Raffi's Place has never been on my radar, but my pseudo elite eating buddy introduced this popular Mediterranean restaurant and he heard that their kabobs are VERY good. Based on his statement, I was led to believe that this might be the best Mediterranean restaurant in LA County. Unfortunately, my recent dinner experience here tells me otherwise and their food was somewhat of a mixed bag. Parking: Free 90-minute parking right across from the restaurant (two public parking structures - one across from Broadway and one across from Maryland Ave). I came here with a small group on Sunday at 6 PM and we first left our name and phone number on the waiting list. This is an extremely popular restaurant and we were told that the wait was approximately 60 minutes. In reality we didn't wait that long and got a text 30 minutes later. Menu: All entrees come with basmati rice, grilled tomato, and Anaheim pepper. Not exactly an affordable restaurant - the cheapest entree selection is $16, BUT you do get a pretty big portion. *** Hommus (cooked, mashed garbanzo beans, blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic - $7): Very solid hummus, but the thinly sliced pita bread wasn't warm. Koobideh [Luleh Kabob] (lean ground beef, skewered and charbroiled to perfection - $16): I read few reviews and ultimately ordered koobideh. Other than the huge portion, meat tasted fairly dry. I tried my friend's lamb kabob and suddenly I had this strong feeling of buyer's remorse - lamb kabob was definitely better than koobideh. *** I think there are other Mediterranean options in LA county (especially in the South Bay area) with better kabobs (e.g. Aristo Cafe, Cleo, etc). Plus it doesn't help that you almost always have to wait if you come here for dinner on the weekends. read more

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Either my taste buds have changed or Persian restaurants aren't what they used to with a few exceptions including Raffi's. Place is always packed, food is always consistent, portions are huge and service is good. Highly recommend! read more

Raffi's Place - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

Great food & service.. Clean & great vibe.. the food is really good & big portion plates.. I would definitely recommend Raffi's place.. I will be definitely going back & enjoy more food. read more

My family and I have been going to Raffi's for years but lately we've gone from being regulars to infrequent customers because of the drop in quality. The service is good with attentive servers but the beef Soltani was a disappointment especially because we were craving Raffi's. The koobideh was improved this time after the quality went downhill though the skewer seemed a little short and the barg was so tough it couldn't be cut with a fork and spoon and was hard to chew. Is this really the best restaurant in Glendale? Really? The boneless chicken kabob was good but overall the quality of Raffi's isn't what it used to be and the lack of customers (compared to a couple of years ago) proves that. read more

We waited for our food for one hour. Rude and Poor management, dirty place. Not like before. read more

Best place to eat very welcoming the food is delicious good for parties and they cater

I been coming here for years I like to give my share of Thought on this platform So thank you to the owners of this establishment for giving such a amazing proud dish One of my favorite dish for years that has the same amazing taste and texture is beef kubideh plate For people that have no idea about Persian cuisine try it for sure you won't Regret it. I want ti thank all the staff they are wonderful Thank you read more

Tahdig w 2 stews was OK, I wish the Tahdig was a tad thicker to hold some crispness with the stew poured over it. Yogurt and shallot was fantastic! Kabobs were really good but a bit too salty for my taste, especially the Barg. The portions are great and food is flavorful! The albaloo polo side rice and shisk kabob was a hit! I found the barg a bit chewy but koobideh was Devine and shish kabob melted in your mouth!! This was the first time at Raffi's and I look forward to going back and trying more dishes. Service was very quick and friendly. read more

Raffi's Place - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

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Been going to Raffi's Place since the I think late 80's early 90's. I don't go as often as I would like. I've seen it grow and every time I do go they never disappoint. Your order is served quickly the drinks and food are amazing. The service moves quickly and they are never rude and accommodate you with what you ask or the best alternative. I was just there about a week ago with some friends from Canada and they very happy with their choice of food. Although I'm not into rack of lamb my friends are and they were extremely happy with their order. Go give it a try, the hummus and the yogurt, cucumber and herb dip is amazing. read more

I came here with my friends and cousin for dinner. We put our name on the waitlist when we were on our way, and by the time we arrived they gave us our table right away. Service was great and food was brought out fairly quick even though it was a Friday night and it was busy. I really like the setting: it feels like you are sitting in the courtyard. We ordered mastomoosir, tahdig, ghormesabzi, shirazi salad, and soultani kabobs. The kabob and mastomoosir were perfect. I don't think I have had anything that tasted this good any where else. I wish I could say the same about the tah dig , ghormesabzi and shirazi salad: I think the tahdig could be more crispy. It was hard to tell because ghorme sabzi was put on the tahdig when they were brought out, so it could be due to the ghorme sabzi. The ghorme sabzi was too oily in my opinion; a little less oil I think would bring out the greens flavor out better and the shirazi salad was missing onion. Overall I still think this is a nice place to come for a group, date, or even just by yourself. Service has been excellent in my experience so far and the food is generally delicious. read more

ALWAYS LOVE GETTING THIS PLACE! Usually me and my family of 3 will get the salmon and beef kobideh and we'll have them serve it family style. Love that they have this option! Be prepared to wait if you come here on the weekend, definitely worth the wait. On the weekends, their parking is only valet, but there is a structure not too far away. Love the indoor/outdoor feel to it and the service is usually quick. read more

Best food. It's always busy here, but they have the best service and the best food. I recommend this place. A bit pricey though.

Great place with amazing food. Highly recommend to anyone who likes Persian authentic food.

I have heard of this place for years and I finally tried it out. I ordered the shish kabob because I was absolutely craving it. My plate was huge and came with a good amount of basmati rice and roasted tomato. It could easily be made of two meals. The meat was soft and tender. I also ordered hummus which was very creamy and tasty. read more

If you want great food, come here. If you want good food AND good service, go somewhere else. Food is Delicious. Questionable service. Highly recommend specific staff gets retraining on what "Service with a Smile" means. This place is getting a mediocre rating due to the poor service received at the hands of the waiter. What Raffi's Place staff lacked in customer service basics made up for the entrees. my rating would be negative stars, if possible, if soely based on the service received by the waiter. We were seated right away on a not-that-busy evening, and just as quickly forgotten by the restaurant staff. It's really horrible when you sit there for 15 minutes and have to flag the host down just to get a menu. Then, and only then, did the staff acknowledge our presence. Still, a search party had to be sent for our waiter, who approached the table with what I could only describe as a bothered snooty scowl. Asked us for our drinks, and we asked for a menu or at least to advise what drinks he had on hand. ONE Menu was produced by this person who was our waiter, and asked if we were ready to order after merely having the menu in our hands for less than 10 seconds. Never was the red carpet or hand-holding ever expected, but after mentioning it was my friend's first time at Raffi's, the assumption is a lasting impression by the staff would be made, at the minimum and experience similar to what other tables were experiencing that evening. It's a shame that a place that is so near and dear and highly recommended (we came here via word-of-mouth) treats new guests this way. read more

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Ordered many appetizers and all was delicious but the star of the show was the beef soltani kabob. Omg it was to die for. Let's not forget the rack of lamb also. I went with the family and close friends as well and everyone left full and satisfied. I will come back guys! Thanks again. read more

Raffi's Place - Beef Soltani Kebob - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

Last night our friends introduced us to the amazing Raffi's Place in GLENDALE, I had the beef Barg and beef Koobideh. The flavors were delicious the Beef so soft and succulent. We also tried the eggplant and crunchy rice, tabbouleh appetizers plus Baklava. All yummy. My husband had the chicken kabob With cherry rice. It's really best to reserve your place in the yelp waItlist - it was an over 2 hour wait with lots of huge parties who signed up online, actually I couldn't believe how many people go there. But worth it!!! read more

Raffi's Place - Beef Barg and Koubideh with salad. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

My family and I love Raffi's It worth driving from West-side to Glendale Kabobs are juicy and delicious and it has a nostalgic setting for a gal from Iran read more

The best. You come here for the best. That is all that needs to be said! Food is amazing. Well worth the 1.5 hour line.

They are open late and have ample seating so you'll usually get a table quickly. The wait staff is professional and the menu is extensive. We ordered several dishes beyond even what we were going to eat that night and every single item we tasted was delicious, authentic and worth every penny. We will definitely be back. read more

Raffi's Place - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

Although the food quality is good , this place is definitely not a handicap accessible restaurant. No priorities is considered for people with accessibility issues and the receptionist even ignoring the problem. There isn't any slope at the main (back) entrance, and the people with disabilities have to be dropped off at the front door, in a busy street. There isn't even a spot to leave the walker. I had to ask several times to get the walker out of our table. Our table was attached to a large flower pot and was close to the other adjacent tables. THE RECEPTIONISTS DON'T HAVE PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE CUSTOMERS AND THIS IS NOT AN ACCESSIBLE RESTAURANT. read more

I dare anyone not to love this place. Really a true gem in the Glendale area. From the outside seating area, great menu options and absolutely enormous portions .. I'll come here any day. This place is a bit on the pricey side for lunch but you can easily share an entree... that is if you like sharing. I had the boneless chicken kabob with basmati rice. I couldn't finish it and actually enjoyed the other half the next day. Tasted even better! Waiter was excellent and they seated us quickly. Water was at our table before I could blink. Will be back again soon! read more

Raffi's Place - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

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Came here on a Wednesday late afternoon and there was no wait although the restaurant was fairly full. My boyfriend and I ordered the lamb chop kabob plate with hummus, tabouleh, and eggplant dip. The lamb chops were sooo good, they were juicy and flavorful. The hummus dip was good, not too salty, just the way I like it. The eggplant dip was sweet and savory, not my favorite, but still pretty good. The tabouleh was my favorite side, it was light and citrusy which helped the heaviness of the rest of the meal. You could definitely share one plate, my boyfriend and I were stuffed after our meal. The price is pretty steep but you pay for what you get. I would recommend this place and will probably be back to try another dish! read more

Raffi's Place - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

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Good atmosphere, clean and the food is good. The service is good, friendly staff. Enjoyed eating here with my friends. I'm visiting from FL

Amazing service and busy restaurant with the best kebabs! Delicious food and friendly atmosphere

Great service, good ingredients, hits all taste buds the right way. It's convenient location and the deals are much appreciated

A good place for a big appetite. Always feel satisfied when the dishes are meat, meat and good rice. Service is professional. Valet parking is available. read more

I was in the area and decided to try this place because a friend mentioned it before. The restaurant is pretty big. It is quite a busy place with people all over the place but the ambiance is nice. I ordered the chicken soltani plate which is a mix of their chicken barg (breast) and chicken koobideh (ground chicken with spices) on rice. The portions are really big! I ate half of it and saved the other half for my next meal. The chicken was tender and flavorful and I liked the pepper they gave with it. Mediterranean food in my area is pretty limited and this place definitely beats them. It was so good and if I'm ever in the area, I would definitely eat here! read more

Raffi's Place - Chicken soltani - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

Good food just as I always remember. I've been going here throughout the 12 years of living in LA. It is very authentic and all the delicious dishes are just as I remember. read more

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For the love of Pete, Wendy, how many times can you eat Mediterranean food? Well, to somebody who has been looking at all my recent check-ins....um, almost daily? It is not hard to determine why Raffi's has so many reviews and a solidly high star rating. Even though it was Mother's Day weekend, and huge parties were making overtures to their respective mothers, and the wait was supposed to be a half hour, we got in long before. The large patio dining area was crammed full, the smaller indoor dining room, equally full. The protected patio is a delightful place to sit and people watch, the tepid climate here was inviting for a perfect al fresco experience. The servers were bustling to make everyone's time a happy one. One big success. Everyone gets a complimentary plate of radishes, raw onion, fresh basil leaves, and butter. This is traditionally served with the flat bread, something we chose to abstain from. But from past experience, the lavash bread spread with a layer of butter and eaten with raw onion is shockingly good. And that's OK. You have my blessing, since everyone else will be eating the onion too. Koobideh is a ground meat kabob. Mine was made from ground chicken thigh meat. That was why I chose it ... I knew it had great potential to be moist. And moist it was indeed, and just as tasty. The seasoning was spectacular, it makes my mouth water thinking about it. The serving was so generous (two huge skewers of meat) I could easily make 4 meals from it (and did). A beautifully blackened tomato and a blackened pepper made the plate presentable and made a tasty compliment for my rice-less meal. Don't be sad. Opting for no rice (normally you get a huge mound), I chose the refreshing Shirazi salad (copious amounts of cubed cucumber, tomato, red onion, parsley) as my side. A simple, healthy dressing of lemon juice and olive oil made it a perfect accompaniment for my meal, and one I could feel no guilt over. This is a very good choice regardless of your aspirations for eating healthy...or not. I strategically commandeered the grilled bell pepper and onions off Mr B's lamb kabob plate. He knows I love that stuff. He had a plateful of hummus to fawn over. And everything was just as it should be...delicious. I think I ordered the winner here. The lamb, while good, came in second place to my koobideh. All in all, a perfectly wonderful meal. Glad we came. There definitely will be a next time. read more

Raffi's Place - Healthy nibbles to start...radish, onion, basil, parsley with chopped onion. Comes with pita and butter. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

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Stumbled upon this place when I was in the area after a long day of walking. The interior was something I would not have expected, as it definitely did not feel like I was in California at all! I was surprised to see how busy the place was on a weekday night, but I knew that meant it was good. We got seated pretty quickly and were served with some vegetables and lavash(?) as an appetizer. We also ordered hummus which was delicious, and one of may favorites. For three people, we ordered the Soltani Kabob as well as Chicken Koobideh Kabob. It did take arounrd 30-45 minutes for the food to arrive, but it was understandable given the amount of people as well as take out orders they were doing. The chicken koobideh kabob was a lot more tender, juicy and flavorful than the soltani kabob. The food was more than enough for three people, as we had leftovers. Would for sure go here again if I'm in the area! read more

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Best Armenian restaurant in Glendale. Always a good time and amazing food. Portion size is reasonable for the price

The best kabob... we don't go anywhere else. Only con is the wait at times but it's just speaks to how delicious the food is... the service is extremely fast and the staff are helpful and pleasant. My favorite dish is the barg. read more

Absolutely wonderful Persian food! The kebabs are out of this world. The service is fast and efficient. The inside/outside ambiance is also relaxing. Recommend 10000% read more

This place is very expensive and they charge for every little thing, i.e. $5 extra for sharing plates. But the meat quality isn't the best, tastes like mid-to-low end choice beef. Service is decent, fast and efficient. Venue is large and open space. Would be a good lunch spot if prices weren't so high. read more

THE best Persian restaurant in greater LA, hands down. After a few disappointing experiences in Westwood, we just decided to stick with the consistently excellent Raffi's. Everything is great here. If you are a meat eater, try their koubideh and joojeh. If you are a vegan/vegetarian, the best options would be vegan stews. Depending on your mood, you may choose Gheymeh bademjoon (lentil and eggplant- I HIGHLY recommend the baghali polo with that one), Ghormeh sabzi (herb stew), and Fesenjoon (walnut and pomegranate molases-if you are craving something sweet and sour). If you are vegetarian and non-vegan, kashk bademjoon (eggplant dip with wey) would be an excellent option too. You can also ask for Ash (delicious persian noodle soup) with/witout wey depending on your preference regarding wey. Raffi's is a true gem and a staple of Persian dining in LA. read more

Raffi's Place - Gheymeh bademjoon (vegan option) with baghali polo (fava bean rice). At the top, there's a mix of joojeh and koobide with grilled tomatoes. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

Overall great experience. Big portions, entrées will be enough for 2 people or for left overs. Flavorful marinade on the chicken and enjoyed the hummus. I look forward to come back and try more from the menu. Weight time for a table went quickly and the atmosphere of the restaurant was enjoyable. read more

Raffi's Place - Hummus, tabouleh - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

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First time here, friend took us. There valet parking outside for $7 bucks but just across the street close to taco king is a parking structure with hundreds of parking spots. Close walk and recommended to do that. As for the food, seems very authentic. Acquired fast for some, perfect diet for others. Personally I liked the food. We are outside and enjoyed the good wine and flavors. Not a real Mediterranean connoisseur, at least not yet, but based on the amount of people here, looks like it's definitely a hot spot! read more

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Not as expected. It was recommended, so I tried Gheymeh and Soltani dishes. Gheymeh stow had potato chips on it. Really not good for Persian food. They could do better on cutting potato and making authentic Persian food. Kobideh kabob was filled with baking soda. Stomachache after consuming food. We had left over, but smelled not good later. Nice service from the staff but it was not good good at all. That was the last time there. The quality of food was not good at all. Sorry but not recommended. read more

Raffi's Place - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

Delicious food and always consistent with quality. This is a great neighborhood restaurant that is well known, and come with my family at least once a month. PS: Great wait staff. read more

Raffi's Place - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California