McDonald’s hash browns have risen from approximately 89p in 2019 to as much as £1.99 at some UK restaurants, with delivery platform prices pushing the total cost of a single item beyond £4 once fees are applied.
Just Eat lists hash browns at £2.39 before delivery and service charges are added, according to current pricing.
The £1.99 charge applies to fewer than five per cent of McDonald’s UK branches, with most restaurants pricing the item between £1.59 and £1.69. However, the increase has prompted widespread criticism from customers who said the hash brown had long been considered one of the chain’s most reliable budget options.
A photograph of a menu board showing the £1.99 price was shared on social media platform X, where it attracted more than 450,000 views within 48 hours. One widely shared post declared the chain was “officially done” for charging £2 for “one solitary hash brown.”
Several customers described the pricing as excessive, with some recalling paying as little as 59p in previous years. Others noted that at certain locations a sausage sandwich now costs the same as a single hash brown.
A McDonald’s spokesman said price variations reflected the structure of the business, with a significant proportion of restaurants owned and operated by franchisees who set their own prices. All franchisees are expected to maintain the company’s commitment to quality and value, the spokesman added.
The company has previously said that rising ingredient and supply costs mean menu prices are reviewed periodically.
The hash brown controversy follows a series of complaints about costs at the chain. Earlier this year, McDonald’s replaced its £5 meal deal with a Meal Deal Plus priced at £5.59. From March, the company’s loyalty scheme will require customers to collect more points to redeem free items.
McDonald’s has not indicated whether further price changes are planned.
