Top Lebanese restaurants in Portland, United States

I was visiting my daughter and son in law from Palm Springs CA. They raved about this restaurant and with great reason. Honestly, it was the best Lebanese food I have even eaten. Everything we ordered was delicious! The falafel was the best I ever eaten. It is a family run restaurant and the service was warm and friendly! The owner is gracious and friendly. I cannot wait to return! The Lebanese wine was a winner!

The food is incredible.
The service is very fast.
The atmosphere vibes are amazing.
I highly recommend it.

Great food, drinks, service, and atmosphere. I enjoyed coming into AL Hawr and plan to visit again. The owner is great and very welcoming.

I love Ya Hala! My favorite is sharing the mezze platter on a picnic table out front. It’s just such a great sampling of foods, with their wonderful pita. They also sell prepackaged hummus, baklava, and all kinds of other goodies to take home and enjoy. Truly a gem in Montavilla!

One of my favorite places in Portland. Great food, great service 👍

I had a bad experience the first time I went here, but I decided to give it another try. The place is neat and tidy. The people there were welcoming, and the food was fresh and favorable. It was a lot less busy than the first time I went, but all in all, it was a great experience. I will be back and would recommend to anyone who is hungry and in the area.

This pita bread is the thing of dreams. Fluffy and perfect. The drinks are really creative & refreshing. The baked Mac & cheese -- even if you don't like Mac & cheese, you'll like this one. Delicious dolmas as well.

Great delicious food with huge menu to choose from. Great people, great atmosphere. Highly recommend you stop by this place!

This an excellent choice for Mediterranean food in Portland. Everything is so tasty and fresh. We had multiple smaller options for sharing. The server was friendly and knowledgeable. The restaurant was comfortable and clean.

I enjoyed lunch with friends at Nicholas.
Lamb-anything is always my go to. I had the lamb kabob bowl. It was tasty and the perfect lunch size.
The mint ice tea was a nice refresher on a warm afternoon.
Lunch service is quite busy. Expect to wait for a table. It's worth it.

Nicholas is absolutely fantastic. It's a true staple of Portland food culture. The food and drinks are excellent and the new location has a lovely atmosphere (although the coziness of the old location will be missed). If you haven't tried it yet you're really missing out.

This is the best Lebanese restaurant I have ever tried! The tomato pesto sauce is so awesome!!! Meat are very fresh and flavorful, unlike other middle eastern restaurants, meat is not too salty.
I live in Seattle and tried multiple famous middle eastern restaurants in Seattle. I have to say that Nicholas is way better than all of Seattle Lebanese restaurants. 🫶🫶🫶

This place is a hidden gem in Downtown Portland PDX! Incredible Mediterranean food, I can’t even begin to describe the tastes of the food here. The kitchen is run by Lebanese chefs aka the owner’s wife, which makes every bite authentic. Definitely THE BEST Middle Eastern food I’ve eaten outside of the middle east. The interior design makes you feel comfortable while you eat some of the best food of your life. The service was outstanding, from the initial moment we entered until we left, the employees’ were very attentive. Doesn’t get much better than incredible food and great service. I will recommend this place to everyone! The desserts were so good, we couldn’t stop eating. MUST TRY the cotton candy ice cream and rice pudding. Five start all the way around.

Authentic 🇱🇧 food. We took the falafel wrap. Very tasty and satisfying portion. The kebab and rice taste like home 😋. Hummus ant tabuli salad were great as wll. The service was quick and friendly. I recommend it.

Tried the meat-trio and hummus. Nothing special about the meat trio, but the hummus is good. It is rare where you can find smooth and tasty hummus in this area.

1st time in. This place is great, from the smiling young lady taking our order to the owner talking to us. Very open and lively music. Clean and tidy.
Lamb Gyro was so full of taste.
Amazing thank you for a wonderful lunch.

Great local Lebanese joint. Way better than Tusk and half price. Get the Mezza plate. Great deal and good vibes.

I got the chicken breast skewers, which came with a delicious scoop of rice and some v garlicky and mouthwatering sauces. 10/10 They also brought us out little side salads before the meal and a massive round of hot fresh pita bread. Incredible.

First time going to this restaurant and I would go back again. The food was very good as well as the atmosphere and service. I love the big fresh pita bread. The Nicholas chicken plate was delicious.

Yum, yum, yum. We showed up here for dinner on a weeknight and were a little worried at first because the place was dead. Our minds were eased the minute we took our first bite - the food is so fresh and flavorful. The baba ghanoush was the star of the show. And dont skip out on the cocktails - really delicious as well. Highly recommend.

I ordered the lamb kabob and it was AMAZING! I also ordered a drink and it was very delicious.
I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys great food and service. I will be returning to this restaurant!

Ya Hala for ya boy, because this place is fresh like the Prince of بيل اير!

My wife and I have been meaning to stop in here for years, as we love Lebanese (and Mediterranean cuisine in general) with a passion, but for some reason, it had never worked out. This weekend, we happened to be in the neighborhood, hungry, and without any other pressing plans...at the time. So we stopped in, discovered its order-at-the-counter-and-grab-a-table modus operandi, and settled on splitting a mezza platter with pita bread.

Yet once again, things conspired against us, and we ended up having to pivot and take our order to go, as something popped up that required our presence across town, so we weren't able to dine inside, as we'd planned. Fortunately, the mezza did not suffer from being transplanted to another location, and we made quick work of it once we were able to settle in and take care of things that required our attention.

In particular, the hummus was smooth and creamy, oily but just so; the dolmas were obviously hand-made, far better than most places, which come pre-made or from a can; the baba ghanouj (who doesn't love saying that?!) was tangy and not too chunky or dry; the tabouli fresh, tart and refreshing, not at all bitter. The pita, a $2 add on (my only gripe about our order - it should be a de facto inclusion; otherwise, how do you eat this properly?), was thankfully thin, tender and pliable, not overwhelmingly filling or powdery, as it often can be at other restaurants.

We might have been denied the full dine-in experience, but our appetites were whet enough by the appetizer that we're sure to be back for the full entrée experience, whenever the stars align and allow us to do so. Until then, we'll be rubbing our bellies in satisfaction and anticipation, hoping for a genie to emerge ("from WHERE!?!" - my wife, confused and a little scared) to grant our wish, sooner than later!

We had such a delightful meal at this restaurant. The service was very courteous, the ambience was very cozy but classy and the food was mind blowing. The mint lemonade was just the way we like it and the ginger beer was great too. The beet hummus was delicious and pita was really soft. Batata harara was oh so good- crunchy from the outside, soft from the inside- my husband even asked them how they cook it so perfectly and the owner (I believe) even explained to us how they cook it! The chicken kebabs dish we ordered was also on point. Chicken was cooked perfectly again and the rice was also very flavorful. My daughter also ordered their molten chocolate cake with ice cream and she said it was the best dessert she ever tasted. Quite clearly, we were beyond stuffed. Highly highly recommend!

Cutest spot!! They have a good selection of cocktails and lots of seating. The orange blossom lemonade is a perfect refresher on a hot day. The donuts are incredible! I love the gluten free pita, too, and the falafel. I can’t say enough good things! My favorite place for dinner before catching a movie at the Academy.

A great middle eastern place. The food was great. Food is delicious. Turkish coffee, tea, and baklava are great. I will definitely go back.

The ambiance of this restaurant was very nice, modern but warm and inviting. The staff was also very nice and accommodating. The food was very good and all very authentic. The avocado hummus and lentil soup were amazing. The dessert was superb. Best baclawa I've ever had, and the cotton candy ice cream is not what you would expect I recommend you try it! Even the rice pudding was different in a good way, it was aromatic of jasmine tea. So good!

I honestly loved the vibe in this restaurant, the decoration is excellent so it is an excellent choice for your special days ( Birthday, Valentine, New Year, etc ) the food, service, and cleanliness level were all excellent!

The Lebanese guy(wearing a red sweater in the picture)who serviced us was extremely kind and helpful! I am so grateful for what he has done for me on my birthday, he provided a very lovely and delicious milkshake topped with cotton candy ( picture attached ).

Everything was amazing, it deserves to give it a try!

Thank you Alhawr Restaurant for the beautiful night.

Came here for lunch on a Monday right at noon. Plenty of seating, you order at the counter.

The place is open and bright. I've always enjoyed the ambiance. There were plenty of options without the menu being too long or complicated. The prices seemed fair for the amount of food.

I ordered the falafel wrap and it was huge. Others in my party ordered the plate dishes and were very satisfied with flavor and portion size.

You can just come in and grab some sides and deserts to go if you want something for later or very simple quick easy lunch.

Pros: there are good options and delicious food. Generous portions. Clean atmosphere, friendly staff. Tables are large accommodating multiple dishes.

Cons: all parking is on the street and the closest parking has limits like 1hr parking.
I like to park around the block in front of a church on a wider street with no time limits. However if walking is hard for you, this might be a turn off.
The location could make you feel on guard, especially if you came in the evening. I only saw one homeless person asleep across the street. However, as a woman in Portland, it feels like more and more I am aware and on my guard especially this close to 82nd.
And, like others have mentioned extra pita costs $2 and it's kinda skimpy.

The food is worth the trip. From the decor, service, food… all on point. I’m so glad I found this cute spot while traveling in Portland and will be back whenever I’m in town!! Thank you for the impeccable service!!!

The food was absolutely delicious. The wait staff was helpful in recommending different options. Full bar with some fun Lebanese martinis and other drink options.

have long dreamed of eating a good kebob somewhere again, but could not find this place in the USA. We searched for a long time, many places were passed. And then we came here, it was amazing. We again experienced strong gastronomic emotions, it turns out this place was very close. The hosts are very hospitable, but the main thing is the food, it's excellent. Thank you for this, I advise everyone to plunge into the fairy tale of taste.

Had been to Ya Hala a few times pre-covid and really enjoyed the place. When we arrived this time it was much more casual so instead of ordering at your table, there was a counter where you ordered. We were there for lunch and the large windows made the place feel very open and airy. We ordered our food and waited about 15 minutes for our food. I ordered the 1/4 chicken - flavor was good, but it was a bit dry. Since it was dark meat, I was a bit surprised. The hummus was really good, not sure about the slaw. Wife ordered the lamb patty on rice and it was pretty good. All in all, we left a bit disappointed.

What an amazing place! Great food, great service and a beautiful atmosphere. Will definitely be coming back!
Thank you to the amazing team!

Loved the atmosphere in here. Nice ramp into restaurant gets you right into the main dining room (I can take my elderly mother, so I will be back!). Service was great and the freshly made pita to start us off was outstanding. I am a big fan of both the presentation and taste of the Turkish coffee, as well (this drink felt special). Prices seemed more-than-reasonable for the portions. Seating was comfortable, and next time, I'll ask to sit in the beautiful booths adorned with curtains on the far side of the dining room.

Spontaneously came here for dinner tonight and was pleasantly surprised! The owner and his family were so welcoming and kind. And the food was absolutely delicious!

We ordered the chicken kabab, Greek salad and Muthawamah potato. They were all excellent! Portions and priced were reasonable.

Would definitely come back 😊

I had the falafel bowl and it was amazing. Crispy tender falafel on a bed of rice covered with salad and cucumbers and hummus and some delicious sauce. I'm so glad I found this place. It all tasted fresh and authentic. I also got a desert there that was mouthwatering just to look at and did not disappoint.

I have been here many times and HIGHLY recommend!! Food is amazing with fresh ingredients and love the Owners. Have a cocktail while your there, you won't be disappointed. It's a great escape - makes you feel like you traveled.

Our first dining experience here was excellent. Great food. Great atmosphere. Great service. We already can't wait to go back! Plus, look at my drink! (Pro tip - order dessert!)

Amazing Lebanese food with a nice interior, the dip sampler with baba ganouj and hummus was fantastic. The pita chips were addicting, i've never had fried pita that was so light and crispy. Highly recommend the meat trio, the lamb was delicious and rice was cooked perfectly. Also the Lebanese soda is very light and refreshing. Only issue was we didn't have any silverware or napkins when our food came out and it took about 10 minutes to wave down a server since they were so busy. We will definitely come back and try more though! ✌🏾

Amazing place, so yummy 😋🤤

The bread and the tabbouleh was so delicious, the rice was also very tasty. I can't wait to go back, the waitress was very friendly and the atmosphere was pleasant. 5 stars❤️😍

Excellent. Incredibly reasonable on price. You are brought the flat bread and dipping oil. I got a sample of the dips (walnut red pepper was probably my favorite. They were all very flavorful and smooth). I had the chicken/rice bowl with chickpea/cabbage salad. The garlic sauce was super garlicky. Everything was delicious. Friendly service. Recommended by your guide-thanks Felipe. So glad I listened. Great food and terrific price. Enjoy!

Food was okay. Lack of vegetarian options in the menu for main course. I had Falafel. Its on the expensive side for the value vs quality scale.Great ambiance. Falafel was soft and nice. They gave us pita on the house which was great and very soft. The pickled chili and turnips were a great addition to falafel. We asked for a hot sauce and they gave us a tomato hot sauce which was actually a bit sour than hot.

Great dessert😍😍

Nice and clean interior. I love eggplants but unfortunately their eggplant roll was bitter and had too much tahini. Falafel burger and Chicken Shawarma was good.

Fresh food, tender and perfectly cooked meat, appropriate portions, delicious and tasty. Pita bread was super soft. Would highly recommend the mezza platter. Service was great. Loose leaf tea was good and at bar.

Super crazy good. The kabobs are mouthwatering. Really well seasoned and juicy. We tried both the chicken and lamb. Not at all disappointed. They have great offerings just need to come back and try them. Really do recommend this place. Enjoy!

Amazing food! I’ve eaten lunch here 3 times this week, yes, the food is THAT delicious. The customer service is always on point, the food is always fresh and seasoned to perfection. The pricing is amazing and definitely will keep me coming back. Okay, back to my burger I go.

My favorites:
-Breakfast Burritos
-Super Gyro
-Thai Peanut Chicken (Wednesday only)
-Chicken Burrito (Thursday only)
-Yellow Chicken Curry (Friday only - pictured)
-Energy Drinks

This place is awesome. Food is always prepared fresh and served hot. Mike, the owner, is a great guy and a lot of fun to talk to.

Great food, wonderful service and great portions. If you like gyros, it's the place to go!