Jollibee has arrived, Chicagoland. The restaurant officially swung open its doors at 7 a.m. today, introducing suburban Skokie to fried chicken, burgers and Filipino spaghetti. The first customer lined up at 9 p.m. the day before on Thursday, staying overnight to ensure they'd dine at the fast-food restaurant on opening day.
The interiors are typical of a fast-food restaurant. There's padded stools, high tables and flatscreen menus hang above the cashiers' counter. This Jollibee has outdoor seating in the front and rear, as well as a drive-thru. It's the first Jollibee in the Midwest and the 34th in America for the chain that ranks No. 1 in the Philippines and ninth-largest in the world.
The restaurant is injecting a bit of excitement this weekend in the middle of a bunch of suburban strip malls on Touhy. Opening weekend should be busy, as many Filipino-Americans want to be part of this cultural event. Check out the photos below.
Jollibee, 3534 W. Touhy Ave., Skokie, hours not posted yet.