How to Order at McDonald's

Co-authored by Christopher M. Osborne, PhD

Last Updated: March 1, 2021 References

Along with walking up to the counter or using the drive-thru, McDonald’s now provides several other ways to order food, including smartphone apps and in-store touchscreens. You also have many ordering choices if you want to pick some healthier options, get the most food for your money, or “hack” your own meal from the “secret menu.” And, you may be able to have your food delivered right to your car, your table at the restaurant, or even your home!

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Deciding What to Order

1
Compare the cost of combo meals to individual menu items. You’ll find several numbered “Value Meals” on McDonald’s menu, which typically combine a sandwich (or similar entree) with fries and a drink. These usually will save you money versus buying each component of a meal separately, but only if you really want all 3 parts of the meal.
- For instance, a Quarter Pounder Value Meal will cost you less than buying the burger, fries, and drink separately. However, if you'd prefer to just ask for a cup of water (which should be free), it's probably cheaper to order the burger and fries individually.
2
Check the “$1, $2, $3 Value Menu” and “2 for $3” or “2 for $4” deals. You'll find a wide range of burgers, sandwiches, fries, drinks, and treats sold individually as part of the Value Menu. You may be able to build your own meal combo for less than any of the numbered Value Meals. And, if you'd like 2 of the same item or are ordering for 2 people, look for any 2 for $3 or 2 for $4 deals.
- You have to buy 2 of the item to get the 2 for $3 or 2 for $4 price. Otherwise they'll charge you the regular menu price.
- If you’re feeding a larger group, many locations sell baskets of fries, 20-piece McNuggets, and sometimes bags of burgers or family combo meals that can save you money.
- Don’t be afraid to ask if there are any coupons or promotions available as well.
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3
Order a salad without dressing or a yogurt parfait for the healthiest options. Generally speaking, these are the healthiest standard menu items. However, many McDonald’s menu boards now contain calorie counts, and you can also ask them for additional nutritional information on every menu item.
- If you really want to eat healthier at McDonald’s, search online for “healthy McDonald’s menu items” before you head to the restaurant.^{[1]
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- McDonald’s continues to expand their menu offerings in an attempt to appeal to more health-conscious consumers.
4
Order a Happy Meal to reduce your calorie intake a bit. If you crave the classic McDonald’s taste but do want to eat at least a little healthier, consider ordering a Happy Meal (yes, they sell them to adults!). The small pouch of fries, kid-size drink, and fresh fruit will be slightly better for your waistline.
- Get the hamburger (instead of cheeseburger) or 4 piece (instead of 6 piece) McNuggets Happy Meal to shave off some more calories and fat.
- If you have no interest in the free toy, you can ask them to leave it out!
5
Order from the "secret menu" to make your meal ultra-customized. You’ll find many mentions online of McDonald’s so-called “secret menu,” but this really just involves making substitutions or combinations of existing menu items. Search online before heading to the restaurant to find some popular secret menu “hacks.”^{[2]
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- You can, for instance, order any burger “Big Mac style,” which means adding lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and Big Mac sauce to the plain burger. You can also substitute a sesame seed bun on any sandwich.
- You can also request a “round egg” (a fresh egg cooked in a round form) on any breakfast sandwich instead of getting the scrambled egg sheet that’s made from a powdered egg mix.
- To make sure your fries are hot and fresh, just request “fresh fries.” If you want to make sure your Filet-o-Fish is cooked fresh, request it without cheese.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Ordering at the Counter

1
Scan the menu boards while you wait your turn in line. All the standard menu items at the McDonald’s you’re visiting will be listed on the series of menu boards that are above the counter where you’ll order. Pictures of the food accompany many of the menu items, while others are just text descriptions.
- Most McDonald’s now have digital menu boards that rotate through all the items on their ever-expanding menu. You may have to watch for a few moments to see the entire menu.
- If you have difficulty seeing or reading the menu boards, ask the person at the counter for a braille menu or other ordering assistance. They should be happy to help.
2
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or make requests while ordering. Even if the store is busy, the employee at the counter should be happy to help you get the meal you want. If you want your Big Mac without cheese, request it. If you want to know the cheapest way to get McNuggets and fries for 8 kids, ask.
- Be polite and speak clearly, though. The kinder you are, the more helpful the person behind the counter is likely to be.
3
Wait for your order after paying for it. You can pay by cash, credit, debit, McDonald’s gift card, or possibly by scanning your smartphone (if you have a linked payment app). After you pay, take your receipt and move to the side of the register or to the designated pickup area at one end of the counter.
- If you’re not sure where to wait for your food, just ask!
- Some McDonald’s will now deliver food to your table in the restaurant. If so, they’ll give you a numbered tag to display on your table, or an electronic tag to keep with you until your food arrives.^{[3]
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- Many McDonald’s have self-service drink stands. If so, they’ll give you an empty cup so you can choose your drink at the stand.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Ordering from the Drive-Thru

1
Ask for time to check over the menu if you need it. Within a few seconds of pulling up to the speaker box beneath the menu board, you’ll probably hear “Welcome to McDonald’s, may I take your order?” If you’re ready to order, go ahead. If not, simply ask for a moment to look over the menu. The employee will probably tell you to take your time and just start speaking your order whenever you’re ready.
- The employee is listening on a headset at all times, so they’ll hear you whenever you start ordering.
- If you need help ordering off the menu, let the person know.
- The menu boards outside will match the ones inside, so take your time looking over the various value meals/deals and calorie counts. That way, you can get what you want, perhaps save a little money, and maybe even eat a little healthier!
2
Announce your menu selections slowly and clearly. You don’t have to shout into the speaker for the person to hear you, but it helps to speak a bit louder and more deliberately than normal. If you have any questions or wish to make any substitutions or special requests, present these clearly as well.
- There may be a video screen that lists your order as you go. Check this over to make sure your order has been inputted correctly.
- If there isn’t a video screen, the employee should read back your order to you to confirm they got it right. Listen carefully and make any corrections if needed.
3
Pull around to the designated window. After your order is confirmed, the employee will tell you the total cost and ask you to either “pull around to the window,” “pull around to the first window,” or “pull around to the second window.” Simply follow the drive-thru lane to this window.
- Some McDonald’s have only 1 window, where you’ll pay and pick up your food. Others have 2, the first one for paying and the second for picking up your food. Sometimes, though, the first window will be closed and you’ll pay and pick up at the second window.
- McDonald’s drive-thru wait times have actually increased in recent years, due to expanding menu options and all the new ways to order (apps, touchscreens, etc.). So try to be patient!^{[4]
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4
Pay for, pick up, and check over your food order. Pay by cash, credit, debit, gift card, or phone payment app at the designated window. Then either pull to the next window or (if there’s only 1 window) stay where you are and wait for your food. Once your food is handed to you, quickly scan through the bags to make sure you received everything you ordered.
- If you find a mistake while you’re still at the window, you can ask them to fix it right then and there. If you find the mistake after you pull away, you’ll have to either park and go into the restaurant or pull around the drive-thru again.
- Take your receipt in case you need to go inside or pull back around due to a mistake in your order.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Ordering from an In-Store Touchscreen

1
Walk up to a touchscreen ordering kiosk in the restaurant. If your chosen McDonald’s has these, you’ll find them in the vicinity of the main entrance and the walk-up counter. They look like flat-screen TVs mounted vertically, will be displaying ads for menu items on them, and should be labeled as an ordering kiosk.
- The plan is for practically every McDonald’s to eventually have ordering kiosks, but there are no plans to remove the walk-up counters for those who prefer to order from a human.^{[5]
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2
Touch the screen to begin your order. The food ad that is on the screen will be replaced by the initial ordering screen. In many cases, you’ll first be asked to select either “dine in” or “take out.” Use your index finger to touch the correct tab on the screen.^{[6]
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- You might also be asked to select your payment method before you begin ordering. If you want to pay with cash, you’ll typically have to walk up to the counter to pay after you’ve ordered. If you pay by credit, debit, or gift card, you can swipe it right at the kiosk when you’re done ordering.
3
Navigate through the menu to select what you’d like to order. The menu items are grouped into major categories like “Happy Meals” and “Beverages,” often in tabs that run along the left side of the screen. Touch a category tab to open up the set of tabs that correspond to the specific menu items in that category. Look for the specific food items or value meals that you’d like to order.^{[7]
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- For instance, if you just want to order medium french fries, look for a tab like “Fries and Sides” (or similar) on the left side, touch it, then find the tab with the label and picture of fries on it.
4
Choose your preferences for each menu item you select. The touchscreen kiosk is intended to make it easy for you to make substitutions or special requests with most menu items. Look for tabs like “add sauce?”, “add lettuce?”, and so on when you touch on a menu item.^{[8]
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- For instance, if you want your medium fries with ketchup, you’ll touch the “fries” tab, touch the “medium” tab, and select “ketchup” when the sauce and add-on options appear.
- If you make a mistake, look for a “remove” or “go back” tab as you’re ordering an item.
- Each time you select an item, there will be an “Add to Order” or “Confirm” tab for you to touch. This will add the selection to your order.
5
Confirm and complete your order. When you’ve finished navigating the menu tabs and have ordered your meal, look for a tab that says something like “Done” or “Complete Order” or “Finish and Pay” at the bottom of the screen. When you touch this, you’ll see a list of your entire order, a dialog box asking if your order is correct, and “Yes” or “No” tabs. If there is an error, touch on “No” and you will be able to go back and make changes to your order.^{[9]
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- If everything looks right, click “Yes” and proceed to payment.
6
Pay for your order and get your pickup number. If you are paying by credit, debit, or gift card, you can pay right at the kiosk and get a numbered receipt. If you are paying by cash, you will likely get your numbered receipt and have to go to the counter to pay. When the number on your receipt is called or is shown on the screen at the pickup area of the counter, your order is ready!^{[10]
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- If you are going to eat on site and the restaurant has table service, the kiosk will ask you to pick up a numbered tag or an electronic tag and take it to your chosen table. When your food is ready, an employee will bring your order right to you.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Using the McDonald’s App to Pick Up Food

1
Download the McDonald’s app to your smartphone. You can find it in both the App Store and the Google Play Store. You’ll be asked to create an account and enter in a credit card to pay for your orders.^{[11]
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- The app is free to download.
- For the app to work properly, you will need to give it permission to identify your current location so it can direct your orders to the nearest participating McDonald’s.
2
Navigate through the menu and select what you’d like to order. You should find the exact same menu items as are available in the nearby McDonald’s restaurant from which you will pick up your order. Prices and calorie counts will be displayed prominently so you can look for savings or healthier options.^{[12]
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- As you use the app, you can identify favorite menu items or standard orders. For instance, if you order a Big Mac meal nearly every time, you can set it so that it will only take a couple of clicks to send that order in.
- When you are finished selecting what you’d like to order, authorize payment using your saved credit card. The payment won’t go through until your order is completed at the restaurant, however.
3
Check in to complete your order when you arrive at the restaurant. When you arrive at the restaurant where you’ll pick up your food, click the “check in” tab to send the order to the restaurant. You’ll be give a 4-digit code once you check in, and you’ll use this code to identify your order at pickup.^{[13]
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- The payment will go through and your order will be prepared once you check in.
- McDonald’s advises you not to try to order food while driving. Either wait until you reach the restaurant parking lot to choose your order and check in all at once, or pick what you’ll order at home, drive to the restaurant, and check in when you there.
4
Choose how to get your food. Once you get your 4-digit code, you’ll be given 3 choices to select from. You can choose “Drive-Thru,” tell them your code at the ordering speaker, and pick the food up at the window. Or, you can choose “Curbside,” park in one of the designated pickup spaces, and wait for your order to be brought to your car. Finally, you can choose “Inside the Restaurant” and go to the pickup counter to await your food.^{[14]
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- Because your order isn’t prepared until you check in, you’ll still have to wait a few minutes for your food to be ready.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I order at McDonald's?

Havarti2

Community Answer

Go up to the cashier when it is your turn in line, and ask them for what you want to eat. Then pay and wait until your food is ready.