Food review: We tried the newly launched Jain menu at McDonald's and here's what we think

(Clockwise) The meal comprises McCheese burger, Oreo flurry, cheese dip, boiled corn, a beverage and a tiny butter tub. Pics/Devanshi doshi

Food/Average
Variety/Less
Service/Prompt
Cost/Reasonable
Verdict/1.04

Just before Chaumasa - a four-month-long period when Jains abstain from eating root and green vegetables, among other ingredients - began on July 3, McDonald's outlets had announced a special Jain menu. The news was quick to spread in the community. And so, this writer, being the Jain foodie that she is, decided to drop by for a quick review.

Last Tuesday, we first headed to the Tardeo branch, but they turned us down the minute we enquired about the Jain menu. "We are yet to receive Jain patties for the burgers and so, we've discontinued the Jain meal," confirmed a staff member. While they did offer other food options from the Jain fare, reviewing McDonald's without its iconic burger seemed pointless. So we reached the Churchgate branch where we learnt that the special menu was available. We opted for the Jain meal (Rs 389) - McCheese veg burger, cheese dip, boiled corn, a beverage, Oreo flurry and small sachets of pepper and salt, and a tiny tub of butter.

Corn; Jain cheesy dip (right) were the only innovative Jain options in the otherwise already-available Jain-friendly fare

After placing our order, we struggled to find an empty table at the outlet because it was teeming with collegians, thanks to its location near some of SoBo's colleges. Our meal took 15 minutes to arrive. We started with the burger; it was packed with jalapeños, lettuce and mayonnaise placed on top of a thin patty that was sandwiched between the chunky burger buns. The first bite was a trip to warm, melted cheese paradise. But as tasty as it was, we felt let down. Our companion, as if reading our mind, chuckled, "Jains have been eating this burger for years. It is McDonald's who has now realised that it serves a Jain-friendly burger." The thin patty layer is solely made up of cheese; we hoped it would instead serve a Jain banana-based patty that many city eateries specialising in burgers already have on their menu. This particular burger is actually the veg McCheese burger that has been on the menu for a very long time.

We move on to the dessert. The small Oreo flurry, vanilla ice cream topped with crumbs of Oreo biscuits is another mention that has been on the vegetarian menu for a while now. The corn, we think, is the lone innovation in the meal. A fair, if not an equal, substitute for the potato fries, it makes for the perfect munchies, especially in the monsoon. Overall, we give the meal a D for effort, research and innovation, but a B+ for marketing and compilation of the already-available Jain-friendly food options.

At McDonald's, near KC College, Churchgate.
Call 9324914345
Log on to Swiggy, Zomato or McDonald's

4/4 Exceptional, 3/4 Excellent, 2/4 very Good, 1/4 Good, 0.4/4 Average. McDonald's Churchgate didn't know we were there. The Guide reviews anonymously and pays for meals