Raffi's Place
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the location was a bit hidden so you might have to walk around to find it. the interior is very fancy and it felt like a bougie restaurant but our server was super friendly. i got the koobideh which is lean ground beef skewered and grilled and it was good! the beef was nice and juicy and not overcooked so it had a good meaty flavor to it. the portion was big with lots of rice so it was very filling. they also have free pita so i suggest getting hummus to go with it. overall, a very pleasant experience due to the good food and the friendly service and i recommend to anyone whos in the area!!
The restaurant has a lot of seating, and the service was okay, but we didn't have anyone checking on us during the meal to see if we needed anything. We ordered the Soltani kabab, which is a combination of koobideh and Barg kabab. The koobideh was okay but a little too fatty for my taste, while the barg was much better. We also ordered fesenjoon with albaloo polo. The fesenjoon was good, but the albaloo polo was much sweeter than I expected. I was hoping for the more traditional sour/tart flavor, so I didn't really enjoy it. The portions are generous. We also tried the homemade doogh, which was okay, although I prefer it with mint. The complimentary bread and vegetables were good, but I wish they came with feta cheese as well. Overall, the food was decent, but I think my expectations were a little higher going in.
I stopped at this restaurant while I was in the area. I saw that it was advertised as Persian, but once I ate here, I realized it wasn't exactly what I would consider authentic Persian food. I'll start with the positives. The servers were very kind, attentive, and wonderful. The Salad Shirazi was also good. No complaints there. Now onto the rest, which unfortunately was the majority of the food. The maast-o-mosir was absolute overkill on the shallot. It completely overpowered everything else aka the yogurt. The "tadig" area of the menu really annoyed me because it was not tadig. It was much closer to tachin. For anyone who doesn't know the difference, tachin is made with yogurt and has a softer texture. Tadig takes time and skill to get that crispy, golden bottom. What I was served was soft. If you're going to advertise tadig, it should actually be tadig. Then there was the gheymeh, which is my favorite Persian dish. Unfortunately, this was a really bad version of it. The cinnamon was completely overdone. It basically tasted like split peas, cinnamon, and water soup. The chicken didn't taste marinated at all and was incredibly bland, and the rice was just meh. I came here because of all the good reviews and had pretty high expectations. Unfortunately, the food didn't come close to living up to them. The service was great, but when I go to a Persian restaurant, especially as a Persian, the food has to taste like Persian food.
Girls wanted to go out. They've been here, I haven't. Place inside is beautiful. It's like an outdoor covered patio. When we were seated, we were served a flatbread, herbs and those wrapped pats of butter. For such an elegant restaurant, that seemed out of place. In my option, I'd rather have a plate of butter. I would have used it for the rice too! Ordered koobideh, hummus, eggplant dip and fesenjoon Koobideh- ground beef was delish! Comes on a huge plateful of rice. Hummus was standard, but the eggplant dip is better! I came for the fesenjoon... basically stewed chicken in a pomegranate sauce. I liked it, but was too tart for me. I first tried this dish at a restaurant in the Wilshire district and saw it here. Service was spectacular. Was very attentive.
The food and the service were excellent during my weekday lunch visit. The eggplant appetizer was unlike anything I had before and it was so good. You usually can't go wrong with grilled meat and pair it with rice. I loved all of it. I was also really impressed with the service. They were very attentive and hospitable. The bathroom is by the entrance where you come in. This restaurant seems to have an inside and outside seating area but the outside seating feels like inside because it's mostly contained and definitely covered. I look forward to being back, mostly for that eggplant appetizer!
Raffi's Place has become our go-to meet up spot for girls night. Every time we come in, we are greeted right away, and the service and food is always on point. I love the Chicken Barg Kabob. I just wish it came with more grilled veggies. The portions are huge and the price is pretty decent. I always end up taking leftovers; which I love. We always do the Ikra to start. I can't do gluten, so I don't partake of the naan. I just dip the raw radishes. It works! This place is always popping, everyone is friendly and the food always hot, fresh and delicious. If you're GF, vegetarian, or pescatarian, I'm sure you'll find something tasty.
Apps, hummus, and main dishes were all amazing! Got the rack of lambs, beef, and chicken and had to wait maybe 30 mins which is okay since it was busy, portions are huge, and everything was piping hot and juicy. Interior is very unique with kinda a semi open air concept but we went on a hot day so it was a little tough eating with a humid environment
Heard great things about this place and I am from the bay area so when i was in town for a meeting had to stop by this place. This place gave an authentic Iran vibe from the minute we walked in, loved the ambiance and how it was an outdoor indoor setting, service was amazing friend folks, food was delicious. I just wish we lived closer. Definitely will be back next time im in Southern California.
There is usually a long line to be seated but the food is so worth the wait, We were greeted by some delicious fresh herbs and fresh breads. Their kabob quality is one of the best i have ever had. We tried their baghali polo with lamb and wow, the lamb was so tasty and well made, same with the soltani, so flavorful. If you like Persian food, Raffi is a must!
I absolutely love the outdoor dining area and banquet seating which is perfect for large groups. The service and food were excellent! A must try if you're in the Glendale area.
Service 10/10 Food 10/10 Vibe 10/10 First time coming here and this was the perfect post 6 mile hike meal. Our server was so nice and gave the perfect recommendation - we ordered a rack of lamb, beef and chicken combo. Soooo good and juicy. We also got some hummus and dayum it hit the spot. It was super affordable, I am def coming back!
We came here last Saturday around 4pm for an early dinner to celebrate a few birthdays. We came with a group of 10 adults and one baby . Knowing that there could be a wait due to our party being large and it being so close to dinner time, I arrived about 30 mins earlier to let the hostess know. The hostess at the front desk wasn't the most friendly and was pretty adamant that we would have to wait for everyone to arrive before being seated. Eventually, everyone in our party arrived and we were seated by 4:15p. Despite the lack of warmth felt by the hostess, our waiter/s were amazing! They helped us pick our meals and made suggestions as we wanted to do "family" style and try a little bit of everything. Everything was delicious and the portions so generous we had a lot to take home. If I could this give this place a 4.5 star rating due to the poor hospitality at the beginning, I would. But, hey, give people the benefit of the doubt and round up because everything else was superb, right?! Tips on parking- valet is 12 dollars but across the street, it's 90mins free and 3 dollars for every hour after that.
Omg I'm so happy I finally got to try the famous Raffi's in Glendale!! I've heard so many great things from friends about their kebabs and plates, and specifically the beef Koubideh, which I was so excited to try. It lived up to the hype and it was so flavorful. The portions are huge so I also had a lot to take home! Service was so quick and very attentive to all our needs. I love the outdoor vibe of the restaurant too. It really made it feel like such an authentic local spot. Will definitely be back again soon!
Reviews are largely positive. Diners highlight the fresh, flavorful food, attentive service, lively atmosphere, and generous portions.
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8 months ago
1 year ago
Raffi's never disappoints -- easily a 5-star spot across the board. The food, service, and quality are always consistent, which is why we keep coming back. We usually order the hummus, ikra, and the beef Soltani. Everything comes out fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The hummus is creamy and smooth, the eggplant has this smoky, tangy flavor that's addicting, and the beef Soltani is always tender and juicy. It comes with roasted peppers and onions that add the perfect little charred bite to the plate. Portions here are huge -- realistically, one order could easily feed two people. But honestly, the food's so good we each just get our own plate every time. No regrets. They also bring out unlimited bread, which is their version of a wrap -- warm, soft, and SO good with all the dips and meats. It's honestly the best part when you load everything together into one bite. If you're craving solid, flavorful food, Raffi's is always worth it. Just come hungry. read more
3 months ago
8 months ago
"If you're looking for the gold standard of Persian cuisine, this is it. The atmosphere is vibrant, the service is incredibly efficient despite how busy they stay, and the food is consistently flawless. Whether it's a family celebration or a weekend dinner, Raffi's never misses. A true Glendale staple!" read more
This is one of my favorite restaurants of all time and would strongly consider ordering it as my last meal if I was ever on death row. With a vast, family style menu - you should bring everyone you know so you can try a little bit of everything. I love how accommodating the staff is to large parties. I have never had a bad dish here and dream about the cherry rice. Also love the light, airy vibes dining inside. However - it's also perfect for catering or to go. read more
2 years ago
Food: wow this is the best middle eastern food I've had thus far, my lovely boyfriend apparently had come here multiple times before, and finally decided to treat me out this time haha. We started with ikra, eggplant dip, which was great blend of sweet and savory, I couldn't stop from stuffing myself. I do wish the bread was a little warmed up though. Then we got barg kabob and rack of lambs, which were all juicy and tender, the meat just melted in my mouth after likely one or two chews. Usually I tend to be a bit averse to lamb due to its distinct smell, but man I ate this up and even finished the leftovers at home! Price: ikra cost $12, bread was complimentary, rack of lamb was $39 and barg kabob was $34. The portion sizes were huuuge and food quality is amazing, so these are very very reasonable prices in my opinion Ambiance: there is plenty of natural lighting, with high tablecloths and big live tree in the middle of restaurant. This can certainly be a casual or even formal place to meet Service: good service, did not have any issues getting our orders or having water refilled or asking for our check in the end Parking: my boyfriend found parking lot (exchange parking structure 115 N Artsakh Ave, Glendale, CA 91206) around the area that was free for the first 90 minutes, and we walked about 1-2 blocks to the restaurant. read more
4 months ago
1 month ago
Can't believe I am just now finding out about Raffi's! We went with a big group and ordered a bunch of food and everything was delicious. I was excited to try the cherry rice and it was so yummy and was a huge hit with the kiddos. The crispy rice is a must too!!! The group had to fight each other over it haha All the rice and kabobs we got were delicious but the grilled veggies were a surprise hit. The grilled peppers were so spicy and went great with the rest of the food. Spicy food lovers will so enjoy these grilled peppers! Valet parking is a bit pricey and the parking area gets very busy but overall the service is great and staff are friendly read more
4 months ago
8 months ago
8 months ago
Love the vibe , so goood food , I recommend the sultani even you will good money for it but worth it read more
10 months ago
Service was amazing. You can decide to eat inside or outside. It was raining that night so we ate inside. I used the yelp waitlist so that we didn't have to wait when we got to Raffi's. The wait time during the weekday evening wasn't too long. But anything after 7 pm the wait time is about 20-30 mins per Yelp waitlist. Food was amazing. We ordered the shirazi salad, which was very freshly served. Then the hummus came with the side of lavash bread. It was warm and the hummus was so fresh and delicious! The saltani & chicken kabob were served on a lavash bread to preserve the heat so when I opened the lavash bread, the food was steaming hot. Food was amazing, filling, and we were able to share this and bring the rest home. The kabob is served with basmati rice and tomatoes on the side. Portions are huge! Servers are very attentive and sweet. A great experience overall. Saw many families and friends come together in the evening to eat and have a great time with one another. Highly recommend! read more
11 months ago
Great food and service with generous portions. One of my favorite Middle Eastern restaurants in LA. read more
While staying in Glendale for a festival at the Rose Bowl, our uber driver recommended Raffi's so we decided to check it out for lunch. I really enjoyed the indoor outdoor dining area with the natural lighting. We ordered the tadig with both ghormehsabzi and gheimeh, hummus, and the soltani kebab. The food was amazing, very flavorful and the meat was cooked perfectly. Service was also excellent. The waiters were very attentive and checked in a perfect amount of times. Highly recommend! read more
2 months ago
8 months ago
The best version of a kebab plate I've ever had. Both the beef and chicken soltani were immaculately seasoned. I could eat the cucumber herb yogurt like it's soup. 45 min wait on a Saturday 6pm, 100% worth the wait Parking nearby at the exchange parking structure free for 90 min then $2 per hour read more
2 months ago
2 months ago
8 months ago
Food was delicious. Servings were big. Service was great too. They would refill our drinks without us asking for it. We'll come back again and again. read more
4 months ago
9 months ago
Raiffi's place does not disappoint. Great food quality. This time we went on a Sunday early afternoon. The wait was not bad, only 10 minutes. We ordered Soltani Kabob, chicken bard, koobideh, mast o khiar. All were good. The prices went up from last time, but quality was good. Service was good too. Overall FIVE stars read more
2 months ago
This was my second time eating here. We came for a late lunch during the week so it wasn't too crowded. The food is very very good and the portions are huge! It's definitely a place to come and share some dishes. It's a pricey but you get a lot! I had the Filet Mignon and added a skewer of chicken kabob. It was delicious and cooked to perfection. I love their rice! Hummus was delicious. Tabouli had a bit too much lemon juice in it. Service was great! The restaurant itself is large and it's sort of an inside outside type of vibe. When it's hot outside you feel it on the inside which can make the dining experience a bit uncomfortable. There's parking structures that offer 90 minutes of free parking. It's difficult to find any close street parking. They do have a small valet in the back of the entrance. read more
I've heard about Raffi's Place for years and have had it bookmarked, but never had the chance to try it until now, and let me say, it is 100% worth the hype. This may be the best middle eastern food I've had. I ended up ordering the beef koobideh and everyone else in my party ordered the soltani kebab, which comes with one beef koobideh and one beef barg. Both of these dishes come with a side of rice and a grilled tomato and pepper. Let me start off with saying that the rice here is PHENOMENAL; it's so light and fluffy. The kebabs themselves were also delicious and perfectly cooked and seasoned. The serving sizes here are very generous and I'd recommend sharing the entrees because it's a lot for one person. I feel like the price point here is fair given the quality and quantity of food. I came here on a Sunday night with a party of 5 and the wait was about 45 minutes. They do have a yelp waitlist, however, whenever I looked, it always said that it's closed so you'd most likely have to put yourself on the list by physically going to the store. The ambiance in the store is nice and it's cool because it's an indoor/outdoor layout. Service is friendly and the food came in a timely manner. They offer valet parking for $10, but there are also parking structures that are close to the restaurant that give free 90 minute parking. read more
8 months ago
11 months ago
My actual first time coming here I love this place. I will be returning back perfect for family style lunch great portions. The restaurant is nestled in like outside covered area parking lot around the corner for 90 minutes in Glendale service was amazing before you even finish your drink already bring it out another drink for you. Recommend this place for any occasion. read more
2 months ago
4 months ago
great place amazing food mid customer service must try if ur in la! the wait time is long tho read more
4 months ago
I've had this place saved in my yelp collection hoping to try it one day and let me tell youuu. The hype is no lie... the front entrance is a little tricky because the gps leads you to the "back door" which is facing the street...so when you enter it's a little awkward when you stand there looking for the host...only to find out that the actual entrance was on the other side of the restaurant near a small staircase. Besides that, the staff were friendly and the food was amazing!! I ordered the Soltani Kabob Plate which included skewered and charbroiled filet mignon and ground beef. I requested that my filet mignon be medium rare... ohh my gooddnesss did this plate have the juiciest and most tender Mediterranean protein I've ever had! I enjoyed every bite. Portion size was huggeee. I was able to take left overs home! Without a doubt coming back to try their lamb next time! read more
4 months ago
Came by for dinner the other night and it was a decent experience. Raffi's Place was a recommendation from a Persian colleague suggesting that they have the best kobideh in town. Parking is available valet for $10 behind the restaurant, on the street, or in city owned garages. Entrance to the restaurant is via the back. There is a line for take-out. The hostess was chilling out upon arrival and I had to ask how the process worked. Dining is available in the open air outdoor patio or in the air conditioned dining room. Service was very attentive by the uniformed staff. Staff came up to check up on us frequently to ensure everything was good to go. Waiter was great in offering suggestions. Meal started off with the complimentary bread, served with butter along with a side of vegetables. Opted to share a soltani platter featuring a skewer of filet mignon and kobideh. Added a skewer of chicken thigh a la carte and we had enough food for at least a party of 4! The meal came out with a huge bed of rice, a side of charred tomato, green pepper, and topped with another piece of bread. The filet mignon was very tender and came out medium, despite requesting a medium rare. The kobideh was juicy. I've had more flavorful versions of kobideh. The chicken thigh may have been my favorite being juicy and flavorful. ~$35/head after tax and gratuity for dinner with tons of leftovers. read more
4 months ago
More info about Raffi's Place
211 E Broadway
Glendale, CA 91205
Directions
(818) 240-7411
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http://www.raffisplace.com
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Ask the Community - Raffi's Place
Is this a good place for a wedding reception?
In my opinion, no, its more like a casual restaurant and not a fancy place. I saw lots of birthdays here that people gathering and reserving in person for around 10 or 20 people, no music no dance floor. If you want to celebrate the wedding dinner…
What are the vegan options, if any?
There are different rice and salad dishes that are vegan. I think some of the soups/stews may be, too. I'd double-check with the server, though.
Do they accept reservations?
You can join the waitlist on Yelp but they do not take reservations.
Are they Pet friendly?
Wow!! I'm surprised at the aggressively negative answers regarding pets. I think most dog owners who ask are responsible owners.There are lots of fine dining places that are doggie friendly. I love Raffi's and come often but it's SO busy that I…
Are reservations necessary?
No, usually they dont require a reservation. but there might be some wait time, especially on weekends. I would suggest calling them in advance if you have a big party.
Hi there! I'm going to likely be having a family reunion there. I'm vegan and am wondering about my options now rather than when the time comes. What vegan options do you provide? :) thank you!
The salads are a meal in themselves, but there are vegetable dishes, too. Try the eggplant!
Is yelp waitlist open on fridays?
Yes! We were there on a Friday recently and there was a waitlist. Apparently the restaurant chooses when to let that happen. Depending on holidays or popular events.
As of March 17 2023 do they have valet parking and do they use yelp reservations?
You go into checkin and then from that point they update you on Yelp where your position is. You can't make a reservation online.
Do they have gift certificates?
Yes. Gift Certificates. In addition, you'll have the opportunity to become a card-carrying VIP for not just of The Tam, but big sister, Lawrys, La Cienega Blvd.
Do you take reservations?
Hi! We used Yelp's wait list and were able to get in very easily. It's on their website.
Do they allow small pet in patio?
Maybe, it is best to call as their policies may have changed due to COVID.
Do they stop serving Olivier Salad?
Can I bring a birthday cake to the restaurant?
Absolutely - they were very nice when I brought an ice cream cake to the restaurant - they kept it in the fridge or freezer for me. I believe they have a fee for the cake cutting if I remember correctly.
How about parking?
Get into Raffies as if you were going to park valet then turn left towards the street and you'll see public parking if you don't want to park valet. Public parking it's on Broadway and Artsakh. I paid $2 for 3 or 4 hours on a Sunday.…
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