For one, they are an extremely amicable lot who are often delighted to regale you with stories of home and hearth.
And if you spend enough time in conversation with them, the name “Jollibee” will almost certainly be mentioned when it comes to food.
Jollibee? What’s that, you ask? Well, dear reader, it is one the Philippines’ greatest culinary exports, and a source of national pride and joy.
Founded in 1978, the fast-food chain started with a single outlet in Manila but has since expanded to 1,500 locations throughout Asia, Europe and America.
Long-time customers sing praises about its fried chicken, often described as crispy and juicy.
Despite Malaysia’s proximity to the Philippines, only Sabahans have had the opportunity to enjoy Jollibee’s offerings, courtesy of that one outlet in Kota Kinabalu’s Centre Point.
As of Tuesday, though, Malaysians in the peninsula are finally able to find out for themselves what gets the Pinoys raving, as Jollibee opened its first West Malaysian outlet at Sunway Pyramid shopping centre in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
This brand-new eatery, located in the Blue Atrium, is hard to miss – the restaurant’s eye-catching bee mascot will greet diners with a cheerful smile and an open hand.
The amicable character aptly reflects the sweet nature of Filipinos, with its cheerful disposition and hardworking attitude.
Value for money
In the face of rising food costs, you might actually be surprised to discover that the prices here are really reasonable, especially when most meals come as a set.
It’s not often you can walk in with RM10 and leave with a burger, fries and a drink, but here at Jollibee, you can – with some change, to boot!
Jollibee also offers a wide variety of food items to cater to your every fancy. There’s the aforementioned fried chicken – in regular and spicy variants – and it does not disappoint.
It can be difficult to nail the ratio between crispy and juicy, yet Jollibee somehow achieves this perfectly with its Chickenjoy.
The spicy variety, in particular, is bound to have its share of fans among chilli-lovin’ Malaysians.
Don’t bother adding the usual chilli or tomato sauce, for every serving of Chickenjoy comes with a side of gravy that is quite heavenly. Simply drench the chicken and tuck right in, sticky fingers and all!
Meanwhile, what would a fast-food chain be without an array of burgers and sandwiches? Right at the top of the menu is the Jolly Sausage, a hotdog sprinkled with a sinful amount of cheese.
For folks looking for something lighter but just as filling, Jollibee offers snacks in the forms of nuggets, tenders, and wraps.
Also of note is the Jolly Spaghetti, which you can get with the Chickenjoy in a set, or on its own for RM6.50. (See? Reasonable!)
Curiously, the spaghetti tastes saccharinely sweet, which may come off as unusual if you’re looking for something authentically Italian but is purportedly the way a lot of Filipinos enjoy their food.
The sweet, red sauce is likely made from banana ketchup, a staple in Pinoy cuisine. With bits and pieces of meat, sausage and cheese, this syrupy dish is likely to appeal to the young and the young at heart, especially those who have a sweet tooth.
Speaking of sweets, top off your meal with a strawberry or chocolate sundae. Cold, creamy and sweet, there’s nothing that can beat this simple but tasty dessert.
And while it has the usual range of soft drinks, Jollibee’s pineapple juice makes for an excellent thirst quencher and is definitely worth a try.
All in all, whether you’re a student on a shoestring budget or a parent who wants to keep their kids happy, Jollibee is the perfect place to drop by for a good meal with good prices to match.
So buzz off now to Sunway Pyramid and see for yourself if this is indeed the place to bee!
For more information, click here or visit Jollibee’s Facebook profile.
Jollibee @ Sunway Pyramid
Lot LG 2.126A, Lower Ground 2
Blue Atrium, Sunway Pyramid Mall
Jalan PJS 11/15, Bandar Sunway
46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor