Zhengyalov Hatz

"When Zhengyalov Hatz first opened, they served one thing: leopard-print flatbreads stuffed with herbs and greens savory enough to make even a committed carnivore’s mouth water. (We don’t know which herbs and greens exactly, but there are at least 15 of them.) This traditional Armenian bakery near Glendale Galleria once had a sign on its window that said “vegan food lovers welcome,” in fact. But since then, they’ve blacked out the word vegan and built out a second kitchen with vertical spits and a beautiful brick oven—so now you can tear into minced meat lahmajun flatbreads or shawarma wraps with chicken or beef. Vegans are still welcome, of course—and those fantastic zhengyalov hatz are still the best item here. Order from the front where you’ll see bakers in white coats assembling wraps, then pick up your order from one of two counters, one for meat and one for veggies. The homey interior—with custom wooden napkin holders and salt shakers—is even cozier with the flickering flames from the oven. Watching the giant flatbreads come out of it blistered and steaming might make you go back to order another round. Whatever you do, don’t walk out (or dine in) without an order of lemonade, made with bracing Armenian sparkling water and muddled with fresh mint. Food Rundown photo credit: Andrew Ryce Zhengyalov Hatz The dish that made the restaurant’s name, literally. It’s a pocket of leaves worth driving across town for, or eating once a week if you’re local. Two of them make for a solid lunch, but even one is enough to calm hunger pangs. With (at least) 15 herbs, leafy greens, and just the right amount of salt and oil, they taste like a salad wrapped in a fur coat, striking the perfect balance between chewy and feather-light. photo credit: Andrew Ryce Shawarma Both the chicken and beef here are solid: thick-cut, well-seasoned, and surprisingly lean. A stiff pita wrap and only a few vegetables—onion, lettuce, parsley—mean the focus here is on the meat and an unusually tangy sauce. The housemade pickles that come with it are a nice bonus. We wouldn’t come here just for shawarma, but it’s a nice addition if you’re trying to make a meal out of a visit. photo credit: Andrew Ryce Lahmajun It’s fun to watch this come out of the fiery oven, but the minced meat topping is a little too sparse and underseasoned. You’re better off getting a second zhengyalov hatz. photo credit: Andrew Ryce Pakhlava This is one of the prettiest versions of this dessert around town. Somewhere between a baklava and a Russian honey cake, this is dense, sweet, and pleasantly nutty." - Andrew Ryce

"Zhengyalov Hatz is a unique Armenian restaurant located just outside of Los Angeles in Glendale, California. It offers a deep dive into Armenian culinary traditions with its main menu item, zhingyalov hats—a type of bread filled with herbs. The restaurant brings a piece of Armenian gastronomic heritage to America, featuring a national and traditional style reminiscent of 'Old Yerevan'. The vibe is homestyle Armenian, with Armenian music playing all day, creating an environment that evokes memories of traditional Armenian family gatherings. Despite its streamlined offerings, the restaurant has expanded its customer base beyond Armenians, attracting people of different nationalities. It also offers vegetarian dishes like okroshka and paxlava, and plans to expand its menu to include more meat-centric Armenian dishes." - Michael He

"The menu at this tiny, counter-service spot in Glendale is sort of like an 89-minute movie: short, sweet, and to-the-point. So, you know, perfect. It consists of only two things: sweet paxlava and its namesake zhengyalov hatz. The latter is served warm - swaddled in thick, whole wheat dough and packed with a fragrant medley of greens, including minced spinach, beetroot leaves, scallions, spring onions, kale, and mint - oh, and only costs $6.99. Like we said, the perfect meal." - kat hong

"Zhengyalov hatz, the restaurant’s namesake flatbread, combines 15 types of minced greens and herbs with spinach, beetroot leaves, scallions, cilantro, onion, and sorrel rolled into a hand-filled experience. It is a regional specialty from the Republic of Artsakh. Other than the namesake dish, the restaurant has a regional walnut-laced baklava worth ordering." - Rebecca Roland, Matthew Kang

"Armenian flatbread specialist Zhengyalov Hatz is donating 100% of the profits made from their traditional, herb-filled flatbreads to The Armenia Artsakh Fund. Offer ends November 7th, call (818) 696-9339 for takeout or delivery." - kat hong