McDonald's in Morocco Serves A Very Different Menu — Here's Everything I Tried

I don't make it a rule to go to the first McDonald's I see when I travel abroad — I'd rather eat literally anywhere else. 

But on my recent trip to Tangier, Morocco, anywhere else wasn't really an option. We happened to be there during one of the biggest religious holidays, Ramadan when Moroccans are legally obliged to fast from dawn to dusk, and most dining options only open after 7 p.m. 

So, conveniently enough, the Golden Arches right next to our hotel came to the rescue. This McDo (as McDonald's is known in several countries) had a "Moroccan" vibe, with a Bedouin tent outside, and other local touches. 

But the real surprise was the menu. 

While we didn't find McTajine or McCouscous — as I’d hoped — we did order everything you can't find in the U.S. And boy, was it an experience.

As a fan of the McChicken, I'd say this feels like a bigger, amped-up—dare I say better—version of the classic. It has all the usual suspects: breaded chicken fillet, tomatoes, lettuce, and a sesame bun. But it also has an Emmental cheese slice, which honestly does nothing for the sandwich—it's just there for the sake of it — and the "Mythic" sauce, generously dripping from a bun that does its best not to get soggy under all that weight. 

The sauce itself is a creamy garlic-herb mayo situation, kind of like ranch but with a twist of local spices. It adds a subtle smokiness and a slightly exotic kick to what would otherwise be just another McChicken. 

This was the item we were all excited about — especially my 3-year-old. The Cheezy Box came with six McNuggets, eight triangle-shaped bites filled with Gouda, and eight chili cheese nuggets. It also included two complimentary sauces of our choice: curry and Chinoise. 

The winner, without any second thoughts, was the perfectly coated Gouda bites. They were just the right two-bite size, with a level of meltiness that had us fighting over them. The chili cheese nuggets tasted like jalapeño poppers — they were fine, but nothing to write home about. Honestly, the McNuggets were the obvious third wheel in this situation. 

If you like your cheese bites drenched in sauce, the curry worked fine — but it wasn't anything mind-blowing. Too vinegary, and the curry part got lost in all the tanginess. The Chinoise sauce was basically sweet and sour, so ... it was whatever. 

It's weird not to see McDonald's fries in their natural habitat — the classic paper bag — but instead packed in a neat little box that, when opened, hits you with an instant whiff of onions. That's thanks to the mountain of crispy onions piled so high over the fries you can barely see them, plus the orangey Algerian sauce that's also heavy on the onion content. 

The Algerian sauce — never mind the exotic name — is a combo of tomato paste, mayo, onion, garlic, paprika, and chili. It gives a spicy kick, hints surprisingly cheesy notes as well, but I didn't care too much for it or the crispy onions either — I'll give it this: It made the fries feel different. Interesting, at least.

The impressive bit is the fries didn't get soggy — not even one. Until the last bite, they kept their composure. 

Yes, the McWrap is on the menu in Morocco, but it was by far the thing we liked the least out of everything we tried (and we ate a lot of food). There are two versions: one with Algerian sauce and crispy chicken strips, and another with honey mustard sauce and grilled chicken. Both were subpar disappointments. 

The flour tortillas for both wraps were stale and very dry and had a real cardboard vibe. The Algerian sauce helps a bit with a spicy and cheesy kick, but not enough. The crispy chicken just makes things worse, and you find yourself hoping for a bite with more lettuce or tomato — anything with some moisture. If there were a more generous amount of the sauce, maybe it would be a different story. 

The McWrap with honey mustard sauce was a little more forgiving, moisture-wise. The grilled chicken combined with the sauce made it slightly easier on the taste buds. 

McWrap fans in the U.S. still grieving the discontinued McDonald's item will probably come for me — but hey, to each their own. 

Listen, I don't say this lightly, but the Big Tasty is one of the best fast-food chain burgers I've ever had. Ever! First of all, I was shocked by how big it was — and even more shocked to admit how juicy and complete it tasted.

It's most comparable to the American Quarter Pounder with Cheese Deluxe, but this one comes with an oversized beef patty, Emmental cheese, onions, tomato, lettuce, and the signature sauce: a smoky, mayo-based blend with hints of onion, garlic, and liquid smoke. 

It was top-tier burger joint material — even my chef husband approved it as a shockingly good hamburger. The kind you crave later. Which, I do right now. 

This was a big disappointment. Since it was Ramadan, the already alcohol-free Muslim country goes full Prohibition-level dry — so I was hoping the Piña Colada would at least give me the illusion of a creamy coconut cocktail. Alas, it was just fizzy, sugary water that barely tasted like pineapple — let alone coconut. 

Now, this is what the Piña Colada failed to be. I swear to Pete, it was a perfect virgin mojito. I would go to McDonald's just to drink this. It was spot-on — sweet enough, fresh enough, and checked all the boxes.  

This is soft-serve vanilla ice cream with a generous swirl of salted caramel sauce, topped with crushed caramel bits. It's overwhelmingly sweet. My kid was the only one who liked it — maybe because he's three, and that amount of sugar in a cup is basically his idea of a good time.