The Internet Claims McDonald’s Once Had a McLobster Roll in New England

All this talk about McDonald’s bringing back the beloved Snack Wrap has me wondering about another Mickey D’s offering that has become something of internet legend: the McLobster.

READ MORE: When Will McDonald's Snack Wrap Return?

According to online sources, the McLobster was launched in 1993 (although one commercial I found on YouTube claims it was from 1992) and was offered seasonally in Canada in New England, including Massachusetts.

Well, I’ve been eating in Massachusetts McDonald’s restaurants since I could first chew solid food back in the late 1970s, and I never remember seeing a McLobster on the menu.

Get our free mobile app

The McLobster was just like any other lobster roll you’d find in a New England restaurant – a grilled bun with shredded lettuce and knuckle-and-claw lobster meat tossed in mayo. The difference was that unlike the expensive lobster rolls you’ll find at most restaurants, McDonald’s McLobster cost less than $10.

READ MORE: Do You Remember Wendy's SuperBar?

Early ads indicated a price of $3.99(!) in 1993 and then it would increase a few dollars each go-round. Reportedly, the McLobster was officially pulled as a seasonal menu in 2005 but it returned a few times as a special menu item.

Part of what made cost-effective enough to carry at McDonald’s was that for one thing, it used less lobster meat and was smaller than most other lobster rolls, and it was also shipped frozen to restaurants and then thawed for use.

READ MORE: Bristol Restaurant Has a Cheesy Take on the Lobster Roll

A July 2017 report from Today.com claimed the McLobster was making a comeback and would be available in Massachusetts that summer for just $9. I have no recollection of that happening.

Is this just a clever internet hoax? Have I been living in the McLobster-less version of the Mandela Effect? Or have I just lived so close to the ocean my whole life that the McLobster was deemed unnecessary in my area, similar to Long John Silvers and Red Lobster restaurants?

Anyway, here's the Canadian version of the McLobster from 2013:

Have you ever had a McLobster? Let me know using App Chat on our app or comment under this story on our Facebook page.