Bottom Line: Jollibee’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich outclasses much of the competition from bigger chains by delivering a tasty and sizeable sammy that also brings the heat.
Everybody is getting into the chicken sandwich game these days and you can find one in pretty much every drive thru (even Taco Bell). But there is a new chicken place popping up across the country called Jollibee that has a spicy chicken sandwich that might find some the bigger chains sweating the competition. This fast food chicken slinger originated in the Philippines and is known more for its fried chicken (called “Chickenjoy”) as well as its “Yumburger”. But if you are looking for a darn good chicken sandwich, then you might want to search out a Jollibee’s near you.
Following is the description from their website: “Our Spicy Chicken Sandwich starts with a crispy juicy hand-breaded chicken breast fillet, spread with sriracha mayo and served with fresh jalapenos on a toasted brioche bun.” It is also available in a deluxe version which includes lettuce and tomato, but I just went with the basic sandwich.
The first thing that stands out with this sandwich is the main attraction, the spicy chicken breast filet. The meat is juicy and tender and delivers plenty of good taste. There is not too much breading, but enough to give some crunch and add flavor. And this is not a super thick piece of meat like Popeye’s, but still an ample portion. It actually looks deceptive at first when you see it tucked in the bun, but don’t be fooled because this is a decent size filet.
The chicken itself has a kick and the spicy mayonnaise bumps that up even more. The mayo has a bit of tang and sweetness that goes well with the rest of the ingredients. The slices of fresh jalapenos are a nice twist that add to the taste and kick up the heat even more. (Next time, I might ask for extra jalapenos.) The bread is fairly standard but holds everything together quite well.
This is beyond medium heat and is definitely the spiciest of the fast food chicken sandwiches I have had so far from the drive thru. And it delivers a burn that lingers. The average mortal may struggle with this sandwich, but chiliheads should really enjoy it. I didn’t expect to find one of the best chicken sandwiches out there upon my initial venture to Jollibee, but I am now hooked on this place.
Jollibee got its start Cubao, Quezon City in the Phillippines in the mid-70s and has since grown into an international chain, with its cute bee mascot is becoming increasingly well known. Jollibee’s feature is its fried chicken which is known as Chickenjoy (available in regular or spicy). It is also know for its hamburgers which are called Yumburgers. And then it has a few unexpected items on the menu like the Jolly Spaghetti (with a very sweet tomato sauce) and the Palabok Fiesta (a Filipino rice noodle dish). We have one location here in San Antonio so far and when it first opened up the lines were around the building. Jollibee is planning on expanding its presence in the U.S., so if you don’t have one in your town, you probably will in the next year or so (you can search for locations here).
And if you do have one in your town, I highly recommend checking out their spicy chicken sandwich. It delivers on the taste and the heat, and it is definitely one of the top-notch chicken sammies available from the drive thru. And while you are there, you might also check out some of the other items on the menu because this is not your average fast food chicken joint. (I did just that and will be elaborating on that in a future post.)
Tale of the Tape:
Serving Size: One Sandwich
Calories: 570
Fat: 28 (6g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 31g
Carbs: 45g
Sodium: 1040mg