Hundreds of customers line up outside a McDonald’s in Osaka Tuesday to try the new Quarter Pounder.

Hundreds line up for an hour at Osaka McDonald's for Quarter Pounder debut

Wednesday 24th December, 09:25 AM JST

OSAKA —

The Quarter Pounder made its debut on menus in Osaka on Tuesday, with more than 500 people lining up outside McDonald’s Midosuji-Suomachi store in Chuo Ward before it opened at 10 a.m.

While the Quarter Pounder had already made its way onto menus in the Kanto area in November, Tuesday marked the first day the famous burger was available in the Kansai area. The Quarter Pounder is only on sale at the Suomachi store at this point, and only available in a set with fries and a drink for 500 yen until Friday. Until then, the Suomachi store will not be selling regular menu items, but will resume regular operations on Friday when the Quarter Pounder will also become available for individual sale at 360 yen.

The queue outside the store before opening stretched for a couple of hundred meters, with some people waiting for more than an hour. One university student said: “It’s got a thick pattie, it’s a great burger. It was worth the wait.”

Pro golfer Momoko Ueda also made a guest appearance at the event, and was surprised by the queues outside. “That’s Osaka for you. They love their food.”

News reports

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Latest 15 of 57 Total Comments Show All

Pukey2 at 09:12 PM JST - 24th December

Quarter pounder? welcome to the 20th century. Been there, tried it. Next century, please.
ilcub76 at 09:19 PM JST - 24th December

You'd think that McDonald's had a Michelin rating or something.... can't understand lining up for something I've eaten since I was in junior high. LOL
GeorgeRoper at 10:58 PM JST - 24th December

I wouldn't cue up for an hour for that muck, yuck!! Wimpy is miles better and you get a knife and fork.

Japan need someone to set up a chain of fish and chips or pie and mash shops, then they could have some decent grub without chemicals and all them colours and things they add.
bamboohat at 11:33 PM JST - 24th December

SPIDEY gets reps for the funniest comment:

And I thought MOVIES came late to Japan!! Geez Loueez!
Sarge at 11:36 PM JST - 24th December

"Japan need someone to set up a chain of fish and chips or pie and mash shops, then they could have some decent grub"

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
herefornow at 11:44 PM JST - 24th December

Sad comment on the folks in Osaka's culinary tastes. Although I will admit, I'm thrilled the QP has finally made its way over here. (Had one for lunch just today, but with the salad.) The double cheeseburger was not an adequate substitute.
30061015 at 11:53 PM JST - 24th December

dontpanic> "Those worth keeping are worth a bit more effort than that." No, those worth keeping will appreciate frugality. "a bit more effort than that"? I think cooking a good meal is a bit more effort than wasting time & money in line at Mcfacsimile food.

ptolemy> "Hello lemmings, enjoy your jump off the cliff."

Lemmings really don't jump off cliffs. A Disney inspired myth. Humans are the only animal that commits mass suicide, as evidenced by this line of people outside Mc cholesterol.
pointofview at 12:30 AM JST - 25th December

I hope they had enought meet...
ScottishThug at 03:07 AM JST - 25th December

Sad comment on the folks in Osaka's culinary tastes.

I think it's a sad comment on Osaka's wallets. Bus drivers, truck drivers, construction workers, failed comedians, alcoholic Tigers fans - mate, that place can't drum up a single proper full-time job amongst their whole lot of millions.
telecasterplayer at 03:32 AM JST - 25th December

The McD's in Japan are SOOO much better than the ones in the U.S. Despite promises to resist and refuse to eat American junk food in Sushiland, I usually break down once per visit and grab a burger. Shame on glutenous American food! I hate myself for it.
Dang, now I have to have a QP w/C before the end of the week. Curse you, McDonald's publicity machine!
30061015 at 07:41 AM JST - 25th December

telecasterplayer> "Shame on glutinous American food! I hate myself for it. Curse you, McDonald's publicity machine!"

True, The scarey burger clown in baggy pants plays upon our collective narcissism. I Love your honesty!
Mark_McCracken at 09:03 PM JST - 25th December

Look Burger King!!! OSAKA LOVES BURGERS. Now open a Whopper Shop in Kansai!
MeAndroo at 09:18 AM JST - 26th December

Anybody hear about Mickey D's paying folks to stand in line, claiming it was "quality monitoring?" Some of the early posters were right it looks like.
delo321 at 10:18 PM JST - 26th December

In Tokyo, it has not been such success and hence, by hiring more than 1,000 fake clients queuing (for 1000JPY plus the 500JPY menu), Mc Donald did pretty well to manipulate the masses in Osaka.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/mcdonalds-admits-1000-people-paid-to-join-queue-for-quarter-pounder-debut-in-osaka

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter_Pounder

Anyway, no hamburger in Japan is worth one from Freshness Burger!

http://www.freshnessburger.co.jp
itcher74 at 11:16 PM JST - 26th December

Right. It is a marketing gimmick. McDonalds have hired people to stand in line to make other people curious to what this hype is all about. You see people lining up in famous restaurants and ramen joints if it has a good reputation the line will then be good advertising for the shop again.