Jollibee España

Filipino fast food makes its Spain debut

Jollibee’s first restaurant in Spain brings a distinctly Filipino fast-food menu to central Madrid. The company began in the Philippines in 1978, first as an ice cream shop before expanding into hot food; the menu that made its name remains the clearest reason to visit.

Chickenjoy, spaghetti, and the Yumburger

Chickenjoy is the chain’s signature fried chicken, hand-breaded in the restaurant. Jolly Spaghetti takes a different route from the usual fast-food pasta, with a sweet-style sauce, cheese, and slices of hot dog. The Yumburger rounds out the lineup with a familiar burger format. Together, the dishes offer a useful introduction to a style of Filipino fast food that mixes comfort-food conventions with flavors not usually found on a standard burger-chain menu.