Middle Eastern Eateries in Portland

Find cultural and culinary flair at some of the city’s top Middle Eastern restaurants.

Updated Oct. 5, 2023 2 min read

Emma Mannheimer

Emma Mannheimer is a Seattle-born, Portland-based writer and editor. Read More

Portland is home to a trove of spectacular Middle Eastern eateries. Many of them are owned by immigrants who use their restaurants to celebrate their cultural traditions and share family recipes. Enjoy out-of-this-world food and hospitality at these local restaurants.

Middle Eastern Eateries in Portland

Ya Hala

What began as a deli counter in 1999 has grown into a spacious (and gorgeous) family-owned restaurant. Nestled in Southeast Portland’s Montavilla neighborhood, the Ya Hala kitchen is run by Chef Mirna Attar. Once featured on the Food Network’s “Chopped,” Attar whips up homey Lebanese cuisine using Northwest ingredients. While the lunch and dinner menus are exquisite in their own right, we recommend visiting during brunch hours. Try the Lebanese country breakfast, which features house-smoked lamb bacon, fried egg, potato-mint hash and house-made soujouk (sausage).

DarSalam

Iraqi hospitality takes top priority at DarSalam, which means “house of peace” in Arabic. A boon for gluten-free diners, the menu favors bright flavors and fresh offerings, including pickled mango salad and eggplant stew. The original restaurant on Northeast Alberta Street, founded in 2012, boasts a charming courtyard patio. If you’re downtown, check out the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet at DarSalam’s second location on Southwest Alder Street.

Al-Amir Restaurant

Al-Amir has livened up downtown Portland since 1988 with bustling tables of authentic Lebanese feasts in the historic Bishop’s House. (There’s also live belly dancing on Friday and Saturday evenings.) Reasonably priced kebabs are skewered at lunch, while evening offerings include marinated prawns and beef-stuffed cabbage rolls. Their thick Middle Eastern coffee, brewed in a traditional brass pot, is the perfect sip to conclude your meal.

TarBoush Lebanese Bistro & Bar

Set in a Victorian house on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, TarBoush Lebanese Bistro & Bar wins patrons with its relaxed atmosphere. Also of note are its deliciously smooth hummus, generous mezze platters and shawarma plates. Standard cocktails get a Middle Eastern twist with re-envisioned classics like the Beirut Manhattan, which is blended with orange blossom. Try one of the eatery’s signature entrées, like a whole oven-baked game hen stuffed with spiced rice and potatoes. Not a carnivore? Order from their extensive menu of vegan and gluten-free dishes.

Nicholas Restaurant

Founded in 1987 by Lebanese-born Nicholas Dibe and his family, Nicholas now boasts two bustling locations on Portland’s east side. The chefs use fresh, local produce to create seasonal menu items like butternut squash hummus. The real spotlight, however, is on the restaurant’s famously enormous pita bread. A color-coded menu makes it easy for guests with special diets to find suitable meals.