Filipino food is probably my favourite international cuisine, with its delicious mix of Asian and…read moreSpanish flavours, and while their fast food is much more American-ized than their more traditional stuff, it's its own little niche that deserves some love too!
McJolly was started by Filipino immigrants who became restauranteurs in Halifax and takes its name from two of the most popular fast food chains in the Philippines. No guesses are needed for the prefix, but the second part may be less familiar for Maritimers - Jollibee. They're only just starting to expand in Canada, with about 30 locations across the country, and are known for their assorted menu of fried chicken, burgers, and Filipino-style spaghetti.
The menu at McJolly is much the same, and I had the fried chicken section in my sights. I went for Comb Meal #3 - fried chicken, rice and your choice of coleslaw or corn (I chose the latter).
I thought I was getting a lighter meal than some of the combos that have both rice and spaghetti, but when my tray was in front of me, the *four* pieces of chicken (two drumsticks and two thighs, go Team Dark Meat!) said otherwise!
Hilariously, I was in a bit of a rush to get to a job interview, so I had to inhale this meal and couldn't quite give it the attention it deserved, but there were really only four different items - the chicken, steamed rice, corn and gravy.
I won't play coy and leave it until the end of the review - the chicken was awesome! The coating was super crisp, and the meat within was moist and tender. I do wish Filipino fried chicken had more seasoning to it, but hey, well executed fried chicken is still a wonderful thing!
The gravy had a pleasant peppery kick to it, and I slathered it over both the chicken and the rice.
The small cup of corn was a bit of an afterthought, and I probably should have gone with the coleslaw on the off chance that it would be a vinegar-based dressing to have something to cut through the rich chicken, but it's likely mayo-based anyway.
I love that Filipino food has really been blowing up in Halifax the past few years, and I'll definitely be doing a deep dive into it all, including a return visit to McJolly for the spaghetti next time!