El Jannah Restaurant, Granville

February 5, 2010

Poultry Porn


I seem to be on a bit of a Lebanese bender lately. From virtually being a cuisine that I never considered to one that I actually ache for! Naturally, I have my blogger friends to thank for the good influence. The love affair started with Rowda Ya Habibi and was fueled by Frank’s (oh Frank *fans herself*) and now I’ve sought my own gratification in The Captain’s old hood of Granville. I definitely earned my frequent flyer miles trekking back and forth between his suburb and mine during the first 6 months of our relationship! So I ask myself… how in the blazes did I not know about El Jannah? An unforgiveable oversight!


Anyway, forget the nostalgia. Today it’s all about the garlic sauce! And the chicken! And oh, the baba gannouj! Situated down the end of South Street alongside the train station, El Jannah is a local favourite and hugely popular. I was lucky to escape the dinner rush by getting there early but after we left, the lines started to queue. The restaurant itself is light, modern and clean but I highly recommend takeaway rather than eat in simply because the prices are nearly 50 to 60% cheaper.


If you only imagine the smell of their charcoal chicken and how crazy it drove us in the car. Someone should seriously make a car freshener of charcoal poultry. 
We had one and a half charcoal chickens to feed four people but it’s definitely enough to feed six (it’s just that I’m ultra greedy and can hoove down whole roast chickens without pausing for breath). But the meal is never complete without the usual tasty accompaniments.


The falafels are only 50c each for takeaway and they were jaw-droppingly good. Not as crunchy as Frank’s but the flavour was heavenly. Fresh tabouli is also a wondrous thing indeed, especially for somebody who doesn’t do salads. El Jannah’s was a little more generous with the lemon than most places, but its tangy kick did a good job in cutting through the richness of the rest of the meal.

Thick cut chips takeaway $4 for large


But let’s talk about the aforementioned seductive poultry. OH MA GAWD! Give me smoky, give me charcoal, give me a flavour and I’m all yours. Give me juicy, give me tender and I’ll soon be emitting the most animalistic groans. In Granville, you can literally smell the charcoal in the air, so much so, that on warm nights, I can just close my eyes and imagine I’m back on the hot streets of KL. There may be no satay men here but damn the Lebanese chicken is a fine alternative.

 

Whole chicken takeaway $10.90, 1/2 chicken $5.90


You simply cannot have chicken without the garlic sauce. Period. And I’ve never tasted one as good as El Jannah’s. It’s incredibly garlicky but without the raw spiciness that most others have. Not that I mind the spicy kick but this was something else. I’m a firm believer that garlic is an underrated aphrodisiac. Or is that just me? And if you add the luscious smoky baba gannouj to the mix… well, how many times can a girl close her eyes and moan in one meal?


I can’t imagine how I did without El Jannah after all these years. So many pleasurable nights missed. But I guess the most important thing is I have seen the light; and that comes charcoaled with lashings of garlic.


El Jannah

4-6 South Street
Granville, NSW 2142
(02) 9635 0977

Open Monday to Saturday 10am – 12am and Sundays 10am – 11pm

You can now order online!


NEW STORE


701 Punchbowl Road
Punchbowl, NSW 2196

 

{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }

joey@FoodiePop February 4, 2010 at 19:32

Wow, I wasn't sure about the lascivious metaphor, but I know what you mean, I think! The chicken must be good if its worth such a long journey west! Fabulous photos!

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citrusandcandy February 5, 2010 at 07:48

Hehe yeah I just realised I was getting a little erotic over poultry. But good roast chicken will do that to me :P

Lucky for me the journey isn't very long for this Westie girl :)

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Steph February 4, 2010 at 22:24

Oh my god that chicken looks even better than I imagined it after hearing you tweeting about it the other day. Take me with you next time!

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citrusandcandy February 5, 2010 at 07:49

Definitely! We'll do a Lebanese run of Sydney!

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betty February 5, 2010 at 01:10

i used to love having chicken chips and garlic sauce and tabbouleh at habibs in bankstown but i havent been back in ages – i miss garlic sauce i could drink the stuff hehe

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citrusandcandy February 5, 2010 at 07:50

Ooh I'll add that one to the growing list of Lebanese chicken places to try! And yes, garlic sauce is sooooo good!

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Anita February 5, 2010 at 05:46

You certainly make the chicken sound mouth watering!! :)

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citrusandcandy February 5, 2010 at 07:50

*blush*… I think I was getting a bit too excited there :P

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Fiona February 5, 2010 at 07:27

falafel time!

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citrusandcandy February 5, 2010 at 07:51

…with garlic sauce!! I like your thinking :)

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grace February 5, 2010 at 08:44

lol! I had no idea chicken and garlic sauce could be so exciting

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citrusandcandy February 9, 2010 at 13:34

*blush* I get unusually excited over garlic :P

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FFichiban February 5, 2010 at 12:13

MMm whats not to love? Chicken? YEAHHH! garlic sauce? OOHH BABY!

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citrusandcandy February 9, 2010 at 13:34

LOL I'm glad you understand! Ummm…. we need a chicken run!

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Conor @ HoldtheBeef February 5, 2010 at 16:16

Goodness I think I need a cigarette after reading this review, or at least splashing some cold water on my face. I want to feel the chicken love too, it looks so good, teasing me with its come-hither skin.

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citrusandcandy February 9, 2010 at 13:35

*double blush* er… I guess you can always tell when I love something if I start talking like a woman on… er… heat *covers face*

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Shanks February 5, 2010 at 19:37

Ooooh Wow that's good looking chicken and with garlic sauce it is totally drool-worthy and worth a drive out to Granville tonight.

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citrusandcandy February 9, 2010 at 13:36

Did you end up going? Hope you enjoyed it! Best garlic sauce in Sydney so far!

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Trissa February 7, 2010 at 07:17

I want that charcoal chicken! Have heard so many great things that I have put this chicken on my top things to do in 2010!

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citrusandcandy February 9, 2010 at 13:36

I can't believe it's taken me this long to try it considering I don't live that far from it. I hope you try it soon :)

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Yas @h.d.e. February 7, 2010 at 11:12

Yes! More lebanese places! invite me next time!

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citrusandcandy February 9, 2010 at 13:37

For sure! I think we need to get the gang together for a chicken feast :D

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