Where to Try Dolma in Yerevan
What is dolma?
Dolma is made of minced meat (pork, beef, or a mixture of both) or vegetables wrapped in fresh young grape leaves. In the ancient Urartian language, the word “doli” meant “a grape leaf.” The meal is also made with steamed cabbage leaves as well.
Today, there are various types of dolma in Armenia, and the country even has a special festival dedicated to this national dish. Some of the varieties are unique to the country and haven’t yet spread to other countries.
What makes dolma so special is the filling and its special ingredients, such as mutton fat, onion, rice, salt, pepper, and greens like parsley, oregano, mint, and coriander to name a few.
The meat is not pre-cooked before it is wrapped in the leaves, so during the preparation process, the juice of the meat stays inside each grape leaf package giving the meal a deep flavor. Dolma always comes with a special sauce made from a local yogurt called matzoon and garlic.
Where can you find dolma?
Dolmama
As the name of the venue suggests, Dolmama specializes in dolmas. Since it opened in 1998, it has offered authentic recipes to its visitors. The dolma is a bit different from the rest of the restaurants serving the same meal: instead of ground meat, the filling is made from a piece of sirloin with chili and rosemary.
Pandok Yerevan
Pandok Yerevan is another place to enjoy dolma while Armenian traditional music plays in the background. The restaurant has four different varieties: Msho Dolma (beef and pork meat, bulgur, butter, garlic, onion, and spices), Dolma Yerevan, Dolma with cabbage, or a traditional variety. The prices per plate, which have 8-12 pieces of dolma, range from 1,800 AMD to 2,200 AMD ($3.74-4.57 / £2.83-3.46) depending on the variety.
Karas National Food
This fast food chain is a great place for those who are very hungry and impatient, as it is open 24/7. Moreover, it’s also very budget-friendly compared to other restaurants. Additionally, if you are having a lazy evening and don’t feel like going anywhere for dinner, Karas offers a delivery service too! You can order dolma in either grape or cabbage leaves.
Old Erivan (Hin Yerevan)
Old Erivan with its authentic traditional design offers a wide variety of traditional meals both from Armenia and neighboring countries. If you are looking for beef dolmas, you need to come here. The variety of wrapping is the usual cabbage or grape leaves, but they are delicious.
Anoush Restaurant
For a fancy night out, head to Anoush restaurant located inside the Republica Hotel. Along with local and international cuisine, Anoush serves only one variety of dolma with different meats inside, including beef, pork, and chicken infused with onion, species, and butter.