Why McDonald’s should fear cult US burger chain
A “vegan McDonald’s” has opened in Australia, but is it better than its fast food counterpart? The answer will surprise you.
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REVIEW
A new fast food restaurant has launched in Australia, set to amaze the vegan community and stun foodies.
If you’re a fan of meat-free fast food, you’ll be thrilled to hear that Mr Charlie’s has just opened in the Sydney suburb of Redfern.
Dubbed “the vegan McDonald’s”, the US burger chain has gained a cult following since it opened its doors in Los Angeles in 2022.
While not affiliated with the golden arches, social media users have praised Mr Charlie’s as “better” and “tastier than McDonald’s”.
Because I’m a burger connoisseur and news reporter, I decided to try “the vegan McDonald’s” and compare it to its fast food counterpart.
I ordered a Frowny meal (a playful parody of the McDonald’s Happy Meal) with “not a cheeseburger”, American fries, “not chicken nuggets” and a drink which cost $25.90.
At McDonald’s, I purchased a medium cheeseburger meal and a 6 pack of nuggets for $17.15. A huge price difference.
The “not a cheeseburger” consisted of a plant-based patty, vegan cheese, pickles, onion, ketchup and mustard.
One ingredient I wasn’t expecting to find was a hair in my food(!).
Despite my surprise discovery, the burger was great. It tasted like a real cheeseburger. As a meat eater, I couldn’t tell it was vegan.
The “not a cheeseburger” was bigger than the McDonald’s version. The bun tasted fresh and the patty was thicker. Perfectly nailed the taste and texture of a cheeseburger.
Unlike its vegan counterpart, the McDonald’s cheeseburger was very bland. The beef patty was thin and under seasoned.
Between the two burgers, I’d say Mr Charlies won this round.
The American fries looked like the McDonald’s version, but were a disappointment. They tasted like ordinary fries so there was nothing special that wowed me.
To my annoyance, the McDonald’s fries were underfilled. Despite the lesser quantity, it tasted better than Mr Charlie’s. It was crispy and had great flavour.
It’s safe to say that the golden arches has retained its title as “Australia’s favourite fries”.
The “not chicken nuggets” was the item that impressed me the most. Though it is made from soy, the nuggets tasted like chicken.
The chipotle aioli that came with the food was delicious. By far, best vegan nuggets I’ve ever tasted.
Compared to the McDonald’s counterpart, it was a tough call. While they both taste great, I have to say Mr Charlies won another round.
The verdict?
Choosing between these two restaurants in this fast food battle was a hard decision.
While paying over $25 for a meal deal was steep, I found that I got my money’s worth with Mr Charlie’s.
Overall, I would return to Mr Charlie’s. The food tasted great and I enjoyed the cheeky references to McDonald’s on the menu.
For vegans and non-vegans, Mr Charlie’s will satisfy your fast food cravings of plant-based and meat-free takeaway.
But if you’re expecting the food to taste exactly like McDonald’s, you might be disappointed.
Rating: Mr Charlie’s – 8.5/10
McDonald’s – 5/10
Originally published as Why McDonald’s should fear cult US burger chain
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