Oklahoma City is officially on Jollibee’s map. The Philippines‑based fast‑food chain, celebrated for its Chickenjoy and Jolly Spaghetti, is headed to town after franchise partners Neal Do and Joseph Julian signed a multi‑unit development deal that will bring the brand to Oklahoma for the first time. The agreement signals Jollibee’s formal entry into the state and adds a Filipino‑inspired quick‑service player to the local dining scene.
Do and Julian will run the new Oklahoma locations. Julian said the move was driven in part by the lack of a nearby Jollibee, with the closest restaurants currently in Dallas, and by interest from the state’s Filipino community. He told reporters that he and others had even flown to New York just to get their Jollibee fix, as reported by The Journal Record.
How Jollibee Is Scaling In North America
Jollibee launched a formal U.S. franchising program in 2025 and has been leaning on multi‑unit partners to speed up its North American expansion. The company offers a mix of stand‑alone, strip‑mall and urban formats to new operators, positioning the franchise program as a key driver of its growth across the United States and Canada, according to Jollibee Group.
Why Oklahoma Is On Franchisors’ Radars
Franchising remains a growth engine across the country, with FRANdata and the International Franchise Association projecting continued increases in the number of franchise establishments and their economic output in recent outlooks. That momentum is nudging brands beyond coastal strongholds and into interior markets, where cost structures and local demand can favor new entrants, according to research from FRANdata.
What To Expect Locally
For now, Jollibee is keeping specifics close to the vest. The announcement did not include site addresses or an opening timeline. On the company’s U.S. locations map, Texas remains the closest market with multiple Jollibee restaurants.
Fans and would‑be franchisees can keep an eye on new developments by checking store listings and franchising details on Jollibee and the company’s Jollibee site.
“It’s just an untapped market,” Julian said, expressing confidence that awareness will build as more Oklahomans try the food, as reported by The Journal Record. A specific opening schedule has yet to be announced, with timing and exact locations still to come from the franchise partners.
