Raffi's Place

Walk down East Broadway in Glendale and Raffi’s Place stands out by the steady stream of people heading for the courtyard out back. The entrance is right at street level, with a host stand just inside – no reservations here, so everyone checks in on arrival and waits their turn. Most groups end up in the open-air courtyard, the heart of the place: a big, shaded patio ringed with greenery and packed with tables set for everything from date nights to full-on family gatherings. There’s indoor seating too, but most regulars aim for the patio if the weather’s decent. Menus arrive quickly, and they’re heavy on Persian and Middle Eastern standards. The grill runs nonstop – beef, chicken, and lamb kabobs, koobideh, barg, soltani – all coming out in big platters meant for sharing. Stews like fesenjoon, gheimeh, and ghormeh sabzi show up alongside, plus trays of lavash, bowls of tabbouleh, and eggplant starters that get scooped up with bread. Bread service is constant: thin, stacked lavash that seems to refill itself whenever a tray runs low. Sides lean classic – rice, grilled tomatoes, yogurt with musir. For drinks, there’s Armenian beer, house-made doogh, and the usual sodas. Desserts are sweet and traditional: zoolbia bamieh, sometimes gelato if you want to push it. The vibe stays casual, built for groups, with the courtyard’s greenery and simple décor doing most of the work. Lighting shifts with the sun – bright in the afternoon, softer in the evening – and the whole place moves on a steady rhythm of plates, conversation, and the occasional sizzle from the grill. Tables get pushed together for big parties or split up for smaller groups, and the space is set up to handle both without much fuss. Raffi’s Place has been family-run since the start, with Rafik and Gohar behind the recipes and the daily operation. The menu sticks close to Armenian and Persian roots, and everything’s cooked fresh, with the kitchen’s grill and oven working from open to close. Street parking lines the block, and there are public lots nearby if you’re circling. Lunch or dinner, the setup stays the same: show up, get on the list, and settle in for a meal that’s built around the courtyard and the grill. The website posts hours and the full menu, but most of what you need to know is right there when you walk in.