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

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• 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.

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

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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.

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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.

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Source: WSJ

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

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

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I also tried a sandwich on an everything bagel.

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

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

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

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It came with a container of spicy habanero sauce.

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

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

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

Hollis Johnson

Do you have a story to share about a retail or restaurant chain? Email this reporter at mmeisenzahl@businessinsider.com.