Regina Troy Barrios

America’s Best Fried Chicken Is Filipino—Again

Article (news)

<p>At this point, Chickenjoy doesn’t need an introduction.</p><p>The crispy, golden fried chicken from Jollibee—known for its sweet, savory flavor and cult following—has once again beaten out America’s biggest fried chicken brands to claim the<strong> </strong><a href="https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/jollibee/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>top spot in USA Today&#x27;s 10Best Fast Food Fried Chicken list</strong></a>. For the second year in a row, Jollibee outranked fan-favorites like Popeyes, Chick-fil-A, and KFC.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DMQd8c7v9dO/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A310510%2C%22ls%22%3A309959%2C%22le%22%3A310506%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1005" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Because for many, Chickenjoy has always been more than just fried chicken.</p><p>It’s Filipino flavor wrapped in crispy skin, deep-fried with nostalgia, and often served with rice and gravy. For millions of Filipinos around the world, it&#x27;s a taste that carries memory, comfort, and home.</p><div><br/></div><h3><strong>A bee outflies the birds</strong></h3><p>This year’s <strong>USA Today Readers’ Choice poll</strong>, voted on by thousands of Americans, confirms just how far Jollibee has come. Since opening its first U.S. store in <strong>Daly City, California in 1998</strong>, the Filipino fast food chain has expanded to over <strong>90 locations across North America</strong>, drawing long lines and loyal fans wherever it lands.</p><p>The top 5 winners in the 2024 list were:</p><div><br/></div><ol><li>Jollibee</li><li>Pollo Campero</li><li>Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken</li><li>Church’s Texas Chicken</li><li>Guthrie’s Chicken</li></ol><p>Meanwhile, major U.S. brands<strong> KFC (#8), Chick-fil-A (#9), and Popeyes (#10)</strong> found themselves edged out by regional favorites and, at the very top, a Filipino juggernaut.</p><p>Jollibee’s staying power lies in its flavor profile: <strong>unapologetically Filipino</strong>. Where most American fast food chicken leans heavily into salt and spice, Chickenjoy balances crisp texture with a subtle sweetness and umami depth that speaks to Filipino culinary tradition.</p><div><br/></div><h3><strong>The joy that travels</strong></h3><p>For Filipinos abroad, Jollibee often carries deep emotional resonance. It&#x27;s not uncommon to see long lines at openings across the U.S., Canada, or even the U.K.—many waiting not just for a meal, but for a connection to home.</p><p>The brand’s growing international presence has helped introduce Filipino cuisine to wider audiences, often starting with Chickenjoy as a gateway.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLa22iqB3Br/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A455056%2C%22ls%22%3A309959%2C%22le%22%3A310506%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="896" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

<p>Jollibee’s back-to-back win in the U.S. isn’t just a fast food flex. It’s a flavor-fueled celebration of home, heritage, and joy.</p>

Jollibee’s back-to-back win in the U.S. isn’t just a fast food flex. It’s a flavor-fueled celebration of home, heritage, and joy.

America’s Best Fried Chicken Is Filipino—Again

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America’s Best Fried Chicken Is Filipino—Again

Metro.Style Team

Published Jul 22, 2025 01:20 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 23, 2025 01:18 PM PHT

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jolllibee

chickenjoy

usa today

usa today 10best fast food fried chicken

best fried chicken in america

filipino food

filipino fried chicken

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