I’m no foodie. But with every place I visit, I try to eat local cuisine. In that way, my taste palate expands. And I end up learning a thing or two about their culture.

Yerevan is the capital of Armenia and its largest city. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited areas in the world. Considering its association with Noah’s ark, that should not come as a surprise.

What came as a surprise was a local asking me why I would even consider visiting Yerevan. The place deserves more tourists. And I’m glad I once was.

Here are 5 dishes I ate in Yerevan:

Tolma

When I googled the national dish of Armenia, tolma is the first result that comes out. Tolma comes from the word “toli”, which means grape vine. It is ground spiced meat wrapped in (grape) leaves. I call this the region’s equivalent of lumpia. As an avid consumer of meat, and only tiny slices of greens, I am giving this a thumbs up.

Khashlama

Khashlama is a traditional Armenian dish made up of meat and vegetable stew. Typically, the meat is lamb, which isn’t the first choice in my home country. The meat is so tender that chewing it is effortless. The stew is flavorful (and healthy?) with the addition of veggies like tomatoes, onions, and garlic. The thickness of the soup (or lack of it) makes the meat the protagonist in this main course. 

Lahmacun

I don’t want to get in the middle of cultural wars and different claims on its origin. But I did try lahmacun in Armenia. All I can say is, I enjoy pizza. But I often feel guilty about the thickness of the crust. Lahmacun doesn’t come with that baggage. It is baked flatbread with meat, veggies, and herbs. 

Khorovats

Khorovats is the Armenian version of barbecue. My stomach adjusted the least with this choice as it fits into what I enjoy eating back home. I tried both pork and chicken. But it can also be beef, lamb, fish or veal. I can’t say I taste something distinct, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. 

Garni Yarikh

Same with the lahmacun, I don’t want to comment on whose cuisine the food belongs to. But I did ask the server what Armenian dish is her favourite and what she’d recommend.  I ended up with garni yarikh. Let me make the disclaimer that I do not like eggplants or aubergine. But what helped me go through the meal was the minced meat and the tomato sauce inside the vegetable’s torn belly.