Ranajit Dam

HE’S large, he’s red and he loves attention. The Jollibee bee (also called Jollibee) is no ordinary bee; apart from the fact that he can’t get enough of posing and preening for the camera, he’s also rather well-traveled.

Born in the Philippines some 30 years ago, he has been to the United States, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Indonesia, Dubai and Brunei before this, holding doors open, kissing ladies on the hand, and generally being his own goofy self. Last week he made his first trip to the Chinese mainland. Dressed in his trademark shirt, blazer and chef’s hat, he did his little dance as the Jollibee chain opened its first mainland store in Shenzhen’s Luohu District.

The Jollibee bee is more likeable than the other fast food mascots we have it at present, more than Colonel Sanders (too ancient) and certainly more than Ronald McDonald (far too creepy). In the same vein, the grub served up by Jollibee is several notches above the offerings of other fast food restaurants of its kind, tastier and possibly even healthier. Most Filipinos I know would readily agree to this, but if you aren’t entirely convinced, you should certainly make a trip to the Jollibee located in Carianna Friendship Center in Luohu’s Guomao area.

Start with the mango crabstick green salad (20 yuan, US$2.85), which combines crabstick and mango cubes tossed in lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red pepper and honey-mustard dressing. Among burgers, Jollibee’s signature aloha burger (20 yuan) is recommended, which, apart from having a double beef patty, bacon and cheese, has a rather unusual ingredient — sliced pineapple — inviting you to “say hello to the tropical island life.”

This is one of two special Jollibee burgers on the menu, the other being the chili con carne burger (18 yuan), which, as the name suggests, is made using chili con carne, a spicy stew-like Mexican dish made from chili peppers and beans. Unfortunately, the chicken burgers are rather limited, with the restaurant offering the same old staid routine of grilled chicken fillet, crispy chicken fillet and spicy chicken fillet.

Jollibee also offers Italian food in the form of spaghetti soup, seafood marinara and spaghetti bolognese.

Sides include Jollibee’s own chickenjoy — what the chain calls chicken wings — which comes in spicy and mildly spicy flavors, mushroom soup and French fries. The fries are also an improvement on the run-of-the-mill fast food variety, deep-fried until golden brown and crisp.

However, where Jollibee’s really sets itself apart is in its desserts. You’ll be hardpressed to choose between the halo-halo (20 yuan) — a sweet treat made up of tropical fruits and beans served over shaved ice and topped with ube icecream and cornflakes — and the golden mango ice craze (11 yuan), which comprises of mango chunks served over shaved ice.

Perhaps the only drawback of the restaurant is that it offers little for the vegetarians, apart from the salads and soups. But the ambience is great, the food tasty and the service outstanding. It’s no wonder that the bee is in such a happy mood all the time.