I vividly remember the first time I had a McRib. It was 1998. Billie Piper was number one with her criminally underrated second single Girlfriend and Mulan had just been released in UK cinemas nationwide. To mark this monumental event (Mulan not Billie), McDonald’s introduced a new burger – the oriental McRib, the shining star in the restaurant’s special ‘Tastes of The Orient’ menu (accompanied by a horrendous TV advert I discovered while writing this article). All I knew was that it tasted absolutely nothing like anything from The Orient but was by far the most delicious thing I’d ever eaten. It was a succulent pork burger, coated in barbecue sauce with fried onions in a golden toasted sesame bun. I loved McDonald’s as a kid, so much so it’s a wonder I don’t have numerous health conditions today. It was love at first bite. The McRib was so tangy, the meat was so juicy and with the sharp crunch of the chunky fried onions, the McChicken sandwich, which had always been my go-to, just paled in comparison. I’d found my new order, the new comfort meal I knew would always be there to bring me joy in my time of need. And then one day, when I returned to the Golden Arches to get what could well have been my 10th McRib of the month, it had gone. Vanished without so much as a goodbye. In hindsight, it was probably my first real experience of grief. Until then my only real concept of losing a loved one came from watching Littlefoot mourning the death of his mum in The Land Before Time and then Simba watching his father Mufasa get crushed to death by stampeding wildebeest. Suddenly, I felt like I could relate. Of course, I still made at least one trip to McDonald’s each week and soon learned to remember the beauty in a McChicken sandwich and six nuggets drenched in barbecue sauce. Life moved on and I’d accepted I might never see the McRib again but there were other joys in life. Then at university I met someone who would eventually become my best friend Iain and I can’t remember when exactly but we found we had a mutual appreciation for the McRib. He had the same memories; when I talked about the McRib with the same excitement others had about their childhood idols I could tell he just got me, and me him. Then in 2014 the unthinkable happened. I never thought I’d see the day but the McRib was back on McDonald’s menus, no longer incorrectly dubbed ‘The Taste of The Orient’ and I knew from that moment my waistline would never be the same again. Now in my twenties and wiser to the world though, I knew our time was limited and I had to make the most of the few weeks we had together. And did just that. I gobbled up more McRibs in the space of a few weeks than any doctor would recommend for a lifetime and while my gut never forgave me, it was worth every bite. When the day came to say goodbye, my flatmate and I met in the McDonald’s on Oxford Street. We ordered two McRibs each and according to Instagram that was exactly 504 weeks ago to this day when I marked the moment with a tearful post. At least this time I was able to bid a proper farewell, send the McRib on its way and take comfort knowing I savoured every day it was here until one day, hopefully we’d be reunited again. Since it was last on British shores I know I’ve consumed exactly 12 McRibs – one for every day I was in Japan; a haven where the McRib is a permanent fixture on its infinitely superior menu. Today, McDonald’s has brought my beloved back to the menu for a limited time only. Now at 36, I can’t consume McDonald’s as extremely as I did in 2014 without a sharp pain in my chest reminding me that just around the corner is my next chapter as a middle-aged McAddict. This time around I will tread with slightly more caution, or at least try to. But still, the excitement of being reunited with the McRib is something I can only compare to seeing a school friend who moved abroad and your time together is limited to fortnightly stints when they return to the UK for fleeting family visits once a decade. This time around, I’ve grown older, life no longer has the space for daily catch-ups like it once did, and when we’re together it might not feel the same as before. But the comfort of returning to an old memory from childhood will always make the McRib so much more than just a burger. People come and go in life, but the McRib always comes back, never changing, always reliable every time.

The McRib's Return Is a Major Menu Revamp for McDonald's

The McRib has officially returned to McDonald's today (October 16), alongside four new menu items as part of a major menu revamp. The burger was initially introduced to the UK in 1981 and discontinued four years later, Leeds Live reports. Although it has been multiple temporary returns since, last appearing in December 2014. While people are excited for the comeback of the iconic sandwich, it does come with one caveat. The fast food giant confirmed to The Sun that it will only be available in limited numbers. A McDonald's spokesperson said: “The McRib is a limited-edition product and will be available whilst stocks last. In the UK, we consider it important to separate pork and beef on the grill, so separate cooking processes and dedicated utensils have been implemented across our restaurants to allow us to satisfy McRib fans and finally bring it back to the UK.” When questioned about the McRib's sporadic availability, McDonald's explained: “Unfortunately, many of our restaurants do not have enough grill capacity to cook pork and beef products at the same time. The breakfast menu is different because we don't serve beef products, which allows us to have a dedicated grill for all our delicious pork products.” According to the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA), pork pricing is significantly higher that the five-year average, with supplies being scares as the UK breeding herd at a record low. This has resulted in the price of pork is 20 percent higher in the UK than in the EU. However, a spokesperson for Red Tractor responded: “Whatever the driver for the introduction of the McRib, I can't see that it is due to lower prices or an increased supply. Pig prices have dropped this year after a long term rise. The pig price is pretty cyclical and also very much influenced by the EU pig price – if that's reduced it pulls the UK pig price down. So, we think it's fair to say that there is a fair amount of 'heads up' on direction of travel of the pig price. We wouldn't be able to say whether that drove McDonald's to re-introduce the McRib, unfortunately.” This comes after fans were outraged at the way the McRib was going to be made this time around. With the instructions shifting from the usual process of the patty being smothered in a layer of BBQ sauce, to the sauce now being squeezed straight onto the bun. Making it a lot less 'saucy' than what fans previously remember.

Is the McRib Worth the Hype?

My mission, which I chose to accept, was to give this iconic meal a try. I went down to my nearest McDonald’s outlet in Cleveleys and ordered one. The boneless pork patty, shaped like ribs, slathered in BBQ sauce and topped with onions and pickles, last graced the fast food chain's menus back in 2015 after first being launched in 1981. Now it is making a high-profile return for a limited period. So what’s it like? Firstly, it’s easy to eat, with a lovely soft bun and a’patty’ that’s not overburdened with lettuce or other greenery. Much of its appeal will rest on whether BBQ sauce is your thing or not. For those who enjoy that flavour and like pork, it’s a winner. The McRib is not particularly large in itself but with fries it will make a nice light meal. Would it be top of my list if I went to McDonald’s? Probably not - I’d still probably opt for a Quarter Pounder cheese burger, but I’d probably get one for a change. It remains to be seen whether the’icon’ will make a permanent return and prove to be the Comeback King of fast food!

McRib: Fan Favorite or Just Another Burger?

After nearly ten years, the cult-favourite McRib sandwich is making its return to McDonald’s restaurants across the country. But after I tried its latest incarnation, I’m not so sure it will be as popular as it was. The McRib, known for its pork patty, barbecue sauce, pickles and onions, was a fan favourite since its introduction to the UK in the late 80s. It was initially introduced in 1981 but was removed from menus four years later. It made its return for the last time in 2014 following another bout of removal from UK menus in 2005, but now you can buy it once more as part of a seasonal, limited-time menu. Thomas O’Neill, head of menu at McDonald’s UK, said: “It is more than just a sandwich; it’s a phenomenon. We have heard our fans loud and clear – the fan petitions and pleas on social – and after almost a decade of anticipation, we are thrilled to bring back this iconic menu item. Knowing how well-loved the McRib is, we had very little choice – we had to make it happen. It was time to step up and satisfy the cravings of McRib enthusiasts across the country.” With all this in mind, I just had to try the fabled sandwich. Early this morning, I headed down to our local McDonald’s on Angel Row, Nottingham city centre, just before the McRib was due to go on sale at 11am. After placing my order for the sandwich, priced at £6.41 for a medium meal, I eagerly awaited its arrival, knowing that many people who I’ve spoken to hold the sandwich in high regard. With this being my first try of the McRib, I was hoping to share the same feelings. However, I was sorely disappointed. In terms of presentation, it was laid out as any other item from McDonald’s. Clad in a branded red-and-white box, bearing both the golden arches and the McRib name. Upon opening the box, I was greeted with the sandwich, which, from its appearance, looked greatly appetising. However, the taste suggested otherwise. The taste and texture are completely unfamiliar with other menu items; the blend of tender pork, barbeque sauce, sliced onions, and pickles created a unique taste, but it wasn’t a good one. It seemed as though the McRib has simply been doused in different seasonings and placed in a soft bun. After my first few bites, I simply couldn’t stand the strange taste. After a few seconds of chewing, it lost its taste and simply became a blob of meat. The comparison I drew at the time was how it was similar to a piece of chewing gum. You chew for the first few seconds, then it loses all taste. Another strange element was how it was completely boneless – it made for bizarre dining. Typically, when you have a rack of ribs, of course the bones are included, but it just doesn’t sit right with me that this item doesn’t have any. Adding to this, the “tender” pork was a little too tender for my liking. It just melted in my mouth - but not in a good way. During my much-anticipated meal, I found myself as the only McRib customer in the entire restaurant, even though it was highly advertised around the city on digital billboards, not to mention the flurry of online advertisements I've witnessed in the past few days. Furthermore, because of the grisly taste, I repeatedly had to cover the lack of taste with some fries or my carbonated drink. It was totally unappealing to me, and I will not be making it a regular feature on my McDonald’s order.