AT McDonald’s HQ chefs have been working on a top secret new menu item – and it’s much posher than I’d expected.
The new Crispy McFillet, revealed today, is an entirely new chicken burger featuring crunchy chicken, a sourdough-style bun and truffle flavoured mayo.
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McDonald’s is famous for its low prices and tasty but often basic fast food… so I was surprised to hear it was made using fancy ingredients.
I got a bite of Maccies posh new crispy chicken burger at its test kitchen yesterday, today it has been added to the menu at just 50 locations.
The Crispy McFillet is a step up from fast food chain’s other chicken burgers, like the McChicken Sandwich – or from rivals like KFC.
I usually get a bacon double cheese burger from McDonald’s rather than one if its chicken burgers.
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But I often get a KFC and go for the Zinger Burger, so I was keen to see how it stacked up to my usual chicken of choice.
The Crispy McFillet, which costs £4.19 on its own, or £5.59 as part of a medium-sized meal with fries and a drink, arrived in a bright yellow box.
When I first set eyes on the bun, it reminded me of a pretzel, with an appealing golden brown and pillowy looking top.
Taking my first bite there was instant crunch – it certainly lives up to its name.
I was actually worried that a crispy chicken fillet might be too hard.
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I didn’t want to crack a tooth chowing down – or have to bite so hard that sauce squirts everywhere as I hate getting messy when eating.
But it was just the right balance of texture. There was a light but satisfying crunch on top, before gently breaking through to the juicy fillet inside.
There’s also a surprise kick.
This isn’t a spicy burger, like the Homestyle Crispy Chicken with its hot and spicy mayo, or KFCs Zinger.
There’s a warmth to the crispy coating, which I’m told comes from a mix of cayenne and black peppers.
Posh sauce
My favourite part of the Crispy McFillet though was the sauce – this was no ordinary mayo, which really, I can take or leave in a burger (I much prefer ketchup).
Posh truffle flavour has been sprinkled into this burger staple to add a fancy touch.
I’ve had truffle oil before, drizzled over chips, and sometimes the rich taste can be far too overpowering.
The Maccies chefs have got it just right though, and with the ingredient on the pricey side, you’d hardly expect too much in a burger that costs less than a fiver.
The rich earthy touch of truffle compliments the sourdough-style bun, which is far less sweet and a bit firmer than the usual bread one you’d find on a Chicken McSandwich or Big Mac.
There’s no tomato, cheese or other extras, like you got with the full-on chicken Big Mac, just fresh Iceberg lettuce.
If you’re a fan of these extras and think the more toppings the better, this might not be the burger for you.
It may sound simple, and look like any other chicken burger, but between the sourdough bun and the truffle mayo, the posh extras make the Chicken McFillet a step above others from Maccies or KFC.
The verdict
I think the Crispy McFillet is better than the KFC Zinger burger I usually get.
I really liked the sourdough-style bread of the bun, compared to the standard pale sesame buns at KFC, which can be on the dry side and break apart.
The new Maccies bun was more savoury and solid, keeping the rest of the ingredients firmly in place.
The chicken itself had just the right crunch factor – but I think others who like theirs super crispy might disagree.
Of course, the Zinger burger is know for its spicy sauce and there’s none of that here.
If that’s your main reason for getting one, then you might not prefer the new Maccies burger.
But it’s the truffle touch in the mayo of the Crispy McFillet which makes it stand out for me – a simple twist on a classic.
Price-wise Maccies also gives KFC’s Zinger burger a run for its money.
I always get a meal, and the Crispy McFillet is £5.59 with fries and a drink versus a Zinger meal with the same for £5.49, though this can depend on location and if you order in branch or for delivery.
If you happen to be near one of the branches where you can get your hands on the Crispy McFillet, I would definitely stop by to try it.
Not least because if the 14 week trial is a success it could be coming to menus nationwide later this year – and I really want to eat it again.
I would definitely switch my usual KFC order for the Crispy McFillet.
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