McDonald's spicy chicken burger, the McSpicy, has a cult following in Singapore. I ordered it to see what the fuss is all about.

The spicy chicken burger was introduced on the Singapore menu in 1999.

Since then, the burger has become a cult classic, with some fans even declaring it the most representative dish of Singapore.

The chicken patty's intense heat has also earned it the nickname "McLaoSai" — Hokkien for "diarrhea." Many fans, however, say the spice is exactly what they love most about the burger.

Apart from Singapore, variations of the McSpicy have been sold in countries like South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, the UK, and India.

I've lived in Singapore for most of my life, so I'm no stranger to the McSpicy — I've ordered it many times. But this time around, I documented the experience for those of you who, unfortunately, can't order it in your home countries.

The single patty costs 6.80 Singapore dollars (around $5). The double costs S$7.80 ($5.70).

One enthusiast from the UK estimates the heat to be between 5,000 to 10,000 units on the Scoville scale, which would make it spicier than a Jalapeno pepper.

Some people say Singapore's version is spicier than the ones found abroad. One Singaporean who lives in the UK said he was "disappointed" with the burger, and that he would rate it a five out of 10.

But another Singaporean user disputed this review, saying the patty was actually spicier and more crispy when he ordered it in the UK, drawing much buzz to the UK launch of the burger in 2021.

McDonald's Singapore did not immediately reply to my requests for comment.

McDonald's says the McSpicy is made from a few ingredients: toasted sesame buns, mayonnaise, lettuce, and a fried chicken patty marinated in various spices. While the Singapore version is made with chicken thigh, the UK burger is made with chicken breast.

While I usually find McDonald's beef patties to be thin and overcooked, the spicy chicken patty was inviting. It was thick and crispy, making it one of the most appetizing patties I've had from any fast-food chain.

The burger was surprisingly balanced, with the mayonnaise complementing the slight heat from the chicken patty. What I loved most about the burger was that it packed with umami flavor. The heat wasn't overwhelming, and I devoured the double. 

Strangely, the single seemed spicier. The overload of eating three spicy chicken patties in one sitting may have been to blame, but I felt a bit more of the burn as I ate the second burger. That said, as someone who eats spicy food often, the heat was tolerable.

It seems, though, that it's possible to get a spice overload from the famed burger: A local journalist ate nothing but the McSpicy for a whole week, and he said it was an "idiotic decision."

"Don't do it because there will be constipation, diarrhoea, laryngitis, and a whole buffet of unpleasant ailments as your body protests the idiotic decision," Pan Jie wrote in a 2017 article for RICE. "Don't do it because god knows how long it will take to lose the 4.5 kg that I've gained."

Despite its reputation for setting people's stomachs on fire, I was spared from the pain some have gotten from eating the burger.

While it won't be replacing the spicy otah bun as my go-to spicy sandwich, the McSpicy is a delight, especially considering it's a fast-food burger.

If you do manage to get your hands on a Singaporean rendition of the burger, make sure to order the meal, so you'll have a drink in case your taste buds start to feel like they're on fire.