The best restaurants in Glendale

This family-run takeout shop in Glendale serves the city’s best Armenian-style kebab–and the best kebabs, period. Chef-owners Ovakim and Alvard Martirosya and their son, Armen, run this tiny kebab house together, turning out flawless, soulful food fueled by decades of skill and a lot of love for each other and their ancestral cuisine. There are generational recipes at play here, resulting in perfectly spiced lamb chops, chicken thighs, beef lule skewers and beef shish, all cooked to perfection over the stovetop grill in the pint-sized Glendale kitchen. Combo plates are exceptional and often large enough for two meals, but Mini Kabob also offers catering trays, if you really want to go big—and after just one taste, we’re sure you’ll want to from here on out. Tip: To cut down on wait times, which can stretch to a half-hour or more during busy periods, order ahead online.

When the Raffi’s wait is just too long to bear, look no further than Shiraz, which offers a similar banquet hall atmosphere and excellent kebabs. Located just half a mile away, with another location in Sherman Oaks, this long-standing Middle Eastern restaurant does just about every style of kebab well, from Persian-style barg and koobideh to Armenian-style lule. For a bit of both, order the beef (or chicken) soltani, which combines both barg and koobideh in one all-around satisfying meal. It’s also worth noting many Glendale natives swear by Shiraz, not Raffi’s—so if you’re the type who likes to dine like a local, head here instead.

Toum, a silky emulsion of garlic and oil, is a cornerstone of Lebanese cooking, and the creamy, pungent whip pairs beautifully with the country’s kebabs, which offer a subtler kind of pleasure than Persian or Armenian meat skewers. We’ve found no better place in the city for both than Skaf’s, a family-run operation with outposts in North Hollywood, Glendale and Highland Park. The kebabs here come still warm on the stick, with grilled bell peppers and onions sandwiched in between each hunk of meat and a mound of loose rice pilaf topped with tangy sumac and chopped mint. A side of bright pink turnips and thinly sliced onions add brightness and acidity to your kebab meal. The kebabs—including the best-in-class shawarma—are what get you in the door, but don’t neglect the harder-to-find Lebanese specialties here either—we loved the jallab (a refreshing drink made of rosewater, date molasses and pine nuts) and the kibbeh (a mix of ground meat, bulgur wheat, and spices, available both tartare-style and fried into crispy footballs).

If you’re the type of person who turns up your nose at soft-centered Neapolitan pies, this New Haven-style pizza pop-up on the patio of Glendale’s Glen Arden Club just might make your ideal pizza. Crunchy, light and extremely crushable, the whole pies at Ozzy’s Apizza (pronounced “abeetz”) are a breath of fresh air in a new-school pizza scene dominated by Detroit-style squares and various styles of wood-fired thin crust pizzas. The classic tomato pie (the Liotta) sprinkled with parmesan cheese is a must-order for first-timers, but meatier, cheesier creations by Connecticut natives Chris Wallace and Craig Taylor are just as delicious for those seeking more oomph to their pizza. The duo has also added New Haven’s iconic clam pizza (cheekily titled “You’re Welcome”) to their menu—a white pie dotted with littleneck clams, pecorino, oregano and olive oil.

Since 1993, this Glendale sit-down restaurant has served the city’s best beef koobideh, plus an all-around excellent selection of traditional Persian dishes. For all of L.A.’s Persian kebab options, Raffi’s stands out with always-juicy kebabs that come with buttery saffron rice, blistered tomatoes and lemon slices that cut through the charbroiled meat’s inherent richness. Supercharge your kebabs with the supplemental add-on rice options, including the must-try zereshk polo, which combines sweet-tart barberries and fragrant saffron. Though we’ve never known a day when Raffi’s doesn’t have some kind of wait (and the restaurant doesn’t take reservations), this Valley kebab destination is worth putting your name down for.

Originally from Pasadena, this Glendale eatery specializes in monta—tiny Armenian dumplings filled with beef or a vegetarian-friendly lentil mix and served with yogurt. While Monta Factory is in a part of town full of great Armenian dining options, you’d be hard pressed to find better monta anywhere else—and trust us, once you try these, you’ll want to have them again real soon. Order the little beauties by the tray or served in tomato soup, and save room for some beoregs—cheese-filled squares of phyllo dough which you can order by the tray as well.

This modern-looking Glendale eatery specializes in its namesake, an oiled Armenian flatbread filled with over a dozen different herbs that’s a regional specialty in Artsakh, a politically contested Armenia-Azerbaijan border region also known as Nagorno-Karabakh. Without butter, the dish is entirely vegan. With or without, however, the zhengyalov hatz are light and delicious; each bite tastes like spring. The shop’s minimalist menu also offers one other item: paxlava, a regional iteration of baklava. Drinks-wise, among other beverages, you can also order Armenian coffee, glass teapots filled with spiced and herbal tea and their housemade okrosha, a tangy yogurt drink packed to the brim with dill and cucumber.

If the San Gabriel Valley is, mentally or geographically, far from you, but xiao long bao—Chinese soup dumplings filled with hot broth and usually pork—are calling your name, then head to the newly relocated Glendale iteration of Din Tai Fung. Now housed within the Glendale Galleria, this location is stylish, sleek and modern. As in Century City, this outpost includes a full bar and a special menu item: Soup dumplings with a slice of truffle layered on top of minced pork. If you’re in the mood for something more traditional, the restaurant’s signature juicy pork dumplings are lovely, thin-skinned pouches filled with savory pork and hot broth, eaten with a dab of soy sauce, vinegar and ginger.

Zankou Chicken has a strong cult following in L.A. With locations dotting the county (and one in Anaheim), there's a chance you'll be able to find the Mediterranean chain in your vicinity when the craving for Zankou's rotisserie chicken hits. The tender chicken can be enjoyed on plates, wraps, skewers or as one giant, half-rotisserie chicken, but there's also shawerma, falafel and a few vegan salads. Whatever you order, be sure to stock up on Zankou's garlic sauce, which has inspired many imitations throughout the years—though none come close to the original. 

The Tcholakian family opened Carousel in the back corner of East Hollywood’s Hye Plaza in 1983, serving Lebanese-Armenian cuisine, and have since gone on to run a more elaborate branch in downtown Glendale. It’s the khash-khash kebab that you’ll want here—juicy, well-spiced, hand-molded skewers of ground beef lula arrive on a bed of cracked pita, doused with yogurt, garlic and pine nuts. Carousel also has delectable chicken lula. Either way, your meal comes with buttery bulgur and garbanzo beans; grilled pita brushed with tomato sauce; roasted tomatoes and jalapenos; onion and parsley salad dusted with sumac; and a tangy cabbage slaw tossed with tomatoes, herbs and olive oil vinaigrette. Stick around for live entertainment (there will definitely be dancing) on Friday and Saturday nights.

One visit to this Cuban family-owned bakery, which started as a modest cake business in Echo Park in the 1980s, and you'll be making excuses week after week to come back for fresh-out-of-the-oven cheese rolls, decadent fruit tortes and pies, authentic Cuban sandwiches, and flaky chicken empanadas. Perhaps what they're best known for, though, is the potato balls—stuffed mashed potatoes fill with ground beef and fried to a beautiful golden brown. If you're in the market for a birthday cake, Porto's has exceptional deals on cakes as well (the tres leches is tops). Can't make it to the Glendale spot? Other locations include Burbank and Downey.

Sugarfish might have made loosely packed warm rice accessible to the masses, but this classic L.A.-style omakase spot with a location in Glendale first popularized warm rice sushi back in the ’90s—and still delivers the same quality and no-frills ambience today. Starting around $135, with plenty of variety and wiggle room for those willing to spend a bit more, Sasabune offers a pricey, but immaculate build-your-own sushi adventure that might include amaebi (sweet shrimp), anago (seawater eel), unagi (freshwater eel) and not one, but two kinds of mackerel of the Japanese and Spanish variety. Like most other omakase restaurants, there’s no need to pour your own soy sauce—each glistening slice of fish is already lightly brushed by the chef.

Lamb and beef kebabs typically get the lion’s share of attention, but that’s not the case at Adana, a modest family-run restaurant in Glendale with a destination-worthy chicken koobideh and an excellent hatam, or grilled Cornish game hen. Paired with buttery rice, hummus and a refreshing shirazi (cucumber and tomato) salad, the poultry options here are just as flavorful and tender as their red meat counterparts. Add in some flatbread and a side of the creamy mast-o musir (yogurt and shallot dip), and you’ve got one of the best kebab meals in Los Angeles, especially for those who prefer chicken over steak.

Despite its name, this Glendale restaurant offers more than just hand rolls. The extensive menu of appetizers has everything from spicy tuna crispy rice to sizzling hot stone ribeye, while the nigiri and sashimi sections feature cuts of fish you're more likely to see at higher-end, Michelin-starred Japanese restaurants like Sushi Kaneyoshi and Hayato. The one kicker? The only seating option is a U-shaped sushi bar, which means if you're with more than one other person it'll be hard to enjoy conversations with everyone else in your party unless you're seated at one of the corners. If you're in the market for hand rolls, Seaweed offers standard ones, of course, but you'd be remiss not to spend a little more cash in exchange for premium fillings like negitoro, uni and ikura. 

Since 1937, this classic tiki-themed steakhouse has served thick cut steaks and tropical-inspired drinks along Brand Boulevard. The thatched roof and Hawaiian murals lend an overall easygoing vibe to this Glendale institution, which churns out killer mai tais and swirls of Dole whip, a frozen pineapple dessert that's hard to find outside of Disneyland. Stop by on a weekday evening for a reasonably priced, nostalgic meal that's kept locals coming back over the decades.

There are actually two Dinah’s in Los Angeles: One in Glendale and another in Culver City. While both serve fried chicken, it’s only worth seeking out the former for excellent, Southern-style fried drumsticks and wings. (The latter, unfortunately, seems to have fallen off in quality, though it does serve an amazing German apple pancake.) The Glendale location’s tasty batter pairs perfectly with homestyle sides like waffles, mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni and cheese and a unique pineapple coleslaw. For those who enjoy offal, Dinah’s Chicken also fries chicken gizzards, which become surprisingly tender after a deep fry. For best results, wash everything down with their refreshing pineapple iced tea.

This Glendale seafood joint isn't your average poke spot. It’s first and foremost a no-frills market, but it's this distinction that allows them to serve some of the best poke in town. Die-hard regulars take numbers and scan the daily catch, but our favorite order here is the Hawaiian-style poke—no bells, whistles, or frills. Just extremely fresh fish, scooped over warm rice with taro and guacamole and no option to customize it. The pricing is about average, but the portions and freshness are well worth the asking price, and if you're in the mood for fish and chips, Fish King's serves a delightful version as well.

Foxy’s wooden A-frame sets it apart, stylistically speaking, from most other retro diners in L.A. This Glendale diner's dark wooden planks, including a dropped “V” rafted along the center of the ceiling, keep the interior cozily dim. You’ll find brassy, arrowhead-shaped fireplace hoods on either end of the interior: one set against a rock wall, the other flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows. The menu at Foxy’s is a gargantuan, multi-page affair, with a photo for almost every dish and cuisine that skews Mexican. Locals know this, which is why the wait times can get lengthy for weekend brunch, so come early. You can’t go wrong with anything here, classic diner or Mexican breakfast—just be sure to bring an appetite, whatever you pick.