The Only Kosher McDonald's Outside Of Israel Is In An Unlikely Place - Tasting Table

"While not every McDonald's you find there is kosher, more than 60 of them are - and to be so they must follow strict guidelines, adhere to Jewish holidays, and receive official kosher certification from a rabbi. Operating a kosher McDonald's is a daunting and expensive task, and only viable when there is a large concentration of Jewish residents nearby."

"Argentina has the biggest in Latin America, estimated at around 200,000 people. And the vast majority of these Jewish Argentines live in Buenos Aires. This high concentration in the Argentinian capital is what led two Jewish brothers to open a kosher McDonald's in a local shopping mall."

"Kosher dietary restrictions forbid the combination of meat and dairy when eating. Not just served on the same item, but even in the same meal. So, not only do all the McDonald's burgers at the Buenos Aires kosher locations lack cheese, but there are no dairy products on the menu at all."

McDonald's operates over 60 kosher locations in Israel, but only one exists outside the country: in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This unique restaurant was opened by two Jewish brothers in a shopping mall to serve the city's large Jewish community of approximately 200,000 people, the largest in Latin America. The kosher certification requires strict adherence to Jewish dietary guidelines and rabbi approval. The most distinctive feature is the complete absence of dairy products on the menu, as kosher law forbids combining meat and dairy in the same meal. This means no cheese on burgers, and no milkshakes or ice cream, despite these being McDonald's staples elsewhere.

Read at Tasting Table