McDonald’s continually strives to strike a balance between serving nostalgia while also moving forward and offering new flavors to meet modern tastes. Last year alone, it bowed to fan demands, re-introduced snack wrappers, and even blew the dust and rust off one of the most memorable Happy Meal toys of all time, the Changeables. McDonald’s has never been afraid to follow trends, such as its recent foray into Hot Honey, or even bring in ideas that have worked well overseas, such as McShaker Fries. Its next product is also inspired by popular McDonald’s products abroad, and now it may become the most anticipated new McDonald’s product of them all – the Big Arch.
The giant burger, which comes with new sauce, buns, cheese and crispy onions, has been popular in multiple international locations since 2024 and is on track to take over the U.S. today. At the time of its initial launch, McDonald’s President and CEO Chris Kempczinski called The Big Arch “a quintessential McDonald’s burger, infused with our signature familiar flavors.” The Takeout originally hoped to bring the Big Arch to our Golden Arches in 2025, but ultimately had to settle for 2026.
It’s finally our turn to try the next generation of McDonald’s burgers. There are a lot of questions, but the main one remains – is the Gateway Arch the next big monster, or a big swing and miss? Takeaway Head to McDonald’s to give it a try and find out what’s really going on. All is finally revealed in this playful McChew and review!
Read more: Fast food chains serving the highest and lowest quality burgers
methodology
McDonald’s Big Arch Box – Michael Palan / The Takeout
While March 3rd is circled on our calendars as Big Arch’s official big release date, I’ve noticed that social media has been flooded with messages of people devouring them in their cars. Lo and behold, it was available at your local McDonald’s in New York City even before her due date. After digesting some awesome Krispy Kreme x Oreos donuts, I scurried over to grab lunch after dessert. I ordered the Arch as it was, then ordered another with extra sauce, pickles and crispy onions, and a Big Mac for comparison. I tasted the burger on site several times.
This review is a summary of my personal taste and opinion. I also considered my previous experience with McDonald’s, its burger list, and my current experience with the Gateway Arch. The final criteria considered for this chew and review were flavor, appearance, presentation, smell, texture, value, familiarity, originality, uniqueness, quaintness, and ultimately, whether this burger is the next big hit. Stay tuned for answers.
What is McDonald’s Arch
Archway Dinner – Michael Palan / The Takeout
Over its illustrious history, McDonald’s has introduced several home run burgers in sizes that dwarf its classic original, with the Big Mac taking the nation by storm in 1968 and the Quarter Pounder starting in 1973. These burgers have been the Golden Vault standard for decades, although the chain often tried to launch the next best and biggest burger in the following decades to find a foothold on its menu. Burgers like the McD.LT and McLean Deluxe have come and gone, and are mostly forgotten. There’s even a deluxe room called “Arch Deluxe”, but it’s not luxurious enough to stay.
“The Arch” is now used as the title for the new burger, the Arch, which debuts at McDonald’s in Portugal in 2024 and subsequently appears in the chain’s outposts in Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Canada. Positive feedback and sales have ensured the burger a permanent spot on overseas menus, and McDonald’s USA hopes to do the same when it launches for a limited time in 2026.
The Big Arch starts with two juicy quarter-pound beef patties, topped with three slices of melted white cheddar cheese, crispy onion strips, pickles, lettuce and the all-new Big Arch sauce. It’s all sandwiched between freshly toasted sesame and poppy seed bread. McDonald’s describes Big Arch Sauce as “rich and creamy, with the perfect balance of mustard, pickle and sweet tomato flavors.”
How to Buy and Try the McDonald’s Big Arch
Arch Menu – Michael Palan / The Takeout
Big Arch will officially launch at participating McDonald’s locations nationwide on March 3, but your local restaurant may already have it on the menu. The Grand Arch is a limited time product and the time you will stay here is uncertain. Ordering is available after breakfast ends and switches to the daytime menu, while supplies last.
Big Arch can be ordered at the in-store counter, at a kiosk or drive-thru (where available). You can also order ahead for dine-in, pickup or even delivery. Additional fees may apply for delivery or orders placed through third-party applications and websites. Prices vary by location, but at the Manhattan location where I ordered, the Big Arch retails for $9.49 and can be made into a meal, including chips and a drink, starting at $14.98.
Like most McDonald’s products, the Big Arch is fully customizable, with the ability to remove or add given ingredients, or add extras like three and a half slices of bacon or three slices of roma tomatoes. Additional or add-on ingredients are subject to additional charges, which may vary by location.
McDonald’s Arches Nutritional Information
Boxed Open Big Arch Sandwich – Michael Palan / The Takeout
Big Arch’s burger patties are made with 100% beef and contain no fillers or fillers. They are simply seasoned with salt and black pepper. Filled with poppy and sesame seeds, Big Arch’s buns contain wheat and barley malt flour, as well as salt, vinegar and cornstarch. Big Arch Sauce is a blend of water, soybean oil, ketchup, vinegar, sugar, egg yolks, salt, and contains 2% or less modified cornstarch, mustard, spices, garlic powder, onion powder, xanthan gum, lemon juice concentrate, turmeric and paprika extracts (for color), and natural flavors (including celery seed extract). If you’re wondering how Arch sauce differs from Big Mac sauce, the key ingredient is tomato flavor.
One Big Arch gives eaters a staggering 1,020 calories, 59 grams of total carbohydrates, 65 grams of total fat, 25 grams of saturated fat, 3 grams of trans fat, an eye-popping 1,760 milligrams of sodium, 175 milligrams of cholesterol, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 15 grams of sugar (including 10 grams of added sugar), and 53 grams of protein. The bread also contains 290 mg of calcium, 7 mg of iron and 810 mg of potassium. It contains allergens wheat, sesame, milk, soy and egg.
Taste Test: McDonald’s Arches
Big Arch Sandwich in a Box – Michael Palan / The Takeout
The first detail that caught my eye at the Gateway Arch was the new bread, which features the chain’s signature sesame and poppy seeds. The baked bread was surprisingly dense and hard to the touch. I looked under the hood and the contents looked no different than a Big Mac, with the new fried onions hiding between the patty and bun at the bottom.
Before I start chowing down, I wanted to get acquainted with the new sauce. It’s slightly more orange than Mac Sauce, and the flavor seems to be a wild riff on that familiar favorite. While ketchup is one of the key flavors prized for its flavor chemistry, it’s the pickled flavor that stands out the most. Despite the unique taste, I wasn’t quite ready to cheer for the cacophony. I took a small bite of the white cheddar cheese, which seemed bland except for a hint of smoke, and the crispy onions, which lost a bit of their crispness in the sauce but still appealed to me. The burger patty looked well cooked and battered, but sadly lacked any crunch.
It was finally time to take a bite, and while there were a lot of flavors going together, my taste buds were focused on the bread. It had a toasty texture and the more I bit into it, the more distracting it became. This sauce, while certainly novel, didn’t end up being a winning recipe for me. I loved the flavor of the pre-pickles, but it didn’t enhance the flavor of the burger and hindered full enjoyment.
McDonald’s Arches – What’s the Big Deal or Does It Raise Your Eyebrows?
Big Arch sitting next to a Big Mac on a tray – Michael Palan / The Takeout
Before I draw final conclusions about the Giant Arch, I want to take another look at the Big Mac. Visually, the Big Mac does look very puny compared to its new “big” sibling. Based on these looks alone, the Big Mac seems like a big loser in comparison. Alas, looks aren’t everything. Aside from the unnecessary second bun and too much chopped lettuce, a fresh bite of the Big Mac reminded me of its wonderful combination of flavors, all punctuated by its delicious sauce.
I also ordered a second order of large arches, which doubled the sauce, pickles, and crispy onions. I was hoping the results would be better, but unfortunately, it turned out to be essentially the same. I really can’t stand the bread; the main problem is that it lacks the fluffy texture of McDonald’s bread that we know and love. Additionally, the sauce, while rich in flavor, looked strange and in turn was inconsistent with the rest of the burger.
I wanted a new signature burger to grace the McDonald’s menu, but I’m sure the Gateway Arch isn’t the one. It was completely edible and quite filling, but I thought it was good after trying it twice in one go. Going forward, I’ll be sticking with the classic Big Mac, or switching to my usual choice, the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese.
For more food and drink, join The Takeout’s newsletter and add us as your go-to search source. Get taste tests, food and drink news, deals on your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more!
Read the original article about takeout.
