Jollibee, a fast-food chain from the Philippines, has been making waves in the United States in recent years.
While it may not yet be a household name like McDonald’s or Burger King, Jollibee has been steadily growing in popularity. If you’re wondering how it compares to other fast food options out there, I’m here to help.
Highlights
- If you want to find the full nutrition facts for Jollibee menu items, such as sodium and fiber, you can find them all in my fast food nutrition calculator.
- Jollibee does not offer any grilled chicken items, so if maximizing protein is your goal, it is going to come with higher calories and fat due to the deep-fried nature of the options.
- Jollibee offers french fries for a more traditional side dish, along with much more unique options such as spaghetti and mashed potatoes with gravy.
What sets Jollibee apart from other fast-food chains is its unique menu that blends Filipino flavors with American fast-food staples.
While you’ll find familiar items like fried chicken and burgers, you’ll also find very unique options such as Jolly Spaghetti (a sweet-style spaghetti with sliced hot dogs), and the Aloha Burger (a burger topped with a slice of pineapple).
As someone who hasn’t personally tried Jollibee yet, I’m intrigued by its menu and growing popularity. And since the majority of the content on my blog revolves around nutrition facts (and macros, specifically) I wanted to dive into the Jollibee menu to see how their options stack up against the competition.
In this post, I’ll break down the Jollibee menu, providing you with the calories, fat, carbs, and protein content for the entire menu. Whether you’re looking to maximize your protein intake, keep your calories low, or simply make more informed choices, this guide will help you navigate the Jollibee menu.
Jollibee Chicken, Fries, and Dipping Sauces
When it comes to Jollibee’s menu, chicken is undoubtedly the star of the show. From their fried chicken to various chicken sandwiches, there’s plenty of options for chicken lovers.
Jollibee offers both bone-in chicken pieces (drumsticks and thighs) and various chicken sandwiches. Unlike some other fast-food chains, Jollibee doesn’t currently offer grilled chicken options, so you won’t be able to maximize your protein intake quite as easily as you can at other restaurants.
Chickenjoy: Drumsticks vs. Thighs
Jollibee’s signature Chickenjoy comes in both original and spicy flavors, and you can choose between drumsticks and thighs. Here’s how they compare:
Chicken Drumstick: 220 Calories, 14g Fat, 3g Carbs, 20g Protein
Chicken Thigh: 330 Calories, 23g Fat, 5g Carbs, 27g Protein
The thigh contains about 110 more calories than the drumstick, but it also provides 7 more grams of protein. If you’re looking to keep calories lower, opt for the drumstick. But if protein is your priority, the thigh is the way to go.
The spicy versions of both cuts contain slightly more calories and carbs, likely due to the spicy coating. The difference is minimal though, so choose based on your flavor preference rather than the nutritional differences.
Chicken Sandwiches at Jollibee
Jollibee offers a bunch of different chicken sandwiches, each with varying macros. Here are the most popular options:
Original Chicken Sandwich: 620 Calories, 33g Fat, 47g Carbs, 34g Protein
Spicy Chicken Sandwich: 570 Calories, 27g Fat, 47g Carbs, 34g
Protein Aloha Chicken Sandwich: 650 Calories, 33g Fat, 65g Carbs, 41g Protein
The Spicy Chicken Sandwich is actually the lowest in calories among these options, coming in at 50 calories less than the original. If you’re watching your calorie intake but still want to enjoy a chicken sandwich, the spicy version might be your best bet.
It’s worth noting that all of these sandwich options include condiments, so if you want to save some calories, asking for no condiments can go a long way.
Jollibee does not include the nutritional information for condiments, but asking for no mayo on your chicken sandwich can save you anywhere from 100-200 calories. I learned in my Burger King nutrition guide that mayo adds 160 calories to a Whopper, making it quite substantial.
Lowest Calorie Jollibee Chicken Option
Chicken Tender (1 piece): 140 Calories, 6g Fat, 9g Carbs, 11g Protein
If you’re really trying to keep calories low, a single Chicken Tender is your best option. With just 140 calories, it still provides a decent 11g of protein.
Of course, one tender might not be very filling, but even a 3-piece order would only total 420 calories – still lower than any of the chicken sandwiches.
Highest Calorie Jollibee Chicken Option
Bacon & Cheese Chicken Sandwich: 720 Calories, 42g Fat, 47g Carbs, 40g Protein
As you might expect, adding bacon and cheese to a chicken sandwich ups the calorie count quite a bit. While this sandwich does offer an impressive 40g of protein, it’s also the highest in calories and fat of all Jollibee’s chicken options.
Jollibee Dipping Sauces
You can’t talk about chicken without also talking about dipping sauces.
Lowest Calorie Sauce
Pineapple BBQ Sauce 80 Calories, 0g Fat, 20g Carbs, 0g Protein
Highest Calorie Sauce
Tender Dip 210 Calories, 21g Fat, 5g Carbs, 0g Protein
The Pineapple BBQ sauce is by far the lowest in calories, and it’s completely fat-free. However, it is high in carbs, so if you’re watching your carb intake, you might want to use it sparingly.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Tender Dip packs 210 calories into a single serving, mostly all from fat. While it is undoubtedly delicious, it can add a significant amount of calories to your meal if you’re not careful, so be mindful.
Jollibee Burgers, Entrees, and Sides
While Jollibee is most famous for its chicken, the menu offers a bunch of other options, including burgers, rice meals, and unique sides.
If you want to talk about unique, there is no other fast-food chain you can visit where you can choose between a cheeseburger, spaghetti, or mashed potatoes with gravy.
Jollibee Burgers
Jollibee’s burger lineup includes their signature “Yumburgers” in various sizes and styles. Yumburgers are simply hamburgers topped with Jollibee’s signature sauce. Here’s how they stack up:
Yumburger: 360 Calories, 21g Fat, 30g Carbs, 13g Protein
Yumburger w/ Cheese: 410 Calories, 25g Fat, 30g Carbs, 16g Protein
Big Yum: 670 Calories, 47g Fat, 39g Carbs, 27g Protein
As you might expect, the basic Yum Burger is the lowest in calories. Adding cheese bumps up the calories by 50 and adds 3g of protein.
The Big Yum, true to its name, nearly doubles the calories of the original Yum Burger, but it also doubles the protein.
Jollibee Rice & Pasta Meals
Jollibee offers some unique entrees that are very different from any other fast food chain…
2 Burger Steaks With Rice: 570 Calories, 28g Fat, 56g Carbs, 24g Protein
3 Burger Steaks With Rice: 750 Calories, 42g Fat, 58g Carbs, 33g Protein
“Burger steaks” are just hamburger patties on a plate, so if you’re in the mood to do things a little differently, these are the options for you. While these are generally paired with rice, you can swap out the side of rice for another side to create your ideal meal.
Highest Calorie Entree
Jollibee Spaghetti 610 Calories, 23g Fat, 76g Carbs, 23g Protein
Jollibee’s unique take on spaghetti is one of the highest-calorie entrees on the menu. It’s particularly high in carbs, so keep that in mind if you’re watching your carb intake. It does provide 23 grams of protein, but that’s not overly impressive for 600 calories.
Lowest Calorie Entree
Palabok Fiesta 410 Calories, 15g Fat, 49g Carbs, 20g Protein
If you’re looking for a full meal with fewer calories, the Palabok Fiesta might be your best bet. It offers a good balance of macros and is significantly lower in calories than other entree options.
Jollibee Sides
Jollibee’s side options are similar to other fried chicken chains such as KFC or Popeyes, with gravy being the star of the show.
Lowest Calorie Side
Steamed Rice 190 Calories, 0g Fat, 44g Carbs, 4g Protein
If you’re looking to keep calories low, plain steamed rice is a solid option. It won’t be suitable for anyone watching their carbs, but rice is always a filling option.
Highest Calorie Side
Mac & Cheese 230 Calories, 12g Fat, 19g Carbs, 10g Protein
The Mac & Cheese isn’t much higher in calories than the steamed rice, but it’s significantly higher in fat and provides more protein. It could be a good option if you’re looking for a more satisfying side dish and aren’t strictly counting calories.
Is Jollibee Healthy?
After breaking down the Jollibee menu, it’s clear that this Filipino fast-food chain offers a wide variety of options, from their famous Chickenjoy to unique items like Jolly Spaghetti and Burger Steak with rice. But how does it stack up in terms of nutrition?
As with any fast-food restaurant, Jollibee has both higher-calorie options and some more balanced options. Their menu isn’t typically what you’d associate with “health food,” but that doesn’t mean you can’t find options to fit your dietary needs.
For those watching their calorie intake, items like the Chicken Tenders, original Yum Burger, or Palabok Fiesta offer relatively lower-calorie options. While the options aren’t the most “macro-friendly” out there, they’re your best bet for maximizing your calories.
For those following a low-carb or keto diet, Jollibee might be a bit challenging. Most menu items come with a significant carb content from buns, rice, or breading. Your best bet would be to stick with the burgersteaks (bunless burgers), unfortunately, there are no low-carb side options to pair them with.
It’s worth noting that Jollibee doesn’t currently offer many lighter options like salads or grilled chicken that you might find at other fast-food chains. Most items are fried or come with high-calorie sauces, which makes the food delicious, but not necessarily the best options for the calorie-conscious.
Remember, no single meal determines the overall healthiness of your diet. If you enjoy Jollibee, you can certainly incorporate it into a balanced diet. The key, as always, is moderation and making choices that align with your personal health goals.
While Jollibee isn’t setting out to be a traditionally “healthy” fast food option, you can make it work for your diet if you truly enjoy the food!
