Jollibee has been planning a Fresno restaurant for three years. Now we have an update
Will Jollibee ever come to Fresno?
The Filipino fried chicken chain with restaurants across the globe is one of those restaurants many Fresnans would love to have in town.
Nearly three years ago in the summer of 2021, the company filed a permit to build a restaurant and The Bee published a story announcing its plans to open near Fashion Fair mall on Shaw Avenue.
But since then? Crickets. No news. No new construction.
Not even a sign with its smiling bee mascot.
So will the “chickenjoy” — what Jollibee calls its fried chicken — ever come to town?
Yes. It plans to.
Fashion Fair has confirmed that the restaurant plans to open on a spot on its property near Shaw Avenue. It will likely open in late 2024 or early 2025.
It will be built in front of the mall, just east of Burger King. It’s on the property that was once home to Bank of the West, which was demolished several years ago.
The City of Fresno has approved Jollibee’s conditional-use permit for a restaurant with a drive-thru and patio. In February, the company applied for various permits needed to start work, including grading, landscaping and utilities.
Jollibee did not return several messages seeking comment about its timeline, but the recent applications are a sign the company is moving ahead with building the new restaurant.
The company has confirmed directly with The Bee in the past that it would open a store in Fresno — it just hasn’t said when.
Although Jollibee will be a new brand for many Fresnans, it also has many fans here. The restaurant pops up on Fresno Reddit.com page every six months or so, often in conversations about what businesses people want to come to Fresno. There’s also a petition on Change.org to bring the restaurant here.
The closest Jollibee is in Delano near Highway 99, though it has locations in Sacramento, the Bay Area and Southern California.
Jollibee specializes in fried chicken (something we’ve seen a lot of in Fresno lately). But with its own twist.
The company is based in the Philippines and serves several types of fried chicken, including meals, buckets and sandwiches.
It also has some dishes you won’t typically find at American fast food restaurants: “jolly spaghetti” made with ham, hot dogs and a sweet sauce, palabok fiesta, pineapple juice and its signature peach-mango pie.
Palabok fiesta is a traditional Filipino dish of thin noodles topped with garlic sauce, sauteed pork, shrimp and a hard-boiled egg.
