Jollibee “Chicken Joy” Wins Best Fried Chicken in Brunei -

Brunei’s Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Apong (second from right) and Brunei Food Awards CEO Haji Nasir bin Dato Paduka Latif (second from left) present the “Best Fried Chicken” award to Ms. Christina Ward, Jollibee-Brunei Operations Manager. (Brunei PE photo)

Jollibee’s “Chicken Joy” was chosen as Best Fried Chicken in Brunei at the maiden edition of the Brunei Food Awards (BFA) on 13 December 2020 at the Mulia Hotel in Bandar Seri Begawan.

The “Chicken Joy” bested several local restaurants and international fast-food chains that entered their own fried chicken dishes for the competition. 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 20 October 2020, with the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Yoon Hyun Bong, as Special Judge and Philippine Ambassador Christopher B. Montero as Special Guest.

Ambassador Christopher B. Montero joins the Jollibee-Brunei management team at the awarding ceremony for Chicken Joy as the “Best Fried Chicken” in Brunei. (Brunei PE photo)

“The recognition of Jollibee’s Chicken Joy 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,” Ambassador Montero noted. “Local Bruneians, both the old and current generations, patronize its value meals in the same way that ordinary Filipinos do,” the Ambassador added.

Ambassador Montero and the Jollibee-Brunei management team at the Jollibee-Brunei stall during awarding ceremony at the Mulia Hotel. (Brunei PE photo)

Jollibee Brunei was established in 1987, the first overseas chain of Jollibee Foods Corporation, and currently has 18 stores in Brunei serving halal-certified meals, with 2 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.

Jollibee personnel at the Kilanas branch in Bandar Seri Begawan pose with the panel of judges. (Brunei PE photo)

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 chicken joy, 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 1^stplace for Best Coffee in Brunei for its ice blended mocha and 2^ndplace 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.