I've been wanting to try this place for so long and it did not disappoint. Honestly prob the best Persian food I've ever had. Beef barg was so good and the portions are hugeeee. I couldn't finish my meal and had a ton of rice left but it was seriously so good! And the fact that the portions are so huge is a plus because can take left overs home. They were very generous with the bread which was love for a Persian restaurant! Feta cheese + bread is a must order. The meats particularly were all amazing and I liked the vibe of the restaurant too it was very lively and bigger than I expected with a cute little courtyard outside. Service was really good too everyone was so nice and made sure we were taken care of. read more

Raffi's Place - Beef barg - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

Can't go wrong with the food and atmosphere. I recommend the soltani to get more variety. This is classic fare that reminds me of my childhood. Service is great and restaurant is huge. read more

I'm sorry but this is just a no for me. It was completely flavorless. I do not like when food is very salty but I had to add sooo much salt. It was overpriced. The service was slow. But the waiters were nice. The tomato and pepper was burnt on the outside. But I think it's just supposed to have a char. This is just not worth the price, time, and paying for parking. read more

Raffi's Place - No flavor, burnt tomato and pepper. Wouldn't recommend :/ - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

Raffi's is as classic and traditional you can find for Persian food in Glendale - great kabobs and sides. We ordered the chicken and beef kabobs with rice, roasted tomatoes and peppers. Service is solid. Ambiance is casual and it gets busy so we try to arrive as soon as it opens and no wait at all. read more

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After hearing about this place from a couple of friends, I decided to check it out. I came in on Monday, March 9 around 5 PM, and I'm really glad I did. The food was very good, the ambiance was nice, and the space was very roomy with plenty of seating. The service was excellent, very attentive, with staff frequently checking in to make sure everything was going well. Our server Ciro, was great, and everyone else provided exceptional service as well, including Jose, Garcia, and others on the team. Overall, it was a great experience. I would definitely give this place 5 stars and highly recommend it to othes! read more

Raffi's Place - Hummus - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

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Yes I get the hype now. I had high expectations, and raffis definitely met them. The sultani was recommended by everyone and it's definitely delicious. Meat has good flavor and portions are huge (enough for 2 very hungry or 3 people to share). We also got the egg plant dip appetizer (served cold) and another caramelized onion on eggplant dip (served warm) to share. Both were good but I slightly preferred the warm dip. Lots of leftovers to go. Service is really quick. Restaurant has lots of tables and it's cool that there's a tree in the middle of the restaurant, giving it an indoor outdoor vibe. Will return again! read more

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This is one of my favorite restaurants in Glendale. I ordered their combo beef, combo chicken plates, hummus, and ikra which is an eggplant dip. They gave free unlimited pita with onions and radish. I highly recommend the ikra dip. It has kind of a tomato-y taste which I liked. The portions here are huge and they give a lot of rice. This place is not too far from the Glendale Galleria and the Americana so I just parked or the mall and walked to the restaurant which was around 6 minutes. The restaurant was really big and also good for big parties. 10/10 would recommend! read more

Raffi's Place - Beef and chicken plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

Crowded and for a reason! The salmon actually melts in your mouth and the portion size could carry you for a few days! Everything looked wonderful and this is definitely a place to check out in Glendale. read more

Raffi's Place - Salmon Kabob - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

Was recommended this place by the hotel front desk clerk during a short stay in town as my sister had heard kebabs were a big deal in Glendale due to a large Armenian population and I'm glad he didn't lead us astray. The dining area is an impressive indoor-outdoor setting with a large tree right in the center. It combines elegance with simple family-style dining (we went when there was a large family gathering a few tables over). I ordered the boneless chicken it came with a generous portion of tender, juicy chunks of marinate chicken served with grilled tomato and pepper and enough fragrant rice for three meals. I could hardly finish it all and also made use of the small plate of vegetables, herbs, and freshly baked unleavened bread (apologies I haven't learned the name of it) that highlighted the flavors of the kebab. The server was very attentive and friendly and overall I was very happy to experience one of the highlight foods in East LA. I look forward trying other dishes next time I'm in town. read more

Raffi's Place - Chicken boneless kebab plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

I stopped by Raffi's Place for dinner on a Tuesday evening around 8:15 p.m. This Persian restaurant doesn't have parking so your best bet is paying for metered parking on the street. I, for one, hate paying for parking. Upon walking in, I was told there would be a 10-minute wait (the restaurant was busy but there were several tables open). I was seated within five minutes. Ambiance (4/5): What's interesting about Raffi's is that the restaurant is designed in a way that makes you feel as if you are sitting on an outdoor patio, when you are in fact inside for the most part (though there is an open-air component). It's an interesting set-up, and you'll fully understand what I'm talking about when you stop by. Service (4/5): My waiter was pretty slow to initially greet me, but once he did, service picked up. He checked in on me, always had a smile, and took care of my bill promptly when I was ready to check out. They also have free WiFi which is always a nice touch. And the bag they gave me with my to-go box was of higher quality than you almost always get at a restaurant. Another nice touch. Drinks (N/A): While Raffi's has a cocktail menu, wine, and more, I went with an iced tea. Not a lot to report. Food (4/5): There are things I loved, and things I didn't love about my meal here. First off, for Persian food, this is some of the most expensive Persian cuisine I've ever come across. I understand this is California but there was some definite sticker shock. It does help that you're given some complimentary bread, butter, onions, and more to start things off. I ended up going with the chicken barg, one of my favorite Persian dishes. It's served with a grilled tomato, pepper, and basmati rice. I upgraded my rice to one of their specialty rices with barberries for a surcharge. It also helps that the portion sizes are generous. You get a heaping serving of rice. Their dishes could easily be split between two people. The rice was one of the highlights of the meal. I had never had barberries before, let alone with rice. The berries gave a nice sweetness to the rice. The grilled tomato was also bursting with flavor. I love a good grilled tomato. The chicken on the other hand, while well-seasoned, was a bit overcooked. The chicken was a bit dry rather than juicy as it should be. Raffi's is a popular restaurant that won a Michelin star in 2019. While it's been seven years, I can see some of the elements of why they were awarded this prestigious honor. read more

Started with the hummus, tabbouleh, and beans. All were good. It was a generous portion of hummus. The beans are served cold and had great flavor. Ordered the barg chicken for dinner. Not only was it dry, but it also lacked flavor. Don't order this! It disappointed since this place was recommended by so many people. The price didn't match the quality here. Everything else was good. The sonati was very good! Highly recommended. It also has pistachio. I preferred this over the Persian ice cream. Louis served our table and was absolutely amazing! His recommendations were on point and trustworthy. We came in with a larger party size and weren't waiting very long to be seated. It did take awhile for our meal orders to be taken but service was friendly and accommodating. read more

Raffi's Place - Chicken Barg Kabob - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

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We recently heard that Raffi's was the best Persian food in Southern California, so we had to give a try. Our favorites are barg and koobideh, so we ordered: - Soltani with beef barg and beef kobideh - Chicken koobideh - Tadig with one stew The food was great, but not the best Persian food we've had. The chicken koobideh and barg were the best, and the beef kobideh just okay. Overall, it would have been great if everything was just a bit more tender. read more

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My boyfriend and I came here for a late lunch for the first time and had a great experience. When we arrived, we noticed they offer valet parking for $12--just make sure to bring cash, as the valet is cash only. We signed in and were told the wait would be about 20 minutes, but we were called much sooner than expected. The restaurant has a good amount of seating, both indoors and outdoors. Since it was a nice day, we chose to sit outside. The food was phenomenal, and the service was excellent from start to finish. Our waiter, Christian, was awesome--very attentive and helpful with food recommendations. We started with the hummus and Tourshi appetizers, which were both really good. For our main dishes, we ordered the Soltani Kabob plates. Be prepared--the portions are generous, especially the amount of rice. We also tried the yogurt soda. It wasn't really our cup of tea, but it seemed popular with other guests. I'd recommend asking for a taste if you're curious. Overall, our first-time experience was fantastic. We drove from Riverside to try this place and would absolutely make the drive again. It's also in a great location, with a mall just a block away and several coffee shops and eateries nearby. Definitely a great Sunday spot! read more

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Raffi's is a bustling Persian and middle eastern dining experience with a open room concept. I didn't even know it was open roof. The interior was beautiful but still pretty hot because I went on a summer day. This is my first time at raffis and i was excited to try the food. We got the hummus($11) and Ikra ($13)to start. The hummus was good but nothing special but then I tried the Ikra. At first I was thrown off by the Ikra but it really grew on me and I loved it. It was a sweet eggplant flavor and nothing like I've tasted before but I also haven't had a lot of Ikra. I loves the texture of the eggplant the most. You would think it would be sort of slimey but not at all. I think it's a must get. My friend got the Luleh Kabob($25) and personally I didn't like it that much. I think I just don't like ground beef though. It was seasoned really well and there were two kabobs! My friend raved about the rice but I feel like it was just good rice and nothing overly special. Just nicely cooked. I got the Barg Kabob which is the thinly charbroiled filet mignon and it was so tender with still a meaty bite to it. I also loved how it was perfectly seasoned. Definitely a favorite for me! I think it's a bit overpriced but great portion sizes! Overall I think Raffis is a must try classic but there's also tons of other Mediterranean places that are better. read more

Raffi's Place - Barg - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

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Delicious food and great service considering the place was packed on Easter Sunday. It was a little warm due to it being a warm day and the indoor/outdoor seating isn't very ventilated. Could definitely use some fans in the indoor/outdoor area. Food was exquisite. Very large portions. A lot of rice and the skewers come with 8 pieces of meat per skewer read more

Definitely recommend this place, but be ready to wait--especially on weekends. We were shopping nearby and super hungry, so we asked a few people for restaurant recommendations. Three different people specifically mentioned this spot, especially if you've never tried Armenian food. When we called, they told us the wait was 4 hours, which surprised us, so we ate somewhere else. But my wife really wanted to try it, so we came back--and it was definitely worth it! This time it was Sunday, and while we expected a long wait, it ended up being only about an hour, which wasn't bad at all. The food was delicious and the portions were big--perfect for sharing if you don't eat a lot. Honestly, the whole menu looked really good. Service was fast and friendly, and the overall experience was worth the wait. I'd recommend making a reservation to be safe, and valet parking is the way to go. We'll definitely be coming back again! read more

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Raffi's Place was such a delight! It was a bit hot since it was outside, but it actually was quite bearable. The staff was so quick to take our orders and very kind. There's also a cute little fountain at the back! Parking can be found in a nearby lot. As for the food, it was delicious and had so much flavor! The baba ganoush was incredible, probably one of the best that I've ever had. I also ordered a lentil soup and it filled me up for being a vegetarian. We went for my mom's birthday and they even gave her a complimentary baklava and sang her happy birthday! I would definitely come back. read more

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I've had eaten food plenty of times from Raffi's and never ate inside until recently! Met up with my buddy.....had lunch finally here! The waiter was really cool and funny and definitely helped us enjoy lunchtime there.... Everything seems so fresh, the lavash bread....was really good ate it with the hummus and the eggplant dip....man I could've just ate that for my meal and I would've been satisfied but I love lentil soup and got that as well...... Place is spacious and clean and can get busy! read more

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Food is absolutely amazing. Prices are very reasonable and portions are huge! Parking is a bit hard but overall will come back again!

Our first time here and we came for a friend's bday party. I had called the night before and was told that they don't take reservations on holidays, so we came at 11:30 AM on Labor Day and the place quickly filled up. By the time we left, at around 12:30 PM, there was not an empty table in sight. Service was IMPECCABLE, and waiters would constantly check up on us, update us on food readiness, and bring drinks, etc without being too overbearing. Everyone was so fast, efficient, and polite! Definitely well worth the praise! Shish Kabob (9/10) on point, nice beefy aroma and charred veggies complimented the dish well Tahdig (10/10) Persian rice crust - very buttery and crispy! Would recommend. Was also interested in the hummus but will try next time :) Chicken Koobiden (10/10) if there was one thing that I would get again, it's the chicken koobiden. get THIS. The chicken skewer was so flavorful and juicy, and tasted SO GOOD paired with the tomato and lemon. Also loved the complimentary wraps on the table. Pricing is very reasonable for the amount of food they provide. Everyone at the table had to take a portion togo and the portion size is could very well be 2-3 meals, depending on how much you eat. I would 100% come again! Parking: 90 min free parking right across the street! Also free parking at the Glendale galleria ~ 5 min walk from the restaurant. read more

Raffi's Place - Tadik - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

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Went here with my Father, nephew, and Hubby. Father's choice. I'm glad we tried this place but their meals are very hefty.. enough to split. I had beef tenderloin (filet mignon) and it was huge. I lived off of that for 3 days! This place has a nice Mediterranean type feel and the food is prepared the way you want it. You pick how you want your meat cooked and they do it. The service is attentive but when it's busy it was hard to flag ours down. The whole place was an outdoor vibe with a lot of activity. Definitely had a lot of groups when we were there. read more

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Wow! Incredible dining experience here at Raffi's. I've heard rave reviews of this place from others, but had never gone. I finally got the opportunity to go and this place did not disappoint! Our waiter was very attentive to our table, despite being fully booked and busy that day. It was a lunch date with me and my gals. We had two appetizers: hummus and a Greek salad to share. We all ordered martinis: pomegranate and sour apple. We also had the chicken breast kabob and the filet mignon. Both absolutely divine and with charred veggies on the side! Their rice was so fluffy and delicious as well. For dessert, we went with a slice of chocolate cake, vanilla custard and the rosewater ice cream sandwich. We loved this place and highly recommend it! P.S A note about parking: $12 cash for valet or you can park behind the restaurant in the parking garage for $2 per hour. Unfortunately they do not validate but the price for parking is reasonable. read more

The pLace was still the same as ever since , haven't been here in a while. Food was delish ... their meat has this tenderness when you bite. Servings were super huge. It could be shareable... Appetizers are enticing as well... you'll never go wrong with their hummus... Servers were attentive. Think of the time , you want to dine , parking gets busy and line as well. Better have reservations to avoid long wait. This is a place to celebrate a lot of occasions. Ambiance was fine... They have an open air area which can be a good spot to enjoy the food. read more

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The best meat-induced food coma I've ever experienced in my whole life. Wow. Boyfriend and I came into Raffi's on a whim on a rainy weekday night. The place was busy, but we were seated almost immediately. It was nice, clean and inviting inside. We both ordered the Soltani Kabob plate. The portions were extremely generous and the meat was cooked to perfection. The filet mignon had to have been the most perfectly cooked and tender cut of meat I've ever had in my life. I ate ALL of it. Like, literally, ALL of it. Even when my body kept saying, "chilllll... that's enough meat!" - NOPE! I kept going. Why? Because it was THAT good. I spent the next few days still feeling obscenely full and sluggish but BOY was it WORTH it. I truly can't wait to go back. read more

Still amazing food. Have been eating here for 12+ yrs. They get very busy on weekend.

One of my favorite places to go during the holiday season. The seasonsings and flavors of the food taste like Christmas! The food here is the best!! I've been to all the nice Persian/Iranian places in OC and LA and this places tops them all. Portions are huge and quality is superb. Service is always attentive as well. Chill/romantic vibes. 10/10 read more

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We came here on a weekday and there was a short wait but that may be because we were seated in the courtyard area that was outside. Overall, the food was good. I highly recommend any of the kabobs and the tahdig appetizers. I don't think the lamb shank was that good and it lacked flavor. Otherwise, the other meal items were very good. read more

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I thought I took photos but I didn't. The food was good, it's definitely family style and enough to share. The ambiance was unique, half indoor, half patio vibe and the service was great. I do feel the price was a tad bit overpriced, it wouldn't be my first choice but its definitely a place to go with larger groups. read more

The service was very attentive and kind, the servers checked on us several times over the course of our meal despite the fact that the restaurant was packed with patrons on a Sunday afternoon. The food was really nice with really generous portions. We actually packed a hefty portion to go and it ended up feeding my family of 4 for dinner as well. I didn't know but they do refill the lavash bread upon request which was really nice and allowed us different variations for eating the rice and koobideh. Chicken thighs was surprisingly a bit dry. I would lean into beef offerings . read more

I finally got a chance to go to the greatest Persian/Iranian restaurant of all time. Raffi's Place is located in Glendale, California. It's an upper scale place for people who want to have a great dining experience without being disturbed by others. Great dining experience at an upscale restaurant is something I'm very strict on, especially when I'm paying higher price for higher quality food. As a very picky Iranian, I look at everything. As I'm coming inside, I was greeted and seated right away. I was amazed by the dining room area. It's so relaxing. For lunch..... I ordered myself a Lubia Polo which comes with one stick beef koobideh. Very nice presentation when I got the food. I must say the food was delicious and delightful. It was filling, which means the food I ordered was more than enough to satisfy my hunger. Service was great too. They got some great employees who knows customers are #1 priority. Overall.... I'll be back here soon for some more good stuff. 5 stars!!! read more

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I have been a loyal customer of Raffi's Place for 28 years. I live in Palos Verdes, and every visit requires a two‑hour drive, but I always made the trip because the food used to be exceptional. I recommended this restaurant to many people over the years. Unfortunately, the quality has changed dramatically in the last couple of months. The Beef Kabob, which used to be tender and flavorful, is now mixed with a large amount of onion and has become very dry. It was always served with basil and sabzi on the side, but that is no longer the case. Last week, I made the long drive again and ordered several stew dishes. Not only were they out of traditional Persian options, but the dishes I received tasted old and reheated. This is far from the standard Raffi's Place used to uphold. After nearly three decades of being a customer, I've decided not to return, and I can no longer recommend this restaurant. The decline in quality is disappointing, especially for those of us who travel long distances expecting the experience we once trusted. read more

Loved trying this popular Persian staple. Parking has street parking and valet available for $12. The vet lot is a one way only street so make sure you don't miss it. Cash only! Weekends are no reservations, you have to walk in and out your name down but it goes by pretty fast. We ordered the beef koobideh, chicken koobideh, gormehsahbzi with tahdig, pickles, shirazi salad and the eggplant dip. The appetizers were alright but nothing special. The main star was definitely their koobidehs. Super juicy and HUGE. Each order comes with two meats. They have the sumac and white onion ready on the tables with fresh lavash and butter for the rice. read more

Raffi's Place - Shirazi salad, chicken koobideh, tahdig - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

I'm not sure how much my review will make a difference out of 7,000+ reviews, but here goes: My family and I were in Glendale to do some shopping and wanted some good Mediterranean food afterwards. I had heard of the famous Raffi's and how it's one of the staples in the SGV. I have tried many Mediterranean restaurants and wanted to try one of the originals, so we decided to stop in. How could we go wrong? It was Sunday afternoon and the place was super packed! We were informed of the 30-45 minute wait and said to ourselves "The food must be amazing," so we waited it out. We sat down and the waiter said the kitchen is really busy and it'll take 45-50 minutes for food to come out, so we quickly ordered. I ordered the Soltani Kabob, my brother ordered the Chicken Barg Kabob (breast) and my mom ordered the Chicken Boneless Kabob (thigh). When the food came out an hour later, we were impressed by the portions, although they give a TON of rice. Unfortunately, most of the dishes were lacking flavor. The ground beef was flavorless and dry. The beef filet had a tiny bit more flavor but was also dry. My brother thought the Chicken Barg Kabob had flavor but was too dry. My mom liked her Chicken Boneless Kabob; I tasted it and it was pretty good, but I've had better at plenty of other places. The Ikra appetizer was quite tasty, though. The vibe itself seems great when you walk in. There's plenty of people and families enjoying themselves -- next to us there were two large parties of 24 people each. It's definitely a "hot spot" but honestly, I'm just not sure what the appeal is. The food was mediocre at best and it's so busy that you feel like just a number -- The service isn't personalized at all, although the staff is professional. Clearly this place does it for a lot of people, but not us. We'd prefer to go somewhere a little more low key with personalized service and flavorful food. Unfortunately, I can't see us coming back. read more

Raffi's Place - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

when you come to raffi's, you're family! this place is a staple in the glendale area and while i am late to the game, i'd love to offer a review. their service is always friendly and the entire atmosphere of the restaurant honestly makes it feel like you're at a giant family gathering with distant relatives you don't know. i'm by no means an expert in this type of cuisine but my favorite thing about it is how fresh everything tastes. all their ingredients that they use really shine through with all their dishes. my favorite dishes were the salmon and the mahi mahi. wanted to try the white fish but they were sold out. will definitely be back for that. keep in mind i'm usually not a seafood guy, and if you're not either, i'd still recommend you try their fish dishes as they are stellar. read more

One of the best kebab places on America and few other countries that I have tried . Food is delicious and GIANT portions . I'd say one plate is great for 2 average people . Interior is amazing and service is 5 star . For me music is missing. Parking is valet which is 12$ only I believe but it's super convenient in downtown Glendale . You can tell the food quality from smell of it at front door . read more

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Raffi never disappoints. Can't believe I've never written a review for this place. Guess I was always too busy enjoying the food and not taking pics. lol They have valet parking and if you're fortunate enough, you may find some street parking. There's also a paid parking structure nearby. The atmosphere is cool and relaxing - kind of an indoor & outdoor eating area. Service here is always very good. Raffis has been around for a long time and they know what they're doing. Food is excellent! Everything is really good and I always have a hard time deciding what to order. Their meats are well seasoned and cooked. Grilled veges and the rice are perfect compliments to the meat. The portion sizes are very generous - recommend ordering a few dishes depending on size of group and sharing. Raffis is one of those places that every foodie should try. read more

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Always a great place to eat and enjoy dishes from Armenia. Staff is run very well...great service to match great food. I had the Salmon kabob...you can ask for 1/2 rice and 1/2 salad...otherwise you get too much rice. read more

Raffi's Place - Salmon kabob with 1/2 rice and 1/2 salad. Salmon was so tender and juicy. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

Food 5/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 4/5 Classic persian/mediterranian restaurant that I have been going to for over a decade now. This place is a staple in Pasadena and is always busy, but super efficient and consistent with the quality of their food and service over the years. They have valet parking, but recommend parking at the parking structure across the street and walking over. Outside and spacious seating. Service is fast. Always get the chicken and steak kebob plate and it comes with half rice and half salad. Portions are HUGE ( lasts me 2-3 meals) and quality is always top notch. Food is fresh, flavorful, meats are cooked well and not overdone or dry. Got the hummus and it comes with this naan bread on the side (thin and cut like sheets of paper and not a fan of these, but it's free). Would recommend this place and will def be back. read more

Raffi's Place - chicken and steak kebob plate with side salad and hummus - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

This place does not need a Yelp review because the food and service speak for itself. Delicious and amazing. We wanted to order everything on the menu. It's very nice place. Fresh air! read more

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Ambiance: this restaurant is hidden in a small alley, very easy to drive by and miss it, they have valet parking, which costs $10, and it's cash only, and the alternative is to park at the nearby marketplace public parking lot, where the first 90 minutes are free, then $1 for each 30 minutes, the main dining hall is semi outdoor, with roof and patio covered on two sides and heater equipped in the middle, then there's also a indoor dining room Service: very friendly and patient with questions, provided useful suggestion, attentively served water and food, although it took a bit longer as they were so busy Food: one of the most authentic Middle East cuisines, each table is served with basil, radish, onion, and pita bread, and all their entrees are served on a bed of fluffy basmati rice with grilled tomato and Anaheim pepper, I ordered the Soltani Kabob, which is the combination of Beef Barg and Beef Koobideh Beef Barg Kabob - **** thinly sliced filet Mignon skewered and grilled, so tasty and tender, recommend Beef Koobideh Luleh Kabob - ***** lean ground beef skewered and grilled, so juicy and flavorful, highly recommend Price: huge portions and delicious food, almost everyone would pack some leftover home, at least good for one more meal, expect around $50 for the combo entree order, but totally worth it. Sharing some insights, according to chit-chat with locals, their food has been downhill over the past few decades, ups and downs, and off from time to time, but overall still the best in the area read more

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