Zankou Chicken Explained

Zankou Chicken
Type:Private
Industry:Casual dining restaurant
Foundation: in Beirut, Lebanon
Founder:Vartkes Iskenderian
Location City:Vernon, California
Location Country:U.S.
Locations:12
Area Served:Los Angeles metropolitan area

Zankou Chicken is a small, family-owned chain of Armenian and Mediterranean fast casual restaurants located in the Los Angeles area. The restaurants are especially known for their spit-roasted chicken, shawarma, falafel, tahini, and a "secret" garlic sauce.[1]

History

The first Zankou Chicken opened in 1962 in the Bourj Hammoud neighborhood of Beirut, Lebanon, by Armenian Vartkes Iskenderian and his family.[2]

The chain was established within the United States in 1983 by his son, Mardiros Iskenderian, after the family immigrated to Los Angeles, California. After considering opening a dry cleaning business or selling men's suits, Iskenderian recognized a lack of restaurants catering to the growing Middle Eastern immigrant population in Los Angeles.[2] This included Armenian and Lebanese compatriots who fled Lebanon during the civil war.[3]

The first restaurant in Los Angeles opened in an East Hollywood neighborhood called Little Armenia[4] and is located at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Normandie Avenue. The restaurant is especially known for its thick, paste-like garlic sauce, created by Vartkes' wife, Markrid[5] and widely imitated.[6]

In 1991, the family agreed to divide the business when Mardiros wanted to open additional restaurants. The new restaurants would be owned by Mardiros, while the original Sunset and Normandie store would be owned by his parents and two sisters.[2] Vartkes Iskenderian died in 1992.[5]

Since opening, Zankou Chicken has expanded and includes the following locations in the greater Los Angeles area: East Hollywood, Hollywood, West Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Toluca Lake, Van Nuys, Montebello, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, and Santa Clarita.[5] [7] (The original location and Montebello locations are not listed on the website; Rita Iskenderian owns the website and doesn't include them.)

On January 14, 2003, after a heated argument, Zankou Chicken owner Mardiros Iskenderian shot and killed his sister, Dzovig Marjik, and his mother Margarit Iskenderian; he then killed himself in a double-murder suicide. Iskenderian was in the late stages of colon and brain cancer, which is believed to have had an effect on his mental faculties.[2] [8] [9] The repercussions of this event, and the lasting division of the brand into two family factions, impeded the continuing growth of the business despite the restaurants' popularity.[5] In the California Court of Appeal case Iskenderian v. Iskenderian,[10] Mardiros Iskenderian's widow Rita unsuccessfully sought to attain sole control of the Zankou Chicken trademark.

In 2013, Zankou Chicken was one of the contributors for Green Armenia, which brings attention to environmental problems faced by the people of Armenia.[11]

In popular culture

See also

External links

34.0984°N -118.3003°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fast Food that Will Still Respect You in the Morning. Thompson. Elise. LAist. 2016-04-21. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160316112834/http://laist.com/2007/11/27/fast_food_that.php. 2016-03-16.
  2. Arax. Mark. The Zankou Chicken Murders . Los Angeles Magazine. 124–129, 202–206. April 2008.
  3. Web site: Iconic Neighborhood Restaurants: East Hollywood & Little Armenia. KCET. 30 November 2015. 2016-04-21.
  4. Web site: Neighborhood Project: Little Armenia. Jul 10, 2007. LAist. May 1, 2021.
  5. News: Darrell . Satzman . Zankou Chicken's tragic family rift impedes chain's growth . March 18, 2010 . . 2010-03-18 .
  6. News: Sakai . Shuji . Zankou's Garlic Sauce Clone . . February 9, 2011 . 2016-04-27 .
  7. Web site: Zankou Chicken Roasted Chicken, Shawerma, Tarna, and our legendary Garlic Sauce. Zankou Chicken. en-US. 2016-04-27.
  8. Web site: LA Examiner: January 12–18, 2003 Archives . https://web.archive.org/web/20060221083551/http://www.laexaminer.com/mt/archives/week_2003_01_12.html . 2006-02-21.
  9. News: Andrew . Blankstein . Michael Krikorian . Restaurant Family's Tragedy: Cancer and stress may be why the operator of Zankou Chicken killed his sister and mother. . January 16, 2003 . . 2010-03-18 .
  10. Iskenderian v. Iskenderian, 144 Cal. App. 4th 1162 (2006)
  11. Web site: Green Armenia Inaugural Event a Big Success. Asbarez.com. en-US. 2016-04-21.
  12. Deborah Picker, "Preppie Living Wage: Ménage À Garlic Paste", LA Weekly, December 23, 1999.
  13. Janelle Brown, "Valet Parking? That's So 2000. In Los Angeles, Strip Mall Food Is Way Cool", The New York Times, August 20, 2003.
  14. Web site: 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Gives Not Subtle Shout Out to Zankou Chicken. Ogilvie. Jessica P.. LAist. 2016-04-21. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407111047/http://laist.com/2011/08/03/any_fans_of_curb_your.php. 2016-04-07.
  15. Web site: Palestinian Chicken Conflict: Only in Curb Your Enthusiasm or Is It Real?. Gold. Jonathan. L.A. Weekly. 2016-04-21.
  16. Web site: TV Producer and Artisanal Grain Guru Marti Noxon Takes THR's Taste Test. The Hollywood Reporter. 30 April 2014. 2016-04-21.
  17. Web site: Rob Delaney: Mother. Wife. Sister. Human. Warrior. Falcon. Yardstick. Turban. Cabbage.. www.avclub.com. 4 November 2013 . 2016-04-21.
  18. News: Follow the locals for the best food on vacation. NY Daily News. 2016-04-21.
  19. Web site: My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark – 32 – Just The 32 Of Us. 2018-07-30.

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