I Tried 2 New Items from McDonald’s “KPop Demon Hunters” Menu — Here’s What I’d Order Again “in a Heartbeat!”

I’ll admit it — I wasn’t expecting McDonald’s latest menu drop, but I’m so glad it happened. Inspired by the movie everyone has been talking about for almost a year (but I still haven’t watched yet), McDonald’s dropped the KPop Demon Hunters menu on March 31. It’s a bold remix of flavors, and I had to try two of the new items. 

The new Ramyeon McShaker Fries and Derpy McFlurry are unique twists on McDonald’s faves, and here’s what I thought about these flavor-boosted bites.

Considering the film is a global hit, this menu brings flavors from McDonald’s restaurants in South Korea to the United States with two adult meals and a dessert. The meals are the Saja Boys Breakfast Meal (which includes a Sausage McMuffin with Egg, topped with a peppery Spicy Saja Sauce) and the HUNTR/X Meal (with Ramyeon McShaker Fries and Hunter and Demon sauces). There’s also a new McFlurry — and I was interested in that and the fries.

The Ramyeon McShaker Fries level up classic McDonald’s fries with a seasoning packet you pour directly into a provided bag and shake. The flavor mix leans savory and complex, with a soy, garlic, sesame and spice seasoning, according to McDonald’s announcement of the menu. For fans of the film, it’s inspired by Rumi, Mira and Zoey’s go-to snack.

The Derpy McFlurry (named after Derpy Tiger) goes in a completely different direction. It’s a vanilla soft-serve base swirled with a sweet wild berry sauce and popping pearls (aka boba), designed to add bursts of flavor and texture in every bite.

Let’s start with the fries, because these surprised me the most.

They immediately reminded me of Taco Bell’s seasoned fries — but with a deeper, more savory flavor profile. The garlic really comes through, but it’s balanced by that salty-sweet soy flavor and a subtle nuttiness from the sesame. They taste familiar but also totally different from anything McDonald’s usually does.

I genuinely liked them more than regular fries. The seasoning sticks well, and the shake-in-the-bag moment makes the whole thing feel interactive in a way that’s actually fun, not forced.

And I wasn’t the only one impressed. We tried these menu items as a team, and as Collette Reitz, Deputy Editor, Special Projects, put it: “I didn’t think you could make McDonald’s french fries even better, but these are very flavorful! I mostly could identify the garlic, but there are definitely more flavors that make it a delicious, complex bite.”

That “complex” note is exactly right — these fries have layers that I would not expect from a McDonald’s menu item! 

As for the McFlurry, the popping pearls are the star here. They add these bright, juicy bursts that cut through the creamy vanilla ice cream in a really satisfying way. It’s refreshing without being overly sweet, and the texture contrast keeps it interesting.

My only complaint? I wanted more boba, and bigger ones. They’re so good that you end up chasing them around the cup a little. The berry swirl adds a nice tang, though I do wish it was mixed more evenly throughout. Some bites were perfect, while others felt a little plain by comparison.

Still, I’d order this again in a heartbeat. It’s a fun upgrade from a standard McFlurry and honestly might edge out my usual M&M’s order.

McDonald’s totally surprised me and actually delivered on flavor with this collaboration. The Ramyeon McShaker Fries are the standout if you’re craving something savory, bold, and a little unexpected. The Derpy McFlurry, meanwhile, is lighter, playful, and perfect if you want something sweet with a twist.

If this is what fast-food “remixes” are going to look like, I’m fully on board.