Sure, Egg McMuffins are great, but sometimes you crave a juicy Big Mac or Quarter Pounder mid-morning or want to order something off their secret menu. But will McDonald’s actually serve you a burger or French fries before lunch? This begs the question, what time does McDonald’s serve lunch? So I went out and discovered everything you need to know. Plus I threw in a few money saving hacks to get the most bang for your lunch money at McDonald’s.

What Time Does McDonald’s Serve Lunch?

10:30 a.m.

McDonald’s doesn’t have the griddle space for eggs, sausage, hash browns, AND burgers…so lunch doesn’t start until 10:30 on weekday mornings.

Is the 10:30 a.m. Start Time the Same on Weekends?

No.

McDonald’s starts serving lunch on Saturday and Sunday a little bit later at 11 am.

The reason for this delay is because they get a pretty sizable breakfast crowd on the weekend, and it takes them a little longer to transition the “kitchen” over to lunch.

See Also: 7 Smart McDonald’s Menu Hacks That’ll Save You Cash

What’s the Latest I Can Score an Egg McMuffin?

Between 10:45 and 11 am.

It might not be hot off the griddle, but you can usually order at 10:45ish and still get breakfast items that have been made, but not yet sold.

Does McDonald’s Serve Fries in the Morning?

No.

If you’re like me, you’d TOTALLY prefer McDonald’s French fries over their hash browns, but unfortunately you’ll have to wait until at least 10:30 a.m. to get your hands on some.

Does a “24 Hour” McDonald’s Serve Lunch Earlier?

Typically no.

But some independently owned McDonald’s, that stay open 24 hours, could start serving some lunch items as early as 9 am.

What Time Does the “Lunch” Menu End?

The lunch menu at Mickey D’s will stay open until they lock the doors, which is typically at 10 or 11 pm depending on the location.

See Also: Does McDonald’s Serve Breakfast All Day? I Got Answers

Give Me a Few Lunch “Menu Hacks”…

So once you finally make it to McDonald’s for lunch, use these 3 clever hacks to get more food for your money.

1 – Order a McDouble and ask for it “Like a Mac” – You’ll basically get a BigMac without the center bread and spend about a third less money.

2 – Always order McNuggets in groups of 4 – If you want 20 nuggets, order 5 separate containers of 4.

You’ll typically pay way less than if you ponied up for a box 20.

3 – Over 55 and would love a cup of coffee with lunch? – Just dine-in and ask for your free cup of coffee.

Not all Mickey D’s participate, but definitely worth a shot.

See Also: I Taste Test the McDonald’s Dollar Menu and Survived

Ask the Reader: Do you ever crave a McDonald’s burger before lunch? How do you get your fix?

By Kyle James

Photo credit to Mike Mozart.

Kyle James( Owner/Founder )

I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)