First Impressions: McDonald's in Ao Nang, Krabi (Thailand)

First Time Trying McDonald's in Thailand: A Surprising Experience

After arriving at Ao Nang from Bangkok, we wanted snacks and coffee. As we were searching for a coffee shop, we saw a MacDonald’s and decided to try it right away. It was our first time trying the fast-food chain in this part of the world, and we were curious to see if there were any differences from our experiences back home.

Unlike the ubiquitous 7-Elevens scattered throughout Thailand, McDonald's offered a welcome change of pace. The restaurant itself was clean and modern, with the familiar ordering system featuring touchscreens and the option to pay by credit card. Deciding on a snack, we opted for a classic Americano coffee (sugar and creamer are apparently not included with Americano orders) and two cheeseburgers. I had noticed before that in Asia, they don’t recognize regular coffee like in North America and Americano is the closest thing that comes to a regular coffee.

Here's where things got interesting: the price. While McDonald's might be considered a budget option in many places, the cost in Ao Nang (and anywhere else in Thailand, as we found out later) surprised us. Each cheeseburger came in at 100 baht, which translates to roughly $4 CAD. Similarly, the Americano was 90 baht, or about $3.70 CAD. We noticed that a Quarter Pounder with Cheese was 170 THB (7 CAD) and a double Big Mac was 210 THB (8.50 CAD).

While the price tag was a lot higher than expected (Thailand is a place where food is very cheap), the convenience and familiarity of McDonald's were undeniable. It was a fun little pit stop on our Ao Nang adventure and a reminder that sometimes, a classic burger and coffee can hit the spot even when you're exploring a new and exciting place.