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Raffi's Place

4.4 (7.5k reviews)
Closed • 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
Updated a few days ago

Waitlist - Raffi's Place

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Raffi's Place Photos

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RAFFI'S PLACE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Raffi's Place

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Mahnaz S.

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.

Chelsea V.

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.

Filet migon
Alice C.

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

Rice
Lauren F.

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!

Faruq L.

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.

Anastacia H.

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.

Pantea M.

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!

Rice
Wesley Y.

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!

Main courses (beef, chicken, lamb, veggies and rice)
Ginna S.

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.

Ghormeh sabzi with tadiq on side
Sahand S.

It's a LA staple for sure, but as a Persian I found the food to be pretty mediocre. I think the influencer How Kev Eats was spot on with his review of Raffi's. The stews (ghormeh sabzi and gheymeh) were bland and could have used way more dried lime for some flavor. The kubideh kabob had too much onion, while the jujeh kabob was dry. The plain rice was standard, but the albaloo (cherry) rice was good. The hummus was really good. Service was attentive and the ambiance in the large courtyard area is especially nice, although a bit warm to eat outside when we went.

Hummus, Shirazi Salad
Jodie T.

This was genuinely one of the best meals I've ever had. Raffi's has been on my list of spots to try for years, and I can't believe it took me so long to finally come here! My friend and I shared the Shirazi salad, Hummus, and Koobideh, all of which were absolutely delicious and are great portion sizes. The koobideh was tender and paired amazing with the buttery rice, hummus was blended so smoothly and we had it with the soft lavash, and the shirazi salad was a refreshing bite in between. I will 1000% be returning soon to try new dishes. The wait was about an hour on a weekend dinner, but there are areas to walk around nearby to pass the time, so it doesn't feel too long. Additionally, parking isn't difficult to find since there's a structure to the side. It was such a scrumptious meal, and I'd absolutely recommend it to anyone, the drive is worth it!

Matthew P.

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!

Complimentary pita with herbs, onions, etc.
Denise L.

I've been wanting to try Raffi's Place for years, so when I happened to be in the area last night, I finally made it happen! A heads-up if it's your first visit: the restaurant is walk-in only and does not take reservations for parties under 10 people. We arrived around 8:15 p.m. and were surprised by how massive the restaurant was. There was still a short line, but we only waited about 15 minutes before being seated. As we walked past all the tables, I noticed how large the plates were so my friend and I opted to split one entrée. Unfortunately, the beef koobideh and chicken koobideh had already sold out for the night. Instead, we ordered the Chicken Barg Kabob which came with two grilled skewers of thinly sliced chicken breast served on a bed of basmati rice accompanied by a grilled tomato and an Anaheim pepper (a type of chili pepper with mild heat). The waiter told us it would be about a 30-40 minute wait for our food to come out. While we waited, they brought out complimentary pita bread with butter, a raw whole onion (sliced in half), radish, mint, and chopped onions/ parsley. I've never had this combo before but it was nice to have a snack to nibble on. Looking back, I wish I ordered the eggplant dip to enjoy with the pita bread. By the time our food arrived, we were starving and scarfed everything down. The chicken kebob was flavorful and moist, and the basmati rice was perfectly fluffy. Although we shared an entrée, the portion was generous so we left pretty full. I'm already planning a return trip-- and hopefully next time I can try the beef koobideh which appears to be their most popular dish. TL;DR: Huge portions, inexpensive prices, friendly service, a lively atmosphere, and a great spot for groups.

Entrance from the street (but the host is in the back)

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29 days ago

The food used to be great, but it's really gone downhill; for what they charge, the food and service should be way better.

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6 days ago

Everything, the service , the food, the ambience I love the place it is absolutely amazing.

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Absolute favorite place for delicious food & great dry martinis! highly recommend. Beautiful casual ambiance and great service.

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Raffi's Place Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Raffi's Place

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.

Dothey do take out?

yes you can call in your order and pick it up

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!

Do you take reservations?

Yes.

Can you order online for pickup?

Yes.

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 do catering?

Yes, I've used them amazing

Do you take reservations?

Hi! We used Yelp's wait list and were able to get in very easily. It's on their website.

Any pets allowed?

I was informed "Service Dogs" only. Hope that helps.

Good for a big group?

Yes, call ahead to see if they can arrange it.

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.… 

Does this restaurant require a vaccination card to eat here?

I was there earlier this month and they didn't - they said that Glendale wasn't requiring proof of Vaccination yet. But I would definitely call just to double check since things are constantly changing nowadays.

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My two choices were the Caesar wrap and the lule plate, and the food didn't stand a chance! The…read morewrap was devoured in under two minutes. The flavors hit the spot, and the extra dressing on the side took it to another level. The lule was perfectly seasoned and juicy, and the rice was on point--fluffy and moist. The hummus had the perfect texture as well. Honestly, I can't complain about the food. I was initially going to complain about the price, but after tasting the flavor and quality, I'd say it was worth every penny. Also, shout-out to Armen--very nice guy who brings some seriously positive energy. I'll definitely be back!

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Asteria Restaurant

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Havlabar

Havlabar

4.1(111 reviews)
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I've never had Georgian food, so it was very intriguing when our friend introduced us to one in…read moreGlendale. The restaurant is situated in a small strip mall with some parking spaces. When we first walked into the restaurant we thought we were the only patrons, then we found out the host just likes to seat people in the private booths which are separated from the main dining room by straw dividers. I read on the other reviews that they thought the server was not very nice, however my experience was the opposite - she provided helpful input when we asked for advices on the cuisine, and even recommended us to try the khinkali with sour cream which she provided and didn't have to. On to the food - we ordered the eggplant appetizer, it's similar to baba ghanouj but this one is a bit spicier and so yummy with the bread that came with it. We also ordered khinkali which is Georgian's version dumplings (we ordered the boiled version but there's also fried ones available). The skin is on the thicker side and was very chewy, the filling was well spiced with herbs, when you cut into it the juices come flowing out, yum! Our fav dish was the chimeruli which is baked hen drenched in a garlicky cream sauce that was more of a soup to me and i could not stop drinking it down! The hen was roasted so nicely with crispy skin, and along with the sauce just made the whole dish so hearty. Things are on the pricier side but I would still definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who's adventurous in trying different cuisines. It was interesting to note that they had two menus, one for Georgian foods, and the other for Armenian foods. Btw the restaurant charges a "non cash fee" for all non cash payments.

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Raffi's Place - mideastern - Updated October 2026

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