Brits defend vegan menu item as American tries UK McDonald's

As the biggest fast-food chain in the world, McDonald’s is a staple in the lives of millions of people around the globe but as an American food reviewer recently found out during a trip to the UK, different countries have their own unique menu items.

Kalani Smith, known online as Kalani Ghost Hunter, uses his TikTok channel for a unique combination of food reviews and ghost-hunting videos. In a recent post to his 2.9 million followers, Kalani visited a McDonald’s restaurant in the UK to try out some menu items not available in the US.

American tries new UK McDonald’s items

In the video, posted on March 18, Kalani gets late-night cravings for McDonald’s and heads to a nearby restaurant at 10:30pm.

Having already sampled some classic McDonald’s products in a previous video, this time the TikToker chooses a selection of seasonal and lesser-known menu items.

He orders a newly released Easter-themed Hot Cross Bun Pie – think a McDonald’s Apple Pie but with cinnamon pastry filled with a mix of spiced fruit and butter-flavour cream filling, a vegan McPlant burger, a McCrispy deluxe and halloumi fries.

Kalani tucks into his late-night McDonald’s in an unusual order, beginning with the Hot Cross Bun Pie.

“Whoo, that’ll wake you up,” he yells as he takes a bite of the red-hot pastry. “I need to get me a real hot cross bun, I’ve never had one but this tastes yummy. I’d give this like an eight out of ten.”

After trying out a McPlant burger, Kalani moves on to his halloumi fries, which are sticks of halloumi cheese coated in batter. “Pretty good,” he says. “It just tastes like a cheese stick, I mean that’s all it is. Seven out of ten.”

And finally, Kalani ends with the seasonal McCrispy Deluxe, which features chicken breast in a crispy battered coating, bacon, hot and spicy mayo, caramelized onion compote, lettuce, red onions, cheddar cheese and a sourdough style bun.

At the beginning of the video, Kalani debates whether this item should be called a ‘chicken sandwich’ or a ‘chicken burger’ as people in the UK would call it. After settling on chicken burger – when in Rome, right – he takes a bite and is immediately impressed.

“Wait a minute, hang on,” he says excitedly. “This tastes really good though, a really solid chicken burger. I give this probably an 8.2.”

TikToker takes aim at vegan menu item

We’ve saved Kalani’s McPlant tasting for last as it’s the only UK McDonald’s menu item the American disliked, he even grimaced as he ordered it.

While the McPlant was briefly available in the US in locations across California and Texas, it was discontinued after a trial period that ran between February and August 2022.

The burger uses a patty created by Beyond Meat which is made from potatoes, peas and rice. The burger also includes vegan sauce and vegan cheese.

“You guys know how I feel about vegan food. It’s just not my forte,” he says as he’s about to take a bite.

It looks like he’s giving the vegan burger the benefit of the doubt for a moment but after a second bite, he recoils saying, “That’s not good, I do not like that.”

He immediately reaches for his drink to wash away the taste of the burger before giving it a score of four out of ten.

Brits defend the McPlant

Following Kalani’s reaction to the McPlant, a host of Brits headed to the comments to defend the vegan burger.

One said: “I eat meat and honestly think the McPlant is banging [really good]”

This was echoed by a second: “I don’t really eat any red meat but tried this and it’s so, so good!! So close to what I can remember.”

“4/10 for McPlant?” questioned this TikTok user. “As a vegetarian that’s a top-tier option in my world.”

“I’m not a vegetarian and that’s still top tier for me, love them,” added a fourth.

A fifth said: “Slander, the McPlant is so good.”

And finally, this commenter noted: “His reaction was biased before he even tried it.”