#lule kabobs

[formeryelpers]

Asteria Restaurant, 1121 N Pacific Ave, Glendale, CA 91202

I’ve been to this location before, but it was a fried chicken restaurant at the time. Asteria Restaurant recently took over. I’m pretty sure that it’s Armenian and definitely not halal because they serve pork. The menu includes kabob, fish, falafel, and shawarma plates, wraps, and salads. They have the usual kabob options: lule, chicken breast, chicken thigh, filet mignon but also pork chops, Cornish hen, lamb chops. Kabob plates come with grilled vegetables, rice, salad, and pita.

Chicken lule plate ($13.99): Big enough portion for two meals – tons of long grain rice, lots of salad. The takeout container felt heavy. The lule kabobs were nicely charred and super juicy. I liked the seasoning too. One of the better chicken lule kabobs I’ve had. The salad (tomato, cucumber, onion) was fresh and cut into larger pieces as usual. The cucumbers were crunchy. A simple salad but good. The grilled tomato and jalapeno pepper were fine. The rice was a bit disappointing though – it wasn’t the usual pilaf style rice you’d get at an Armenian restaurant but more like plain long grain white rice. The thin pita was standard (received one whole pita).

Veggie combo ($14.99): Five firm dolmas (bland), cucumber, tomato & onion salad (simple, fresh, good), thick yogurt with spices (good), hummus (good), 1 thin pita. Mr. Froyo said it was fresh and good but a bit plain. He would have preferred tabbouli to the Armenian salad.

They also included some fried pita chips (not sure if those come with the veggie combo or not) that were dusted with an addictive seasoning.

The kabobs were cooked to order, which takes 15 – 20 minutes. I don’t think they carve their shawarma off the spit (could not see any spits in the kitchen area). Service was friendly. The restaurant has a dark look and a piano in the window. Parking was easy to find in the neighborhood. Online ordering and delivery are available.

4 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.

[everybody-loves-to-eat]

Beef lule / Beef Shish / Chicken Breast / Chicken Thigh / Pork Shish / Fire roasted Veggies / Onions and Parsley

(source)

[foodmento]

One day you're enjoying your fave Chicken Lule hot off the grill in your car, the next day it's closed until further notice 😭Bookmark this combo from @mini_kabob if you haven't tried it yet, it's what you want to LINE UP FOR when they open again! 🏆🏆 --- Combination Plate (Chicken Thigh, Chicken Lule, Beef Lule) 📍Mini Kabob, Glendale #foodmento 💛 (at Mini Kabob) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-qUjiQjQQ_/?igshid=1mae186mmxfxj

[foodthatlookslikehetalia]

Russia, Estonia and lule kabob

Requested by anon 

[sinors2]

Mediterranean food for brunch #mediterraneanfood #kabobs #familystylekabobsfor4 #pitabread #hummus #lule #basmatirice #yummylicious #norsfoodtrip (at Panini Cafe)

[michaeldavid30]

Elena in #glendale is #great! #beef #lule #chicken #kabob (at Elena Greek Armenian Cuisine)

[gbsupply]

talk about a perfect dinner❗️ chicken thigh + beef shish + beef lule kabob 🤤🤤🤤 tag a family member who deserves this in their life❗️ @mini_kabob ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ rectangular aluminum steam tables are great for cooking large batches, storing, and serving up all types of entrees. these trays usually come in two sizes. half size and full size. 3 different options in depth. shallow, medium and deep. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #gbsupply #gbsdelivers #suppliesyoulove #packagingyoulove ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ [ 📍313 W Vine St., Glendale, CA 91204 ] (at Mini Kabob)

[sincerelykarenjo]

Hi Everyone!!! I thought I’d do a recap of my mom’s birthday party. It’s been two weeks or so and I am still trying to get back into the groove of things. My mom turned 60 on April 4 and had a masquerade birthday party on April 15 which I had been planning since last year. Let me just say that for my wedding ceremony, as much as I want to do a lot of DIYs, I am definitely going to hire a party planner for the day of the event. I was literally running around the venue trying to make sure we were on schedule, taking pictures and videos, and trying to enjoy the night and have some fun. I actually didn’t even eat that much, so it was a good thing I ate during the food tasting. We did end up taking 4 trays of food home (grilled salmon, chicken and beef kabob, veggies, potatoes, Persian rice, and pasta) and 1/4 of the cake, so the next day I ate and savored every bite.

The party planning process was actually kind of fun and I’m quite proud that it turned out really well considering there were last minute changes and issues. Also, it was a good thing that the party wasn’t a surprise since I knew my mom would want certain things and I just didn’t want to risk doing something she might not like. That being said, she was able to give me her input here and there and I had some help from friends and family too. Things seemed to be going great and I was checking stuff off the list, but the next thing I knew… we were 2 months away from the event. Time went by so fast and I still had a lot to do. By March I was busy trying to get everything done and ready. I actually spent my birthday, April 6, running around doing errands and I was actually still working on the centerpieces, program, and the slideshow Saturday night before the party. It was pretty crazy and I didn’t think I was going to get everything finished… BUT, thank goodness I did! Many thanks to EVERYONE who helped out — glueing feathers on the centerpieces, cutting the programs, punching holes on the program, tying ribbons, setting up for the event, taking pictures, and so on. The party was great and I’m really happy everyone enjoyed and had a great time.

Here are some pictures from the event which was held at Legacy Ballrom Glendale California by L.A. Banquets. 

(If you are ever planning an event around Los Angeles or Glendale, then definitely check out L.A. Banquets. They are absolutely great and their customer service is incredibly amazing.)

My mom’s outfit for the night. She bought her gown from David’s Bridal, shoes from Macy’s, and masquerade mask from Amazon.

Those Clear Diamonds in the pictures are actually place card holders. I bought them on Amazon to use for the Candy Station, but it turned out really amazing as props too!! I’m actually planning on purchasing them in gold to use as props for bookstagramming.

Here’s my MOM!!!

We decided to do this pictorial the day before the event because we knew we would be really busy Sunday. We didn’t hire photographers because it we couldn’t find one within our budget. She said that $2,000 to $3,000 was too much and she wasn’t getting married to spend that kind of money on pictures and videos. For the event,  the photographers were my brother’s girlfriend, my boyfriend, family friends and of course me.

These were all DIY projects. I bought the masks, bird cage, foam flowers, and the crystal flower pins on Amazon. Ordered personalized M&M’s online. Printed the labels at home. Got inspiration on Pinterest for the program booklet. And picked up ribbons, sticker rhinestones and other embellishments from Dollar Stores and Michaels. I honestly don’t know what I would do without Amazon, Dollar Stores, Pinterest and Michaels.

Here’s a close up of my Mommy!!

Here’s us being silly

My mom and big bro

My Grandmommy and Mommy 

The Boyfriend 

My Brother’s Girlfriend

Mom’s Boyfriend

        Champagne Tower inside the venue. 

Gorgeous ceilings and lights. 

The Dance Floor

The Presidential Table 

Candy Station Area

Some pics of the Appetizers. We had Mediterranean/ Persian food which was so delicious! There were about 25 appetizers and 4 main courses. Grilled Salmon with Vegetables, Alfredo Pasta with Chicken, Beef and Chicken Kabob with potatoes and Beef and Chicken Lule with Persian rice. 

Some photobooth pics!! 

That’s all folks! I hope you enjoyed this post. Have a wonderful day everyone!!!

My Mom’s 60th Masquerade Birthday Party Hi Everyone!!! I thought I'd do a recap of my mom's birthday party. It's been two weeks or so and I am still trying to get back into the groove of things.

[hungryhugh]

Gotta get my Mediterranean fix! 😍 Follow @hungryhugh for more food! 🙌🏼 Checkout my Snapchat 👻: HungryHugh 🐮 🍴: Beef Lules, Chicken Lules, Chicken Shish Kabobs, Falafel, Rice and Vegetables 👉🏼: @mini_kabob 📍: Mini Kabob, 313 1/2 Vine St, Glendale, CA 91204 🐔 @mini_kabob has exactly what I need to feed my cravings: BEEF LULES, CHICKEN LULES, CHICKEN KABOBS, FALAFEL, RICE, & VEGETABLES! 😍🙌🏼🤗 . . . . . . . . #hungryhugh #foodbeast #foodie #eatersanonymous #myfab5 #eaterla #eatfamous #EEEEEATS #infatuationLA #dailyfoodfeed #tryitordiet #eater #fitfam #abc7eyewitness #losangeles #lagram #zagat #asian #orangecounty #hollywood #irvine #thrillist #garlic #armenian #macncheese #Mediterranean #kabob #persian #glendale #pasadena (at Mini Kabob)

[formeryelpers]

Abu Kabab, 720 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104

U Pick Mediterranean Café became Abu Kabab a few months ago. It’s hard to see the Abu Kabab sign at night – it still looks like the U Pick sign (they covered the old sign which, when lit, is easier to see than the sign they put over it). The owner is Greek/Lebanese.

The menu is extensive and includes crispy pita bowls (it comes with different things depending on the protein you choose), plates, wraps, salads, combo plates, appetizers, sides (hummus, shirazi salad, tabouleh), baklava, and drinks. Kabobs include lamb, beef lule, chicken lule, chicken thigh, chicken breast, salmon, and lamb chops. Non-kabob options include falafel, chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, and gyros.

Chicken shawerma wrap with a choice of one side ($17): The wrap is made with a thin pita that’s wrapped around bits of chicken shawarma, pickles, garlic sauce, tomato, and French fries. It’s a thin wrap (10 inches by 2.5 inches by 1.5 inches). It reminded me of the chicken shawarma wrap from A La Beirut (similar style). The pita is pressed to make it crispy. The chicken was moist and flavorful, plus the potent garlic sauce really hit the spot. The pickles were very good (different kinds – dill, turnip). I chose yogurt cucumber as a side and there was a lot of it – didn’t go with the sandwich but I had it later and it was very good: thick, tangy, with cucumber, and dill

Falafel plate with choice of two sides ($16) and rice (subbed salad): Mr. Froyo said it was good but (1) falafel balls were dry (good flavor, no herbs), tabouleh was a bit wet, shirazi salad was wet, and the hummus was just okay. Three thin pitas were included – that’s a lot of pita. Portions were generous.

Order at the counter. The place looks nice – like a European café. There’s parking in the back.

4 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.

[formeryelpers]

JeJe Mediterranean Grill, 11052 Ventura Blvd, Los Angeles (Studio City), CA 91604

Casual Greek/Turkish/Mediterranean food at its best…JeJe is one of the best Mediterranean places we’ve had and they have a wide variety of options. They bake their own lahmajun and use it in the wrap sandwich! I’ve never seen that before. Brilliant idea. The meat is halal. They even have vegan options.

Order at the counter. Choose from plates, wraps, salads, and bowls. Protein choices: chicken kebab, chicken lule, chicken shawarma, beef lule, beef kebab, lamb kofte, beef gyros, falafel (mild or spicy), salmon. With the wraps, you can choose a pita, tortilla, or lahmajun wrap and the style (Middle Eastern, Greek, Istanbul). The lahmajun wrap is not on the menu. Ask for the fire wrap. The protein is cooked to order.

Fire wrap with lamb kofte ($13.99) on housemade lahmajun. This thing was huge at 11 inches by 3 inches and looked like a giant burrito. Fillings included a couple of lamb meatballs (not that juicy but they are grilled and I also ate it a few hours after it was made), lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, and potent garlic sauce on the side. The lahmajun was a thin flatbread topped with a tomato-pepper spread, ground beef, and spices. I didn’t think I was hungry but it was so good that I couldn’t stop eating it.

Falafel pita wrap ($9.99): lettuce, tomato, onion, dill pickle, tahini, radish, and freshly made spicy falafel. The tortilla wraps are larger than the pita wraps but the thin pita was a good size and it looked just like a well-stuffed burrito (7 inches by 3.25 inches). Mr. Froyo was impressed with the freshness and flavor.

The food took awhile but it was so worth the wait. The interior was simple but clean, with a picture of the Mediterranean on the wall. Service was friendly. Online ordering is available.

5 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.

[formeryelpers]

Vernatoun Restaurant, 1100 S Central Ave, Glendale, CA 91204

I had a strange experience at Vernatoun but I’ll chalk it up to cultural differences + a language barrier. Vernatoun is a new Russian-Armenian restaurant specializing in Armenian style charcoal BBQ cooking. They have kabobs, dolmas, stews, etc.

First, when I walked in, the cashier looked at me very suspiciously. When I said I wanted to order the lamb hearts and liver, she said, “Why would you want to order that?” I told her I liked lamb hearts and livers. She said it would take a long time to cook. I said that I could come back later to pick it up. She went into the kitchen and said they didn’t have any. She recommended the lamb chops or lule kabobs. I said okay and that I’m familiar with lule and Armenian food. At that point, two men came out and one asked me if I wanted the lamb hearts and liver. I said yes. I also wanted to order something for Mr. Froyo. I asked about the trout. The guy said it wasn’t any good. I asked about the sturgeon. Same thing. He muttered something about San Francisco and bad water. I asked about the salmon. He said no again. It was like they didn’t want me to order anything. The cashier handed me the menu and told me to call in my order even though I was ready to order right then. Eventually, they took my order for the trout and the lamb hearts & liver.

When I wanted to pay, they said cash only since the credit card machine was down. I tried to leave a tip but they gave the tip back to me and said no.

Lamb heart and liver, kabob style with rice, veggies, and raw onions ($18): The veggies (a whole tomato and chili pepper) were heavily charred. Mr. Froyo called them burnt and didn’t want any. The long grain basmati rice was soft but plain. The heart and liver pieces were also very charred but they were seasoned well. I wish the plate came with lavash and a dip but everything was tasty, better than average.

Roasted trout ($12): The piece of trout was wrapped in lavash with fresh herbs (tarragon?) and baked. Never had trout prepared this way. The bones are larger but do watch out for them. The white flesh was firm and not too meaty. I liked it though I wish they had taken the bones out. It was served with a ton of white basmati rice, the charred tomato and chili pepper, and raw onions with herbs.

The food seemed very authentic. They don’t seem used to serving non-Armenians. Hopefully they don’t scare non-Armenians away. The restaurant is in a strip mall and I think they’re going for an upscale dining experience. The blacked out windows are strange; you can’t see inside. But maybe they like their privacy.

4 out of 5 stars.

By Lolia S.

[formeryelpers]

Roobic’s Café, 325 N Verdugo Rd., Glendale, CA 91206

Roobic’s is an interesting Mediterranean restaurant. It’s tiny – it looks like a takeout pizza place. The menu includes pizzas, kabobs, wraps, and appetizers. There are a few tables. Order at the register. I was the only customer and it took 30 minutes to cook my kabobs.

* Cornish hen kabob ($15.99): I was given a choice of rice, salad, or both. I chose Greek salad. The salad was huge and a bit wilted since they put the hot kabob on top. I didn’t see the grilled tomato and pepper that were supposed to be included, but they include two items I hadn’t expected, red cabbage and banana peppers. It was strange that the kabob plate didn’t come with pita or lavash. They cut the hen up and skewered it. The kabob was so good – the smaller size of the hen meant that there was less flesh and more skin. The skin had a grilled flavor and the meat was mostly tender and moist. The salad soaked up some of the hen’s juices. The salad had lettuce, chopped tomato, red onion, cucumber, feta, and olives – it was like the perfect salad.

* Vegan special: Grilled bell peppers stuffed with mashed potatoes, falafel and roasted eggplant, red cabbage, banana peppers, rice and hummus. While the description included eggplant, there was no eggplant. I’ve never seen bell peppers stuffed with mashed potatoes before. Mr. Froyo said there was too much rice and the falafel were dense and dry. He thought the stuffed peppers were unusual and said they were okay.

Lunch prices are at least $1 lower. Lunch is served will 3 PM.

4 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.

[formeryelpers]

Massif Mediterranean Grill, 902 E Colorado St., Glendale, CA 91205

This newish Iraqi restaurant has a no frills look with interesting dishes that aren’t commonly found in restaurants in this area. Some of the dishes require pre-ordering, such as the whole lamb, masgoof fish, kuzi, etc. The menu isn’t very descriptive but most of the patrons seem to be Iranian. They have breakfast dishes (served till noon), sides, kebabs, shawarma, falafel, wraps, sandwiches, manti (dumplings), kibbeh, stews, plates, and weekend specials. They have some Indian dishes like biryani, tandoori chicken and naan. Order upfront.

* Potato chap ($7.99): four mashed potato discs deep fried to a golden brown with seasoned ground beef, they’re like Porto’s potato balls but not as good – the beef mixture is salty and the exterior isn’t as crispy as Porto’s  

* Beef lule kebab plate ($8.99): Good portion for a reasonable price, comes with one thin pita, 2 ground beef lule kebabs, grilled whole tomato, basmati rice, red onions, assorted sour pickles, hummus with olive oil, and sumac. The kebabs were a little tough and bland but the rice was good – it soaked up the flavors of the beef. The hummus was creamy and the red onions with sumac were the perfect additions.

* White bean stew with rice and pita ($6.99): white beans in a tomato based sauce, sweet, reminded me of baked beans, mild, just beans and sauce served with basmati rice and pita.

You can watch TV while you wait for your food. Delivery available.

3.5 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.

[formeryelpers]

Sofreh, 4701 E 3rd St., Los Angeles (East Los Angeles), CA 90022

Sofreh serves kabobs and Persian/Mediterranean food in an area dominated by Mexican restaurants. They may have opened during the pandemic because the seating is all outdoors (and covered). Order at the walk-up window and get a buzzer. The buzzer will let you know when your order is ready for pickup.

The menu includes kabobs (lule, lamb chops, beef shish, chicken shish), shawarma, salads, pita wraps, and appetizers (hummus, baba ganoush, tzatziki, fries, soups). Portions were generous though the takeout items could have been packaged better. The trays didn’t have compartments so the salad that was next to my sandwich made part of the pita soggy.

Chicken shawarma wrap combo ($15): wrap sandwich, salad (or fries), and a drink. There were only three options for drinks: Coke, Sprite or bottled water. The chicken shawarma was so tender, maybe the most tender chicken shawarma that I’ve ever had. I also really enjoyed the sharwarma spicing and the sauce. The shawarma was served in a warm pita of medium thickness with lettuce, tomato, and pickles. So good. The salad was good (romaine, tomato, cucumber, onion) but it had been dressed so it was wilted by the time I got home.

Veggie platter ($18) with hummus, basmati rice, dolma, falafel, grilled tomato, grilled pepper, and pita wedges. They were stingy with the hummus. Mr. Froyo said the dolma were firm and tangy but bland. The falafel was different – less crispy and a bit spicy.

Parking was difficult to find. If you call or order in advance, they do have a parking space for picking up food.

4 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.

[formeryelpers]

Meze, 2662 Griffith Park Blvd, Los Angeles (Silver Lake), CA 90039

Meze has been open since 2011. I’ve driven by many times but since it isn’t in Glendale or Burbank, I overlooked it till recently. It seems to be Armenian. They have a variety of kabobs, gyros, salads, sides, pita wraps, and vegetarian options. Prices are reasonable and portions generous. The kabobs are cooked to order. Order at the front. The kabobs take about 10-15 minutes.

Chicken lule kabob plate with pita, rice or salad, choice of two side orders ($13.95): I like how you can choose your sides. You also get a whole pita (medium thickness). The salad is a green salad (romaine) with chopped cucumber and tomatoes. The lule kabob was fine – fairly moist. The baba ganoush was creamy and smoky. The yogurt + cucumber had lots of cucumber and fresh dill. They even included some thick pieces of Armenian pickles (sour turnips).

Vegi plate ($12.95): 5 dolmas, salad, whole pita, hummus, tabbouli, whole pita. I’ve never seen tabbouli made with such coarsely chopped parsley. Very clunky looking, like the giant pickles. Mr. Froyo liked his plate, especially the tabbouli because it had little bulgur or tomatoes. The dolmas were firm and dry. The hummus was garlicky. 

They were having problems with the credit card machine. The interior is pretty basic/no frills. The parking lot is usually pretty busy.

4 out of 5 stars.

By Lolia S.