Table of Contents
Introduction
Big thanks to the kickass team at HQ for letting me run wild with this one. Fasten your seatbelt, folks, we’re diving into the culinary equivalent of a boxing match – Jollibee vs. McDonald’s, or as I like to call it, the Fast Food Fisticuffs of the Philippines.
Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Rico, you absolute madman, how can you compare the sweet, childhood nostalgia of Jollibee to the international allure of McDonald’s?” I hear you, mga kaibigan, I hear you. But sit tight, because this ain’t just about which burger makes your taste buds do the cha-cha.
Let’s kick this off by taking a trip down memory lane. Picture a younger, more innocent me, wide-eyed and awestruck in the face of Jollibee’s bright red bee mascot. It was like meeting a celebrity, but better. It was meeting a celebrity who also happened to serve you Chickenjoy and spaghetti with cut-up hotdogs. On the other hand, we’ve got McDonald’s. That golden arch was like a beacon of hope during those late-night inuman (drinking) sessions, promising a Big Mac that could soak up all the beer swimming in my belly.
So, who’s it gonna be? The homegrown hero, Jollibee, with its sweet-style spaghetti and bee with the dance moves? Or the international invader, McDonald’s, with its world-famous fries and clown who… well, let’s face it, is a clown?
Stick around, mga kababayan, because we’re about to dig deep into this deliciously greasy debate. And by the end, we might just find out if I’m a Jollibee Junkie or a McDo Diehard. But for now, let’s just say… I’m lovin’ it. And by ‘it’, I mean stirring up this fast food pot.
The Early Days

Alright, let’s rewind the tape to the good ol’ days when my biggest worry was whether my Jollibee birthday party would outshine Carlo’s next door. Ah, those were simpler times, mga kaibigan.
My earliest memory of Jollibee was walking into that brightly lit, red and yellow chaos, complete with the sweet aroma of the ever-present Chickenjoy wafting through the air. The joy, the pure, unadulterated joy of ripping open that red and yellow box, revealing the crispy, golden skin of that perfectly fried chicken. I mean, who could resist that, di ba (right)? And don’t even get me started on the spaghetti. That sweet, hotdog-studded spaghetti was the stuff of legends, my friends. The first taste was like a fiesta in my mouth, making my taste buds do the tinikling dance.



On the flip side, McDonald’s was like stepping into a different world. The golden arches felt like a gateway to the global stage, a slice of the American dream right here in our archipelago. My first Big Mac, oh boy, it was like a rite of passage. That first bite, with the secret sauce dribbling down my chin, was a moment of pure, heart-stopping bliss. And those fries, those golden, crispy, salty fries, were like nothing I’d ever tasted.
Jollibee was home. It was comfort, familiarity, and a dance-off with a giant bee. McDonald’s, on the other hand, was an adventure, a taste of the world beyond our 7,641 islands. So, how do you compare a comforting hug to an exciting escapade? You don’t. You simply enjoy them for what they are.
But don’t worry, mga kababayan, I’m not copping out of the great debate just yet. We’ve got a long way to go and a lot more grease to wade through. So, grab your Chickenjoy and Big Mac, because we’re just getting started.
College Foodtrips and Late-Night Munchies

Alright, let’s fast forward a bit to my college years, an era filled with questionable decisions, shitty beer, and an insatiable hunger that only fast food could satiate.
After a long night of drinking, laughing, and generally making an ass of myself, there was nothing I craved more than a greasy, satisfying meal to soak up the alcohol. And that, my friends, is where our contenders came into play.
Jollibee, with its fluorescent lights shining like a beacon in the dark, was a regular haunt. My drunken self would stumble in, barely coherent but hellbent on getting my hands on a Yum Burger. There was something about that juicy, simple burger that hit just the right spot, making my beer-addled brain sing hallelujah. And the Jolly Spaghetti? Forget about it. That sweet, cheesy, hotdog-loaded pile of carbs was the best fucking thing at 2 AM.



McDonald’s, on the other hand, had its own late-night charms. Ever tried a Big Mac while you’re drunk out of your mind? It’s like an explosion of flavors, a symphony of ecstasy that makes you question all your life choices. And those fries, salty and crisp, were the perfect companion to the drunken philosophical discussions that inevitably happened at 3 AM.
I have one particularly memorable incident, a night of revelry that ended with me face-planting into a box of Chicken McNuggets. To this day, I swear those nuggets saved my life, soaking up enough alcohol to keep me from going over the edge.
So, who won the drunken munchies round? Well, it’s a bit like comparing a sloppy, passionate kiss to a well-executed lap dance. They’re different, they’re both fucking amazing in their own right, and they both leave you with a sense of satisfaction and just a hint of regret. But don’t worry, the night is young, and the food fight continues. So, hang on to your hats, mga kababayan, because we’re about to take this to a whole new level.
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Evolution of the Chains
Alright, so here we are, in the goddamn future. Everything changes, whether we like it or not, and our beloved fast-food chains are no exception.
Let’s start with Jollibee. The sweet spaghetti that I loved as a kid? It’s still there, but something’s changed. Maybe it’s my aging taste buds, or maybe they’ve messed with the recipe. But it doesn’t hit the same anymore. It’s like running into your high school sweetheart and realizing she’s not as hot as you remembered. But hell, it’s still Jollibee spaghetti, and I’d be damned if I don’t devour it like a starving asong kalye (street dog).


And then there’s the Yum Burger. It’s still yum, but I remember it being yummier. Maybe it’s because I’m not drunk out of my mind when I eat it these days, or maybe it’s just nostalgia fucking with me. But it doesn’t change the fact that I’d still pick a Yum Burger over any fancy-ass gourmet burger any day.
Moving on to McDonald’s, the changes are more obvious. The Big Mac? Still big, still mac, but not as satisfying as it used to be. It’s like they took the ‘secret’ out of the ‘secret sauce.’ The fries, though, those little sticks of golden heaven, they’re still as addictive as ever. I could eat a bucket of those and still want more.
The atmosphere’s changed too. Jollibee, once a riot of colors and noise, feels more subdued now. It’s still a bee hive, but the bees seem a little less jolly. McDonald’s, on the other hand, has become more streamlined, more ‘global’. It’s lost some of its charm, that ‘foreign’ allure it once had.
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But, tangina, the mascots. They’re still the same, bless their hearts. Jollibee’s still busting out his dance moves, and Ronald McDonald is still… a clown. And thank God for that. Because in this ever-changing world, it’s good to know that some things never change.
So, who’s winning this evolution race? It’s hard to say. Like everything else in life, it’s a mixed bag. But one thing’s for sure – whether it’s a Yum Burger or a Big Mac, drunk or sober, at the end of the day, it’s still fucking fast food, and I still fucking love it. So, let’s move on to the next round, mga kababayan. This food fight’s just heating up.
High Times
Alright, let’s venture into territory where angels fear to tread: the hazy, otherworldly realm of munchies induced by a little Mary Jane. Now, I’m not saying I condone getting high, but if hypothetically, one were to find themselves in such a state, the question becomes: Jollibee or McDonald’s?
Picture this: you’re stoned out of your mind, reality’s a bit fuzzy around the edges, and your stomach’s making sounds like a pissed-off aswang. That’s when the Jollibee Chickenjoy starts to look like manna from heaven. Every crunch of the golden, crispy skin echoes in your head like a symphony, and the juicy chicken meat? It’s a fucking revelation. It’s like your tastebuds have ascended to a higher plane of existence.
But then there’s the McDonald’s Big Mac. Under the influence, that towering pile of beef, cheese, and secret sauce transforms into an architectural marvel. Each bite is a journey of discovery, a rollercoaster ride of flavors that leaves you breathless and begging for more. And don’t get me started on the fries. Those salty, crispy bastards are like crack. You can’t stop at one, and before you know it, you’re staring at an empty carton, wondering where the hell all the fries went.
So, who wins the high times round? Well, that’s like asking whether it’s more fun to ride a habal-habal or a jeepney while drunk. They’re both wild rides, and they both have their own fucked up charm. But between you and me, nothing beats the primal satisfaction of tearing into a Jollibee Chickenjoy while high. So, in this round, I’d say the homegrown hero takes the cake… or the chicken, in this case.
The Impact of Jollibee and McDonald’s Today
We’ve come a long way, mga kaibigan, from the childhood parties to the drunken food trips, the stoned munchies to the sobering reality of the present. Now, as we stand on the precipice of the final round, it’s time to look at what Jollibee and McDonald’s mean to us today, not just to me, but to our fucking culture as a whole.
Jollibee, to me, is more than just a fast-food chain. It’s a part of who we are as Filipinos. It’s the taste of home, the comfort of familiarity. It’s the sweet spaghetti at birthday parties, the Chickenjoy at family dinners, the Yum Burger after a night of walwalan. It’s the embodiment of our Pinoy spirit – resilient, joyful, and a little bit sweet, just like the spaghetti.
McDonald’s, on the other hand, represents a different kind of spirit. It’s the taste of aspiration, of wanting something more. It’s the Big Mac after a promotion, the Happy Meal after a good report card, the late-night nuggets after a breakup. It’s a symbol of globalization, a reminder of our place in the larger world.
So, where does that leave us? Is Jollibee the undisputed champ because it’s homegrown and close to our hearts? Or does McDonald’s take the crown because it’s a global giant that’s made itself at home in our country?
The Final Verdict
Alright, mga kaibigan, we’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve reminisced, and we’ve journeyed through a forest of fast food memories. Now, it’s time to get down to brass tacks. Who’s the champ of this glorious food fight? Who wins the fast-food fisticuffs in the Philippines?
Here’s the fucking truth. I love Jollibee. I love McDonald’s. They both hold a special place in my heart and my stomach. They’ve been with me through thick and thin, through high times and low times, through drunk nights and sober mornings. They’re more than just fast food to me. They’re a part of my story, a part of our collective Filipino story.
But if I had to choose, if I had to pick a side in this ridiculous, delicious duel, I’d have to go with… drum roll, please… Jollibee. Yes, mga kababayan, I’m a Jollibee man through and through. Maybe it’s the sweet spaghetti, or the crunchy Chickenjoy, or maybe it’s just the simple joy of a Yum Burger. But there’s something about Jollibee that feels like home. It’s familiar, it’s comforting, and it’s unapologetically Filipino.
Don’t get me wrong. McDonald’s is great. It’s got its own charm, its own allure. But at the end of the day, when I’m hungover or high, when I’m celebrating or mourning, when I’m just plain hungry, it’s Jollibee that I crave. It’s Jollibee that I come home to.
So, there you have it. My completely biased, utterly subjective, and thoroughly unscientific verdict. Jollibee wins. But really, in the grand scheme of things, does it even matter? We’re lucky enough to have both, to enjoy the best of both worlds. So, let’s just enjoy the ride, one burger, one spaghetti, one Chickenjoy at a time.
That’s it for me, mga kababayan. This has been one hell of a trip down memory lane, one delicious, greasy, utterly fulfilling trip. So, until the next food fight, keep eating, keep living, and keep loving. Mabuhay ang Jollibee, mabuhay ang McDonald’s, at mabuhay tayong lahat! Cheers, fuckers!