McDonald’s of the Philippines in Toronto

The line began forming on Saturday afternoon. By Sunday, thousands were waiting to get into Ontario’s first Jollibee — the “McDonald’s of the Philippines.”

The excited crowd, made up mostly of Filipinos hungry for a taste of their homeland, came from all over the GTA to a suburban Scarborough plaza.

A Jollibee theme song blasted from the speakers, and the Jollibee mascot (a bright red “jolly bee”) buzzed around the parking lot, taking photos with smiling customers.

Inside the bright restaurant, a row of bustling employees lined the counter, stacking gravy containers, organizing food on trays and filling takeout bags with their famous fried chicken, Filipino spaghetti, palabok and mango peach pies. Those who took food home took a lot.

Billy Moreno, a Scarborough native, arrived at 6 a.m. with his friends. Moreno had fried chicken and a burger steak, “with lots of course of gravy, of course”. “Their gravy is their signature, it’s unique,” Moreno said.

He said the quality at the Toronto location matches that of the Philippines, and he plans to visit the new location often.

Krysta Salera woke up before 4 a.m. to come to Jollibee, making the trip from Oakville. She ordered almost everything on the menu.