3 min read- McDonald’s introduced the Big Arch burger to the U.S. menu after it was first served at international locations.
- The burger features two Quarter Pounder patties, three slices of white cheddar, raw and crispy onions, and a new Big Arch sauce.
- The sauce is a fun, ketchup-forward spin on the classic Big Mac sauce, and the crispy onions are a nice touch, but the raw onion flavor is intense and long-lasting.
After years of fan requests, McDonald’s has finally brought an international favorite to U.S. menus. The Big Arch burger is officially available starting today for a limited time, and fast- food fans are already rushing to try one.
The burger features two Quarter Pounder patties, slivered onions, crispy onions, three slices of white cheddar, and a brand-new Big Arch sauce on a sesame-and-poppy-seed bun.
The Big Arch’s stateside rollout has already generated serious hype and, thanks to a viral video from the chain’s CEO, some controversy too. But how does the burger actually taste? I got my hands on one to find out. Here’s my official verdict.
The Size
Let’s address the elephant in the room: When McDonald’s named it the Big Arch, they weren’t kidding. This behemoth of a burger makes a Big Mac seem wimpy by comparison. The bun itself is more than 4.5 inches in diameter, which provides plenty of surface area to stack all the components.
I can safely say this eating experience requires two hands (and plenty of napkins). The added heft also comes with an added cost. In New York City, a single Big Arch costs $10.19 before tax and clocks in at 1020 calories—nearly twice as much as a Big Mac!
The Flavor
While the Quarter Pounder patties, pickles, and shredded lettuce are familiar, the other components are new. Let’s start with the titular sauce, which McDonald’s describes as “tangy, creamy, with the perfect balance of mustard, pickle, and sweet tomato flavors.”
The Big Arch sauce doesn’t taste all that different from other burger sauces out there. Compared with Big Mac Sauce, it has similar mustard and pickle notes, but with a more noticeable ketchup-forward tang. I like the way it tastes, even if it’s less groundbreaking than I expected.
Using white cheddar instead of classic American doesn’t just change the color—it also adds a slightly sharper flavor. And the bun, while larger and more visually interesting than McDonald’s usual options, tastes about the same.
For me, the real difference comes from the two types of onions. First, the chain adds crispy onions to the bottom bun. The savory, battered pieces are evocative of the kind you’d add to a green bean casserole. But for some reason, McDonald’s stacks them with sauce and cheese under a hot patty. So, unless you eat the Big Arch right away, you might miss out on that crispy texture.
The raw onion, however, really took center stage. In a Big Mac, the onions are finely diced and evenly distributed. In the Big Arch, each slice is much larger and thicker, which makes the raw onion flavor significantly more intense.
My onion breath was still lingering 10 minutes after taking a bite. I personally enjoy raw onions on a burger, even if I wish these were sliced thinner. But regardless, I wouldn’t recommend eating one of these on a date.
The Verdict
Would I recommend the Big Arch? I’d say yes, but maybe just for special occasions. As far as fast food burgers go, it’s savory, satisfying, and substantial.
But, if eating McDonald’s already leaves you feeling weighed down, the Big Arch may feel like being trapped under an anvil—especially if you add fries. If I were to order this again, I’d probably share it with someone or at least plan to hibernate for several hours.
If you want to try the Big Arch for yourself, you’ll want to act soon: it’ll only be on McDonald’s menus for a limited time.