Foodgasm: McDonald's Spicy Gochujang McDeluxe & Banana Cookies Sundae
McDonald’s x G-Dragon Collab Review: Is the Gochujang Butter Sauce Worth the Hype?
The long-awaited McDonald’s x G-Dragon (PEACEMINUSONE) regional collab has officially landed in Malaysia! Between the exclusive streetwear merch drops and the limited-time Korean-inspired lineup, foodies and VIPs alike have been flocking to drive-thrus across the country.
The star of this campaign is undoubtedly the brand-new Gochujang Butter Sauce, alongside a fresh sweet addition to the McD dessert roster: the Banana & Cookies Deluxe Sundae.
Naturally, I had to head over and try them out for myself. Here is my honest breakdown of what’s hit, what’s miss, and what’s worth your money!
The Gochujang Butter Sauce: Bold Idea, Subtle Delivery
The main hook for this collaboration is the Gochujang Butter Sauce, which McDonald's rolled out as a standalone dipping sauce for McNuggets and as the key condiment inside the Spicy Gochujang McDeluxe Burger.
To be completely honest? It was a bit of a "meh" release for me.
I tried the Spicy Chicken McDeluxe paired with the sauce, and I could barely taste it over the spice and crunch of the chicken thigh. The flavor profile leans very mild, and instead of giving that rich, savory Korean chili-paste punch balanced by silky butter, it gets completely lost under the heavy chicken marinade.
I haven't tested it strictly as a standalone McNugget dip yet, so maybe dipping golden nuggets directly into the tub yields a better flavor contrast. But on the McDeluxe burger itself, it definitely didn't leave a strong impression.
Spicy Gochujang McDeluxe Score: 5 / 10 ⭐️
The Unexpected MVP: Banana & Cookies Deluxe Sundae 🍌🍨
While the savory headline fell a bit flat, McDonald's completely redeemed themselves on the dessert side with the Banana & Cookies Deluxe Sundae.
This treat is absolutely delicious!
If you love banana pudding, this is going to hit all the right nostalgic notes for you. Here is why it works so well:
The Textures: It's topped with crunchy cookie bits and chewy banana jelly pieces, giving every spoonful an amazing mix of textures.
The Sweetness Level: Surprisingly, it’s not overly sweet or sickly, striking a really nice balance with the vanilla soft serve.
The Flavor: Yes, it obviously uses that classic artificial banana flavor we all recognize, but they executed it so well that you won't even care.
Banana & Cookies Deluxe Sundae Score: 9 / 10 ⭐️
Verdict
If you're heading to McDonald's for the G-Dragon hype or trying to collect the PEACEMINUSONE merch drops, definitely treat yourself to the Banana & Cookies Deluxe Sundae it's easily one of their best seasonal dessert drops this year! As for the Gochujang Butter Sauce, stick to McNuggets to get the actual flavor, because on the McDeluxe burger, it barely makes a ripple.
What About You?
Have you tried the new G-Dragon menu items at McD yet? Did the Gochujang Butter Sauce hit for you, or did you also fall in love with the Banana & Cookies Sundae? Let’s chat in the comments!
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