By gate 40 in T4, McChicken meals run about $12–$14.
McDonald's in Melbourne Airport’s Terminal 4 sits landside near the Jetstar check-in area, so you hit it before security if you’re flying most domestic low-cost carriers. It opens early with the terminal, around 4:00–4:30 a.m., and usually trades until late evening to catch the last departures. If you want a known quantity before a red-eye, this is the reliable option in T4.
Standard menu pricing runs higher than city stores: a Big Mac meal sits roughly in the $13–$15 range, 10‑pack nuggets land around $12, and a McCafe flat white is usually a couple of dollars more than in town. Expect the full Australian McCafe setup here, so you can get cappuccinos, mochas, and banana bread alongside fries and McFlurries. Vegetarian choices are limited to fries, hash browns, and whatever plant-based promo happens to be on.
Service speed swings with the T4 rushes: during 6:00–8:00 a.m. and 4:00–7:00 p.m. bank times, queues stretch 10–15 minutes and seating nearby fills quickly. There’s plenty of takeaway trade, with people carrying bags back toward security or the public seating by the check-in desks. If your boarding pass shows a tight cut-off, order on the app while you walk from the SkyBus stop to save a few minutes.
There’s no alcohol, but there are soft drinks, bottled water, and McFlurries if you need a sugar hit before a 3‑hour hop to Sydney, Brisbane, or Adelaide. Power outlets are thin on the ground around the seating zone, so don’t plan on a long laptop session here. The rating around 54/100 sums it up: fine when you just need calories, not a destination meal.
Tip: clear security first if your flight leaves from a distant T4 gate; then check the time and only walk back to McDonald’s if you still have at least 30–40 minutes before boarding.