Does McDonald’s All-Day Breakfast Really Not Include Hash Browns?! We Investigate.
Your mom was right. Breakfastis the most important meal of the day so don’t skip it! It features some pretty choice food options — cereal, waffles, bacon, McMuffins. That’s right. McMuffins. Today is OFFICIALLY the day when all-day breakfast at McDonald’s rolled out across the country. Great news for lovers of hotcakes and hash browns who find themselves craving the golden arches all day and night long, right?! Yes! And no.
Twitter erupted when word spread that not ALL locations would be serving up hash browns. Wait. NO HASH BROWNS? That’s like… no fries. In the name of investigative journalism, I went to see what’s up. Don’t hold out on me, McDonald’s. More hash browns, please!
As you may know, historically, Mickey D’s breakfast ended at 10:30AM so I decided to wait until noon before going to place my order. I spent my time scrolling McDonald’s Instagram feed, dreaming of my Egg McMuffin and doodling a Ronald McDonald sketch. (Mostly kidding). Then right at noon, I took orders from my surrounding coworkers before hitting up the fast food joint just a block away on Sutter Street in the Union Square area of San Francisco.
Being in the tech capital of the US, our McDonald’s is pretty advanced. I placed my order on a computer screen — two Egg McMuffins (one without Canadian bacon because SF has veggies who like McDonald’s… go figure?) and three hash browns.
As I awaited my order, I did some people watching. Are these people here for breakfast at noon? Why isn’t this place MORE crowded? Why is NO ONE ordering breakfast?! I sent the following thought up into the Twitterverse…
@victoria_haas We're sure they loved your song, Victoria! 🎶
— McDonald's (@McDonalds) October 6, 2015
And sweet McDonald’s, my friend and provider of McMuffins and hotcakes, responded. Thanks, Mickey D’s!
Upon returning to the office, everyone was most thrilled about the arrival of hash browns. They were gone in seconds, and more coworkers wanted to get in on the research. Meanwhile across the United States, many McDonald’s breakfast fans were still taking to Twitter to complain about the LACK of hash browns at their local stores.
Without hashbrowns, what's the point of it all?! #AllDayBreakfast
— michael (@michaelcreiter) October 6, 2015
When you find out @McDonalds isn't offering hash browns for #AllDayBreakfast… pic.twitter.com/ZDvEBmkW6D
— Adam Lucidi (@adamlucidi) October 6, 2015
https://twitter.com/stephenmozier/status/651353586618732544
Hmm, we wondered, is it possible that hash browns will run out at a certain point leaving us stranded? Was noon too soon to truly test. I set back out at 5:40 (an assignment from our very bossy Editorial Director). Got myself some hotcakes for dinner and yes… another hash brown.
So what’s the scoop? Hash browns are only available at participating McDonald’s locations, but that’s about 90% of all stores. Despite the uproar, #AllDayBreakfast at McDonald’s is a good thing. This change celebrates the late-morning risers, the pancake + bacon aficionados, and the late-night bar-hoppers.
What’s your favorite item on McDonald’s breakfast menu? Let us know if the comments below!
