Also. A cocktail runs $18-$24 in Toronto. A bowl of chowder costs $16. An iced latte costs $6.50. A butter tart costs $4- $5. Most poutines run around $10 (maybe more). A side of fries at a pub in the financial district can cost $10 or more.
$3 for a McD’s hash brown is a steal.
A pasteis de nata at Café Belem also coats $3, also a steal.
“After all, for $3 you get 10 frozen patties from TJ’s. FYI: the patty weighs 2 oz, or $24/lb.”.
Yeah, but they don’t taste near as good frying at home as they do from a fast food place. Would I pay $3.99 for HB’s from McDonalds. Heck no. That’s the deal. Most people don’t ask ahead of time. They just run their debit card and don’t think twice.
next time y’all get your McD’s, pay attention to the smell.
I read Disneyland pumps different smells out at different locations to enhance atmosphere and guest experience, McD’s food has something going on with their aromatics too, I think.
I don’t go to McD’s to just order a hash brown, I go for the full breakfast experience. It costs what it costs, and the frozen ones at the supermarket don’t even come close plus you have to throw them in the oven for 20-30 minutes. I also try to wait until they have their “two can dine for?? ) until I order breakfast from them, makes it a much better deal.
I don’t buy just a hash brown at McDonald’s. I buy a breakfast meal which includes the hash brown and is quite reasonably priced for what it is. I don’t know anyone who buys just a standalone hash brown.
I also only buy a McDonald’s breakfast a few times a year. So it’s hardly a financial hardship.
I grow my own potatoes, that cover my potato costs at home from July until December. That leaves more room in potato budget for McD’s hash browns all year long.
LOL. (I’m kidding, my budget for fast food is not set up around specific groceries or my homegrown veg)
I also get the hashbrown when it’s included, not à la carte. I don’t order fries at McD’s or other fast food places, so that gives me more cash for the occasional hash brown (or latke somewhere else).
I am going to keep track of how many times I visit McD’s between now and the end of the year. I probably get the breakfast closer to once a month. Sometimes with the hashbrown, sometimes without.
The hashbrowns I really want to try are the hashbrowns at Waffle House dedicated thread , but I haven’t been anywhere near a Waffle House since June 2019.
I’m genuinely tempted to get a job at McD’s just for the experience… not sure I’d last more than two shifts though
What’s stopping you?
I’m with you. I’ll take the TJ ones, which I buy because they remind me of McD’s hash browns. Stick them in an air-fryer, oven, or even reheated in a pan, they are pretty good. I think the only thing missing is more salt used at McD’s, but I’m ok with cutting that down. I think they taste pretty good. I was someone who would occasionally just buy a hash brown. This was usually overseas, and if coffee wasn’t easily found, I would get a McDonald’s coffee and a hash brown for a light start to the morning.
Now, I do think their Sausage Egg McMuffins though far better than any frozen breakfast sandwich you can get.
Could be the start of something else:
Both of you should try just ordering the hash browns a la carte. It can be quite liberating. 
I actually order hash browns as a stand alone item quite frequently, almost always in fact.
If it’s breakfast time, it’s usually 3 or 4 along with 2 or 3 McGriddles. If it’s 10:30 a.m., I’ll order at least one to sneak into my Filet-O-Fish.
I do buy one hash brown from McDonalds because i was walking by and didn’t want more. Also several years ago I lost a significant amount of weight because I was diagnosed as a diabetic. I decided to lose the weight instead of go on meds….so McD’s and ultra-processed food is to be avoided. Diabetes now in remission. I’m not going to make judgements about people who go to McDs or people who don’t go or limit their order. I’ll still will go to a McD….but man, the prices are NUTS. That was my point in posting. I know it’s not about the money for many but it can be about your health. Often times when traveling I’ll just stop at McD’s almost unconsciously because it use to be reasonably priced, fast and consistent, but between the prices and ultra-processed food, maybe I need to break the habit.
Yay you! It’s hard for Hungry Onions to lose weight. We’re so damn hungry!
That’s strategic timing. I just arrange a layer of french fries across the filet in the FoF…
Well, in that case if you do have a frozen hash brown that is a good substitute you can make at home it would make better sense to go with that option if it’s cheaper. I eat McDonald’s maybe once every 2-3 months as a comfort thing and if I do I’ll eat a few things I enjoy.
I like the sandwiches more than the hash browns. That’s why I don’t order hash browns on their own. I do often order sandwiches without a side of potato. 9 times out of 10, I get a sandwich or burger and a coffee, and no potato.
other fish in the frier…
Good luck.
In order to get a decent FOF you need to double up on the fish. They’re only half the size they use to be. Nuff said.
