Macca’s revives fan-favourite budget menu as fast food battle heats up

McDonald’s has revived its fan-favourite McSmart menu following customer backlash over the decision to discontinue the original McSmart lineup on June 30.

This new range comes as competition between Australia’s major fast food retailers heats up, with customers spending more mindfully amid continuing cost-of-living pressures.

From July 1, a new-look McSmart menu range will launch with three meals at three price points, including one that is only available via the MyMacca’s app – the McSmart Saver, which includes a hamburger, small fries, small soft drink, and three chicken McNuggets for $6.95.

This menu item is the one that most closely resembles the original McSmart meal, however customers do not have a choice of sides and are instead locked in to the three McNuggets.

Previously, customers could choose from sides including an additional hamburger, three McNuggets, or a sundae.

Another of the three new options is the $7.95 McSmart Meal, which is available in restaurants, drive-thru, kiosks, and via the MyMacca’s app. This is the one that most closely resembles the original McSmart meal deal, however it costs $1.

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It includes a Cheeseburger or Chicken ‘n’ Cheese burger with a small fries and a small soft drink, and then a choice of three McNuggets, a hash brown and hot apple pie or cookies.

The third item in the revived McSmart range is the $9.95 McSmart Plus, which is also available in restaurants, drive-thru, kiosks and the MyMacca’s app, and includes a McDouble burger featuring two beef patties, a small fries, a small soft drink, and a choice of an additional Chicken ‘n’ Cheese, three chicken McNuggets, a hash brown or a small sundae.

The new McSmart range will be available between 10.30am and midnight.

The original McSmart meal launched in Australia in June 2024 in response to cost-of-living pressures and customer pushback over rising fast-food prices.

It quickly became a fan favourite, selling more than 30 million across the country over the past 12 months alone.

In April, customers were devastated when it was announced the original meal would be discontinued on June 30, prompting McDonald’s to hint at a new budget lineup on the way in addition to itd standing Loose Change menu which features items for $4 and under.

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This follows major changes to the rewards points system in the MyMacca’s app, which now exclusively hosts the most affordable of the new McSmart meals.

As of May 28, customers need almost double the amount of points to redeem some of the MyMacca’s menu items.

Fast food outlets in Australia are increasingly competing for consumer budgets as cost of living pressures continue.

KFC has recently launched its Everyday Value menu range, which includes boxed meals starting at $5.

Hungry Jacks has their Penny Pinchers range, which includes items that cost under $5 and include burgers, nuggets and fries and loaded fries.

Despite the increased competition between Australia’s major fast food retailers, increasing price pressures have led to an increase in “fakeaway” meals being prepared at home using supermarket ingredients, rather than purchasing pricey fast food.

This “fakeaway” trend has proved to be a winner for supermarkets including Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi, all of which have increased their range of ready meals and collaborations with fast food brands.

Coles now offers Gami Korean Chicken as part of its “fakeaway” range and also sells Grill’d products, including burger patties and eight of their signature sauces.

Woolworths has most recently collaborated with Zeus Street Greek to launch an exclusive line of ready-made meals and DIY kits.

Aldi has also expanded its range of ready meals, including pizzas, pastas, casseroles and their World Kitchen Chicken Burrito.