They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And since McDonald’s is America’s favorite breakfast spot, no one can fault you for wanting your Egg McMuffins with a side of large fries to kickstart your day. But does McDonald’s sell fries in the morning?
McDonald’s Meal Times
Rather than having breakfast at home, most Americans will get something on the go. And for many, McDonald’s is the go-to restaurant chain for breakfast meals. But sometimes you want to have fries with your McDonald’s breakfast meal.
Will McDonald’s sell you fries in the morning? The short answer is No. Let’s look at McDonald’s meal hours and what you can find on the menu for each meal to help you know what to order and when.
Breakfast Hours
Typically, McDonald’s restaurants serve breakfast between 5 and 11 am from Monday to Thursday. Breakfast hours extend to 11:30 on Fridays.
It’s important to understand that McDonald’s is a large fast-food chain, and breakfast hours vary based on restaurant location.
In 2015, McDonald’s introduced All Day Breakfast and removed this offering in March 2020 due to the pandemic.
There are plans to bring back All Day Breakfast to McDonald’s, but the restaurant chain has yet to issue a specific date.
Now, what meals can you find on the McDonald’s breakfast menu? The McDonald’s breakfast menu has plenty of offerings, including classics such as:
- Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit
- Sausage McMuffin
- Egg McMuffin
You can also find items such as Fruit & Maple Oatmeal, the Sausage Burrito, and various breakfast combos on the McDonald’s breakfast menu.
You are truly spoilt for choice when having breakfast at your local McDonald’s.
Lunch Hours
McDonald’s locations nationwide serve lunch from at 10:30 am local time, from Monday to Friday.
Lunch hours vary during weekends, usually depending on location. Usually, lunch starts rolling at 11:00 am or later on Saturday and Sunday.
A lot more people tend to eat out on weekends than on weekdays. Most locations start serving lunch late on weekends because of the bigger crowds, and restaurant staff needs more time to prepare.
In most cases, the meals offered at breakfast aren’t usually on the McDonald’s lunch menu, and vice versa.
Occasionally, you can order breakfast items after 11 am and get lucky since not all menu items made from breakfast sell out immediately.
So, what meals are offered on the McDonald’s lunch menu? The McDonald’s lunch comprises all their famous burgers and fries, including:
- The Big Mac
- Quarter Pounder with Cheese
- Cheeseburger
- Chicken Selects & McNuggets
- Fries & Sides
When does the McDonald’s lunch menu end? Well, it doesn’t. Unlike the breakfast menu, the McDonald’s lunch menu is available all day.
You can order anything off the lunch menu starting from 10:30 am up to when the doors close, which is usually 10 or 11 pm.
What’s The Earliest I Can Get Fries at McDonald’s?
At McDonald’s, fries are offered on the lunch menu. And since lunch doesn’t start until 10:30 am on weekdays and after 11:00 am on weekends, you probably won’t be able to score McDonald’s large fries earlier.
As mentioned above, the McDonald’s lunch menu stays on until the restaurant closes. That means you can have all the fries you want at any time of the day, as long as it’s after 10:30 am.
Why Does McDonald’s Offer Breakfast and Lunch at Different Hours?
It’s all for convenience. Most customers want breakfast foods for breakfast and other menu items for lunch.
Having different hours for breakfast and lunch allows hungry patrons to get what they want when they want it.
What Are the Alternatives to Fries for Breakfast at McDonald’s?
The fact that you can’t get fries for breakfast at McDonald’s doesn’t mean the end of the world.
There are other items on the McDonald’s breakfast menu to appease your cravings. The most obvious alternative to fries for breakfast at McDonald’s is Hash Browns.
The key ingredient is the same; potato. McDonald’s Hash Browns are made from shredded potatoes.
They are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and are every bit as yummy and salty as the traditional McDonald’s fries.
Hash Browns are also healthier, containing fewer fats, carbs, and calories than fries.
So, the next time you crave McDonald’s fries for breakfast, consider ordering Hash Browns off the breakfast menu.
Apart from the Hash Browns, the McDonald’s breakfast menu is full of delicious snacks and other breakfast items to get you rejuvenated and ready to seize the day.
Conclusion
If you have breakfast at McDonald’s regularly, you may be tempted to have breakfast with a side of fries.
Does McDonald’s sell fries in the morning? No. You can’t have fries at McDonald’s before 10:30 am when the lunch menu starts, and you want to consider alternatives.
Lucy is the writer and editor for Mybeautifulhaven.com. I am a mom of 3, a teenager, and 2 others under 5yrs. I love decorating, organization and motherhood and in this blog, you are going to find a mix of all this. I hold a degree in English and Literature with several years of teaching both in elementary school and high school.