McDonald's brings back the McRib to select regional markets
The iconic pork sandwich returns for a limited time in select cities across the United States earlier than its typical annual release schedule.
McDonald's has brought back its famous McRib sandwich to select regional markets across the United States for a limited time. The boneless pork sandwich, which features barbecue sauce, pickles, and onions on a roll, began appearing in various cities starting late October, arriving earlier than its usual mid-November or late-November timeline.
Confirmed cities receiving the limited-time menu item include Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Dallas, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Seattle, and St. Louis. Some areas saw the sandwich debut a day early, while customer-run tracking resources like the McRib Locator website reported purchases in over a dozen additional locations nationwide, such as San Antonio, Portland, and San Diego. McDonald's has advised customers to check the mobile application to see if participating restaurants near them currently carry the item.
First debuting as a regional test item in Kansas City, Kansas, in 1981 before expanding nationally in 1982, the McRib was created by executive chef Rene Arend with assistance from University of Nebraska professor Roger Mandigo's research into restructured meat for the military. The patty is shaped to resemble a rack of ribs and consists of pork, water, salt, dextrose, and rosemary extract. Nutritional data provided by the fast-food chain indicates the sandwich contains 520 calories, 28 grams of total fat, 46 grams of total carbohydrates, and 24 grams of protein.
The seasonal return of the item has historically generated intense public interest and lines at drive-thrus, building buzz through its limited availability. However, the recurring strategy is also the subject of an ongoing federal class-action lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Illinois in December 2025 by four customers. The plaintiffs allege that the sporadic availability manufactures urgency and claim the patty contains lower-grade pork cuts rather than pork rib meat.
McDonald's has strongly contested the allegations in the lawsuit, describing the claims as meritless and maintaining that the patty is made entirely of boneless pork without the inclusion of hearts, tripe, or stomach. News reports have not indicated a final ruling in the legal proceeding.
Pricing for the sandwich varies by location, with historical data cited in legal filings showing averages around $5.63 and reaching up to $7.89 at certain venues. As consumers navigate economic pressures that have affected spending on discretionary treats like seasonal candy, corporate leadership has not announced how long the current regional McRib availability will last before the sandwich disappears from menus once again.