Which McDonald's restaurant opened in Moscow in 1990, marking the brand's first entry into the Soviet Union?

McDonald's Pushkin Square was the restaurant that marked the brand's first entry into the Soviet Union in 1990.

The Moscow opening followed years of preparation, including work to establish reliable local food suppliers and operating standards. The restaurant became famous for attracting a very large opening-day crowd, making it a powerful symbol of McDonald's international expansion during a period of political change.

Its location near Pushkin Square gave the restaurant a prominent identity in Moscow. McDonald's presented the opening as an example of consistent service and quality, while also using locally sourced ingredients to operate in the Soviet market.

The restaurant is sometimes loosely called a Red Square McDonald's because Moscow landmarks are easily conflated in popular memory. Its recognized name was McDonald's Pushkin Square, and it opened in January 1990.