Review: Jollibee's New Chicken Nuggets Bring Taco Bell Vibes

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Jollibee is one of those rare franchises that originated outside of the United States, but has seen extreme growth and popularity in the States over the past few decades. It all started in The Philippines back in 1975, and America got its first taste in 1998 in Daly City, California. Many who have walked through its doors have enjoyed chowing down on meals like the signature fried chicken with gravy and sweeter-than-usual saucy spaghetti, finishing things off with a sweet pie. Keeping up with the joneses and rivals like KFC, Popeyes, and Chick-fil-A, Jollibee dropped its own take on a Chicken Sandwich back in 2021 and Chicken Tenders back in 2025. Apparently not one to rest on its laurels, Jollibee is at it again, and this time it's adding Chicken Nuggets to the U.S. roster.

In a press release, Luis Velasco, SVP and Marketing Head, Jollibee Group, North America said, "At Jollibee, we are always looking for ways to bring more joy to our guests' tables, and this all-new Chicken Nugget launch is the perfect example of how we continue to innovate and elevate fast-food favorites." He added, "The crave-worthy quality and high standards that made us the 'best fried chicken' in America can now be found in our new nuggets, and we can't wait for everyone to try them!"

The wait is over, and the nuggs have arrived. So, is this new Jollibee creation the absolute bee's knees or should they be none of your beeswax? The Takeout ordered a bucket of them to see where the truth lies. Now all can be revealed in this crunchy chew and review.

Within the first week of their release, I headed over to my neighborhood Jollibee to try the new Chicken Nuggets. I ordered the nuggets on site and consumed them at the restaurant. I also tasted the chain's Chicken Tenders and Fried Chicken for comparison. I took leftovers home for further taste analysis.

This chew and review is a summation of my own personal tastes and opinions. I also took into consideration my previous experiences with Jollibee and its products (which isn't all that extensive), chicken nuggets in general, and my overall impressions of these nuggs. The ultimate criteria considered for this review were flavor, presentation, smell, familiarity, originality, uniqueness, value, and ultimately, whether these nuggets are worthy of your time and dime.

Recommendations are based on firsthand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer.

The Chicken Nuggets were delivered in an open red bucket, adorned with the forever smiling Jollibee bee mascot's face. I only had photos of the nuggets on the store's posters and menu ordering kiosk to go by, but the ones I received appeared far darker than what was advertised. Looks aren't everything, but while I was ogling them, I noticed their texture reminded me of Taco Bell's thick-skinned and well encrusted nuggets. While the shell was indeed hard, it was also a tad greasy to the touch and left a trace of dust behind on my fingertips. Leaning in for a whiff, there was a nice salty fried smell. The nuggets themselves were girthy in looks and hefty to hold.

Without further ado, I got right to chomping them, and I was a fan from the get go. They not only had a similar look to Taco Bell's, but they also had a similar bite to them — super dense and crunchy. These are no McDonald's nuggets with their thin shell, and with each nibble, my teeth enjoyed this super crunchiness as I was munching on fried chicken skin. After focusing on the shell, I was ready to turn my attention to the meat. The next nugget revealed a healthy amount of succulent and juicy white meat, which was a nice contrast to that thick exterior. Without a single dip into a sauce, Jollibee's Chicken Nuggets proved their worth.

Jollibee's Chicken Nuggets had already earned my seal of approval by their lonesome, but how did they play with sauce? I had a cup of Jollibee's Signature Sauce, Honey Mustard, and Gravy at the ready. The first two were served chilled, and their fluidity and wetness didn't exactly benefit the nuggets, demonstrating that the thick shell was a little dry when the two met. However, the Gravy was a more suitable match, in temperature and coating, and I was surprised how well the two worked in tandem.

Before I called it a day, I wanted to get more acquainted with Jollibee's other chicken offerings, and ordered Fried Chicken and some Tenders. I started with the latter, and I was surprised at how flaky-awesome they were. The skin reminded me of the best I've ever had, which used to be served on a secret menu at the Houston's chain. Moving onto the Fried Chicken, the skin was thinner and practically fell off the bone along with the juicy meat. 

What this all proved to me was that Jollibee not only offers a lot of chicken products to choose from, but also offers up so many levels of thickness and texture of fried skin to enjoy. While I'd recommend the Tenders as the best bang for your buck and taste, the Nuggets totally hold their own and have earned a permanent spot on the menu. Welcome welcome!

Chicken Nuggets were added to the menus of participating nationwide U.S. Jollibee locations on July 2, 2026. They will remain a permanent menu item until further notice, and as long as supplies are available in store.

The nuggets can be ordered in the following counts: 5-piece, 8-piece, 15-piece, and 30-piece. Price will vary per location, but at my Manhattan Jollibee those counts respectively retail for $5.29, $7.29, $12.99, and $24.99. Each order comes with a dipping sauce, and the 30-piece portion earns an eater a selection of up to six sauces. The options include Signature Dipping Sauce, Small Chickenjoy Gravy, BBQ Dipping Sauce, Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce, Sriracha Mayo Dipping Sauce, and Buttermilk Ranch Dipping Sauce. One can also opt to have no dipping sauce at all. The 8 and 15-piece nuggets also have a combo option, which includes a drink and side like fries and mashed potatoes, among many others.

All items can be ordered at the counter, kiosk, or drive thru where available. Advanced ordering for dine-in, takeout, or delivery can be placed through Jollibee's app or website. Add-ons, orders for delivery, or those placed through third parties may result in higher prices and/or incur additional charges.

A 5-piece order of Chicken Nuggets contains 256 calories, 13 grams total fat, 2 grams saturated fat, 43 milligrams cholesterol, 874 milligrams sodium, 16 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams dietary fiber, 2 grams sugars, and 18 grams protein. The nutrition info for the larger portion sizes is proportional to the number of nuggets in the order. 

For further nutritional values and a full list of allergens, please consult the Jollibee app or website.