Fans of Filipino fast food giant Jollibee have been waiting years for the chain to come to Vancouver, and the wait is nearly over.
Jollibee Canada is prepping to open their first B.C. location at 833 Granville Street in downtown Vancouver.
The brand, considered the "McDonalds of the Philippines" dates back to 1978, however their first Canadian location didn't arrive until 2016, in Winnipeg. There are over 1,200 Jollibee franchises world-wide, including in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, the Middle East, North America, and Italy. In Canada, Jollibee operates locations in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area; Calgary; Edmonton; and Regina.
Beloved for their spaghetti, crispy chicken, burgers, and peach mango pies, Jollibee is all about American-style fast food fused with Filipino flavours and influences. Their menu includes items with cult followings like the Yumburger and Chicken Joy, and their spaghetti features a sweeter Americanized tomato sauce with sliced hot dogs and cheese on top.
Jollibee's Vancouver location in the Granville entertainment strip has been in the hiring stages since early-March, according to online job postings. The franchise has moved into the space that had previously been home to ShuRaku, a Japanese restaurant that shuttered in September 2018 after a decade-long tenure following an 18-year run by the same owner's prior Japanese restaurant concept.
When Jollibee confirmed in 2015 their move into the Canadian market, they had ambitious plans to open hundreds of locations, focusing initially on cities with high concentrations of Filipino populations - hence their headquarters and first location in Winnipeg. In 2018, the Filipino grocery chain Seafood City also revealed plans to enter the Canadian market; the chain is known for featuring Jollibee outposts within their stores.
We'll share details about Jollibee Vancouver's opening date as soon as we can.
Check out some pics from Jollibee fans in other Canadian cities of the caloric explosions that may tempt you:
