Although McDonald's in Australia and America have the same prices, the Aussie version is way better.Australian McDonald's (Maccas) offers table service, and the food tastes fresher.The first McCafe opened in Melbourne, and the cafe serves high-quality coffee and pastries. There are plenty of Maccas items that aren't available in the US, like the Big Brekkie Burger and the McFeast.Let's be real: fast food is fast food. It's greasy, salty, and unwillingly good.But there's something about a brand like McDonald's that's comfortingespecially when in a foreign country. The recognizable golden arches look brighter, the food seems more exotic and the service well, it's still fast. So are all McDonald's created equal' I've been living in Australia for nine months and I'm convinced that McDonald's Australia (we'll call it Maccas as the Aussies nickname it) is better than McDonald's in America (Mickey D's).Here's why.McDonald's in Australia offers surprisingly good customer service.On the outside, Maccas looks like any other McDonald's that you would find in the US. But on the inside, it's cleaner and more welcoming. The vibe at Maccas seems more energetic, and I would compare it to a restaurant rather than your average fast food chain. Most Australian locations feature both table service and kiosks.I've been continually impressed (and slightly taken aback) by the friendly customer service at Maccas. Being from the US, I'm accustomed to the employees at Mickey D's having a bland attitude. In my experience, I place my order and grab my food from the employee without much of a friendly interaction. But at Maccas, the employees are perky, genuine, and ready to take your order. It really throws me off, but it makes eating there a much better experience.Fast food is still cheap, no matter where you are in the world.The pricing at Maccas versus Mickey D's is the same (although it seems like you're paying more in Australia thanks to the conversion rate). Australia is currently testing its most expensive menu item, which comes out to a whopping $10 AUD ($8 USD). That's a hefty price for fast food. Maccas doesn't have a dollar menu, but a "loose change" menu, which serves the same type of bite-sized items. One thing I do miss about American McDonald's is the promotional $1 any size coffee. You won't find that deal in Australia. They take their coffee very seriously, which is why their McCafe feels more like a high-quality independent coffee shop than a fast food chain.It's all about McCafe.Melbourne opened the first McCafe in 1993, and it's a major highlight of Maccas (Australians seem to be really proud of it). McCafe in Australia is treated as its own, separate cafe within the restaurant. About one or two trained baristas manage the space, which has its own extensive and drool-worthy menu. Remember when I said that Aussies take their coffee very seriously' McCafe menu is proof. It serves coffee such as espresso, chai latte, piccolo, macchiato, and of course, the Australian favorite, the flat white. The coffee at Maccas is just as expensive as going to Starbucks, and it has a high-quality taste to match those prices.The McCafe food menu is shockingly different than anything you'll see on Mickey D's menu. You'll find an assortment of pastries, cinnamon raisin toast, doughnuts, cheesecake, cupcakes, scones with jam, macarons, hot cross buns, and toasties. It's hardly recognizable to the brand.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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