I tried McDonald's breakfast in Canada, and found its longtime compeition with Tim Hortons has led to a large menu full of delicious items

Mary MeisenzahlMay 21, 2022, 17:37 IST

GEOFF ROBINS/AFP via Getty Images

I tried out the McDonald's breakfast items in Canada that we don't have in the US.
The spicy habanero egg McMuffin was the best McDonald's breakfast I've ever had.

On a recent trip to Canada, I tried McDonald's to sample the menu items we don't have in the US.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

McCafe and breakfast seem to be a much bigger deal in Canadian McDonald's locations.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Baked goods including muffins and doughnuts get highlighted in a display case right near the register, so they're impossible to miss when you order.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The most surprising breakfast item was definitely the bagels, which I haven't seen at McDonald's in the states since they were taken off the menu in 2020.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Source: WSJ

First I tried the egg and sausage on a plain bagel.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

It wasn't the best bagel I've ever had, but I like the idea of having bagels as an option.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I also tried a sandwich on an everything bagel.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Bacon and cheese definitely made this sandwich more flavorful than the other, but not as good as McDonald's staple breakfasts.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I also tested out the other breakfast sandwich that was new to me, the spicy habanero bacon egg McMuffin.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

It was the standard sandwich, which is available in the US.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

It came with a container of spicy habanero sauce.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The sauce was delicious, though I wish it came on the sandwich.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

With the habanero sauce, I think it might be the best McDonald's breakfast I've ever had.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

There are about 1,400 McDonald's locations in Canada, compared to over 13,000 in the US.

The McDonald's sign.Associated Press

The fast-food landscape in Canada is dominated by Tim Hortons, which has nearly three times as many locations as McDonald's.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Canadian McDonald's menus and restaurant displays have a much bigger focus on breakfast and McCafe items than in the US, which could be a way of competing with Tim Horton's.

Jeff Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Canadian McDonald's menus and restaurant displays have a much bigger focus on breakfast and McCafe items than in the US, which could be a way of competing with Tim Horton's.

Because the fast food industry is different in Canada, McDonald's has adapted with a different menu.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Tim Horton's is a beloved Canadian icon with an extensive coffee menu, so it makes sense that McDonald's would emphasize its breakfast offerings to compete with local staples.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Tim Horton's is a beloved Canadian icon with an extensive coffee menu, so it makes sense that McDonald's would emphasize its breakfast offerings to compete with local staples.

Canadian customers likely have slightly different expectations and tastes than Americans when it comes to fast food, and McDonald's changes menus to reflect that.

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I tried McDonald's breakfast in Canada, and found its longtime compeition with Tim Hortons has led to a large menu full of delicious items

On a recent trip to Canada, I tried McDonald's to sample the menu items we don't have in the US.

McCafe and breakfast seem to be a much bigger deal in Canadian McDonald's locations.

Baked goods including muffins and doughnuts get highlighted in a display case right near the register, so they're impossible to miss when you order.

The most surprising breakfast item was definitely the bagels, which I haven't seen at McDonald's in the states since they were taken off the menu in 2020.

First I tried the egg and sausage on a plain bagel.

It wasn't the best bagel I've ever had, but I like the idea of having bagels as an option.

I also tried a sandwich on an everything bagel.

Bacon and cheese definitely made this sandwich more flavorful than the other, but not as good as McDonald's staple breakfasts.

I also tested out the other breakfast sandwich that was new to me, the spicy habanero bacon egg McMuffin.

It was the standard sandwich, which is available in the US.

It came with a container of spicy habanero sauce.

The sauce was delicious, though I wish it came on the sandwich.

With the habanero sauce, I think it might be the best McDonald's breakfast I've ever had.

There are about 1,400 McDonald's locations in Canada, compared to over 13,000 in the US.

The fast-food landscape in Canada is dominated by Tim Hortons, which has nearly three times as many locations as McDonald's.

Canadian McDonald's menus and restaurant displays have a much bigger focus on breakfast and McCafe items than in the US, which could be a way of competing with Tim Horton's.

Because the fast food industry is different in Canada, McDonald's has adapted with a different menu.

Tim Horton's is a beloved Canadian icon with an extensive coffee menu, so it makes sense that McDonald's would emphasize its breakfast offerings to compete with local staples.

Canadian customers likely have slightly different expectations and tastes than Americans when it comes to fast food, and McDonald's changes menus to reflect that.