Where We Are Going Today: Jollibee

Greeting you with an image of a jolly anthropomorphic bee donning a chef's hat, Jollibee is giving even the business of bees in Saudi Arabia some juicy and crunchy chicken to munch on. The branding of Jollibee — which was founded by Filipino Chinese entrepreneur Tony Tan Caktiong — is said to have been inspired by Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse. It all began in 1975 as a Magnolia ice cream parlor in Quezon City, Philippines. It then transitioned into a fast-food restaurant in 1978, incorporating hot meals like the Yumburger. Locally, it surpassed a certain giant US chain known for its Golden Arches, making its mark as the go-to place for youngsters and young at heart. Jollibee entered Saudi Arabia in mid-2008, opening its first store in Jeddah, operated by Nesma United Ltd. The chain quickly expanded to 13 branches across the country in places such as Yanbu, Taif, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province. Despite much local competition from other fried chicken places, jolly Jollibee is still standing. We tried several menu items, including the chicken sandwich meal for SR30 ($8). You can get two or three-piece Chickenjoy meals with either a ball of rice, fries or spaghetti, and a drink for around SR30. They can be ordered as regular or spicy. There are also wraps and hot dogs, as well as a breakfast menu. I liked how it had pineapple juice as a drink option — a sweet homage to the Philippines — which relies heavily on the fruit and is a nice alternative to sugary sodas. The sweet spaghetti was a fun snack, too! It also does family-sized buckets of chicken — great for a gathering — and burger steaks with mushroom gravy for the meat lovers. And, in a move reminiscent of yesteryear, you can host a birthday party on the premises — complete with fun activities and Jollibee merch. I wanted to try its peach mango pie but it was sold out. There were other dessert offerings available, such as the limited-edition Dubai-chocolate-inspired pistachio kunafa sundae. It was very popular with patrons during my visit. Visit the establishment on Instagram @jollibeeSa.