Mini Kabob
Armenian restaurant · Glendale Galleria ·
Family-run Armenian spot for flame-kissed kebabs & hummus
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Family-run Armenian spot for flame-kissed kebabs & hummus
"After a multi-hour trip to Costco, a larger meal than just a food court hot dog was in order. I set my sights on Glendale’s excellent (and very small) Armenian kebab spot, Mini Kabob. Operated by Armen Martirosyan and his parents Ovakim and Alvard, this may be among the best kebab spots in greater Los Angeles. The “mini” part of its name rings true when approaching the shop, located off a side street just a block from the Galleria. Peering through the doorway where a greeting table is set up, you can usually spot Armen behind the grill, deftly flipping meats and passing them on to the rest of the team to be assembled into plates with rice, hummus, and blistered vegetables. There’s no way to go wrong here, though smart orderers may go for the beef shish kebab and combo, which has chicken thigh, chicken breast, and ground pork kebab. Each plate comes piled with seasoned rice and flame-licked meat, served with thin lavash and garlic sauce for dipping. This may be the only garlic sauce in Los Angeles I like more than Zankou Chicken, and that’s saying a lot. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest" - Matthew Kang
"Pint-sized and Americana-adjacent in Glendale, this family-run takeout window turns out Los Angeles’s best smoky, flame-kissed Armenian kebabs, blending Armenian and Egyptian flavors refined over two generations of the Martirosyan family. Armen greets regulars by name between flipping skewers of tender marinated beef and plating bulgur-dotted tabbouleh, proving the simple, time-honed recipes don’t need flash—or even a real seating area—to shine. The ideal first order is the beef shish kebab, char-marked from the open flame and best over fluffy rice that soaks up the smoke, with creamy hummus, a blistered tomato, and thin lavash on the side. Vegetarians and vegans can go for the puck-shaped falafel, fried dark brown and crispy with a spiced green interior that hints at cumin, coriander, and parsley; it’s also gluten-free. A cold bottle of Armenian sparkling water offers pronounced, pleasant carbonation. It’s perfect for grab-and-go picnics, the Hollywood Bowl, movies in the park, or low-effort potlucks (order at least four plates and they’ll combine them into a family-style tray for an extra $15). Heads up: there’s only one small picnic table, so order ahead and plan to take it to go." - Rebecca Roland
"This recommendation isn’t specifically for this weekend, but more a nudge to start plotting a visit to Mini Kabob as soon as possible. Chef and co-owner Armen Martirosyan has been obsessively perfecting a chicken Caesar wrap that begins with a two-day saltwater brine for chicken thighs, followed by a 24-hour marinade. He cools the chicken to the right temperature so the Romaine stays crunchy, then adds a bright, zesty dressing, and wraps it all in a Burritos La Palma tortilla. It’s available only on delivery apps or through Mini Kabob’s website, and should be eaten the moment it’s in your hands. Don’t mistake the delightfully crispy falafel bits throughout the wrap for bacon — they’re just packed with flavor from one of Los Angeles’s best." - Eater Staff
"With only one small table out front, takeout is the best (and often only) way to enjoy the excellent flame-kissed kebabs from Mini Kabob. Operated by two generations of the Martirosyan family, Mini Kabob offers a slate of Armenian kebabs served with rice, hummus, blackened tomatoes, garlic sauce, and lavash. Place an order ahead of time since there can often be a wait. If there’s somehow leftover garlic sauce after finishing the kebabs, put it in the fridge to be used on future meals; it easily goes toe to toe with some of the other best garlic sauces in town, including the one at Zankou Chicken. Order takeout directly through Mini Kabob, or delivery through DoorDash." - Rebecca Roland
"Mini Kabob is ready for your grilled meats mood. Chicken thigh, falafel croutons, housemade caesar dressing wrapped in a tortilla, served with toum aleppo aioli Seasoned ground beef, Cooper's white american cheese, pickles, caramelized onions wrapped in toasted lavash served with MK special sauce Crispy and golden, fried in beef tallow, served with toum aleppo" - team infatuation