
Image by Publicis Groupe via Ads of the World
McDonald’s has worked up an appetite on behalf of pedestrians in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by converting a busy crosswalk into a large display of French fries. Billboards could never compare.
Now known as the McDonald’s Fries Crosswalk, the site is also a clever way-finding sign as it uses existing yellow strips to lead locals and tourists to the very first McDonald’s restaurant in Malaysia. Incidentally, this intersection is also known as the “Golden Triangle” of the city’s Bukit Bintang shopping district.
The crosswalk was supposedly inspired by Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing when it first opened, but the Kuala Lumpur government has now made it Instagram-worthy in its own right. Ministers were present at the opening of the McDonald’s-themed crosswalk, envisioned as a landmark to draw tourists into the capital after a prolonged lockdown.
“The world-famous McDonald’s Fries, now a KL [Kuala Lumpur] icon!” McDonald’s Malaysia announced on social media last month. “Leading right up to our first-ever store in Malaysia, this initiative is part of a wider government movement to develop Kuala Lumpur. It is our hope this crossing becomes an iconic part of the KL cityscape.”
A delicious touch is the eye-catching red mark at the start of some crossings, reminiscent of fries that have been dipped in ketchup.
According to Leo Burnett Malaysia, the advertising agency behind the overhaul, the entire process—from ideation to government approvals and launch—spanned seven months.
The launch came in time for McDonald’s Malaysia’s 40th anniversary, as well as the nation’s border reopening in April.

Image by Publicis Groupe via Ads of the World

Image by Publicis Groupe via Ads of the World
[via Ads of the World and Marketing Interactive, images via various sources]