You can now dance for Chickenjoy in Mayfair.
Jollibee, the Filipino fast-food chain that had fans lining up reportedly for 10 hours at the Skokie location when it opened over the summer, welcomed its first location in Chicago proper this morning.
Doors opened at 6:30 a.m., though the chain didn’t start serving its signature fried chicken until 7 a.m. The first 300 people in line who made a minimum $25 purchase received a plushie of the restaurant’s mascot, an anthropomorphized jolly bee.
The store will close at 10 p.m. today.
While the new location is in the same building as Filipino market Seafood City, the two businesses are not affiliated. The Chicago location has no drive-through window, and there is no phone yet, said Skokie Jollibee supervisor Cora Reina.
What does Reina recommend to Jollibee newbies? “The chicken,” she said, referring to the popular fried chicken called Chickenjoy on Jollibee’s menu.
Reina also recommended the peach mango pie, the sweet Filipino-style spaghetti with sliced hot dogs, and the rice noodles known as palabok, called Fiesta Noodles on the menu, and garnished with shrimp, pork cracklings, garlic sauce and egg.
You can now order in advance at both locations, with a few limitations: You must make a $50 minimum purchase and pay in the store. A treat for your friends and family in for the holidays, perhaps? Or just $50 worth of Chickenjoy for yourself — we won’t judge.
Jollibee, 5033 N. Elston Ave., no phone yet
[email protected]
Twitter @louisachu
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