Шашлык с чесноком ароматнее, чем без чеснока.

Shashlik with garlic is more aromatic than without garlic.

Breakdown of Шашлык с чесноком ароматнее, чем без чеснока.

• с: with
• чем: than
• без: without
• чеснок: the garlic

Questions & Answers about Шашлык с чесноком ароматнее, чем без чеснока.

Why is there no word for is in this sentence?

In Russian, the verb to be is normally omitted in the present tense.

So:

• Шашлык с чесноком ароматнее
  literally: Shashlik with garlic more aromatic

means:

• Shashlik with garlic is more aromatic

This is completely normal Russian.
If the sentence were in the past or future, a form of быть would appear.

For example:

• Шашлык был ароматнее = The shashlik was more aromatic
• Шашлык будет ароматнее = The shashlik will be more aromatic

Why does чеснок become чесноком after с?

Because с in the meaning with normally requires the instrumental case.

• dictionary form: чеснок
• instrumental singular: чесноком

So:

• с чесноком = with garlic

This is a very common pattern:

• с луком = with onion
• с перцем = with pepper
• с мясом = with meat

So the ending changes not because the word itself changes meaning, but because the preposition с controls the instrumental case.