Examiner, CA
Jan 5 2009

Elenas Greek Armenian Cuisine is inexpensive and delicious!
January 4, 8:12 PM

by Eric Forsberg, LA Ethnic Eats Examiner

Hungry for hummus? Craving a kabob? Got to get a gyros? You can devour
all these and more, even on a budget, at Elenas Greek Armenian Cuisine
in Glendale.

Founded around 30 years ago by a family of Armenians who were raised
in Greece, the cuisine at Elenas is a pleasant mix of Middle Eastern
food like tabule and falafel, Greek dishes like stuffed grape leaves
and feta cheese, and standard Armenian fare such as lula kabob (tubes
of spiced ground beef) and grilled meats like lamb, chicken, and
quail.

Don’t expect an elegant dining experience at this charming but simple
location. Elenas appears to be a semi-open-air structure with walls
made of removable plastic tarps and a floor that could almost be a
patio. In fact, that’s what it almost seems like, someone’s front yard
converted into a little shelter off the kitchen. It is actually quite
fun if you like that sort of thing, although a slight bit chilly on
the coldest nights. It is brightly lit with wooden chairs, plastic
table cloths, pictures on the wall and Armenian television usually
playing in the background. But all this adds to the charm and the
place is often crowded. That’s because everything is made fresh on the
premises except for the gyros which is shipped in from a greek fellow
who makes it fresh.

Every table has salt and sumac next to the napkins, and the first
thing you get when you sit down is a plate of delicious Armenian
pickled cabbage similar to pink, slightly spicy sauerkraut. It’s
good. Then comes the bread basket, filled with something that the
owner calls `pita’, but it is like no other pita that I have ever
had. The round pita sheets are as large as a pizza crust and almost at
thin, cut into quarters and served with a little dish of homemade
spread composed of olive oil and raw garlic cloves crushed into a
paste. Then comes the menu, which has dozens of items that are
shockingly inexpensive. You can eat a hearty combo plate, with lentil
soup or Greek salad, rice, grilled tomatoes and peppers, and some kind
of meat kabob starting at about $7.75. If you really want to splurge
on the most expensive lamb chop dish they have it will set you back
about $12.99. And lunch is even cheaper with a huge lula kabob rolled
sandwich going for around 4 bucks.

For a fun night out that won’t break the bank, Elanas Greek Armenian
Cusine is a great place to go. This exmaminer has been there many
times and I’ve never been disappointed.

Ethnic Eats 1-10 quality rating
TASTE ` 8
AUTHENTICITY ` 9
AMBIANCE ` 5
VALUE ` 10

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