McDonald’s Europe Highlights Local Flavor and Innovation Through a Tour Across France, Italy, and Portugal

McDonald’s restaurants across Europe are showcasing local culture, community, and innovation through regionally inspired menus. By empowering local teams to adapt offerings to local tastes, McDonald’s Europe demonstrates how a global brand remains rooted in local flavor and pride.

This year, content creators Ryan and Jade of Live The Dash embarked on a tour across France, Italy, and Portugal. Their journey explores how McDonald’s connects with people, places, and traditions in each market, highlighting local favorites, sustainable sourcing, and community connections.  

McDonald’s France: Where French Culture Meets McDonald's Classic Menu Items

McDonald’s France has been part of everyday life in the country for nearly 50 years, serving almost two million meals a day in more than 1,500 restaurants nationwide. With 78,000 crew members and partnerships with 28,000 local farmers, McDonald’s France exemplifies how global success is built on local quality and collaboration.

Local favorites such as the Croque McDo, a modern twist on the classic croque monsieur, and McCafé Macarons in flavors like chocolate brownie, lemon, and cranberry flavors demonstrate how McDonald’s celebrates French culinary heritage.

McDonald’s Italy: Innovation with Italian Flair

McDonald’s Italy operates more than 760 restaurants with 38,000 employees, serving 1.2 million customers daily. In the region, the brand blends innovation and authenticity, collaborating with local Italian chefs to create new menu items inspired by Italy’s regional flavors.

McDonald’s Italy Menu highlights include:

• Pistachio McFlurry® – a vanilla soft serve with Pistachio sauce and Wafer Crunch topping
• Parmigiano Reggiano Snack – made with authentic Parmigiano Reggiano DOP cheese served in a convenient single-serving package
• Chicken McNuggets® with Asiago PDO and Speck Alto Adige PGI – chewy and tasty nuggets with Asiago PDO and Speck Alto Adige PGI, encased in a crispy breading showcasing Italy’s regional cured meats

McDonald’s Portugal: Warmth, Tradition and Community

McDonald’s Portugal operates more than 200 restaurants, employs over 12,000 people, and serves approximately 120 million customers annually. Each restaurant incorporates design and menu elements inspired by Portuguese traditions, aiming to create the spirit of warmth, hospitality, and connection.

Local McDonald’s Portugal favorites featured at McCafé include:

• Pastel de Nata – a traditional Portuguese egg custard tart
• Delta Coffee – rich coffee ground in small batches and sustainably sourced
• Creamy Soups – popular Portuguese soups such as Carrot Cream, Green Bean, and traditional Peasant Soup

A Global Brand with a Local Heart

Across France, Italy, and Portugal, McDonald’s Europe showcases how regional teams adapt menus to reflect local tastes and preferences. Whether it’s a Pistachio McFlurry® in Milan, a Croque McDo in Marseille, or a Pastel de Nata in Lisbon, Ryan and Jade’s McDonald’s tour shows how each item tells a story of community and culture.

McDonald’s continues to demonstrate that local flavor and global excellence can coexist, creating delicious, feel-good moments everywhere it serves.