I tried out the McDonald's breakfast items in Canada that we don't have in the US.
The spicy habanero egg McMuffin was the best McDonald's breakfast I've ever had.
The bagels were less impressive, but I was surprised at the size of the menu.
On a recent trip to Canada, I tried McDonald's to sample the menu items we don't have in the US.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
McCafe and breakfast seem to be a much bigger deal in Canadian McDonald's locations.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Baked goods including muffins and doughnuts get highlighted in a display case right near the register, so they're impossible to miss when you order.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The most surprising breakfast item was definitely the bagels, which I haven't seen at McDonald's in the states since they were taken off the menu in 2020.
First I tried the egg and sausage on a plain bagel.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
It wasn't the best bagel I've ever had, but I like the idea of having bagels as an option.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I also tried a sandwich on an everything bagel.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Bacon and cheese definitely made this sandwich more flavorful than the other, but not as good as McDonald's staple breakfasts.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I also tested out the other breakfast sandwich that was new to me, the spicy habanero bacon egg McMuffin.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
It was the standard sandwich, which is available in the US.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
It came with a container of spicy habanero sauce.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The sauce was delicious, though I wish it came on the sandwich.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
With the habanero sauce, I think it might be the best McDonald's breakfast I've ever had.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
There are about 1,400 McDonald's locations in Canada, compared to over 13,000 in the US.The McDonald's sign.
Associated Press
The fast-food landscape in Canada is dominated by Tim Hortons, which has nearly three times as many locations as McDonald's.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Canadian McDonald's menus and restaurant displays have a much bigger focus on breakfast and McCafe items than in the US, which could be a way of competing with Tim Horton's.
Jeff Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Because the fast food industry is different in Canada, McDonald's has adapted with a different menu.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Tim Horton's is a beloved Canadian icon with an extensive coffee menu, so it makes sense that McDonald's would emphasize its breakfast offerings to compete with local staples.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Canadian customers likely have slightly different expectations and tastes than Americans when it comes to fast food, and McDonald's changes menus to reflect that.
