Jollibee’s Chickenjoy picked as Brunei’s best fried chicken

MANILA, Philippines — Jollibee’s Chickenjoy won as Best Fried Chicken in Brunei, besting several local restaurants and international fast-food chains that entered their own fried chicken recipes in the competition.

Chickenjoy was adjudged the best in its category at the maiden edition of the Brunei Food Awards (BFA) on Dec. 13 at the Mulia Hotel in Bandar Seri Begawan.

A panel of three certified food judges and one invited special judge rated each dish based on Appearance, Taste and Execution (ATE).

The judging for dishes entered by Jollibee Brunei for the competition was held on Oct. 20 with the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Yoon Hyun Bong, as special judge and Philippine Ambassador Christopher Montero as special guest.

“The recognition of Jollibee’s Chickenjoy as the best fried chicken in Brunei is a testament to Jollibee’s mainstream presence in the food culture of Brunei, as well as the global reach and influence of one of the Philippines’ top conglomerates,” Montero said.

“Local Bruneians, both the old and current generations, patronize its value meals in the same way that ordinary Filipinos do,” he added.

Jollibee Brunei was established in 1987, the first overseas chain of Jollibee Foods Corp., and currently has 18 stores in Brunei serving halal-certified meals, with two more chains in the pipeline for opening.

It is the first Jollibee to open a right-hand drive-through store, and first drive-through store outside of the Philippines.

A total of 336 restaurants and eateries throughout all the four districts of Brunei submitted more than 800 of their best dishes for the BFA2020 from October to November 2020.

Aside from Jollibee’s Chickenjoy, 74 other dishes in various categories offered by 44 restaurants were conferred the BFA2020 awards by Brunei’s Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Apong.

The awardees include Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (CBTL), a Jollibee majority-owned international chain, that won first place for Best Coffee in Brunei for its ice blended mocha and second place for mocha latte.

The BFA2020 is a new initiative to promote and invigorate the growth of the local Brunei food and beverage industry. It is the first food award that formally recognizes and awards the best dishes of both local and international cuisines in the country.