McDonald's Big Arch: Is this the next Big Mac?

"Rich flavor, an impressive size — and already proven overseas."

McDonald's has unveiled the Big Arch, a large beef burger it is positioning as the successor to the Big Mac. The strategy is to broaden consumer choice with a bigger, more filling option.

Outside the McDonald's Samseong Station branch in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday, a large sculpture shaped like a McDonald's paper bag caught the eye of passersby. Attached to it was a slip of paper resembling an airline boarding pass, printed with the words "FROM GLOBAL TO KOR" — signaling the Big Arch's arrival in Korea after its run in international markets.

The Big Arch earned its reputation abroad first. As of this month, it is sold in 20 countries — roughly a quarter of all markets where McDonald's operates. Korea is the second Asian market to carry it, after Taiwan.

The burger first launched in Portugal in July 2024. In France, it topped sales among large burgers after its April 2025 debut. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, it started as a limited-time item before strong customer response earned it a permanent spot on the menu.

Outside flagship items like the Big Mac, McDonald's rarely sells the same menu item across all its global markets, preferring to tailor offerings to local tastes. The Big Arch represents a globally proven product now taking its shot at winning over Korean consumers.

McDonald's also made one tweak for the Korean market. In Europe, the bun is topped with poppy seeds, but those are difficult to source domestically, so the company substituted chia seeds.

Tasted on the spot, the Big Arch lived up to its name in heft. It was large enough to fill an adult woman's hand. Two pure-beef patties weighing 113 grams each bring the total patty weight to 226 grams, and the bun measures 4.5 inches across. A combination of fresh raw onions and crispy fried onions gives each bite a satisfying crunch — the Big Arch is the first McDonald's menu item in Korea to feature crispy onions.

It is also the most expensive burger McDonald's Korea sells. The sandwich alone is 12,400 won ($9), a meal set is 13,900 won and the McLunch set is 13,000 won. That surpasses the previous price leader, the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese, which had topped the menu at 9,300 won.

The launch is driven by a "lineup expansion" strategy — widening the size range from smaller items like the bulgogi burger all the way up to large burgers, so the chain can serve a broader range of appetites. "The Big Arch is designed for customers who want bold flavor and generous size, and it will play a role in expanding consumer choice," a McDonald's official said. "We are also considering converting it to a permanent menu item depending on consumer response."

Competition in the burger market is intensifying during the peak season. Drawing customers with value-for-money items is no longer enough; chains are increasingly relying on distinctive new menu launches to drive repeat visits. McDonald's recently relocated and expanded its headquarters to Taepyeong-ro in Jung-gu, Seoul, where it set up a test kitchen dedicated to menu research and development. Burger King this month opened Flame Lab, a new menu research and development space in Ikseon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.