Raffi’s Place

Why cheat? Why open a restaurant if you can’t manage?
It Was a really bad experience for my family and me last Sunday. The wait time was an hour which we didn’t mind. They had this app that texts when the table is ready. When we went back, they couldn’t locate our check in name or turn in line and promised to give us the next available table when they saw the text confirmations that was sent to us to prove that we actually checked in. When the waiter took our order he told us it will take 40 minutes to get it. We agreed to that. Then he came back later telling that their most popular dish that we ordered is sold out and we have to choose something else. Wow what a bad experience. Even with that, when I picked something similar for my husband, they told us no this two different combos and we have to charge you for two main courses. In addition to all of that look what they did. I asked if they had Tabasco sauce and they bring for me a Tabasco bottle filled with Cholula or something like this. They think that customers will not make a difference between the REAL TABASCO and an other hot sauce.

Kabob!
Ordered to go so I cannot speak for the service.
Shish Kabob Entrée — $ 21 — Steak is cooked decent but a little over for me. Seasoning was ok. Basmati Rice was good, anything cooked with butter usually is. I loved the grilled onions, peppers, and tomatoes. Food was good but I could not give it a 4 if I enjoyed the veggies more then the actual steak.

#chickenSoltani omg. Was so amazing!!! Thea best I have ever have! So tender! Perfectly cooked!
#beefSoltani was also cooked so amazingly! #eggplatedip very very yummy!!!
#hummus very good as well! It’s a must!
#salad good but I can do without.
Best place to get #persianFood in La
#kabobs are a must here!!!
Service was beyond amazing!
will be returning

First time here, the food was great! Full of seasoning and spices! I ordered the Mahdi Mahi and it came out faster then I thought it would! One word «delicious»
Can’t go wrong with this place, the customer service was great! Our server Ara was awesome!
They have valet parking FYI!

Menu prices has been raised while the food quantity is less now!
We had to wait to be served with our main dish one hour after the appetizer on Saturday!. (the second consecutive time it happened.)Obviously we lost our appetite! … Not cool
After 20 years of driving from OC to dine in this place (loyal customers), maybe it’s time to consider other options in Glendale.

Just gets better… Our office goes here often and the food is always good!!!
One of the best restaurants in Glendale!

I’ve been a fan of this restaurant for many many years now but the last couple times I was so disappointed with the food quality that I sadly have to say NO MORE.
The only thing nice about this place is the quality and abundance of the herbs that accompanies the very mediocre food.
Goodbye Rafis and thank you for the delicious food you used to serve.

Absolutely loved this place. Flew in this morning, came here with the wife, and checked Unilocal for what’s good, and this place was on point
Service was quick, and efficient, ambience was chic, and prices were reasonable. The food was phenomenal!!! We had the soltani kabob and chicken koubideh kabob. Both were cooked to perfection, juicy and flavorful.
I would put this place in my top 3 Persian restaurants. Also I ran into a local celeb here… don’t wanna blow his spot now. I will def be coming back here next time i am in town

L.A. has a lot of Persian/​Armenian restaurants — some are okay, some are good, and some you wish were closer to your house because it’s so darn good. We lived in L.A. for a very brief time and there was a kabob place that I loved so much but has gone out of business… and I had no place to go! Until a trusted friend dropped me here — literally tuck and roll style!
Their menu isn’t overwhelming. You have some choices but not pages worth of them. They focus on making the same dishes and making them well. We didn’t have to wait a long time for our food even though it was busy. A plate of food is big enough to feed two people.
Chicken Barg:
Generous portions of flavorful, tender and non-​dry chicken grilled to perfection. ⁴⁄₅
Koobideh:
Ground meat kabob that’s well-​seasoned and grilled. The flavors are incredible. Lots of spices that mesh well together. Hands down ⁵⁄₅
What’s funny is that this place has been around for a long time. My high school best friend used to live nearby but we never went for some odd reason.

Raffis is legendary here in Glendale!!!
They have the most authentic food and the service is amazing. I was introduced to this place by my neighbor. They had catering and I had a little bit of everything. They have the best rice. I definitely recommend this place.

Never knew how popular Raffi’s was! My Persian roommate has wanted to take me here for the longest time, and we finally made it out on a weeknight. Although the restaurant was huge, it was full to the point where there was a short wait! After sitting, my roommate ordered for us, and we got several appetizers to share as well as our entrees.
We started off with yogurt & cucumber dip alongside the lavash (similar to pita bread) and various toppings such as onions, parsley, and more. The dip was so addicting, we could not stop eating it! We also got the Tahdig with ghormeh sabzi. It’s basically crispy rice with stew on top– there was a particular sour taste that I didn’t really like, but my friends enjoyed this dish!
For entrees, the four of us ordered soltani kabob. At $ 23, it comes with one beef kebab and either ground chicken or beef. The plate is ginormous, and when we shared one between two people, we still could not finish the plate. I enjoyed the ground beef more than the chicken, but both were so good! The meat was grilled perfectly and each dish comes with a grilled tomato and pepper. This dish comes with rice or Shirazi salad, and you can get half and half if you want variety. The salad consists of diced tomato, green onion, cucumber, mint, and parsley which was nice and refreshing.
Overall, I had a great time trying new food and really just enjoying it! The food offered here is slightly different than your typical Mediterranean/​Greek restaurant, there’s more authentic and traditional dishes that I haven’t seen before. So glad I got to try this place; everything was so tasty!

Raffi’s in Glendale has more than 2,100 reviews, and almost 5 stars. I’m acting like my input will make a difference. Anyways.
Proper preparation of ingredients is essential and makes or breaks any meal. It’s astonishing how restaurants believe that by covering poorly cooked food with more sauce or seasonings the customer will «think» it’s good.
Not Raffi’s
Raffi’s knocks it out of the park with Filet Mignon that is simply seasoned which pulls-​apart soft, and for a lean meat keeps its moisture. I immediately eat a piece when it arrives, the temperature is perfect at this point!
Chicken is a textured experience combining firm yet juicy meat with highlights of charred bits on the exterior.
The rice adds an near-​neutral break from the meats, but if I need a serious dose of savory, I dive into the eggplant and hummus.
It’s great how busy this place gets. Waiters swerve through the crowd carrying what must be 35 – 40 pounds of platters.
The portions are generous enough to box-​up the remainder and have one or two more meals at home. But a few times I’ve considered the upcoming week and order another entrée & more hummus to go!

DEFINITELY ONE OF EVERYONE’S FAVORITE PLACE TO GO TO IN GLENDALE!
If you haven’t tried this yet, you’re missing out. Do call in advance to check on waitlist, it does vary depending on days and hours.
Every dish here is so tasteful and cooked so well that you’ll constantly request this as your lunch/​dinner spot! The service — the quality — is all marvelous.

This place is delicious! Like most popular yummy places, expect at least 30 minutes to an hour wait. Luckily, the Glendale shopping area is only a 5 minute walk away, so you have the option of shopping and it won’t even feel like you’re waiting. We shared an eggplant dip appetizer; I really don’t like eggplants because of the texture but since it was a dip, you can’t even taste it, it’s really similar to hummus. I ordered the mahi mahi and my friend ordered the chicken combo, where they serve you a chicken kabab and another chicken thing that looks like a sausage. The chicken was good but I enjoyed my mahi mahi a lot more, it was cooked just right, very tender and had a great flavor. The rice was delicious, and the portions are huge!
Before the food arrives, they also serve you a plate filled with leaves and onions and random stuff like that. It reminded me of the beansprouts/​basil/​lime plate that phở places would serve you to put in your phở, except in this case, we had no idea what that plate of raw veggies would be used for, nor did we know how to eat it.

i’ve heard so many great things about this spot
from a lot of people over the years
so was excited to finally come by and try
don’t get me wrong
the food was by no means bad or mediocre
but it wasn’t so good that i would crave it or drive far to get it
i tried the filet mignon kabob and ordered a side of hummus
i’m so spoiled by the extra creamy, garlicky (and probably extra fatty)
hummus from mini kabob that i found raffi’s to be a little grainy and bland
also wasn’t a fan that the lavash was cold
the kabob was juicy and pretty flavorful
the rice, i found to be standard
next time, i’m definitely going to go with someone who’s eaten here
and knows what’s good
i’d be down to try it again but for now, a-​ok

I love the Rafi, s restaurant food it is the best
Are you coming to to everybody enjoys whether you have

Some of my friends have been raving about this place. They know that I love Middle Eastern cuisine, so one day, I went there to check it out. I can tell you that it was very busy when I came, and it was on a weekday! Considering Glendale does has a high population of Persians, it was no surprise to me that this was a very popular place among the locals.
I ordered the lamb kebabs. Oh man, the meat was very juicy and the spices were perfect! If you like huge portions, this is the place for you. I was so hungry by that time that I ate the entire plate!
Depending on what time of the day you go, I would eat under the open courtyard. You can enjoy the nice brisk air and the people walking by as you dine. As for parking, you can valet or park in the parking structure, but they don’t validate.
Definitely a recommended option for those of you that love Middle Eastern food.

After desperately trying to find a nice lunch place to eat, we stumble upon this lovely Persian restaurant next to shops. Plenty of seating area and wonderful service! We didn’t have to wait long for a table of 8. Also we got to sit right under the heating lamps so it was nice and toasty. The portions are extremely humongous! We should have shared some plates but we ended up just taking everything home because wow! Our server was so patient with us because we knew what we all were requesting when we were yelling appetizers at him because we were so hungry. We would absolutely recommend this place to anyone in the area looking for a NICE, clean, delicious Persian food restaurant.

I guess I am not used to this food type.
Rice was so dried and planned. I added the shaking powder seasoning as suggested but still.
Beef was also very dried and chewy.
The leafs was also very strange taste although I have tasted almost all herbs.

One of the best Middle Eastern restaurants in the area. Raffi’s is the place to go for quick service and great food. There’s no going wrong with any of the items on the menu here. Raffi’s has valet parking in the back of the restaurant for $ 5 but there is also metered street parking available during the workweek (not so much on the weekends). We came here on a Friday evening around 9PM and were told the wait time was about 30 minutes. Raffi’s uses a texting system when your table is ready and an app called the «No Wait» app to track how many parties are ahead of you. This is really convenient and a feature I think every restaurant should have. The staff was efficient and when a large party left, they separated the tables and we were seated much faster than the 30 minutes we were expecting. From the menu, we ordered plain tadig, yogurt and cucumber, hummus, chicken soltani kabob and beef soltani kabob.
Tadig: this is a rice crust made by adding a bit of butter to the pan and crisping up rice to add a nice crunch. The tadig was so buttery and full of flavor. I recommend this appetizer, especially if you haven’t had it before because Raffi’s does it right! The rice had a ton of flavor and was great by itself. We liked this dish so much we had to order a second one!
Yogurt & cucumber: this is a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine. It is home-​made yogurt mixed with cucumbers and herbs. This dish is light and refreshing and perfect as a dip for the bread, the tadig, and even the meats.
Hummus: it’s pretty difficult to make good hummus… but Raffi’s hummus is pretty close to perfect. The mashed garbanzo beans, blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic is creamy and delicious. The hummus goes well with anything and everything on the table and the complimentary lavash is great for dipping!
Chicken & Beef Soltani plates: the chicken soltani is a combination of chicken barg and chicken koubideh served with rice, and charred tomato and pepper. The chicken barg was nice and charred and so moist on the inside. The koubideh was super flavorful and moist and had a melt-​in-​your-​mouth texture. Beef soltani is filet mignon and ground beef, skewered and charbroiled to perfection served with rice and charred tomato and pepper. This dish is so succulent. The meats are all flavored so well and the plates are huge and filling. You have a choice to replace the rice with special Persian rice (4 different choices) for $ 2 extra, but we opted for the classic. Tip: add some butter to the rice and let it melt right in for some extra flavor. The charred pepper was spicy and so tasty and added a nice kick to the meats.
Definitely a satisfying meal to say the least! If you’re in the mood for some delicious Middle Eastern food, this is the spot to go! They also have a great wine list to go with the items on the menu. The busboys and waiters are super fast and efficient, our drinks were filled before they were empty and our bread was refilled periodically. Will be back soon!

My all-​time favorite Persian restaurant. People seriously travel from all over the map to get to this place. Raffi’s not only has great service, friendly staff and nice ambiance… it also has impeccable Persian cuisine.
Dishes I recommend:
Maast O’Moosir
Koobideh Kabob
Barg Kabob
Chicken Barg Kabob
Shirazi Salad
Kashk e Bademjaan

Excellent Middle Eastern food. The décor is a bit strange in that it’s an open-​air area covered by fabric overhangs. I’m not sure exactly how to describe it other than the feeling that you’re at a outdoor wedding reception on a really hot or rainy day.
While trying to decide what I was going to have, I noticed the server deliver a plate to the next table. It looked and smelled amazing. It turned out to be Barg Kabob – thin sliced filet mignon, skewered and charbroiled to perfection. It tasted as good as it looked. Accompanying it were a grilled pepper and tomato, all on a bed of saffron rice. The meat was tender and flavorful. I can’t report on other main dishes because we all got the same one!
As a side, we tried the yogurt and cucumber. It was cool, refreshing, and provided a good contrast to the beef and the pepper.
I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area.

By far one of the best Persian Restaurants in Glendale & Burbank area!
Raffi’s place is a full-​service restaurant. If you are in this neighborhood and want to try the real taste of Persian food then try this place.
I got attracted to Raffi’s Place because of friendly and family environment and of course quality of the food was the second important factor that I enjoyed dinning here.
The menu consists of variety of delicious dishes. You won’t regret to choose any of the dishes because each one has its own great taste, smell and texture. My favorite dish is Barg and Soltani with rice (very tasteful dishes); their food is freshly cooked and full of flavors.
The total dining experience at Raffi’s Place is comprised of not only food quality itself, but also the great atmosphere and the awesome service that they provide.
This place has so many great reviews because high quality food and high quality service make customers happy.

It’s pricey, but portions are large and tasty.
For every 2 people order one main dish which comes with a lot of delicious basmati rice, a salad (you need the freshness and acidity), and a hummus. Because the hummus is awesome. Even with this, you’ll probably have leftovers.
The chicken and barg (filet minion) were juicy and tender. The white fish was huge but I didn’t love it. It was a little fishy and kind of bland.
Service is excellent. They have valet parking in back.

I don’t particularly like Persian/​Iranian food, but even I never turn down a chance to eat at Raffi’s.
The storefront is kind of hidden, it’s a pretty big restaurant, always busy, and full of Persians, so keep and eye out for that.
Keep in mind that when they are crazy busy (holidays) the kabobs take forever to get prepared, so order an appetizer or something. I usually go with a group (so I’ve tried a lot of things) and I’ve never had a complaint about anything I’ve tried. However, personally, I always order the Soltani kabob + the 3 stew tadig to share. It’s all amazing, of course.
Also, important note: Raffi’s may be the only Persian restaurant where I think the koobideh is just as good as the barg kabob, and that is truly rare.

The best kabob in LA period. This is the only place my parents or anyone’s parents I know who are Persian will drive far to eat. Most Persians live in the Valley or West LA area, so the drive is not very convenient considering there is a plethora of Persian eateries on Westwood. So this is a big deal.
The rice is perfect, the kabob is seasoned and grilled to perfection and the accompanying vegetables provide the perfect balance to your meal. The appetizers, especially the tadig with two kinds of stews (ghormeh Sabzi an Gheimeh) are a must. For kabob my go-​to is the combination with barg and koobideh and I usually pay the $ 2 split charge because with a tadig it is just too much food. The charge is worth it because they split the plate for you and also add vegetables for the second plate.
The atmosphere is outdoors-​ish and it is all white and with nice lighting. It is good for anytime of the year and usually there is a wait but you can go take a nice walk by the Americana until your table is ready. Bravo! A true 5-​star gem!

There is a reason that this place has such a high rating with 2000 reviews!
The food here is simply wonderful. We’ve both eaten in and called ahead for takeout, and both experiences are great.
The restaurant is gigantic. If you come right at lunch time, it will be slammed, but you shouldn’t ever have to wait terribly long — it really is that big. It’s one of those neat indoor/​outdoor spaces.
If ordering to go, phone ahead, and they will give you a number. They have a quick parking for pickup right by the back door (drive down the alley next to the front of the restaurant) and seating next to the window in case you get there a little early.
The portions are quite large! Since having a baby, we order to go, and one dish serves us two large meals each. I absolutely love their salmon kebabs. They have a few different rice styles, but I prefer the original. Don’t miss the yogurt and shallots!

Raffi’s is probably my favorite place to get Mediterranean. It’s a nice setting, awesome food, and SUPER affordable.
Hummus ($ 6)
This is a must. They give you a TON of hummus that’s awesome with the pita bread they give you and your entrée (it doesn’t matter what you order. It’s good with everything).
Greek Salad ($ 8)
A little too much dressing for me, but still very tasty. The feta cheese is awesome, but I’d probably try a different salad the next time.
Luleh Kabob ($ 14)
Okay, this is where the review truly begins. The Luleh Kabob is a must. It’s TWO HUGE ground beef kabobs. I split this dish with a friend, and we were both stuffed! I’m not sure how one person can finish this entire dish. There’s no way… but $ 14 for ALL this food is amazing.
Parking is valet in the back of the restaurant is $ 5.

Raffis Place exteriorly is not the same as it used to be 5 years ago.
I used to drive by and see the little white sign with «Raffis Kabob» displayed on the outside, and now when i drive by i have to make sure i don’t miss it. They have built a wall and covered the front making it look more sophisticated.
My husband and i love coming here! The patio area feels very cozy and home like. I get a warm fuzzy feeling just sitting there :)
As far as the food. How can i put this.
One word –amazingnesssssssss– to the max! The rice is perfection! (due to my Persian heritage I know good rice when I eat it) the kabobs are delicious! My usual is the chicken barg and the hubby gets the Beef barg. (Ive listed some must haves in the tips section)
–They have valet parking in the back
–The service is excellent
–Portions are huge
–Lavash is fresh
–The kabobs are moist!
–Order a shirazi salad to put on ur rice!
–Timing is excellent — not to long of a wait considering it’s BBQ orders.
–Excellent for large groups
–Perfect for an intimate date
Raffis ur doing excellent!
Keep it up. I’ll be back again and again and again.