Orange County is one the largest counties in California, second only to Los Angeles County. Orange County is known for its tourist attractions, such as Knott’s Berry Farm and the Disneyland Resort. During the waves of Armenian immigration to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many settled in California. Orange County holds an annual Armenian Festival each July, and the county is home to several Armenian restaurants. Armenian food reflects Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences, notably in its use of lamb, eggplant and yogurt in cooking.
Moonlight Pizza and Chicken is located in a strip mall in Fountain Valley. From the outside, Moonlight Pizza and Chicken does not stand out. The inside, however, shows the eatery's Armenian influence. In addition to the usual toppings of mushrooms and pepperoni, you can order your pizza with soujouk, a kind of spicy beef. Moonlight Pizza and Chicken has a buffet full of Armenian and Middle Eastern food, including kababs, hummus, baba ghanoush and lebni, a Greek-style yogurt. Moonlight also serves rotisserie chicken, gyros, tabouleh and baklava.
Moonlight Pizza and Chicken
9895 Warner Avenue, Suite G
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
714-963-4488
Zankou Chicken was first opened in Hollywood, California, by Vartkes Iskendarian. The restaurant was so successful that new ones soon followed in Glendale, Van Nuys and Anaheim. Zankou Chicken uses 100 percent natural and fresh ingredients and never uses artificial preservatives, canned foods or microwaves in cooking. The restaurant serves salads, wraps and whole and half chickens. Chickens come with pita bread and the Zankou signature garlic sauce. Guests can also order kebabs, falafel, basmati rice and shawarma (shaved rotisserie beef).
Zankou Chicken
2424 W. Ball Road, #S & T
Anaheim, CA 92804
714-229-2060
zankouchicken.com
Zov's has a number of locations in Orange County. The Zov's Bistro and Cafe and Bakery locations are in Tustin, while Zov's Neighborhood Cafes and Bars are in both Newport Coast and in Irvine. Zov's is run by Chef Zov Karamardian. The Zov's restaurants and bakeries have won numerous awards, including "Best Bakery" and "Best Business Lunch." Zov Karamardian has won the "Women in Business Award" from the Orange County Business Journal and "Restaurateur of the Year" from both the California Restaurant Association and Southern California Restaurant Writers. The bistro serves Mediterranean-style dishes like lamb shishlik and roasted rack of lamb, while the cafe and bakery has tabouleh, Armenia pizza--feta cheese, beef and diced tomato on lamejuhn flatbread--and penne pasta with Armenian beef sausage.
Zov's Bistro
17440 E. 17th St.
Tustin, CA 92780
714-838-8855
zovs.com
