Philippines’ Jollibee stands out as Southeast Asia’s global restaurant exception

From Singapore’s hawker stalls to Thailand’s street markets and Vietnam’s noodle shops, Southeast Asia is home to some of the world’s most celebrated food cultures. Yet the region has produced relatively few restaurant chains with global brand recognition, even as Chinese food and beverage groups climb international rankings. Analysts say structural factors – including smaller domestic markets, fragmented regional consumer tastes and fewer brands expanding aggressively overseas – have slowed the...