Carousel Restaurant Hollywood Reviews

4.5

357 of 9,994 Restaurants in Los Angeles


Reviews

Soooo Good!

By Bethany B |

There are lots of good restaurants in this area but for Armenian food this place is a knockout! Most of the people eating when I was there were Armenian too. I highly recommend the hummus with Armenian sausage! Makes my mouth water right now! So good!

Great Place for Lunch

By Kevin S |

Great Prices, pretty good food, nice place to eat. You will need to pay for parking meters unless you park pretty far. Not too bad on parking. Closed Monday's...found this out the hard way.

Great food, excellent service, and huge selection

By NewYorkScooby |

Fantastic restaurant. Forget the strip mall setting. Inside is lovely, the staff are kind and welcoming and attentive, and the food is excellent. Huge selection of Armenian and Lebanese dishes, and every one we tried was delicious and expertly prepared. Highly recommended.

A surprise!

By gferretti |

Very good food. Portions will fill even the most demanding stomachs! But sometimes quantity fights with quality. Not here. Bring your own bottle, since they don’t sell alcoholic beverages.

Spectacular strip mall Lebanese-Armenian fare.

By Ddfocus |

You might never find this place on your own, tucked away toward the back of a Hollywood Blvd strip mall next to Thai Town, but that would be your loss. The atmosphere is modest and traditional, but the flavors are fantastic. It could become your favorite Lebanese-Armenian restaurant that nobody can find. Go. Enjoy!

9 out of 10

By Blmhouston |

This is a wonderful little Lebanese / Mediterranean cafe. The service was outstanding and the menu wonderful. The chicken dishes were great as the meat was very well seasoned and prepared. All the sides and appetizers we sampled were wonderful as well. They further have an impressive dessert menu. The only downside is the lack of decent parking. Worth the wait for a parking spot.

Very Good Armenian Lebanese Food

By GoldnAdvice |

A casual restaurant offering delicious variety of Lebanese and Armenian cuisine. Appetizers were very good. The kebobs were good, needed more flavoring in my opinion. The staff was friendly and very knowledgable. Ideal for large groups.

Bad

By HungryCustomer777 |

The meat was so dry and when i asked to get it redone the lady said that I should've ordered something i liked.

Good food and good ambience

By Jojo |

We went on a weekend for dinner & show, the show was really impressing and family friendly.The food was really good and diverse but came in small quantities. The show had belly dancers, Armenian dancing and other middle eastern dancing and singing. The price is also reasonable at $47 per person. I would definitely visit again and recommend to family & friends.

Epic dining

By Alison B |

Epic and unpretentious dining. Get the carousel party and you will be eating for hours. The food is excellent. I would love to see the kitchen. To make this work is has to have military precision or be run ay an army of militant Armenian grandma's. Every time I am in LA I visit this place and meet my friends here.

My first Armenian-Lebanese restaurant experience and it was a winner!

By redrosesue |

While visiting LA, my taxi driver Alex recommended Carousel for my first Armenian food experience. What a wonderful surprise! The server, Hanna, was outstanding and so very patient in recommending a variety of dishes that proved to be delicious, tasty and unique. Big portions at a reasonable price made the meal even more enjoyable. Check this place out and you, too, will be pleased with the experience.

Slightly better than OK

By mtjllc |

So, after living in London for five years and traveling the globe, including the all over Middle East, we have a high bar when it comes to Middle Eastern/Lebanese fare. The hoummous was generally excellent. One slight issue - they make their meat versions with ground beef and sausage rather than diced lamb - not my preference. The chicken shawarma is one to pass on. It is not up to the level expected. The shish taouk was good and I recommend it. The minced kebabs were also not available in lamb which is not to my liking. The Kibbeh weren’t off the charts but they weren’t bad. The labneh was very good as well. The pita was disappointing - I think it was store bought and wasn’t warm. Beware, there is no liquor license so if you want to drink you need to BYOB. The wait staff is very nice and attentive. In summary, if you need a fix, this will do. If you are a foodie and have experienced such fare overseas then you will likely be disappointed. But, it is basically your only choice so....

Great Food at Carousel

By irawine |

My wife and I recently took our son to dinner at the Carousel Restaurant and had a great time. The food was extremely good. I tried my sons very flavorful meat dish and I had the moussaka, which was equally delicious. This place has become my favorite Armenian/Lebanese restaurant in LA. Service was great. I would definitely come back here for a meal and would not hesitate to recommend Carousel to others.

Lebanese Restaurant with an Armenian Twist

By Pat M |

We went there for lunch and ordered the appetizer sampler plate. The baba ganoush, hummus and other items were very good. Normally I do not like lentil soup, however, if you go, make sure you have a bowl of the lentil soup, it is amazingly good. All other the other food and service was very good.

Mostly positive experience

By Trup |

The positives: pleasant setting and efficient wait staff. Very tasty appetizers (especially the tabouleh and the baba ganoush). Reasonable prices. Large servings. The not-so-positive -- neither my wife nor I cared for our entrees --- my beef was too spicy and her salmon was just so-so. I think if I were to return I'd content myself with multiple appetizers and call it a day!

The best Lebanese food I've had thus far.

By Colleen M |

The best Lebanese food I've had thus far.

Excellent armenian and Lebanese restaurant.

By Jimmy C |

Oh boy! Where do I start, the atmosphere, the welcoming and warm feeling one gets when entering the restaurant, the smells of the delicious dishes being prepared in the kitchen, we get seated and the beautiful waitress explained what the dishes were and recommended we get the carousel party for 2. Every bite was absolutely delicious and oh so satisfying. I would recommend this place to everyone who has a craving for excellent Armenian and Lebanese cuisine.

Tasty

By Beanie88 |

Yummy and delicious! We went next door and grabbed a bottle of white wine. We tried the steak tartar, we had Baba and a delicious hot appetizer with prosciutto and cheese in phyllo dough. The Lula kabobs were the highlight of our night. We always judge our Armenian food by the Lula. Carousel doesn't disappoint. We can't wait to come back here and order lots of new items.

Great Armenian/Lebanese Food

By StaceyAN |

If you happen to find yourself in the Eastern part of Hollywood, give this restaurant a try. The food is great and the staff is friendly. We had the lamb kabobs that comes with bulgar wheat, pita and cabbage salad. We also added a platter of appetizers. For a group of 6 adults the bill was about $20 per person Bring your own wine. It is not located in a great area of town, so come early to be able to find parking nearby.

Bomb Lebanese

By CaribbeanFan |

I had never really had Lebanese food before and man this was super good. Very soft rice with great pita and meat with veggies.

Steak tartare, Levant style

By LosFelizLarry |

Carousel, tucked in the back corner if a non-descript stripmall off Hollywood Boulevard in the middle of little Armenia provides an extremely delicious and abundant repast of typical Armenian/Lebanese food. Unlike its big brother restaurant in Glendale, this Carousel is intimate, quiet and brightly lit. Our absolute favorite dish here is kibbeh nayeh: the lebanese/armenian answer to steak tartare. The traditional dish is usually ground LAMB but here they use beef. The very finely ground meat (probably passed through the grinder multiple times) is mixed with a few middle eastern spices , a bit of cooked bulgar wheat, grated onion, perhaps a pinch of cinnamon and salt and pepper. It is served icy cold thinly layered on a flat dish garnished with pine nuts and parsley and a bit of fine olive oil. Unlike the FRench tartare there is no egg, or anchovies, and again, it is finely ground not chopped. It is a hefty portion, suitable to share for up to four people, served with warm pita. My wife and I eat it with a fork. It's filling enough that we usually then split just one of the luscious kebab dinners. Oh, did I mention how delicious the kibbeh nayeh is?

Very good food but pricey

By Smiley006 |

Although the food would have rated 4 stars, value is 2 stars especially since they don't take American Express and therefore I don't get my miles. We both had the chicken Shawarma which was a reasonably sized portion and was quite good. As well, we had the Muhammara appetizer which was also very good. I probably would return but only with a big group for a special occasion choosing a family-style selection, which although even more pricey, would provide a great variety and a better value.

A last minute decision for the win!

By SasPopps |

On our second night in the city we wanted to try something different. We were staying in Little Armenia so we figured we'd try some Middle Eastern. This place was within walking distance so we figured we'd give it a try. Everything was DELICIOUS! And a great price (especially considering how much food we got!). Instead of getting a bunch of mains I got three appetizers and Omg they were amazing. Everyone in our group of 5 was totally happy! What a great night out

I went to this restaurant on these (reviews)

By Aquarius2012 |

This was the most awful tasting Middle Eastern Food I have ever eaten, the little plate of appetizers tasted like cockroach spray, I ordered the Vegetarian Moussaka which was the very worst I have had, I am happy they took that off the bill, my husband had the lamb kabobs, which were dry, tasteless and a small portion for what they charged. I will never ever go back to this place again!!!! I cannot believe the board of health isn't shutting them down. Also the service was unfriendly and aggressive too.

Eat here!

By Bethany B |

Some of the best Armenian I've ever had in a restaurant! I had a hummus dish with sausage and I think about it all the time! And we a stew dish OMG A+. I know the food will be good when I'm the only "white" person there! I go here every time in LA

Very good

By DIANA L |

Food was delicious and service was great! We went there on Thursday night and the place was packed. We had to wait about 45min. So call in advance to make a reservation. You can BYOB but if you don't have anything with you there is a liquor store next to the restaurant :)

Authentic and Delicious

By Nancy D |

I can't believe I'd never eaten here before. I'd return in a heartbeat. The food was delicious, the portions huge and the cost - more than fair. Our waitress was lovely and personable-and service excellent. Warm pita bread and complimentary olives, cheese, pickled radish starter provided. Both Greek and Fattoush salads that accompany entrees were superb. And a healthy serving too. The yogurt kebab entry was spectacular. Chicken shawarma was good too...but I preferred the kebabs. Located in a small strip center with parking.

Great food and ambience

By Tatiana G |

Really nice food, service and the atmosphere. Authentic Armenian Lebanese cuisine. Very reasonable priced, warm and welcoming.

Good food but expensive

By htha05 |

I went to this restaurant together with my wife and daughter when we visited LA. The food was good but the service was very slow compared to other restaurants. The price is quite expensive.

Good Food and So Much Fun!

By Claire K |

This restaurant was recommended to us and though we had to drive 45 minutes to get there, it was well worth it. I suggest going with a big appetite. Excellent food, staff and entertainment. It is a fun place to go with a big group. Highly recommend.

Delicious Armenian/Middle Eastern Food

By SgtBuffy |

I don't usually choose Middle Eastern cuisine when dining out, but after enjoying Carousel's delicious Armenian/Middle Eastern food, I think I'll be returning here soon. Everything we ordered was freshly prepared and delicious. We started with the fattoush salad and some falafel, followed by the Chicken Schwarma and the Carousel combination plate of filet mignon and chicken and another Carousel combination of lamb and chicken. The service was pleasant and the restaurant decor was clean and comfortable. The only negative about this restaurant is that it is located within a strip mall and finding a parking space in the private lot is quite challenging.. However, there is metered street parking.

Touring Los Angeles

By Catia Spencer |

Returning every year to taste the delights of the Carousel. It has become a tradition in December to come to Los Angeles and check out his cuisine, but come with appetite because the portions are huge, with the right to take home the rest. Appropriate price with quality, service and environment 45,00 per person, no alcoholic beverage.

Don’t go around...stop here!

By Marc A |

Excellent food great atmosphere. Moussaka was amazing. Hummus really good. It’s BYOB so bring some wine but fantastic food and service. Highly recommend.

Fresh, Delicious and Always a Stop in LA

By Xhico |

Don't let the mini-mall sway you away from a meal at this place. Inside you'll find a beautiuflly decorated and clean resturant. The people are welcoming and friendly. The service is great and the food is fresh and delicious as can be. I recommend ordering the "Lunch Party" or anything family style so you can sample everything. This is also a great way to split dinner between meat-eating and vegetarian friends. So if you're looking for some refreshing food in the Hollywood heat, give Carousel a try. TIP: Don't forget to ask for the garlic sauce!

Too Crispy.

By David H |

Service was very attentive and personable. Unfortunately, the food was not something to remember: lamb kebabs were overcooked to a crisp. Chicken kebabs were just okay, as was vegetarian mixed plate. Too bad.

Birthday celebration

By Trip551797 |

The food is amazing. The lady who vas serving our table needs more training because this restaurant is one of the best restaurant. Our food came after 53 min of the order placement, after they take the plates she left the table dirty and she saw that I start to clean up before coffee came. Also, other birthday tables was getting sparkling candles but I got regular candle and after I asked her . She told me that we charge for sparkling candles. I think she is discriminative.

Super restaurant!

By Felix M |

Really good service. The food was amazing and the plate was huge for it's really affordable price! Definitely a good place to eat Lebanese food!

Great Armenian Food

By ToddHinLA |

Just like it's counterpart in Glendale, this place always serves great food. Highly recommend. Wait staff is friendly and accommodating.

Outstanding food. Pleasant decor.

By what666 |

Situated in a run-down mini mall with difficult parking, one might easily bypass Carousel unless one already knew its reputation and was specifically looking for the restaurant. For starters, we tried the hummus, Baba Ganoush, and Falafel (with pita bread). All some of the best we have every eaten. This was followed to Chicken Kabob and Lamb Kabob plates with rice and salad. Dessert was Basma topped with ice cream. Wonderful. All dishes were excellent and good portion sizes. Service was quick and attentive. Food arrived reasonably quickly. Decor was suitably Lebanese. A good place for business or social meals. I hope to definitely eat here again.

The best middle eastern, delish

By Oscar C |

This place is simply amazing! Being from Australia we have lots of middle eastern restaurants. However this place is the best I've tried. Even all the starters were to die for. Absolutely amazing.

Authentic. Delicious. Huge Portions.

By Nancy D |

My title says it all. Friendly family owned Armenian Lebanese restaurant. Clean. Huge portions. So tasty. I’ve eaten here a handful of times and I’m never disappointed. This time we ordered the sampler dinner. There was enough for four, cooked for two. We too a lot of leftovers home. You won’t be disappointed. Located in a strip center with complimentary parking.

Great food

By Veronica F |

Everything was really great, the food was amazing, really fresh, and variety. We all enjoy,. The service was really great. Falafel was very very good!!

Great place to eat!!!

By yasou86 |

This place has a very good selection of Armenian, Middle Eastern and some Greek cuisine. Believe me. you won't be disappointed. And their prices are great!

Delicious Armenian Dinner

By adventurer1234 |

We have eaten at the Carousel Restaurant several times with our son. We let him do the ordering. He orders a family style meal that includes many different selections, ranging from several different salads, soups, potatoes, and ending with several different meat options. All are excellently prepared and delicious. It is a BYOB restaurant with no corking fee, so we enjoyed a bottle of wine with our dinner. The restaurant was very crowded but the noise level was acceptable. Service is excellent but not intrusive.

If you like Lebanese food Carousel is a must

By jamesgoren |

If you are looking for an elegant restaurant in an beautiful setting Carousel is not your place, but if you are looking for arguably the best Middle Eastern cuisine in LA don't miss it! Since my brother's mother in law passed on many years ago I have not tasted such a good and authentic Lebanese food! Please don't forget to bring your wine, they will serve it, but they do not sell it. The service is very friendly and I always enjoy a meal there.

Authentic food and great service

By Int-TravelReviewer |

So after hearing about the famous Corrossel and how the Kardashians still go to this restaurant as their go-to as their Armenian dad used to take them here I knew I had to try it for myself. What surprised me was that the taxi driver did not feel comfortable dropping me off on the main street of little Armenia. He literally wanted to drive me almost to their door and walk me in! I'm assuming the area isn't too great but the food did not disappoint! It was probably the most authentic Lebanese food I have tried! Fairly reasonable too with HUGE portions and the staff are very attentive.

Amazing Food! Order the falafel,

By Vatche |

Amazing Food! Order the falafel, fattoush salad, and any of the beef or chicken kebabs! Spectacular service as well! Waiter is super fast and very nice!

Super delicious and fresh

By Frank M |

The most important criteria for judging Mediterranean or Middle Eastern cuisine, IMHO, is the food freshness. Vegetables not only have to be fresh from the field, but also freshly cut and prepared - not prepared earlier in the day for a meal hours in the future. At Carousel, freshness is evident and celebrated. My party had several appetizers and everything tasted as if newly prepared for our meal. The hummos and muhammara were just right and house specialties. Throw in some kebabs and you have a feast.

Its was an outstanding experience

By MOHAMMED ABU HAJAR |

Its was an outstanding experience today, we order the family package and it was great almost everything in the menu, the Kubba Nieah was Greap, Hummus is taste and the meat cube is a Must, the Falafel was good and the other appetiser , Thanks for the Great Service Fadi and the manager Sarkies 👍

FABULOUS Middle Eastern food

By Marsha E |

The mint tea was brewed fresh with mint leaves. We ordered lentil soup which was perfect. Thick, hearty and delicious. A cup is actually about 12 oz and a bowl is about 3 cups. We ordered lots of appetizers (mezzas) so we could taste more variety. Eggplant salad is perfectly spiced, perfect texture. Delicious. Moussaka was divine. Fool Mudammas was perfectly cooked and spiced. Jajek was very good. There was more than enough food. We took a lot home.

Excellent food, wish they would spent a little on decor

By pattayainsider |

The food here is unbelievably good, all the time. And generous portions. Parking is not easy, so come early. Seems like most of their business at this location is take out. The décor is just awful, and it borders on looking not clean (floor, walls, bathrooms etc.), but I suspect the kitchen is, cause everything is so fresh. If they would only spend a few thousand dollars to put in a new floor, paint the place, and put up some modern decorations, they could raise their prices lots. But I keep going back, cause it's the best food in town. Love the lamb skewers and all of the salads... and the rice is the best in town. The platters of cut vegetables they give at the beginning are just great too. I love this place, just wish they would clean it up a little.

Outstanding food!

By Linda B |

I was on business in the area and was traveling with someone who used to live in LA and recommended this restaurant. We were not disappointed. I have not eaten a lot of Lebanese cuisine but this has to be some of the best out there. We had a variety of appetizers but my favorite was Muhammara - walnuts crushed with red peppers. It was outstanding. We also had the Hummus and Mousakka and a couple of the salads as well as the chicken, lamb and shrimp skewers. Everything was incredible! I would definitely eat here again. it is not an easy restaurant to find but worth finding!

Fantastic quality and quantity!

By Softsoutherner01 |

We followed tripadvisor advice and once again it proved reliable. We went for the carousel feast and a feast it turned out to be! A delicious assortment of cold and hot meze followed by steak tartare, a range of kebabs rice bulgar wheat salads and Lebanese sausage. We managed about half and the rest is in our fridge ready for a great lunch. Service was quick and very pleasant. Nice decor. Poor parking but we could walk from our hotel so that wasn't a problem for us.

Fabulous!

By GenXMommy |

Chose this restaurant based on the great reviews. As I drove up and saw the restaurant tucked into a strip mall in a very urban setting, I was apprehensive. Then I remembered that these places can be hidden gems and I proceeded. Thank goodness! My husband and I had an amazing meal to celebrate our anniversary. Everything was wonderful - the service, the food, the ambience. I highly recommend the Carousel Restaurant.

Great Armenian Food

By Killdavo |

The best Armenian food I ate in US. They had nearly all Armenian traditional dishes. Good Taste, well prepared and place is very comfortable. Our waitress was very kind too. I totally recommend it.