Giveaway of 36,000 McCrispy burgers draws long lines at McDonald’s outlets in Singapore

SINGAPORE – Snaking queues formed at various McDonald’s outlets in Singapore as the fast-food giant gave away 36,000 McCrispy burgers to celebrate the burger’s launch on Sept 4.

The burger features a crispy, batter-coated chicken thigh patty, a smoky sauce and a soft potato bun.

Posts on social media platforms showed people queueing at outlets including in Lorong 4 Toa Payoh and Buona Vista’s Metropolis.

A TikTok video by user makesvaran666 showed a long line spilling out of an outlet near Toa Payoh Central.

Speaking to The Straits Times, Ms Fiona Tan, who joined the queue at the Metropolis branch shortly after 2pm, said there were between 30 and 40 people in front of her. The 54-year-old personal assistant managed to get her hands on the burger within 15 minutes of joining the queue.

She said customers were ushered into the store in small groups of four to five people, and the process was systematic and swift.

She described the chicken patty as crispy and tasty, and said the burger was still warm when she got it.

The limited giveaway could be redeemed only in-store on Sept 4 from 2 to 5pm, and was limited to the first 250 redemptions an outlet on a first come, first served basis.

These customers would also receive a voucher to get 20 per cent off their next McCrispy meal order.

When ST arrived at the McDonald’s outlet near Braddell at about 2.15pm, there were around 20 people in a moving line outside, with at least dozens more waiting inside.

The branch manager, who wanted to be known only as Jasmine, said the queue had built up before 2pm.

“Some of the aunties came at 1pm,” she told ST, in between telling at least a dozen hopefuls “no more”, prompting them to make plans to head to other McDonald’s outlets.

She added that more than 50 people had gathered early, and the line stretched in an L-shape into the nearby housing estate’s corridor.

The last of the 250 burgers were given out by 2.30pm only to those who had a coupon, she said. Coupons for collecting the burgers were distributed to the freebie hunters who started queueing before 2pm.

Some had made plans to drop by, having heard about the giveaway on social media.

A pleased Mr Alvin, who declined to give his full name, with his McDonald’s paper bag in hand, said he was impressed with the “smooth” process.

Retiree Ms Ho chanced upon the giveaway and joined the queue for coupons at around 1.30pm without knowing what awaited her at the end of it.

“I was just lucky to have walked by,” she said, adding that she went for lunch and returned after to collect her burger, which she planned to have for tea later in the day.