Amid Hong Kong's deep economic downturn, McDonald's is trying to move in on the local culinary turf -- not with burgers or fries, but with Chinese rice dishes.
It remains unclear whether McDonald's can woo customers away from three local chains, Fairwood, Cafe de Coral and Maxim's, all of which serve Hong Kong-style rice dishes to customers seeking a quick and inexpensive meal.
But some small eateries are grumbling that the American fast-food giant might muscle them out of business.
PHOTO: AP
"We might have to pack up and go home sooner or later," said Ho King-wah, a cashier at the hole-in-the-wall Mei Li cafe, directly across the street from a busy McDonald's outlet in Hong Kong's Wanchai district.
"McDonald's is McDonald's. They should sell burgers, not rice," said Lam Yuet-kwan, an office assistant eating at Mei Li, which is slightly cheaper than McDonald's but much more cramped.
McDonald's says it's only trying to give customers more of a choice.
"Our decision to offer a rice-base alternative is a result of what our customers are asking for," McDonald's said in response to questions from The Associated Press. "The rice menu fits seamlessly into the dietary habits of Hong Kong Chinese with rice as their staple food."
The dishes on the McDonald's menu contain rice, chicken, broccoli and sauce, and cost 22 Hong Kong dollars, the equivalent of US$2.80. At Fairwood, Cafe de Coral and Maxim's, meanwhile, customers can get lunches and dinners between 20 and 35 Hong Kong dollars, or US$2.56 to US$3.80.
Independent food critic Lau Kin-wai did a taste test of rice dishes at McDonald's and Cafe de Coral and said the local chain had better food and more variety. Lau found the McDonald's rice rather sticky but said the chicken was good.
"It's a good start," Lau said. "Compared with some Chinese restaurant dishes, they are even cheaper, so I believe they will definitely get a piece of the fast food market share."
Not all Hong Kong people are impressed.
"I think it's a psychological thing -- when I want to have a proper meal, McDonald's won't even cross my mind," said Steve Chu, stepping out of a Fairwood outlet where he just had lunch.
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