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!

A hidden gem, I'd had cookies around the corner before and hadn't realized this was here. My…read morehusband brought home takeout items to snack on once and we realized we needed to make a point to come back and give it a proper try. Service was very polite and patient, and the food was awesome. They've got two vertical spits going for shawarma. The kebabs are displayed in the fridge and then cooked, so flavorful and interesting. There are several tables to sit and dine in if that's your vibe. It was torture driving home with the delicious smells. Don't skip eating the pickled veggies, they're unique and delicious! The portions pack a punch for the price. Next time I'll dine in and enjoy everything hot and fresh without the wait. The desserts also looked really good, next time!

This was my first time trying Mediterranean food and it did not disappoint!!…read more I love the meat mazza bowl, and the baklava. The staff was so friendly and the inside was very clean and inviting. I'm happy I finally got to check this place out!

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.

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.

This place is amazing. The best bread the best sides and the best wraps…read more awesome employees

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!

Local favorite! The only place I buy my dates and naan…read morebread. I recommend parking in the Walgreens lot and walking over for easier access.

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).

First thing's first: Get. The. Fries. It's like a fresh batch of McDonald's fries dusted generously…read morewith shawarma seasoning. I could have just eaten a bag of those and been completely content. Second: a falafel sandwich will fill you right up. I opted for the Nura Falafel Pocket, and it was a mighty fine choice. I loved the pillowy pita; the falafel reminded me of NYC; and I appreciated Nura's twists with the pickled beets, garlic yogurt, and cucumber dill salad. After the fact I saw that I could have added spicy harissa for an additional charge, and I wish I had seen that when I placed my order. This pocket would have benefited from some heat, as it did have a sweet note from the beets. My only gripe was that I didn't get any hummus until the very end. That was too long to wait! Nura was 2/2 overall, so I'm giving them 5/5 stars. Come here for lunch, Yelpers, and you'll be pleased!

Upscale dining with a genuinely reasonable price tag - especially when it comes to the Evo…read moreexperience/chef's tasting. Worth every penny, we left absolutely stuffed. The menu experience was smaller/limited options but offered "greatest hits" so that you didn't miss out on the overall experience. With seats right up at the counter and in perfect view of the kitchen, the team whipped out a coursed/well-timed menu. We enjoyed the chickpea fries, spread + breads, moroccan carrots, falafel, halloumi and to top it all off, the lamb ribs. It was so aggressive in the best way possible. The cocktail menu is fun, inventive and pairs well with most of the dishes. Their NA drinks were thankfully, not boring either. The only drawback for me here is the counter-top/high-top dining experience is the only available seating option unless you're participating in the upstairs private area. The restaurant is clearly very sleek and modern, but I felt like it took away from the experience of making this particularly special. Would recommend this restaurant for 2 people - hard to enjoy with a larger group!

Fantastic restaurant. Service and food all excellent. We all really enjoyed our visit here. It is…read moretapas style. We ordered 12 dishes for a group of 5. Chickpea fries were the #1 highlight for everyone. I also really like the Halloumi and Moroccan carrots. Highly recommend. Gets busy, make a reservation. Food tips: Chickpea fries are a must Drink tips: Basil Martini

Top notch and delish. Affordable and fast, too! Love it here, highly recommend. The portions are…read morelarge and they taste even better the next day and the day after that!!

This is a great place for fresh Mediterranean fast food that you can try their creations or create…read moreyour own. Set up similar to chipotle's where you choose a base, protein and toppings or go with one of their pre-determined ones. I had smoked harissa chicken and created my own bowl. The chicken was flavorful, as were all the sides and toppings. Loved their hummus and tzatziki. Great healthy option to fast food. The space was clean and the waitstaff were helpful.

Went here for brunch the other day and was impressed. The service was super friendly and they even…read moregave us a couple free mocktails. So refreshing and needed. They have a wide open space with lots of tables, and a big bar. It would be a great space for a big party as they have lots of room and a lot of the Old Port spots don't have much seating. We got brunch food and it was great as well. The waitress, kitchen staff and service were amazing! I will be back.

Picked up takeout from Tiqa a few nights ago and unfortunately it was just okay…read more Portions are tiny for the prices and the food itself was basically thrown into containers with no forethought. Maybe food is better if you eat in the restaurant...but I definitely don't recommend take out.

First time here. Third in line and was told it would be about 15 min. One dish cane out about 20…read moremin wait and almost finished before the second dish arrived. Waited 35 min for chicken shawarma and lentil soup? The food was mediocre and definitely not worth that kind of wait...we wont be back.

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.

This place is fantastic. Went here with some friends and didn't know what to expect. Our server was…read moreawesome! And super friendly and helpful. He was in such good spirit. The place is nice and open and we were one of the o lay few tables. We got the pita chips to start which were great. Then we all got the chicken and the beef gyro and I got the chicken shawarma. Everything was so great! Some of the best shawarma I've had in Portland! And everything else was packed with authentic flavors. The fried and sweet potatoe fries are also some of my favorite in all of Portland. We finished off the dinner with the pistachio ice cream and Dubai chocolate which was recommended by our server which was a good end to the meal. Definitely check this place out as soon as possible. It's fantastic and you will not be disappointed in any way.

Had a nice casual lunch at Olive Cafe a few days ago…read more We ordered a salad, shwarma, and a few sides. My husband said the brussels sprouts were the best he'd ever had. My salad was pretty good too. Prices are reasonable and location is great. Service is friendly and excellent. I'd definitely return.