Barbados, a country that said No to McDonald's!
- Karen
- Aug 20, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 5, 2024
Fast food has become a global phenomenon, transcending borders and cultures. There aren't many places you can visit in the world that don't know the name McDonald's, KFC or Burger King. They offer a taste of familiarity and convenience when travelling, so it might come as a shock that Barbados doesn't have a McDonald's on the island.
Back in 1996 McDonald's did open a restaurant in Barbados, to much fanfare on the East side of the capital city Bridgetown. It was soon obvious that something wasn't quite right. Bajans like chicken, pork and fish which McDonald's doesn't really have on their menu. Many Bajans were quoted as saying the food at McDonald's was bland, so it only lasted 6 months before closing its doors for good, presumably due to a lack of customers.
What Barbados does offer instead is Chefette, the local fast food favourite, which they have been enjoying since 1972. So how do they compare?
Both brands serve up quick and accessible meals and bring their own unique flavours to the table. Since I am from the UK, I will be comparing what I know, so my US friends you might find some variations to what you are used to.
Menu
McDonald's boasts a diverse menu catering to a wide range of tastes and dietary requirements. From the classic Big Mac to vegetarian options such as the Veggie Deluxe. McDonald's has evolved to accommodate changing consumer demands.
Chefette on the other hand draws its inspiration from Caribbean cuisine featuring local flavours such as roti, macaroni pie and Bajan-style chicken.
Both restaurants are very popular, head to either where they are available and you will find lines of cars waiting to go through the drive-through window, it truly is a sight to behold.
Where McDonald's might have introduced some 'local' UK items to the menu such as the Bacon Roll or Veggie Dippers, most of their menu can be recognised worldwide. Chefette has stuck to their roots and the local people love them for this.
Costs and variety:
(All food choices and costs are correct at time of writing Aug 2023)
Breakfast at Chefette (all in BBD) Breakfast at McDonald's (all in GBP)
breakfast is only served at the airport location
Pancakes x 3 $6.25 (£2.40) Pancakes and syrup (3) £3.29
Stir-Fried hot dogs $6.25 (£2.40) Egg and cheese McMuffin £2.39
2 egg omelette $7.25 (£2.80) Breakfast roll bacon, sausage patty, cheese and an egg £3.39
2 egg Bacon omelette $9.00 (£3.50) Bacon roll £3.19
2 scrambled eggs $6.25 (£2.40) Bacon and egg McMuffin £2.79
8 Plantain pieces $6.25 (£2.40) Sausage and egg McMuffin £2.79
Egg Sandwich $5.25 (£2) Double bacon and egg McMuffin £3.19
Double egg sandwich $6.95 (£2.70) Double sausage and egg McMuffin £3.19
12oz Coffee $3.95 Pancakes and sausage with syrup (3 pancakes 1 sausage patty) £3.29
12oz Tea $3.95 (£1.50) Cheesy bacon flatbread £1.49
Breakfast combo (3 above items and a drink) $14.95 (£5.85) Muffin and jam £1.49
The only thing we can directly compare is the pancakes but Chefette is actually slightly cheaper.
Main meals
McDonald's has a variety of burgers based on beef patties, veggie patties, fish patties or chicken patties ranging from £1.09 - £6.69. They have more recently added wraps and salads with chicken or veggie options ranging from £3.89 - £3.99. They have the option to add a drink and a side to make it into a meal.
Chefette also has a variety of burgers with beef, chicken or veggie options for $10.75 - $14.50 (£4.20 - £5.65). They have the roti which is similar to a wrap but the 'bread' is more like a variation of flatbread and can have chicken and potato, beef and potato, all chicken, all beef or all potato for $10.50 - $11.75 (£4-£4.60). So far fairly similar.... but Chefette offers pizza by the slice (1/4 of medium pizza) for $9.95 - $10.75 (£3.85-£4.20) or medium for $39 (£15.20) or large sized for $42 (£16.35) in Hawaiian, Pepperoni, cheese or veggie. They also have the option to add a side and drink to make it into a meal they call them a pak, but they also have combo meals and mix-and-match special meals where you can have a choice of the included items and are at a discount compared to buying them separately.
Chefette also has two locations called the BBQ Barn where things really get different (The nearest Uk equivalent to these would be the Beefeater restaurants). Here you can have lamb chop platters with sides, fish platters, steak platters, pork rib platters a gourmet burger platter, a pork chop platter, and BBQ chicken pizza all for less than £20 each. They also do combo meals that would feed a 'typical' family of 4 for $95BBD (£37).
Kids meals
McDonald's is famous for its Happy Meal for kids. It includes a smaller main with a side, drink and a toy/book. They have a hamburger, cheeseburger, chicken nugget, veggie dippers and fish finger options for £3.29.
Chefette does have something similar but only has a chicken leg or chicken nugget option and they come with chips, a roll and a toy, no drink, for about £5.
Desserts
If you have a sweet tooth this could be the best part of the meal or something that you just drop in for as a treat. Both McDonald's and Chefette have a variety of things that will definitely tick the sweet box.
McDonald's has the iconic McFlurry with a variety of flavours available along with cookies, doughnuts, apple pie and muffins. The standard flavours of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry are available as a thick shake too.
Chefette has an ice cream parlour in the shop with cups, cones, wafer cones, fruit splits and even 2lt or 2.5-gallon tubs available. Chefette have their own dedicated ice cream manufacturing company, under the brand Frosteez, and these are available all over Barbados at Chefettes and in supermarkets and stores. The Frozo (ice cream in a cup) is similar to a McFlurry, as it has toppings, but you have the choice of any flavour ice cream they have on the day rather than just vanilla. They have the standard thick shakes (like McDonald's) but also have Oreo and chocolate Oreo flavours available. The shakes at Chefette are made to order, and I regularly quality-check them.....it's research and they are so good!
BBQ Barn also has the above, but also has the additional choice of vanilla cheesecake and chocolate cake at their locations.
Overall thoughts
I love Chefette, I feel the flavour and quality are better than what I would get in a McDonald's. Chefette is seriously popular with locals of all ages, and I can see why. If you want something quick, or have a serious fast food craving, you can do far worse than visit a Chefette while on the Island. They are dotted all over, with 15 locations, so you can just walk in or they deliver island wide (there is a delivery charge for this of about £5) if you fancy a relaxed night without having to go out. We keep going back and they don't disappoint.
Give them a try! The milkshakes are especially good!!!
Find more reviews for the West Coast of Barbados below
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