Does McDonald’s New Satay Burger Taste Like The Real Thing?
Though nothing has quite beat the excitement surrounding McDonald’s local food-themed nasi lemak burger back in 2017, we suppose their new Satay Beef and Chicken Burger ($7.95 a la carte) don’t sound bad. The burgers, launched to celebrate National Day this year, are available while stocks last.
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Not to be confused with the old Shiok Shiok Satay Burgers
If you think these burgers sound familiar, well, they kinda are. The chain had introduced Shiok Shiok Satay Burgers a decade ago. But the 2024 versions are different.
McDonald’s spokesperson tells 8days.sg: “the beef patties in the Satay Beef Burger are 4:1 cut (basically a quarter pounder), making them thicker and juicier than the patty used a decade ago”.
The sauce is also different: “McDonald's has adjusted the sweetness of the sauce down based on consumer testing, the sauce is now mildly spicy [instead],” he says.
And now for the biggest question: does the satay burger really taste like proper satay?
Satay sauce
First up, the sauce: it’s surprisingly good. The thick, fragrant gravy is sweet and nutty, with a tinge of spiciness and a pleasant mouthfeel from bits of crushed peanuts. Quite comparable to those you’d find at hawker stalls. The fresh cucumbers and onions - classic condiments with satay - pair well with the sauce, and add a refreshing crunch to the burger.
Beef vs chicken patty
The Satay Chicken Burger features a grilled chicken thigh fillet, while the Satay Beef Burger comes with a quarter pounder patty. Between the two, we definitely prefer the chicken one.
The chook is tender, juicy and a good vehicle for the punchy satay sauce. Our only grouse? The peanut sauce kinda overwhelms everything so we couldn’t tell if the meat was marinated with quintessential satay spices like lemongrass and turmeric. The beef patty, on the other hand, is slightly dry, and its stronger beefy flavour doesn’t complement the peanut sauce as well.
Verdict
Though nothing beats the real deal, McDonald’s chicken satay burger (skip the beef) is a pretty tasty cross between the skewered meat and a burger. Most of its flavour comes from the rich, nutty sauce instead of the chook, though. And don’t expect that smoky tinge you get from charcoal-grilled sticks. Fun to try once, we suppose.
Thai Milk Tea Frappé, $4.70
Also new: the Thai Milk Tea Frappé. This drink is more light than robust like typical cha yen. We’d save our calories for the burgers instead.
McDonald’s is also bringing back the limited-ed Ha Cheong Gai Burger (from $8.90 for an extra value meal) from 8 August, which they initially launched in 2018. Sides like criss-cut fries and coconut ice cream are also available now.
McDonald’s National Day collection is available while stocks last.
Photos: Gwyn Lim, McDonald’s
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