Maryland law leaves McDonald's large fries lovers holding the bag

Maryland McDonald's customers ordering medium and large french fries are finding out Ronald has a brand new bag. Instead of the iconic red cardboard medium and large fry containers, those orders are now being handed out in paper bags, at least at some Golden Arches locations in Montgomery County. Some customers say the weight and portion size of the bagged fries are less than those served in the cardboard containers. But it's not simply a shrinkflation attempt alone by McDonald's. It turns out that Maryland passed a law in 2024 that mandated the retirement of cardboard fry sleeves forever.

The George "Walter" Taylor act was presented to the public as a bill almost no one would oppose. It would ban the sale and use of firefighting foam that contained "forever chemicals." This would reduce health risks and impacts for firefighters, and who could disagree with that? Well, it turns out another provision was hidden in the bill, one that applied a similar restriction to food packaging. Cardboard fry containers often are lined with a chemical coating that resists grease, and that supposedly contained a forever chemical. Cardboard was out, and the bill was signed into law by former Governor Larry Hogan.

I found the fry transition has been underway in a few other nanny states for at least a couple of years. Like so many nutty laws paased by the Maryland legislature and Montgomery County Council, this was yet another plagiarized from the great state of California. Now, thanks to both local legislative bodies, we not only have paper straws that melt and ruin the taste of your drink, but potentially smaller fry portions for the same high price.

McDonald's swears that the portion size is the same. Fast food packaging experts have noted that the shape difference, and dimensions of the opening of the new bag, together make it more difficult to stuff the same amount of fries into the bag as filled the cardboard. The jury is out. Your mileage may vary. And it will be something to watch in the coming weeks and months - please share your experience in the comments below.

Shooting at Gaithersburg McDonald's

Gaithersburg City police are investigating a shooting that took place at the McDonald's restaurant at 465 N. Frederick Avenue last night, January 19, 2026. Officers from the City and Montgomery County police responded to a report of a shooting there at 7:08 PM Monday. They found a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to his leg. He was transported to a local hospital, where his injuries were determined to be non-life-threatening. 

Police refer to there being multiple suspects in the shooting, who fled the scene and remain at large. Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact the Gaithersburg Police Department Investigative Section at 301-258-6400. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call the Gaithersburg Tip Line at 301-330-4471.

Montgomery Village McDonald's to add 2nd drive-thru lane

The menu items at McDonald's keep getting smaller, but the drive-thru at the Montgomery Village location is about to get bigger. A second lane will be added to the drive-thru later this summer. This will bring the fast food restaurant in line with current McDonald's drive-thru standards, and with the dual-lane capacity of rivals like Chick-fil-A. McDonald's is located at 19388 Montgomery Village Avenue, and is one of the few 24-hour drive-thru fast food restaurants in Montgomery County. Don't tell the County Council!

Angel Reese meal now available at McDonald's in Montgomery County

McDonald's' latest celebrity meal veers from the music world to the WNBA. The Angel Reese meal includes the new BBQ Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese. "Featuring an unapologetically bold and smoky BBQ sauce with crispy bacon, this breakout QPC® is taking it to the next level," McDonald's promises. "Each BBQ Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese is cooked when you order with a 100% fresh beef+ quarter pound patty, seasoned with just a pinch of salt and pepper, and sizzled on our flat iron grill. It’s smothered in smoky BBQ sauce and layered with crispy bacon, two slices of melty American cheese, slivered onions and tangy pickles all on a soft and fluffy sesame seed hamburger bun."

Reportedly, the BBQ sauce is a new recipe, and not the one used for McNuggets or the McRib. The Angel Reese Special also includes a medium fries, and Hi-C Orange is the recommended beverage pairing.(or other soft drink) round out the roster and has 1230 calories. Speaking of local basketball stars...here in Washington, we are looking forward to the Cooper Flagg Meal, if the NBA doesn't cheat us out of the #1 draft pick again.

Gaithersburg McDonald's to host Customer Appreciation Day July 20

The McDonald's at 465 N. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg will host a Customer Appreciation Day tomorrow, Saturday, July 20, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Targeted toward families with children, the event will begin at 10:00 AM with Breakfast with Birdie until 11:00 AM. Lunch with Hamburglar will take place from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. At 1:30 PM, there will be a raffle for the giveaway of 2 kids bikes and 1 hockey table (you must be present to claim your prize if you are winner). There will also be face painting and other prize giveaways.

Montgomery County McDonald's now offering $5 meal deal

McDonald's restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area began a new promotion for these inflationary times yesterday. A $5 Meal Deal is now being offered for the summer season. The meal includes your choice of a McDouble or McChicken sandwich, a small fries, a 4-piece Chicken McNuggets, and a small soft drink of your choice. According to the McDonald's app, you can also choose a Hot n Spicy McChicken, as well. In addition to Montgomery County and the D.C. suburbs, the deal will also be available at participating McDonald's restaurants in the Baltimore region and on the Eastern Shore.

“We heard our fans loud and clear – they’re looking for even more great value from us, and this summer that’s exactly what they’ll get,” McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger said in a statement Tuesday. “Value has always been part of our DNA. We’re focused on living up to that legacy and offering delicious, affordable options customers can enjoy any time they walk through our doors, go through our drive thru or place an order through our app.”

McDonald's Bacon Cajun Ranch McCrispy chicken sandwich arrives in Montgomery County

It's not the legendary Cajun McChicken, but a Louisiana-inspired chicken sandwich is once again on the McDonald's menu for a limited time. The Bacon Cajun Ranch McCrispy has a Southern-style fried chicken "fillet" topped with applewood smoked bacon strips, crinkle-cut pickle slices, and a Cajun ranch sauce, on a toasted potato roll. A deluxe version adds lettuce and tomato. According to the official McDonald's nutrition facts, the Bacon Cajun Ranch McCrispy has 630 calories, 33 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 85 milligrams of cholesterol, 11 grams of sugar, and 1650 milligrams of sodium. 

McDonald's doubling down on drive-thru in Germantown

Drive-thru sales are the highest source of profit for fast food restaurants. And it's no surprise after the pandemic that chains are finding ways to maximize efficiency for takeout and drive-thru customers. McDonald's has implemented a double drive-thru lane system at many locations nationwide, even prior to 2020. That's what it now plans to add at the McDonald's restaurant at 18000 Mateny Road in Germantown, just off of the Great Seneca Highway. Work is expected to begin before summer on the upgraded drive-thru.

McDonald's Cookies & Creme Pie arrives in Montgomery County

There's a new addition to the dessert menu at McDonald's in Montgomery County. The Cookies & Creme Pie features a baked chocolate crust, with a creme filling that also holds Oreo-style chocolate cookie pieces. This pie is reportedly not available in every market across the country, so we were fortunate to be one of those to have it. The pie will be available for a limited time only, as will the Oreo Frappe.

Oreo Frappe returns to McDonald's in Montgomery County

The Oreo Frappe has returned to the McCafe beverage menu at McDonald's. Originally released 7 years ago, it is scheduled to pop back up on menus nationwide May 17, 2023. But it appears to be arriving early here in Montgomery County. Check your local McDonald's location for this blend of mocha and coffee flavors, Oreo cookie pieces, and whipped cream, available for a limited time only.

Spicy McNuggets, Spicy McCrispy return; Strawberry Shortcake McFlurry debuts at McDonald's

McDonald's has new, limited-time only menu items in Montgomery County, whether you are seeking something hot or cold. The fast food chain's popular Spicy Chicken McNuggets return for a third time. Also back for an encore are the Spicy McCrispy and Spicy Deluxe McCrispy chicken sandwiches. And for the first time, McDonald's is offering a Strawberry Shortcake McFlurry. It combines vanilla soft-serve ice cream with "strawberry flavored clusters," and shortbread cookies. 

McDonald's challenges Chick-fil-A with new lemonade

McDonald's has already attempted to muscle into the chicken sandwich market with the very Chick-fil-A-esque McCrispy. Its spare pickle accompaniment and buttered bun leaves no doubt as to which fast food chain inspired its inception. Now the Golden Arches are again displaying the sincerest form of flattery toward America's favorite closed-on-Sundays restaurant, with a new beverage many Chick-fil-A customers find goes best with that famous chicken sandwich: lemonade. It's appearing in select markets across America right now, including New York City, Dallas, Chicago, Seattle, and...Montgomery County, Maryland.

But this lemonade isn't what you might have expected, given McDonald's' Coca-Cola partnership. It would have been easy, cheap and predictable to simply promote Minute Maid Lemonade. After all, Minute Maid has one of the best store-bought lemonades on the market.

Pre-made bottled or frozen lemonades haven't been the tradition at Chick-fil-A, though, so McDonald's is again turning to a formula that has worked for its upstart competitor. Chick-fil-A lemonade is made with "three simple ingredients: real lemon juice, cane sugar and water," according to the company's website. The new McDonald's Lemonade is made with...real lemon juice, cane sugar and water. Chick-fil-A lemonade has bits of pulp in it, due to being squeezed from real lemons. McDonald's Lemonade also has bits of pulp in it.

Wow, what a coincidence!

It's safe to assume that if customer reaction is favorable enough, the new lemonade will be added to the menu nationwide. For now, check your local McDonald's in Montgomery County, and you can be one of the first in America to sample it. Even on Sundays.

Bacon Ranch McCrispy arrives at McDonald's in Montgomery County

The new Bacon Ranch McCrispy has arrived at McDonald's restaurants in Montgomery County. While the limited-time-only menu item is scheduled to be available nationwide on March 13, 2023, it is popping up early at McDonald's locations in Montgomery County. The Bacon Ranch McCrispy sandwich features a "whole muscle chicken filet," topped with a special ranch sauce on both the top and bottom buns, applewood smoked bacon and crinkle-cut pickles. A Deluxe version adds sliced Roma tomatoes and shredded lettuce.

Rare Montgomery County test item Smoky BLT Quarter Pounder now on McDonald's menu nationwide

When fast food restaurants try out new menu items, their test markets are usually places like Ohio and Southern California, not Montgomery County, Maryland. Last year, McDonald's tested a Smoky BLT Quarter Pounder with two slices of American cheese, Roma tomatoes, Applewood smoked bacon, shredded lettuce and "smoky sauce" at several of their restaurants here in the county, including Bethesda (River Road), Rockville and Silver Spring. The burger was apparently well-received, as it has now been added to their menu nationwide for a limited time this month. Joining it is an Oreo Fudge McFlurry.

I'm only aware of one other time that a fast food chain has tested a possible menu item in Montgomery County, In the mid 1990s, McDonald's tested Mighty Wings. That iteration apparently wasn't ready for prime time, as a meatier and spicier version of Mighty Wings didn't get the green light for nationwide release until two decades later in 2013. Let's hope there will be more test items from McDonald's in the future, and that other fast food chains will recognize our usefulness as a test market.

Gaithersburg McDonald's renovations ahead

Another McDonald's renovation is ahead in Gaithersburg, a source with knowledge of the plans reports. The interior upgrades at the 9100 Rothbury Drive restaurant will be limited to the "back-of-the-house" kitchen area, though. No changes to business hours during the work have been announced yet.

Spicy Chicken McNuggets return to McDonald's

Spicy McNuggets drive-thru
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How do you make America's favorite chicken nugget better? Make it hot and spicy, of course. McDonald's has brought back Spicy Chicken McNuggets for a limited-time. A six-piece is $2.50 - not bad, considering what you pay for a four-piece McNuggets. Ranch is probably the best sauce for this McNugget variation.

Burger King gets retro logos on Shady Grove Road

The main sign at the temporarily-closed Burger King at 16004 Shady Grove Road features a more-recent burger king logo. But the renovated restaurant will also display retro BK logos. Several have now been installed, as well as the structure that will hold the drive-thru menu. 

Striping and arrows have been applied to the drive-thru lane. Burger King announced last January that it planned to switch back to the logo the chain used during its most successful era.

McDonald's adds Glazed Pull-Apart Donut to menu

McDonald's has added a new item to its McCafe line of baked goods designed to go with coffee beverages. The Glazed Pull-Apart Donut is shareable, with donut holes attached to the center that can be torn off. McDonald's says it is a limited-time item, and will be available all day, not just for breakfast. 

The new donut has already appeared at some McDonald's locations in Montgomery County, and will be available at all McDonald's nationwide on September 1, 2021. How does it compare to Krispy Kreme? Watch my review to find out.