Gordon Y.
Yelp
For me, not many cravings hit as hard as fried chicken. Unfortunately, in NYC, I feel there is a lack of high quality restaurants serving this southern staple at a reasonable price. Hence, most normal people without an expense account tend to resort to fast food chains like Popeyes or KFC.
Well, there is a better option that's been serving the Woodside neighborhood for nearly 15 years. Jolibee is a Filipino fried chicken chain situated in the heart of where their people live. Luckily, they serve everyone else too, so I love stopping here once in a while to get my fix.
Tbh, I am not a sides person because nothing really blows me away at any of the chain restaurants. Same goes for Jolibee even though their sides are much more unique compared to competitors. Doesn't matter because I'm here for the chicken.
Speaking of those delicious pieces of poultry goodness, their version is always consistent. The batter is not greasy like Popeyes or too thick like KFC. Instead, it's perfectly crispy with a thin coating of batter. As for the meat, it's juicy and flavorful every time. Not sure if they brine overnight, but that would be my guess as to why it's always so good.
Is this the best fried chicken I ever had? Of course not. I can't compare it to my favorites such as Hattie B's in Nashville or Willie Mae's in New Orleans. However, when you need a quick fix and don't want to overpay for simple home cooking, then I feel like Jolibee is a very good option.