Chicken News

Filipino chain Jollibee fixes up fried chicken for opening day in Dallas

Jollibee chicken

Photo courtesy of Jollibee

An eagerly anticipated chicken restaurant is about to make its central Dallas debut: Jollibee, the global Filipino restaurant brand with fried chicken, chicken sandwiches, and Peach Mango Pie dessert, will open its long-awaited first location in Dallas in a former Jack in the Box at 4703 Greenville Ave.

~~According to a release, it'll open on Wednesday, November 29~~. UPDATE 11-28-2023: The opening date has been pushed back, with a new date TBA.
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Dallas will be the second location in DFW, following Plano, which opened in 2020. There are also two locations in Houston and one in San Antonio.

Dallas will be open daily from 9 am-10 pm, with dine-in, take-out, and online ordering.

Jollibee is the largest fast food chain brand in the Philippines. They take a homey approach to their fried chicken, serving it with steamed rice and a side of gravy. You can buy it as a meal; with choice of sides such as mashed potatoes or corn; or in a bucket that has a red, KFC-like exterior.

In addition to fried chicken, they're also known for a kooky yet comforting dish consisting of spaghetti with ham and hot dogs, although they don't tout it in the release.

Instead they list as their top menu items:

Chickenjoy: Jollibee’s signature bone-in friend chicken, also available in a spicy version
Chicken Sandwich: Chicken breast and umami mayo on a toasted brioche bun
Spicy Chicken Sandwich: Spicy version of the chicken sandwich with a sriracha mayo spread and fresh jalapeño slices
Peach Mango Pie: Peaches and Philippine mangoes in a warm, light, and crispy crust

Poor spaghetti and ham and hot dogs, no longer a point of pride. There's also no breakfast items listed on their website, but they did at one time offer dishes featuring egg with steamed rice and meat such as sausage or corned beef.

Jollibee honcho Maribeth Dela Cruz says in a statement that they're excited to grow their presence in Texas, given the tremendous growth taking place in the state.

“Dallas is not only booming, it is also rich with culture and diversity, which creates the perfect setting to bring our warm and vibrant energy to residents looking to explore and learn about Jollibee and all our amazing, flavorful menu items," Dela Cruz says.

greenville-avenue openings

cheap pints and good times

DFW Airport is home to the No. 1 best airport bar in the U.S.

TGIF

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Airport bars are not known for being much more than a pitstop in between flights. But among airport drinkeries, DFW Airport reigns supreme: According to a recent study by online sports betting website BetUS, DFW's own TGI Fridays seized the No. 1 slot for best airport bar in the U.S.

In the survey, called "The Top 10 Airport Bars in the U.S.," BetUS experts determined the rankings by comparing the location of each bar within each airport, plus Google review scores, menu size, and menu item pricing.

TGI Fridays earned high marks for its budget-friendly status, thanks to its relatively affordable prices for a draft beer, cheeseburger, and French fries.

"With their draft beer priced at $5, their cheeseburger priced at $12.98, and their French fries priced at $2.86, TGI Fridays within the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport provides not only Texas travelers the best and most affordable airport bar option, but the best option for travelers across the United States," the report said.

For context, Billy Goat Tavern at Chicago O'Hare International Airport – which ranked one spot behind TGI Friday's – had the most expensive price for a draft beer ($8.50) out of all 10 airport bars on the list.

Pedal Haus Brewery (No. 7) at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport had the most expensive cheeseburger ($16), and Providence Provisions at T.F. Green International had the priciest French fries ($7) among the top 10.

TGI Fridays also boasts a 3.9-star ranking on Google with more than one thousand reviews, which offers further proof as to how well-received the restaurant is at the airport.

TGI Fridays first opened in Manhattan in 1965, and has since expanded to become a staple suburban hangout known for its ribs, potato skins topped with cheese & bacon, and a decor bedecked with red stripes and Tiffany-style lamps.

The casual restaurant chain operates not one, but five total locations at DFW airport, which means there's plenty of cheap beer to go around without worrying about each haunt being too busy. Sadly, they are the only remaining TGIF locations in Dallas-Fort Worth after the brand filed for bankruptcy in early November and closed its six non-airport Dallas-area locations.

The top 10 best airport bars in the U.S. are:

No. 1 – TGI Fridays at Dallas-Fort Worth International
No. 2 – Billy Goat Tavern at Chicago O'Hare International
NO. 3 – Chili's at Milwaukee Mitchell International
No. 4 – Gourmandise Euro-Diner & Bakery at Salt Lake City International
No. 5 – Village Pub Vegas at Harry Reid International
No. 6 – SkyDine Services at Sioux Falls International
No. 7 – Pedal Haus Brewery at Phoenix Sky Harbor International
No. 8 – Bardenay at Boise Airport
No. 9 – OMB at Charlotte Douglas International
No. 10 – Providence Provisions at T.F. Green International

"The convenience, ambiance, and comfortability these bars provide travelers in enjoying a nice drink and or even a good meal with it before a flight is desired more than ever these days," the report said.