The Krusty Burger is more than just a fast-food landmark—it's a culinary catastrophe waiting to happen. From the questionable kitchen of Springfield’s most infamous eatery come such dubious menu items as The Krusty Burger, the Ribwich, The Clogger, and the ever-mysterious Steamed Ham (as described by Principal Skinner). This LEGO set captures every quirky detail, complete with seven minifigures: Krusty the Clown, Sideshow Bob, Homer Simpson, and Officer Lou among them.
Mark your calendars—this set will be available for general purchase on June 4 at a retail price of $209.99. However, LEGO Insiders can enjoy Early Access starting June 1. Sign up for free here to get exclusive early access and other member-only benefits.
LEGO The Simpsons: Krusty Burger
Available June 1 for LEGO Insiders, and June 4 for all others. Retail price: $209.99 via [LEGO Store](https://www.lego.com).
We had the opportunity to sit down with Ann Healy, Senior Model Designer at the LEGO Group and the creative mind behind *LEGO The Simpsons: Krusty Burger*. With six years of experience in the company, Ann has worked across several product lines and shared insights into the design process, inspiration, and what fans can expect from this long-awaited return of LEGO Simpsons sets.
What other LEGO sets have you helped design over the past six years?
Healy: I spent three years working on the LEGO Friends line, which was a great foundation. Then came one of my personal highlights—the Sanderson Sisters’ Cottage set from Hocus Pocus. That project took years to finalize, but seeing it hit shelves was incredibly rewarding.
More recently, I've been part of the LEGO Icons team. Last year, I designed both the McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna set and the Poinsettia LEGO Botanicals set, which were exciting in their own right.
Why bring back The Simpsons brand after such a long break?
Healy: Despite the nearly decade-long gap since the last official release, we found that there’s still immense global fan enthusiasm for *The Simpsons*. Our market research confirmed strong brand loyalty, so bringing back the franchise felt like a natural step forward. Creating the Krusty Burger in LEGO form not only expands our Simpsons collection but also introduces new, never-before-seen minifigures that fans will love.
I’ve always been a huge fan of the show. In fact, the original *Simpsons House* and *Kwik-E-Mart* sets were some of the last ones I bought before joining the LEGO Group. During my first week on the job, I actually saw an early prototype of the Krusty Burger set on a shelf in our office. It was built by a designer during their free time—an idea they hoped would become a real set. It gave me hope that maybe one day I could work on something like that too.
Five years later, our Head of Marketing pulled that same prototype off the shelf and said, “It’s time to revisit *The Simpsons*!” I immediately volunteered—I couldn’t believe my luck.
Walk us through the design and building process. How many times did you rebuild the model before finalizing it?
Healy: I started by refining the original prototype, figuring out the layout and developing a clear instruction flow. Initially, I worked digitally, then moved to physical builds to test feasibility. Throughout the process, I went back and forth between digital and physical models to ensure everything worked with real bricks.
We held regular design team check-ins where I presented progress updates and received feedback from our Creative Lead and fellow designers. There were also review sessions with the IP partner, where I showed them the latest versions of the model and minifigures and incorporated their notes.
In addition, I met with our Model Governance and Building Experience teams to evaluate each construction step, test playability, and assess structural integrity. I don’t have an exact count, but I’d estimate rebuilding the entire model at least 20 times. The final build? That was when the first production boxes arrived from the factory—I built one last copy for quality assurance!
The Krusty Burger isn't as established in the show as Moe’s Tavern or the Kwik-E-Mart. Which episodes inspired the layout and setup of the set?
Healy: Disney provided reference materials wherever possible, and I watched countless episodes of *The Simpsons* to translate the animated world into a tangible LEGO playset.
The main source of inspiration was Season 20, Episode 21, “Coming to Homerica,” which features the Mother Nature Burger—a key element referenced multiple times in this set. We also drew from Season 14, Episode 12, “I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can,” which introduced the iconic Ribwich.
Other notable references include:
- Season 6, Episode 15, “Homie the Clown” – Homer performs at a Krusty Burger
- Season 12, Episode 13, “Day of the Jackanapes” – Bart and Sideshow Bob visit the Krusty Burger
- Season 10, Episode 1, “Lard of the Dance” – Homer tries to sell used grease
- Season 7, Episode 15, “Bart the Fink” – Features the IRS takeover of the Krusty Burger
- Season 19, Episode 1, “He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs” – Homer hides in the Krusty Zone ball pit
- Season 15, Episode 10, “Diatribe of a Mad Housewife” – Shows the Krusty Burger drive-thru sign
- Season 21, Episode 4, “Treehouse of Horror XX” – Appears in “Don't Have a Cow, Mankind”
Any hidden Easter eggs in the set that fans might overlook?
Healy: One of my favorite subtle nods is the kitchen display screen above the drive-thru window. It shows an order for 700 burgers—a reference to Season 5, Episode 13, “Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood,” where Krusty opens a disastrous oil rig version of the Krusty Burger in the middle of the ocean.
What was the biggest challenge in designing the set?
Healy: Capturing Krusty’s face accurately on the large sign was the most challenging—and ultimately most satisfying—aspect of the build. The IP partner was very particular about proportions and likeness, providing detailed reference images and even hand-drawn sketches of Krusty the Clown.
A former illustrator turned model designer on our team contributed greatly to nailing the facial details using brick-built techniques. Another challenge was ensuring the heavy Krusty Burger sign stood securely on a single axle. Thanks to a clever suggestion from our Element Lead, we used a newly developed axle sleeve that added stability without compromising the design.
Is this a one-time revival of the Simpsons theme, or the start of something bigger?
Healy: I can’t comment on future products due to company policy. But as a lifelong *Simpsons* fan, I truly hope this set resonates with fans and paves the way for more releases to come.
LEGO The Simpsons: Krusty Burger (Set #10352) contains 1,635 pieces and retails for $209.99. Available starting June 1 for LEGO Insiders, and June 4 for the general public. You can purchase it on June 4 or sign up for free LEGO Insider access here. Stay tuned—we’ll be unboxing, building, and reviewing the full set later this month!
