McDonald's New Restaurant Chain Opens This Week—Here's What's on the Menu

Grimace may have been the McDonald's character on everyone's lips in 2023, but 2024 is shaping up to focus on another nostalgic character: CosMc. That's because the intergalactic character from 80s and 90s McDonald's ads is the face of McDonald's new chain restaurant. Hot on the heels of bringing back McNugget Buddies, Mickey D's is back in the news, announcing that its new concept, CosMc's is opening its first restaurant this week. We got a sneak peek at the menu—and let us just say, it does not disappoint. Here's what you need to know about CosMc's.

What Is CosMc's?

As we reported back in August, when the concept was announced, CosMc's is McDonald's first foray into a spin-off restaurant. According to a press release, CosMc's is "a new small-format beverage-led concept...Inspired by nostalgia and powered by a menu of bold, refreshing beverages and tasty treats."

Essentially, it is a smaller chain of restaurants owned and operated by McDonald's, but with its own cosmically-inspired branding and more importantly—its own menu. Up until this week, that menu was a closely guarded secret, but lucky for you we got a sneak peek. And not only does it feature first-of-their-kind menu items and categories for McDonald's, but there are also several highly-requested international fan favorites landing stateside for the first time ever.

What's on the CosMc's Menu?

As mentioned, CosMc's is a "beverage-led" concept (coming for the likes of Starbucks and Dunkin'), so it comes as no surprise that over half of the menu is dedicated to drinks. There are several drink categories: Iced Teas & Lemonades, Brews (coffee and tea drinks), Slushies & Frappés (blended frozen beverages), and Signature Galactic Boosts (a selection of unique fruity drinks with vitamin or caffeine boosts).

While it's a lot to take in, there are a few drinks worth noting. Several include boba (or can have it added on as extra), a menu item that went viral when launched at McDonald's in several countries internationally. Additionally, there are many first-of-their-kind items and flavors for McDonald's anywhere, including a Popping Pear Slush, Churro Frappé, Sour Cherry Energy Burst slushie, S'mores Cold Brew, and a Turmeric Spiced Latté. Sorry Starbucks, but you have some serious competition now.

In addition to the drinks, there are some seriously exciting food options, too. There are two new, never-before-seen sandwich options: a Spicy Queso Sandwich with an omelet-style egg, spicy queso, sausage, white Cheddar, and crispy jalapeño chips, and a Creamy Avocado Tomatillo Sandwich with an omelet-style egg, bacon, white Cheddar, and an avocado-tomatillo sauce.

Other CosMc's-exclusive foods include an exclusive McFlurry flavor, Strawberry & Cookie, and several baked desserts (exciting news since McDonald's discontinued bakery favorites back in July) including a Blueberry Lemon Cookie, Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookie, and Caramel Fudge Brownie.

Finally, there is a section called Bites with all-new McDonald's menu items: soft Pretzel Bites, mini Hash Brown Bites, and a healthy Snack Box with cheese, meat, nuts, and dried fruit. Personally, we're most excited to see McPops, mini filled donuts, on the menu; They're a fan-favorite item in Spain we've been begging to come stateside for years. At CosMc's you can get apple-cinnamon-, chocolate-hazelnut-, or cookie butter-filled McPops, or a mixed bag of all three.

When and Where CosMc's Locations Are Opening

Now that your mouths are watering, onto the more important news: when you can expect to try CosMc's for yourself. Good news for those in the greater Chicago area: the first test location of CosMc's will be opening in Bolingbrook, Illinois later this week.

After that, McDonald's plans to expand to "approximately 10 CosMc’s pilot locations, with more opportunities for mood-boosting escapes, across the Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio metro areas set to open by the end of 2024," according to a statement from the company. So keep your fingers crossed a CosMc's lands in your (local) universe soon—and if it does, Allrecipes will be the first to let you know.