Carousel

At Carousel, excess is the point. This Glendale institution has been packing in lively crowds for decades, and walking through the door feels like stepping into a perpetual celebration. Every half hour or so, electronic birthday tunes ring out across the dining room as servers parade sparkler-topped cakes to beaming guests. Even if you didn’t come to celebrate something specific, you’ll find yourself clapping along anyway.

The real stars here are the mezze and dips. The mutabbal is silky and smoky, practically begging to be dragged across every piece of warm pita on the table. Order the fatayer—those cheese-stuffed pastries that reveal rivers of molten goodness with every bite—and watch them vanish before you’ve even noticed. The mantee dumplings manage to stay remarkably crisp despite being blanketed in tangy yogurt sauce.

This isn’t the place for a quiet dinner or the most refined kebabs in town. Instead, Carousel thrives as a destination for groups who want good food and great energy. Belly dancers weave between tables, the atmosphere buzzes with conversation and laughter, and the shared plates keep everyone reaching and passing. It’s communal dining at its most joyful.

Bring friends who appreciate a little theatricality with their dinner. Save room for ossmanlieh at the end—even when you think you’re stuffed, that contrast of crispy phyllo and creamy filling will keep you picking at it until the plate is clean.