A plate of grilled kebabs in Glendale at Skaf’s. — Kebabs from Skaf’s in Glendale.

The 19 Best Restaurants in Glendale

A longstanding Persian destination, an Armenian pizza specialist, and Lebanese shawarma

by Rebecca Roland and Matthew Kang Updated Oct 17, 2024, 10:55am PDT

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Kebabs from Skaf’s in Glendale.

| Matthew Kang

by Rebecca Roland and Matthew Kang Updated Oct 17, 2024, 10:55am PDT

Though Glendale is often known for its outstanding Armenian cuisine, that’s not the exclusive dining option in the standalone city. A diverse slate of influences can be seen in the restaurant options in Glendale, which include beloved steakhouses, family-owned Lebanese spots, and Southern-style fried chicken. Find Armenian and New Haven-style pizza, plus a seafood market that doubles as a restaurant, some of LA’s best kebabs, and more. Here are the 19 best restaurants to try in Glendale, California.

Monta Factory

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Pasadena’s Monta Factory opened a second more service-oriented outlet in Glendale in 2019. The menu is mostly the same (and that’s a good thing), with little beef dumplings served with four sauces, salmon burgers, and cheesy su-beoregs.

1208 W Glenoaks Blvd, Glendale, CA 91201

(818) 396-4445

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Glendale Tap

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Glendale Tap has an impressive 52 rotating taps often pouring stouts, IPAs, pale ales, and ciders. Out back on the patio, there are nightly food pop-ups, but outside food is also allowed in. The inside offers a different experience than other alehouses around town with cozy brick walls and red velvet-topped pool tables down the center.

4227 San Fernando Rd, Glendale, CA 91204

(818) 241-4227

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A dimly lit beer bar in Glendale called Glendale Tap. — Inside Glendale Tap in Glendale, a beer bar.

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Dinah’s Chicken

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A classic fried chicken spot that actually invented the paper bucket as a takeaway container, Dinah’s has been immortalized on film in Little Miss Sunshine, but this classic spot was actually famous in Glendale first. The fried chicken meals are a feast for the family, using a classic Southern approach.

4106 San Fernando Rd ste a, Glendale, CA 91204

(818) 244-4188

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A bucket of fried chicken on a counter. — Dinah’s Chicken in Glendale.

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Mini Kabob

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LA’s tiniest kebab shop also happens to be among its strongest, thanks to the Martirosyan family, who run the place like their home kitchen but somehow even better. Order the beef shish kebab, hummus, and eggplant caviar for a complete homestyle meal. The Maritosyan family also recently expanded the Mini Kabob empire with a second location at Topanga Social in Woodland Hills, and the opening of their Mexican-Armenian restaurant, MidEast Tacos, in Silver Lake.

313 Vine St, Glendale, CA

(818) 244-1343

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Din Tai Fung

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In a shocking move, Din Tai Fung closed up shop at Americana at Brand and moved right across the street to the Glendale Galleria. Though the location is new, the renowned dumpling restaurant is still serving the same great Shanghai-style fare for which it’s become known. The xiao long bao is a must-order, but don’t neglect the rest of the menu. The ideal meal here is a bit of everything.

1164 Galleria Way, Glendale, California 91210

(818) 551-5561

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Din Tai Fung xiao long bao soup dumplings.

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Foxy's Restaurant

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It doesn’t look like much has changed at Foxy’s since it opened in 1964. The inside looks more like a vintage cabin than a restaurant with tall slanted ceilings covered in dark wood slats. The menu at Foxy’s features a bit of everything like French toast, steak, and spaghetti, plus beer, wine, and cocktails. Go here mainly for the vibes, though the all-American fare does not disappoint.

206 W Colorado St (at S Central Ave), Glendale, CA 91204

(818) 246-0244

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A breakfast burrito to Foxy’s. — Breakfast burrito from Foxy’s in Glendale.

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Sasabune

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Easily the best overall sushi place in Glendale, this second-floor omakase counter and restaurant features a multitude of options for nigiri fans. Those stepping up to the counter can opt for various levels of luxurious, pristine sushi that can cost up to $200 a person. Bargain hunters can come in for lunch to get more reasonable omakase, well under $100. Either way, the warm-rice style will appeal to a lot of diners, and the fish quality is top-tier.

101 N Brand Blvd (Broadway), Glendale, CA 91203

(818) 696-1124

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A sliced fish sushi piece with grated ginger on a dark plate. — Sliced fish from Sasabune in Glendale.

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The 22 Best Sushi Restaurants in Los Angeles

Damon's Steak House

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Tiki-inspired steakhouse Damon’s has stood the test of time on Brand Boulevard. Opened in 1937, the somewhat kitschy restaurant serves up solid cocktails, reasonably priced steaks, grilled chops, barbecue, and even fish and chips.

317 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203

(818) 507-1510

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The colorful, tiki-inspired dining room in Damon’s Steak House in Glendale, California. — Damon’s Steakhouse in Glendale.

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Ozzy's Apizza

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Ozzy’s Apizza started in the home kitchen of chef Chris Wallace in 2021 as an attempt to bring New Haven-style pizza to Los Angeles. The restaurant, which is named after Wallace’s chihuahua, serves a menu full of uniquely named pizzas like “The Liotta” with red sauce, olive oil, and parmesan, and “The Bada Bing” with mozzarella, red sauce, mushrooms, onion, pepperoni, salami, and parmesan.

156 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204

(818) 484-7677

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A meat lover’s pizza served in Glendale. — The Swanson pizza with lots of meat at Ozzy’s Apizza in Glendale.

Carousel Restaurant

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Greg and Rose Tcholakian opened the original Carousel in a Hollywood strip mall in 1984, serving kebabs, vegetarian specialties, and traditional dishes. In 1998, the couple’s son opened the swankier Glendale outlet, which allowed for an expanded Lebanese menu and weekend live entertainment with a vibrant ambiance.

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304 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203

(818) 246-7775

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A plate of Lebanese kebabs from Glendale restaurant Carousel. — Kebabs and rice from Carousel in Glendale.

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Raffi's Place

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Raffi’s Place may be one of the most consistently recommended restaurants in Glendale, and for good reason. Founded in 1993 by Rafik Bakijanian, the Persian restaurant is known for its kebabs which are available with chicken, beef, or fish. Try the koobideh kebab with lean ground beef, or the barg kebab with thinly sliced filet mignon.

211 E Broadway (btwn Maryland & Louise), Glendale, CA 91205

(818) 240-7411

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Grilled meat with yellow-tinged rice on a white plate at Raffi’s Place. — Raffi’s Place.

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Zhengyalov Hatz

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Zhengyalov hatz, the restaurant’s namesake flatbread, combines 15 types of minced greens and herbs with spinach, beetroot leaves, scallions, cilantro, onion, and sorrel rolled into a hand-filled experience. It is a regional specialty from the Republic of Artsakh. Other than the namesake dish, the restaurant has a regional walnut-laced baklava worth ordering.

318 E Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205

(818) 696-9339

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Vivid green greens and herbs fill Zhengyalov Hatz’s signature flatbread. — Zhengyalov Hatz

Elena's Greek Armenian Cuisine

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Elena’s, a Glendale institution, offers both Greek and Armenian specialties. Start with an order of rice and spice-stuffed grape leaves to go along with the complimentary lentil soup, before moving on to platters of barbecued lamb chops or flavorful grilled quail.

1000 S Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA

(818) 241-5730

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A plate of grilled meats and rice with vegetables from Elena’s in Glendale. — Kebabs and rice from Elena’s Greek Armenian Cuisine in Glendale.

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Hamlet's Kitchen

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This low-key kebab spot tucked in the far back of a crowded Glendale strip mall does mostly takeout orders. The prices will seem high, but the quality of the charcoal-grilled kebabs is excellent, among the best in town, actually. Expect gruff service and a sort of confusing ordering situation, but those who make the effort will be rewarded with mounds of fluffy rice and juicy grilled kebabs. Remember that it’s cash only.

1248 S Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91205

(818) 956-3778

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Moon Mart

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Placed on the corner of a somewhat rundown strip mall in Glendale, Moon Mart serves delightful grilled kebabs melding elements of Armenian and Persian styles. Start with mast moosir, creamy lebni with shallots, or shirazi salad before cutting into well-grilled luleh, chicken soltani, and even pork tenderloin kebabs. The service can be a little slow, so don’t expect to be in and out of there in under an hour.

400 S Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91205

(818) 241-2314

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A plate of kebabs. — Kebabs from Moon Mart Kabab in Glendale.

Fish King

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This Glendale staple opened in 1948 as both a restaurant and fish market. Opt for the charbroiled or fried fish or shrimp and chips, but the secret deal is the handmade sushi that sells out daily.

722 N Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91206

(818) 244-2161

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Takeout Hawaiian dishes from Fish King in Glendale. — Hawaiian dishes from Fish King in Glendale.

Pardis Restaurant Glendale

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In April 2021, Pardis opened its modern and sleek Persian restaurant offering specialties like ghormeh sabzi, koobideh, and beef barg. Don’t miss out on the wine selections from Italy, South Africa, Armenia, France, and Slovenia.

738 N Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91206

(818) 484-8470

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Chicken kebabs with pilaf at Pardis in Glendale, California. — Pardis

The Lahmajune Factory

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This Glendale strip mall spot is known for its lahmajune, a thin Armenian pizza topped with ground beef, tomato, onion, spices, garlic, and more. The rest of the menu features beoroks (also spelled as beorogs) stuffed with cheese or spinach, mana’eesh with za’atar and cheese, and more.

1139 E Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205

(818) 553-6644

Armenian pizza called lahmajune in Glendale at Lahmajune Factory. — Lahmajune from the Lahmajune Factory in Glendale.

Skaf's Lebanese Cuisine

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The hospitality at family-owned Skaf’s Lebanese Cuisine makes it feel like the restaurant could be someone’s living room. One of the owners, Noura Skaf, is often found greeting guests at the front like they’re regulars, before showing them to a table. There’s no way to go wrong with the menu, but the best bet is to order a shawarma combo plate with salad, rice, and pita. Ordering hummus to start is never a bad idea, but make sure to save room for baklava for dessert. The family behind Skaf’s also owns Rockbird, a great fried chicken joint, just down the street.

367 N Chevy Chase Dr (Verdugo), Glendale, CA 91206

(818) 551-5540

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The 19 Best Restaurants in Glendale

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Monta Factory

Glendale Tap

Dinah’s Chicken

Mini Kabob

Din Tai Fung

Foxy's Restaurant

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Sasabune

Damon's Steak House

Ozzy's Apizza

Carousel Restaurant

Search for reservations

Raffi's Place

Zhengyalov Hatz

Elena's Greek Armenian Cuisine

Hamlet's Kitchen

Moon Mart

More in Maps

Fish King

Pardis Restaurant Glendale

The Lahmajune Factory

Skaf's Lebanese Cuisine

More in Maps

Monta Factory

Glendale Tap

Dinah’s Chicken

Mini Kabob

Din Tai Fung

Foxy's Restaurant

Sasabune

Damon's Steak House

Ozzy's Apizza

Carousel Restaurant

Raffi's Place

Zhengyalov Hatz

Elena's Greek Armenian Cuisine

Hamlet's Kitchen

Moon Mart

Related Maps

Fish King

Pardis Restaurant Glendale

The Lahmajune Factory

Skaf's Lebanese Cuisine

Related Maps

All sharing options for: The 19 Best Restaurants in Glendale

All sharing options for: The 19 Best Restaurants in Glendale