We went out to dinner with the family again, and my oldest nephew wanted to take us to El Jannah. He’d been a few times before, but this was my first visit. I’d actually walked past their Melbourne CBD location previously—it had been vacant for a long time, so when I recently saw it buzzing with people, I made a mental note to try it sometime.

We ordered directly from the table using a QR code, which was great because it meant we didn’t have to line up. We went with the Mixed Chicken Meal, which included both their signature charcoal and crispy fried chicken (a mix of pieces, wings, and tenders), large hot chips, creamy gravy, fresh coleslaw, their famous garlic sauce, and the softest Lebanese bread. We upsized the chips to jumbo, and when the food arrived, I was honestly surprised by how much there was.

There was a bit of a wait for our food, as it was a busy Sunday evening and everything is made to order. But once it arrived, it was well worth it. The chips were hot, fresh, and well-seasoned. The coleslaw was refreshing and not overly sweet, as you sometimes get elsewhere. The Lebanese bread was soft, though it would’ve been even better slightly warmed. The garlic sauce? Packed with flavour, heavy on the garlic (amazing, though not great for your breath!).

Both versions of the chicken were excellent. The fried chicken had a crispy, well-seasoned coating with crunchy skin that was way better than standard fast-food offerings. The charcoal chicken was the standout for me—moist, juicy, and infused with a delicious smoky flavour from the grill.

I thoroughly enjoyed the meal and now understand why El Jannah has a bit of a following. The ability to build your wraps from all the elements in the meal was a real bonus. Judging by the crowd, it’s clear this place is popular. I’d love to see El Jannah expand to New Zealand. Honestly, it’s miles ahead of KFC or Nando’s, and the fact that you get both fried and charcoal chicken options in one place really sets it apart.

Website: El Jannah