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Today I’m going to talk about one of the greatest cities in LA County: Glendale.
Located in the South East area of the San Fernando Valley, Glendale is home to some of the best culinary hidden gems in Los Angeles.
Diversity is what describes Glendale in one word, which adds a wonderful dynamic to the city. Another great fact is the urban community style where everything is conveniently located. You don’t need a car to get to places, as most establishments/eateries/offices, are within walking distance from each other. This adds great value in this sprawling city, where most people are slaves to their cars.
It is only a nine-minute drive from Los Feliz and 13 minutes away from Silverlake, so there’s no excuse for you to not visit it. Without further ado, here are the five must-see places you can’t miss:
Glendale Galleria
100 W Broadway Suite 100, Glendale, CA 91210
Photo Courtesy: elsarch.com
If you like malls and just enjoy walking around the seemingly never-ending hallways, this is your place! Not only is it incredibly spacious, but the beautiful ceiling windows that flood the mall with natural light will make you want to spend your day here. They have a wide variety of stores, many of which are big enough to have a good selection of products, making your browsing experience worthwhile. My favorite store here is Big5 Sporting Goods. With its two floors, not only is it enormous and rarely crowded, it also has great sales from top-selling brands and celebrity activewear lines that you wouldn’t get anywhere else.
I also love the three-story Target, which has a nice cart escalator. I almost forgot the parking situation! It is free and the structure is conveniently located. You can even access the parking from the mall’s second floor.
Mini Kabob
313 1/2 Vine St, Glendale, CA 91204
A few weeks ago I finally went to this eatery that has been a staple in Glendale for the last 28 years. If you’re a foodie and you’re in LA, please write Mini Kabob on the top of your list of places to eat.
Photo Courtesy: foodgps
Don’t let the small size of the establishment (only 3 tables) and their cash-only policy deter you. They truly make you feel at home. It’s a Mom-And-Pop business and they truly care for their customers. Although it was my first time, you could tell everyone who walked in was a regular. The husband came out and greeted me while I was sitting eagerly waiting for my food. He said people had come to Mini Kabob all the way from The OC and Pomona. WOW.
The hummus and garlic cream were exquisite. It just melted into my mouth: soft, creamy, juicy…. I could go on and on. Oh! And they give you free refills of those. Every menu item is made to order and prepared with love. The beef and chicken were top-notch: fresh, tender and flavorful. Blown away is a big understatement. This is a true hole-in-the-wall kind of place. I can’t believe it took me so long to try it. You can’t miss it!!
Hands down this was the best hummus I’ve ever had. The picture doesn’t do any justice. Also, don’t forget to order their life changing couscous. You can thank me later.
Photo Courtesy: Yelp.com
Yes, Mini Kabob lives up to the hype.
Note: 2021 Mariana here. After 4 years, Mini Kabob continues to hold the number one spot as my favorite restaurant in LA.
The Americana At Brand
889 Americana Way suite 330, Glendale, CA 91210
Photo Courtesy: Lifescapes International
This outdoor mall was developed by Rick Caruso, the same developer that built The Grove. The two malls are very similar, but this one has a more diverse mix of stores and it’s more spacious, since it’s built in a circular form as opposed to the linear layout of The Grove.
The Americana sits right across the street from Glendale Galleria. The only downside, just like The Grove, is that you have to pay for parking in the structure. An odd fact is that the decoration buildings that you see as you walk by, are actually luxury apartment complexes and the leasing office is right below the parking structure elevator. Being from Europe, it was a little weird to see apartments mixed with shops. It’s no wonder why there’s been a growing demand for a more urban lifestyle in LA.
Brand Park
1601 W Mountain St, Glendale, CA 91201
Simply beautiful! I came here on my quest to discover all the hidden nooks LA has to offer and I hit the nail on the head with this one. Brand Park is filled with luscious grass and different sections perfect for Instagram photo ops. From the beautiful landscape yards, to the modern architecture of the public library, this park surpasses any of the parks I’ve been to in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. It is clean and very well-maintained. The layout of the park is very convenient, with a kid’s playground in one area and on the other end, there is a big sports field where a school football game was happening.
My favorite area was the row of tall and skinny palm trees at the entrance that takes you to the library as you see the ever-present Verdugo mountains in the background. (As seen on the picture above.)
In addition to this, there are hiking trails and a beautiful Japanese Garden with a Tea House surrounded by a Koi Pond.
Photo Courtesy: Los Angeles Times
This park is perfect to grab a blanket, a book and just lay under the trees, soaking in the calmness and the beauty of the nature you’re surrounded by.
Porto’s Bakery
Photo Courtesy: TripAdvisor
With only three locations in Los Angeles: Glendale, Burbank and Downey, Porto’s Bakery is a landmark in LA. Known for their house-made pastries, desserts and their famous cheese rolls, this place is always packed. However, don’t be discouraged as the line moves pretty quickly.
Have you been to Glendale? If so, how often do you visit it? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated and added to my list!
