Massis International Grill

It is a common misconception that authentic ethnic food has to be hidden away in some hole-in-the-wall with a “C” rating on the door. Some fantastic eats are hiding in plain sight. In the case of Massis International Grill, it is hiding somewhere between McDonalds and Hot Dog on a Stick.

This Persian-Armenian kabob shop (kabobbery?) has occupied the same location in the Glendale Galleria since 1976. It was one of two original restaurants in the food court, and there is a good reason why it still stands. The addition of giant decorative 3-foot rotating kabobs to celebrate their 30th anniversary only adds to their coolness factor. The family-run business has three other locations in the Westfield Fashion Square Mall, West Covina Plaza and Montebello Town Center.

Massis serves your standard beef and chicken kabobs, but the star of the show is the Cornish game hen, succulent, yellow with saffron and perfectly spiced.

Another favorite is the Chelo Kabob Bargh which is filet mignon pounded until it is tender (It’s what pirates order). Plates come with the familiar Middle Eastern rice, grilled tomato and Shirazi cucumber-tomato salad. They also feature Kaubideh, a ground beef or ground chicken kabob

Although this is one meatarific spot, a vegetarian could make a nice lunch out of sides. They have Homous Dip, Red Cabbage Salad, Cucumber Yogurt Salad, Shirazi Salad, Eggplant Dip (Ikhra), Borani Dip, Russian Bean Salad and Garlic Fries. They also offer a wide variety of seafood, like Idaho Trout and Tiilapia, shrimp, Mahi Mahi and Salmon.