Down in the deep dark woods of Aldi's frozen aisle, there is an entire section dedicated to some suspicious looking goods. So suspicious in fact, if you didn't know you were in Aldi, you might assume you had wondered into the back of a McDonald's.
To see whether Aldi's McDonald's-inspired menu had anything at all on the original, LancsLive reporter Rebecca Lockwood bagged all that the supermarket had to offer. Then, in two trips to McDonald's, she picked up the originals. She ate both the dupe and the original side by side to see if Aldi could provide her with a genuinely happy meal. Rebecca explains...
Hash browns
The McDonald’s hash brown is long and yellow in colour. Was I slightly disappointed? Yes, I wanted a golden hash.
The Aldi hash brown is cooked in the oven for around 20 minutes. On the plate, they are covered in a rustic-looking batter which side by side is definitely more appealing. It's what I wanted from McDonald's.
In taste, the McDonald's hash brown is expert. Aldi's is richer than McDonalds - which is like Christmas for a hash brown fan like me. I'm conflicted. Maybe I'm stubborn and I’m not ready to admit McDonald's have been ever so slightly beaten by Aldi, but then came the price. At McDonald's it costs 89p for just one hash brown or £1.78 for two - at Aldi its £1.59 for 10. Case closed.
Winner: Aldi
Big Mac v Big Stack
Aldi's cleverly named Big Stack is truly something to be admired. Just like the Big Mac, it comes with three layers of bun to separate the two patties.
The difference is, the Big Stack is a microwave burger. Once heated, the Big Stack patties look eerily like the Big Mac burger. I honestly don't know how that could be achieved. It tastes decent and costs £1.49.
The Big Mac costs £3.91 for a medium meal, but it's an original for a reason. You know exactly what you're getting when you order it and while it doesn't have the grandeur of the 'grand' Big Mac, it's still a solid win. Out of the two, I'd give the crown to the Big Mac.
Winner: McDonald's (just)
Chicken nuggets
Out of all the dupes, the chicken nuggets were the ones letting the team down but I don't think that's on Aldi so much. McDonald's Chicken nuggets are just other worldly. I think it's down to the chicken.
The Aldi nuggets are priced at just £1.69 for 12, with two dips. The McDonald's nuggets are priced at £3.79 for six alone, which in comparison seems extortionate, but they win because the chicken is just far, far better.
Winner: McDonald's
Conclusion
Can Aldi provide you a happy meal with their dupes? When it comes to hash browns and Big Stacks, I'm happy to say absolutely yes. Knock yourself up some fries and serve it with the burger and you'll be grand. On nuggets, McDonald's can keep their crown. You can't beat them.
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