This is my Raffi's place love song...don't be jealous I know a place where the fire's always burnin' Skewers line up like my dreams returnin' Down on Broadway where the jasmine flows, And the koobideh love just grows and grows Lavash in hand, like a holy scroll Saffron rice feeding my hungry soul I've chased tahdig across this town But only Raffi's holds it down Raffi's Place, oh you've ruined me No other kabob could ever set me free From your flame-kissed lamb and the mast-o-khiar I've tried to cheat, but they don't get far Oh, the patio's lit like a Persian night Under string lights, everything feels right Yeah, the wait inside might test my grace-- But I'd wait forever for Raffi's Place Glendale breeze through the orange trees Got torshi dreams and sabzi steez That beef soltani? It hits divine You don't order -- you make time I've seen the velvet booths, too tight, too loud Still I'm loyal in the deepest crowd 'Cause the love's in the grill, the smoke, the spice And nowhere else can serve it as nice. Raffis Place, oh the legends say That Ararat weeps for your barreh every day They try in Westwood, in WeHo too But none of them can outdo you On that courtyard throne I take my seat Rosewater skies and tahchin heat Yeah, the hostess may forget my face-- But I always remember Raffi's Place It's not just food. It's my grandmother's kitchen, a Tehran memory I never lived but somehow know. It's the way the barg bends like it's bowing to say: "Welcome home." Raffi's Place, my Glendale shrine I'll toast with doogh and call it wine No Michelin star, but stars align Each bite's a prayer, each plate divine So set me down by the fountain glow With friends and flame, and let it flow From noon 'til night, I'll guard this space 'Cause I'm in love with Raffi's Place read more

After much anticipation and years of waiting to make it happen I finally got my chance to visit Raffis!!! First off parking is horrendous. Whole bunch of road constructions, delivery trucks parking in random areas closing down entire lanes and bottle necking traffic. They have valet parking or you can park in one of the nestled away parking structures. We got here maybe half an hour after they opened and there was already plenty of people seated and eating here! They have 2 dining areas, one outside and one inside. We ate outside, but it was nicely closed off so minimal sunlight coming thru. The decor was nice with a massive tree in the middle of the area. Nice maroon table cloths, but they had to cheap-a-fy the look by using butcher paper to cover the beautiful maroon tablecloths. It looked beautiful from afar, the white on the maroon, but after being seated it just made it so cheap looking. It really didnt match the service and food quality. And really that's the reason I took a star off. Service was fast. Waiters are very attentive. They were pretty nice and had good customer service. Food comes out quickly. Portion sizes are massive!! Had to take what I ordered home for some leftovers. They bring some bread, butter and some raw onions and radishes to the table. We ordered a shirozi salad. It was a good appetizer. Fresh and light. I ordered the lamb rack as my entree. There were about 6 peices per order with way too much rice served with it. The lamb was amazing!! Super tender and succulent. I love the cook on it. It was basically perfect! The other things the table ordered were absolutely perfect as well. In particular the Fesenjoon. I loved the sweetness from the pomegranate. The flavors of the stew were deep and extremely well developed. Proteins in it was also cooked well and extremely tender. I could've just poured that all over my rice and had that by itself!! Overall a good experience. I hear the wait times can become hours here. And that the line can go around the block, despite how fast the food comes out. For good reason! The food is really good!! I cant wait to try their drinks and come back for dinner here!! read more

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great place amazing food mid customer service must try if ur in la! the wait time is long tho read more

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

Spot by here for lunch after doing some Google search. I ordered the rack of lamb, they give.good portions and the food is delicious.. Will definitely come back when I am in Los Angeles. The service here is top tier! read more

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

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Glendale is an obvious hot spot for Mediterranean and Raffi's is an absolute gem that shines amidst others. The food is seriously the best, you can't go wrong with their tabbouleh and hummus for starters. Basics like chicken and beef are elevated, and their lamb chops are super yummy. All of their meats are excellent, I even tried the salmon most recently and it was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Individual plates come with a mountain of rice and a charred tomato and pepper of course. Or you can order family style for big groups. They have massive portions and I've rarely seen individuals finish a plate, you won't go hungry if you share. Staff is friendly and attentive, it's a large and spacious restaurant with fully indoor or partial outdoor seating (my fav). Wait time for food arrival definitely depends on how big your group is and can vary when they are busy. They don't take reservations but it's well worth the wait! If you have a group of 4+ this is a great place to dine together and probably a few plates will feed everyone (don't forget to add the hummus, seriously yummy). read more

Delicious food but this place gets packed! One entree is enough to share with two people or more so order accordingly. The service is great but the overflow room needs a bit updating. Can be a bit noisy, outdoor area is really cute! read more

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

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I came to Raffi's Place for lunch on a Saturday and it was pretty packed! Since I was with a group of 6, I got to try many of their dishes. For appetizers, we ordered the Tourshi (pickled veggies) and Hummus. We ordered all four of their Persian rices, and for entrees, we got Lamb Shank, Soltani Kabob, and the Gheimeh Bademjan stew. My favorites were probably the Hummus as the appetizer and the chunks of filet in the Soltani Kabob. My favorite rice was the one with the barberries. The pickled veggies were a bit too pickled for me. I thought the lamb shank was bland as it was just the shank with no sauce. Overall, the food was decent. read more

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

بسم الله اوله واخرهBismillah, in the beginning and the end Service is good, though the place is very crowded. The food is delicious -- I especially recommend sitting in the middle area. The Sultani chicken and meat are excellent, and the rice with zarash is amazing. The eggplant is also great, and the ayran is refreshing. They don't have a card payment machine at the table -- you hand them your card and they process it for you. If you're not okay with noise, this might not be your place, as it can get quite loud. They often accommodate large families. Overall, the food is tasty, portions are generous (best to share), and a reservation is a must. read more

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I always loved my orders here in this restaurant, super delicious food . but overall waiting is so long, we waited 2 hours to get in and 45 min to get our order. Nice ambiance. read more

Great food and customer service!!! My family and I love this place. I totally recommend it! Very clean restaurant and very nice atmosphere. read more

Raffi's place never disappoints. I have been going there since high school. The food always come out hot and fresh and well priced. Everything is delicious. The service is amazing, the serves know everything in every dishes. The dinning room is gorgeous. It's like a backyard vibe with trees and covered seating. 10/0 read more

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Anytime we are in SoCal, Raffi's Place tops our dining list. Salmon, barg, kabobs, and lamb are phenomenal. read more

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I've been taking my family from Hawaii and friends when they come visit , I do the family style , they really enjoyed the food and atmosphere at Raffis . It's my go to always and the waiters are very helpful and they suggest ordering possibilities having a large group for dinner, i really appreciate that . read more

Raffi's Place is simply the best. I can't ever get away from this place. This is a one of a kind gem! Thank you so much for keeping your doors open for us all read more

The best part about Raffi's is that when you step outside and look in any direction, you can find a better kabob place that has actually delicious food, more reasonable prices, and nicer staff. I wanted to bring my partner here for a taste of home and it ended up being horrible on every level. I'm too exhausted to write out the whole experience, but the bottom line is that Raffi's is NOT worth the hype. The food is NOWHERE near good enough to make up for the exorbitant wait time of over one hour between ordering your food and receiving it. The sides are incredibly bland, the salads are warm (???) the meats are seasoned like it's being rationed, the staff is negligent and rude, and the ambiance is like cheap backyard tables with none of the coziness. NONE of that adds up to the price point or the reputation here. For a restaurant with such a high volume, they really should've figured it out by now. It's one thing to wait an hour for seating, but another to wait more than another hour to get your food. That is already two hours in which dinner still hasn't been started. And then another hour to eat? Life is way too short to invest this much time into a horrible meal/experience. Better nearby options include: Bacari Karas Carousel Kabob Way Shiraz Massis Kabob And that's all within a one-ish mile radius (lots more options in Glendale!). I'm embarrassed that I thought coming here was a good idea. read more

The food here delicious. The serving is generous. The service was prompt. The dining space is fine. read more

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Raffi's never disappoints -- easily a 5-star spot across the board. The food, service, and quality are always consistent, which is why we keep coming back. We usually order the hummus, ikra, and the beef Soltani. Everything comes out fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The hummus is creamy and smooth, the eggplant has this smoky, tangy flavor that's addicting, and the beef Soltani is always tender and juicy. It comes with roasted peppers and onions that add the perfect little charred bite to the plate. Portions here are huge -- realistically, one order could easily feed two people. But honestly, the food's so good we each just get our own plate every time. No regrets. They also bring out unlimited bread, which is their version of a wrap -- warm, soft, and SO good with all the dips and meats. It's honestly the best part when you load everything together into one bite. If you're craving solid, flavorful food, Raffi's is always worth it. Just come hungry. read more

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

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Hour and a half wait to be sited, we got there 6:43 and we were sited @ 8:20 pm the host at the door poor customer service the food was ok didn't enjoy after the long wait , I would never go back ! The worst experience on a Mediterranean food ! read more

The best Persian food in Glendale and Los Angeles area. Friendly staff and service is really good. It's very warm and welcoming restaurant. I highly recommend Raffle's place. read more

"If you're looking for the gold standard of Persian cuisine, this is it. The atmosphere is vibrant, the service is incredibly efficient despite how busy they stay, and the food is consistently flawless. Whether it's a family celebration or a weekend dinner, Raffi's never misses. A true Glendale staple!" read more

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

This is one of my favorite restaurants of all time and would strongly consider ordering it as my last meal if I was ever on death row. With a vast, family style menu - you should bring everyone you know so you can try a little bit of everything. I love how accommodating the staff is to large parties. I have never had a bad dish here and dream about the cherry rice. Also love the light, airy vibes dining inside. However - it's also perfect for catering or to go. read more

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

Can't believe I am just now finding out about Raffi's! We went with a big group and ordered a bunch of food and everything was delicious. I was excited to try the cherry rice and it was so yummy and was a huge hit with the kiddos. The crispy rice is a must too!!! The group had to fight each other over it haha All the rice and kabobs we got were delicious but the grilled veggies were a surprise hit. The grilled peppers were so spicy and went great with the rest of the food. Spicy food lovers will so enjoy these grilled peppers! Valet parking is a bit pricey and the parking area gets very busy but overall the service is great and staff are friendly read more

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

Was visiting from out of state and was very impressed with the meal. The chicken koobideh was a larger portion than I expected (you definitely get what you pay for) and tasted great. The shirazi salad was great and a sizeable portion as well. All to say, the food felt home cooked and I understood why the restaurant was very very busy. Kudos to the staff that work there as they were constantly getting everyone's orders and their food out as fast as they could. (My table did end up needing to inquire about our order as it had taken more than an hour...but the staff was helpful in getting our food out). To that end the restaurant is insanely noisy inside so it was hard to hold conversations at the table, but the food is great. read more

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

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Pulled up hungry. Left reconsidering every other kabob I've ever defended. The Soltani kabob is the main character. One skewer ground beef. One skewer filet. Both grilled with intention. Char on the outside. Juicy inside. Seasoning deep and savory. No dry bites. No bland corners. You take a bite and immediately sit up straighter. The filet mignon is shockingly tender. Cuts clean. Barely needs chewing. Smoke from the grill lingers just enough. Paired with that saffron rice that's fluffy and fragrant. Butter melting into it. Every forkful feels excessive in the best way. Rack of lamb kabob is bold. Proper char. Fat rendered right. Meat pink and juicy. It tastes like someone's uncle has been manning that grill for decades and refuses to miss. The rice deserves its own paragraph. Long grains. Buttery. Saffron-stained. Slight crisp at the bottom if you're lucky. You think it's just a side. It's not. It's the co-star. Grilled tomatoes and onions come out blistered and sweet. Simple. Necessary. They balance the richness without stealing focus. Service is warm but efficient. Big dining room energy. Staff moving with purpose. Plates land heavy and hot. Refills come quick. You feel taken care of, not hovered. The room is lively. Loud in a celebratory way. Families. Big tables. Shared plates. It feels like a birthday even if it's just Tuesday. It's giving... The Bear family dinner episode but everyone actually likes each other and the food wins the argument. read more

I recently ate at Raffi's Place and I'm still impressed by the quality of the food and service. TIP: Join the Yelp waitlist on your way to your restaurant! read more

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

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Food: wow this is the best middle eastern food I've had thus far, my lovely boyfriend apparently had come here multiple times before, and finally decided to treat me out this time haha. We started with ikra, eggplant dip, which was great blend of sweet and savory, I couldn't stop from stuffing myself. I do wish the bread was a little warmed up though. Then we got barg kabob and rack of lambs, which were all juicy and tender, the meat just melted in my mouth after likely one or two chews. Usually I tend to be a bit averse to lamb due to its distinct smell, but man I ate this up and even finished the leftovers at home! Price: ikra cost $12, bread was complimentary, rack of lamb was $39 and barg kabob was $34. The portion sizes were huuuge and food quality is amazing, so these are very very reasonable prices in my opinion Ambiance: there is plenty of natural lighting, with high tablecloths and big live tree in the middle of restaurant. This can certainly be a casual or even formal place to meet Service: good service, did not have any issues getting our orders or having water refilled or asking for our check in the end Parking: my boyfriend found parking lot (exchange parking structure 115 N Artsakh Ave, Glendale, CA 91206) around the area that was free for the first 90 minutes, and we walked about 1-2 blocks to the restaurant. read more

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

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I love this place! Their beef lule kabob is so yummy and so are their appetizers. I come here every so often when I want a great meal read more

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

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Love the vibe , so goood food , I recommend the sultani even you will good money for it but worth it read more

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Don't valet. We had bags in the car and valet went through them. Great food and service inside restaurant. Nice ambiance and location. Terrible valet service read more

Great authentic Persian food and nice atmosphere! Our always to go restaurant! Service is always quick and efficient. read more

This place is very beautiful and excellent . Their food and service number one #Glendale read more

Raffi's Place - My family and I celebrating my birthday - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

Service was amazing. You can decide to eat inside or outside. It was raining that night so we ate inside. I used the yelp waitlist so that we didn't have to wait when we got to Raffi's. The wait time during the weekday evening wasn't too long. But anything after 7 pm the wait time is about 20-30 mins per Yelp waitlist. Food was amazing. We ordered the shirazi salad, which was very freshly served. Then the hummus came with the side of lavash bread. It was warm and the hummus was so fresh and delicious! The saltani & chicken kabob were served on a lavash bread to preserve the heat so when I opened the lavash bread, the food was steaming hot. Food was amazing, filling, and we were able to share this and bring the rest home. The kabob is served with basmati rice and tomatoes on the side. Portions are huge! Servers are very attentive and sweet. A great experience overall. Saw many families and friends come together in the evening to eat and have a great time with one another. Highly recommend! read more

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While staying in Glendale for a festival at the Rose Bowl, our uber driver recommended Raffi's so we decided to check it out for lunch. I really enjoyed the indoor outdoor dining area with the natural lighting. We ordered the tadig with both ghormehsabzi and gheimeh, hummus, and the soltani kebab. The food was amazing, very flavorful and the meat was cooked perfectly. Service was also excellent. The waiters were very attentive and checked in a perfect amount of times. Highly recommend! read more

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Great food and service with generous portions. One of my favorite Middle Eastern restaurants in LA. read more

Raffi's Place - Koobideh and Sultani Kabob family style - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

The best version of a kebab plate I've ever had. Both the beef and chicken soltani were immaculately seasoned. I could eat the cucumber herb yogurt like it's soup. 45 min wait on a Saturday 6pm, 100% worth the wait Parking nearby at the exchange parking structure free for 90 min then $2 per hour read more

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

Food was delicious. Servings were big. Service was great too. They would refill our drinks without us asking for it. We'll come back again and again. read more

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

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Raiffi's place does not disappoint. Great food quality. This time we went on a Sunday early afternoon. The wait was not bad, only 10 minutes. We ordered Soltani Kabob, chicken bard, koobideh, mast o khiar. All were good. The prices went up from last time, but quality was good. Service was good too. Overall FIVE stars read more

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After so long I visited this place with family but we were so disappointed this time...I dont know what happened to this place but they really need to work on their wait! It wasnt like this before...We came to dinner with family for sister bday n we waited exactly an hr n half to just get seated... then we sat and took another hr n half to just get our food! We got here at 7pm and got our food around 10pm... Literally 3hrs to just eat, thats insane if you ask me... I dont care how good the food is, nowhere should make their guests wait 3 hrs to eat...We were so upset! I dont think well ever dine here ever again. read more

Worst experience!! I came tonight with my husband and grandson who is 6 we were told it would be and hour wait which was fine but what wasn't fine was as we were seated and we had started eating the bread and butter the waiter told us it's going to be another 45 minutes to get our food!! This is not okay specially when you have small children! They should inform you as you check that there will be an additional time wait for food this was unacceptable! We were so disappointed hungry and my grandson was at this point so tired and cranky ! I wasn't able to eat any of my food because we had to get full on bread! I highly recommend you don't come here I feel scammed! Oh and by the way I asked for medium well done and my meat was rare anyway we won't be back read more

This was my second time eating here. We came for a late lunch during the week so it wasn't too crowded. The food is very very good and the portions are huge! It's definitely a place to come and share some dishes. It's a pricey but you get a lot! I had the Filet Mignon and added a skewer of chicken kabob. It was delicious and cooked to perfection. I love their rice! Hummus was delicious. Tabouli had a bit too much lemon juice in it. Service was great! The restaurant itself is large and it's sort of an inside outside type of vibe. When it's hot outside you feel it on the inside which can make the dining experience a bit uncomfortable. There's parking structures that offer 90 minutes of free parking. It's difficult to find any close street parking. They do have a small valet in the back of the entrance. read more

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