It almost caused a state of emergency when some branches of fastfood chain Jollibee were unable to serve hungry customers their bestselling Chickenjoy fried chicken dish. On Twitter, the hashtag #ChickenSad trended.
But Jollibee has since clarified that the incident was a result of a system upgrade that confused suppliers. Still, if this has taught us anything, it’s to always be prepared.
Here, five Chickenjoy alternatives when you need that fried chicken fix.
Shakey’s Pizza Parlor
The first Shakey’s in the Philippines (it’s originally from the US) was in 1975, around the same time Jollibee opened in Metro Manila. Shakey’s is more known for their thin-crust pizzas, but their fried chicken with deep-fried potato wedges called “mojos” is also a bestseller. A 12-piece party pack (PHP1,040) feels like reaching down the down a bucket of Jollibee: you grab the golden brown chicken parts by their oily and grainy skin. The mojos are a nice addition—they make up for the sorry fact that this is not Chickenjoy. But you’ll settle. Located nationwide, with 24/7 outlets: www.shakeyspizza.ph.
MINISTOP Convenience Store
Everybody knows the recipe comes from the now-defunct Uncle John’s restaurant, but whatever. Order a two-piece with rice and extra gravy, and hold your plastic utensils well as they can snap from the uber-kapal crunchy chicken skin. Best eaten while sitting down the three-seater MINISTOP bar and with a gaggle of call center agents behind you. Located nationwide, all 24/7: www.ministop.com.ph.
The Original Savory
Their fried chicken may seem closer to the Chinese flavors than Jollibee’s. But like Chickenjoy, Savory’s Fried chicken tastes of childhood. Eating it comes with extra orders of sentimentality and old-school rituals. 201 Escolta Street, Binondo, Manila; +63 2 2418782, +63 2 2421443. Daily 9am-12mn.
Kettle
It’s no Chickenjoy but the high-end taste of buttermilk-rubbed chicken at Kettle is most welcome. At PHP519, it’s the more polished—and expensive—version of Jollibee. Marinated 24 hours in buttermilk, it is cooked crispy and juicy. 5/L Shangri-La Plaza East Wing, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City; www.facebook.com/kettleph, +63 2 654 7077. Daily 11:30am-9:30pm.
Johnny’s Fried Chicken
It’s not the pride of Marikina for nothing. The meat is tender and the skin is crispy. There is no breading so oiliness is upon us. But who cares? Finish with banana ketchup. One whole chicken costs PHP320. W Paz Street, Bgy Sta Elena, Marikina City; www.facebook.com, +63 2 6820553. Daily 6am-9pm.
We hear Family Mart’s fried chicken is also good. Have you bee there? Or know of other places that serve good fried chicken? Tell us.
Reader Interactions