From The Atlantic.

ollibee, the Filipino fast-food chain known for its fried chicken, burgers, and sweet spaghetti, was born out of a demand for American fast food in a postcolonial Philippines. To differentiate itself, the chain adjusted flavors to suit the local palate, influenced by a long history of Indigenous, Chinese, and Spanish settlement that “demands maximum levels of sour, sweet, salty, and umami.”

Now, the chain has more than 1,700 stores across the globe and is set on reshaping the American palate in a uniquely Filipino way. Yasmin Tayag talks with her colleague Ellen Cushing over a shared meal.