It’s all about chicken at a new Palestinian restaurant in LA’s Windsor Hills section on Slauson. Owner Sami Othman, is a veteran restauranteur who started Orleans and York, a deli with five locations featuring NY deli sandwiches and New Orleans-style po-boys. Othman felt that it was time to go back to his Palestinian roots. He recently opened Jerusalem Chicken.
I’m sure this isn’t a coincidence, but Jerusalem Chicken is located in the same mini-mall as Orleans and York. Having the two restaurants co-located makes it convenient for Othman to oversee both restaurants and share economies of scale, such as purchasing chicken and supplies to support a food-to-go operation.
The menu is extensive and made up of family recipes handed down through generations. Jerusalem Chicken makes everything from scratch, the meat is halal, and their spice combinations make them truly unique. If you are the indecisive type, it could take you a while to place your order.
Emsakhan Chicken is a Palestinian staple smothered in lemony sumac and sweet onions. It is available with rice or pita. Once plated, it is placed in the oven, crispening the pita. The sumac color turns the pita purple, and the juice from the chicken nicely seasons it.
In their refrigerated case, I found a baba ghanoush by Brothers Products. It is creamy due to tahini being one of the significant ingredients, and it nicely pairs with both the pita and their chicken.
Siti’s chicken is Othman’s mom’s special recipe that takes time and care. They ice wash the chicken, leave it on ice and then stuff them underneath the skin with rice that has mushrooms and rib-eye beef. It comes on a bed of hashweh, rice enriched with beef, mushrooms, and baharat (a spice blend that includes cumin, cardamom, and black pepper).
The Falafel Pita is huge, and I had it with “all of the fixings,” such as pickles, pickled onions, red cabbage, and spicy garlic sauce. The falafel is moist and delicious due to the spicy garlic sauce. The falafel is mashed, spreading the taste across the entire sandwich. I’m not vegan, but I loved this sandwich.
Their baklava was a big surprise. It is incredibly light, super crispy, and not only. It also has a pleasant pistachio flavor. Unlike many other baklavas, you don’t feel guilty eating them.
Jerusalem Chicken, 4448 W Slauson. LA; 323.903.6280