Latest news with #McSpicy
Straits Times
3 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
What the McSpicy tells us about the Singaporean diner
To grasp the culinary essence of a country, visit a McDonald's and pursue its local specials. This is where one might find idiosyncrasies like Italy's pistachio McFlurry, the Philippines' McSpaghetti and, of course, that Singaporean cult classic, the McSpicy. In some ways, glocalisation is a form of flattery, with these variables reflecting the sophistication and taste of local consumers. And so, Singapore's favourite burger might very well be a credit to its people. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
29-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- CNA
Commentary: Why do we revere fast food so much that we're building museums even for specific burgers?
BREDA, The Netherlands: More than 25 years ago, McDonald's introduced the McSpicy burger to Singapore - chicken thigh marinated in a spicy seasoning, breaded, deep-fried, and served on a sesame seed bun with shredded lettuce and mayonnaise. With an intense burn designed to suit the local palate, the McSpicy quickly became so popular that it remains a staple on the fast food chain's menu to this day. Over the last two weeks, McDonald's celebrated the burger's journey from inception to local icon. The McSpicy Museum, a pop-up event held from May 13 to May 25, transformed the open area next to McDonald's at Bugis Junction into an interactive space featuring reflex-testing games, trivia, photo booths and vibrant installations. As a Singaporean currently residing in Europe, I've noticed a stark contrast in attitudes towards fast food. Europeans often view fast food as low-status or unhealthy, associating it with rushed lifestyles or the working class. In contrast, fast food in Singapore is far from stigmatised. In fact, there are now more than 700 fast food establishments across the country, with two fast food giants - South Korea's Lotteria and America's Chick-fil-A - entering the market this year. CONVENIENCE CULTURE A quick search on online forums suggests a straightforward answer: Pragmatism. In a fast-paced urban environment like Singapore, convenience and value are key decision drivers. With only 22 per cent of Singaporeans cooking at home daily, fast food chains meet a critical demand for quick, reliable meals amid busy schedules. Conveniently located in malls and near MRT stations, fast food outlets deliver speed, order, and reliability - qualities highly prized by time-pressed, energy-sapped office workers and students. While local hawker stalls provide some of the country's cheapest meals, they often close on certain days or have limited hours. Fast food chains, by contrast, are almost always open for business, with some operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. With rising hawker prices, fast food may appeal to budget-conscious Singaporeans who desire air-conditioned comfort in the island's oppressive heat and humidity. To sweeten the deal, many chains also offer loyalty programmes that reward repeat customers with points redeemable for food or discounts, further increasing their value-for-money appeal. FAST FOOD AS CULTURAL SYMBOL Nostalgia also plays an important role in why fast food is so dear to the hearts of so many Singaporeans. Prior to the late 1970s, when McDonald's first arrived in Singapore, locals mostly ate at hawker centres and traditional eateries. The arrival of modern, clean, American, air-conditioned fast food chains introduced a new dining trend and symbolised a connection to Western culture and global modernity. While Europeans saw fast food more as a convenient or cheap alternative, Singaporeans saw it as aspirational or symbolically celebratory, as the arrival of fast food coincided with Singapore's rapid modernisation. What's now an ordinary burger was once seen as an 'atas' (upscale) treat then - a special indulgence beyond typical hawker fare. An entire generation of millennial children grew up perceiving birthday celebrations at McDonald's or Happy Meals - kid-sized meal sets that include small toys - as luxurious treats. In 2000, McDonald's Singapore launched a campaign where customers were able to purchase limited-edition Hello Kitty plushies with every Extra Value Meal. The toys sparked nationwide frenzy, with up to 300,000 people lining up at outlets island-wide and culminating in skirmishes and other public disturbances. This irrational devotion - willingness to risk injury for a plushie - effectively demonstrates how fast food transcends its utilitarian purpose in Singapore. We now celebrate fast food items and emblems like they are cultural artifacts because, in a way, they are. Over the years, McDonald's has even found its way into National Service marching songs, with staple menu items like Filet-O-Fish and apple pie shouted out in the lyrics. Eventually, purchasing a burger from McDonald's was no longer just about the burger - it was also about being part of the cultural moment. HYBRID CULTURE In some European societies, fast food is frowned upon because it is seen as the antithesis of traditional food culture and heritage. In 1999, French farmer and union official Jose Bove ransacked a McDonald's restaurant to protest American corporate influence and 'malbouffe' ('bad food'). He became something of a national celebrity in France, where the public saw his actions as a symbolic resistance to American cultural imperialism, globalisation's threat to traditional food practices, and a loss of culinary identity, particularly in a country like France with a long and rich gastronomic history. However, in Singapore, fast food was never perceived that way. Singaporeans have always simultaneously embraced globalisation and their traditional roots, often expecting international brands to adapt to local tastes and culture. McDonald's alone offers many more examples, with unique creations like the Nasi Lemak Burger and menu items tied to local holidays, like the Prosperity Burger for Chinese New Year. These items are not just food but cultural emblems. The McSpicy, specifically, is so embraced because it is genuinely hot by local standards - a rare and notable example of a Western brand successfully catering to local palates. We talk about it almost as a cultural rite of passage - a pain-pleasure experience that many Singaporeans can relate to, for better or worse. Other fast food giants have followed suit. KFC introduced the Rendang Rice Bucket and Curry Rice Buckets exclusively to its Singapore outlets. Pizza Hut experimented with durian cheese and assam laksa pizzas. Burger King had the Hainanese Tendergrill Chicken Burger as a hat-tip to our national dish, Hainanese chicken rice. The success of these localised menu items suggests Singaporeans' openness to adopting and adapting imports of global food culture with pride, rather than viewing them as threats. That a deep-fried chicken burger now commands a 'museum' event suggests just how far fast food has come in shaping our tastes, habits, and sense of self. Whether this marks a clever cultural fusion or compromise remains unclear. But in Singapore, at least, the McSpicy isn't just a burger - it's a story we've chosen to tell about ourselves.
AsiaOne
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
What to do this weekend (May 16 to 18), Lifestyle News
Ready for the weekend? Here's what you can look forward to this week. 1. Singapore International Festival of Arts 2025 [embed] Singapore International Festival of Arts (Sifa) is back from May 16 to June 1. Themed "More Than Ever", this year's festival celebrates the growth and evolution of Singapore's arts scene over the years. You can look forward to a curated selection of free and ticketed programmes ranging from plays to interactive performances, music and dance showcases, mockumentaries, art installations, workshops, and more. 2. Tunggu Sekejap: The P. Ramlee Suite [embed] Catch a lively concert that pays tribute to the lyrical music of composer P. Ramlee, who was a giant in the world of Malay film and music in the 1950s and 60s. Julian Wong, one of Singapore's' most outstanding music arrangers and directors, has re-composed familiar melodies by P. Ramlee — including Azizah, Getaran Jiwa and Tunggu Sekejap — into three movements, which will be performed by re: mix, a 30-member chamber orchestra. Interspersed with iconic film clips and key biographical trivia, this concert celebrating P. Ramlee's musical legacy promises to both illuminate and enchant as it spotlights how P. Ramlee's music is not only evergreen, but also surprisingly contemporary. Till May 31, 2025 3. The McSpicy Museum [embed] If you're a McSpicy fan, you won't want to miss McDonald's new pop-up museum. Located at the open area beside McDonald's Bugis Junction branch, the McSpicy Museum celebrates the history of this popular local burger, which turns 26 this year. Through fiery and interactive exhibits, you'll learn how the burger has evolved over the years, as well as how other countries have adapted their own unique spin on the McSpicy. Other highlights include McSpicy-themed games that will put your reflexes and knowledge to the test, and customisable photo booths loaded with Sprite and McDonalds-themed stickers. In addition, from May 19 to 23, you can snag a free McSpicy burger by being one of the first 50 visitors at 12pm or 5pm daily. Be sure to get there early to secure your spot! Till May 25, 2025 4. Korea Travel Fair 2025 [embed] The annual Korea Travel Fair returns to Plaza Singapura this weekend. Organised by Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO), this three-day fair brings together the best of Korean travel, culture, and lifestyle. This year's fair features over 20 exhibitors, including Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) from Jeju, Busan, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Jeollanam-do, as well as major travel agents offering limited-time promotions. You're invited to immerse yourself in hands-on cultural activities including DIY crafts, K-beauty workshops, and fashion styling sessions, catch live performances by JUMP! Comic Martial Arts and K-drama OST singer Punch, and take part in interactive games with lucrative prizes. May 16 to 18, 2025. 5. Kidney Care Carnival 2025 View this post on Instagram A post shared by NKF Singapore (@nkfsg) Head to One Punggol this Sunday for the first-ever National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Kidney Care Carnival. Celebrating resilience and hope, the carnival brings together patients, families, and the public with the aim of fostering greater understanding and support for kidney health. NKF patients will take the lead in sharing their stories, hosting booths with carnival games and stalls, and taking part in live stage performances, turning their experiences into powerful reminders of strength and the importance of caring for our kidneys. May18, 2025, 10am to 6pm. [[nid:717785]] This article was first published in
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
First McSpicy Museum at Bugis Junction with games & free burgers
From 13 to 25 May, the McSpicy Museum will spice things up with zones that will take visitors through the history of the McSpicy burger, which was introduced here in 1999. Admission to the McSpicy museum, held in an open area beside McDonald's at Bugis Junction, is free, the fast food chain said on Facebook on 12 May. The event celebrates 26 years of the McSpicy, a spicy fried chicken burger served at McDonald's, known for its fiery, flavourful chicken patty. It features a thick, juicy cutlet of chicken thigh, lettuce, and mayonnaise, all nestled between toasted sesame seed buns. The McSpicy is particularly popular in Singapore, where it has amassed a cult following. At the McSpicy Museum, you will be able to discover the juicy origin behind this local legend. Additionally, find out how it has taken on tasty twists around the globe. For thrill seekers, rise to the challenge with McSpicy-themed games that will put your reflexes and knowledge to the test. To celebrate the day, strike a pose at the photo booths loaded with fun Sprite and McDonald's-themed stickers. Don't forget to post it on your socials, tagging @mcdsg to get your hands on fiery deals. Need one more reason to swing by? From 19 to 23 May, McDonald's will be giving out 100 free McSpicy burgers to the first 50 visitors at 12pm and 5pm daily. So come hungry and early! Chicken McCrispy becomes a permanent stay on the McDonald's menu starting 1 July The post First McSpicy Museum at Bugis Junction with games & free burgers appeared first on
AsiaOne
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Sizzling exhibits, games and freebies: McDonald's launching first McSpicy Museum at Bugis Junction, Lifestyle News
McDonald's is looking to heat things up with the launch of its McSpicy Museum. A first of its kind, the museum is a fiery tribute to the iconic burger that's been sizzling local tastebuds since 1999. In a Facebook post on Monday (May 12), the fast-food chain announced that the McSpicy Museum will be opening its doors from May 13 to 25. The space is located at the open area next to McDonald's Bugis Junction outlet and McSpicy lovers will be pleased to know that admission is free. View this post on Instagram A post shared by McDonald's Singapore (@mcdsg) Visitors can expect a host of exhibitions, with interactive zones "that will take you through the legendary journey of this beloved burger", and games with prizes up for grabs. There's also a giveaway of McSpicy burgers between May 19 and 23. There will be two sessions daily, 12pm and 5pm, and the free burgers are limited to the first 50 customers per session, while stocks last. Also for a limited time only from May 15, McDonald's will launch a new twist on the fiery favourite – the Smoky Chilli Mayo McSpicy (from $9.20 for an Extra Value Meal). The new burger will be available during non-breakfast hours – at all restaurants islandwide, Drive-Thrus and via McDelivery, GrabFood, foodpanda and Deliveroo – while stocks last. [[nid:715918]] amierul@
