Happy meal: Arab K-Pop fans share excitement over McDonald’s new BTS deal

The BTS meal is coming to McDonald's in May. File/AFP
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Updated 20 April 2021
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Happy meal: Arab K-Pop fans share excitement over McDonald’s new BTS deal

DUBAI: US fast food giant McDonald’s has tapped Korean pop sensation BTS to promote a new meal, and Arab fans of the boy band can hardly contain their excitement.

Many supporters of the seven member group took to their social media to express their anticipation for the Grammy-nominated boy band's meal that will be launching starting next month in nearly 50 countries, including Oman, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar and Morocco in addition to the US, India, Singapore and more.

“From today, I will just eat at McDonalds,” wrote one Twitter user in Arabic.

Another user from Saudi Arabia mentioned McDonalds in their Tweet, urging them to make the meal available in the Kingdom.

“I am not a fan of McDonald’s, but I changed my mind because of this meal. Provide it to us like you did for the Arab countries on the list,” the user wrote.

Another Twitter user wrote in Arabic: “Wait a minute, I discovered something. A few days back, Suga said he is hungry and a few days later, they collaborated with McDonald’s. He was probably giving us a hint, but we were clowns. WE WANT THE BTS MEAL IN EGYPT (sic).”

Dubbed the “BTS meal,” it will include chicken McNuggets, fries and two dips.

The burger chain has seen its revenue outside the United States drop during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is tapping on promotional campaigns through celebrity endorsements and limited-time menu items to get customers back into restaurants as economies reopen with the roll-out of vaccines.

The BTS meal follows similar US-only deals with singers J Balvin and Travis Scott, which McDonald’s says boosted sales in the later half of last year.

The spike in demand during the Travis Scott promotion caused the company to temporarily run short of ingredients to assemble its signature Quarter Pounder burgers at some restaurants.


Where We Are Going Today: Chicken Industry in Qatif

Updated 06 March 2026
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Where We Are Going Today: Chicken Industry in Qatif

If you were to ask me what the perfect weekend treat-yourself meal is, my first choice would be fried chicken, followed by fried chicken, followed by a burger (but make it fried chicken).

One of my favorite spots for this delicious indulgence is Chicken Industry in Qatif, which, over the past few years, has become a hometown classic.

They also opened another branch in Olaya, Alkhobar.

The great thing about Chicken Industry is that you really cannot go wrong with any item on their menu; the burgers, broasted, twister, tenders, and nuggets are all very well-seasoned, juicy, and crispy.

All their menu items are available in spicy and mild options.

They have a few burger selections.

The original chicken sandwich, which comes with American cheese, pickles, and their signature industry sauce (a must to get on the side with any order), is their take on the classic Popeyes/Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich.

For the big kahuna, the chicken is so juicy and flavorful with wonderfully crispy skin that my mouth is watering just thinking about it. (Instagram: @chickenindustry.ksa)

If you want to try a different type of sauce, you could give the black pepper buttermilk sandwich a go — a good option for those who like a balance of flavors between creamy and slightly zingy.

My go-to, however, is the chicken zinger, which comes with American cheese, mayonnaise, and lettuce — a no-fuss burger that has all the right toppings, sauce, and seasoning for the chicken.

Although, I would appreciate the option to add tomato as well for a little something fresh in there.

All of the Chicken Industry burgers come with a soft brioche bun. No notes; it’s a great bun.

The twister, made with two crispy tenders, is also a crowd favorite and comes in a few different options: the original with mild sauce, the fiery twister with spicy sauce, the classic with pepper mayo, and the spicy twister with pepper mayo as well.

Whether you do not want to commit to the full bun burger or just prefer a tortilla, the twister is a great option to either accompany or be the star of your meal.

Now onto the big kahuna: the broasted. If you really want to indulge, this is the option for you.

It comes with four pieces, either spicy or mild (trust me, get the spicy), and is served with garlic sauce on the side.

Although nothing compares to the Chicky Fry broasted, this one is a very close second. The chicken is so juicy and flavorful with wonderfully crispy skin; my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Their nuggets are good, though not amazing — fun to snack on, but I wouldn’t call them a necessity and definitely not as good as their tenders or other options.

And I must say the Chicken Industry French fries could use some improvement; not the greatest texture or flavor, just sort of meh. I will continue to order them because at the end of the day, they are fries, and they’re alright. Besides, no fried chicken meal is complete without fries.

And do not forget to get the sauces on the side: the cheese, the garlic, the industry mild or spicy, buffalo, barbecue, and buttermilk, depending on your preference. They all complement the meal very well.