I've never had Georgian food, so it was very intriguing when our friend introduced us to one in Glendale. The restaurant is situated in a small strip mall with some parking spaces. When we first walked into the restaurant we thought we were the only patrons, then we found out the host just likes to seat people in the private booths which are separated from the main dining room by straw dividers. I read on the other reviews that they thought the server was not very nice, however my experience was the opposite - she provided helpful input when we asked for advices on the cuisine, and even recommended us to try the khinkali with sour cream which she provided and didn't have to. On to the food - we ordered the eggplant appetizer, it's similar to baba ghanouj but this one is a bit spicier and so yummy with the bread that came with it. We also ordered khinkali which is Georgian's version dumplings (we ordered the boiled version but there's also fried ones available). The skin is on the thicker side and was very chewy, the filling was well spiced with herbs, when you cut into it the juices come flowing out, yum! Our fav dish was the chimeruli which is baked hen drenched in a garlicky cream sauce that was more of a soup to me and i could not stop drinking it down! The hen was roasted so nicely with crispy skin, and along with the sauce just made the whole dish so hearty. Things are on the pricier side but I would still definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who's adventurous in trying different cuisines. It was interesting to note that they had two menus, one for Georgian foods, and the other for Armenian foods. Btw the restaurant charges a "non cash fee" for all non cash payments. read more

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The Khinkali was pretty good and the bread was fantastic. I did not enjoy the Sacivi as much to be honest, but I think it might be just due to regional differences, we prepare it slightly different which I prefer. Service is quick and attentive as well. read more

Havlabar - Khinkali and Sacivi - Georgian Near Me - Glendale, California

Was over on the west side so we decided to try some Georgian foods. It was an earlier dinner so the place is not packed. Social media recommended to try Khinkali, similar to Chinese xiao long Bao. Choice fried or steamed. Pretty bland and have no flavor. No sauce auto dip or anything. For the fried ones, they served with sour cream! Still no faded flavor. We also ordered Chakapuli, stewed lamb cooked with Tarragon leaves(similar to collar greens). Still bland but it would be good for a winter's meal. The service was noticeably bad even we were the only table I the restaurant. Our server went MIA until the check is requested. Don't waste your money here. read more

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We wanted to try Georgian (or Armenian) food and stopped in while passing through Glendale. We tried the following dishes: Khinkali - Armenian dumplings, we tried half of them boiled and half of them fried. Prefer the fried ones, which can be eaten with sour cream. The boiled ones were rather bland and could benefit from some condiment sauce. They are often mentioned as the Armenian version the Chinese Xiao Long Bau. Chakapuli - Lamb soup with Georgian spices. Menu said it is served on a hot clay plate, but our dish came in a regular plastic bowl. The bread that came with the soup was very good, it is on the firm side, but softens up when dipped in the soup and is very filling. We also tried the tarragon infused lemonade called Lemonade Kazbegi, this was very flavorful and a nice contrast to the bland food. Ambiance is basic, with standard restaurant tables and chairs, and several private cubicle like sections to the right if you want some additional privacy. We were the only customers there (2 persons), and after taking our orders and delivering the food, we never saw our waiter again until we asked for the bill. When the check arrived, it automatically added a surcharge of $2+ to the bill. I am not a fan of this practice. read more

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Prices went up significantly (that's understandable) BUT the portions got smaller. The assorted khpali were not this small eight months ago. And the beef kebab ($28) was very tender back then. Today after the drive home from Glendale, there was barely any moisture in it. And the beef pieces were smaller and they provided a lot less tomato sauce with it. Very sad. The khachapuri was great. I popped it into the oven for a few minutes and it came out the way it did when it was freshly baked. The savici was a much smaller portion too - but don't get me wrong, that walnut sauce is life. For the assorted khpali appetizers, beef kebab, savici and khachapuri, I was charged $96 (should've been $92 but they included a card charge). I wish I could say it was worth it but I can't lie. The experience of eating their food was lacking this time around. Not even their super cool, super nice waitress whom we love could make up for it. read more

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Always great to be there if I wanan satisfy my soul with comfort food of Armenia or Georgia. Everything's is always fresh, made just for you, great taste. The place itself is like truth authentic place, tables are isolated from each other and always glass for wine is ready for you. People are eating and drinking to celebrate life! read more

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I ordered Chkmeruli and Khinkali -- both were tasty, with generous portions and reasonable prices. The atmosphere is cozy, the service polite, and I really liked that they offer a wide selection of Georgian dishes. read more

The food here seems to be very much like home cooking. I had the chashushuli, which is veal cooked in tomatoes, almost like a stew. The Tblisi salad has a vegetarian option without the veal. It was basically a bean red kidney bean salad with bell peppers and crushed walnuts. It tasted very healthy. The homemade bread comes with entrées, which the chashushuli is an entrée. The bread was warm, fresh, and tasted very good. Overall, it was a decent experience. The small extra fee to pay with card was a bit unusual. read more

OMG, what an amazing dinner! I ordered way too much food because I wanted to try different things. I was not disappointed. The Chikmeruli (Cornish hen) was savory with garlic and Georgian spices. The mushrooms were out of this world. Nothing compares to the Khachapuri though. Life changing! I also had the Georgian wine which was delicious. Can't wait to come back and bring people so I can try more dishes. read more

Havlabar - Georgian Near Me - Glendale, California

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My khinkali and khachipuri addiction knows no bounds, so here's another review of a delightful Aremenian/Georgian eatery in Glendale. Seating was great with little "enclosures" that truly made it feel like a private party for a group of 5 of us. I called ahead on a Saturday to see if there was an opening for 5 and they said to "come," so I was glad to snag a weekend table. I was in charge of ordering since no one in our group had much Georgian food experience and I think I did pretty well. I ordered 3 sets of khinkali, a Megruli Khachipuri which is a delicious cheese bread (think similar to a pizza) or hangover cure. We also ordered the Chakkokhbili which was chicken simmered in a delicious tomato and garlic sauce. This was so good! My one not so great ordering item was the Chakapuli which was lambed cooked in tarragon, but it was sort of steamed/boiled and not very shareable, while the piece of meat was tender and delightful--it just wasn't a great value for 20 nor very splittable between our group. The khinkali, the star of the show, were pretty good. They were a little more apt to fall apart than some of the others I've had, but nonetheless, delightful. Just be sure to eat them the right way - don't eat the top and make sure to make a small hole to drink all the delicious juices out of the dumpling so it doesn't spill out all over ya! read more

Authentic Georgian restaurant that serves my two favorite dishes: khachapuri and khinkalis. It's located in a strip mall with a small parking lot, but there's street parking along the block as well. They do accept credit cards, but I'd suggest paying cash as the credit card machine was finicky when I went and I was accidentally double charged. To their credit, once I reached out about the issue the restaurant promptly rectified the issue when I went back in, so I appreciated that. They're open for indoor dine-in (no outdoor options) but they have dividers between tables. Food wise, everything we ordered was tasty. You can't go wrong with a plate of khinkalis (soup dumplings). They come boiled with piping hot soup/beef inside. The khachapuri was more like a pizza in terms of its size, and was super filling. We got the version without the cheese on top, and I think we had more than enough. The sausage came with two pieces and had a lot of red onions, with pomegranate arils mixed in. Scott Conant wouldn't have been happy, but I do like the bite of onions so I enjoyed it. read more

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Delicious food, nice hearty portions. Parking a bit difficult in a very small tight plaza. Lots of unique dishes.

The name of the restaurant is Havlabar which is the Armenian spelling of the word Avlabari. It is a city in Georgia, now we read it as the state of Georgia. The pronunciation of the county of Georgia should be its Russian name Gruziya, so it's not the same pronunciation as the state of Georgia. I was introduced by a friend who referred to this as a Libernan restaurant, but we eventually found that it's a Georgian family restaurant. The waitresses come from the mid-east, they are so beautiful with dark eyes and dark hair. Danny and I arrive around 2 pm, fortunately, they are still open. It looks like Danny is very familiar with the restaurant and the waitress. He told me that the yogurt and bread is very good, and it looks like both yogurt and bread are made by the restaurant instead of purchased from the market. I do not know Libernan food, as Danny first mentioned, nor Georgian Food. As Danny ordered a set of Beef Lule Kabab, I mentioned that I want to try some single dish. The waitress recommend the OSTRI, and we also ordered two Khinkali, one boiled and one fried, it looks so like a Chinese dumpling called sui mai. The juice of the Beef Lule Kebab was much beyond my imagination, it was so soft and juicy. The best kebab I ever had. I only shared half piece of Beef Lule Kebab from Danny, I have to say this one is worth 5 stars. The Beef Lule Kebab is served with grilled tomato, you will smash it and mix it with the rice, it is sour and can reduce the oily of the meat. I was supposed to order lamb chop or other dishes, but the waitress recommend OSTRI. The dish is soooo goood it's stewed beef with tomato, onion, and spices but mixed so well. No matter eat with rice, pancake, or bread, they are all good. It's sour and tasty, I definitely will copycat it. read more

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Bomb food. We usually to go it and it's still hot and perfect to eat when we get it home. Love everything. Tastes home made with love

Love this place! Good selection, authentic taste, reasonable pricing. Service is not typical for US, which makes it even more authentic. read more

Havlabar - Hinkali, khacgapuri - Georgian Near Me - Glendale, California

The worst place in my entire life! We were there with friends, but now I will not advise anyone. I don't know who got paid there for good comments. First, the service is disgusting. We ordered food and they brought us something else, as they said that the waiter did not understand what we ordered. When the waiter was changing the plates, her jacket went into the ketchup plate for the child and after that she dropped it altogether, took napkins from our table and wiped it, smearing it on the floor. In parallel with this, the waiters run to smoke every 10 minutes. We were about to leave, gave the card for payment and waited for it to be returned to us for about 20 minutes, they had already forgotten about it, but they didn't forget to run a smoke. Food - you will not find traditional khachapuri or Georgian wine here. The price is too high for this quality and service. I do not advise anyone! read more

Havlabar - Georgian Near Me - Glendale, California

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Do not come here! 1. They smoke inside. 2. The worst customer service I have ever had. 3. We walked into an unfriendly hostess. She sat us down at the farthest table from the entrance. Basically, tossed the menu at us, didn't explain the food or any specials. Then we asked for water, not bottled water. They brought us bottled water. We asked a 2nd waitress for water, and she also gave us bottles. I had to use a hand signal for a pitcher. I ordered 3 dumplings, and they're were huge and missing something. Such terrible service, didn't come over to check on us. Then, I started to smell cigarette smoke. The waitress was smoking inside the restaurant! We asked her to go outside to smoke, and she refused. Then we noticed other people were smoking inside too. The service was rude, we just left. Do not come here!! read more

I wasn't sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised to find some very traditional Armenian dishes. The soups take a long time to cook so they are only available at certain times or through advance orders read more

Havlabar - Bread - Georgian Near Me - Glendale, California

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I have to preface this review by noting that perhaps because the restaurant has just launched there are demonstrable kinks they still seem to have to sort out. Also, that I have traveled in Georgia and being a fan of the cuisine, own a cookbook which I read like a gourmand, have prepared recipes myself, have attended feasts prepared by Georgian friends, and have tried Georgian restaurants in Europe and in Washington DC. So it is with regret that I must inform the Yelp checker that this establishment, in comparison with my previous experience, is astoundingly disappointing. The room itself is plain and sparsely decorated, but oddly reminiscent of some former-Soviet-satellite spartan-ism so I let that slide. The menu seems oddly overpriced for such a no-frills place. While the menu covers the highlights of Georgian cuisine including khachapuri, cooked stews featuring lamb, cooked sturgeon, salads, phkali, and rinkali (the dumplings), it's oddly arranged. A typical Georgian meal is served with multiple dishes on the table, usually savored in courses but really fine when combined together. Here, the menu has cordoned items into "appetizers" and "mains" in a manner that seems unfairly priced. Phkali, a vegetable dish that is eaten alongside a meat dish, with a bread item, and a salad, is found in the appetizers section and priced at $16. Mains are priced at around $24. You cannot therefore order what in Georgia would typically be served together at a table--as a "combo" for example-- unless you drop around $20 for each item. This place is using what feels like a false-fit model that doesn't correspond to the Georgian style of plating. They ought to figure out appropriately-scaled pricing or "combination" plates that represent their plating without breaking the bank. The phkali I ordered was proffered as three different vegetables-- beet greens, eggplant, and spinach. What came out (without apologies) was spinach (twice) and eggplant. Yet, as their ONLY customer, they didn't try to offer me a discount for providing only 2/3 of what was advertised in their menu, nor did they offer me the compensation of some other sample of their menu (a cup of soup?). A dry cut of bread accompanied the Phkali balls. The balls themselves were dry and didn't have enough red wine vinegar in the mix to make it adequately sour. I've made Phkali many times and I know the tricks. It felt sad that despite having only ONE customer, they couldn't pull off the caliber of generous hospitality that one associates with Georgia. Once in America you operate like an unfeeling capitalist? What a sad reflection of cultural misdirection. I felt like I spent $21 on three slices of egg plant and a fistful of spinach, inadequately prepared. They don't have a liquor license to be able to serve the famed Georgian wines. I also thought the service was rather dour and unprofessional. I ordered a lemonade so they opened a bottle, served me a glass and kept the bottle. I had to request the left over drink in the bottle! Later, I walked a few steps down towards the bustling and friendly (Armenian) Lahmajune Factory and bought a perfect Lahmajune for $1.50 to remove the slightly dry aftertaste of this so far stumbling restaurant. I might go back innocuously though, in a few months to try some of their other mains, just for my own cook's curiosity about their renditions of Georgian items. Until then, general public be warned. read more

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Food was great The ladies serving were so friendly. Helped us understand the menu as well. Mmm the khinkali were so good! read more

This Restaurant was amazing!!! The waitress's were so nice and respectful! The seating was great and the owner of the business "Karen Karapetyan" is very nice! The restaurant is family owned. There open late and are always available. The seating and food itself tasted amazing with a perfect combination of Georgian/ Armenian Food. It has now become my personal favorite restaurant. I usually don't give reviews but this restaurant deserves one so head on down to HAVLABAR!!! I recommend this restaurant a lot!!!! read more

Great surprise for me and all Georgian , Armenian Caucasican food lovers, simply amazing , anything you order just so good , well prepared food, very good, right tasting, and nice people,all my friends just loved it , coming back for more takeouts soon! Thanks! Don't forget to have with it good red wine, otherwise you waisting the food;)) read more

Havlabar - the front of a restaurant at night - Georgian Near Me - Glendale, California

This people have NO idea what Georgian Khachapuri and Lobiani are. They even not from Georgia. It's a shame. First of all, they over cook and burn it. Second, once it's cold, it's hard to chew , because of rubbery texture. Third, $12! for one small .." whatever", is waaay to much. I don't know how their other the "Georgian" dishes taste, and don't even want to try it. Any housewife in or from Georgia will make you Khachapuri that you will never forget the taste. I wanted to take back my $72 order, but instead threw it in the trashcan. Food is a big part of Georgian Culture. We, from Georgia, take personally, if we see something like That. read more

Havlabar - They call it "Khachapuri", I call it Shame! - Georgian Near Me - Glendale, California

I have been to many Armenian restaurants. this one hands down had the best food. the service was great. Ambience was ok. not a flashy place but the food is 10/10 hands down. doesn't get bette than this. definitely try it out. thank you read more

Best I've had it's basically home made. Very nice place and they have everything you'd ever want or need at a proper dinner table. Service is great every question is answered and explained properly by the server. Will always come back only cons are the place isn't bigger and parking isn't bigger. read more

Positives: first and foremost the food is really delicious , ordered the khinkhali (would recommend boiled) and the chicken and lamb stews Parking was easy and it's a convenient spot to have a party I would rate the food very highly Negatives: that being said, my group received bad service, which would be one thing, but the other tables who spoke the language seemed to get much better service which we didn't take well Also the prices seem much higher than appropriate for the dish, for example, if you came alone and ordered the lamb stew you'd be paying for two small pieces of meat and a savory soup I would come back if I was in a large group and we were all sharing and celebrating an occasion Not as good for a date night or with one or two friends... read more

Havlabar - Lamb - Georgian Near Me - Glendale, California

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I had a feeling that I will be having a great Georgian good when I go to this place. I drove almost 20 miles all the way to this place hoping to get a top service. first of all, as soon as we walked in the cigarette smokes were everywhere and was choking me. second, the food quality was not what we expected, we ordered Beef kabob, the rice was so cold and the meat was so chewy and cold as well. one waitress was serving 4 tables at the same time. she was so irresponsible and impolite. we had to wait almost 20 more minutes to ask for to go container for our left over. overall 0 ranking not recommended at all read more

Splendid Georgian cuisine: wonderful homemade bread; good Georgian red wine. Baked trout is a standout dish; beef kebab, cucumber salad, assorted pkhali (excellent!). Friendly and helpful waitress. Ambiance is arranged with privacy panels--probably done for Covid. it looks like you could've wandered into a social club or card game... read more

This is definitely an experience, so keep that in mind when you go. Yes, people do smoke inside. There is only one waitress on the weekends, so expect to spend one-two hours and have a leisurely experience. The waitress speaks English but is definitely more comfortable with Armenian (and, I expect, Russian and Georgian) so you may need some patience. They appear to have some liquor bottles behind the hostess desk, though they don't show up on the menu. Now, for the food. There are two menus, Armenian and Georgian. I'm not Georgian so can't speak for the authenticity of the Georgian menu (though I did recognize some dishes). However, I can attest to the authenticity of the Armenian menu. Don't expect to eat kebabs but you can order harissa, tzhvzhik, ker u sus, and other Eastern Armenian dishes. Since we had the Georgian dishes, I'll talk about those. They were generally very good. My only complaint was that a few were over salted. I thought the khinkalis at Khinkali House were better, but these were pretty decent. The chakapuli was particularly good, redolent with tarragon, parsley, and other greens. The bread must have been homemade and was chewy, dense, and crusty. The mushrooms in sulguni cheese were perfect, the funkiness of the cheese balancing out the meatiness of the mushrooms. So if you want a true food adventure in Glendale, this is the place to go. Just leave your expectations of high end dining at the door. Instead, imagine you're eating at somebody's house somewhere in the Georgian countryside. read more

I try this place last week and it was pretty good. I used to live in the motherland and I did not expect to find real Georgian food in USA. I got the khachapuri imeruli and megruli. Both very tasty and rich in flavor. I definitely recommended all people try! read more

This place is a wonderful dining location. The service is very fast, prompt and and the food is beyond amazing. A must go if you are in the area! : , , : , : . , . , ! . , ​​ . ! read more

Havlabar - Georgian Near Me - Glendale, California

This place is the best! Reminds me of Home. There xinkali and ojahuri are amazing. There xachapuri on the grill is just the best I have ever had. The food is just like it is in Georgia. The service is amazing and all at a great cost. I come here all the time with my family. read more

Havlabar - Georgian Near Me - Glendale, California

Love this place, I recommend to all lovers of the best exotic Caucasian food. I will come to this place over and over read more

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We are from her very often. Their food is vey delicious and consistent. They also have in house delivery.

Terrific authentic Georgian food! This is the real deal. A great variety. This isn't a formal restaurant - so don't come here expecting one. Come for good real Georgian food! read more

Never had Georgian food but my God this was a great introduction. The bread was super fresh. Loved the lemonade that they had in stock. The kinkhali dumpling were huge and so tasty. Beef stroganoff was incredible. Do yourself a favor and try this. read more

Khinkali were the biggest disappointment How you can run a Georgian restaurant with this kind of Khinkali?! Also, this restaurant smells like a smoke shop. We didn't even finish our food and just walked away. Btw, costumer service is horrible too. The waiters talk to you, like you own them a money. read more

Best food and service ever . No other experience like it. 10/10 recommend, will be going again soon

Wow this guy knows what his doing great Georgian food try the "Hinkali" 100% recommended read more

Havlabar - Yam - Georgian Near Me - Glendale, California

Amazing Georgian dinner. So unique and fresh. Great service. Looking forward returning to try the rest of the read more

Havlabar - Homemade bread - Georgian Near Me - Glendale, California