Fried Chicken News
Filipino fried chicken chain Jollibee opens 3rd Dallas-area restaurant
A buzzy Filipino chain is opening what is only its third restaurant in the Dallas-Fort Worth area: Jollibee, known for its kooky combination of fried chicken and spaghetti, is opening its first location in Arlington at 1700 W. Pleasant Ridge Rd., across from the Parks Mall near I-30 and Cooper Road.
According to a release, it'll open on Friday, August 16.
Jollibee is the largest fast food chain on the Philippines, with more than 1,500 locations that include 100 in North America; they opened their first U.S. store in Daly City, California in 1998.
Arlington is the third in Dallas-Fort Worth and seventh in Texas overall. The concept made its DFW debut in Plano in 2020, then opened a second location on Greenville Avenue in Dallas in 2023. They're still rare enough locally to generate a buzz.
Their menu features an unusual mish-mash of Western comfort food and Asian flavors including:
- Chickenjoy: Jollibee's signature bone-in fried chicken, also available in a spicy version
- Chicken Sandwich: Fried chicken sandwich with umami mayo on a toasted brioche bun
- Jolly Spaghetti: Spaghetti with sweet tomato sauce, ground beef, and hotdog, topped with shredded cheese
- Peach Mango Pie: Fried pie with peaches and Philippine mangoes
They serve their fried chicken with steamed rice and gravy, which you can buy as a meal with choice of sides such as mashed potatoes or corn, or else in a red bucket that looks like KFC.
An order of spaghetti with a single drumstick is $9.49, while a basic fried chicken sandwich is $6.
The company chose Arlington due to its mid-cities location between Dallas and Fort Worth. Business Group Head of Jollibee Group Maribeth Dela Cruz says in a statement that the company is excited to bring the concept and its unique menu to the city.
"We are simply thrilled to bring our famous Chickenjoy and other Jollibee favorites to our many loyal fans who call Arlington home, but we also can't wait to win over first-time guests with the great-tasting food, happy moments, and the warm and friendly service that makes Jollibee so special," Dela Cruz says.