Crazy Long Line for FREE Mandarin Canada Day Meal | Midtown Toronto

A crazy long long wrapping around Yonge & Eglinton for a free meal at the Mandarin Buffet to celebrate Canada Day and 45 years of the restaurant in Canada.
Recorded in 4K at 60 FPS on Monday, July 1, 2024.
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[@mrtyrang]

If you're at the end of the line, by the time you get to the door, it's probably closing time.

[@brianmcdonald6519]

They were going to close the line at a certain time, just so that would not happen.

[@Angel_Sent_From_Heaven]

😂😂😂😂

[@moeanthony9308]

Just in time for a doggy bag of left overs

[@fpshooterful]

This is soo dumb. Mandirn charges about 27 dollars for the lunch time buffet, and these people are waiting at least 4 hours most likely? All for just saving 27 to 30buks? Come on.

[@shanyamclaughlin8083]

Lots of negative comments. I didn’t see any other fast food chain or restaurants give back to Canadians so good on them to open their doors and give back. Keep in mind it was also their 45th Anniversary so for them that is celebrated. I went with my family to the one in London. Yes the lines were long but we also met many lovely people and had an alright experience. I guess it comes down to perspective. They opened their doors and I will continue my business with them. Thanks again for having us :). Didn’t even see McDonald’s handout a free coffee.

[@queenalicia9612]

Yes, I too enjoyed the company while in the line. I can't wait for the Moon Festival from September to October. No,🥰 you have to pay hehe.

[@SuzanaPaklar]

It's crazy what people would do in Canada for a free stuff. The scary part is that it would be the same for a free coffee also. Wasting hours of your day off standing in line,just to have free anything😄. This is the highlight of a day? Oh boy. And they will talk about it for weeks 😃Not in this lifetime. Maybe if it's a medication that would save a life. Pathetic.

[@calvinwong365]

@@SuzanaPaklar this country literally built as a dollarama system, why in last 40 to 50 years alot of the older and 2nd generation chinese families out worked every canadian. in china they worked, and as soon they come to canada or the usa, they work, almsot all of them worked 50-70 hours a week. alot of them do gamble their money away cause back then it was all cash pay. but chinese are literally the ones that built canada in the food industry. just remember which restaurants fed families during christmas time and new years. just remember who built the railroads in the 1800s. now all we have are these lazy bubble tea shops, french and western like bakeries, chinese people from china opening korean and japanese restaurants. whats sad is that real chinese food are dimsum and guangdong style, cantonese food. not these lazy all you can eat buffet. why people say western chinese just tricking the white people. just know during the 1980s to 1990s, the most dominate restaurants were owned by pizza shops, italian restaurants and chinese restaurants. white people will pay writers and reporters to basically screw over chinese restaurants at that time. Saying stuff like "MSG is bad for you" why so many customers ask for no msg, but dont realize that so much process from grocery stores now are filled with msg. chips and cereal

[@PS-383]

This is the best advertising campaign for Mandarin. Beats all other marketing programs.

[@brown_beauty7499]

I love your channel. My husband and I visited Toronto 1 week ago. It's because of me watching your channel I knew how to maneuver the city and find all the sites. Keep up the great work!!😊

[@billchow747]

05:25 In answer to your question, Mandarin has offered Free Buffets for their 35th, 40th and 45th anniversary, to my knowledge. I waited in line for 3 hours on their 35th anniversary. Looks like the lines are getting longer. And I agree with you. I now would rather pay than wait 3 hours. Nevertheless, it's a nice gesture on the part of Mandarin's immigrant (Chinese-Canadian) owner/staff to offer this on Canada Day. It must have cost them a lot of time and money.

[@brianmcdonald6519]

Seems like some of the people Johnny spoke to had been in line for at least 5 hours!! My time is more valuable than that!

[@brentsarazin6597]

As Johnny mentioned this was a 'Priceless' way to advertise their business and it is too bad other Restaurants or Stores didn't do the same thing, more often. Cooperate greed is alive and well people. Happy Canada Day All!...😊

[@dboutic617]

The Mandarin in Kitchener experienced the same type of crazy line-up...the first person began their camping adventure around midnight at least!

[@Angel_Sent_From_Heaven]

😂😂😂😂

[@LL-si9cl]

Funny thing is, If you offer the same ppl 30-40$ to camp outdoors, theyll likely say no.

[@garfieldsmith332]

That is insane. Lining up so early.

[@jackylee5850]

Indeed, one person even bragged that they lined up as early as 8am. Really dude, you really want stand in the hot sun for 4 hours just get one free meal?

[@jrtiger34]

It's nice for mandarin to give free meals! I myself would not line up for hours to get free meal. But to each it's own. Happy canada day

[@abhijitguha494]

u r fortunate mate. lots of people out there who cannot afford a fancy restaurant meal. wish them well.

[@georgehoward9306]

Thanks Johnny my wife and I used to go there all the time when we visited Toronto. Brought back many memories.

[@williammccracken5654]

I went to high school up the road 50 years ago and the only crazies were me and my buddies. How times have changed.

[@DragonPupEclipse]

Even I am broke I am not gonna line up. Unless it covers my meal for 3-6 months.

[@azamyahmad]

Welcome back my friend and there you go again absolutely another spectacular beautiful shooting filming footage compilation walk away tour and you rock it all again .. million thanks Jhonny ..

[@jackylee5850]

The one on Birchmount and Eglinton had a fairly decent line, not too long. Yet in the end a bunch of people still didn't get to eat when the restaurant closes the line early. There was this staff member holding a sign (a rather small one to boot) that says do not line up past this point, problem was the actual cutoff point was far up ahead in the line yet the guy was standing near the rear of the line, and he made no attempts to tell the people already in line or the new arrivals to leave as they were not going to be served. Then a while later he just moved up to the actual cutoff point and stayed there (like how was anyone at the rear of the line supposed to see the sign you're holding) Thus, more and more people started to line up, and it was only after the line moved up to the point where the restaurant manager was in view that he started to tell people about the cutoff. I asked the manager: Why didn't you tell the other people what was happening? and he said he asked an officer to relay the message to the people in the line, which did happen, but no one left. I said: The officer doesn't work for the restaurant; this is your decision and it's your job to inform the patrons. These people are still in line because they're waiting on confirmation FROM you, they can't be 100% sure that what the officer relayed is correct, maybe there's some miscommunication, no one wants to take the risk of leaving when they didn't have to. But now, you've made them wait around for nothing when you could have just personally walked down the line and explained the situation to the patrons, so they didn't have to waste any more time. Before I left, I went up to the staff and asked him: This is the end of the line, yes? to which he nodded. I then asked: Then what were you doing at the rear of the line an hour ago when the actual end of the line was so far up ahead, and why didn't you make any attempt at telling the people who lined up behind this point to leave as they were not going to be served? He just kept telling me to talk to the manager, even though I could clearly see he was at a loss for words for the blunder he had made. I admit I was a little disappointed I couldn't get to eat, but it's the miscommunication on the staff's part that really grinded my gears. There was an old man who was cursing up a storm towards the restaurant as he left, having travelled quite far only to return with an empty stomach.

[@leanderdsilva9372]

Me and my friend (a loyal Mandarin customer for 15 years) entered the line at 1.30 pm, from Eglinton and Duplex, and after waiting for 7 hours, we got in. We literally only had 1 hour to have all the amazing stuff in there before they had to close at 9.30 pm. I was literally the last person that left 😂😂😂 and I probably didnt end up eating the smorgasbord of dessert i had on the plate!

[@kevbrown1867]

It’s great that the Mandarin is giving back and giving free food to the cities homeless and financially struggling population

[@queenalicia9612]

@@kevbrown1867 True, some homeless people had a good meal that day, I saw them. had good conversations with them also.

[@queenalicia9612]

I was there from 11 am, I got in half an hour before you. I had a great time in the line meeting new people. .

[@Arshia335]

People have so much patience for free meal..its amazing

[@canadaman]

Assuming someone stand in the line for a minimum 4 hours for a free meal, if the same person has a job and gone for work, the minimum salary the person would get is at least $52 after tax, which can make the person buy meals twice. I am not against the free meal but let the free meals goes only to genuinely poor people who cannot afford a meal, so the people who can afford would buy the food. Just my thoughts.

[@sepandttcexplorer]

Wow I was right around the corner filming the big line up to Mandarin the same time as you did we almost missed each other. I also saw Henry and Boom at the line up as well too.

[@jefftaylor844]

Dude, they've been doing free Canada Day meals for years and years. You must be new to Toronto.

[@JohnnyStrides]

They do it every 5 years, but sure I'm new 🤣

[@martym61]

Thanks for showing this. Free food usually equates to long lines, but that line was really long.

[@JesseLucas-ci7oe]

I would have waited in that line no problem Thats so amazing that their giving away such an amazing buffet to the people their an amazing restaurant just like all restaurants everywhere mad respects and happy canada day everyone

[@latexdrc]

Judging from those clothing sizes a buffet is well worth it

[@julieerin115]

I've spent hours outside before...on a beach, in the woods...

[@davidmack6365]

Don't people realize that their time is worth something......probably more then 40$ for a few hours

[@Santiagol]

None of them work.

[@miladk.2064]

You realize it’s Canada Day right? Most people are not working on that day and probably enjoy having conversation while waiting in line. And if you bring a family you are saving a lot more than 40.

[@TheDickassman]

Nah, people are stupid

[@davidmack6365]

@@miladk.2064 not very smart are you

[@nnyv0040]

people love free stuff!

[@harrison1899]

@6:03 i hope this guy washed his hands

[@wjkwjk3484]

In 1991, I lined up for 3 hours on Canada Day until Mandarin Buffet Restaurant opened the door. I had a free buffet lunch after 3 hours waiting. 3 hours! This is a test for patience. Can you do this? ? ???? You can try this test at least ONCE in your life. Hahahahaha🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@DukeHalliday-cv4fx]

HOLY SH*T....... *THAT LINE IS NUTS*

[@harjotjassal9180]

Very good video Johnny

[@cainrac]

Thanks for this & a very Happy Belated Canada Day, Beautiful Johnny Strides & all!! That is an insane line up for a free meal, for sure They must be pretty hungry to be in that enormous line up down the street & around the next corner &.....! The restaurant should have had many servers on this day to go down the line & hand out the free meals, that would have been better, I think! Thanks for showing us this & something else, you are such a courteous young man! Cheers & have a great day! 🥰🥰🦅🦅🦅🦅

[@lisaGTorontogirl]

Hi Johnny. Hope your well. Happy Canada Day to you.

[@srirajhsripathinathan]

4:58 There’s me in the light brown shirt with a couple of my coworkers

[@cronstrubzo]

bru you were the guys who cut in line in front of me!!

[@srirajhsripathinathan]

@@cronstrubzo my co worker friend was around that line around Eglinton since 10 30, couple of my work friends were there around 11 12 and she saved them a spot and saved me a spot with them

[@Bk6346]

@@cronstrubzoI agree. Holding a spot for someone is line jumping. If it’s a few minutes to go to the washroom or something else that’s fine. People have this idea that one person can hold a spot for upwards of 20 people.

[@noelf3312]

That's the Mandarin we always go to since Bus 52 goes to Eglinton now.

[@johnsonluk3468]

Surprisingly, there were actually a lot of young people lining up.

[@robertbrownridge7579]

It will be about five, ten minutes.

[@kelleyursu8610]

Cartwright!

[@peters5333]

deja vu. left your fair city on Canada Day early. went back home to Windsor and at Devonshire Mall (around 11:45am) there was a massive line up for the Mandarin. absolutely huge. yes, they have been doing this for a while now. what blew my mind thought was after the line up back at Y&E 7:32 I used to live in that neighborhood and am shocked....shocked by how much its changed.

[@RobS282]

they have been doing this for years my first time was at this location line went down douplex, i could not see the end ive done it 4 time at various locations did it this year in north york

[@cherb3145]

Wow!

[@aroundtorontotwo]

holy crap that a long line

[@MikeSmith-vo2yt]

We get this at Stampede, people line up for hours for a cold pancake and grade b sausage, lol

[@leanderdsilva9372]

You guys can probably spot me on 9.18 😂😂😂

[@sabell1276]

Should be 70 years old or older

[@pauly5418]

Mandarin does have a Seniors day 65+, 50% off. Check to find out the day for 2024.

[@JC-od3tg]

Wait in line for hours in the the heat to save 27 bucks. Seriously!

[@middernag6117]

After all, there are more than 300,000 people unemployed in Toronto right now.

[@shirleyscott8879]

I’m surprised more people didn’t bring folding chairs for the wait

[@DukeHalliday-cv4fx]

My Asthma Would Have Acted Up

[@tasatasa-fl2nc]

wauw heel goed en buitengewoon 😍💞💞💞💞

[@user-ub1gz8lx8c]

7.9% unemployment in Toronto and 25% living below the poverty line now. Not suprising free food attracts many.

[@omerkayhan464]

At Berwick Avenue and Yonge Street there was used to be construction going on. During your Toronto walks around Midtown again could you pls check out that construction area because im curious to know what that construction is about

[@patrickh799]

I feel bad for the kids waiting in line. Gotta stand in line in the hot sun all day just so mom and dad can save a few bucks. Makes no difference to them whether the meal is free or not.

[@mariewiseman2962]

Hi everyone 👋👋👋

[@rationalanalysis960]

Spread the meme ... Sankofa Square to be renamed by the people to "Gordo Square". In honor of our great Canadian artists .. Gordon Lightfoot and Gord Downie.

[@user-zh3cw9gq3p]

.poor children in strollers in such heat. do these people know what they are eating????

[@Bagrat257]

actually, it's not free, it cost you the valuable time.

[@latexdrc]

Unless that’s all you have to spare

[@AlitaQuinn]

Was just thinking the same thing!!

[@petek5523]

Imagine lining up for hours for terrible free food 😅😂. Mental 🥴

[@cksh4182]

where are the international students LOL.

[@samlao980]

At other store locations.

[@MyFriendlyPup]

If someone is on a visa should they leave the line to allow a sworn citizen?

[@user-hi4et8tq7d]

No crab legs i bet

[@susancrawford5927]

I would never stand line for a meal although Mandarin is one of my favourite places. But I have neighbours that would never miss a free meal even though we're all on pensions. I might not value my time as such but I couldn't stand that long in the sun. Forget it!

[@brianmcdonald6519]

I heard that at a certain time, they were going to cut the line.

[@johnnyj3299]

All that wait for a free meal. That's fkd up. 😮😅

[@yourtravelswithbruce]

Mandarin Foods is not worth that long of a line. That is nuts. Very cheap food

[@hhustlehumble1]

It used to be $17 back in the days … but I guess free food and buffet style with so many options would make it worth $250 oer person if it were a normal restaurant. I’d say worth the wait for a foodie. Not my thing though. Thanks

[@tmacmac-ec2ut]

CANADA IS BROKE ALL THIS TO SAVE 29.99

[@theepanbalas]

Go to wok of fame in Mississauga its so much bettet.

[@billjohnson7904]

To get your money's worth, you have to do like the Roman's did, go to the bathroom and purge after each course lol

[@deoneforpeace]

Happy Canada Day Late!!!....Super Nice of the Mandarin!!!!....Beautiful Video...Awesome 👋 🇨🇦 💖

[@binh5948]

On Earth, I value time more than most things. So this is a no go for me :)

[@MsKleinlaut]

Several reasons I would not line up. I have seen people in Cuba line up for hours for 4 pieces of chicken. Often they left empty handed. My family and I are WW2 survivors. From the time I could walk till the age of 4, I lined up for groceries, bread and potatoes while my mom was in a different line-up for unpasteurized milk and butter. People should not have to line up for hours for food. As well meaning as it maybe. I bet very few older Europeans would be in that line-up. Too degrading.

[@rundown132]

Spending a few hours waiting for food seems miserable...personally not worth it for me from a $/hour standpoint

[@samvan7787]

Lunch is 30+tip+tax=$40. Wait for 4 hours, cost is $10/hour < min wage

[@sparkyboy0123]

It’s a nice gesture but I think they’re doing it all wrong! Get people to register on line then have a draw.

[@juliechaston]

I'm pretty sure they have done this before (if not for Canada Day, for other holidays) - and so they know how much this is going to cost them. If they can afford to do it, that tells me how overpriced they are normally... lol.

[@gabrielapaulinho1luv]

😮As an American, I say this awesome offering wouldn't work in a big city on the Fourth of July.

[@moeanthony9308]

InCanada we all know why too

[@user-jb7bs9dk8r]

don't these people have anything to do with there time besides waiting in line for a free hand out get to work like everybody else

[@lostmoose9994]

Cant they affort food or cant they cook themselves ? I dont get it.

[@stansirlmkhope2312]

I thought it was a lineup for a food bank….my bad

[@frankojudoka]

That’s a train long lineup.

[@sebastianc09]

lmao so many people are worthless...if you wait in a line like that, your time is worth nothing

[@lisadeeyoung]

Cannot believe how much this video has blown up, lol.

[@Aces77777]

I would rather pay than waiting 5 to 8 hours This is why I never even tried to get in for free

[@alwayskarl]

let’s be honest though; only half of the line got in. and that’s being generous considering on rfd ppl were saying there were no time limits.

[@CN_SFY_General]

12:00 pm - 20:00 pm, it was shown in the advertisement.

[@alwayskarl]

@@CN_SFY_General I meant seating time limits. RFD users reported no limit to amount of minutes per person which explains why the lady he spoke to (near the front) was waiting since 9:10am (nearly 5 hours)

[@CN_SFY_General]

@@alwayskarl You are correct. Once you get in, you can stay as long as you want.

[@ghanoupraha1641]

For 3 hours i will deliver food for uber get 70 to 100 cad and buy my own meal

[@qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq704]

buncha sheeple

[@FreshCutFrenchFries]

Those poor kids..

[@garfieldsmith332]

It would be better to donate money to the food banks, soup kitchens, charities. Lots of people could use a good basic meal of 'meat, veggies, and potatoes' everyday. Wonder how many in line never ate at Mandarin before.

[@justinleon3509]

if there wasnt a lineup, mandarin wouldnt have paid that cop to stand there

[@WayWillow]

Looks like giveaways in China.

[@BritneyWaldron]

A few people were waiting with strollers/small kids. SMH. For free food!

[@Revenger3rdUnit]

I saw my aunt and uncle in the line up lmao smh

[@ruthbickerstaffe1915]

The Mandarine has been doing this for years and years. I believe all the Mandarines do it all over The City.

[@pongster888]

every 5 years

[@patrickmatthew4803]

I wonder how many of those hundreds of people actually ended up getting a meal

[@Alsatiagent-zu1rx]

There was a Mandarin employee with a counter in his hand. He was making sure they had enough food and time for the line. They were going to stop the line at a certain point.

[@mariemacisaac7529]

WHAT IF THEY RUN OUT OF FOOD?

[@jackylee5850]

Not likely, they probably got delivery trucks coming in all day long and dropping off ingredients to keep up.

[@dannysee1]

Anything for free.

[@Carrie-so3ro]

I knew that Mandarin was good enough to give free meals (at least some years) on Canada Day - (a LOT better than the greed SOME food trucks show.) As I had never taken up Mandarin on this kind free offer it was interesting to see how long the line was & how long the wait had been. (It would have been good if you could have passed on more information about this event though ie. is it a BUFFET meal that the people will get for free or will they be handed a container FROM the buffet? Are the meals running from lunch time through the dinner hours or only for a specific few hrs. time slot to the first come, first served - & everybody else has wasted their time? etc. Just more info about this would have been more interesting & helpful.)

[@JohnnyStrides]

I literally didn't know anything about it and just happened to have my camera on me when I saw the line...

[@Carrie-so3ro]

@@JohnnyStrides There was the security guard you saw at the front of the line & also a Mandarin employee you spoke to for a minute. It just would have been nice if you had questioned them for some of this extra information to make your video better & more informative, (or if you had thought of what info would have made your video more complete later on, you could have called them up to get the details & then added that information on at the end of your video. (This is just for any future sort of videos you decide to shoot I guess.)

[@robjones5801]

So that older woman had been waiting for five hours and she probably had another hour to wait, meaning people were waiting pretty much all day (a work day) to save thirty or forty bucks. Obviously these are people with a lot more time than money. And people who are just cheap...err thrifty! 🤣

[@juliechaston]

This is in Canada - on Canada Day - which as Johnny mentioned several times in the video - is a holiday. I don't disagree with everything you said, but it was not a work day (except for those working in open restaurants, tourist attractions, and the like).

[@bluebull2006]

Unless u actually cant buy food that day its not worth it

[@PQV-8898]

My time is worth a 100x more than a free meal waiting around hours...Lol. You've got to be desperate to do this. Hell, you couldn't even pay enough money to do this.

[@notoriousj_]

Waiting 6 hours for some free food = waste of a day

[@williammccracken5654]

No booze runs no me.

[@mssumitrapal]

Thats crazy, one wastes a precious summer holiday on few food item, seriously something is wrong with ppl.

[@kelleyursu8610]

LOL, there’s no way all those people got in. Imagine lining up at 6:00AM to get into a disgusting Mandarin buffet

[@dannysee1]

Some times it tastes like slop stopped going there years ago.

[@raichandkulkarni4011]

What is the catch

[@jackylee5850]

The catch is they'll cut it off at some point when they see the current lineups will reach the end of their service time, meaning some people would have lined up for nothing and wasted their time.