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    Kara Bala BBQ

    4.9 (51 reviews)
    Open 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

    Order Kara Bala BBQ Takeout or Delivery

    Kara Bala BBQ Photos

    KARA BALA BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Gary I.

    Kara Bala BBQ is a stand in the parkway facing Foothill Boulevard in front of what used to be Image Auto where Hamlet & his father fixed my cars. I went at 5:30pm on a Thursday when there was no wait.  A pleasant bearded man with limited English comprehension but more than enough to take an order told me 10 minutes when I ordered the lamb. He threaded pieces of lamb brined in what looks like salt & red paprika powder on to a metal skewer.  Then put the lamb meat over smoldering mesquite charcoal which infused a very delicate smokiness. Meat is moist with a good meaty chaw. Lamb was mild & didn't have gaminess.  Biggest Lavash flatbread that was leathery, extremely thin, airy yet had strong enough tensile strength to hold the inside food without breaking open.  He placed the lamb, chopped cilantro, thin sliced onions, squirt of possibly herbed aïoli. Then he rolled the Lavash like a Sushi roll.  Portion is rather large and would make for a more than decent meal. There is a slight pleasant burn from chiles that slowly sneaks up on you. Includes a drink. I chose Classic Coke in a 7oz can.  Definitely a 4 star street food experience which may hark back to Yerevan. Open from 5pm-2am. It would make for a great late night snack.

    Maggie L.

    Food 10/10 Service 10/10 Ambiance 10/10 I would gatekeep this place if I could. Absolutely fantastic every single time. Once you get your kebab it may look like there's not much food, but I get pretty full just 3/4 of the way! I've tried the Lula Beef, Beef, Pork and Lamb. They are all delicious. If you like lamb, get the lamb. My most recent order was a little chewy, but still tasted delicious. The lula was so juicy, i cried from how unbelievable it is, and the vegetables are so evenly spread out. It takes about 10 minutes for them to get 2 kebabs out, and I say it tastes better with a side of coca cola! MUST come!!

    Kara Bala Street Kebab Menu ! This place is amazing !
    Nick D.

    We were in the mood for some late night munchies after a long days work. Fast food is it something we are into at all. Our favorite Street Taco spot by Harbor Freight and Pet Smart next to the Foothill Foodmart was not there that day. We drove down Foothill Blvd and saw Kara Bala BBQ. Essentially Street Shish Kabob. There was a large group of people on the side of the road eating sandwiches. We thought well it's packed, let's give it a shot. We were Blown Away at how good this Armenian khorovats spot was. Ruben & Co Grilled the BBQ while we waited. Once the meat was cooked he confirmed the Shish Kabob rarity. I had mine medium well, my wife asked for well done. He rolled out 2 fresh pieces of Lavash Bread and added greens and some jalapeños with some really taste sauces. He wrapped the sandwich up which came with a choice of soda. We had them in the car and they were super taste! I've hit this place up 3 times in the last 2 weeks. I also tried the Luleh Kabob which was excellent. There menu is pretty simple, all wraps Chicken Kabob Beef Kabob Lamb Kabob Pork Kabob (Shoulder Cut) Luleh Kabob Topped with your choice of Veggies. FRESH FRESH FRESH

    Luleh Kebab

    The Food here is so Darn good! Had a late night craving for kebab and glad I came across Kara Bala! I ordered the Luleh and my wife ordered the Pork. The meats are Juicy and tender very well seasoned and you get a lot for what you pay for when it comes to kebab sold on the street. The setup is pretty cool for a small little setup these guys are hustling and busting out order after order. Their counter top where they prep their food is clean and Lit very well making it very enjoyable. Customer service is great too! Definitely will be back to try the rest. I'd suggest calling in your order. Tip***They accept cash and Zelle only.

    Chae L.

    We're back again! Trying the meat beef today. All the meats are grilled over charcoal, adding that smokey flavor. Smells good, tastes better

    the menu for the restaurant

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    2 months ago

    They have very good food not so many kinds, but it's nice one and I did the DoorDash. They came so fast.

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    1 year ago

    Fantastic! What a revelation! We stumbled on this gem, absolutely wonderful food. We will be back!

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    1 year ago

    This is one of the best kabob sandwiches I've ever had the pleasure of consuming. A perfect 10. Go here immediately.

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    2 years ago

    Amazing! The best kebab wrap i have ever eaten. I can't wait to go back. Friendly guy aswell. I'm craving more right now. Simply the best !

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    2 years ago

    The fastest and best 15$ you can spend on food these days. So fresh, so tasty. Quick and easy and delicious.

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    2 years ago

    Delicious sandwiches and always efficient. Would def recommend for anyone looking for a fast bite to eat.

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    2 years ago

    Give 5 star review for a delicious kabob and khorovats. Thank you guys !!! You can also call them and skip the line.

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    Ribs Against the Machine

    Ribs Against the Machine

    4.6
    (229 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$

    Literally hidden in plain sight, and not where I originally thought it was located, but I found it…read morebecause I was on a mission! Upon entering the establishment, the ambience of the place embraces you as a guest. Small, but nicely decorates and with good music playing. It's a very comfortable environment for enjoying this stellar barbecue and sides. Smaller menu, but it's really all you need, especially when you do the one thing you do really well. Mashed potatoes are authentic handmade mashed potatoes with the taste of home. BBQ was perfect and tender and TASTY. Reminder 1: this is quality food, not fast food, so be prepared to wait a little bit, especially if you have a larger order. Reminder 2: BBQ it's not a cheap food to make, so you will not find any dollar menus here, but if you compare to Manny, the other barbecue restaurants in their location, you will find this is an extremely good value.

    I came out here ostensibly after a search on Yelp for somewhere nearby after a visit to the Warner…read moreBros Studio Tour with a friend of mine and wanted BBQ. Ribs Plate Combo with mac and cheese and cornbread for my sides. The ribs were almost falling off the bone but still with a bit of chew on it, which I appreciated because I don't like mushy meat. The sauce was tangy and sticky and not too vinegary. Good stuff, but couldn't finish so it came home with me. The big surprise was the cornbread. Most BBQ places concentrate on the meat and leave the sides as afterthoughts so that means cornbreads tend to be disappointingly dry. Not this one. This cornbread was moist and flavorful. The mac and cheese was just okay. Should have gone with the beans. My dining companion and I also got to sample some sliders and they were pretty damn good. Wish those had been on the menu. Service was good although, most people were taking their food to go. The atmosphere inside was warm for a cool day and almost too warm as my companion had to shed her jacket before we started eating so she wouldn't overheat. Not sure I'd be able eat inside on a hot summer day. They do cater and parking is street and a miniscule parking in the back. I believe it's only credit/debit only, but check first. Pricing is reasonable, but remember, it is beef you're paying for so definitely a splurge day. Happy eating!!!

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    Ribs Against the Machine
    Ribs Against the Machine
    Ribs Against the Machine

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    Rodney’s Ribs

    Rodney’s Ribs

    4.7
    (13 reviews)
    5.2 mi

    Note: I don't know his hours but I tend to catch him near Lincoln and Woodbury on Saturdays at 12…read morenoon (in city of Altadena). I love Rodney's Ribs. I drive a long way for it and I was so glad they still had some smoked pork ribs when I arrived at 12:30pm on Saturday. They can sell out their first batch of food early, but they try to smoke all day and sometimes you have to come back a couple of hours later when the next batch of BBQ are ready to serve. I really like their ribs, rib tips, and brisket! I usually eat a 1/2 rack of pork ribs (unsauced) in my car and wash it down with a large soda from McDonald's. I then order 1/2 lbs Brisket with sauce on the side to-go. It still tastes great after 1 minute in the microwave. I pair it with 2 eggs over easy and a side of garlic rice (excellent bbq brisket silog Pinoy breakfast). I don't know their business hours very well. My last visit was yesterday Saturday and their hours were I think 11a-8p. They ran out of food by 2p and reopen at 4p when the next batch of barbecue was ready. Note, if they completely run out of food to cook, they would be forced to close early for that day. I don't know who came in at 11am yesterday but they must have bought trays of food. And they must have really like Rib Tips because that was all gone by the time I got there. If you need catering, please call in your order days ahead, so there's food for other customers during their normal business hours. Just a polite request from one customer to another. Also, FYI. I think his 900 Lake Ave schedule in Pasadena is on hold until further notice. When in doubt about schedule, call the number on the truck.

    OMG The brisket is amazing!…read more Order the brisket sandwich ($14) which has the almost the same amount of beef as the plate and buy a separate side. All the sides are $3.50 a little pricey for the size. The coleslaw has way too much onion in it. But the mac & cheese is tasty and the beans are good. The brisket plate and $21 with one side is overpriced for what you get. But the brisket is amazing! The ribs and tips have a good smoke flavor but don't seem to have any rub on them as is some pit masters traditions. Without a rub seasoning they lock the kick they could have that this BBQ lover is looking for. But overall some really good barbecue out of portable trailer!

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    The box...  will it be good!!
    The box... will it be good!!
    Took 30 min to get this prepared.  Was the wait worth it???? Brisket plate 17.99 +tax.
    Took 30 min to get this prepared. Was the wait worth it???? Brisket plate 17.99 +tax.
    Look for this truck with the smoke.  Follow your nose. A Grade!

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    Look for this truck with the smoke. Follow your nose. A Grade!

    Kara Bala BBQ - bbq - Updated August 2026

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