Tun Lahmajo is bread paradise in the Valley - Review - Los Angeles - The Infatuation
"Few things in life are as certain as kicking the bucket, drunk Andy Cohen on New Year’s Eve, and deriving deep pleasure from Tun Lahmajo's just-baked bread. Every gluten good at this casual Armenian restaurant in Burbank is made to order, usually by a baker with a white hat tending two blazing ovens while simultaneously assembling crispy, meat-laced lahmajo and adjarian with sunny orange yolks peaking through molten cheese pools. Some of the breads are snacky and small, while others are suitable for family-style lunches, like lahmajo so light it might blow away while you're drinking your tiny Armenian coffee. In either case, the quality of Tun Lahmajo’s piping hot flatbreads and boats makes this one of LA’s great Armenian bakeries, and you shouldn't leave without at least one or two versions. photo credit: Jessie Clapp photo credit: Jessie Clapp photo credit: Jessie Clapp photo credit: Jessie Clapp photo credit: Jessie Clapp Beyond the breads, the restaurant serves totally serviceable lamb ribs as well as more grilled meats, soups, and salads that'll complement your spread—especially when a breeze trickles through the outdoor patio. If you’re unfamiliar with Armenian food, there's a good chance you'll have to look up a few things, because the menu doesn’t include dish descriptions. Don't fret. Whatever leaves Tun Lahmajo’s ovens will be the best thing you encounter all day. Food Rundown photo credit: Jessie Clapp Lahmajo You could order this thin and crispy 12” flatbread as a main for one without feeling like you’re carrying a brick in your gut after the meal. The finely minced beef is juicy and full of tomato-y tartness, and hugs the crust’s big air bubbles. Spritz yours with lemon to brighten things up. photo credit: Jessie Clapp Adjarian In terms of heft, consider this dish the polar opposite of the lahmajo, but equally delicious. These bread boats, known as khachapuri in other cultures, have a charred outer crust to dunk into the molten cheese and egg mixture in the center. Every salty bite is worth its weight in Lactaid tablets, but consider sharing this dish if you’re ordering a couple of things. photo credit: Sylvio Martins Blinchik These crepe roll-ups are great if you want something bread-y and hearty, but don’t want to commit to a dish the size of a serving plate. They’re plush on some sides and seared until crisp on others, and the well-seasoned ground beef goes nicely with a dunk of sour cream (we’ll pass on the side of ketchup, though). photo credit: Jessie Clapp Lamb Ribs Order these pink-in-the-center babies if you need something sans bread. They’re the perfect size to eat with your hands and properly seasoned with salt." - Sylvio Martins
