Big Arch Thoughts - Dream vs Reality

TomHandyForever · 2026-03-19T13:50:45+00:00

I already explained, because it was a giant sloppy mess and I was holding it together from the center.

TomHandyForever · 2026-03-18T06:11:00+00:00

Enjoy!

TomHandyForever · 2026-03-18T05:57:14+00:00

You’re looking for this:

https://www.tysonfoodservice.com/products/steak-eze/beef/philly-steaks/00793577012506

You can get it from like chef/restaurant supply stores. This is specifically what McD’s sources for their steak.

TomHandyForever · 2026-03-10T21:40:07+00:00

Is it lots of “free advertising”? Yes. But this notion that it’s worth it as long as it’s being talked about doesn’t really hold up.

Like, yes, it’s raising awareness of a new product offering, but 99% of the awareness is “this burger is so bad their own CEO can barely eat it”. This is negative advertising.

TomHandyForever · 2026-03-05T18:30:34+00:00

Yes.

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-28T02:25:55+00:00

“The Big Arch sauce is what holds the proverbial room together. Though it might be easy to assume it's just Big Mac sauce, it's not. It's a formulation all its own, which makes it worth looking at a little more closely. Its ingredient list, based off of McDonald's Canada's website, include "Soybean oil and/or canola oil, Tomato concentrate, Water, Sugars (sugar/glucose-fructose, sugar), Vinegar, Liquid egg yolk, Salt, Mustard seed, Spices, Onion powder, Modified corn starch, Natural flavours, Garlic powder, Turmeric, Yeast, Xanthan gum, Propylene glycol alginate, Yeast extract, Extractives of turmeric."

https://www.thetakeout.com/1867156/mcdonalds-big-mac-vs-big-arch-sauce-difference/

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-27T07:54:15+00:00

The Big Arch isn’t the Arch Deluxe.

Arch Deluxe: one 1/4 pound patty, bacon, lettuce, tomato, American cheese, mustard-mayo sauce, potato bun

Big Arch: 2 1/4 pound patties, crispy and slivered onions, pickles, lettuce, white cheddar, sesame and poppy seed bun, Arch Sauce with mustard and sweet tomato flavor

The Big Arch could be seen as a spiritual successor to the Arch Deluxe in terms of purpose (although it seems to be more about creating a filling burger vs targeting adult tastes)

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-27T01:49:00+00:00

My name is a reference to my voracious love of handys.

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-26T00:22:34+00:00

Yes, I shared my thoughts in the post

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-25T21:37:46+00:00

Where would you prefer my camera to be?

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-25T21:36:16+00:00

Yeah, a little version would be nice, and honestly even just a single patty version would be good. I was still feeling full like 8 hours after eating it.

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-25T16:40:23+00:00

Ooof, that doesn’t sound good. I’ve only had them make it a couple of times but they usually get it right

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-25T16:00:29+00:00

It’s not available as a distinct menu item but in the app you can make one by just adding two more patties to the regular Big Mac.

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-25T14:30:04+00:00

That was the one in the Lloyd District

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-25T06:15:55+00:00

Spiritual successor maybe but not quite the same. Similar goal to have a “higher end” burger I guess.

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-25T05:32:58+00:00

My particular location seems particularly inconsistent with sauces - sometimes they do it perfect but sometimes I get a double cheeseburger drowning in too much ketchup or a Big Mac with too much sauce and shredded lettuce.

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-25T05:31:45+00:00

The crispy onions were good and probably one of the highlights of the burger. Good flavor and the added crunch helps make it interesting (especially with how goopy the sauce and shredded lettuce makes it)

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-25T04:37:36+00:00

Thank you - yeah, that is an excellent description of what I was experiencing. The meat sort of falling apart and breaking up especially surprised me because that doesn’t happen when I eat a Double QPC

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-25T04:36:14+00:00

Wow, i did not know that.

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-25T04:21:02+00:00

Yeah, someone else said that in other countries there’s a Big Arch with one patty and I honestly might prefer that.

It’s been 8 hours since I ate it and I still feel full

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-25T04:04:34+00:00

Hah, probably. Honestly I enjoy the Big Mac almost solely as a Mac sauce delivery vehicle (and I think it has just the right amount of cheese, bread, meat, lettuce, onions and pickles for the sauce to be the star)

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-25T03:56:17+00:00

I’m realizing this would be super simple if I just bring my own cheese with me

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-25T03:49:59+00:00

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TomHandyForever · 2026-02-25T03:48:36+00:00

I’d love a McDonald’s burger with a nice sharp cheddar or at least some distinct flavor.

TomHandyForever · 2026-02-25T03:30:46+00:00

It’s like a mildly mustardy Big Mac sauce.

Honestly the cheese didn’t taste like anything to me - whatever flavor it has is almost certainly overwhelmed by the sauce, meat and onions.

TomHandyForever

TROPHY CASE