The world of McDonald’s.

[Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi]

It’s easy to say why you think a McDonald’s burger is bad. It is unhealthy, fattening and industrial. But then all of Delhi’s traditional food too is fattening. Tell me, except daal chaat, what isn’t made from frying? And unfortunately, in most cases, Delhi’s street dishes are also unhygienic, but let’s not go there.

McDonald has a special connect with Delhi. It’s India head office is in Delhi, in Jorbagh Market. It’s first India outlet opened in 1996 in Basant Lok Market. It has now ‘family restaurants’ in 28 neighbourhoods, including Old Delhi railway station.

What goes right in Mc is difficult to explain. Among the fine diners, it arouses special indignation. The book reading crowd swears by Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. While the Indian Coffee House intellectuals are simply ideological driven (Big Mc = Big Multinational = Big Monster). But McBurgers are perhaps the only Delhi food that is cheap, non-greasy and clean, an unlikely combination in the city. And aren’t the french fries great? I have seen rickshaw wallas having the Rs 10 softie and Rs 20 burger; as well as students, office-goers and sometimes even the fine-dining types. The McFood has an unprecedented accessibility. Superficially, it promotes equality. A Mc is the same Mc for a rich man as for a poor man. A fair deal.

India’s first McDonald’s, Basant Lok Market

Three idiots

Go in

Turn left

McBus

Spot the M

I, me, Mc

Cheap lick

Just ahead

Stop, order, eat

Incredible M

White ‘n’ red

That’s Red Fort

Late night meal

Get a McMaharaja

Bhelpuri Vs Mc

We’ve got Mc

Mc’s law

We’re lovin’ it

It’s everywhere (Mc in Madrid)

Desi M