Kajjal is a middle eastern restaurant in Malahide village, that alongside its sister restaurants Kinara Clontarf and Kinara Kitchen in Ranelagh form part of the award-winning Kinara group. Kajjal serves Pakistani dished which are known for their richness and flavour and heavily influenced by Middle Eastern and Indian flavours. On the Kajjal menu you’ll find a wide range of options to suit any taste as well as dishes that will certainly broaden your palate. As the restaurant is closed for indoor dining at the moment due to the level 5 restrictions, they are offering a menu for collection.
To start with we had the Malai Tikka, a tandoor roasted chicken breast in a mild ginger, garlic, turmeric yogurt marinade with a minty dressing, priced at €11.50. Our second starter was the Lasooni Machali, seared fresh monk fish medallions marinated in garlic, ginger, sea salt & yogurt, dressed with tamarind & garlic reduction, €14.00. We really enjoyed the tandoor roasted chicken but, the monkfish was the standout dish for us. The fish was mouthwatering and perfectly cooked.
For our mains, we chose Kajjal’s signature dish, Chicken Biriyani, which is an aromatic, fluffy basmati rice dish with sautéed onions, cardamon and Kajjal’s own blend of spices, garnished with crispy onion and coriander and is €20.85. You can have this dish with lamb, prawns or vegetarian. Our second main was the Manansala Murgha, a chargrilled chicken breast cooked in a ginger and garlic butter with shallots, house spices & fenugreek. This dish was finished with a sun-dried tomato cream (€19.95), we had this dish a pilau rice and shared a Naan bread. This was a meal we did not want to end; we savoured every last bite and were straight away thinking about when we would order again!
The price of the food from Kajjal is more expensive than the average take away, but don’t be put off, you are not having “take away” food! We cannot overestimate the standard of the food from Kajjal. It is by far the best Pakistani/Indian/middle eastern food we’ve tried. The portion sizes are generous, and they also offer a 15% reduction off the restaurant menu prices for their collection menu.
Kajjal is a treat, perfect for an occasion… even if that occasion is marking the end of work week and really treating yourself!
WRITTEN BY ABIGAIL FOX CARROLL & CLYDE CARROLL
