Zankou Chicken facts for kids
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Tarna plate at Zankou Chicken
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| Private | |
| Industry | Casual dining restaurant |
| Founded | 1962 in Beirut, Lebanon |
| Founder | Vartkes Iskenderian |
| Headquarters |
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U.S.
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Number of locations
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17 |
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Area served
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Los Angeles metropolitan area |
Zankou Chicken is a popular restaurant chain. It serves delicious Armenian and Mediterranean food. There are two separate family-owned chains in the Los Angeles area. People especially love their spit-roasted chicken. They also enjoy shawarma, falafel, and a special garlic sauce.
Contents
The Story of Zankou Chicken
Starting in Lebanon
The very first Zankou Chicken opened in 1962. It was in Beirut, Lebanon. An Armenian man named Vartkes Iskenderian started it with his family. The name "Zankou" comes from a river in Armenia.
Moving to Los Angeles
In 1983, Vartkes' son, Mardiros Iskenderian, brought the restaurant to the United States. His family moved to Los Angeles, California. Mardiros saw that many Middle Eastern immigrants lived in Los Angeles. They needed restaurants that served food from their home countries. Many Armenians and Lebanese people had moved from Lebanon because of a civil war.
The first Zankou Chicken in Los Angeles opened in East Hollywood. This area is also known as Little Armenia. It's located at Sunset Boulevard and Normandie Avenue. The restaurant became famous for its thick, creamy garlic sauce. Vartkes' wife, Markrid, created this secret recipe. Many other places have tried to copy it!
Family Business and Growth
In 1991, the family decided to divide the business. Mardiros wanted to open more restaurants. So, he would own the new locations. His parents and two sisters would own the original Sunset and Normandie store. Vartkes Iskenderian passed away in 1992.
Since then, Zankou Chicken has grown a lot. There are now many locations around the greater Los Angeles area. These include Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena. You can also find them in North Hollywood, Van Nuys, and Downtown Los Angeles. Other spots are Granada Hills, Tarzana, Thousand Oaks, Long Beach, Montebello, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, and Santa Clarita. The Anaheim location is special because it is certified halal.
Challenges and Community Support
The family business faced some difficult times. In 2003, there was a sad event that caused a lasting division. This made it harder for the business to grow, even though the restaurants were very popular. Later, Mardiros Iskenderian's wife, Rita, tried to get full control of the Zankou Chicken name. However, she was not successful in court.
In 2013, Zankou Chicken helped a group called Green Armenia. This group works to solve environmental problems in Armenia. It shows that the company cares about its roots and community.
More to Explore
- History of the Armenian Americans in Los Angeles
- List of fast-food chicken restaurants
- List of Lebanese restaurants
