McDonald's McRib Returns for Limited Engagement in Select Cities

McDonald's has reintroduced its popular McRib sandwich, available starting Tuesday, October 27, in a limited, regional rollout. This earlier-than-usual return comes as the fast-food chain is making the sandwich a seasonal guest rather than a permanent menu item, a practice that began in the early 2000s.

The McRib, characterized by its boneless pork patty, barbecue sauce, pickles, and onions on a bun, first debuted in 1981. Its introduction was reportedly a response to a shortage in chicken supply that affected the availability of Chicken McNuggets, which were invented two years prior.

McDonald's has confirmed that the McRib will only be available in designated locations, with major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles and Chicago included in the rollout. The duration of this limited-time offering has not yet been specified.

Customer sightings and purchase data, tracked on the crowdsourced website McRibLocator.com, indicate that the sandwich has already been spotted in numerous cities. These include Bakersfield, California; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Corpus Christi, Texas; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Hollywood, Florida; Independence, Missouri; Knoxville, Tennessee; Marietta, Georgia; Old Forge, Pennsylvania; Portland, Oregon; Richmond, Indiana; San Antonio, Texas; San Diego, California; and Van Nuys, California.

Customers seeking to determine if their local McDonald's is participating can check the McDonald's app or consult McRibLocator.com for real-time updates. The price of the McRib varies by location, with reported prices ranging from $4.47 in Victoria, Texas, to $7.99 in Palmdale, California. The average price across the U.S. is noted as $6.05.

The McRib elicits varied reactions from consumers. While some eagerly anticipate its annual return, others express less enthusiasm. Online discussions reveal a spectrum of opinions, from those who consider the sandwich a favorite to others who describe it negatively. Historically, McDonald's brought the McRib back in 2020 for the first time since 2012, and it has reappeared annually since then.