Brian Nagele
Situated high up in the Verdugo Mountains is the city of Glendale, California near Los Angeles. I love this city and it’s one of the lesser-known gems when it comes to places in California to visit. Glendale is filled with museums and art exhibits, not to mention some really gorgeous hiking trails.
What I find to be the most attractive aspect of Glendale, however, is the restaurant scene. All other attractions pretty much pale in comparison to the high-quality and eclectic selection of dining establishments scattered throughout the area.
If you’re like me and you love finding new places to eat, then this is going to be a real treat for you. I’ve put together the ultimate guide ranking all the top-rated restaurants in Glendale to help simplify your search for the perfect meal, no matter what you might be craving.
Carousel Restaurant Glendale
Multiple locations
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The first spot on my list goes to Carousel Restaurant and for very good reason. This restaurant has multiple convenient locations around town, but the one I frequent the most is off of North Brand boulevard near the Electric Dusk Drive-In and Hyatt Place Glendale hotel.
Carousel is a Middle Eastern restaurant that has live music on the weekends that makes it the perfect place to come and unwind a bit after a long workweek. What I love the most about this place is the traditional meze-style dishes that they serve. This place is ideal for a large group dinner.
Din Tai Fung
177 Caruso Ave, Glendale, CA 91210
Phone: 818-551-5561
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This next place, Din Tai Fung, is located inside The Americana at Brand shopping mall where you’ll find other great stops like the AMC Americana at Brand 18 movie theater. Din Tai Fung is the perfect place to stop for a break in the middle of a shopping spree or for a bite to eat before a movie.
You won’t find better Taiwanese food in Glendale, in my opinion, maybe even all of Los Angeles. This place is well-known and well-loved around the city and it’s very easy to see why once you dine here. One of my favorite things to order from Din Tai Fung is a box of steamed pork buns.
Raffi’s Place
211 E Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205
Phone: 818-240-7411
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Up next is Raffi’s Place and you’re really going to want to make a point of visiting this restaurant, trust me. Raffi’s is a Persian restaurant, so if you’ve never experienced Persian cuisine, this is a fantastic place to begin your journey. Raffi’s Place is located right in the heart of Glendale near the Glendale Galleria shopping mall off of East Broadway, right next to the Armenian American Museum.
I love this place and I think you will too when you eat here. I always recommend something made with lamb like lamb kabobs when you come here.
Mini Kabob
313 1/2 Vine St, Glendale, CA 91204
Phone: 818-244-1343
Next up is Mini Kabob and I think you’re really going to love this charming Armenian restaurant for their kabobs. You can find this place off of Vine Street, just south of the Glendale Galleria. Mini Kabob is a small counter-serve spot that’s kind of easy to miss from the street, but you really don’t want to, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled.
I usually go for some of their lamb when I order from Mini Kabob, but literally everything on the menu is delicious, authentic, and will have you coming back for more.
Skaf’s Lebanese Cuisine
367 N Chevy Chase Dr, Glendale, CA 91206
Phone: 818-551-5540
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The next spot on my list goes to Skaf’s Lebanese Cuisine that you can find over off of North Chevy Chase Drive across the street from Plaza De Verdugo shopping mall. If you’re in the area and you see this place, you have to stop inside for some food.
Skaf’s Lebanese Cuisine is the place I always go to when I’m in the mood for some absolutely delectable shawarma. For me, it’s always a tough choice between the beef and chicken shawarma, so sometimes I’ll get both and save one for later since they’re both so incredible.
Elena’s Greek Armenian Cuisine
1000 S Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91205
Phone: 818-241-5730
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Elena’s Greek Armenian Cuisine is the next place I want to talk about and you’ll see why very shortly. Elena’s serves up some of the absolute best falafel that I’ve ever had in my life.
Of course, that’s just one of the many tasty options on their menu. When you come to Elena’s Greek Armenian Cuisine, I strongly suggest starting things off with some stuffed grape leaves or a Greek salad, they are easily my favorite appetizers. Check out Elena’s on the corner of South Glendale Avenue and East Acacia Avenue, just past Theodore Roosevelt Middle School.
Porto’s Bakery & Cafe
315 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203
Phone: 818-956-5996
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Porto’s Bakery & Cafe has made our lists before when talking about amazing places to eat in Los Angeles, and this time I want to highlight their Glendale location in particular. You can find this one off of North Brand Boulevard, right around the corner from the Alex Theatre.
What I love about Porto’s Bakery is that all the bread is baked fresh every day, so any sandwich you order from here is going to arrive on some of the best bread you’ll ever try. This Cuban bakery has become a fixture of Glendale and other LA cities.
Bourbon Steak Los Angeles
237 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91210
Phone: 818-839-4130
Right inside The Americana at Brand shopping mall, across the street from the Museum of Neon Art, is a famous steakhouse with many locations around the country called Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina. If you’re looking to really commemorate your trip to LA, or even if it’s just a special occasion and you want to go all-out, Bourbon Steak is the place to come and really treat yourself.
All of their meats are organic and they have an enormous wine list full of premium bottles that will pair perfectly with your steak dinner. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
Mario’s Italian Deli & Market
740 E Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205
Phone: 818-242-4114
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This next place is simply unbeatable. Mario’s Italian Deli & Market is such a wonderful place to do a little grocery shopping and browse their wide assortment of imported food items, but they also serve delicious bites like pizza, subs, soups, pasta, and more.
My favorite part about this place is that you can get a whole pizza or just a slice, depending on how hungry you are. They also have some incredible imported Italian bottles of wine as well. Check out Mario’s Italian Deli & Market on the corner of East Broadway and South Everest Street, not far from the Glendale Fashion Center shopping mall.
Adana Restaurant
6918 San Fernando Rd, Glendale, CA 91201
Phone: 818-843-6237
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Next up is Adana Restaurant over in the Grandview neighborhood of Glendale off of San Fernando Road, right down the street from IKEA. This place specializes in amazing Armenian fare in a cozy atmosphere with murals lining the walls.
Adana is a perfect place to go for lunch and dinner when you’re in the city. This place is so good, it’s been featured in both The New York Times and Los Angeles Times for being simply phenomenal. Everything from Adana Restaurant is bound to be tasty, but my favorite things to order are either the gyro or a kabob sandwich.
Foxy’s Restaurant
206 W Colorado St, Glendale, CA 91204
Phone: 818-246-0244
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Directly across the street from the AMC Americana at Brand 18 movie theater off of East Colorado Street is Foxy’s Restaurant, and if you’ve never been here before, you are in for quite the experience. Foxy’s embodies the 1960s-era eatery, serving up Southwestern homestyle breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so you can come here any time of day and get something delicious.
What I love to order from Foxy’s is usually one of their breakfast specialties like carne asada with eggs or the shrimp chilaquiles for breakfast. For dinner, I like the California burrito or their tostada grande.
Damon’s Steak House
317 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203
Phone: 818-507-1510
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Another great steakhouse I want to mention is Damon’s Steak House. Personally, I am a massive steak-lover. It’s probably my favorite food, and Damon’s really gets it right every time I come here. The decor is a fun, tropical theme and they have some really strong, refreshing mai tais, but for me, what really matters is the meat.
The prime rib from Damon’s Steak House is unbeatable. I’d have to say that my favorite entree, however, is the USDA Prime sirloin coulotte steak because it’s a cut you won’t often find on very many restaurants’ menus.
Glendale Pho Co.
102 S Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91205
Phone: 818-243-8867
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Pho is an incredible dish that I can never get enough of, and Glendale Pho Co. is one of the absolute greatest places to go in Glendale for pho that is top-tier. You can find this place off of South Glendale Avenue, across the street from the Glendale Courthouse and Glendale City Hall.
Glendale Pho Co. offers six different types of Vietnamese pho, as well as banh mi, one of my all-time favorite Vietnamese foods. My favorite pho flavor that I’ve tried thus far from here is the pho do bien which is a seafood pho.
Joon Shabu Shabu
220 E Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205
Phone: 818-484-5552
Joon Shabu Shabu is a shabu shabu restaurant that you seriously have to experience for yourself. Shabu Shabu, for those that are unfamiliar, is a Japanese hotpot-style dish that consists of meats, vegetables, and noodles that are boiled in water and served with dipping sauces. It’s a very fun time because you can make your own hotpot right at your seat as you want it.
Joon Shabu Shabu uses all USDA Prime beef, which means it’s the highest grade possible for the most flavor. Not to mention, the chicken and pork are fantastic in the hotpot as well.
Taqueria El Tapatio
1266 S Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91205
Phone: 818-549-4167
Next up is Taqueria Tapatio, a lively window-serve Mexican stand that specializes in traditional Mexican foods. You don’t want to miss this one, either. Taqueria El Tapatio is located off of South Glendale Avenue on the corner of East Cypress Street, so if you’re in the area, definitely stop on by for a delicious lunch or dinner.
You can get all the classic Mexican staples here like quesadillas, nachos, tacos, burritos, and more. They got everything you need to satisfy your cravings. My favorite thing to order is a burrito because they’re so huge.
