You can use the McDonald’s app to order food right at your table, like at a fancy restaurant

McDonald’s Malaysia introduces the “order and collect” feature on their app (iOS, Android) which helps customers make contactless orders. Users are able to order, pay, and choose how and where they want to collect their order directly from their mobile phones. And yes, this includes an option to order your food straight from your table—without needing to order through the counter or kiosk.

“At McDonald’s Malaysia, we’re always thinking of new and innovative ways to improve our services and provide only the best customer experience. We now live in an era where customers are more connected than ever. Their wants and needs have changed, and convenience has become a priority in their everyday lives,” said Melati Abdul Hai, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of McDonald’s Malaysia.

First off, the “order and collect” feature isn’t exactly brand new—it was first introduced last year in October 2021 at selected restaurants in the Klang Valley. However, they said that the feature has now “expanded to all McDonald’s restaurants nationwide”. If you still haven’t gotten the feature yet at your nearest chain, you might need to wait a few days. Malaysia is also the first country in Southeast Asia to roll out the feature.

On the McDonald’s app, there are four different “channels” that you can order your food with—takeaway, dine-in, drive-thru, and drive-in. The takeaway option lets you order even before you reach your chosen McDonald’s, and then collect your order from the takeaway counter. The dine-in option lets you waltz straight to a table at a McDonald’s without going to the counter or kiosk and order for the food to be sent to you there—like at a table service restaurant.

The drive-thru option lets you order food in advance and collect at the drive-thru window, but you’d still have to queue up with the other cars at the drive-thru line. And lastly, the drive-in option lets you park your car in a McDonald’s parking lot and order your food to be sent to you in your car—but you’d need to know the parking lot number.

To get started, make sure you download the McDonald’s app, and not the McDelivery app. And if you’ve noticed, the new features do not include delivery. If you want your food delivered, you’re still able to use the McDelivery app or just press the McDelivery option in the McDonald’s app.

You’re then advised to sign in. Take note that you’ll need to register for a new account on the McDonald’s app, as (for some reason) the sign-in details for McDelivery won’t work with the McDonald’s app.

After that, you’re able to choose the location of your preferred McDonald’s restaurant. You can type in any McDonald’s restaurant of your choice, or look for one based on a location. You can also pick one with the map—and it doesn’t need to be the McDonald’s nearest to your area. Theoretically, you can pick up your food in the Batu Tiga McDonald’s from Kajang… if you’re willing to make that journey.

After picking out your meals, and choosing between the four order options, the orders will be “prepared immediately” after your payment. It can currently accept credit card or debit card payments—eWallets aren’t yet accepted through the app.

Additionally, starting now until 6 March, customers are able to get a “free reward” every week when they spend RM25 with the order and collect feature on the app. The rewards can be items like nuggets, fried chicken, and other items.

While we were at the launch, Zaid Hassan, Chief Technology Officer of McDonald’s Malaysia, also answered a little bit about the french fry shortage in Malaysia. He said that the french fry shortage is a worldwide issue and that McDonald’s Malaysia gets its supply out of the country.

Related reading

• Starbucks Malaysia finally lets you order your drink before you arrive at the store
• McDonalds Malaysia announces a “fry-tening” shortage of french fries