Best McDonald’s Catering Alternatives (Because Your Office Deserves Better)

by CaterCow Staff

Let’s be honest: McDonald’s is convenient, cheap, and familiar — and for certain impromptu lunches it can absolutely get the job done. But when you start talking about feeding teams on a regular basis, managing dietary needs, or just serving food people actually look forward to, there are better ways to cater a lunch or event.

Fast Food Catering Isn't Great Long-Term

Ordering 50 Big Macs and Chick McNuggets on a Monday morning will fill stomachs — and that’s fine for one-off situations — but it quickly starts to fall apart when you think about:

  • Variety: Not everyone wants the same two sandwiches.
  • Dietary needs: Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, nut-free? Fast-food menus are limited.
  • Consistency: A franchise’s catering ability varies wildly by location.
  • Presentation: Sometimes you’re doing a training session with clients, not just feeding your internal team.

And most importantly, feeding people the same thing week after week gets old fast.

CaterCow's Favorite McDonald's Catering Alternatives by Market

We asked our 5-star account management team what they reccomend for a McDonald's alternative and they shared their favorite affordable, filling options for office teams.

McDonald's Catering Alternatives in Atlanta

  1. Go Greek with a mezze spread from Sinbad Mediterranean Grill. Affordable price at $8.76 per person (and a lot healthier).
  2. For when the Braves are playing, consider hot dog catering from Hudson Grille. At $9.95 per person, you'll stay at the McDonald's level budget.

McDonald's Catering Alternatives in Austin

  1. DoubleDave's Handcrafted Pizza Rolls satisfy the need for grab & go catering without hurting the budget at $4.00 per person.
  2. Bring out the wet wipes with buffalo wing catering from Happy Chicks. 1 order of 50 wings serves about 10 people and comes in at $6.90 per person.

McDonald's Catering Alternatives in Boston

  1. Ditch the french fries and opt for pretzel catering trays from Philly Pretzel Factory. 1 party tray serves 20 people for $3.75 per person.
  2. Savory empanada catering from Las Palmas Restaurant are loved by office managers for their grab & go format and price of just $7.50 per person.

McDonald's Catering Alternatives in Chicago

  1. Want fast food, but not burgers? Try ordering a Chick-fil-A boxed meal. Entree, chips, cookie for < $15 per person.
  2. For a healthy, affordable alternative Palmita's Cal-Mex Bowls are a crowd-pleaser even with meat-forward companies at $12.90 per person

McDonald's Catering Alternatives in Denver

  1. McDonald's lovers crave the after-meal glow of fullness and satisfaction. They'll enjoy the same feeling with a Renegade Burrito. For just $9.99 per person choose from 9 burritos. Hold the fries and add chips with guacamole for a full meal at under $15.
  2. Sometimes you just want meat, bread and deliciousness. But another burger? Not this time. Checkout Uptown Banh Mi Sandwiches. Choose form 14 Banh Mis that come stuffed with jalapeno, pickled carrot & daikon, raw onion, cilantro, cucumber, and mayonaisse.
Denver offices love Renegafe Burrito's Burrito Platters

McDonald's Catering Alternatives in Los Angeles

  1. It goes without saying, but Starbird Chicken is the undisputed #1 McDonald's alternative for offices. Lunch Boxes include Lettuce Wraps or Sandwiches along with kettle chips for just $14.47. Don't foget the tenders and order in bulk--100 nuggets will cost $129.97.
  2. Another great McDonald's alternative in Los Angeles is Dickey's BBQ Sandwiches. Each is stacked high with smoked meats, slathered with a delicious sauce. We love Dickey's BBQ boneless wings, a 50-piece is just $48.99.

McDonald's Catering Alternatives in New York City

  1. The cheapest lunch catering option available on CaterCow comes from Lovely's Old Fashioned Hamburgers. Serving classic burgers and hot dogs, Lovely's is a reliable, tasty, on-time alternative to McDonald's.
  2. Staying in the burger category is a new Thai Smash Burger from Zaab Burger. Thai-influences elevate the traditional burger experience and will keep your coworkers talking about re-ordering this new classic.
Thai Smash Burger catering starts at $8.00 per person

McDonald’s Catering Alternatives in San Francisco

If you’re ordering McDonald’s in SF, you’re mostly buying speed. These options keep the speed — and add quality.

  1. Starbird Chicken catering is the most direct “nuggets/tenders but better” replacement. Same crowd-pleasing format, way higher execution. With 490+ reviews, you'll get popularity without sacrificing quality. Try their chicken sandwich catering platters for an affordable team lunch.
  2. For the burger side of McDonald’s cravings, Arguello Catering’s Slider Bar is a classic office win — customizable, scalable, and fun without being messy.

McDonald’s Catering Alternatives in Seattle

It’s easy for Seattle offices to fall back on McDonald’s when they want “fast + familiar.” But CaterCow has better versions of that same vibe.

  1. 206 Burger Company is the cleanest McDonald’s alternative for burger cravings — straightforward burgers/sandwiches built for office ordering, without the drive-thru tradeoffs.
  2. When people think hamburgers they also think about hot dogs (...french fries too). Jones Barbecue Catering's smoked hot dog catering package is a 5-star fan favorite.

McDonald’s Catering Alternatives in Washington DC

DC offices need “safe choices” that work for a mixed room — and show up correctly.

  1. Chick-fil-A Catering DC is the easiest 1:1 replacement when people want nuggets, strips, sandwiches and predictable packaging. Chick-fil-A catering combos begin at just $8 per person.
  2. If you want to stay in the sandwich lane, Yarbird Handhelds are a strong McDonald’s alternative with a range of chicken sandwiches that plays well in office settings. But did you know they also do bowls, tenders, and more?