The McRibster: A new, improved, European McRib?

Across the pond, McDonald's rolls out an evolved version of its cult-favorite pork sandwich — now deep fried and topped with bacon

The McRibster.
(Image credit: mcdonalds.at)

The enigmatic McRib is back — and, this time, it's popped up overseas in an even less sensible incarnation known as the McRibster. McDonald's updated version of the cult-favorite sandwich, is a far cry from the typical sauce-slathered pig innards on bread. Will McRib purists salivate or cry foul? Here's what you should know:

What's the difference between the McRib and McRibster?

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Where can I get it?

You'd better buy a plane ticket, because the McRibster is only available in Europe. The sandwich made its debut in Austria this week, and will be available there until March 27. Austria makes sense, says Molly Aronica at The Daily Meal. "The McRibster seems closer to schnitzel, a classic Austrian dish consisting of pork cutlets." (Fat fact: Germany is the only country where the classic McRib is available 365 days a year.)

Any chance it will make its way stateside?

Perhaps. The McRibster already has its own Facebook page, and American fans of the original are hoping the deep-fried version will hop the Atlantic. "Why can't we get one here?" bemoans Chris Morran at The Consumerist, who makes an open appeal to readers who've sampled the McRibster to report back on its pleasures.

Sources: The Consumerist, The Daily Meal, Eater, Huffington Post, New York Daily News