So last Tuesday morning I woke up craving McDonald’s breakfast real bad – we all have those days, right? But here’s my issue: my stomach hates gluten. Like really hates it. Grabbed my phone first thing to check their menu online. Total confusion mode activated. Everything said “contains wheat” or “may contain gluten.” Even their dang hash browns aren’t safe. Felt super discouraged already.
The In-Person Mission
Decided screw it, I’m driving over anyway. Walked up to the counter feeling kinda nervous. Said straight up: “Hey, I need gluten-free. What can I actually eat here?” The cashier looked at me like I’d asked for unicorn nuggets. They called over a manager – shoutout to Karen (seriously, she was awesome).
Karen starts explaining: “Okay so our eggs? Just cracked eggs, no fillers. Sausage patties? Safe. Bacon? Should be good. But absolutely no buns or bread items. And hash browns? Fried in shared oil – instant no-go.”
What Actually Works
Here’s exactly what I ordered after talking it through:
- Sausage McMuffin – HOLD THE MUFFIN (just sausage + egg)
- Round egg added (extra protein!)
- Side of bacon strips
- Black coffee (obviously)
They served it all in one of those plastic salad trays instead of sandwich wrap. Smart move. Before eating though? I triple-checked with Karen about grill contamination. She confirmed they used a clean spot and fresh utensils. Pro tip right there – always ask this!
Final Thoughts
Tasted… honestly like weird deconstructed puzzle pieces but hey, it satisfied the craving. Coffee was still garbage but that’s another story. Main takeaways for fellow gluten dodgers:
- Talk to a manager every single time – crew members rarely know details
- No sauces except ketchup packs (even mayo’s risky)
- Breakfast is safer than lunch – less battered stuff cooking
- Expect weird looks but stand firm
It’s not perfect but doable if you’re desperate. Next time though? Probably making scrambled eggs at home.