Three decades after McDonald’s famously pulled pizza from its menu, the Golden Arches are ready to woo fans all over again—this time with bite-sized flair. Dubbed McPizza Bites, these bite-sized, pizza-pocket snacks filled with mozzarella and tomato sauce mark a savvy return to a long-lost menu icon. Whether longtime pizza lovers will embrace this mini makeover remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear: McDonald’s is betting big that these bite‑sized pies will spark the same buzz that once echoed through its fryers.
McDonald’s Long and Cheesy History with Pizza
While McDonald’s built its empire on burgers and fries, the fast-food titan has flirted with pizza more than once over the years. The original McPizza debuted in U.S. restaurants in the late 1980s, but despite some early curiosity, the item struggled to gain traction. Preparation times proved too long for the chain’s speedy model, and by the 1990s, McPizza was phased out of most locations.
Still, McDonald’s wasn’t ready to give up on the dream of serving pizza. In a bold move, the brand introduced Pizzerotti—small, hand-held pizza pockets—at all of its locations across Italy. But launching a fast-food pizza in the birthplace of pizza may have been a misstep. The product didn’t resonate with Italian customers and quietly disappeared from the menu.
Despite these setbacks, one place still proudly serves up slices of McPizza: the largest McDonald’s in the world, located in Orlando, Florida. Catering to a steady stream of tourists, the location offers a nostalgic nod to the brand’s past experiments.
Fast-forward to today, and McDonald’s seems ready to test the pizza waters once again. The company sparked speculation with a cryptic post on its Canadian Instagram account—a photo of a notebook stamped with the word “Classified” and the date “06-24-2025.” Eagle-eyed fans who zoomed in spotted the words “Pizza Bites” and a sketch of mini pizza pockets hidden in the margins.
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Now the mystery is solved. On Tuesday, McDonald’s confirmed the rumors, announcing the official debut of McPizza Bites through a social media story. Whether this latest pizza play becomes a long-term hit or a limited-time novelty remains to be seen, but for now, it’s a sizzling comeback 30 years in the making.
McDonald’s Unleashes a World of Flavors
The launch of McPizza Bites wasn’t the only trick up McDonald’s sleeve. As part of a global culinary celebration, the chain also rolled out a lineup of beloved international menu items, giving Canadian customers a taste of flavors from around the world. The limited-time offerings include the creamy Biscoff McFlurry from Belgium, Japan’s savory Teriyaki Chicken Burger, Germany’s hearty Big Rösti, and two globally inspired dipping sauces: the UK’s Garlic Mayo-Style Sauce and Australia’s Sweet Tangy Chili Dip.
Just like the McPizza Bites, these tantalizing international offerings are now available for a limited time, but only at participating McDonald’s Canada restaurants.
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Will These International Menu Items Make Their Way to America?
While there’s a possibility that McPizza Bites, the Biscoff McFlurry, the Teriyaki Chicken Burger, Big Rösti, or the new sauces could arrive in the U.S. due to their popularity or as part of a larger “worldwide favorites” promotion, they are primarily part of a limited-time test in Canada at the moment. McDonald’s uses these rollouts to gauge interest and assess if they fit the U.S. market’s preferences and operational capabilities. So, while you might have to travel to Canada for now, it’s not impossible that they could eventually cross the border!
Source: The Street