Interesting facts about visiting the most fashionable McDonald’s in the world + photos

I ate at the trendiest McDonald’s in the world in Hong Kong and was impressed with the food and atmosphere.
The restaurant had a do-it-yourself salad bar and served an elegant, chic menu to diners.
The service reminded me of serving in a quality restaurant and the elegant interior seemed very trendy.

Hong Kong versions of popular American fast food chains are sometimes better than the original ones in the US.

For example, the city is famous for the concept of McDonald’s Next, a version of the fast food franchise that aims to be “modern and progressive”.

I visited this place in the Admiralty, which is called “the most fashionable McDonald’s in the world.” Here are seven things that surprised me during my visit.

The DIY Salad Bar was one of the first things I noticed.

A salad bar at a warehouse type McDonald's with employees working behind the counter. — Customers could make their own salad while they waited for their burgers.

Modeled after Chipotle’s quick casual concept, the salad bar features 19 ingredients including a variety of greens, quinoa and sauces.

Customers can spend a few minutes preparing their own salads while waiting for the cooked-to-order burgers to be delivered from the kitchen to the table.

Each dish was personalized and there were plenty of options

Self-service kiosk with black background and images of bun bun, tomato, lettuce; Self-service kiosk with images of hamburger patties and other meats — I could choose the meat and toppings for my burger.

I excitedly ordered myself a burger from one of the many Create Your Taste stalls. I could choose the bread, meat, and vegetables for my burger by looking at a variety of options on the screen.

The choice of burgers offered a choice of bun or no bun, portobello meat or mushrooms, and top-notch ingredients such as parmesan cheese, guacamole, caramelized onions, and even truffle sauce.

A self-service kiosk with a screen showing pink patterned burger options on top with pictures of french fries in a container with a cartoon bunny on them. — Some menu items were themed.

Even more surprising to me was that my custom burger cost less than $10.

The ads and menus were sleek and elegant.

Warehouse-style metal counter with cash registers and a black-red-white menu with McDonald's items overhead. — The menus and food posters looked elegant.

The iced coffee looked like something straight out of a TV commercial, and images of specialty dishes such as pizza and tiramisu were plastered on posters and looked delicious.

Even the different coffee beans were beautifully advertised, as if it were a choice between Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay.

The service reminded me of restaurant quality.

Plastic marker on table with brown illustration with hamburger and number "216" printed on it — I put the number on the table after I ordered.

As soon as I placed my order at the kiosk, I was given a number which I put on my desk. The employee brought my order, so I didn’t even have to get up.

The opportunity to dine in a restaurant added a touch of slow food to the Happy-Meal experience. Various seating arrangements suit different diners and groups, reminiscent of restaurant quality.

There were several themed dishes on the menu.

Close-up shot of hamburger with brioche bun and curly french fries container with cartoon bunny on it — I ordered a My Melody themed meal with a drink, hamburger and fries.

For about $1, I ordered Sanrio My Melody style fries and peach soda. The soda was carbonated with chunks of peach jelly at the bottom of the drink, and the fries were Cajun and slightly soggy from being cooked in oil.

None of these food items have anything to do with My Melody, but the packaging was cute and aesthetically pleasing.

The burger had lettuce, tomatoes and a brioche bun.

Caitlin Chung

You can’t order curly fries or a brioche bun in the US franchise, so that was another perk of dining at McDonald’s Next.

The restaurant was equipped with wireless charging stations.

This McDonald’s seemed to be designed to make diners want to stay all day.

Equipped with wireless charging technology, the comfort and convenience of the restaurant’s facilities paid homage to Hong Kong’s booming urban culture.

I was impressed by the chic interior design

Exterior of McDonald's Next with the McDonald's logo outside on a gray industrial wall and restaurant entrance.

Even the exterior of McDonald’s Next looked chic.

Caitlin Chung

The space has been decked out in raw oak, polished concrete flooring, and understated line art of classic McDonald’s menu items.

Industrial style counter with suspended cylindrical lighting and tiled floor in a restaurant. A table with a wooden top and gray industrial legs sits in front of the counter. — The interior of McDonald’s Next had an industrial design and warehouse feel.

Open ceilings with visible ductwork and walls with exposed studs and joints created a warehouse-style aesthetic that took my attention away from the furnishings and shifted my focus to the food.

This McDonald’s Next concept caught the eye with its minimalistic metal design.