Old Sasoon Bakery Review: Find the Best Armenian Food in Pasadena | Eater LA

"Warm and welcoming from the moment you walk in, with a deli case full of hummus, cheeses, tangy yogurt, and savory pies, this family-owned Armenian bakery and restaurant has been feeding its community for more than 70 years. The dining room was remodeled in 2023 and now seats 32, so big groups have room, and owner-baker Joseph Geragosian—recognized as a James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Baker in 2022—keeps standards sky-high. Khachapuri is a long-standing favorite, served piping hot with a crackly, crusty exterior and plush interior, stuffed with salty, fresh cheese and a just-cracked egg in the center; I like to add spinach and basturma to make it more of a meal. The lahmajune (“Armenian pizza”) is thin and crispy, layered with ground beef, tomato, parsley, onion, and plenty of garlic, while the za’atar-and-cheese flatbread is bountifully spiced and aromatic with sesame seeds, thyme, and oregano—it's small, so order more than one when dining with friends. For something sweet, the pistachio baklava is impossibly flaky and packed with syrup-soaked pistachios. The best seat is outside at the bar that wraps around an oak tree, which feels like dining in a treehouse on warm days. Insider tip: khachapuri is only available until 1 p.m., so come in the morning. After relocating his family from Syria to Pasadena, founder Haroutioun Geragosian opened the bakery in 1986; today Joseph helms daily operations and even added an Arabic sign reading “abou Yousef” (Joseph’s father). Best known for its lahmajoun with toppings like ground beef, za’atar, and cheese—and home to beoregs filled with spinach, olive, potato, and mushroom—this nearly 40-year-old mainstay has made an indelible impact on Los Angeles’s Armenian dining scene and embodies what a neighborhood bakery should be: welcoming, accessibly priced, and truly memorable." - Kat Thompson