On the corner of Brand Blvd. and Harvard St., Karas stands indifferently from the other buildings, but as you enter, you see sharply dressed waiters, a bar, and you are hit with the smell of freshly made food. There’s no long waiting time to get seated, and you’re taken care of almost immediately.

Opening up the menu, you see that most of the foods are Armenian/Russian in origin, except for a few sandwiches and pizza. There’s kebabs, soups like borscht and spas, and appetizers such as lahmacun and a cheese plate.

Once my friend and I were seated, we ordered a chicken lule kabob plate with a glass of tan (rhymes with won), which is a Mediterranean yogurt drink. A chicken plate was $12 and the tan was $4, which was a little expensive for me. However, I could tell that my tan was freshly made and that my chicken and rice were as well.

The rice isn’t dry and is thoroughly cooked, the chicken was savory and you can really sink your teeth into it, and the salad on the side was refreshing and contrasted really well with the rice and chicken. 

The portions are large, so bring your appetite with you. After we ate, our check was brought to us inside a piece of pottery instead of a leather booklet, which really complemented the theme of traditional Armenian cuisine.

I’ve been to Karas multiple times, and you don’t always have to order big plates of kebab or family-sized bowls of borscht. If you want to sit down and catch up with a friend or take a load off, get a kettle of any type of tea, and have an order of lamajun as well. It’s a very relaxing combo and only costs around $5.

Karas offers food that many in Glendale grew up with. Its environment is friendly and familiar to many in Glendale, and its food, while a bit expensive, fills you up and gives you a taste of Yerevan.

Address: 158 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204

Phone: (747) 500-0000

Hours: Sunday & Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.