Jollibee Targets Chicago Suburbs for Franchise Expansion

Jollibee , the restaurant franchise with more than 1,700 units worldwide and a cult-like following for bestselling dishes like the iconic Chickenjoy, is targeting the Chicago market as part of its broader North American franchise expansion strategy, according to a recent article in the Chicago Business Journal .

After entering Chicago in 2016, the Filipino chicken chain now operates four corporate-owned restaurants in the area (downtown Chicago, North Mayfair, Skokie and Bloomingdale) and has identified Chicagoland as one of its highest-priority Midwest growth markets for 2026.

“Chicago is one of our high-priority markets for Midwest growth in 2026,” Peter Wright , Jollibee vice president of franchising, told the Chicago Business Journal. “A significant strength of Jollibee is that we perform well across real estate site types. Specifically, we target neighborhoods that offer a natural fit for our flavor profile and sites that offer attractive business opportunities regardless of the specific format.”

Jollibee is aiming to reach 500 restaurants across North America by 2030 , and Chicago is expected to play a key role in that growth. The company is now looking for franchise partners to help expand its suburban presence across the region.