Up next
Author
Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp
Beloved restaurant chain El Jannah began modestly in 1998, when Lebanese immigrants opened a small charcoal chicken shop in Sydney’s west.
Nearly 30 years on, the business has grown to 50 stores nationwide, and could go global after its acquisition by American private equity firm General Atlantic, in a deal believed to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
“It’s a phenomenal milestone for the brand. We’re 27 years old, and we feel like we’re just getting started,” El Jannah CEO Brett Houldin told SBS News.

“This has been an incredible chance to seek out a partner who aligns with our vision, supporting us in our mission to introduce Lebanese culture and cuisine to the Australian public,” a spokesperson for El Jannah shared enthusiastically.

With this new alliance, El Jannah plans to launch over 25 additional eateries within the next year, with an ambitious goal of reaching 200 outlets across Australia in the next five years.

General Atlantic has approximately US $118 billion ($180 billion) in assets under its management.
The American investor has acquired a controlling stake in the charcoal chicken chain for an undisclosed amount, which Houldin describes as a “big number”.
“It’s a meaningful valuation for the organisation and something that we’re proud of,” Houldin said.

LISTEN TO

International expansion was “definitely on the cards”, Houldin added.
“It’ll make sure that we can do it in a really measured and successful way, and we can just continue to reinvest in our service culture, our food quality,” Houldin said.
“We bring our food into the restaurant every day, and we want to uphold all those traditions.
“El Jannah has the opportunity to go to so many great places. We were looking at markets across the world. There’ll be some really interesting ones.

“The Estephans who founded our brand want to have a look at the Middle East to begin with, back in their homeland, where they believe that it could do exceptionally well.”

The story of the Estephans

El Jannah — Arabic for paradise — was founded by Lebanese immigrants, Andre and Carole Estephan in the western Sydney suburb of Granville in 1998.
The flavours were inspired by childhood memories of a paradise once found in Lebanon.

El Jannah’s menu centres on Lebanese-style charcoal chicken and its garlic sauce — a condiment that the company describes as a family recipe and their “best-kept secret”.

“It’s a phenomenal story for some phenomenal people … what they’ve done and bringing their cuisine and their ways of life to western Sydney,” Houldin said.
“Then for us to be able to take it into more places across Sydney, Melbourne and hold true to that value set that we always had, and show it to the rest of Australia.”
The story of Lebanese cuisine in Sydney has evolved in several chapters.
Lebanese immigrants arriving in the mid-19th century had to hide their spices to avoid drawing attention from the cultural majority.
However, by the time migrants escaping the Lebanese civil war between 1975 and 1990 began arriving, Australia had begun to embrace multiculturalism.

“The Lebanese charcoal chicken, the garlic sauce, the pickles … all these great products are somewhat staple in a lot of Australians’ diets these days,” Houldin said

“We do it fresher, we do it more conveniently, and we do it in a great, cost-effective manner, which is really about sharing and abundance, and I think that’s what the Lebanese culture really brings to Australia.”
In 2019, the Estephans stepped back from daily management of the restaurant. In the past three years, the business opened its first stores outside Sydney in Melbourne and Canberra.
The restaurant has said that with a new partnership with General Atlantic, the family founders will remain deeply involved.
“They are over the moon,” Houldin said.
“They’re particularly proud of all of our team members, our franchisees, and the rest of the business that have led us to this point, but equally excited for the future.
“We’ll never lose sight of what made us who we are. And we wanna make sure that in our local communities and those that operate around Australia, that they’re our first and foremost priority.”
Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp
You May Also Like

U.S. Coast Guard Engages in High-Stakes Chase of Oil Tanker Near Venezuelan Waters

The US Coast Guard is pursuing an oil tanker in international waters…
Nigeria says 130 more children released nearly a month after being kidnapped from school

130 Nigerian Schoolchildren Freed: A Month-Long Kidnapping Ordeal Ends

Sunday Dare, a spokesman, announced on X that 130 more students abducted…
Custom-made wheelchair for disabled six-year-old girl is stolen by thieves who took the family car

Heartless Thieves Steal Family Car with Custom Wheelchair for Disabled 6-Year-Old Girl: Community Rallies for Justice

<!– <!– <!– <!– A heartless theft has left a six-year-old girl…
13 remain in hospital one week after Bondi Beach massacre

Tragedy at Bondi Beach: 13 Still Hospitalized a Week After Devastating Massacre

More than a week has passed since the tragic attack at Bondi…
Massive bull shark caught off Queensland coast

Record-Breaking Bull Shark Catch Stuns Fishermen off Queensland Coast

A group of friends fishing off the coast of Bribie Island in…
Victoria Police insist the measure of having some officers carry semi-automatic longarm weapons at the Boxing Day test between Australia and England is simply precautionary, and not in response to a new potential threat.

Enhanced Security: Police to Arm with Semi-Automatic Guns at Melbourne’s Boxing Day Test

Today, an announcement was made indicating that “specialist” officers would receive enhanced…
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday 4 November 2025.

Revolutionizing the Energy Market: A Game-Changing Project Tackles Skyrocketing Prices

Domestic gas producers will be made to reserve up to 25 per…
US chasing 'dark fleet' oil tanker from Venezuela

U.S. Pursues Mysterious ‘Dark Fleet’ Oil Tanker Linked to Venezuela

The US Coast Guard overnight was pursuing another sanctioned oil tanker in…