Credit: Diego Diaz

Islamic Portland

Our guide for Muslims and others visiting Portland covers where to pray, eat halal and bask in the diversity of our Islamic community.

Updated Oct. 2, 2026 7 min read

Marina Martinez-Bateman

Marina Martinez-Bateman (they/them) is an equity and communications consultant and ghost tour guide who moved to Portland in 2014. Read More

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Oregon’s Arab American community is one of the fastest growing in the U.S. with more than 31,000 Arab Americans living in the state. This diverse presence and rich culture is felt across the region through community centers, festivals, popular restaurants and other social and educational events.

Halal Food and Muslim-Owned Portland

Portland is a foodie city where eating halal is relatively easy. And with such a diverse Islamic community, you’ll find halal options for nearly every cuisine and price point, from food truck tacos to fine dining in the heart of downtown.  

We used Zabihah, a halal foodie directory with listings verified by real people, to help us find some of these locations. We double-verified them just to be sure. We also spoke with community members Doaa Elhaggan and Hannah Alzgal. Other locations we found through word of mouth, or by being big, huge fans of them.

Where to Eat Halal

Downtown hot spot Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse is famous for waiters going table to table with freshly grilled meat, and has a few halal options, including the decadent Australian Wagyu and the luscious lamb chops and picanha. The lamb dishes do include a white wine marinade, so let the staff know if you abstain from alcohol, and they can prepare the dish without it. If you’re craving meat and veggie skewers suspended mid-air, rather than passed around, Kabob is a dine-in restaurant serving artfully presented Mediterranean and Lebanese food with select halal dishes.

For 100% halal menus, Amir’s Motherland Dish is a family-run Somali restaurant. Customers say they have the best goat in town, served with rice, pasta or japati. Other all-halal options are Pakistani-Mexican fusion cart MexiKhana, where regulars recommend the naan bread burrito, and Biryani Corner in Beaverton, where patrons love the dum biryani.

Another popular spot, Himalayan Dumplings by Kyikyi in Beaverton, uses halal meat in several of their dishes and enthusiastically labels not only the halal options, but also allergen-free, vegan and kid-friendly menu items.

Shopping and Beauty

Nadine’s Boutique in Tigard sells traditional and modern hijabs, abayas and celebration clothes. They also have home goods and decor, and are right around the corner from Nour Jewelers, a Muslim-owned jewelry shop that specializes in 21-, 22- and 24-karat gold. Nour is open by appointment only, so call before you go.

For a little bit of everything, Absar Boutique, also in Beaverton and open daily, has you just as covered as their walls and shelves are with a rotating inventory of treats and treasures.

In addition to offering eyebrow threading and other beauty treatments, Brow Bliss in Beaverton has a private room, perfect for hijabis who would rather not have an audience for their haircuts or colors.

Arts and Events

Portland Muslims know the importance of gathering in community, not just for holidays, but for art-making, recreation and social connection. Among these, the arts especially have been embraced and supported by the city at large. 

The Muslim writing and storytelling group The Mizan Project was co-founded by three Portland writers: mohammad borhan ortega-allam, an activist and cat enthusiast known for the workshop Yallah! Muslims: Gather. Write. Repeat and as editor in chief of The Bazarre; Omar El Akkad, author of “One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This”; and Niyyah Ruscher-Haqq, a speculative fiction writer known for her short fiction and the 2026 novella “The Veil.”

“The fundamental issue facing Muslims is dehumanization, and the only way to humanize a people is to ensure that their stories are being told,” ortega-allam said about the project. 

Ruscher-Haqq also has her own Muslim writers’ retreat and is releasing an anthology of work from the group, thanks in part to a grant from the Regional Arts and Culture Council. “This anthology has been a chance to share stories together,” she said.

Recurring Events

Oregon Muslims’ Lit Fest and Book Fair

Every spring, Crescent Books hosts a book fair featuring speakers, book signings, books for all ages and classes like calligraphy.

Open Mosque

Portland Rizwan Mosque, the first and oldest mosque in Portland, invites non-Muslim neighbors and community members to break fast together for iftar every evening during Ramadan.

Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha Bazaar

An Eid celebration with food and vendors; check the Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District’s calendar for more information.

Other Events

• Local mosques will usually rent out large venues like the Oregon Convention Center, the Portland Expo Center or even one of the smaller stadiums for Eid prayers. Times and locations vary, so be sure to check mosque calendars if you’re in town for Eid.
  
• Muslimahs United is a group of Islamic women from Portland and Washington State who host monthly events like hikes and artist talks for Muslim women. They also advocate for and support fellow Muslim sisters experiencing domestic violence or economic need.
  
• Cool Islam is a youth organization that sponsors Muslim student associations at local schools and universities. They also promote events for young people on their Instagram.

Community Organizations and Mosques

The first stop for Islamic events in Portland is the Islamic Society of Greater Portland. Founded in 1970, the ISGP advises local municipalities and organizes several events for Portland Muslims to connect with each other. 

The Muslim Educational Trust’s focus is bringing communities together through education, with interfaith dialogue being a primary part of its mission. Annual events include an international bake sale and a neighbor appreciation picnic. 

Founded initially as a Nation of Islam congregation, Muslim Community Center of Portland members are deeply involved in civic life both inside and outside the mosque.  

The largest Islamic center in the Portland metro area, Masjed Assaber is notable for its youth community events, like the annual summer camp and classes on navigating society as a Muslim through the Muslim Youth of Portland program. Events are easiest to find and follow on their Instagram.

Located in Beaverton, Bilal Masjid highlights its practice of tolerance and moderation, participating in many interfaith events and community dialogues. 

The Islamic Community Center of Hillsboro is surrounded by rolling greenery in one of the region’s more agrarian areas. 

Local mosques frequently collaborate with each other on events and programs like scouting groups, camping trips and holidays.

If you’re visiting a mosque you’re not familiar with, it’s a good idea to dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered. If you are a non-Muslim visiting, ask ahead of time whether they have special times or days for non-Muslim visitors, or any rules or preferences for guests.  

Muslim History in Portland

About 1% of Portlanders follow the five pillars of Islam. Wajdi Said, president and co-founder of the Muslim Educational Trust, has traced Muslims in Oregon back to the early 1900s, when key leaders from the Ghadar Party, a multi-faith Punjabi resistance to British rule, fled or were exiled to the area. 

In true Portland trailblazer fashion, the first congregation to formally incorporate in 1966 was neither Sunni nor Shia, but a very small sect called Ahmadiyya. Also in 1966, Nation of Islam members came north from San Francisco. They incorporated as The Muslim Community Center of Portland in 1968. In 1970, the Islamic Society of Greater Portland was founded and went on to interface with elected officials and community partners.

Since then, more mosques and centers have been established, and the amiable vibe persists. When asked what visitors should expect from our small but thriving Muslim population, Elhaggan said, “In a bigger community, you can get lost; it’s so friendly here, and people are so welcoming.” 

Niyyah Ruscher-Haqq, co-founder of the Mizan Project, added, “Here, I pray next to somebody from Afghanistan, somebody who’s a convert, somebody from Egypt, and so on.”

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