I am climbing out of my yelp solitude to write a review for this place because it was that darn…read moregood. My partner and I were looking to grab something before going for a walk among the dead and the ducks (iykyk). We looked for places near by and this popped up on our search. We both ordered the chicken saj sandwich. We sat down and were offered a small sample of a soup - literally no idea what it was, but it was yellow, warming and delicious. The chicken saj was love at first bite. Perfectly spicy, a great pickle, tender meat, saucy and delicious. So happy to have gone there and it will now be in our heavy rotation. We are excited to try more of their offerings.

Great little hole in the wall! I read about Mazzat a while ago and finally made my way there. This…read moretiny Middle Eastern eatery is a hidden gem located in Portland's busy Forest Ave neighborhood. My falafel wrap may be one of the best meals I've gotten in Portland, solely based on food-to-price ratio. The falafel was perfectly cooked, and the wrap was quite yummy. It came with these deep-fried "chips" (I'm sure they are something else) and a side of delicious hummus. I paid about $10 for the whole thing, including a soda. You just can't beat that. The menu was extensive and included a mix of sandwiches, salads, and plates. Would I go back to Mazzat? If I'm in the area, yes, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to make it there! In my opinion, this is more of a takeout spot. I did dine in, but the vibe is pretty much nonexistent -- a mix of about eight tables inside without much going on. All in all, I'm glad I tried it!

OMG!! Just had the best lunch evvaaaahhh!!…read more I built my own bowl with brown basamati rice, gyro meat, cucumbers, kalamata olives, feta, Tzatziki and hummus and wow was it packed with flavor!! I'll definitely be ordering it again!!

For mall food this was the best option here I think. My chicken Shawarmabowl was tastey. Lots of…read moresauce ans flavor. People here were super nice too. The place was clean. Lots of seating. I might again.

First, some advice: Ignore the one-star reviews- it is…read moreunethical to post such reviews based on one visit, and the reviews are not accurate at any rate. Don't, for heaven's sake, park on Forest Ave. With the lane-hopping speedsters it is too dangerous for you to exit from the driver's side. There is ample room to turn in to the parking area in front of the restaurant. The various containers of treasures in the coolers are not labeled; bring a roll of masking tape and a marker pen. The staff will help you label your items. (They are courteous, engaging . Now, I will assume this is your first visit and that you are getting take out for two. Start with a bag of bread. Add a container of Persian pickles, and one of olives. Get 1-3 containers of the various hummus. Add one tabbouleh. One babaganoosh. You will need two containers of the baklava so there is no resentment harbored between the two of you. There is mushroom soup, frozen. Take one. For meat, you will see soups/stews of chicken, lamb, beef. There is no goat. Any of those meat dishes are celestial; you will swear they are the best you've ever tasted. Depending upon how much restraint you exercise, this should cost you $50-75 and will comprise several meals. Tip generously- you will be back and you'll want them to remember you.

Good food, a bit expensive and great service. We had it outside on the benches…read more Skip the fries, hummus and baba ganoush is great.

The folks here are extremely helpful and welcoming! I hadn't known about it before and went looking…read morefor fresh pita; it was great! Also baklava that was the real thing: YUM! I will go back!

A True Gem for Middle Eastern Groceries!…read more We recently moved to the area, and I stumbled upon this amazing store on Google--and I'm so glad I did! From the moment I walked in, I was welcomed by their incredibly friendly and helpful staff (I can speak only English). On my first visit, I hadn't noticed the freshly baked bread until after I had paid for my items. When I returned to buy the bread, they kindly offered it to me for free as a warm welcome to a new customer. That thoughtful gesture truly reflected their customer-oriented approach and made me feel right at home. The store has a great variety of spices and specialty items that I haven't been able to find anywhere else. Their prices are also very fair. They also offer warm fresh Middle Eastern takeout dishes and carry fresh Halal meat, including lamb, which is a huge plus. This place is truly a hidden gem, and I'm so happy to have found it!

Wow. Just wow. I am…read morenot going to lie and tell you that this has always been my favorite type of food or fare but we popped in here today after walking around monument square and I am glad that we did. Food ... amazing. Service ... super friendly. Clean layout with indoor and outdoor seating. Pros: fresh food packed with flavor. Prompt service and friendly vibe. Hand made drinks were amazing (especially the Thai chi) Cons: bathroom is downstairs on an elevator ride in the end of a corridor in the basement. Parking is very limited unless you want to hit the garage. We will definitely be back soon as you can see the dishes that we ate with the pictures I am posting.

Still the best falafel in Portland: slightly crunchy golden-brown exterior, bright green when you…read morebite into it, fluffy and moist and so delicious. If you're craving falafel in the city, THIS is going to be the place you want to get it from (why are all the other places serving up such dry options?)! I like the Falafel Salad (which is both plant-based and gluten-free): it comes with four or five falafel balls, a generous dollop of hummus, local greens mixed with radish and cucumbers and mint, and two small plastic containers of tahini sauce and lime vinaigrette. It's not a very big salad; I usually end up supplementing it with additional greens at home. The french fries are a miss for me: from here, they always seem quite soggy even after only a few minutes. The shawarma flavor is amazing, but there's just something unappetizing (for me, anyway) about a limp fry. At lunch it seems they prioritize their online orders more than their in person orders, so expect a wait (or have the forethought to order ahead of time online).

The food was absolutely amazing! From the bartenders to the cooks, everyone was incredible. The…read morewhole place felt so welcoming, and the drinks were SO yummy! We had such a great experience from start to finish. I highly recommend this place definitely a 10+ out of 10! We will absolutely be back!

Evo was recommended to us, and we were not disappointed during our recent trip to Portland. Our…read moreserver was friendly and knowledgeable. We chose to sit at a table upstairs (mezzanine). There was also an option to sit at the counter downstairs. We started with the chickpea fries, which were spiced well with a crispy exterior and creamy texture inside. It was a unique way of serving chickpeas. I had the NY strip steak, which I enjoyed, but a tip if you're going. The medium rare was closer to rare in my opinion. If you like medium rare, I'd ask for medium. My wife had the mushroom shawarma, which she enjoyed thoroughly and raved about the unique spices.

can't say enough good things about Jaffa! we love coming here from the food to the staff…read moreeverything is amazing

Great spot for a fresh, casual lunch. They have a counter where you can choose your own toppings…read morefor a custom bowl or several signature bowls to choose from. The chicken was a bit dry but the topping choices were great and servers were generous.

The food is very good. They were fast and attentive to our needs. The hummus was handmade and…read moreexcellent.

Enjoyed the food and my cocktail! It was just what we needed on rainy Sunday. They do brunch on…read moreSunday and nice selection of items. Will be returning

From the outside, it looks like a run-down tattoo parlor…read more When you go to the front door on Main Street, you are directed to the side door. Courage. The interior is transformative. The decor is Turkish; tables are flanked by comfortable sofas and pillows. No one was at the counter. The trick is you have to bang on the bell. The young lady who appears is cheerful, greeting, efficient. Indicate you are eating in, but stand there and order from the menu posted. The food: I dislike rice, or thought I did- their rice is sublime. What do they add to it? The baba ghanoush is the best I've tasted. My friend got chicken kabob and raved about it. My curried chicken was equally good. You won't have room for the baklava but take some home (and hide it from the family or it will disappear.) I'll be back. More of that rice for one thing.

We visited Istanbul together because it had been a long time. In the last few years this place has…read moreundergone a few changes. For a while there was also a market here. That is now gone, with only remnants remaining of that time period. It has gone back to looking almost exactly like my photos from years ago. We both got the mixed grill. It was fine. Lamb was a bit dry and salty. Beef was ok. Two types of chicken. Lots of rice. Salad and hummus before hand. Nothing to write home about, nothing to complain about. The guy who took our order was also our waiter and brought items to our table. Nice, energetic, kind of cute. We'd go back but prefer other places for similar food.

There's a little story attached to this review. We had just gotten off the unique ferry cruise…read morearound the harbor and we're very hungry. My daughter was craving pizza and I could've gone with pizza. I always like a good pizza. Anyway, we stopped in front of the Olive Café in order to place our order for the pizza place across the street. We are going back-and-forth we'd have to carry the pizza back to our hotel, etc. etc. All of a sudden we looked inside this little restaurant where people were eating. I turned my head, looked at the menu. My daughter immediately canceled the pizza order, and we went inside. The server host owner was phenomenal. The food absolutely outstanding. I am a true lover of Middle Eastern/Greek food and it was phenomenal. The sauce used that tahini was tangy. It was beyond fantastic.

We stopped into this Lebanese restaurant for a quick bite between meals, and it was such a great…read morefind. We ordered the grape leaves and baba ghanoush, and both were honestly the best we've ever had--fresh, incredibly flavorful, and perfectly prepared. The service was quick and friendly, making it an easy stop while exploring the area. It's conveniently located near the Old Port, and the restaurant itself was clean and welcoming. We'd definitely return!