Kara Bala BBQ

This Roadside Stand Serves the Best Grilled Armenian Skewers in LA | Eater LA

"On Foothill Boulevard in Tujunga I watched Ruben Danielyan light mesquite charcoal, spread the coals with a metal rake, and thread marinated meat onto wide steel skewers before grilling Armenian-style khorovats as fat sizzled and smoke perfumed the air; the stand, Kara Bala, is positioned in front of an auto repair shop, lit by string lights, and operates daily from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. I tried the sandwiches, which come with a choice of soda or water and cost $15: there are five meat options—lule (seasoned ground beef), chicken breast, lamb, cubed beef steak, and pork—each grilled over charcoal, pulled into lavash with neat piles of chopped parsley and sliced onions, and finished with a spicy red chile sauce and a creamy sauce; the meats are juicy and heady with smoky charcoal flavor, balanced by the crisp herbs and the sauces’ richness and heat. Danielyan opened the stand in October 2022 after relocating from Volnovakha, Ukraine, kept the Kara Bala name (his wife is Kara and bala means “baby” in conversational Armenian), and hopes to open a brick-and-mortar while continuing to cook here nightly; orders can be placed by phone at (318) 808-0008." - Matthew Kang