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    Khinkali House

    4.1 (545 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 10:30 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    KHINKALI HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Romantic

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    Fried Khinkali
    John-Carlo B.

    Khinkali House is a fantastic spot for authentic Georgian food. I ordered the charcuterie plate, boiled and fried khinkali with cheese, beef, and lamb, plus the sturgeon skewer, and everything was flavorful and very reasonably priced. The khinkali were easily the highlight of the meal. Service was incredibly quick. I was seated right away, the food came out fast, and the staff gave great recommendations on what to order. The atmosphere is warm and casual, with a cozy dining room that makes it easy to settle in and enjoy the meal. I would have loved some complimentary bread, but that's a very minor complaint. Overall, a great experience and a place I'd definitely return to.

    Khachapuri cheesy egg and bread boats for dipping
    Will W.

    We came for a light snack before dinner It was my first time trying Armenian-Georgian soup dumplings (the khinkali). We tried the lamb and the beef boiled ( traditional way) and then we tried the mushrooms fried. I would say traditional method is ok but those mushroom ones fries were excellent so I'm thinking them fried must be even better. The dumplings are quite big but they're mostly empty with a bit of ground meat and a thin broth. It's tasty but if you're expecting a soup dumpling like DTF (din tai fung) then this isn't it. It's heartier and less refined than the DTF version. The hummus is great and so was the khachapuri (Georgia egg and cheese bread boats). The staff was super nice and very accommodating to our family. We had a bunch of rambunctious kids and they're were super nice with them. The restaurant is nice and very spacious it can definitely have some big parties in there. They have a full bar and the prices are reasonable for their drinks. Would def come back

    KHINKALI (Boiled) - 
 Large Georgian dumpling filled with choice of Ground beef, Lamb, Georgian cheese, 
 Mushroom
    Eric D.

    The OG Soup Dumpling: Why Khinkali House is Glendale's Best Kept Secret Let's get one thing straight: if you think the "soup dumpling" started with a two-hour wait outside a Din Tai Fung, you're about 600 years late to the party. While the culinary world is currently obsessed with the delicate, bite-sized Xiao Long Bao--which didn't even show up until the 1870s in Shanghai--the Georgians have been perfecting this craft since the 13th-century Mongol invasions. Khinkali is the OG. It's the rugged, fist-sized ancestor that doesn't need a bamboo steamer basket or a delicate, nervous touch. It's a meal that requires soul, a bit of primitive technique, and a complete disregard for your clean shirt. Tucked away on Artsakh Avenue, Khinkali House is where you go to pay your respects to this ancient culinary titan. Atmosphere and the Art of the Rainy Day I happened to drop in on a rare, miserable rainy day in Glendale, and let me tell you, sitting out in their roomy, covered patio area while the water drummed against the roof was pure atmospheric gold. It's the kind of setting that demands heavy, unapologetic comfort food. The service here is sharp, warm, and attentive--the kind of old-school hospitality that makes you feel like a regular before you've even opened the menu. The Opening Act: Borscht with Soul You don't just jump into a pile of massive dumplings. You have to prepare the palate. I started with a bowl of their Borscht, and it was exquisite. It arrived as a deep, vibrant crimson pool of beet-infused soul, swimming with tender beef, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes. It was earthy, slightly sweet, and served at a temperature that could ward off any chill in your bones. It's the kind of bowl that tells you immediately that this kitchen isn't just following a recipe; they're honoring a bloodline. The Main Event: The Four Pillars of Khinkali Then came the heavy hitters. Unlike the thin-skinned, elegant Xiao Long Bao, Khinkali is built for battle. It's a massive, boiled parcel with a thick, satisfyingly chewy dough gathered at the top into a sturdy little knot or "handle" (the kudi). You don't eat the handle--you use it to hoist the beast, bite a small hole in the side, aggressively slurp out the liquid gold trapped inside, and then devour the rest. I worked my way through all four flavors, and each was a masterclass in balance: Ground Beef & Pork: The classic heavyweight. The moment you pierce the dough, a rich, heavily spiced, aggressively savory broth floods your spoon. The meat is fatty in all the right ways, laced with herbs that cut through the richness. It is purely addictive. Lamb: A masterclass in bold, unapologetic flavor. The lamb adds a deeply gamey, sophisticated depth that grounds the entire dish. As it boils, the rendered fat mixes with the internal cooking liquids inside that thick doughy cavern to create a broth that is darker, earthier, and aggressively flavorful. It's a heavy, soulful revelation that hits you right in the chest. Mushroom: Often treated as a vegetarian afterthought in other places, here it's a star. It hits you with a massive wave of umami. The mushrooms are tender and earthy, producing a fragrant, woodsy liqueur inside the dumpling that makes you realize you don't need meat to create a complex masterpiece. Georgian Cheese (The Undisputed Champion): I'm just going to say it--this was my absolute favorite. It is an exercise in pure, primal decadence. Instead of a meat broth, biting into this unleashes a molten, gooey river of tangy, salty Georgian cheese. It pulls, it stretches, and the sharp, slightly funky bite of the cheese against the warm, thick dough is a spiritual experience. I could eat ten of these and die happy. The Return Trip The tragedy of Khinkali House is that the dumplings are so filling, you have to leave the rest of the menu unexplored. But I am already plotting my return. Next time, I'm coming back for the Adjarskiy Khachapuri--that famous Georgian boat-shaped bread loaded with melted cheese and crowned with a fresh egg yolk and a pat of butter. I also have my eye on the Zhengyalov Hatz (a traditional Armenian herb-filled flatbread), and the wildly intriguing Osetrina (Sturgeon) Skewer, which you just don't see every day. The Verdict: Respect the Elders Let's cut the noise. Xiao Long Bao is great for a polite, light lunch, but Khinkali is for when you want to feel something real. Khinkali House has managed to bring a 13th-century mountain staple to a Glendale patio and make it feel like the most relevant thing on the street. It's bold, it's historical, and it's flat-out delicious. If you want to experience the true evolution of the dumpling, get yourself to Khinkali House. Grab a handle, watch the rain, and eat like a Georgian highlander. You can thank me later.

    Monica C.

    Okay, this place is officially a new favorite! The food is absolutely divine, and I'm still thinking about it. Huge shoutout to Irina because she is hands down the BEST!! Her energy and service were everything.

    Shrimp Skewer & Osetrina Sturgeon Skewer

    First time here and I'll definitely be back. Our waitress was amazing.. Very welcoming, attentive, and helpful. Here's what we ordered: Cheese Plate & Charcuterie Board - Would absolutely order again. Great variety and perfect for sharing. Zhengalov Hatz - Loved it. Grilled Khachapuri - Solid and satisfying. Mediterranean Salad - Refreshing with a great mix of herbs that blended perfectly together. Khinkali (Fried Cheese, Beef, and Mushroom) - All were amazing. Definitely a must-order. Pork, Osetrina, Shrimp, and Lamb Skewers - Not bad at all, but probably wouldn't order them again. Overall, really enjoyed the experience, food, and service. Looking forward to coming back :)

    Mediterranean Salad
    Lisa N.

    Khinkali House 8/10 Found this gem one Saturday when we were in town. Originally, we were going to this other place down the street but even on a Saturday at ~2 pm, the other place had almost an hour wait. Regardless, this place was amazing. No wait around 2 pm and really quick service. Famous for their dumplings, you can really see why. We grabbed the mushroom ones, both a steamed and fried. I do recommend the steamed. You're able to really taste and savory the soup. The cucumber salad and bread were highlights as well. Pro-tip: bring a group here so you can share things family style! Service: 5/5 Food/Drinks: 4/5 Price: 4/5 Atmosphere: 3/5

    Tatyana E.

    The food was not what we expected. We had one of each Khinkali dumpling (boiled lamb, boiled beef, fried mushroom, friend cheese), the pickled veggies, borscht, and zhengyalov hatz. The salted chickpeas were a strange app, but could've be also we aren't regular connoisseurs of this cuisine. Maybe we incorrectly came in thinking this was comparable to Din tai fung which it definitely was not. Our experience here felt like every dish was an appetizer. The best dish we had was the zhengyalov hatz which is probably purchased from the place nearby that only does this and unlikely to be prepared in house. We left full but unsatisfied. Most of the food was heavy / greasy to us and no real main entree. The best Khinkali of the ones we got was the steamed beef. It didn't have a whole lot of flavor still. We likely won't be coming back because this type of food I guess just isn't for us, but clearly they have a lot of supporters who like it so it just comes down to personal presence for us. We came on a weekday late lunch hour and it was not too busy and service was great. The first water glass brought to me was chipped in two places but was replaced when I mentioned it. Definitely should be doing checks before putting it on the table. They could do much better on presentation. It's just - couple wet dumplings laying there on a white plate. It's what it would look like if I were to serve this at home"m. When you pay to eat out, you expect a little extra of an experience that you wouldn't be getting at home - for the preparation, plating, and presentation. Feedback is to add better presentation of your food, it could help it taste better for having the extra visual appeal.

    Kristen K.

    We had several delicious variations of meat and cheese and dough that were very good. Wasn't really feeling the white tablecloth setting/vibe. We thought they would have a fun selection of Georgian wine including orange wine but that was not the case. The one Georgian dry white wine and one Georgian dry red wine we tried were not good, but I guess they were kind of cheap at $10/glass. The only issue is they accidentally poured us an extra glass of red, took it away from our table, and still charged us for it (and we didn't realize until after we'd paid and left). We also wanted to try a little baklava at the end and they made it sound like the pieces were really small so we ordered two not realizing they were massive and $10 each! It was a...fine restaurant but I do not think I will be coming back.

    Boiled khinkali
    Benedict A.

    Came here today for lunch. Never had Georgian food before. So I was quite excited to see what that's all about. I really like the interior. Its quiet. It looks elegant. I like the exposed ceiling with the chandeliers. There's also seating outside as well. They have a pretty good menu. With so many Eastern European dishes and drinks. We ordered the following: 1. Mashed red bean (Lobi Pashtet)- 4 little clumps of red beans. Reminded me of raw meat. It was a good appetizer. Good seasoning. Not over powering. But pleasing to the palate. 2. Khinkali- they have 4 different types of these large Georgian dumplings. And they have them either fried or traditional, which is boiled. Reminds me of Xiao Long Baos or Chinese soup dumplings. But just a lot larger. Good flavors. Good amount of filling. I prefer the fried ones better though in that it held its shape easier than the boiled ones. The beef and lamb ones are a lot better than the cheese and mushroom ones. There's definitely a technique to eating them!! 3. Quinoa salad- this was really good. I enjoyed the slices of green apples. Added some sweetness and tartness. It was light and refreshing. 4. Beef skewer- the beef was tough. Maybe because we ordered it medium well. It wasn't that great. 5. Khachapuri (regular)- it was small. Like a little loaf of cheesy bread. Bread was crunchy on the outside but very cheesy and warm on the inside. 6. Chicken wings- this was one of the bigger disappointments. $15 for 4 anemic tiny chicken wings. Not crunchy at all. Extremely salted. And they just looked really sad. They belong more in the dollar per wing sode of things. 7. Okroshka drink- a yogurt based Russian drink. Had lots of dill and cucumber in it. It was interesting and unique. 8. Honey cake- this was really good. Light, fluffy, not crazy sweet. It was just really small though. 9. Armenian coffee- little cups of coffee with the grounds on the bottom. It wasn't strong at all, like turkish coffee. It was kind of weak and anemic. 10. Chickpeas- they had a bowl of this on the table to begin thr meal with. They were really tasty! Cooked well, had a nice bite to them. And flavors were just popping! Overall the food was good. Is it authentic? I think so. I have nothing to compare it too. But it was new and unique to me. I love the vibes here. They use that ugly butcher paper for the tables like Raffis does. Food does come out quickly here. Its family style type of eating here and we did order a lot of food, but the bill does reflect that. They charge a non cash pay fee which I find to be upsetting, because who payd cash these days...... And they didn't tell me about it beforehand. Must try here that we ordered would be the quinoa salad and the honey cake. I would never order the chicken wings again. The okroshka I was glad to try but wouldn't order it again. Everything else was OK to pretty good. If you've never had Georgian food or Armenian food, I'd definitely recommend it.

    Honey Cake
    Lisa C.

    Im a fan. I've been here a few times and have enjoyed each experience. When I think Armenian food, this is the place I think of. Grilled Meats - it's all good. My favorite will always be the lamb with the salmon following as a close second. Dumplings - I like that you can order per unit so you can try a variety of different flavors. Honey Cake - my absolutely favorite. Say yes, every time. General Abiance - I prefer sitting outside. It's a bit bright inside. The outdoor area is more vibey and a bit more intimate.

    Toma J.

    Food was good but the service was absolutely abhorrent. We ordered beef shish kebab, it only came with one sad excuse layer of lavash that was already soaked. We asked for more lavash and they did not disclose that they would charge us for it. They charged us 4 dollars for a sad amount of lavash(see photo below). Genuinely baffling. It did not end there. We also ordered a Caesar's salad. They brought out fries instead, and at the time we thought they were just being nice so we didn't say anything about it. The salad never came out and the server made the poor excuse of saying that they heard us say "seasoned fries". (What is the "seasoned" portion I don't even know it was regular fries.). Do better khinkali house. Train your employees. Very disappointing.

    Juan F.

    First time having Armenian/Georgian food. My friend took us here so that we could finally try it. We ordered: Khachapuri- Georgian Cheese bread Mediterranean Salad - Tomatoes and cucumbers tossed with herbs, olive oil and spices Khinkali (Boiled) - Beef, Cheese and Mushroom Khinkali (Fried) - Beef, Cheese and Mushroom Napoleon Mikado Overall, everything is excellent. I loved the Khachapuri and the fried Khinkali. The Napoleon was also great. Would definitely come back and try other items - specially the skewers.

    Cheese khinkali fried

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Lovely dumplings, including mushroom and cheese vegetarian options. I recommend the fried version of the cheese

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    Hayk B.

    Thank you so much Davit for a great feedback :)

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Manager acts like a man child when I simply told them I wanna switch a food item for something else

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    1 year ago

    Great service would recommend eating there again the food was amazing along with the drinks

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    1 year ago

    Food was absolutely amazing. I loved it. Service was great. Definitely will be coming again.

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    5 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Loved this place as it has very traditional food. I tried one of each Khinkali and it didn't disappoint I had to ask for seconds.

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    2 years ago

    Everything was great! And the armenian girl who served us was very helpful and kind!

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    5 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    Thank you so much Eve for sharing your experience with us :)

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    Page 3 of 14

    Khinkali House Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Khinkali House

    Hello I was wondering if any of the meats served at the restaurant is kosher or halal? Thanks in advance!

    Hello Nima, unfortunately, none of the meats served at the restaurant are kosher or halal. Thanks!

    Do you not have a liquor license?

    Hello Yulia, of course, we have a full alcohol license. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to sell any alcohol at the restaurant.

    When I call nobody picks up the phone?

    Depends on when you're calling, the servers usually answer the phone but when you call on times when there's a lot of people at the restaurant it will take a little bit till someone picks up. Or if you're calling before 11.

    What's the dress code?

    There is no dress code me and my family come there in all sorts of clothes and they never said anything.

    Is there anything that might be safe to enjoy here for someone with nightshade allergies (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers including red pepper spices)?

    Are you open for dine in?

    They are open for dine-in, but it is outdoor seating only.

    Do they have khachapuri?

    Yes, the do! Very tasty!

    View All 9 Questions

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    Mini Kabob

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    0.5 mi
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    Mini Kabob
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    Cesar wrap

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    Catering service

    First time patron of Asteria, and I must say this place blew every other Mediterranean restaurant…read moreI've tried out of the water. We made reservations just in case there'd be a wait on a Friday evening, but surprisingly the restaurant wasn't busy, a shame for them, but something we were grateful for. We ordered the baba ghanoush right away because I was absolutely famished, and we were also served a generous plate of hummus with delicious homemade chips on the side. The chips were salty and tangy, which paired perfectly with the hummus. I ordered the chicken breast and luleh combo, while my partner got the filet mignon with tzatziki, and everything was incredible. It was my first time trying chicken luleh and I can confidently say I'm a fan now. Perfectly seasoned, tender, and flavorful. The rice was cooked perfectly as well. The only thing I would've loved is a side of raw onions, but that's purely personal preference. What really says it all is that the entire meal was eaten mostly in silence and not a single picture was taken, which is completely out of character for me as a foodie. "Camera eats first" absolutely does not apply at this restaurant. The establishment is run by a lovely couple in the kitchen along with one server. It's a quaint little spot that feels warm and personal, and I already have a feeling I'll be coming back often.

    1 Star -- Even One Star Feels Too Generous…read more I honestly don't understand how this restaurant has such a high Yelp rating. My family loves Armenian food, and after seeing Asteria rated around 4.7 on Yelp, we decided to try somewhere new for Saturday lunch. We drove 1 1/2 hours expecting a nice family meal. Unfortunately, I regretted that decision almost immediately. Parking was difficult, but that was the least of our problems. The real problem started when we walked in. No "Welcome," no "Hello," no smile -- nothing. The woman working there simply stared at us. Her attitude made us feel like, "Oh great, more customers." We felt unwelcome from the beginning. She was dressed very fancy, but looking upscale means nothing when basic hospitality is missing. Her attitude was so cold that we didn't even feel comfortable asking questions about the menu. When taking our order, if she didn't understand something, instead of politely saying "Excuse me?" or asking us to repeat ourselves, she responded: "Huh?" "Huh?" I seriously considered leaving, but after driving 1 1/2 hours with my parents and wife, we stayed. Unfortunately, the food didn't make things better. Several dishes were extremely salty. My parents couldn't even finish half their meals. My father said the meat was tough but kept eating some because he didn't want to waste the money. My wife took only a few bites because her food was so salty. I normally LIKE salty food, and even I thought it was too salty. The service during our meal was practically nonexistent. Not once did she come over on her own to ask if everything was okay or if we needed anything. Every time we needed something, we had to call her ourselves. It was also close to 100°F outside, and the restaurant was extremely warm. I couldn't even tell if the A/C was running. Meanwhile, she had a fan blowing on herself near the counter. Then, while we were still eating, she started taking one of our plates away. We had to tell her, "We're still eating," and she put it back. Then came the check. We were told that the tip should be left in cash. I normally tip around 20%, and I'm happy to tip more for good service. But after this experience, I honestly didn't feel like leaving a tip at all. I was so frustrated that I even considered leaving one penny to show how I felt about the service. My family told me, "Don't do that. Just don't ever come back." So despite being completely unhappy, I still left a 15% cash tip. To be clear, I didn't leave 15% because the service deserved it. I left it because I was done with the situation and simply wanted to pay and get out. After paying, I walked outside before my family because I didn't want to spend one more minute inside that restaurant. All I could think was: "Why did I drive 1 1/2 hours and spend my own money to be treated like this?" I don't know whether this woman was an employee, manager, owner, or connected to ownership. But if she's an employee, management seriously needs to pay attention to how customers are being treated. If she's involved in management or ownership, then that would explain a lot about the service we experienced. A restaurant can post beautiful pictures and present itself as upscale, but real class is shown in how you treat your customers. We weren't asking for five-star luxury service. We expected the basics: greet your customers, take their order politely, check on the table occasionally, and don't take away their food while they're still eating. Maybe the people leaving great reviews had a different server, came on a different day, or simply got lucky. I can only review what my family and I personally experienced, and our experience was nothing like what a 4.7 rating led us to expect. We drove 1 1/2 hours, received cold and dismissive service, ate overly salty food, had to repeatedly call the server ourselves, sat in an uncomfortably warm restaurant, had a plate taken while we were still eating, and were then told to leave the tip in cash. Despite all of that, I still left 15%. Would I come back? Absolutely not. Would I recommend this restaurant to family or friends? Absolutely not. If you're thinking about making a long drive because of the high Yelp rating like we did, I strongly suggest thinking twice. If you still want to try it for yourself... Good luck. Once was more than enough for me.

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    Asteria Restaurant
    Asteria Restaurant
    Asteria Restaurant

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    Havlabar

    Havlabar

    4.2(112 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    I've never had Georgian food, so it was very intriguing when our friend introduced us to one in…read moreGlendale. 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.

    The Khinkali was pretty good and the bread was fantastic. I did not enjoy the Sacivi as much to be…read morehonest, 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.

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    Havlabar
    Havlabar
    Havlabar

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    Khinkali House - armenian - Updated September 2026

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