world cafe

301 N Verdugo Rd, Glendale, CA 91206, United States
+1 818-484-8363
$$$ Restaurant
(127 Reviews)
Price Range $10–20

World Cafe in Glendale is a modest, no-frills restaurant where the blend of Iranian and Armenian culinary traditions comes through clearly in the dishes. Located on N Verdugo Road, it offers a casual dining experience that feels like a small corner shop with a focus on hearty sandwiches and flavorful sides. The atmosphere is unpretentious and welcoming, making it a comfortable spot for anyone looking for satisfying, home-style meals rather than a trendy or upscale setting.

The menu leans heavily on sandwiches like the beef tongue and roast beef mushroom with cheese, both of which reflect the owner’s background and years of running a sandwich shop in Isfahan. These sandwiches stand out for their authentic flavors and generous portions. Beyond sandwiches, the menu also features items like the onion rings, Caesar salad, and a variety of burgers and falafel, catering to a range of tastes. Sides come in substantial servings, ideal for sharing or rounding out a meal.

World Cafe suits diners who appreciate Lebanese and Iranian flavors served in a straightforward manner, with a focus on quality over presentation. It’s a spot where locals often call ahead for takeout or use delivery services, which speaks to the reliability and consistency of the food. Service here is friendly and personal, with a sense of community often felt in smaller neighborhood eateries where the owner is hands-on.

Visiting during lunch or early dinner offers the best chance to enjoy a quieter atmosphere and fresh food, as the restaurant can become quite lively with regulars placing orders. The space itself is clean and simple, perfect for a casual meal without fuss.

Overall, World Cafe fits those looking to explore authentic regional sandwiches and comforting dishes in a modest setting where the food tells the story more than decor or hype.

Highlights
Has fast service
Serves great coffee
Popular for
Popular for breakfast
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
What they serve
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Quick bite
Best for
Serves breakfast
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Serves dessert
Has seating
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Tuesday

11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Wednesday

11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Thursday

11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Friday

11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Saturday

11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Sunday

11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

127 Reviews
Barzin Rad

29 Dec 2025

A Hidden Gem in Glendale! My old friend wanted to visit this place and I’m so glad we did! The food was absolutely amazing. We had the ash reshteh, koko sabzi,, Chicken Katsu with the special house sauce, and the reza loghmeh * (Kebab) and every dish was fantastic. What made the experience even better was getting to meet the owner and the chef—they were incredibly welcoming and passionate about their food. It was such a great way to spend a beautiful evening, especially on a rainy day in Glendale. If you’re in the area, make sure to check out Rafik place in the heart of Glendale. An absolute must-visit!

Quinn Burke

26 Dec 2025

Got the cheeseburger with fries (not pictured cuz I was hungry), alfredo pasta, and Philly steak sandwich for less than $54. Very large flavorful portions for an affordable price. Will definitely go back again.

Ali F.

20 Dec 2025

World Café is a hidden gem in Glendale! This small, clean, and humble shop is run by an Iranian-Armenian owner with years of experience running a sandwich shop in Isfahan, and you can taste that tradition in every bite. I ordered the beef tongue, roast beef, and hamburger. The beef tongue and roast beef sandwiches were outstanding — authentic in every way, reminding me of the classic Iranian style with fresh parsley and onions. The bread was soft and fresh, and the portions were just right. These sandwiches transported me straight back to Iran. The hamburger, while decent, had spices (especially turmeric and salt) that slightly overpowered the flavor compared to the other sandwiches. But given how delicious the roast beef and beef tongue were, I’ll absolutely be back to try more of their specialties. Highly recommended for anyone looking for authentic, flavorful sandwiches with a touch of Iranian heritage!

Karine M.

05 Oct 2025

I absolutely love this place! The owner and staff are always welcoming and friendly. They've introduced new items, and the schnitzel mushroom sauce with fries is a must-try - it's super delicious! The portion was generous, and I couldn't finish it. The Chicken Alfredo Penne is also a winner! With a homemade taste that's hard to resist. I highly recommend this place to everyone. Amazing sandwiches, very tiny store but they make the best sandwiches and sides, at this time we ordered onion rings and it was super yummy, crispy and melt in your mouth, if I could , the owner is super friendly, welcoming and helpful, and their food is like homemade, exactly the taste of motherland, definitely gonna go back and recommend to everyone!

Rho G

30 Sep 2025

Great food great service reasonable prices I highly recommend it if you’re in the area and you want some authentic food I’ve been here multiple times and the quality keeps getting better and better you can call ahead of time and order if you want If you want you can Uber you can order through Uber eats or Postmates they’re very reasonable and very authentic and trustworthy very clean and good service there

Norik T.

22 Sep 2025

The best sandwiches in town. It's also nostalgic for many people from Iran. Rafik, the chef, had his famous sandwich place in Esfahan, and now, he's making the sandwiches the same traditional way we loved before. Disregard the older negative reviews, there were different people with different types of food before and were not successful. it's almost a year that Rafik has taken this place and has totally reformed everything to match his style.

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