El Jannah Charcoal Chicken – Dandenong – Lebanese charcoal and fried chicken outlet

In the heart of Dandenong at the Coles and Chemist Warehouse precinct, El Jannah Charcoal Chicken made its grand debut on Saturday, 27 April 2024, marking the beginning of a new era in the area. As word of its opening spread like wildfire, eager onlookers flocked to the fast-food outlet, curious to sample its offerings and take part in its opening.

Upon arrival, I found myself amidst a bustling crowd, all eager to partake in the excitement of El Jannah’s inaugural day. Most patrons, myself included, gravitated towards the Opening Day Special—a steal at just $5—which boasted a quarter chicken, chips, a tub of garlic sauce, and a can of soft drink. I noticed other people had gone for their Fried Chicken or combos with their bread and pickles.

In addition to the Opening Day Special, I also decided to indulge in their 3-piece Fried Chicken, eager to experience the full spectrum of flavours that El Jannah had to offer. Despite the frenetic pace of the outlet, I was pleasantly surprised to receive my order promptly, a sign that they boosted the number of staff on their first day and hopefully a sign of continued efficiency of their service as they continue on.

As I sampled their offerings, I found myself torn between admiration for their flavourful chicken and a hint of disappointment at its slightly overcooked state. While the chicken exhibited a tantalising basting, it was evident that being the opening day, some portions had been sitting for a tad too long, resulting in a slight loss of freshness. It could have also been due to the portion of the chicken I had which consisted of mostly the chicken breast.

However, any lingering disappointment was swiftly overshadowed by the sheer deliciousness of their Fried Chicken. Crispy, golden-brown, and infused with a harmonious blend of Middle Eastern spices, each bite was a symphony of flavours that left me craving for more.

Also, their Garlic Sauce paired so well with their chicken that its a must add to any experience from this outlet.

On the day I also noticed so many patrons ordering their bread and pickles and fondly enjoying them. I’m going to add them to my order the next time.

El Jannah Charcoal Chicken’s debut in Dandenong is very welcome. Its promise of excellent Charcoal Chicken and Fried Chicken rings true. With a little fine-tuning and time, I have no doubt that this fast-food gem will soon become a beloved fixture in the local dining scene, serving up succulent chicken and irresistible flavours to all who venture through its doors.

Hopefully with this outlet, Dandenong may see a flourishment of new eateries and a revival of the entire central business district. The continued pace of new restaurants and stores in this area is slowly coming as well as more modern apartment blocks and townhouses. Dandenong certainly has a lot of promise.

Update on 1 May 2024. I visited more recently and experienced a mistaken order where I asked for the Chicken Plate for $16.50, but the person at the counter (who was a young lad and clearly wasn’t listening and kept absconding from the register when I waited for my order) put it as the Chicken Meal for $17.50. Before paying for the meal, I even asked him if it was correct that the Chicken Plate was $17.50 and to confirm my order and he was like, “duh, that’s what it is – can’t change the pricing on the machine”. The difference between the Chicken Plate and the Meal is whether you get chips or pickles and bread instead. Obviously I was handed the wrong order, and so upon asking, the person handling the orders handed me a small tub of their pickles as an apology. (I didn’t want to make too much of a scene, so I accepted it.)

In the end, I think the Chicken Plate probably isn’t worth it, because the pickles were horrid. I’d never order their pickles again. They were slightly bitter and had a generally off putting taste. I’ve had pickled cucumber and turnips before, but this was quite a turn off. Aside from that, at least the rest of the meal was fine. The chicken was on the drier side yet acceptable, and the Garlic Sauce and the chips were fine.

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