I tried UK’s newest fast food chain — here’s how it compares to McDonald’s

From McDonald’s and Taco Bell, to Five Guys, and Chipotle, I’ve tried just about every fast food chain in the UK.

No, this isn’t just some kind of gluttonous hobby, it’s part of my job as Metro’s specialist food writer — if you need someone to tell you when the Big Tasty or McRib is coming back/getting axed, I’m your girl.

I also keep tabs on all of the chains making the leap across the pond to open in the UK, and we’ve got a number of new spots launching soon, including Velvet Taco, which will be serving up fish and chip tacos and margaritas in London.

We’re also about to see a bunch of fried chicken joints arrive in the capital en masse, with the highly anticipated return of Chick-fil-A in 2025, plus Dave’s Hot Chicken and Carl’s Jr. coming too.

But a Canadian chicken joint has beat them all to the punch, as it’s going to open its doors in London before any of them.

MB Chicken (also known as Mary Brown’s) is setting up shop in Hounslow from November 6, and is bringing a twist on poutine, plus ‘Canada’s favourite chicken sandwich’ to the Big Smoke.

Ahead of the launch, I managed to get a sneaky first taste of these two iconic MB menu items. Here’s my honest verdict…

The first product I tried was The Big Mary, the chain’s famous chicken sandwich which features a chicken breast breaded in Mary Brown’s signature recipe. This is cooked until it’s golden brown and served on a sesame seed bun with mayo and lettuce, and a pickle placed on the top of the whole thing. 

Online people have claimed the sandwich is ‘god tier’ and ‘first class’, so it’s fair to say I had pretty high expectations for this. And you know what? I enjoyed it.

The Big Mary isn’t quite the showstopper the name promises, but as far as chicken burgers go, it was pretty decent — I’d go as far as to say better than the likes of KFC and Maccies.

The chicken was very fresh and a good portion size — no cardboard-like nonsense here! The breaded coating had a nice seasoning to it, which was a bit like southern fried chicken, although not quite as strong.

Is it the best chicken sandwich on the market? No. That title, in my opinion, still belongs to Popeyes. But it’s not bad at all.

So what didn’t I like about it? Well the sesame bun is very similar to those you get at McDonald’s, and it gets quite mushy if staff go a little too hard on the mayo (as was the case with my sandwich). And we really have to talk about is the pickle on top.

I completely understand that this is MB’s signature thing. They pop a pickle on top of the sandwich, much like the proverbial cherry on top of the cake. It looks fun, and it makes their sandwiches instantly recognisable. But as a pickle fan, I feel strongly that just one pickle isn’t enough. I need more MB.

I’d say this sandwich is a solid 7/10, but could score a little higher if it had less mayo and more pickles.

Next up was the Tater Poutine.

If you aren’t familiar with poutine, it’s is a popular dish in Canada, which typically consists of fries topped in gravy and cheese curds. It’s carb heaven.

At MB Chicken, they’ve put their own ‘bold’ twist on the dish, and instead of fries, it features the chain’s Taters (Irish potatoes made into skin-on wedges). These are covered in house-made gravy and smothered in shredded cheese. 

Now, this dish doesn’t look very pretty, in fact it’s a hot mess, but damn it’s tasty. 

We all know how delightful the combo of chips and gravy is, right? Add cheese into the mix and you’ve got the perfect hangover food. And for those that love a good cheese pull, this dish is definitely for you.

The Big Mary might not have blown me away, but this is comfort food at its finest. Exactly the starchy, hearty, cheesy goodness you want from a fast food order. 

What else can you expect to see on the menu at MB Chicken?

The chain offers all sorts of signature chicken options and combo meals, from a 2-piece meal to an 18-piece feast.

There are also Chicken Pop-Ins, Chicken Tenders, a spicy version of Big Mary, and flaky buttermilk biscuits. (Although it’s not been confirmed if the latter will be sold in London).

As well as these, the UK menu will also feature several new items that aren’t available in Canada, including MB Soft-Serve Ice Cream, Shakes and Halloumi Fries.

MB Chicken launched in 1969 and currently has more than 200 locations across North America.

The chain is looking to keep expanding across the globe, opening throughout the UK, as well as in Pakistan and Mexico in 2024. Within the next five years, the company’s goal is to have 150 international stores.

It’ll be opening its doors in Smithy Lane, Hounslow, from November 6, but this isn’t its first site in the UK as it already has a few locations in Northern Ireland (Belfast and Lisburn). 

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