The McRib sandwich is returning soon – sooner on the calendar than its typical annual appearance. But McDonald's is not bringing it back to the menu nationwide.
The sandwich, which many devoted McDonald's customers crave, will begin to show up in some select cities regionally for a limited time on Tuesday, Oct. 27, the fast-food giant told USA TODAY.
Among the select cities confirmed: Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Dallas. Customers are advised to check the McDonald’s app to see if there's McRib on the menu at a restaurant near them.
Last year, the McRib returned to some markets in mid-November. In late November 2024, McDonald's brought the McRib sandwich back nationwide.
McDonald's 2026 update comes as the sandwich had begun
appearing in some markets this week, as reported by the McRib Locator website.
When can I get a McRib?
Among cities where shoppers have reported buying the McRib sandwich this week, according to the McRib Locator website:
- San Antonio
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Kearney, Nebraska
- Overland Park, Kansas
- Oxford, Mississippi
- Acworth, Georgia
- Bonita, California
- Clovis, California
The sandwich has also been sighted in other cities (although consumers haven't submitted McRib purchase receipts to the McRib Locator site).
McDonald's has said the sandwich will begin arriving on Tuesday, Oct. 27, in cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle and St. Louis.
What is the McRib?
The McRib is a pork patty, shaped to resemble a rack of ribs, and served on a bun with barbecue sauce, pickles and onions. There's no rib bones involved; the McRib is made from pork, water, salt, dextrose and – another surprising ingredient – rosemary extract.
The sandwich made its debut in Kansas City, Kansas in 1981 and became available nationwide in 1982. McDonald's executive chef Rene Arend, who also created Chicken McNuggets in 1979, is credited with its creation, with the help of developments in restructured meat for the military made by University of Nebraska professor Roger Mandigo.
Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The McRib is coming back to McDonald's. See where
