BROOKHAVEN, Ga. — Country: Armenia
Dish: Khashlama
Location: Brookhaven
Stop: #15
If Hovan Mediterranean Gourmet sounds familiar, it’s no surprise. The restaurant has been a metro Atlanta favorite since it’s early days in the 1980’s. The “Hovan Rolls” a notable favorite among Hovan’s regular customers, amidst hummus, falafel and gyro on the daily menu.
Hovaness Kabbenjian and his wife have been in business for 40 years, first operating the Cheese Shop before opening the first Hovan in Perimeter Mall.
Loyal customers followed the family to its new location in Brookhaven, where on Tuesdays, you’ll find a special dish on the menu amidst the specials.Khashlama, a special nod to Kabbenjian’s Armenia heritage.
“How does this dish represent Armenia?”
“It’s a very unique soup for Armenia, and it’s made with lamb,” he explained. “My father was five years old when he was rescued,” he explained. Though Kabbenjian grew up in the Middle East, he identifies with his Armenian roots.
“We all consider Armenia as our country,” he said. “You always consider yourself an Armenian because that’s your heritage, your language, your food, your songs, our culture.”
A little bit of the heritage he hopes to share through the khashlama.
“How does this dish represent Atlanta?”
“I feel very proud and unique to be able to even say there’s an Armenian guy in Atlanta that’s been serving food for 40 years,” he said.