Beginning Monday, participating McDonald’s locations around the world will be getting a mini-makeover inspired by anime lovers. The manga-inspired takeover, cheekily called “WcDonalds” — with upside-golden arches — alludes to how the chain is seen in some of anime’s most iconic movies and shows, according to a release from the Chicago-based burger giant.

“Anime is a huge part of today’s culture, and we love that our fans have been inviting us into the conversation for years,” McDonald’s USA Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer Tariq Hassan, said in the release. “The WcDonald’s universe is a reflection of what fans have created. It honors their vision and celebrates their creativity, while authentically bringing it to life in our restaurants for the first time ever.”

The temporary transformation will last through March 18.

While some folks might be skeptical, a number of anime enthusiasts are ecstatic, as evidenced on social media.

One user on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, said, “Idk ab y’all, but I’m so excited for this WcDonalds anime.”

Another said the anime packaging was “on point.”

For a third user, the transformation appeared to bring them back to childhood.

“McDonald’s embracing anime and manga brings a tear to my 90s child eyes,” the user commented.

As part of the transformation, McDonald’s teamed up with Japanese magna artist/illustrator Acky Bright, to create and design custom WcDonald’s packaging on menu items. For a limited time, customers will receive manga-inspired packaging featuring WcDonald’s Crew characters, sketched by Acky himself, the release said.

McDonald’s has also partnered with animation house Studio Pierrot to produce the first official WcDonald’s anime — four episodic shorts about WcDonald’s Sauce and WcNuggets.

Each Monday, starting Feb. 26 until March 18, the following shorts — which honor Action, Romance, Mecha and Fantasy, four of anime’s biggest subgenres — will drop on WcDonalds.com or via the code on the WcDonald’s bag:

Along with the change in packaging will come a few new menu items.

One is “Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce,” which is meant to be paired with WcNuggets (also known as Chicken McNuggets), the release said.

At one McDonald’s location, an “immersive dining experience” will be held, the release said, inspired by the “isekai anime subgenre.”

According to officials, the “WcDonald’s Immersive Dining Experience” will be held March 9 and 10 in Los Angeles. The dining experience will be “multi-sensory,” and “a genre-bending fusion of entertainment and food,” the release added.

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Starting this month, participating McDonald’s locations around the world will be getting a mini-makeover inspired by anime lovers, a press release from the Chicago-based burger chain says. The manga-inspired takeover, cheekily called “WcDonalds” — with upside-golden arches — alludes to how the chain is seen in some of anime’s most iconic movies and shows, the release added.

“Anime is a huge part of today’s culture, and we love that our fans have been inviting us into the conversation for years,” McDonald’s USA Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer Tariq Hassan, said in the release. “The WcDonald’s universe is a reflection of what fans have created. It honors their vision and celebrates their creativity, while authentically bringing it to life in our restaurants for the first time ever.”

The transformation begins Feb. 26, officials said. It will last through March 18.

WcDonald’s new menu items and an ‘immersive dining experience’

Some new menu items will be part of the pop-up, including “Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce,” meant to be paired with WcNuggets (also known as Chicken McNuggets), the release said.

At one McDonald’s location, an “immersive dining experience” will be held, the release said, inspired by the “isekai anime subgenre.”

According to officials, the “WcDonald’s Immersive Dining Experience” will be held March 9 and 10 in Los Angeles. The dining experience will be “multi-sensory,” and “a genre-bending fusion of entertainment and food,” the release added.

“Guests will be transported into the WcDonald’s universe through 360 projection mapping and immersive tabletop projections inspired by the four WcDonald’s anime episodic shorts – all while enjoying a set menu of WcDonald’s items,” the release said. Reservations can be made on OpenTable, beginning Feb. 28.

What will look different

As part of the transformation, McDonald’s teamed up with Japanese magna artist/illustrator Acky Bright, to create and design customer WcDonald’s packaging on menu items. Additionally, for a limited time, customers will receive manga-inspired packaging featuring WcDonald’s Crew characters, sketched by Acky himself, the release said.

McDonald’s has also partnered with animation house Studio Pierrot to produce the first official WcDonald’s anime — four episodic shorts about WcDonald’s Sauce and WcNuggets.

Each Monday, starting Feb. 26 until March 18, the following shorts — which honor Action, Romance, Mecha and Fantasy, four of anime’s biggest subgenres — will drop on WcDonalds.com or via the code on the WcDonald’s bag:

• The Race to WcDonald’s: Dropping Feb. 26, this short covers a rivalry strong enough to withstand the test of time as our two heroes embark on an epic race to WcDonald’s.
• Love from Across the Booth: Dropping March 4, the two protagonists discover that WcDonald’s Sauce and WcNuggets aren’t the only perfect pairing.
• WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000: Dropping March 11, this short covers a team of WcDonald’s pilots who must protect the last WcNugget against an ominous force.
• The Wisdom of the Sauce: Dropping March 18, this short is about three women who are transported to a distant land to unravel a mystery surrounding WcDonald’s elusive sauce before it’s gone forever.

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Starting Feb. 26, the fast-food chain will be getting a manga-inspired makeover, embracing the upside-down golden arches featured in some of anime’s most iconic movies and shows, where it is cheekily known as “WcDonald’s.”

McDonald’s is collaborating with some of the biggest names in anime to pluck the manga version of the chain out of the screen and into real life.

Starting Feb. 26, WcDonald’s will be launching in more than 30 global markets with a new sauce, manga-inspired packaging, episodic shorts and more.

What is WcDonald’s?

WcDonald’s is a fictional version of McDonald’s that has appeared in over 100 different anime films and shows. The concept, with its flipped first letter, originates from a 1983 episode of “Cat’s Eye,” a manga and anime franchise.

In the time since, many beloved anime characters have been shown eating, ordering or simply walking past a WcDonald’s location, and its fictional menu includes burgers, french fries, nuggets and even hot dogs. The alternate universe chain has appeared in well-known anime like “Sally the Witch,” “Cowboy Bebop: The Movie,” “InuYasha”  and so many more.

“Anime is a huge part of today’s culture, and we love that our fans have been inviting us into the conversation for years,” said Tariq Hassan, McDonald’s USA’s chief marketing and customer experience officer in a press release. “The WcDonald’s universe is a reflection of what fans have created. It honors their vision and celebrates their creativity, while authentically bringing it to life in our restaurants for the first time ever.”

Here’s what to expect at WcDonald’s:

Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce

As part of this new, animated world, McDonald’s is dropping a new Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce which will be available for a limited time. The sauce combines ginger, garlic, soy and little heat from chili flakes.

WcDonald’s suggests pairing the sauce with a 10-piece “WcNuggets” (aka Chicken McNuggets) or any other menu item that calls for dipping.

WcDonald’s manga packaging and fan art initiative

The chain has teamed up with Acky Bright, a Japanese manga artist and illustrator who has worked with DC Comics, Warner Brothers and more, to design custom WcDonald’s packaging. For a limited time, customers can score Bright’s manga-inspired packaging featuring WcDonald’s Crew characters.

Customers can also scan a code on the packaging to access weekly digital manga drops that star a full cast of WcDonald’s Customers and Crew, including Hashirune, a WcDonald’s regular, Mr. Bev, the Crew jokester, and many more.

“I had a great time partnering with McDonald’s to help make WcDonald’s a reality for manga fans who have a genuine love for the brand,” said Bright in a press release. “From the details of the diverse Crew characters to the manga plot itself, I loved being able to use my artwork to bring to life the dynamic, vibrant world of WcDonald’s for people around the world.”

The first-ever official WcDonald’s anime

McDonald’s has also partnered with animation house Studio Pierrot to produce the first official WcDonald’s anime — four episodic shorts about WcDonald’s Sauce and WcNuggets.

Each Monday, starting Feb. 26 until March 18, the following shorts — which honor Action, Romance, Mecha and Fantasy, four of anime’s biggest subgenres — will drop on WcDonalds.com or via the code on the WcDonald’s bag:

• The Race to WcDonald’s: Dropping Feb. 26, this short covers a rivalry strong enough to withstand the test of time as our two heroes embark on an epic race to WcDonald’s.
• Love from Across the Booth: Dropping March 4, the two protagonists discover that WcDonald’s Sauce and WcNuggets aren’t the only perfect pairing.
• WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000: Dropping March 11, this short covers a team of WcDonald’s pilots who must protect the last WcNugget against an ominous force.
• The Wisdom of the Sauce: Dropping March 18, this short is about three women who are transported to a distant land to unravel a mystery surrounding WcDonald’s elusive sauce before it’s gone forever.

Immersive dining at the first real WcDonald’s 

The WcDonald’s Immersive Dining Experience, which will be the first real-life WcDonald’s, will be open from March 9 — 10. Located in Los Angeles, California, it will be a multi-sensory dining experience in which guests can enter the WcDonald’s universe through 360 projection mapping and tabletop projections inspired by the four WcDonald’s anime episodic shorts while snacking on WcDonald’s menu items. 

Interested folks can reserve a spot exclusively on OpenTable starting Feb. 28 by searching “WcDonald’s Immersive Dining Experience” on the OpenTable app or website.

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Prices have risen at fast food restaurants across the country as climbing food and labor costs result in higher totals for customers. But the backlash has been visible in more ways than one.

McDonald’s reported underwhelming results in the fourth quarter, according to NBC News, and Yum Brands showed weaker-than-expected growth in top brands like KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.

McDonald’s President and CEO Chris Kempczinski said there were fewer visits and lower spending by customers earning $45,000 per year or less. Kempczinski said that as grocery inflation has retreated, those customers are more likely to eat at home.

As a result, Kempczinski promised the company affordability would be a focus this year.

McDonald’s hopes to get those customers back into its stores with marketing that emphasizes low-cost options.

“We certainly know consumers are more wary — and weary — of pricing and we’re going to continue to be consumer-led in our pricing decisions as we look forward to 2024,” Chief Financial Officer Ian Borden said.

Details on what those affordable options might be, or if price cuts are in the works, remain unclear.

The comments come after the world’s largest hamburger chain, based in Chicago, was targeted online for a Connecticut restaurant’s $18 Big Mac combo meals and $7 Egg McMuffin. Users on TikTok also started sharing their complaints

McDonald’s told NBC News that pricing is up to franchisees and can vary by location but that the company strives to strike a balance for value.

The news comes as the company has touted several recent changes, including a new concept restaurant in the Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook called CosMc’s and a promise to open nearly 10,000 new restaurants over the next four years.

The company also recently introduced a new menu item, the “Double Big Mac,” with four beef patties and more Big Mac sauce when compared to its original counterpart. The chain previously said it was making tweaks to its burgers to include meltier cheese and softer, freshly toasted buns.

In 2025, it expects to bring back its McCrispy sandwich to nearly all global markets.

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Beginning Monday, the Shamrock Shake and the Oreo Shamrock McFlurry are back on menus at participating McDonald’s restaurants, an announcement from the Chicago-based burger chain said.

“You’re in luck McDonald’s fans, Shamrock SZN is finally here,” the announcement said. “Make your friends green with envy and snag one of these famously minty treats while supplies last.”

According to the restuarant, the drinks will be available at participating stores for a limited time. Last year, the drinks didn’t hit menus until Feb. 20.

The Shamrock Shake is made with the chain’s vanilla soft serve before being blended with mint syrup and topped with a sweet, whipped topping, McDonald’s said.

As for the Oreo Shamrock McFlurry, the dessert offers the best of both worlds between an Oreo McFlurry and Shamrock Shake, with vanilla soft serve and mint syrup blended alongside crushed Oreo cookies.

The treats are not the only limited-time offerings available at some McDonald’s locations, with the Double Big Mac becoming available at participating restaurants on Jan. 25.

McDonald’s has upgraded its burgers — but it’s unclear if its sales will get the same boost.

The fast-food giant has outperformed its rivals in recent quarters, helped by price hikes across its menu and higher-income customers trading down to its McNuggets and Big Macs. Still, McDonald’s U.S. traffic dipped in the third quarter as low-income diners cut back their visits.

The company’s same-store sales in the U.S. grew just 4.3% in the fourth quarter, it said Monday. That’s an obvious lag compared with the third quarter’s 8.1% U.S. same-store sales growth.

McDonald’s and rival fast-food chains will face pressure to grow traffic this year. Diners won’t stomach the double-digit price hikes that fueled last year’s sales. Instead, chains have to convince their customers that their food and drinks are worth their prices — and more frequent visits.

Enter McDonald’s “Best Burger” initiative: small tweaks to the chain’s burgers that create a noticeably more flavorful product.

“Our goal was to enhance the quality and the flavor and the overall eating experience of our core burgers, but we wanted to stay true to the tastes that everyone loves,” McDonald’s U.S. Chief Restaurant Officer Mason Smoot said at a media event on Monday.

McDonald’s didn’t change the beef patty itself, but rather the cooking and assembly processes. The grills give the patties a little more breathing room as they cook. For more flavor, only six are cooked at a time, down from eight.

Onions, too, are added before the patties are cooked so they can soak up the patty’s juices. The cooked patties are kept hotter, so the overall burger is still warm by the time it reaches the customer. The cheese is melted better, the buns are upgraded and Big Macs receive more of their special sauce.

“This is a step in the right direction for improving some of their very core products, but staying very true to who they are as well,” said analyst Mark Kalinowski, CEO of Kalinowski Equity Research.

McDonald’s started rolling out the better-tasting burgers roughly a year ago, but it has finally launched them at all locations nationwide.

Some of the company’s most important international markets, such as Australia and Canada, have already implemented “Best Burger.” Australia and Canada have outperformed some of McDonald’s other big international markets, which can be at least partially chalked up to the burger improvements, Kalinowski said.

At McDonald’s investor day in December, CEO Chris Kempczinski said “Best Burger” was on track to hit 70 markets by the end of 2023. By the time 2026 wraps up, the company expects nearly all of its markets to serve the upgraded burgers.

“With initiatives like Best Burger, we are making small changes that are adding up to big differences that our customers are really noticing,” he told investors.

McDonald’s is promoting the changes through a familiar frenemy — the Hamburglar, a McDonaldland character used in its ads dating back to the 1970s. In markets with the “Better Burger,” the chain aired a TV commercial where the mascot touted the improved taste of the burgers. McDonald’s own website now splashes an endorsement from the Hamburglar across the homepage.

The changes affect all of McDonald’s burgers except the quarter pounder. The chain already gave that menu staple its own makeover in 2018, when it switched over from frozen to fresh beef for those patties. That change resulted in McDonald’s gaining market share in the burger category for the first time in five years.

But Wall Street has mixed opinions on whether the “Best Burger” can fuel significant growth.

In a research note last month, Wells Fargo analyst Zachary Fadem named “Best Burger” as an “upside driver” for McDonald’s in 2024. However, it’s still unclear how much of a lift the company expects to see from the initiative.

Kalinowski estimates the changes could raise 2024’s overall sales 0.5%.

“I do think the net effect of this will be positive, but it’s somewhat subtle,” Kalinowski said.

Others are more skeptical.

“I’m doubtful that this drives traffic,” BTIG analyst Peter Saleh said. “I think this is probably just part of the process of upping your game over time. A lot of these concepts have to improve the quality of their food over time.”

But there are some promising early signs that customers want to try the improved burgers for themselves.

“Despite receiving no advertising at the local level until just this week, our contacts indicated Better Burger drove a 10% lift on average to burger transactions to date,” Loop Capital analyst Alton Stump wrote in a note to clients in May.

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It may feel like St. Patrick’s Day is still far away, but Chicago-based fast food giant McDonald’s is looking to get everyone feeling lucky well in advance.

On Friday, the chain announced the upcoming return of the Shamrock Shake, perhaps the restaurant’s most recognized seasonal item, along with the more recently introduced Shamrock Oreo McFlurry.

Both of the limited-time offerings will be available in participating McDonald’s locations nationwide beginning Monday, Feb. 5.

According to McDonald’s, the Shamrock Shake is made with the chain’s vanilla soft serve before being blended with mint syrup and topped with a sweet, whipped topping.

As for the Oreo Shamrock McFlurry, the dessert offers the best of both worlds between an Oreo McFlurry and Shamrock Shake, with vanilla soft serve and mint syrup blended alongside crushed Oreo cookies.

The treats are not the only limited-time offerings available at some McDonald’s locations, with the Double Big Mac becoming available at participating restaurants on Jan. 25.

The Chicago-based burger chain is introducing the “Double Big Mac,” coming with four beef patties and more Big Mac sauce when compared to its original counterpart.

The larger sandwich will still contain all of the standard Big Mac fix-ins: shredded lettuce, chopped onions, pickles, a slice of American cheese and a sesame seed bun.

The Double Big Mac is making a return to participating restaurants nationwide after first making a brief appearance on menus in 2020.

The sandwich is the latest in a slew of changes McDonald’s has made over the past few months, including vowing to open nearly 10,000 new restaurants over the next four years.

The chain also previously said it was making tweaks to its burgers to include meltier cheese and softer, freshly toasted buns.

In 2025, it expects to bring back its McCrispy sandwich to nearly all global markets.

McDonald’s is working to phase some things out.

Earlier this year, the chain announced it was eliminating items from the McCafé Bakery line-up, including the Apple Fritter, Blueberry Muffin and Cinnamon Roll. The chain is also transitioning away from self-serve soda and beverage stations in dining rooms across the country and replacing them with “crew managed” beverage stations.

By 2032, all self-serve beverage stations are expected to be phased out, a spokesperson said.

Beginning this month, the Chicago burger chain will launch a “Double Big Mac,” a blog post from the company said. According to the post, the Double Big Mac will contain four — instead of two — beef patties and more Big Mac sauce. It will still be topped with shredded lettuce, finely chopped onions, pickles, a slice of American cheese and a sesame seed bun, McDonald’s said.

The item, which made a brief appearance on menus in 2020, will be at participating restaurants nationwide for a limited time starting Jan. 24, the chain added.

The sandwich is the latest in a slew of changes McDonald’s has made over the past few months, including vowing to open nearly 10,000 new restaurants over the next four years.

The chain also previously said it was making tweaks to its burgers to include meltier cheese and softer, freshly toasted buns.

In 2025, it expects to bring back its McCrispy sandwich to nearly all global markets.

McDonald’s is working to phase some things out.

Earlier this year, the chain announced it was eliminating items from the McCafé Bakery line-up, including the Apple Fritter, Blueberry Muffin and Cinnamon Roll. The chain is also transitioning away from self-serve soda and beverage stations in dining rooms across the country and replacing them with “crew managed” beverage stations.

By 2032, all self-serve beverage stations are expected to be phased out, a spokesperson said.

A Bakers Square restaurant in Wilmette that has sat vacant for six years could soon become a drive-thru McDonald’s, a project that some neighbors are fighting back against.

According to the Village of Wilmette, an application for a drive-thru McDonald’s at 200 Skokie Blvd. will be considered at Tuesday’s Village Board meeting.

“The Village Board will carefully and thoughtfully consider the input of residents and the impacts of the proposed use during their deliberations,” Wilmette Village Manager Michael Braiman said in an email to NBC Chicago.

The site, at 200 Skokie Blvd. in Wilmette, is surrounded by residences to the north, east and west, with commercial businesses to the south. The now-boarded up building previously housed a Bakers Square restaurant, which shuttered in April of 2019 after operating at the location since the 1990s, a report from the Chicago Tribune said.

One group of Wilmette neighbors said more than 800 people have signed a petition against the construction of a McDonald’s drive-thru at the spot, citing concerns of additional traffic, noise, safety issues and toxic emissions. The group also says McDonald’s failed to “meet the requirements outlined in the application for a Special Use variance.”

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“The average McDonald’s generates 1,000 transactions per day with 700 to 800 of those coming from the drive thru,” a release from the group said, “With opening hours from 5:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. that equates to 1 car per minute turning into and out of the property.  The speed limit on Skokie Blvd is 40 miles per hour, and there have already been three accidents at the intersection during the month of December.”

The group also argued that the location is zoned only for “neighborhood retail,” rather than “commercial retail,” and that a drive-thru would be “in direct conflict with Wilmette’s Sustainability Plan,” which was adopted in 2021 and endeavors to lay out the village’s commitment to climate and air quality.

If approved, the location would be Wilmette’s first McDonald’s restaurant. Other fast-food restaurants in village include Jimmy John’s Five Guys, Panda Express, Starbucks, Corner Bakery and Panera Bread, the Village said, adding that, aside from a drive-thru Starbucks, the village does not have any other drive-thru restaurants.

The meeting is open to the public and takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Wilmette Village Hall.

McDonald’s did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago’s request for comment.

After months of anticipation, Squishmallows have finally made their debut as McDonald’s Happy Meals toys, with some of the toys already appearing for sale on eBay.

The toys became available at participating restaurants nationwide on Tuesday, giving customers the opportunity to come home with up to 12 Squishmallow characters with Happy Meal purchases.

In addition to classic Squishmallow favorites like Cam and Fifi, a unique Grimace Squishmallow is also part of the Happy Meals lineup, for those lucky enough to encounter the purple fan-favorite.

Squishmallows will be available at participating restaurants for just a limited time, the Chicago-based burger chain said, meaning that the race is on for many to get their hands on their favorite toy.

“We’re all about connecting our fans to culture and Squishmallows are some of the hottest toys out there right now,” said Tariq Hassan, McDonald’s USA chief marketing and customer experience officer, in a written release. “This collaboration welcomes McDonald’s and Squishmallow fans alike to enjoy this one-of-a-kind experience with the first McDonald’s Squishmallows Squad.”

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Additionally, lucky fans may even encounter a special mystery character when opening their Happy Meal toy.

To help fans get to know their Squishmallows better, McDonald’s included a playlist unique to each character that can be accessed via the QR code on the Happy Meal box.

McDonald’s said that each playlist has been “carefully curated based off their united and fun personalities.”

Six months after announcing that Squishmallows — one of the most popular selling toys in the U.S. — would be inserted into McDonald’s Happy Meals nationwide, the Chicago-based burger chain has revealed when customers would finally be able to get their hands on a soft, squishy character.

“The wait is over and it’s time to get your squish on as the Squishmallows Happy Meal makes its debut at McDonald’s restaurants nationwide,” a press release posted to McDonald’s said Tuesday.

According to the release, the toys launched in select global markets earlier this year. They will be part of Happy Meals at participating restaurants beginning Dec. 26 — the day after Christmas, the release said.

According to the release, 12 Squishmallows characters will be available to collect, including “iconic” Squishmallow characters Cam and Fifi.

A Grimace Squishmallow will also be a part of the bunch, as will a “surprise mystery character,” the release said.

“We’re all about connecting our fans to culture and Squishmallows are some of the hottest toys out there right now,” McDonald’s USA Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer Tariq Hassan said in the release. “This collaboration welcomes McDonald’s and Squishmallow fans alike to enjoy this one-of-a-kind experience with the first McDonald’s Squishmallows Squad.”

Each of the Squishmallows will also come with a “unique” playlist that customers can access by scanning the QR code on the Happy Meal box, the release said, adding that the playlists have been “carefully curated based off their united and fun personalities.”

According to officials, Squishmallows will be available at participating McDonald’s restaurants for a limited time while supplies last.

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CosMc’s, which opened on Friday, is McDonald’s new “small-format, beverage-led” concept restaurant that is as part of a “limited test.”

The smaller restaurant’s format is limited to drive-thru only, meaning those heading to CosMc’s for a taste of the unique menu won’t be able to go inside.

While opening on Friday, CosMc’s quiety opened for some customers on Thursday, with chopper footage from NBC Sky 5 showing dozens of cars lining up in the restaurant’s multiple drive-thru windows.

“Inspired by nostalgia and powered by a menu of bold, refreshing beverages and tasty treats, CosMc’s is landing earthside for us humans to enjoy,” the company said in a release.

Here’s what we know about the restaurant so far.

CosMc’s Food Menu

“CosMc’s seamlessly blends brand-new, otherworldly beverage creations with a small lineup of food, including a select few McDonald’s favorites – all designed to boost your mood into the stratosphere, if only for a few moments,” the company said.

Although the menu is set to contain some McDonald’s staples — like Egg McMuffins sandwiches and M&M McFlurry — other items on the menu include the Creamy Avocado Tomatillo Sandwich, Spicy Queso Sandwich, Savory Hash Brown Bites, Pretzel Bites and a charcuterie-style Snack Box. On the sweet side, the menu includes a blueberry lemon cookie sundae and caramel fudge brownies, the Chicago-based chain said.

CosMc’s Beverage Menu

The restaurant touts CosMc’s drink menu as “brand-new, otherworldly, beverage creations.” A sneak peek of the beverage menu shows it includes specialty lemonades and tea, espresso drinks, blended beverages and cold coffee, including a Sour Cherry Energy Slush, a Tropical Spiceade and S’mores Cold Brew.

There will be options for customers to add things like boba, flavored syrups, energy boosters or vitamin C shots and more, the restaurant said.

Why is it called CosMc’s?

The restaurant appears to be based on a vintage McDonaldland mascot named CosMc, an alien character who appeared in ads in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

McDonald’s had teased plans to test out the new kind of restaurant over the summer, but recent images showing a mysterious building in Chicago’s suburbs with signs of the golden arches led to much speculation.

The move is the latest vintage revival for the Chicago-based fast food chain.

Most recently, the company announced another throwback collectible would be coming back. Beginning next month, “McNugget Buddies” — friendly collectors items in the shape of chicken nuggets, first introduced as part of Happy Meals more than 25 years ago — will be part of a new McDonald’s meal called the “Kerwin Frost Box,” the chain said.

When is it opening and where?

Roughly 10 locations are expected to open by the end of 2024, including in the Dallas Fort-Worth and San Antonio metro area, the chain said.

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CosMc’s, a mysterious new spinoff restaurant from the world’s largest hamburger chain that has caused quite a stir on social media and across the Chicago area, quietly opened in Bolingbrook for some customers Thursday, though the chain said it would officially launch on Friday. Chopper footage from NBC’s Sky 5 showed rows of cars lining up for multiple drive-thru windows Thursday.

The restaurant began serving its new menu items once again at 6 a.m. Friday and will remain open through 8 p.m.

According to a spokesperson, CosMc’s is McDonald’s new “small-format, beverage-led” concept restaurant that is as part of a “limited test.”

“Inspired by nostalgia and powered by a menu of bold, refreshing beverages and tasty treats, CosMc’s is landing earthside for us humans to enjoy,” the company said in a release.

Here’s what we know about the restaurant so far.

CosMc’s Food Menu

“CosMc’s seamlessly blends brand-new, otherworldly beverage creations with a small lineup of food, including a select few McDonald’s favorites – all designed to boost your mood into the stratosphere, if only for a few moments,” the company said.

Although the menu is set to contain some McDonald’s staples — like Egg McMuffins sandwiches and M&M McFlurry — other items on the menu include the Creamy Avocado Tomatillo Sandwich, Spicy Queso Sandwich, Savory Hash Brown Bites, Pretzel Bites and a charcuterie-style Snack Box. On the sweet side, the menu includes a blueberry lemon cookie sundae and caramel fudge brownies, the Chicago-based chain said.

CosMc’s Beverage Menu

The restaurant touts CosMc’s drink menu as “brand-new, otherworldly, beverage creations.” A sneak peek of the beverage menu shows it includes specialty lemonades and tea, espresso drinks, blended beverages and cold coffee, including a Sour Cherry Energy Slush, a Tropical Spiceade and S’mores Cold Brew.

There will be options for customers to add things like boba, flavored syrups, energy boosters or vitamin C shots and more, the restaurant said.

Why is it called CosMc’s?

The restaurant appears to be based on a vintage McDonaldland mascot named CosMc, an alien character who appeared in ads in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

McDonald’s had teased plans to test out the new kind of restaurant over the summer, but recent images showing a mysterious building in Chicago’s suburbs with signs of the golden arches led to much speculation.

The move is the latest vintage revival for the Chicago-based fast food chain.

Most recently, the company announced another throwback collectible would be coming back. Beginning next month, “McNugget Buddies” — friendly collectors items in the shape of chicken nuggets, first introduced as part of Happy Meals more than 25 years ago — will be part of a new McDonald’s meal called the “Kerwin Frost Box,” the chain said.

When is it opening and where?

Roughly 10 locations are expected to open by the end of 2024, including in the Dallas Fort-Worth and San Antonio metro area, the chain said.

The Bolingbrook location was set for a soft-opening Friday, with celebrations planned over the weekend, a spokesperson said.

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It’s CosMc’s, a mysterious new spinoff restaurant from the world’s largest hamburger chain that has caused quite a stir on social media and across the Chicago area.

According to a spokesperson, CosMc’s is McDonald’s new “small-format, beverage-led” concept restaurant set to open this week in Bolingbrook as part of a “limited test.”

“Inspired by nostalgia and powered by a menu of bold, refreshing beverages and tasty treats, CosMc’s is landing earthside for us humans to enjoy,” the company said in a release.

CNBC reported the company’s CEO Chris Kempczinski spoke about the idea in the burger chain’s second-quarter earnings call over the summer.

“CosMc’s is a small-format concept with all the DNA of McDonald’s but its own unique personality,” he said.

The new location is set for a “soft open” on Friday, with celebrations planned this weekend. However, Sky5 photos and video from the spot Thursday showed rows of cars lining up for multiple drive-thru windows.

Here’s what we know about the restaurant so far.

CosMc’s Food Menu

“CosMc’s seamlessly blends brand-new, otherworldly beverage creations with a small lineup of food, including a select few McDonald’s favorites – all designed to boost your mood into the stratosphere, if only for a few moments,” the company said.

Although the menu is set to contain some McDonald’s staples — like Egg McMuffins sandwiches and M&M McFlurry — other items on the menu include the Creamy Avocado Tomatillo Sandwich, Spicy Queso Sandwich, Savory Hash Brown Bites, Pretzel Bites and a charcuterie-style Snack Box. On the sweet side, the menu includes a blueberry lemon cookie sundae and caramel fudge brownies, the Chicago-based chain said.

CosMc’s Beverage Menu

The restaurant touts CosMc’s drink menu as “brand-new, otherworldly, beverage creations.” A sneak peek of the beverage menu shows it includes specialty lemonades and tea, espresso drinks, blended beverages and cold coffee, including a Sour Cherry Energy Slush, a Tropical Spiceade and S’mores Cold Brew.

There will be options for customers to add things like boba, flavored syrups, energy boosters or vitamin C shots and more, the restaurant said.

Why is it called CosMc’s?

The restaurant appears to be based on a vintage McDonaldland mascot named CosMc, an alien character who appeared in ads in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

McDonald’s had teased plans to test out the new kind of restaurant over the summer, but recent images showing a mysterious building in Chicago’s suburbs with signs of the golden arches led to much speculation.

The move is the latest vintage revival for the Chicago-based fast food chain.

Most recently, the company announced another throwback collectible would be coming back. Beginning next month, “McNugget Buddies” — friendly collectors items in the shape of chicken nuggets, first introduced as part of Happy Meals more than 25 years ago — will be part of a new McDonald’s meal called the “Kerwin Frost Box,” the chain said.

When is it opening and where?

Roughly 10 locations are expected to open by the end of 2024, including in the Dallas Fort-Worth and San Antonio metro area, the chain said.

The Bolingbrook location is set for a soft-opening Friday, with celebrations planned over the weekend, a spokesperson said.

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The restaurant, which will be known as CosMc’s, will have a soft opening later this week, with McDonald’s saying that it will be a ‘small format, beverage-led concept’ with a limited menu and some truly unique offerings.

“Inspired by nostalgia and powered by a menu of bold, refreshing beverages and tasty treats, CosMc’s is landing earthside for us humans to enjoy,” the company said.

According to internet sleuths, the restaurant appears to be based on a vintage McDonald’s mascot named CosMc, an alien who appeared in ads in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The first images of the restaurant’s menu were released this week, and they include a wide variety of drinks, including:

• Specialty lemonades and teas
• Blended beverages, including the “Sour Energy Slush,” and “Tropical Spiceade”
• Cold coffee drinks, including the “S’mores Cold Brew.”

Other add-ons will include boba, flavored syrups, energy boosters, Vitamin C shots and more, according to the company.

As for the food options, a few McDonald’s favorites like the Egg McMuffin will be included, but so will some decidedly non-traditional offerings:

• Spicy Queso Sandwich
• Savory Hash Brown Bites
• Creamy Avocado Tomatillo Sandwich
• Pretzel Bites
• Blueberry Lemon Cookie Sundae
• Caramel Fudge Brownie Sundae
• Caramel Fudge Brownies
• McPops

Roughly 10 locations are expected to open by the end of 2024, according to the company.

McDonald’s had previously teased plans to test out the new restaurant over the summer, but it wasn’t until a mysterious building in Chicago’s suburbs was revealed to be the first location of the new establishment.

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According to the world’s largest hamburger chain, its new concept restaurant will open this week in Bolingbrook as part of a “limited test.”

Described as a “new small-format, beverage-led concept,” the restaurant is the first of only a handful being opened in the U.S., McDonald’s said.

“Inspired by nostalgia and powered by a menu of bold, refreshing beverages and tasty treats, CosMc’s is landing earthside for us humans to enjoy,” the company said in a release.

The new location is set for a “soft open” on Friday, with celebrations planned this weekend.

Among the menu will be options like specialty lemonades and tea, blended beverages and cold coffee, including a Sour Cherry Energy Slush, a Tropical Spiceade and S’mores Cold Brew. There will be options for customers to add things like boba, flavored syrups, energy boosters or vitamin C shots and more.

Food options will include things like a Spicy Queso Sandwich, Savory Hash Brown Bites and Pretzel Bites, along with sweeter items like a blueberry lemon cookie sundae and caramel fudge brownies.

McDonald’s said customers can also “even expect to find a few McDonald’s classics on the menu,” including the Egg McMuffin and M&M’s McFlurry.

“CosMc’s seamlessly blends brand-new, otherworldly beverage creations with a small lineup of food, including a select few McDonald’s favorites – all designed to boost your mood into the stratosphere, if only for a few moments,” the company said.

See the full menu below:

Roughly 10 locations are expected to open by the end of 2024, including in the Dallas Fort-Worth and San Antonio metro areas.

McDonald’s had teased plans to test out the new kind of restaurant over the summer, but recent images showing a mysterious building in Chicago’s suburbs with signs of the golden arches led to much speculation.

CNBC reported the company’s CEO Chris Kempczinski spoke about the idea in the burger chain’s second-quarter earnings call over the summer.

“CosMc’s is a small-format concept with all the DNA of McDonald’s but its own unique personality,” he said.

The restaurant appears to be based on a vintage McDonaldland mascot named CosMc, an alien character who appeared in ads in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The move is the latest vintage revival for the Chicago-based fast food chain.

Most recently, the company announced another throwback collectible would be coming back. Beginning next month, “McNugget Buddies” — friendly collectors items in the shape of chicken nuggets, first introduced as part of Happy Meals more than 25 years ago — will be part of a new McDonald’s meal called the “Kerwin Frost Box,” the chain said.

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Ahead of a day-long event for investors, the Chicago burger giant said Wednesday that it aims to have 50,000 restaurants in operation worldwide by the end of 2027. McDonald’s had 40,275 restaurants at the start of this year.

Other national chains are expanding at a rapid clip as well. Starbucks said last month it expects to have 55,000 stores globally by 2030, up from 38,000 today.

More details are expected Wednesday during McDonald’s investor event, including where store growth will be concentrated.

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The company also announced a partnership with Google Cloud, which it said Wednesday will help it accelerate automated services and reduce complexity for its employees.

McDonald’s same-store sales rose nearly 9% worldwide in the third quarter, even as U.S. traffic fell slightly.

The company is focused on core menu items like Quarter Pounders and fries which, according to McDonald’s, make up 65% of sales systemwide.

Burgers with softer, freshly toasted buns, meltier cheese and more Big Mac sauce are coming to U.S. restaurants by the end of 2024 and most other markets by the end of 2025. McDonald’s said chicken sales are now on par with beef, and it plans to bring its McCrispy sandwich to nearly all global markets by 2025.

McDonald’s is working to phase some things out.

Earlier this year, the chain announced it was eliminating items from the McCafé Bakery line-up, including the Apple Fritter, Blueberry Muffin and Cinnamon Roll. The chain is also transitioning away from self-serve soda and beverage stations in dining rooms across the country and replacing them with “crew managed” beverage stations.

By 2032, all self-serve beverage stations are expected to be phased out, a spokesperson said.

According to recently captured images showing the building’s unveiled façade, it appears to be a spinoff from McDonald’s, called CosMc’s.

McDonald’s did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago’s requests for comment, but CNBC reported the company’s CEO Chris Kempczinski spoke about the idea in the burger chain’s second-quarter earnings call over the summer.

Here’s what we know so far about the concept.

What could it look like?

Social media has been buzzing with videos and photos of what the construction of the restaurant looks like.

The restaurant appeared to be based on a vintage McDonaldland mascot named CosMc, an alien character who appeared in ads in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Where will it be located?

Construction of the restaurant is taking place in Bolingbrook, Illinois, approximately 30 miles outside of Chicago.

The chain apparently plans to test the restaurants in “a limited geography,” but more details were expected to be released in December.

What will the restaurant be like?

“CosMc’s is a small-format concept with all the DNA of McDonald’s but its own unique personality,” Kempczinski said in an earnings call, CNBC reported.

Further details about the restaurant have not been released, including an opening date, though Kempczinski reportedly indicated an early 2024 opening plan during his earlier remarks.

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The move is the latest vintage revival for the Chicago-based fast food chain.

Most recently, the company announced another throwback collectible would be coming back. Beginning next month, “McNugget Buddies” — friendly collectors items in the shape of chicken nuggets, first introduced as part of Happy Meals more than 25 years ago — will be part of a new McDonald’s meal called the “Kerwin Frost Box,” the chain said.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

A mysterious new restaurant has been under construction in Bolingbrook and it appears it is a secret spinoff from McDonald’s, according to recently captured images showing the building’s unveiled façade.

The restaurant is named CosMc’s.

McDonald’s did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago’s requests for comment, but CNBC reported the company’s CEO Chris Kempczinski spoke about the idea in the burger chain’s second-quarter earnings call over the summer.

“CosMc’s is a small-format concept with all the DNA of McDonald’s but its own unique personality,” he said.

Further details about the restaurant have not been released, including an opening date, though Kempczinski reportedly indicated an early 2024 opening plan during his earlier remarks.

The chain apparently plans to test the restaurants in “a limited geography,” but more details were expected to be released in December.

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The restaurant appeared to be based on a vintage McDonaldland mascot named CosMc, an alien character who appeared in ads in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The move is the latest vintage revival for the Chicago-based fast food chain.

Most recently, the company announced another throwback collectible would be coming back. Beginning next month, “McNugget Buddies” — friendly collectors items in the shape of chicken nuggets, first introduced as part of Happy Meals more than 25 years ago — will be part of a new McDonald’s meal called the “Kerwin Frost Box,” the chain said.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The restaurant, named CosMc’s, has been taking shape in the suburb of Bolingbrook.

Images on social media appear to show the new restaurant being constructed.

McDonald’s did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago’s requests for comment, but CNBC reported McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski spoke about the idea in the burger chain’s second-quarter earnings call over the summer.

“CosMc’s is a small-format concept with all the DNA of McDonald’s but its own unique personality,” he said.

Further details about the restaurant have not been released, including an opening date, though Kempczinski reportedly indicated an early 2024 opening plan during his earlier remarks.

The chain apparently plans to test the restaurants in “a limited geography,” but more details were expected to be released in December.

news Nov 29, 2023

McDonald's is bringing back iconic McNugget Buddies as limited-edition collectibles

McDonald's Nov 17, 2023

Seasonal dessert back on McDonald's menu for the holidays

McDonald's Nov 13, 2023

McDonald's and Crocs are releasing a line of $75 shoes inspired by Grimace and the Hamburglar

The restaurant appeared to be based on a vintage McDonaldland mascot named CosMc, an alien character who appeared in ads in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The move is the latest vintage revival for the Chicago-based fast food chain.

Most recently, the company announced another throwback collectible would be coming back. Beginning next month, “McNugget Buddies” — friendly collectors items in the shape of chicken nuggets, first introduced as part of Happy Meals more than 25 years ago — will be part of a new McDonald’s meal called the “Kerwin Frost Box,” the chain said.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

As for McDonald’s one holiday-themed dessert is already back on the menu at some locations.

The “holiday pie,” filled with custard and glazed with sugar and rainbow sprinkles, returned to menus at select McDonald’s locations on Wednesday.

Originally debuting in 1999, the seasonal dessert has sporadically popped back onto menus during the wintertime since then, including last year.

Similar to 2022, the holiday pie will not be available at all McDonald’s, with the chain specifying that it can be found “at participating locations while supplies last.”

Due to the pie’s limited availability, be sure to check the menu for your local restaurant by calling ahead or visiting the McDonald’s app to avoid disappointment at the drive-thru.

The home of the McNugget this week is rolling out a line of custom-designed clogs in collaboration with Crocs. 

The fast food-inspired lineup will feature three classic Crocs and one Crocs sandal based on McDonald’s mascots Grimace, Hamburglar and Birdie, as well as the chain’s classic red and yellow color scheme. 

Also for sale will be a number of McDonald’s-themed charms that can be attached to the clogs, including french fries, the Big Mac and the iconic Golden Arches logo.

The shoes will be released on November 14, retailing for between $70 and $75. Matching socks for each pair of shoes will retail for $20. Customers will be able to buy them at Crocs retail locations and wholesale partners. 

In its press release, McDonald’s recommended that fans who want to snag a pair of the clogs follow McDonalds and Crocs on social media, adding only that the drop will happen at “midday” central time. 

The partnership with Crocs is McDonald’s second fashion collab in recent months. Back in August, McDonald’s partnered with British skate brand PALACE to release limited-edition branded merch. 

Crocs, meanwhile, has been on a hot streak with its collectible collabs. It recently made waves in September with a Shrek-inspired clog, and sent Pixar fans into a frenzy when it released a pair of Crocs designed to look like “Cars” character Lightning McQueen over the summer.

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At least according to Paul Hendel. He started working at the newly opened McDonald’s in Merrick, New York, on the south shore of Long Island in 1973 when he was just 16 years old, excited to snack on unlimited french fries and hang out with his friends between shifts. The gig paid $1.85 an hour.

“Believe it or not, you needed to have an in to get a job at McDonald’s back then, so my brother, who was working in the kitchen, recommended me for the job,” Hendel, 66, tells CNBC Make It. “Everybody wanted to work there.”

Hendel didn’t see a future at his high school job past graduation. He was accepted to C.W. Post University (now Long Island University), and planned to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in marketing and join his dad, Hank, who worked for a brokerage firm on Wall Street.

Fifty years later, Hendel owns and operates 31 McDonald’s locations across Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan, including the flagship restaurant in Times Square.

“I never thought it would be my forever job,” says Hendel. “But I also can’t imagine working anywhere else.”

The conversation that changed the trajectory of his career

In 1975, Hendel was about to quit his job at the Merrick McDonald’s ahead of his first semester of college when his then-boss offered him a promotion: McDonald’s was opening a new location 30 minutes away in Glen Cove and desperately needed an assistant manager. 

Hendel accepted the job, figuring he could use the money to help pay for tuition and books.

“There were a couple of parties that I missed, and I wasn’t happy about that, but it really paid off when I graduated, because I had zero debt and was really ahead of the pack in terms of work experience and networking with that job,” says Hendel. “Plus, being trusted to open a new restaurant when you’re an 18-year-old kid is pretty exciting.”

Hendel quickly proved himself to be a valuable asset to the team, volunteering for late-night shifts and improving the onboarding process for new crew members. Within three years, he was promoted to general manager.

In 1980, once he graduated college, Hendel found himself again at a crossroads: Should he join his dad on Wall Street, where he could potentially make more money, or keep working at McDonald’s, in a job he was good at and enjoyed? 

“I was seriously considering putting my two-week notice in and the owner/operator of the restaurant, Peter Hunt, must have read my mind because he goes, ‘Paul, I don’t want you to leave. I’m going to make you a supervisor of five McDonald’s locations in Nassau County, and it’ll come with a raise and a company car,'” Hendel recalls.

After talking with friends and reading some job listings, Hendel realized the offer came with a much higher salary than he would have made his first year working at a firm on Wall Street (Hendel declined to share his previous and current salary with CNBC Make It). 

Still, he felt conflicted. Hendel asked his dad for advice before accepting the offer at McDonald’s. That conversation, he says, “changed the trajectory of my career.” 

“We were out to dinner, and I mentioned the offer from Hunt, and my dad’s first question — I’ll never forget it — was, ‘Do you like what you do?'” says Hendel. “And I said, ‘Yeah, I really love it.’ And he goes, ‘Do you think you’re good at it?’ And I said, ‘Well I just got promoted!'” 

He continues: “Then he said, ‘Paul, if that’s what you like to do, and you’re good at it, stick with it because I’m not crazy about my job or commuting into Manhattan every day.’ I realized, then, that work isn’t just about getting a paycheck every week. I’m so glad he gave me the advice he did, because I still love what I do.”

‘I don’t want to have the word ‘retired’ fully next to my name’

Another aspect of working at McDonald’s that excited Hendel in his 20s was the opportunity to become an owner/operator, overseeing the day-to-day operations of a restaurant and managing his own staff. It’s also a lucrative gig: ZipRecruiter estimates that owner/operators at McDonald’s earn up to $400,000 per year.

“The opportunities that McDonald’s presents really are limitless,” says Hendel. “I’ve worked with people who started as crew members, then promoted to owner/operators in a few years and became millionaires.”

In 1990, Hendel became the owner/operator of his first McDonald’s restaurant in Brooklyn. “From there, I’ve gotten another restaurant almost every year.” 

Hendel says working in Brooklyn taught him the importance of time management, compassion and handling issues “quickly and calmly” in a fast-paced environment. “You have to be really good with people when you’re managing a staff and serving over 1,000 customers a day at each restaurant,” he adds. 

Hendel still works five days a week and spends most of his time in the restaurants he owns, checking in on employees and any ongoing construction or renovations at the properties.

The skills Hendel relies on to do his job haven’t changed in decades, Hendel jokes, and neither has his McDonald’s order. “My favorite is still a quarter pounder with cheese,” he says.

Hendel hasn’t given retirement much thought. “Is it really working as long as you’re doing something you love?” he says. 

Eventually, Hendel expects that he will gradually phase out of his role, passing on more responsibilities to his son, Mark, and daughter, Lauren, who became owner/operators of McDonald’s franchises in 2019 and 2022, respectively.

“I’d like to have the flexibility to wind down at work, so I have more time for golf, going out on my boat and spending time with my family,” says Hendel. “But I don’t want to have the word ‘retired’ fully next to my name.”

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Earlier this month, McDonald’s iconic throwback “Boo Buckets” returned to the Chicago-based chain to kick off the Halloween season.

“Let’s be honest… spooky szn isn’t official until Boo Buckets are back at McDonald’s,” a statement McDonald’s said. “Starting Oct. 17, fans can get in the Halloween spirit at participating McDonald’s restaurants nationwide with four new Halloween Happy Meal® designs, including: Monster, Skeleton, Mummy and Vampire.”

Four different “Boo Buckets” — McDonald’s fan-favorite throwback Halloween pails — are currently available with Happy Meals for the 2023 Halloween season.

But the buckets will be available “while supplies last,” the chain said.

First introduced in 1986, the trick-or-treat pails, known as “Boo Buckets,” were a Happy Meal staple of the spooky season for several years before they “vanished for a while.” Following a prolonged absence however, three iconic, throwback buckets returned for 2022 on Oct. 18.

This year, the “Boo Buckets” come in four colors: White, Orange, Green and Purple.

The fast food chain is giving away free medium fries each Friday for McDonald’s app users with a minimum purchase of $1. The salty deal will last until Dec. 31.

Rewards members can visit any participating location and receive free medium fries while using the app. The offer can be used once every Friday. 

To be eligible for the freebie, download the McDonald’s mobile app, follow instructions for creating an account and opt into the restaurant’s rewards program.

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Here’s a full list of dates:

• Oct. 27
• Nov. 3
• Nov. 10
• Nov. 17
• Nov. 24
• Dec. 1
• Dec. 8
• Dec. 15
• Dec. 22
• Dec. 29

Other 2023 freebies

McDonald’s is not the only restaurant with end-of-year food offers. Here’s a roundup of recent food deals and rewards to take advantage of in the next few weeks and months.

At Burger King, Royal Perks Members (with purchase) can receive one free fry order per week until Dec. 31. The offer started April 25, 2022, and was extended until the end of 2023.

Taco Bell fanatics can also head to the mobile app to celebrate Taco Tuesday one morning a week with free Toasted Breakfast Tacos. The deal is available for Taco Bell Rewards members until Oct. 31 with no purchase necessary. 

Dunkin’ has coffee lovers covered on Mondays. Reward members can get one free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase until Oct. 30.

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“Let’s be honest… spooky szn isn’t official until Boo Buckets are back at McDonald’s,” a statement released earlier this month by McDonald’s said.

Here’s a look at what to know about the ‘Boo Buckets,’ how to get one, and how long they remain available.

What are McDonald’s ‘Boo Buckets?’

First introduced in 1986, the trick-or-treat pails, known as “Boo Buckets,” were a Happy Meal staple of the spooky season for several years before they “vanished for a while.” Following a prolonged absence however, three iconic, throwback buckets returned for 2022 on Oct. 18.

What do the ‘Boo Buckets’ look like for 2023?

Four ‘Boo Buckets’ are available at McDonald’s for the 2023 Halloween season: Monster, Skeleton, Mummy and Vampire.

The buckets come in four different colors: orange, white, purple and green. According to officials, the purple vampire Boo Bucket is “launching for the first time since the OG purple Boo Bucket.”

How long are ‘Boo Buckets’ available, and how do I get one?

The buckets, which come with all Happy Meals, will be available “while supplies last,” the Chicago-based chain said.

Four different “Boo Buckets” — McDonald’s fan-favorite throwback Halloween pails — are officially available with Happy Meals for the 2023 Halloween season while supplies last, the Chicago-based chain said earlier this month.

“Let’s be honest… spooky szn isn’t official until Boo Buckets are back at McDonald’s,” a statement McDonald’s said. “Starting Oct. 17, fans can get in the Halloween spirit at participating McDonald’s restaurants nationwide with four new Halloween Happy Meal® designs, including: Monster, Skeleton, Mummy and Vampire.”

The buckets come in four different colors: orange, white, purple and green. According to officials, the purple vampire Boo Bucket is “launching for the first time since the OG purple Boo Bucket.”

The buckets will be available “while supplies last,” the chain said.

First introduced in 1986, the trick-or-treat pails, known as “Boo Buckets,” were a Happy Meal staple of the spooky season for several years before they “vanished for a while.” Following a prolonged absence however, three iconic, throwback buckets returned for 2022 on Oct. 18.

Meanwhile, Burger King is getting in the competition and has revealed a Halloween bucket of its own.

Burger King confirmed to TODAY.com that it will be debuting a Halloween bucket for a limited time in select markets. According to officials, the Burger King Buckets are set to hit stores in Nashville, Las Vegas, Charlotte and Atlanta on Oct. 13.

After months upon months of silence, McDonald’s finally revealed that four different “Boo Buckets” — a monster, a skeleton, a mummy and a vampire — will be part of McDonald’s Happy Meals for 2023

“Let’s be honest… spooky szn isn’t official until Boo Buckets are back at McDonald’s,” a statement from the Chicago-based fast-food chain said. “Starting Oct. 17, fans can get in the Halloween spirit at participating McDonald’s restaurants nationwide with four new Halloween Happy Meal® designs, including: Monster, Skeleton, Mummy and Vampire.”

The buckets come in four different colors: orange, white, purple and green. According to officials, the purple vampire Boo Bucket is “launching for the first time since the OG purple Boo Bucket.”

First introduced in 1986, the trick-or-treat pails, known as “Boo Buckets,” were a Happy Meal staple of the spooky season for several years before they “vanished for a while.” Following a prolonged absence however, three iconic, throwback buckets returned for 2022 on Oct. 18.

According to officials, Boo Buckets will be available for 2023 “while supplies last.”

Meanwhile, Burger King is getting in the competition and has revealed a Halloween bucket of its own.

Burger King confirmed to TODAY.com that it will be debuting a Halloween bucket for a limited time in select markets. According to officials, the Burger King Buckets are set to hit stores in Nashville, Las Vegas, Charlotte and Atlanta on Oct. 13.

After months upon months of silence, McDonald’s last week finally revealed that four different “Boo Buckets” — a monster, a skeleton, a mummy and a vampire — will be part of McDonald’s Happy Meals for 2023

“Let’s be honest… spooky szn isn’t official until Boo Buckets are back at McDonald’s,” a statement from the Chicago-based fast-food chain said. “Starting Oct. 17, fans can get in the Halloween spirit at participating McDonald’s restaurants nationwide with four new Halloween Happy Meal® designs, including: Monster, Skeleton, Mummy and Vampire.”

The buckets come in four different colors: orange, white, purple and green. According to officials, the purple vampire Boo Bucket is “launching for the first time since the OG purple Boo Bucket.”

First introduced in 1986, the trick-or-treat pails, known as “Boo Buckets,” were a Happy Meal staple of the spooky season for several years before they “vanished for a while.” Following a prolonged absence however, three iconic, throwback buckets returned for 2022 on Oct. 18.

According to officials, Boo Buckets will be available for 2023 “while supplies last.”

Meanwhile, Burger King is getting in the competition and has revealed a Halloween bucket of its own.

Burger King confirmed to TODAY.com that it will be debuting a Halloween bucket for a limited time in select markets. According to officials, the Burger King Buckets are set to hit stores in Nashville, Las Vegas, Charlotte and Atlanta on Oct. 13.

On Oct. 11, McDonald’s announced a project based on a surprising statistic: 1 in 8 Americans have worked at a McDonald’s restaurant. McDonald’s confirmed to TODAY.com that it surveyed a representative sample of American adults and found that 1 in 8 (just over, actually, at 13.7%) reported that they currently or formerly worked at a McDonald’s restaurant.

According to the U.S. Census, the population in 2022 was more than 333,287,000 people, meaning that walking among us are more than 41,000,000 current or past McDonald’s employees.

From astronauts like Katya Echazarreta to teachers, executives to small business owners, millions upon millions of folks got their start at the Golden Arches — including at least award-winning playwright.

In 2017, Tony, Emmy and Grammy-award winning Broadway composer Lin-Manuel Miranda tweeted about his inspiration for one of his many catchy tunes on the Great White Way: the song “Delivery” from “Working” is based on his days working delivery for McDonald’s. 

Whether they continued their career within the Golden Arches or left the company for other venues, McDonald’s is celebrating both former and current crew members who make up that expansive and diverse community with the launch of its new “1 in 8” initiative.  

McDonald’s says that members of the 1 in 8 — which means anyone who has ever worked for the company in its history — will have access to special programming, opportunities to attend exclusive events, mentorships with notable alumni who’ve gone on to make an impact in their respective fields, reunions with former team members and more.  

“For 1 in 8 Americans, the McDonald’s restaurant experience offers critical life skills and creates opportunities for meaningful work and connections,” said Tiffanie Boyd, senior vice president & chief people officer at McDonald’s in a press release. “Formally bringing this group together will give past and present crew members alike the chance to continue growing, building their networks and celebrating the special community they represent.”     

On Oct. 11. McDonald’s also honored the 1 in 8 with its first-ever Homecoming celebration in New York City. The event kicked off with a performance by the Brooklyn United marching band before welcoming a star-studded slate of former and current employees who shared their own personal stories and career advice. 

This panel included Peloton’s Cody Rigsby, TV host, actress and entrepreneur Alejandra Espinoza, creative entrepreneur Kendall Hurns, McDonald’s franchise owner Paul Hendel, who started as a crew member when he was 16 years old and now owns 31 restaurants and a Michelin-star chef.

Last on the list is Harold Villarosa, who hilariously recounted that his first job at McDonald’s was a directive from his mother when he asked for sneakers at 15-years-old. (And yes, he did eventually buy them himself.)

Rigsby said his job at McDonald’s was a lifetime for his family.

“I grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina, and me and my mom experienced homelessness many times in our lives,” Rigsby said during the event to an audience filled with current and former employees of McDonald’s. He added that he was a 12-year-old the first time he and his mom faced homelessness together.

“As we got into more permanent homes, we were without a car. So on my 16th birthday, I went to the McDonald’s on Highpoint Road in Greensboro, North Carolina, and I put in my application and I got a job spot on that day,” Rigsby said.

At the event, Rigsby details that for six months, he saved as much money as he could so he could buy his first car, adding that the job taught him punctuality, compassion and kindness while he saved up.

“For most 16-year-olds that’s something they’re just super proud of because they’re buying their first car but that was a lifeline for me and my family,” Rigsby said, acknowledging his mom as a single parent who didn’t have transportation to work herself. “Some people might look at a job at McDonald’s as just a job, but that was a literal lifeline for me and my family so I’m always grateful for that first opportunity.”

At the event, Espinoza describes her 1 in 8 experience. Born in Mexico, she was 16 when her family moved to the San Diego area.  

“I think we have a lot in common. We all didn’t have a lot of money so we needed to get a job in order to pay the bills,” Espinoza said to the crowd. “I remember the first thing I did was I gave my mom $200 with my first check … one of the most amazing things that I could have felt at that moment to know that I was able to help my family with something.”

At the event, Robotic Minds Concept’s designer and 1 in 8 member Kendall Hurns debuted his collaboration with McDonald’s, a limited-edition 1 in 8 letterman jacket. To get their own, eligible folks can visit McDonald’s 1 in 8 website to snag a jacket while supplies last starting Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. ET.  

McDonald’s notes that while many members of the 1 in 8 use the skills learned at McDonald’s to succeed in different fields, others apply them to grow within the company as franchisees, management or corporate positions, including Myra Doria, U.S. national field president at McDonald’s, who has been with the company for almost four decades.

“Reflecting back on my beginnings as a McDonald’s restaurant employee 38 years ago, I’m proud to be a part of an organization that roots for and supports its people,” she said. “It’s special to have experienced first-hand the doors that the Golden Arches can open for a person.” 

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After months upon months of silence, McDonald’s on Friday finally revealed that four different “Boo Buckets” — a monster, a skeleton, a mummy and a vampire — will be part of McDonald’s Happy Meals this fall.

While the rollout hasn’t happened quite yet, you won’t have to wait too long.

“Let’s be honest… spooky szn isn’t official until Boo Buckets are back at McDonald’s,” a statement from the Chicago-based fast-food chain said. “Starting Oct. 17, fans can get in the Halloween spirit at participating McDonald’s restaurants nationwide with four new Halloween Happy Meal® designs, including: Monster, Skeleton, Mummy and Vampire.”

The buckets come in four different colors: orange, white, purple and green. According to officials, the purple vampire Boo Bucket is “launching for the first time since the OG purple Boo Bucket.”

First introduced in 1986, the trick-or-treat pails, known as “Boo Buckets,” were a Happy Meal staple of the spooky season for several years before they “vanished for a while.” Following a prolonged absence however, three iconic, throwback buckets returned for 2022 on Oct. 18.

According to officials, Boo Buckets will be available for 2023 “while supplies last.”

Meanwhile, Burger King is getting in the competition and has revealed a Halloween bucket of its own.

Burger King confirmed to TODAY.com that it will be debuting a Halloween bucket for a limited time in select markets. According to officials, the Burger King Buckets are set to hit stores in Nashville, Las Vegas, Charlotte and Atlanta on Oct. 13.

After months of mums the word, McDonald’s on Friday finally confirmed that beginning Oct.17, four different “Boo Buckets” — a monster, a skeleton, a mummy and a vampire — will be part of McDonald’s Happy Meals.

“Let’s be honest… spooky szn isn’t official until Boo Buckets are back at McDonald’s,” a statement from the Chicago-based fast-food chain said. “Starting Oct. 17, fans can get in the Halloween spirit at participating McDonald’s restaurants nationwide with four new Halloween Happy Meal® designs, including: Monster, Skeleton, Mummy and Vampire.”

The buckets come in orange, white, purple and green. According to officials, the purple vampire Boo Bucket is “launching for the first time since the OG purple Boo Bucket.”

First introduced in 1986, the trick-or-treat pails, known as “Boo Buckets,” were a Happy Meal staple of the spooky season for several years before they “vanished for a while.” Following a prolonged absence however, three iconic, throwback buckets returned for 2022 on Oct. 18.

Meanwhile, Burger King has revealed a Halloween bucket of its own.

Earlier this week, Burger King confirmed to TODAY.com that it will be debuting a Halloween bucket for a limited time in select markets. According to officials, the Burger King Buckets are set to hit stores in Nashville, Las Vegas, Charlotte and Atlanta on Oct. 13.

According to officials, Boo Buckets will be available for 2023 “while supplies last.”

Costumes, pumpkins, decorations, trick-or-treating: It’s all part of the joy and nostalgia of Halloween.

But there’s something else, too, that may spark some holiday memories: McDonald’s Boo Buckets.

First introduced in 1986, the trick-or-treat pails, known as “Boo Buckets,” were a Happy Meal staple of the spooky season for several years before they “vanished for a while.” 

Following a prolonged absence however, three iconic, throwback buckets returned for 2022 on Oct. 18.

But will they make a comeback this year?

Many fast food blogs and TikTok accounts say yes.

According to one article, McDonald’s Halloween Boo Buckets are “rumored to return Oct. 17.” Another says as much, adding that a fourth bucket this year is expected to be introduced.

McDonald’s however, is staying mum. The Chicago-based company has not shared any information on when — or if — Boo Buckets will return.

Meanwhile, Burger King has revealed a Halloween bucket of its own.

Earlier this week, Burger King confirmed to TODAY.com that it will be debuting a Halloween bucket for a limited time in select markets. According to officials, the Burger King Buckets are set to hit stores in Nashville, Las Vegas, Charlotte and Atlanta on Oct. 13.

For now, we wait. This story will be updated once we learn more about the boo crew.

Despite McDonald’s best efforts to convince us that November 2022 was its “Farewell Tour,” we knew it would come back. It always does.

McDonald’s confirmed to TODAY.com that its polarizing boneless pork sandwich, the McRib, is due to return to select restaurants in November. That’s right — just like ‘N Sync, this pop culture icon of yesteryear is back.

Rumors of its return began bubbling up on Sept. 26 when popular snack-spotting social media account Snackolator posted about it:

“Woah! Last fall the McRib went on a ‘Farewell Tour,’ but it’s coming back this November!” reads the post. “I’m still confused how a Farewell Tour can be just a year, but I don’t think fans are going to care all that much.”

In the comments section, many folks validated that hypothesis.

“Best news I’ve heard all day!” commented one Instagram user.

“Like Cher it’s back!!!! Thank the snack gods,” commented another user, referring to Cher’s habit of putting on farewell tours every few years.

The McRib, with its seasoned boneless pork dipped in Tangy BBQ Sauce and topped with chopped onions and pickles, is a favorite for some, including TODAY’s own Al Roker, who even developed his own copycat version for those who crave the elusive sandwich outside of November.

“It turns out not everyone was ready to say goodbye to the McRib after last year’s Farewell Tour,” a McDonald’s USA spokesperson tells TODAY.com. “While it won’t be available nationwide, some lucky fans may find their favorite elusive saucy sandwich at their local McDonald’s restaurants this November.”

But, like we said, no one is surprised it’s coming back. Ever since its debut in 1981, it’s been a limited-time item we can always count on to return. It’s McDonald’s pumpkin spice latte. (Sorry, Al — we know you’d hate that comparison).

McDonald’s didn’t specify when it would depart from menus again, but last year it was gone by Nov. 20.

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Next month, two new sauce flavors will hit McDonald’s menus nationwide, a spokesperson said: McDonald’s Sweet & Spicy Jam Sauce and McDonald’s Mambo Sauce.

Officials describe the Sweet & Spicy Jam sauce as a “Jammy red pepper sauce with a tongue-numbing Szechuan peppercorn kick,” with extra heat from cayenne pepper. It’s best served alongside McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, Hash Browns, Chicken McNuggets, McCrispy or French fries, a release said.

According to the release, the Sweet & Spicy Jam sauce is the company’s first-ever breakfast-inspired dipping sauce to hit McDonald’s restaurants in the U.S.

The Mambo sauce, the release said, is a tomato-based, sweet, spicy and vinegary sauce, meant to pair with the Quarter Pounder, Hash Browns, Chicken McNuggets, McCrispy or McDonald’s fries.

The sauce was inspired a Mambo sauce staple in the regional Washington D.C. area, the release added.

“We get inspiration for the food our fans love by exploring the incredible tastes and flavors found in communities across the country,” Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at McDonald’s USA Tariq Hassan said. “Sweet & Spicy Jam and Mambo Sauce live at the intersection of flavor and culture – pulling from decades of rich food history and tradition in local restaurants and home kitchens, and bringing the delicious spice, sweetness and kick of heat we know today’s customers are craving.”

The sauces will hit McDonald’s menus for a limited time beginning Oct. 9, the release said.

McDonald’s recently brought back Spicy Chicken McNuggets to menus, and debuted Pokémon Happy Meals last month.

McDonald’s confirmed to TODAY.com that it brought back a beloved menu item in select McDonald’s locations across the country: Spicy Chicken McNuggets.

The menu item, which was first introduced in 2020 as McDonald’s first new McNugget product launch since the original in 1983, was so popular that it quickly sold out in several locations. The chain then listened to pleas on social media for the piquant poultry product’s return and brought them back in February 2021. Now, two years later, they’re back, back, back again.

One of its biggest competitors, Wendy’s launched its Spicy Chicken Nuggets in 2010, then took them off its menu in 2017 (which prompted Burger King to launch its own version for a limited time), and finally brought them back for good in 2019.

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When McDonald’s launched its spicy nuggets in 2020, Wendy’s couldn’t pass up the opportunity to mock its rival.

“Must have scraped up all of BKs leftovers and slapped mcprice tag on it,” Wendy’s tweeted at the time.

But, all joking aside, McDonald’s says its Spicy Chicken McNuggets are breaded with the chain’s tempura coating, this time including both cayenne and chili peppers in the mix for a distinctive kick. The fan-favorite menu item comes as a meal or on its own in quantities of six, 10, 20 or as much as 40 nugs for particularly hungry, heat-seeking customers.

The Spicy Chicken McNuggets are currently available on menus in participating local markets for a limited time while supplies last, including in Seattle, Portland, Denver, New York City and more.

Early reaction on social media to the item’s return has been caps-lock-heavy excitement.

“THE SPICY NUGGETS ARE BACKKKK mcdonalds run rn,” tweeted one fan..

“GUYS MCDONALDS HAS THEIR SPICY NUGGETS AGAIN,” tweeted another.

“Shoutout 2 mcdonalds 4 adding back the spicy nuggets I’ve eaten 18 of em today,” tweeted one user, before correcting themselves, saying, “Wait holdon ive have 2 20 piece ones so ive actualy had 38 😂.” (We appreciate the transparency.)

So there really are people in the market for a 40-nugget meal, after all — this much is clear.

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According to court documents obtained by NBC News, the woman, Mable Childress, filed her lawsuit to the San Francisco Superior Court on Sept. 14. The legal action claims that the employees of a San Francisco location breached their “duty of care” after failing to secure a coffee cup lip that she purchased from a drive-thru.

Childress alleges that the incident caused her to suffer severe burns, scarring, emotional distress, as well as hospital and medical expenses.

Peter Ou, the owner and operator of the San Francisco franchise in question, responded to TODAY.com’s request for comment via email.

“My restaurants have strict food safety protocols in place, including training crew to ensure lids on hot beverages are secure,” his statement reads. “We take every customer complaint seriously — and when Ms. Childress reported her experience to us later that day, our employees and management team spoke to her within a few minutes and offered assistance. We’re reviewing this new legal claim in detail.” 

According to Childress’ lawsuit, the incident occurred earlier this year on June 13 at 1100 Fillmore Street in San Francisco. The lawsuit claims that the coffee cup lid opened when Childress attempted to drink from the cup and that “scalding coffee poured out of the cup,” causing severe burns and scars to her groin.

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Childress says in her lawsuit that she attempted to report the incident to three employees at the McDonald’s location, including managers. The lawsuit claims that all three “ignored” and “refused to help her” until she ultimately left to seek treatment for her injuries.

Childress’ attorney did not immediately respond to TODAY.com’s request for comment. In a statement to local outlet SFGate, her lawyer, Dylan Hackett, said the coffee cup had not been “properly” covered and the coffee itself was “scalding.”

“She’s an elderly lady, and she was waiting for over an hour to speak to a manager, and a manager never spoke to her,” Hackett told SFGate. “They didn’t give her the time of day. … Nobody helped her whatsoever. She had to get to the hospital herself.”

Childress’ court filing lists the action as an unlimited civil case that could exceed $25,000.

What is the most famous McDonald’s coffee lawsuit?

This is not the first time McDonald’s has been sued over coffee. Stella Liebeck v. McDonald’s is one of the most famous McDonald’s lawsuits.

According to NBC News, in 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck sustained third-degree burns when a hot coffee from a New Mexico-based McDonald’s spilled onto her lap. She was severely burned on her groin and legs and spent more than a week in the hospital. Liebeck initially requested $20,000 from McDonald’s for her hospital expenses. When McDonald’s refused, the case went to trial and a jury awarded her $2.7 million in punitive damages.

The American Museum of Tort Law notes that the jury found that McDonald’s coffee was served nearly 40 degrees hotter than coffee served by other restaurants at the time.

Ultimately, a judge reduced Liebeck’s $2.7 million award to $480,000 and then the two parties later settled for a confidential amount. 

Did McDonald’s get sued over a hot chicken nugget?

In July, the Florida family of a 4-year-old girl was awarded $800,000 in a lawsuit after she allegedly sustained severe burns from a hot Chicken McNugget at a McDonald’s franchise.

The 4-year-old Olivia Caraballo’s parents — Philana Holmes and Humberto Caraballo Estevez —sued McDonald’s and the franchise owner, Upchurch Food. The family alleged that Olivia sustained second-degree burns to her leg after an “unreasonably and dangerously” nugget got stuck in her car seat.

McDonald’s and Upchurch denied being responsible for the burns.

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The company announced Monday that it is rolling out new “Match Battle” toys for the iconic TV and video game franchise, with Pokémon-themed Happy Meals available at participating locations.

According to the company’s website, each Happy Meal toy comes with a special-edition Pokémon coin, along with a sticker sheet and four trading cards.

A total of 10 different coins are available, with numerous card options available in packs when purchasing a Happy Meal.

The cards and coins can be used to stage “Match Battles,” with players competing based on different statistics on each of the cards found in Happy Meals, according to the company.

Pokémon-themed coloring and activity sheets will also be available at select locations, as will Pikachu-inspired Happy Meal boxes.

More information can be found on the company’s website.

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On Sept. 14, McDonald’s announced that it is celebrating National Cheeseburger Day on Sept. 18 by selling its Double Cheeseburger at less than half its usual price: 50 cents, to be precise.

“For one day only, fans can snag a Double Cheeseburger for only $0.50 from any participating location nationwide when they order exclusively through the McDonald’s App,” a McDonald’s spokesperson tells TODAY.com.

The offer is limited to one per customer at participating McDonald’s and app registration is required. However, no purchase is necessary to secure the discounted burger.

McDonald’s is coming into the autumn season after having a very active and extremely purple summer season, welcoming its viral phenom the berry-flavored Grimace Birthday Shake in June in honor of the iconic McDonaldland character.

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Then, in July, the chain ended the McCafe Bakery, taking away three menu items, to fans’ dismay, but then, to turn things around, it added a brand-new McFlurry to its dessert lineup — the Peanut Butter Crunch McFlurry — to rave reviews.

Things were pretty quiet for the home of the Hamburglar until news broke earlier this week that the chain will be phasing out self-serve soda fountain stations by 2032, meaning that you’ll have to ask a McDonald’s worker to get your spicy Sprite in the future. But now, with the Double Cheeseburger deal available on the McDonald’s app, we’re back to positively beefy news.

McDonald’s isn’t the only burger chain offering a National Cheeseburger Day deal. Wendy’s, not to be outdone by another ginger-mopped fast-food mascot, is giving Ronald McDonald a run for his money by offering Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers for 1 cent in honor of the holiday, from Sept. 18 to 22.

Which means that you can really load up on burger goodness at more than one chain and ring the holiday in style.

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The Chicago-based fast-food chain will be transitioning away from self-serve soda and beverage stations in dining rooms across the country, a spokesperson for the restaurant told NBC Chicago.

Instead, beverage stations will be “crew managed” — which means customers will no longer be handed by employees a cup to fill up themselves.

The change, the spokesperson said, is meant to create a more consistent experience across all ordering points — including McDonald’s delivery, drive-thru, app or in-restaurant. It’s expected to roll out over the next 10 years, as new restaurants are being built or as existing ones scheduled for remodeling.

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By 2032, all self-serve beverage stations are expected to be phased out, the spokesperson added.

The news was first reported on Sept. 8 by the State Journal-Register, who spoke to Illinois-area franchise holders about the new strategy.

The removal of self-serve beverage machines is the latest among a slew of changes McDonald’s has seen this past year. Earlier this summer, the chain removed three bakery menu items as part of a “phase out.” In the spring, the restaurant said it would make tweaks to the way its burger buns, patties and cheese are cooked.

Later this year, Squishmallows are set to come to Happy Meals.

McDonald’s USA has confirmed to TODAY.com that it will be phasing out what has become a signature part of the McDonald’s experience: self-serve beverage stations. This means no longer will customers be handed an empty cup by an employee then add ice and their beverage of choice away from the point of sale.

McDonald’s says it will be transitioning away from self-serve beverage stations in dining rooms across the U.S. by the year 2032. The chain says the change is intended to create a consistent experience for both McDonald’s workers and their customers at all ordering points — meaning that whether you order your Big Mac Meal via McDelivery, the app, kiosk, drive-thru or in-restaurant, you’ll get your grub the same exact way.

The news was first reported on Sept. 8 by the State Journal-Register, who spoke to Illinois-area franchise holders about the new strategy.

While this means that McDonald’s won’t be fully transitioned to staff-poured sodas for nearly a decade, some of these locations, at least, have already begun to change the way sodas are served to customers.

“It’s an evolution towards convenience and (the result of) the growth of digital service,” Mikel Petro, an Illinois McDonald’s operator, told the State Journal-Register.

Other franchise owners interviewed by the newspaper mentioned theft prevention, food safety and fewer dine-in customers as contributing factors for getting rid of the stations.

“The crew pour system — which actually will use automated beverage systems to mechanically fill drink orders — minimizes human contact,” reported the State-Journal. “Crew pour also eliminates theft and emphasizes the brand’s new focus on creating a more relaxed dine-in experience complete with servers delivering meals to the table.”

Petro, who operates 15 McDonald’s throughout central Illinois with his family, said one of his locations in Lincoln has already started the transition by having staff fill initial beverage orders when customers dine-in, having these drinks delivered to tables along with each meal.

For now, customers who place takeout orders at this location’s counter still receive an empty cup to fill at the self-serve drink station. And customers can still get their own refills, but that will change by 2024, when a remodeling of the store’s front counter will move plumbing behind the counter, allowing the self-serve drink stations to be removed for good.

Other franchise owners say they’ve either started the transition already or are planning to implement them in the next year or so. One franchise owner stated that late 2024 would be the earliest any of her restaurants would fully become crew-poured-only.

Which means you still have some time to find the perfect ratio of Sprite to lemonade before you’ll have to ask someone else to do it.

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The fast food giant has given one of its Bay Ridge outposts a retro makeover as a promotional stunt for Marvel’s latest TV show.

From Aug. 20 until Sept. 1, customers who visit the location at 6620 Bay Parkway will be greeted by the McDonald’s of yesteryear. The burger restaurant has received a top-to-bottom makeover that makes it look like it did in 1982.

From the ferns that were once ubiquitous in McDonald’s restaurants to the vintage artwork on the walls featuring mascots including Grimace and Mayor McCheese, there’s no trace of the chain’s modern, minimalist current look.

McDonald’s historian Mike Bullington, who worked with Marvel to ensure that the chain’s appearance in season 2 of Marvel’s “Loki” was period-accurate, tells CNBC Make It that every detail of the revamped restaurant was considered.

“I don’t think there’s another restaurant that we have that has a skylight,” he says. “Even the wrought iron railing that’s separating the counter from the dining room. Those are little subtle touches that you’re not going to see in our restaurants today.”

Even the employees at the restaurant are wearing period-accurate uniforms, complete with paper hats.

It’s not the only marketing McDonald’s has participated in for the upcoming show.

Earlier this month, the chain debuted its “As Featured in” meal, which features products that have been “famously featured” in pop culture over the years.

The meal includes a choice of either 10-piece McNuggets, Big Mac or Quarter Pounder with Cheese, as well as a medium fries and a drink. It comes with a packet of the chain’s Sweet ‘N Sour sauce featuring the “Loki” logo on its packaging.

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Chick-fil-A is adding a new spin on its iconic chicken sandwich to menus for a limited time.

Starting Aug. 28, customers can buy the Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich at the chicken chain’s restaurants nationwide, while supplies last.

The new item uses the same breaded chicken filet as a typical Chick-fil-A sandwich but features a spread of pimento cheese and drizzle of honey on top. Pickled jalapenos replace the pickles usually used in the sandwich.

Chick-fil-A has released seasonal menu items, such as milkshake flavors, for more than a decade. But the limited release of the Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich shows how the chain is shifting its menu strategy as it expands nationwide. Unlike many other fast-food chains, Chick-fil-A has tried to keep its menu short and simple, making its kitchens and drive-thru lanes more efficient.

Even without an extensive menu, Chick-fil-A has grown to be the No. 3 restaurant chain by sales in the U.S., trailing only Starbucks and McDonald’s. Chick-fil-A’s revenue rose 11% to $6.37 billion in 2022, according to franchise disclosure documents. Founder S. Truett Cathy’s family still owns the Atlanta-based company.

The Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich was a project five years in the making, according to Stuart Tracy, Chick-fil-A’s principal culinary lead. Chick-fil-A tasked Tracy with creating a spin on its chicken sandwich, and his team came up with nearly 30 different flavor options after more than a year. The chain tested the Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich in 2020 in Asheville, North Carolina, and upstate South Carolina.

Tracy didn’t rule out Chick-fil-A permanently adding the menu item. After supply runs out, the chain will assess responses from customers and franchisees to decide if it’s worth bringing back.

Chick-fil-A is also adding a new seasonal milkshake to its fall menu: the Caramel Crumble Milkshake. The milkshake includes butterscotch caramel flavors and blondie crumbles. The chain tested the menu item in Salt Lake City in 2021.

TODAY.com can exclusively report that Wendy’s is now offering English Muffin Sandwiches in two varieties, taking on McDonald’s signature breakfast sandwich: the McMuffin.

“Light, fluffy and perfectly pillowy, the new morning additions are topped with a fresh-cracked egg, your choice of oven-baked Applewood Smoked bacon cooked daily (unlike the other guys…) or a savory grilled sausage patty and finished off with melted American cheese,” Wendy’s writes in a press release, shading the competition. The sandwiches also have a “one-of-a-kind savory buttery spread that marries a hint of brown butter sweetness with fresh black pepper.”

Wendy’s English Muffin Sandwiches will join the chain’s growing roster of breakfast offerings. These include, in part, popular sandwiches like the Maple Bacon Chicken Croissant, Breakfast Baconator, Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, Homestyle French Toast Sticks and the new-as-of-last-month Frosty Cream Cold Brew.

How to get Wendy’s new English Muffin Sandwiches

The new English Muffin Sandwiches will be available at Wendy’s restaurants nationwide beginning Aug. 22 during breakfast hours, which typically end at 10:30 a.m., depending on the location.

Customers can get $2 off the new menu item by redeeming the “$2 off any Breakfast Combo” offer in the app from Aug. 22 through Sept. 3. As a bonus, you can enjoy the item for just 450 Wendy’s Rewards points if you order through the app.

For the $2 deal, simply navigate to the “Offers” section in the Rewards Store on the Wendy’s app or website. You can either apply the deal to your order in-app or use the offer inside a Wendy’s restaurant by adding it to your digital rewards card before scanning at the counter or drive-thru.

Wendy’s is clearly stepping into McDonald’s breakfast territory

We’re all thinking it: This pair of sandwiches take direct aim at the most popular English muffin sandwich out there: McDonald’s McMuffin. To understand why Wendy’s is going from square-shaped beef patties to square-shaped sausage patties, we asked the source.

“Overall, we know that English muffins are a big part of everybody’s breakfast, and we knew that we could create an English muffin sandwich that was better than anybody else’s,” Carl Loredo, global chief marketing officer at Wendy’s, tells TODAY.com. “That’s the inspiration for the entire breakfast menu — the breakfast offerings that’ve been out there for the last 30 years are tired and boring and, candidly, we just knew at Wendy’s, we could do better.”

John Li, global vice president of culinary innovation for Wendy’s also said in a press release that these new breakfast sandwiches took a year and a half to develop.

“We tested 60 variations of our English Muffin Sandwiches before we landed on these light and fluffy English Muffins made with a touch of honey and topped with a savory buttery spread, fresh cracked eggs and delicious bacon or sausage for the perfect harmony of breakfast flavors,” said Li.

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In a now-viral video, Marissa Phiffer, who is mom of 3-year-old twins, Aiden and Aleiya, shares a story about a family nap that took a scary turn.

“I was sleeping on the floor right next to their cribs,” Phiffer, 23, tells TODAY.com. What could go wrong? Turns out, a lot. When Phiffer woke up, Aiden was gone — and so were his shoes.

“He was not in the house. He was not in the basement. He was not in the front yard or the backyard,” Phiffer says in her TikTok clip. At this point she was starting to panic. Where could Aiden be?

With shaking hands, Phiffer dialed 911 to report a missing child.

“I really started to get nervous when he wasn’t in our neighbor’s yard. I thought that’s where I’d find him. They have a bunch of rocks and he likes to line them up and play with them,” Phiffer shares.

Phiffer says the police arrived in “two seconds,” and showed her a photograph. She exhaled. It was Aiden and he was safe and sound at a McDonald’s across the street from their Wisconsin home. 

According to Phiffer, a Good Samaritan alerted authorities to a child, who was wandering by himself. Though the restaurant is only 0.4 miles from Phiffer’s residence, she drove there with Aiden’s sister.

“We run in, and he goes, ‘Hi, Mom!’”

Phiffer was too relieved to be angry.  

When Phiffer asked Aiden why he did it, she says the little boy replied, “I was hungry.”

“I almost bought him a Happy Meal, but I was embarrassed,” she says. “I just wanted to get out of there.”

Aiden is a big fan of McDonald’s, and will wake up from a deep slumber when his mom pulls up to a drive-thru window. He can just sense where they are.

“Fries, nuggets and apple slices — he’d eat that every day,” she says. “But that was actually his first time going to the PlayLand there.”

Phiffer has since installed child proof safety locks and latches on the doors so that it won’t happen again. 

Meanwhile, comments continue to pour in on Phiffer’s video. And it turns out she’s in good company.

“Happened to me with my oldest. Now I just don’t sleep lol,” one person wrote.

Added another,”My son found a penny and walk to the store when he was 2 yrs old scared the hell out of me too lol.”

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On his new app, Threads, the billionaire revealed that he eats 4,000 calories a day when he responded to a post from McDonald’s that asked, “Y’all want anything from McDonald’s.”

Zuckerberg, who stays active by competing in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and won his first competition in May, replied, “20 nuggets, a quarter pounder, large fries, Oreo McFlurry, apple pie, and maybe some side cheeseburgers for later?”

Zuckerberg’s comment on his diet received hundreds of responses, including one from UFC Fighter Mike Davis who wrote, “You’re in camp! No Mcdonalds 😂.”

However, the Facebook founder seemed adamant that he needed everything on the list.

He replied, “Not cutting weight so I need ~4000 calories a day to offset all the activity. And it’s so delicious…”

In late July, Zuckerberg shared that he has been awarded a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu by his coach Dave Camarillo. In a Instagram post, in which he congratulated Camarillo on receiving his 5th-degree black belt, the Meta CEO shared some of his journey.

“You’re a great coach and I’ve learned so much about fighting and life from training with you,” he wrote. “Also honored to be promoted to compete at blue belt for @guerrillajjsanjose team.”

Earlier in July, Zuckerberg launched his new social media platform, Threads, that’s expected to rival X (formerly known as Twitter) that billionaire Elon Musk recently took over.

“Threads is where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what’ll be trending tomorrow,” a description for the app read in Apple’s app store. “Whatever it is you’re interested in, you can follow and connect directly with your favorite creators and others who love the same things — or build a loyal following of your own to share your ideas, opinions and creativity with the world.”

When the app debuted, Zuckerberg took to his official Threads account to announce that 10 million users had already signed up for the platform within the first seven hours of it going live.

Less than a week later, Threads already had 100 million users.

When asked whether or not, Threads could compete with Twitter, Joanna Stern, a CNBC tech contributor who appeared on TODAY July 5, said it possibly can since the app has Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, backing it.

“There have been other competitors that have popped up to try to take on Twitter since Elon Musk’s acquisition, and they’ve struggled, they’ve struggled with the mainstream popularity,” she said. “Meta is the biggest social media company in the world. They can take this to their users, their existing user base and leverage that.”

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CLB Investments LLC in Metairie employed 72 workers who are 14 and 15 years old — allowing them to work longer and later than federal law permits at 12 restaurants in New Orleans, Kenner, Jefferson and Metairie, the department said.

Investigators with the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division also determined the employer allowed three children to operate manual deep fryers, which is prohibited for employees under age 16.

The franchise received a $56,106 civil penalty for the violations, according to the news release.

New Orleans Owner/Operator Chris Bardell said he’s committed to the safety of his people. “Since learning of these violations, I’ve introduced mandatory child labor law trainings for my restaurant managers and conducted regular audits to ensure we’re in compliance with labor regulations,” Bardell said in a statement.

The division also found similar violations at four McDonald’s locations operated in Texas by Marwen & Son LLC in Cedar Park, Georgetown and Leander.

Investigators found that in Texas, the company employed 10 minors, 14- to 15-years-old, to work hours longer shifts than is permitted by law. They also learned the employer allowed seven children to operate a manual fryer and oven, and two of the seven to also operate a trash compactor. Marwen & Son was assessed $21,466 in civil penalties for its violations.

“Employers must never jeopardize the safety and well-being of young workers or interfere with their education,” explained Wage and Hour Division Regional Administrator Betty Campbell in Dallas. “While learning new skills in the workforce is an important part of growing up, an employer’s first obligation is to make sure minor-aged children are protected from potential workplace hazards.”

These findings follow a May announcement of federal investigations that found three McDonald’s franchise operators violating child labor laws, involving more than 300 children, some as young as 10, at 62 locations in four states.

“We take this issue seriously and are committed to ensuring our franchisees have the resources they need to maintain compliance with all U.S. labor laws,” Tiffanie Boyd, Chief People Officer, McDonald’s USA, said in a statement.

A jury in May delivered a split verdict in the suit, finding fault with McDonald’s and the franchise owner for the burns then 4-year-old Olivia Caraballo suffered when she went to the Tamarac fast food restaurant back in 2019.

After hearing closing arguments Wednesday, a jury deliberated for just two hours over how much money the family should receive for the child’s pain and suffering, and quickly reached the $800,000 amount.

Philana Holmes and Humberto Caraballo Estevez, the parents of Olivia Caraballo, sued the McDonald’s Corporation and the franchisee Upchurch Foods, Incorporated, also known as Upchurch Management, claiming the girl suffered second-degree burns from the “unreasonably and dangerously” hot nuggets in her “Happy Meal.”

One nugget got stuck in her car seat and burned the child’s leg, the suit said.

“I’m actually just happy they listened to Olivia’s voice and she, the jury was able to decide a fair judgement, I’m happy with that,” Holmes said Wednesday.

The family had been asking for $15 million, but their attorneys called the outcome “fair and just.”

“This momentous decision brings meaningful closure to an arduous and protracted legal process,” the attorneys said in a statement. “Having previously established the defendants, Upchurch Foods Inc and McDonald’s USA LLC, as liable for their wrongful actions, this verdict reaffirms that they must now face the consequences and provide full justice. Despite years of denying any fault and, during this trial, attempting to undermine the extent of Olivia’s suffering in the eyes of the community, their efforts have been superseded by the jury’s determination.”

Both McDonald’s and Upchurch argued during the trial they were not at fault, but the Broward jury found McDonald’s and Upchurch failed to put warnings on the food and that led to the child’s injury. But McDonald’s was found not negligent for causing the burns.

NBC6 requested a statement from McDonald’s and the franchise owner in response to the verdict, but have not received one.

Both the company and franchise owner said in a previous statement that customers should be confident that the McNuggets are served safely.

According to a spokesperson for the Chicago-based fast-food chain, the McCafé Bakery line-up is in the process of being “phased out.”

“We’re always listening to our fans and adjusting our menu based on what they crave,” an emailed statement to NBC Chicago from McDonald’s USA read Friday. “Starting this month, we’ll be phasing out our McCafé Bakery line-up, including the Apple Fritter, Blueberry Muffin and Cinnamon Roll.”

The statement goes on to say that these changes will not impact McDonald’s “iconic” Chocolate Chip Cookies, Baked Apple Pies, or frozen desserts like shakes, sundaes and McFlurries, which will remain available at restaurants nationwide.

McDonald’s did not provide an exact date for when the trio of baked goods would be leaving menus. However, a report from TODAY.com indicated the items could leave as early as July 15.

McDonald’s added the Apple Fritter, Blueberry Menu and Cinnamon Roll to the McCafé lineup in the fall of 2020, TODAY.com says, after a taste test in several markets was “overwhelmingly positive.”

And while the plump breakfast pastries are leaving, some new squishy items are set to arrive on menus later this year, when McDonald’s Happy Meals will be accompanied by Squishmallow toys.