Move over, Ronald: ‘Vegan Maccas’ burger chain coming to Sydney’
It has similar branding and packaging. It even has “frowny meals”, but you won’t find any all-beef patties at Mr Charlies. Dubbed “the vegan Maccas’ on TikTok, it’s opening in Redfern.
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Another American burger restaurant is coming to Sydney … only this time, it’s vegan!
Dubbed the ‘vegan McDonalds’ on TikTok, Mr Charlie’s is coming to Redfern.
For months, a building on Cope Street in Redfern has been painted red with only a yellow question mark on it.
Now, the Mr Charlie’s frown logo has gone above the door.
The restaurant was launched in Los Angeles in 2022 and quickly grew a fanbase on TikTok for it’s tongue-in-cheek send up of McDonalds.
The restaurant employs the same red and yellow colours and writing font as the famous fast food restaurant.
Instead of happy meals, visitors to Mr Charlie’s are offered frowny meals made up of a plant-based “cheeseburger”, fries and drink.
They’ve also become popular because their relatively lower price point, with founder Taylor McKinnon saying the aim is to make vegan food accessible.
With fans like Lizzo, the restaurant quickly expanded to San Francisco and Venice.
Now, they are moving into Redfern and will take up residence next door to Aboriginal Employment Strategy offices on Cope Street.
Marking their Sydney announcement on social media, many fans were complaining the Australian flagship store was not based in Melbourne with one commenting, “Sydney won’t appreciate you.”
Another fan commented: “This is great. But how in God’s name have you not infringed upon copyright laws?”
As of yet, McDonalds has not launched legal action into the copyright infringement of Mr. Charlies.
McKinnon has been quoted as saying the new restaurant will be “at least 30 to 40 per cent Aboriginal employed.”
Mr Charlies follows in the footsteps of American burger franchises like Five Guys and Wahlburgers, who have all opened outposts in Sydney.
In August, the US’s third largest burger chain Wendy’s, signed a deal to roll out 200 burger joints across Australia by the middle of 2035.
The Flynn Restaurant Group is bringing the chain to Australia, after taking control of the 260 Pizza Hut restaurants in Australia in June.
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