Monday, May 28, 2012

Sunshine Charcoal Chicken

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Sometimes love takes you to the strangest places.  Where else but Sunshine Marketplace than to indulge my tawdry and shameful love affair with charcoal chicken and chicken salt?

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This is Sunshine Charcoal Chicken, originally (I believe) and also still of St Albans, famous for its "Spanish chicken".  It's marinated, butterflied, sandwiched between two metal grills and rotisserie'd slowly over smouldering charcoal.

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When they say Spanish, it's Madrid via Manila.  This is Filipino-style charcoal chicken and it's some of the best BBQ chook I've tasted.  It's marinated in what tastes like sweet soy, and it's incredibly juicy and luscious.  I know it looks burnt but it's not, that's just the caramelised colour of the fabulous marinade.

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1/4 chicken and chips, $6.50 (BARGAIN)

When the Israelites wandered in the desert and woke to discover a crumbly substance on the leaves of desert plants, which they then ate and called manna, I'm convinced that was chicken salt.  Sunshine Charcoal Chicken shake it on top of their fabulous crunchy chips to order, and won't mind if you ask for extra (guilty as charged).  Oh, and the plastic knife and fork supplied are useless.  Just get into it and use your fingers.

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Someone once told me of love, "It doesn't matter what the teacup looks like - it matters how the tea tastes".  Don't be put off by the lush surrounds of Sunshine Marketplace - it's what's on the plate that counts, and it rocks.

Thank you Adrian of Food Rehab for the tip - Adrian surveyed 13 western suburbs charcoal chicken joints (tough gig but someone had to do it!) and Sunshine Charcoal Chicken came up tops.

Sunshine Charcoal Chicken on Urbanspoon

Sunshine Charcoal Chicken
Food court (shop 4), Sunshine Marketplace, 80 Harvester Road, Sunshine (also at 3 Alfrieda Street, St Albans)
Phone:  9312 5588
Hours:  Not open for dinner


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28 comments:

  1. I've been meaning to try this place for ages! When I worked in St Albans, I saw people walking around with huge boxes of the stuff and I thought, that must be some ace chicken. You've confirmed it for me! Can't wait to try it.

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    1. Woohoo!! I really wanted to get to the St Albans branch because it's a little shop vs in a shopping centre. But it's been on my to-eat list for so long, in the end I just had to go for what's closest. Trust me - it is AMAZING.

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  2. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this for this vital information! Where is the St Albans shop? Alfrieda St?

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    1. Yep, Alfrieda St, no. 3 I believe. Would love to check that one out or read about it on Consider the Sauce, as it's an actual stand-alone shop = bit more atmosphere, one would hope. And hope you get better luck than Chadz!!

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  3. Oh dear, I'm reading this at work and it's not my lunch break...this is all too much! hehe!

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    1. Yes, and I decided to publish it on Monday - every Monday being the start of my latest this-time-I-will-stick-to-it diet. Salad looks so unappetising now! I want chips with fluoro yellow chicken salt!

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  4. omguhhh ! Yum. Good old fashioned chicken'n'chips doesn't get enough attention I say. I love my local Super Tasty Rooster (with great neon sign, extra tick) on Scotchmer St.

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    1. I LOVE chicken and chips. In fact, I never roast my own chickens anymore - far happier to buy a juicy, seasoned, expertly roasted chook for $12 or $13. Two places near me even use free range chickens!

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  5. Ms Baklover-a poem of a review -many thanks for all your work

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  6. Mmmm roast chicken... Sounds great! Actually tried Chicken Palace in Maidstone tonight. Very yummy. Herby, charcoal-smokey... Delish!

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    1. Great! Chicken Palace is seriously herby, isn't it? My favourite classic-style BBQ chicken is Red Rocks at Yarraville Square. I like the people at the one at Edgewater and love their chicken dim sims and special chicken salt, but their chicken isn't as good as Red Rocks.

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  7. BEST CHICKEN!!! Both Sunshine and St Albans branch rocks!!!!

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    1. Woohoo! Kenny at Consider The Sauce just did a post on the St Albans branch the other day - the chicken looks slightly different to Sunshine!

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  8. James In FootscrayJune 3, 2012 at 4:09 PM

    Lauren, do you know of a Polish dumpling place in Sunshine? (Speaking of Sunshine ...) Apart from the Polish Club? A deli apparently.

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    1. Hi James! I have been meaning to check out Mitko Deli which used to be in Sunshine but now I think it's in Albion (39 Perth Ave). They sell pelmeni which are frozen dumplings a bit like pierogi - they're pretty good. They might sell more house-made Polish dumplings, I'm not sure! Let me know if it's a winner!

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  9. James In FootscrayJune 3, 2012 at 5:49 PM

    Oh brilliant, thanks Lauren, I will try Mitko!

    I also read somewhere recently (but can't find it - I've tried Kenny's blog and everywhere else I can think of) there's a cafe in Sunshine that serves pierogi. A mystery!

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    1. Let me know how it is! It's not Gracie's Place in East Keilor you're thinking of, the truck stop-style kiosk that also does pierogi, kranskies and Polish crepes? http://footscrayfoodblog.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/gracies-place-polish-crepes-in-east.html

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  10. Hi all! Roli Poli Cake Shop, in City Place, Sunshine. Just up the road from Dragon Express, on the corner. Haven't tried it yet. They have goulash, cabbage rolls and so on. But I think they have to be thawed out to be served in house. When they told us 20 minutes, we went elsewhere. Could be gem!?

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    1. That sounds great! James and Kenny - triple date sometime?

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    2. Quadruple? You're on! Seriously, when we were there it seemed rather sleepy and not really set up for being accosted by ravenous hordes of bloggers and friends. Maybe when I have time in the coming week or so and am nearby, I'll drop in and ask them how we could collectively work something out.

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    3. That would be wonderful if you could do that. :)

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  11. James In FootscrayJune 5, 2012 at 8:03 AM

    Thanks for the information, Kenny, and for offering to check it out! Sounds great!

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  12. I work in the center so i go to Charcoal Chicken most of the time! It truly is a great place for charcoal chicken! If you ever want to try something else in Sunshine, try the Vietnamese restaurant, Thuan An on Hampshire Road. Specifically the fried noodle plates :)

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    1. Yummmmy! I have been to Thuan An and liked it but that was ages ago. Must return soon!

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  13. Sunshine Charcoal Chicken is now listed on Urbanspoon, like us via the link below and leave a comment or review!

    http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1700996/restaurant/Melbourne/Brimbank/Sunshine-Charcoal-Chicken-Sunshine

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    1. Hey hey, thanks for stopping by and I will link this post up to the new Urbanspoon page. :-)

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    2. Thanks for your kind words.
      We're glad to see foodies like yourself enjoying our chicken. Thanks again for spreading the word!


      Regards,

      Sunshine Charcoal Chicken

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