Wednesday June 17, 2015 was the big launch of The McLobster at McDonald’s. It will be available for $7.49 plus tax at McDonald’s across Canada until June 30th.
Funnily enough, I was out for a super-long walk and needed to rest and pick up something to eat and drink on the day of the launch. It was perfect timing!
McDonald’s at the Kingsway & Victoria
OK, maybe not entirely perfect since two guys almost got into a fist fight right beside me as I waited for my order. I guess I was in a rougher part of town or something which is too bad because the location I was at had its own parking lot and a drive-through.
Most locations in Vancouver are like this one. You order your food and go. There is a second-story place to eat but there are all these signs about not staying for longer than 30 minutes. Not exactly a welcoming family location but the people who work there are always nice. Never had anyone almost come to blows over potential line-cutting. Sheesh!
I sat as far away from the crazy people as possible. I had ordered a lobster roll and a snack-size coffee frappé, my absolutely favourite summertime drink. OK, that’s a lie. I would drink it all year if it was available which it isn’t which almost made me cry. Seriously, I am addicted.
Voila! I have to admit, I was impressed. There was a nice bit of lobster meat and the bun was soft and fresh. So was the iceberg lettuce.
I personally would like more mayo on the bun which ended up being a little dry but I have heard of people getting the McLobster and it being way too overloaded with mayo. Not for me!
It was a pretty good lobster roll. I have had better and I have had much worse when I lived on the East Coast. I believe most of the meat is from the claws and legs so the flavour was more subtle than I was hoping. I love that overwhelming ocean-punch of seafood flavour that can come with lobster. This was way more delicate than other lobster rolls I have had.
Still, what a treat to have lobster in Vancouver! You have no idea how hard it has been for me to go through East Coast seafood withdrawal. This helped a lot and was a totally unexpected treat for me. My cashier told me that a guy came in that day and bought six McLobsters! Considering I got to have a lobster lunch for under $10, I can appreciate his passion for this short-term fast food delicacy.
Is it perfect? No. Could it be better? Probably. Am I still happy I ate it? Damn straight! It is not every day that I can have affordable lobster in Vancouver. I give this product three and a half out of five wooden spoons. Rating got knocked half a spoon because of the scary experience which the staff did nothing about. I am not easily unnerved but it was really tense and awful. Such a bummer!
How does it compare against Subways lobster sandwich?
I havent’ had the Subway lobster sandwich Lucie but next time they have it, I will definitely do a taste comparison!
Lucie, I just wrote about the Subway one and I think the McD’s is far superior. Their bun was smaller so you could taste the lobster more. That said, at Subway when I got the lobster on flatbread and added more mayo, it was divine! I just don’t like how they suggest having it and a lot of people have complained to me about it that theirs was soggy.
Great review, Suzie! Bummer about the commotion while waiting in line. Nothing like a little tension to disrupt an anticipated dining experience. Dining should almost be a meditation – a gentle and serene contemplation of the meal as one prepares to sample its textures, flavors and aromas. Living on the East coast of New England (Massachusetts), fresh lobster is fairly easy to come by, especially this time of the year. However, I admit it is not my favorite seafood. I think I would say I truly love scallops best. And I admit to the occasional indulgence in fried clams (small bellies please!) Enjoyed your review!
Thanks for swinging by and checking out my foodie blog! Oh yes, that tension totally destroyed the fun foodie experience for me. Oh man, I love scallops too but my favourite is fried clams. I used to eat them when my family would visit Florida by the bucketload. Yum!!!
That looks so good, I am glad it tastes good too. Sadly they don’t offer that in Texas!
What a shame McD’s isn’t doing this promo in the States! I have read other reviews and how the lobster roll gets prepped is differing from region-to-region so I think I got lucky.
I am so jealous that you get seafood at you McDonalds (Never in a million years did I ever think i would utter those words LOL). No such thing here in Colorado. Also not such thing at our Subways. If we want a Lobster Roll we have to travel for it. I don’t think there is even one at our Red Lobster. GAH now I need a Lobster Roll!!!!
LOL Dinell! I know what you mean. No way! No lobster at Subway either?! Sorry for the lobster roll cravings. It is one of the perils of coming to my blog. I even get food cravings from it myself!
Well maybe I’ll try one now that you have given it 3.5 spoons. :0)
It is quite subtle Fran, as long as you are prepared for that you might enjoy it. Other people have had very different experience than I had: bun was toasted, they added some kind of sweetness, much less lobster… I hope your experience is more like mine!
Nice review!
We’ve had the McLobster here for years, but it just went nation-wide. Oh well, I guess Atlantic Canada’s little secret got out. LOL! It will actually bring me in to the local Mcdonalds all summer, just to get a taste of these.
I did try the Subway one … once. It was minced, wet, and not enough. I didn’t give it another try. Maybe I should. Or maybe I’ll wait until you do, and see what you think first. LOL!
Thanks Karen! Yes, looks like the rest of Canada is going to get enjoy this seafood treat now. So glad you enjoy it! The Subway one sounds like it doesn’t compare. You got it. As soon as it comes back, I will try it and review it here, no problem.
Had one yesterday and have never been so disappointed, I didn’t expect much but the lobster tasted like imitation crab meat, had too much mayo like stuff and way too much lettuce. Won,t be going back for another. I go to McDonalds about once every three months to get my fix for greasy stuff. This wasn’t greasy but was terrible.
Alan, what a total shame!!! I am so sorry to hear that the lobster didn’t taste real and wow, what a totally different experience. Thank you for letting me know. Sounds like McD’s really needs to work on their consistency. What a total bummer!!!!
I tried it. It was terrible. Too much lettece overpowered the taste and not enough mayo. The roll was nice and soft but I did not pay $7.50 for a nice roll. I tried a lobster sandwich at Rock Lobster in Toronto for about the same price and it was great. Plus they use real lobster. McDonalds uses fake seafood meat.
I agree there could have been more mayo Pete. For a big chain, I think they tried their best and that is real lobster. You can read about how they used 100% lobster on my post here: http://www.suziethefoodie.com/foodiestories001/ I am getting a lot more complaints about the Subway lobster sub actually.