MacDavid
An Israeli fast-food restaurant brand founded in Tel Aviv in 1978 and now represented by a single surviving location in Haifa.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
MacDavid is an Israeli fast-food brand that began in 1978 with a restaurant on Frishman Street in Tel Aviv. The chain expanded during the 1980s and reached a reported peak of 28 branches in 1989, making it an established local competitor in Israel's emerging quick-service restaurant market. Its branding and menu positioning became the subject of a legal dispute with McDonald's in 1979. MacDavid argued that its name was sufficiently different, but it nevertheless stopped serving products called "Big Macs" after the dispute. The brand's expansion was later reversed as the Israeli competitive environment changed. McDonald's entered Israel in 1993, while the domestic chain Burgeranch also increased its presence. These developments contributed to a long decline in MacDavid's restaurant count. By 2000, only four locations reportedly remained. By the end of 2010, the Eilat and Haifa branches were still operating, although the original chain subsequently contracted further. The Haifa restaurant on Trumpeldor Boulevard, which opened in 1982, became the brand's continuing location and is reported as MacDavid's sole surviving restaurant. A separate company opened a MacDavid restaurant in Nazareth Illit in 2011, but that business was unrelated to the original chain and later closed. MacDavid therefore represents both an early Israeli fast-food business and a highly localized surviving restaurant brand rather than a broad contemporary chain. Publicly available reference material provides limited information about its ownership, management, financial performance, menu development, or current corporate structure.
History
MacDavid was established in 1978 when its first restaurant opened on Frishman Street in Tel Aviv. It emerged during the development of Israel's modern fast-food sector and subsequently expanded beyond its original site. The chain's early growth was accompanied by a naming dispute with McDonald's in 1979. McDonald's sued over alleged infringement, while MacDavid argued that its name was not sufficiently similar to McDonald's. Following the dispute, MacDavid stopped serving products referred to as "Big Macs." The company continued to develop as a domestic chain during the 1980s and reached a reported maximum of 28 branches in 1989. A Haifa location on Trumpeldor Boulevard opened in 1982 and later became especially important to the brand's continuity. MacDavid's expansion was not sustained, however. McDonald's entered Israel in 1993, and Burgeranch expanded its own Israeli network. The increased presence of these competitors coincided with a prolonged reduction in MacDavid's number of restaurants. By 2000, the chain reportedly had only four restaurants left. At the end of 2010, locations in Eilat and Haifa were still operating, but the original chain later contracted to the Haifa branch. The Haifa restaurant, which had opened in 1982, is reported as the sole continuing location of the original MacDavid chain since sometime in the early 2010s. In 2011, a separate and unrelated MacDavid company opened a restaurant in Nazareth Illit. That venture did not succeed and subsequently closed. It should not be treated as a continuation of the original chain's corporate history. The surviving Haifa restaurant preserves the MacDavid name as a local Israeli fast-food brand, while the wider chain that once had 28 locations is no longer operating at its former scale. Available reference material does not identify the founders, owners, executives, financial results, formal corporate structure, or a current official website.
- 2011
Unrelated Nazareth Illit venture opens
[1]A separate company opens a MacDavid restaurant in Nazareth Illit; the venture later closes after failing to establish itself.
- 2000
Only four restaurants reportedly remain
[1]MacDavid's network is reported to have declined from its 1989 peak to four remaining restaurants.
- 1993
Competitive pressure increases after McDonald's enters Israel
[1]McDonald's begins operating in Israel, while Burgeranch expands, contributing to MacDavid's subsequent branch closures.
- 1989
Chain reaches 28 branches
[1]MacDavid reaches its reported peak network size of 28 restaurants.
- 1987
MacDavid advertising appears in archival references
[1]Reference material identifies a MacDavid commercial from 1987, documenting the brand's use of television or video advertising during its expansion period.
- 1982
Haifa branch opens
[1]The Haifa restaurant on Trumpeldor Boulevard opens and later becomes the surviving location of the original chain.
- 1979
Name-infringement dispute with McDonald's
[1]McDonald's sues MacDavid over its name. MacDavid disputes the similarity but stops using the name "Big Mac" for its products.
- 1978
First MacDavid restaurant opens in Tel Aviv
[1]MacDavid begins operations with a restaurant on Frishman Street in Tel Aviv.
Products and positioning
A locally established Israeli quick-service restaurant brand with roots in Tel Aviv and a surviving presence in Haifa. Its historical identity was shaped by domestic expansion, competition from Burgeranch and McDonald's, and recognition as an early Israeli fast-food chain.
Fast food · 1978
Hamburger and fast-food meals
MacDavid is described as an Israeli fast-food brand. Public reference material does not provide a complete historical menu, but the brand's restaurant format indicates a focus on quick-service meals built around hamburgers and related fast-food items.
Burger product
Big Mac-named product
MacDavid previously served a product referred to as a "Big Mac." Following McDonald's 1979 name-infringement lawsuit, MacDavid stopped using that name. The available source does not specify the product's later name or detailed composition.
Marketing campaigns
- 1987MacDavid television commercial
Israel
An archival reference identifies a MacDavid commercial from 1987, indicating that the chain used mass-media advertising during its period of national expansion. The available material does not describe the creative concept, media spend, or campaign performance.
Brand decisions
2011
Separate company attempts a MacDavid reopening in Nazareth IllitStrategyBackground
A new company, unrelated to the original MacDavid chain, opened a restaurant using the MacDavid name in Nazareth Illit.
Action taken
The new operator launched a MacDavid location in Nazareth Illit.
Aftermath
The restaurant was unsuccessful and closed, leaving the original Haifa location as the reported surviving MacDavid restaurant.
1979
MacDavid stops using the name Big MacOtherBackground
McDonald's sued MacDavid over alleged infringement involving the MacDavid name. MacDavid argued that the names were different, but the dispute concerned the use of a product name associated with McDonald's.
Action taken
MacDavid ceased serving products under the name "Big Mac."
Aftermath
The action ended MacDavid's use of that specific product name, while the broader MacDavid brand continued operating and expanded during the 1980s.
Recent events
- 2011
An unrelated MacDavid restaurant opened in Nazareth Illit[1]
Other
A new company unaffiliated with the original chain opened a MacDavid location in Nazareth Illit. The restaurant was unsuccessful and later closed.
- 1993
McDonald's entered Israel as MacDavid's competitive environment changed[1]
Other
McDonald's entered the Israeli market while Burgeranch expanded, contributing to a subsequent decline in MacDavid's restaurant network.
- 1989
MacDavid reached its reported peak of 28 branches[1]
Other
The Israeli fast-food chain reached a reported high point of 28 restaurants during its 1980s expansion.
- 1979
McDonald's sued MacDavid over alleged name infringement[1]
Lawsuit
McDonald's brought a name-infringement action against MacDavid. MacDavid maintained that the names were dissimilar, but subsequently stopped serving products called "Big Macs."
Sources1 sources
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