Dec. 22, 2022
By Clare Malfetti
Staff Writer
After seeing many food reviews on social media, I decided to try Jollibee at the food court in the American Dream retail and entertainment complex in East Rutherford. This Filipino fast food restaurant originated in Quezon City, Philippines in 1978, and there are now 70 restaurants in North America and 1,300 around the world.
With its great fried chicken and unique spin on fast food, Jollibee did not disappoint.
I ordered a combo meal that includes a drumstick and thigh of its signature Chickenjoy fried chicken, Jolly Spaghetti and a soda, which came to $13.99. This is pretty pricey for fast food, but it’s worth the expense. The Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s signature dish, and it can be made either spicy or regular. The Jolly Spaghetti consists of Jollibee’s signature sweet-style sauce with chunky slices of ham, hot dog and ground meat. I found the description of the Jolly Spaghetti to be intriguing, so it was one of the items I wanted to try.
I ordered the spicy version of the Chickenjoy and really enjoyed it. The chicken was juicy and the outside breading had a good crunch to it. The spiciness was not overpowering either. It could have been a bit spicier, but there was a good amount of extra flavor to this dish.
As for the Jolly Spaghetti, I was not a fan of it. I have seen many people on social media trying it and talking about how good it is, but I found it overrated. Since I prefer my spaghetti with savory sauces, the sweet kick in this dish did not appeal to me.
The chicken was juicy and the outside breading had a good crunch to it.
I finished my meal with the only dessert item on the menu, the peach mango pie ($2.99). This is a flaky pie with peaches and mangos in it. The pie, which resembles the apple pies at McDonald’s, had just the right amount of sweetness. It was fruit-forward, and I liked that I could taste the mango in this dessert.
Jollibee has many unique items that I look forward to trying. For instance, there is a Palabok Fiesta ($7.99), which is a Filipino noodle dish with egg, garlic sauce, sauteed pork and shrimp. There are also more basic fast food items like chicken tenders ($6.41) and chicken sandwiches ($5.34).
With unique flavors and a standout chicken dish, I look forward to returning to Jollibee during my next visit to American Dream. I will not be getting the Jolly Spaghetti again, but I’ll surely be craving Jollibee’s delicious Chickenjoy.
