This isn’t the first time international publications recognized Jollibee for their fried chicken

American women’s magazine Redbook released a best fast food fried chicken list in celebration of National Fried Chicken Day—and Jollibee’s Chickenjoy was hailed among the best.

In its article “The Best Fast Food Fried Chicken, Ranked,” Jollibee surpassed global competitors such as Shake Shack (6th), KFC (11th), and McDonald’s (12th).

“Jollibee is the Filipino fried chicken chain that’s about to take over the United States,” the article reads.

Redbook also referenced a story from The New York Times that stated, “The pleasures of Chickenjoy, as it’s called, are immediate: The sheath of skin is as craggy as a thunderhead, crannies and crunch multiplying.” The list was dominated by Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen followed by Chick Fil-A and Hattie B’s Hot Chicken. 

“We see customers continuing to come in droves to our stores because of their love for Chickenjoy. This is also why Jollibee North America continues to do well and is outperforming the QSR (quick service restaurant) industry with positive systemwide sales growth despite the pandemic,” says Rowel Vijandre, Jollibee president for North America.

Other publications have also recognized Jollibee as having one of the best-tasting fried chickens. South China Morning Post, Thrillist, Foodbeast, Yahoo Singapore, and The Daily Meal also placed the brand among the top international food chains. Late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain even called Jollibee the “wackiest, jolliest place on Earth.”

Jollibee’s growing international branches, string of cloud kitchens, new brand acquisitions, and culture-specific menus prove that their business model can adapt to the crisis. They currently have 45 stores in the US, with plans to open more branches in Florida, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Texas, Nevada, California, and Hawaii, and have also recently opened a store in Rome.