This Opinion article is part of a Narcity content series. The views expressed are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
There's no denying that McDonald's fries are delicious, but the recent addition of the McShaker Fries to their menu in Canada had me curious as to how they'd compare to the original.
The two flavours available in Canada are Churro and Masala, but the McShaker Fries themselves have been around since 2005 when they were first introduced in Hong Kong.
In your McShaker order, you get a medium-sized container of the McDonald's fries as we traditionally know them as well as a packet of flavouring and a bag to dump everything into which you then give a good shake.
So, I headed out to my nearest McDonald's in the west end of Toronto and got my hands on the two McShaker flavours right as lunch started at the restaurant to try them out for myself, each of which cost $4.39 before tax.
Here's how my taste test went down and which one I'd order again.
Churro McShaker Fries
Churro McShaker Fries from McDonald's Canada.
Sarah Rohoman | Narcity
According to an email sent to Narcity, the Churro McShaker Fries feature a sweet blend of sugar, cocoa and cinnamon. I don't think I've ever had potato in a sweet form before and I do love a good churro, so I was interested to see how it would play out.
After giving the baggie of fries and seasoning a thorough shake, I noticed that the fries were quite unevenly coated, with some retaining more of the dressing than others.
The fries that are fully coated taste like a churro in the sense that all of the right flavours are there, but I just want a bit more from it. The fries that didn't get as much seasoning tasted more of the salty flavour that McDonald's fries are known for, but when paired in a mouthful with the sweeter fries, I found it to be jarring.
I think this is fun and creative and that putting something sweet on potatoes is an interesting flex, but alas, I'm not sure it's meant to be as I wouldn't order this one again — I'd prefer just to enjoy the classic McDonald's fries, and if I did want something with a bit of sugar I'd probably order a sweet and sour McNugget sauce for dipping.
Masala McShaker Fries
Masala McShaker Fries from McDonald's Canada.
Sarah Rohoman | Narcity
The Masala McShaker Fries have a savoury mix of cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, cayenne pepper and garlic and remind me so strongly of some of my favourite Indian restaurants in Toronto that I might just have to put in an order later for some korma.
The dressing adhered much more evenly to the fries for some reason, and it was absolutely delicious with the cumin and cardamom leading the way in terms of flavour followed by a surprisingly spicy kick of cayenne and then a touch of sweetness at the end from the cinnamon.
Unlike the Churro flavour, the saltiness of the fries lends itself well to the Masala flavour instead of fighting against it, and I would 100% order these again.
I didn't know that fries could be perfectly balanced, but lo and behold, the Masala McShaker Fries does the damn thing.
My only criticism of it is that the powder is a bit drying on the tongue, but that's nothing a Diet co*ke wouldn't remedy.
One thing to note is that these fries are spicier than I anticipated — I was fine with the level of spice, but if you're not good with hot foods this might actually be too much for you!
The verdict
McShaker Fries from McDonald's Canada.
Sarah Rohoman | Narcity
The Masalsa McShaker Fries absolutely slap and I'm low-key mad that McDonald's has been holding out on offering them in Canada for so many years.
The Churro McShaker Fries are a miss for me, but if you're a fan of sweets, it might be the one for you!
I ordered my fries at the drive-thru, and by the time I drove home and was ready to season my fries they were lukewarm. I think this affected how the seasoning adhered to the fry as some of them were evenly coated and some barely retained any of the powder.
Overall, I'd say the novelty of shaking the fries myself isn't really that exciting for me, and I'd prefer to have the fries dressed at the restaurant as I'm sure the seasoning would stick to the fries better and more uniformly if dressed when they come right out of the fryer.
As well, if I'm going through the drive-thru I likely wouldn't be able to shake the fries myself, so that's another consideration given that I often pick up my orders from them while driving.
One thing to note is that if you want to try either flavour of the McShaker Fries, you currently need to order via their app at the moment.
"Starting today on the McDonald’s app, you’ll have the chance to get a first-taste of McShaker Fries, a fun way to take the fries you know and love to the next level," said McDonald's. "You can sample them both until June 2nd exclusively through the McDonald’s app, with both flavours being offered in-restaurant from June 3rd to June 17th."
So, if you want to try these treats out for yourself, you'll need to order them before June 17 — but I seriously hope the Masala McShaker fries stick around for much longer than that because they are absolutely delicious.
While I'm making pleas to McDonald's Canada, can y'all also bring back the Hot Honey McCrispy, please? Pairing that with some Masala fries sounds absolutely chaotic and it definitely would become my go-to order.
The McRib, on the other hand... that can also stay off the menu along with the Churro McShakers, in my opinion. I recently tried the iconic sandwich for the first time when it came back to Canada's menu after being off it since 2014 and I was left with nothing but heartburn and questions.
Sorry (not sorry) about it!
These prices are confirmed at the time of publishing, but they can change at any time. Taxes and fees may not be included.
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