Tasty Yerevan, the well-regarded Armenian shawarma spot tucked into Glendale's East Broadway corridor, was ordered closed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on June 25, 2026 — and as of this writing, it remains shuttered. The closure, confirmed by LA County's public health records, stems from what county inspectors classify as "Serious or Repeat Violations" under California Health and Safety Code Section 114411 — a designation that carries more weight than a standard closure order and signals either particularly grave conditions or a history of unresolved problems.
What Inspectors Found
The June 25 inspection turned up ten violations totaling 13 points, according to closure records from the LA County Department of Public Health. The most serious was a major violation for improper hot and cold holding temperatures — a food safety lapse that can allow dangerous bacterial growth and is considered an imminent health hazard under state code. Inspectors also cited two separate minor violations for inadequate handwashing facilities, along with a string of group-level findings covering dirty non-food contact surfaces, warewashing equipment, utensil condition, wiping cloth practices, and vermin-proofing of the premises. Two additional line items — permit suspension and impoundment or voluntary condemnation of food — were recorded at zero points but signal the full scope of the enforcement action taken.
The "Serious or Repeat Violations" closure designation under Section 114411 is legally distinct from a standard imminent-hazard closure, as explained by LA County's own inspection guide. Under that code, a public health permit may be suspended — not merely flagged — when a facility has demonstrated serious violations or a pattern of unresolved repeat findings. In practice, it's a harder road to reopening than a first-offense vermin closure; the permit holder must demonstrate not just that the immediate problem is fixed, but that the broader compliance picture has changed.
A Beloved Spot in a Competitive Corridor
Tasty Yerevan has built a loyal following since opening on East Broadway, racking up strong reviews on delivery platforms and earning a 4.5-star rating on Yelp. The restaurant, which specializes in Armenian shawarma — chicken and pork lavash wraps, lula kebab, and grilled meats — operates daily from 11 a.m. to nearly midnight, according to its listings. Regulars have praised it as one of the more authentic shawarma options in a city that takes that claim seriously.
And Glendale takes it very seriously. According to SupportArmenian.com, the city is home to over 70,000 Armenian Americans — making it the largest Armenian diaspora community in the Western Hemisphere — and the heart of that community runs directly along East Broadway, where Tasty Yerevan operates. The competition is fierce and the expectations are high; this is a neighborhood where regulars can name a dozen shawarma spots within walking distance, all with opinions about which one is actually worth going to. As The Infatuation put it, ask 10 people where the best kebab in Glendale is and you'll get 20 answers.
LA County's Ongoing Closure Wave
Tasty Yerevan is far from alone. A quick look at the current LA County closure feed shows a sustained wave of restaurant shutdowns across the region in the past several weeks, with vermin infestation — cited under California Health and Safety Code Section 114259.1 — leading the charge at establishments from North Hollywood to Signal Hill to Diamond Bar, as tracked by restaurantclosures.la. Notably, Mini Kabob — one of Glendale's most celebrated Armenian restaurants, famous for its lamb chops — was itself shut down in August 2025 before reopening two days later, according to KTLA. The closures cut across all categories of establishment, from local spots to chains; even a Panda Express in Compton and a Chipotle in Inglewood landed on the county's closure list in recent weeks.
Inspectors can and do issue temporary closure orders quickly — and restaurants that resolve the underlying issues can sometimes reopen within days. But a Section 114411 "Serious or Repeat" permit suspension is a more formal action, and per county guidance, the facility must remain closed until the department reinstates the permit. Anyone with a craving for Tasty Yerevan's shawarma will want to check current status before making the trip; the LA County Department of Public Health's closure list is updated at restaurantclosures.la, and the department can be reached at (888) 700-9995.
