Or in my case, pickle.
Have I ever had a McDonald’s Hamburger before? Considering my past aversion to the sauces on here I’d guess that is probably a no.
Actually it is my second, as I sampled one when doing our Saver Menu post – see here.
I’m not too scared of the sauces on the McDonald’s Hamburger anymore – this phobia has been conquered by forcing myself to eat the burgers as intended and realise now they’re really not that intimidating.
In fact, (as recommended by a follower on Twitter) my current Double Cheeseburger customisation of choice is to hold the pickles and ketchup, retaining just the onions and mustard. It’s pretty good!
The Hamburger is obviously the Cheeseburger minus the cheese. If I could re-visit my Cheeseburger review I would definitely mark up the taste score by a point or two.
In retrospect, I marked it down because of the sweetness of the ketchup but that is more of a personal preference.
Like the Cheeseburger, I would assume that the Hamburger is most peoples (as kids) first foray into the McDonald’s menu.
It’s basic and has that addictive sweetness one has come to associate with The Golden Arches – to lure children in from a young age (alongside Ronald McDonald) to create customers for life.
And it works!
Sinister musings aside, the Hamburger is about as bloody simple as you can get from McDonald’s and for 89p you can’t argue with its value for money.
Personally, I would always go for the Double Cheeseburger (£1.59) instead but appreciate there will be people out there that cannot eat dairy, so this seems a viable option.
Once again my choice off the Saver Menu contains only one slice of pickle – I’m pretty adamant that pickles (plural) suggests there should be two or more.
You get a taste of that slightly seasoned beef patty alongside the sweetness of the ketchup and then a tang now and then from the mustard.
Individually, I don’t think I would be a fan. But together with the onions (not many on this build) this makes for a classic flavour that has been enjoyed by billions throughout the world.
I miss my cheese though…
All these years of being a McDonald’s fan I have avoided having things like the Hamburger, Cheeseburger or Quarter Pounder (or had them plain) because “I don’t like the sauce.”
I can honestly say I feel like I have missed out. Not including all the time wasted waiting for my grill order back in the old days when they didn’t make everything to order.
The old days… anyone remember when McDonald’s didn’t take card payment? Or when you could smoke in certain sections? And you can’t ever forget the kids train and McDonaldLand mural on the wall.
Memories.
McDonald’s Hamburger is a simple classic. It’s only 89p and is very respectable at only 250 calories.
There is a reason it has endured for all these years.
It’s not the best… but for a budget burger which has stood the test of time, you can bet it will be on the McDonald’s menu for many years to come.
Burger Lad®
Website: https://www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/product/hamburger.html