What do you name a Large Mac that’s afraid of the darkish? A Hen Large Mac!

Or that’s what you name a Large Mac that has hen patties on it as an alternative of hamburgers. Which is what McDonald’s rolled out in shops nationwide on Thursday. For a restricted time, those that choose hen to beef (or just take pleasure in McDonald’s McChicken sandwiches) can get a Hen Large Mac.

The sandwich options two hen patties, particular sauce, lettuce, cheese and pickles on a sesame seed bun. Not fairly as catchy as the unique Large Mac jingle, however shut sufficient.

Whereas McDonald’s is much from my favourite quick meals burger chain (Wendy’s guidelines nationally, In-N-Out crushes regionally), there’s a time and place for the golden arches. Is it a time and place of desperation and weak point? Completely. However in these moments, a Large Mac and fries are a salty salve for the soul.

There’s certainly one thing particular a couple of Large Mac, from its double-decker presentation to the briny mixture of particular sauce, pickles and onions. The burger high quality is of no consequence, largely a canvas for condiments. So I used to be very curious how swapping the meat for hen would fare.

It tastes just about how I anticipated — like a McChicken with Large Mac sauce. Which is fairly good! You’ll by no means mistake a McDonald’s hen sandwich for an elite one from Chick-fil-a or Popeye’s, however there’s a sure nostalgia to this model of low-grade hen patty. And it’s certainly elevated by the sauce, pickles and onions. The truth that that is technically a menu merchandise McDonald’s may at all times serve — they at all times have Large Mac substances and hen patties — does make this really feel rather less particular. Nevertheless it doesn’t make it style any worse.

Is it higher than the unique Large Mac? Nope. The sauce goes higher with beef than hen, and it’s exhausting to beat the unique. I didn’t even just like the Double Large Mac, which got here out earlier this yr, as a lot because the basic Large Mac.

And I’m not hen to confess it.

Associated protection:

• I attempted the Wendy’s Krabby Patty Kollab meal so that you don’t need to. Right here’s my evaluate.

• I attempted Chick-fil-A’s banana pudding milkshake so that you don’t need to. Right here’s my evaluate.

• I attempted Taco Bell’s tacky avenue chalupa so that you don’t need to. Right here’s my evaluate.

• I attempted McDonald’s Package Kat banana break up McFlurry so that you don’t need to. Right here’s my evaluate.

• I attempted Wendy’s triple berry Frosty so that you don’t need to. Right here’s my evaluate.

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Jeremy Schneider could also be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com and adopted on Twitter at @J_Schneider and on Instagram at @JeremyIsHungryAgain.