Lentil Soup, Crispy Sides

The Carousel restaurant in Glendale serves just one soup, a creamy lentil that packs a lot of flavor despite its simplicity. An order to go contains about 10 ounces of soup, along with fried pita crisps (there’s plenty of pita on hand, because the Carousel is an Armenian-Lebanese restaurant). A more substantial accompaniment would be fatayer --slim, rectangular turnovers stuffed with a crumbly white cheese mixture that includes feta--which resemble the well-known cheese boeregs .

Lentil soup, $2.50; fatayer, $1.25 each (minimum order is three), at Carousel restaurant, 304 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. (818) 246-7775.