For anyone familiar with the cuisine of the Philippines, this is big news:Jollibee, a Manila-based fast food chain that's widely seen as the country's answer to McDonalds, is planning to open a restaurant in Toronto. The company, which already has about 30 stores in the U.S., has chosen Toronto for their first Canadian store, with their CFO saying they hope to be open here within the year.

For those previously unacquainted with the chain: The menu spans North American fast-food classics with a few local favourites. (Their mascot, naturally, is a jolly bee.)

Popular menu items include Chickenjoy fried chicken; the Amazing Aloha pineapple-topped burger; spaghetti topped with ham, sausage and ground beef; "burger steaks" topped with gravy and served with rice; andhalo-halo(a dessert that comprises shaved ice, beans, fruits, sweets, purple yam, and evaporated milk, among other ingredients).

Photo via Jollibee onFacebook.