Forgotten McDonald’s menu item was ‘amazing’ in the 90s but many don’t believe it existed

McDonald’s has been serving customers in the UK for 52 years, and during that time, the chain has changed substantially.

The very first McDonald’s in the UK launched on November 13, 1974, in Woolwich, and back then, a Big Mac cost just 45p, and a cheeseburger was 21p.

The Happy Meal followed in 1986, along with the UK’s very first drive-thru restaurant, but it was the 90s that saw something really interesting go on sale.

It’s a somewhat controversial product that many often think is fake or don’t believe really existed, as it wasn’t around for very long: McPizza.

What was the McPizza?

These came in three different flavours: Cheese, Cheese & Pepperoni, and the Deluxe (cheese, green pepper, onion, pepperoni, and more).

According to McDonald’s website, the pizzas were sold for a ‘limited period in some restaurants’ in the mid-1990s as part of a ‘sales and product test’.

But they might want to consider it, as the pizzas still have a big fan base.

On Reddit, people hailed the McPizza, or Pimma as some also call it, ‘amazing’, ‘delicious’, and ‘one of the best tasting pizzas’ they’ve ever had.

While u/PassengerTop2805 said: ‘Haven’t had in 30 years, but I can still taste it.

It was soooooo good.’

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And u/brown_boognish_pants wrote: ‘Honestly, the pizza was pretty great for what it was.

The crust was totally delicious and kind of special, honestly.

That’s what I remember the most.

The crust was actually great.

It’s still fast food, but it was something everyone liked where I lived.

I’d have to say it was dramatically underrated if people think it was a flop.

Better than lots of pizza chains.

It was surprisingly great.’
The pizza was also sold in the US, launching there slightly earlier in the 80s.

It was discontinued in almost all of the chain’s American restaurants, with two locations continuing to sell pizza for years afterwards.

It’s thought you can still order pizza today at the world’s second-largest McDonald’s in Orlando, Florida – but it’s not the same as the one from the 90s.

Mcdonald's UK 50 year timeline:

1974.

McDonald’s first UK restaurant opens on Woolwich High Street.

It was the 3,000th McDonald’s to open in the world, and over 1,000 American guests flew in for the official opening.

1974.

The price of a Big Mac was 45p, and a cheeseburger was 21p.

1976.

The first TV advert is broadcast in the UK.

1978.

First exclusively takeaway restaurant opens in Shepherd’s Bush, London.

1984.

McDonald’s launches Chicken Nuggets to replace its Onion Nuggets, as customer tastes evolve.

1986.

First Drive-Thru opened in Fallowfield, Manchester, providing a new way to order.

1986.

Happy Meal launched: early toys included Penfriends, Play-Doh and Christmas baubles.

1986.

First UK franchisee – John King – opens a restaurant in Hayes, Middlesex.

1989.

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) becomes registered in the UK.

Since its launch, it has raised over £100m and supported over 95,000 families across the UK.

Mid-90s. McDonald’s trials personal pizzas; an 8-inch pizza split into four and available in three flavours: Cheese, Cheese & Pepperoni and the Deluxe.

2000. McDonald’s opens its 1000th restaurant in the Millennium Dome, designed to maximise the use of recyclable and environmentally sound materials.

2000.

The McFlurry launched.

2004. McDonald’s launches Wifi in restaurants.

2017. McDelivery launches – increasing ways for customers to order and enjoy their McDonald’s favourites.

2021. McDonald’s opens its first net-zero restaurant in Market Drayton, Shropshire.

2021.

Convenience of the Future rolls out – an investment of over £250 million over four years to support in redesigning McDonald’s restaurants to keep pace with customer expectations today and into the future.

2022.

After three years of research and development, McDonald’s launches its first vegan plant-based burger option: the McPlant.

2022. McDonald’s launches the MyMcDonald’s App.

Today.

McDonald’s now has 1,493 restaurants, serving almost 4 million customers a day, across the UK, with the support of 200 franchisees and 171,415 crew members.

Today.

Through its supply chain, it has added £2.13 billion indirect gross value added to the economy in the UK, helping support around 15,775 jobs in farming communities and further afield.

Today.

McDonald’s now offers 20 different apprenticeships across 9 providers, including 4 universities and has supported 21,000 people in gaining an apprenticeship.

Will pizza ever come back to McDonald’s UK?

But perhaps that’s for the best…
We previously discovered that bringing back an old classic doesn’t always go to plan, as fans spent almost a decade begging McDonald’s for the McRib, only to be disappointed when it made its comeback in October 2024.

Customers realised there had been a small change to the way the sandwich was made, with the barbecue sauce being squeezed onto the bun, instead of the pork patty being submerged in the smoky, sweet stuff.

As such, people were quick to say Maccies had ‘ruined it’, and the new version was too ‘dry’ as a result.

And this isn’t the only change the chain has made that’s caused a stir with customers.

Some noticed the ingredients in the popular sweet and sour sauce had been tweaked, with Apricot Puree being swapped for Apple Pulp, and soy sauce being removed.

A McDonald’s spokesperson told Metro at the time that the recipe had a ‘very minor variation’, because they used a ‘contingency supplier’, who created dips for McDonald’s in Germany.

This article was first published on November 13, 2024.
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.