Where are McDonald’s commercials filmed?
_A behind‑the‑scenes look at the secret sets, studio locations, and global shoots of the iconic McDonald’s ad campaigns_
(By Carmichael Phillip)
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The studio‑set secret: City of Industry, California
One of the most revealing findings about McDonald’s commercial production is that a large number of their TV ads and film clips are shot at a specially‑built site in California. According to multiple sources, the location is at 17030 Green Drive in the City of Industry industrial park, east of Los Angeles.
This facility is often referred to as the “McDonald’s Production Centre” or “Fake TV McDonald’s,” and it consists of two full‑scale McDonald’s‑style restaurant façades—one urban‑style, one suburban‑style—so that commercial producers can shoot multiple versions of ad spots without disrupting a functioning fast‑food outlet.
As the article from Mashed explains:
“In the heart of the City of Industry… two humble‑looking McDonalds can be found… these are no ordinary fast food restaurants. They comprise the McDonald’s Production Centre… where rose‑coloured commercials come to life.”
Because it is fenced, private, and built for production crews, this facility gives McDonald’s complete control of lighting, signage, kitchen props, parking lot layout, and continuity—which is difficult at a public‑facing restaurant location.
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Why McDonald’s uses a dedicated “fake” location instead of real stores
There are several strategic reasons why McDonald’s commercial shoots use the facility in City of Industry rather than typical public restaurants:
Control & consistency: A dedicated set enables full control of signage, lighting, furniture layout, props, external parking, car drive‑thru lanes, and the façades of the building—so that every shot matches the brand’s polished image. The Mashed article references that the set is used to ensure the “clean, orderly restaurant of smiling workers” look we see in ads.
Avoiding disruption: Filming at a live McDonald’s restaurant would mean shutting down business, disrupting customers, dealing with cleaning and safety issues. The facility means no paying customers are disturbed.
Customisable architecture: The site hosts both suburban and city façades, adjustable signage, removable fencing and containers of uniforms so the same building can serve multiple campaign versions. RoadsideAmerica notes there are “two McDonald’s on site: one looks like a suburban McDonald’s and the other looks like a city McDonald’s.”
Proximity to production infrastructure: Being in the Los Angeles area places the set within the “studio zone” for talent, crews, equipment rentals, sound stages, which reduces travel cost and logistical complexity.
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Variations: On‑location shoots around the world
Although much of the USA‑based McDonald’s TV‑commercial output is filmed at the City of Industry set, that doesn’t mean all shots are. For global markets and brand special campaigns, McDonald’s uses other locations and even virtual sets. For example:
In the UK, Canada and other markets, McDonald’s has produced “behind‑the‑scenes” photo shoots in real restaurants for localized campaigns. E.g., “Behind the Scenes at a McDonald’s Photo Shoot” in Canada shows a restaurant production‑set and how food is staged for ads.
Some spots are fully virtual or use green‑screen/virtual‑production techniques. For example, a McDonald’s commercial titled “McDonald’s Friends” was shot entirely in virtual production by Pixomondo.
Localised market campaigns may film in local restaurants or sets in Europe, Asia, or Latin America to reflect regional architecture, drive‑thru formats or menu‑specific items.
Thus, while the City of Industry facility is a major hub for US commercials, McDonald’s also uses diversified production depending on the campaign.
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Production logistics: How a McDonald’s commercial shoot works
To understand where commercials are filmed is to appreciate how the production process is managed. Some key steps and logistics:
Pre‑lighting & set build: At the City of Industry site, production crews pre‑light the façades, arrange the drive‑thru lanes, modify signage and window‑graphics according to the script.
Food styling: Even though filming may include “real” menu items, food‑styling teams ensure burgers look stacked, fries remain crisp, coffee steam appears, etc. One video shows how photo‑shoot food is dressed and styled for McDonald’s ads.
Controlled environment: The fake McDonald’s set ensures no real customers or unplanned traffic interfere—everything from parking to lighting is managed. The fencing and private access are noted in reports.
Multiple camera setups: Exterior shots, drive‑thru sequence, interior dining, product close‑ups may all be filmed in the same location in one day or scheduled across multiple days. The site’s dual‑façade allows switching between “city” and “suburb” looks without moving locations.
Post‑production and continuity: Because many commercials may run nationally with versions, the set ensures brand consistency. The Mashed article mentions that the “production centre” houses everything from uniforms to container‑storage of furniture so brand styling remains consistent across ads.
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What to watch for: Are you seeing the City of Industry set?
If you’re watching a McDonald’s commercial and wondering whether you’re seeing the set in City of Industry or a real restaurant, you can look for clues:
No visible customers in background or real traffic: Commercials filmed on‑site often have isolated parking lanes, no real customers wandering, or intentionally blocked windows.
Consistent architecture & façade across ads: The same building appears in many ads and can look very polished, with no wear & tear you might expect in a functioning restaurant.
Production vehicles or signage behind the scenes: Some behind‑the‑scenes videos or Reddit posts note the fenced property and production parking.
Unique drive‑thru layout / staging: Some sequences film drive‑thru lanes that appear too perfect or too wide for a public parking lot—they are built for camera movement, not just cars.
Props and signage versions: Sometimes a sign will look slightly off or generic (e.g., “McDonald’s” arch but minimal branding) indicating a set facade rather than a public restaurant.
Hence, many of the commercials you’ve seen are very likely filmed at the City of Industry site or a similar dedicated set.
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Why this is noteworthy for viewers and brand watchers
Understanding the filming location of McDonald’s commercials matters for a few reasons:
Brand perception and image control: The set in California underlines how McDonald’s invests in producing an idealised version of its restaurants for marketing. The clean, perfect scene influences how we envision the brand.
Production economies: Building and using a dedicated site is more efficient for repeated campaigns—rather than renting multiple restaurants or shutting down live outlets. Knowledge of this gives insight into how big‑brand ad campaigns operate.
Fan trivia & pop‑culture: For advertising enthusiasts or fans of location spotting, the fact that there is a “fake McDonald’s” used for many commercials is a fun behind‑the‑scenes nugget. Reddit, TripAdvisor and other forums frequently discuss the site.
Global production and variations: Recognising that not all ads are filmed in the same place helps viewers understand regional differences and why some commercials look slightly different depending on country.
In short, location isn’t just background—it shapes the look, feel and production power behind major ad campaigns.
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Limitations & caveats to the “one location” story
While the City of Industry site is central, it’s important to acknowledge some limitations:
Not every McDonald’s commercial is filmed there. As noted above, some campaigns use virtual production, local restaurants, international sets.
Some commercials or product shots may use studios, sound‑stages, or CGI backgrounds rather than a full restaurant façade.
Because McDonald’s is a global brand, production is decentralised: many countries film commercials locally, reflecting local menu items, architecture, languages.
Public documentation is somewhat limited: while many articles mention “almost all commercials” are shot at the facility, McDonald’s corporate doesn’t publish a list of commercial‑shoot locations. Some assertions come from ad‑industry observers and location‑spotters. For example, TheTakeout article states “most McDonald’s TV ads have been shot on the chain’s very own restaurant set.”
Therefore, while the set is extremely significant, it isn’t exclusive for all campaigns.
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Final take: Where are McDonald’s commercials filmed?
In conclusion: if you’re watching a McDonald’s television advertisement in the U.S., the most probable filming location is the dedicated production‑centre in City of Industry, California. This site—often called the McDonald’s Production Centre or “Fake TV McDonald’s”—houses two restaurant‑style façades, drive‑thru lanes, props, uniforms and production infrastructure designed for filming commercials.
At the same time, McDonald’s uses a mix of global production strategies: local filming, virtual production, studio sets, and sometimes real restaurants for regional campaigns.
So the answer isn’t a single address for all adverts, but the primary hub is very likely the City of Industry facility for U.S. spots, supported by local and virtual shoots elsewhere.
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