Category Archives: Messages from Alan

McRib to return in 2020

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This article is now outdated. Please see our newer 2020 US McRib post.

Good news fellow US McRib fans, the McRib is going to return in 2020 at some US stores again this year! We have been calling around, and with the help of a few other fans, have enough confidence to now announce that McRibs will again grace the menu of select locations in 2020.

When will the McRib be back?

So when exactly will the McRib be back? A few bits of information point to when the sandwich will return. First, throughout the calls that we have made we had a few indicate a date range. Those that indicated it would be back have replied that the McRib will be back toward the end of October. A larger number of stores indicated they were not sure. It would seem the volume of uncertainty would suggest a very limited release. Not to worry, history shows that some future promotions ran at McDonalds do not start showing up until about a month before the planned release. We are right at that window, so we are not alarmed yet to the scale of the McRib season. One fan in Atlanta was in contact with an owner of multiple stores there and they too indicated a late October release (thank you John!)

A second hint of when the sandwich was in our historical archives. Reviewing our archives to see exactly when the McRib has returned in the past. This year being a presidential election year, we looked back at the past few presidential election years and again see late October/first week of November as the most likely date for the McRib to return.

October 29 - November 5, 2016 McRib Confirmations
October 29 – November 5, 2016 McRib Confirmations

Where will the McRib return?

Exactly which locations will have the McRib is still uncertain. With the state of things this year, we wouldn’t think there would be a return to all locations. Also historically we know that new offerings on the menu can prevent the McRib from returning as focus is put on the new offering. The emphasis currently appears to be on musician labeled meals. As they are now on to the second of these pairings, the campaign may draw conflict in some markets.

That is what we currently have for information on the McRib returning in 2020 within US markets. As we get closer to the release date more information should become available and we will share that as it does so. Until then, lets reflect back on this fan’s love of the McRib as shown by his unique costume!

McRib 2019 US Release Information

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McRibs are back in the US for 2019! We have been receiving a number of confirmations today from all over the lower 48 states. Most interesting is the number of reports for locations that have not had confirmations for a number of years. As such, it came as no surprise today when media outlets began reporting that this year’s season would result in 10,000 stores offering the tasty BBQ sandwich resulting in a number of locations offering the McRib that had not in recent year. This is a significant increase compared to last year’s release.

2019-10-04 McRib Availability
Availability as reported at the time of this post

When can fans begin to see the McRib in the US?

We sampled a number of stores today to see what is new. We found that the McRib will begin more widespread rollout coming up next week. While there are additional locations offering the sandwich this year, some locations will see a minor change to when you can have the sandwich. A number of locations, not all, are restricting the McRib to the before midnight menu. This feels like a compromise with locations that felt the sandwich was too messy to offer. With a limited number of hours of availability the messy nature of the sandwich can be less of an impact.

How long will the McRib be around?

How long will this year’s season be? Some of the stores we talked with said they are planning through the end of November. As a limited time item, the McRib can and will disappear sooner at some locations. History tells us that locations that less commonly offer the McRib will have less inventory to sell.

How you can help

If you find a McRib make sure to report it at https://mcriblocator.com/report.html and send us a photo of your receipt. Make sure your receipt shows the location and date purchased as well as your McRib order. Send your confirmation photo to photos@mcriblocator.com . Thank you!

McRib rolls out in Ukraine

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We were tipped off earlier from Kenny A (thank you!) that the McRib is back for fans in Ukraine. This was tested in a few markets a few years ago, clearly it did well enough to return. Pork apparently was so popular they also introduced a second Pork Sandwich (photos with translation to English from Google below) as part of their Ukraine Burgers promotion.

Pork Sandwiches Promo imageUkraine McRibRye double pork patty sandwich

The Rye Burger looks interesting, let us know in the comments if you would be interested in this new sandwich.

Notice in the photo below that Kenny shared the McRib is in a sleeve in order to keep the sandwich cleaner for consumers.

Kenny A. shared this picture of two McRibs with us

Unfortunately the promotion is a couple of weeks into McRibs, so likely not much time left for fans in the region.

No word yet on when to expect the McRib back in the United States, however we will be sure to share what we discover.

2019 Guatemala McRib Options

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The 2019 Guatemala McRib is here, and they are not messing around. They are promoting not 1, not 2, but 4 variations of the McRib! The options are the new McRib with Onion Ring and past year options of McRib with Cheese, McRib with Bacon, and classic McRib which we reported on previously here.

2019 McRib lineup

2019 McRib lineup 2McRib with Onion Rings

 

As an onion ring fan, this new McRib with onion ring sounds very interesting. Thanks to Jorge C, we have the following photo of an actual sandwich ordered in this configuration. We were told that this tasted “amazingly delcious”.

Onion Ring McRib

Jorge C. provided us this photo of the McRib with onion rings

Let us know which 2019 Guatemala McRib you would pick if all 4 were available for you. Vote in our poll bellow or by replying to our post.

Which 2019 Guatemala McRib would you pick?

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McRib Sauce

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Most years when McRib season is over, the disappointment of not having more/any McRibs leaves fans disappointed. Fans resort to various clones on the market, or try to make the McRib themselves. One of the more essential components of the McRib that makes it taste different from the other alike options is the sauce itself. Nick from Tucson, AZ recently let me know that he had secured some authentic McRib sauce. He also pointed me to an eBay posting where a seller in northern Minnesota is currently selling an excess of McRib sauce pouches that they have.

McRib Sauce box
McRib Sauce Pouch
McRib Sauce Pouch
McRib Sauce Boxes

I was about to order some myself, when luck struck. A coworker at my day job produced for me my very own pouch of McRib sauce. My coworker has a connection inside a store in the area that indicated they received a large shipment of space AFTER the season had ended. Lucky for me, I now have one of the more tricky components of the McRib to come by!

Hunt for the most alike BBQ sauce

Now that we have a little sauce to work with, we can look for an alike option at the store. Especially helpful from the posted sale is that the boxes contain what ingredients are included in this tangy sauce, which should help to focus on types of sauce that are potential matches. Granted, the vague “spices” ingredient isn’t going to let us filter the list too quickly.

What about you?

  • Would you order McRib sauce from an online auction site?
  • Perhaps it is finally time for McDonalds to bring some of their sauces to stores for consumers as well. There are a number of other restaurants offering items in stores today, so they wouldn’t be the first to explore this. Would you buy McRib sauce if it was offered at stores?
  • What types of BBQ sauce do you think are most closely like that used for the McRib?

Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!