Controversial new McDonald's item sparks huge debate about American and UK menus
Rachael Davis
Featured Image Credit: McDonald's
Chicken Selects are a fan-favourite McDonald's menu item in the UK. The fast food chain's take on chicken strips, which consist of tender chicken breast in a seasoned, crispy coating, are a go-to order for those of us who like a healthy dose of protein with our deep fried treats.
However, Maccies fans in the US have been sorely missing out: the Chicken Selects were discontinued from the American branch of the chain back in 2013, despite remaining available in the UK ever since.
Good news, Americans: McDonald's chicken strips are back - though not in the way one might have hoped.
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Instead of bringing the Chicken Select back to hungry Americans, McDonald's has put a new equivalent on the menu. The McCrispy Strips, described by the chain as 'irresistibly craveable chicken strips made with juicy, 100% white meat, coated with crispy golden-brown breading and bursting with a bold, new black pepper flavour', might seem the same as the Selects, but diners say they are fundamentally different.
Disappointed Chicken Select fans have taken to Reddit to voice their disdain about the new offering, with some going as far as to say that they are 'awful'.
"I didn't like them, I loved the old Chicken Select strips," said one McDonald's fan on Reddit of the McCrispy Strips.
"Select strips were clearly superior. McCrispy Strips 2/10," another agreed.
"To me they were awful," said another upset Redditor. "Rubbery and not crispy at all. Super chewy and no flavor."
"They are the worst thing McDonald's has ever put out. Taste like someone microwaved frozen chicken tenders and that's probably up selling them too much," another comment read. "Save your money and just get nuggets."
However, not everyone was so scathing. One person said on Reddit: "They are pretty good! not the chicken selects tho those were the bomb, they are more peppery imo."
"They were surprisingly good!" said another.
"I just got them, fresh out of the fryer. They were better than expected, as it wasn't dry and a little juicy. But it pales in comparison to the Chicken Select strips," read a balanced review.
In a statement published in April 2025, Alyssa Buetikofer, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at McDonald’s said of the new offering: "The demand for chicken strips has been remarkable to see across the industry, so we knew we had to deliver something so craveable that it was worth the wait. We took our time, listened to our fans and created a product we knew they would crave. And the best part is we’re just getting started.”
While Americans remain divided on the Chicken Selects replacement, at least we in the UK can rest easy in the knowledge that we can enjoy our favourite crispy chicken treats whenever we like. Sorry, America.