McDonald’s customers have been left gobsmacked at the cost of the humble hash brown.
A post on X by user, Martin Chapman, included a picture of the menu at McDonald’s restaurant, with the caption: ‘£2 for one solitary hash brown. We are officially done.’
The post clearly struck a nerve with fans of the Golden Arches, reaching more than 450,000 people in just two days, who were seemingly shook to see that a single portion of the beloved potato snack was available for £1.99.
The outrage was made known in the comments, with many unable to comprehend the cost, dubbing it a ‘McRobbery’.
‘Those hash browns are the best damn thing they ever created. But £2 is, I’m afraid, too far,’ wrote Jordan Clarke.
Another said ‘I refuse to go now, overpriced and underwhelming’, while someone added: ‘Game’s gone, Martin.’
It’s a large price jump from 2019, when a hash brown cost just 89p, according to the Independent.
Metro reached out to McDonald’s who clarified that the cost of a hash brown varies depending on location.
A spokesperson said: ‘A significant proportion of our restaurants are owned and operated by franchisees, who set their own prices.
‘As a result, the price of individual items may vary; however, all share our commitment to providing customers with a high-quality restaurant experience and great value for money.’
McDonald’s also told Metro that the £2 cost is implemented in less than 5% of its restaurants across the UK.
Are hash browns part of your McDonald’s breakfast order?
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Yes
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No
Currently, the most common price for a hash brown is either £1.59 or £1.69, according to the fast food chain.
This is true of the McDonald’s in Kensington, near Metro HQ, where we paid £1.59. However, if we were to order a hash brown on Just Eat, it would cost an eye-watering £2.39 a piece — and that’s before delivery.
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It’s not the only item that’s increased in price on the McDonald’s menu, either. In February 2023, the Mayo Chicken rose from 99p to £1.19, a single jump of 20%, and as of January 2026 it now costs £2.19 on Deliveroo.
In the same period in 2023, the Bacon Double Cheeseburger increased from £2.49 to £2.69, and now, because you must order the Double Cheeseburger with bacon as an add on, it’ll set you back £4.09 if ordering via Deliveroo.
When approached about pricing by Metro back in 2025, McDonalds said it refused to compromise on the quality of its ingredients, meaning that when ingredients get more expensive, usually so does the price.
‘Raising some prices means we are able to stand by our quality commitments, like our beef patties being made from 100% British and Irish beef or our Chicken McNuggets being made from 100% chicken breast,’ a spokesperson said.
‘We know how much these mean to our customers. Providing value remains an absolute priority. We continue to work tirelessly to ensure that every customer has a value offering that works for them.
‘This includes weekly app offers that sit alongside always on value offers like our incredibly popular Wrap of the Day, and of course, our Saver Menu.’
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