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How Much is a McDonald's Big Mac in Africa

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In 1995 McDonald's opened its first restaurant in South Africa
In 1995 McDonald's opened its first restaurant in South Africa

All About McDonald's In Africa

Did you know? 

McDonald's Big Mac in South Africa cost 30 rands or $2.17 US dollars.

McDonald's has restaurants in 6 African countries.

McDonald’s restaurants are located across Africa in the South, North, East and West.

McDonald's in Africa, but of course! 

The African fast food economy is a money-fueled fast paced food business. 

Dates McDonald’s first opened in Africa 

McDonald’s restaurants are located across Africa. In South Africa first opened on November 11, 1995, Morocco McDonald’s first opened on December 18, 1992, Egypt McDonald’s first opened on October 20, 1994, Mauritius McDonald’s first opened on July 4, 2001, Tunisia first McDonald’s opened on January 3, 2018 and Kenya first McDonald’s is set to open August 2018. 

McDonald’s restaurants in South Africa 

South Africa is a middle-income African country with abundant natural resources; well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors; and a stock exchange that is Africa’s largest and among the top 20 in the world. 

In the middle-income country of South Africa, a cheeseburger happy meal costs 33 rand or $2.71 US dollars, McCafe 22.50 rand or $2.10 US dollars and a jalapeno chicken sandwich will cost you 41 rand or $3.37 US dollars. 

McDonald's menu items such as salads, hotcakes, chicken, burgers, oatmeal, English muffins, fries and McCafe and tea taste just the same in South Africa as they do in New York. Besides a few local favorites such as the McDonald's South Africa Boerie Burger and a side of fresh corn, the menu would be recognizable to any traveler. 

McDonald's success is consistency, yes McDonald's is the same the world over, even in Africa. The favorite menu item, McDonald's South African Boerie Burger, is a beef boerewors flavored meat patty, smothered in ketchup, mustard, and grilled onions. Boerewors is a type of sausage originating in South Africa and is an important part of South African food history.

McDonald's South African Boerie Burger cost 22 rand or $1.81 US dollars
McDonald's South African Boerie Burger cost 22 rands or $1.81 US dollars

All McDonald’s restaurants are certified Halaal by the Muslim Judicial Council. South Africa’s religious population is Protestant 36.6%, other Christian 36%, Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 1.5%, Other 2.3%, Unspecified 1.4%, and None 15.1%. 

Today there are over 200 restaurants in all nine provinces across South Africa; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape. The South African rand is the currency of South Africa. 

McDonald’s restaurants are a natural fit in South Africa since the beef, poultry, and dairy industry are agricultural financial powerhouses. The beef industry is a major employer in South Africa, stock farming is one of the only viable agricultural activity in a large part of the country where 27% of the population is unemployed. 

According to McDonald's South Africa website, McDonald's employs over 10,000 people across 1,600 miles or 2,500 kilometers of South Africa.

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Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=
The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

Recipes Explain Politics

When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations."

The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe.

The Deeper Recipe

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Read the Rice Riots Analysis → Try Liberian Rice Bread Recipe
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African Gourmet FAQ

Archive Inquiries

Why "The African Gourmet" if you're an archive?

The name reflects our origin in 2006 as a culinary anthropology project. Over 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 years of continuous cultural documentation—a living timeline of African expression. Unlike static repositories, our archive connects historical traditions with contemporary developments, showing cultural evolution in real time.

How is content selected for the archive?

Our curation follows archival principles: significance, context, and enduring value. We preserve both foundational cultural elements and timely analyses, ensuring future generations understand Africa's complex cultural landscape.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

The archive spans all 54 African nations, with particular attention to preserving underrepresented cultural narratives. Our mission is comprehensive cultural preservation across the entire continent.

Can researchers access the full archive?

Yes. As a digital archive, we're committed to accessibility. Our 18-year collection is fully searchable and organized for both public education and academic research.

How does this archive ensure cultural preservation?

Through consistent documentation since 2006, we've created an irreplaceable cultural record. Each entry is contextualized within broader African cultural frameworks, preserving not just content but meaning.