siacali "My favorite animal is steak. -- Fran Lebowitz"

Living in Glendale, I’ve developed quite a taste for Persian and Armenian food (I’m neither). It’s delicious and while there are quite a few restaurants that serve good food of that variety, I was pleasantly shocked to find that one of the most tasty is actually a stand in the food court at the Glendale Galleria mall. Bar none, they serve one of the best plates in Glendale.

The atmosphere is…what atmosphere…it’s a mall! The ambiance is…mall. The decor is…mall. Mmmmall! In fact, everything about it is mall except the food itself. The food is amazing! What’s this place doing in a mall?

They offer a delectable variety of traditional Persian/Armenian dishes, mostly variations on kebabs. There are beef, chicken, pork, and lamb, plus “koobideh” which is a kebab made from ground meat mixed with spices. They offer both chicken and beef koobideh. And there is a nice little marinated boneless filet called a “barg.” My favorite is a dish that combines both the koobideh and the barg, commonly called a “Soltani.”

Other choices include fish (mahi mahi and trout), Cornish game hen, Argentine Steak, and French Filet Mignon. Truly an International delight. Each dish is more delicious than the last! Between myself and my friends, we’ve tried them all and have never been less than thrilled.

Each dish is a full meal served over rice (or with fries), with a salad, pita bread, and a whole grilled tomato. They offer a variety of ethnic side dishes too, including eggplant dip, beans, hummus dip , yogurt dip, and lots more.

The food is fantastic! I can’t say it enough…it’s so good that if you didn’t see the the staff grilling the stuff right in front of you, you’d almost believe they’ve got someone’s grandmother in the back, lovingly making each dish for your pleasure. Following the best traditions of the Armenian and Persian cultures, the staff is polite and gracious, the food is fresh, and the portions are generous. The portions are large enough to satisfy even a hungry guy like myself. Their prices are also worth mentioning: $4.95-$8.95 for a complete meal! Just like somebodys mamma used to make.

Y’know when something is good enough that you get cravings when you remember it? Incredibly, I’ve found myself often going into the mall just to visit this stand, not to shop, just to eat there. It’s that good.