Jollibee, a Filipino Chicken Giant, Opening in Downtown Jamaica Thursday

Jollibee, a global fried chicken chain based out of the Philippines will open in Downtown Jamaica Thursday (Photo: Google Maps)

July 20, 2022 By Michael Dorgan

A global fried chicken chain based out of the Philippines will open in Downtown Jamaica Thursday. The restaurant will be the company’s second in Queens following on from its popular Woodside location.

Jollibee, which has more than 1,300 restaurants worldwide, will open July 21 at 160-08 Jamaica Ave.— inside a century-old, four-story building that was recently renovated. The company is moving into a ground floor space in the building that also houses big-brand chains such as CVS, Burlington and Target.

The new restaurant adds to the company’s Woodside location which opened at 62-29 Roosevelt Ave. in 2009. The Woodside restaurant is located in the Little Manila section of the neighborhood, which gets its name from the large Filipino population in the area.

The company said it is now looking to expand its footprint in Queens with the opening of its Downtown Jamaica establishment, which will be the chain’s 59th store in the U.S. The company’s only other New York City location is on 8th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.

Jollibee is known for its range of battered deep-fried chicken offerings including its signature Chickenjoy bucket that consists of deep-fried chicken legs and thighs.

The company also offers chicken tenders, burgers and burger steak patties. Spaghetti dishes are also on the menu as well as a traditional Filipino noodle dish called Palabok Fiesta.

Jollibee is known for its signature Chickenjoy bucket (L) and other deep-fried chicken offerings as well as spaghetti dishes (R) (Photos via Instagram)

Maribeth Dela Cruz, Business Group Head at Jollibee, said the chain was drawn to the location since it is situated in the heart of Downtown Jamaica and is just a block away from York College.

“We are so excited to expand our presence in Queens, as it is home to such a beautiful, dynamic melting pot of people from all different backgrounds and cultures,” Dela Cruz said.

“Queens County is one of America’s most diverse populations, which makes it a perfect fit for exposing our brand to a broader audience who have yet to discover our special brand of joy.”

Opening hours will be from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Sundays.