Casa Zoraya Reviews

We had dinner last night at Casa Zoraya and it was a delightful experience. We sat outside on the patio, enjoying the lovely smell of star jasmine and twinkling lights. Our server was so friendly and gave us some good recommendations for food and drink. We had empanadas and papa rellena for appetizers and they were yummy. For main, we had picante de hongos and arroz con mariscos and both were beautifully presented and delicious. For dessert , we had alfajor, also delicious. The prices are reasonable, the service was impeccable, and the food was outstanding. We will be back!

We dined at the restaurant twice, once in October and then the second time in December 2018. The staff was friendly. The service was very slow and each dish took its own time to arrive. During the first time we ordered causa vegetariana a dish with three different kinds of potatoes served with the aji amarillo sauce and a salad of quinoa and avocados, tomatoes. The taste was refreshingly different and every item on the plate complemented the other very well. The second dish we tried was ceviche de pescado, the fish was very fresh, the aji limo chili in the lime marinade had a kick to it and was very spicy. If one cannot tolerate the heat, then do not sip the liquid marinade in the ceviche as that chili was in that marinade. The fish pieces weren't as hot in taste. The third dish we ordered was the sudado de prescado, a fish stew that was served with aji amarillo sauce and some diced onions and avocado pieces. The fish was very delicate, very fresh, the soup base was delicious, creamy and smooth. When I asked whether there was any dairy cream in it, I was told that they had used almond flour to make it creamy. The garlic rice was delicious too. The second time when we ate here we ordered the causa vegetariana, antichuchos de pollo, sudado de pescado, locro de zapallo and aji de gallina. The chicken in antichuchos was very dry and this dish wasn't as great. The causa was very good. We didn't like the sudado de pescado as much this time. The other two dishes were good. But I had an awful stomach ache at night. I was quite surprised as this restaurant wasn't a cheap diner. My family members did experience slight stomach discomfort too. But I was the one most affected and it kept me up the whole night. I was disappointed with the food quality. I do not have the courage to venture out to this restaurant again due to my personal experience.

empanada vegetariana, hongos saltados, y piscos maracuyas; attentive staff, outdoor (backyard) seating = finest Portland tradition...!

This delightful Peruvian eatery is a wonderful addition to the Portland food scene. Andina alum Zoraya Zambrano launches this venture with the help of family and friends. Daughter Gloria and son, Gary have taken the skill and energy they were exercising at the celebrated spot created by Chef Jose Luis de Cossio at Paiche, and poured it into their Mom's effort on Lombard with exceptional results. The Zoraya crew has stuck with tradition on the menu and that focus produces a delicious variety of Peruvian favorites. The ceviche is impeccably prepared with a freshness and flavor any great dish deserves. There is a mix of vegetarian, fish and meat to embrace an expanse of tastes in a compact set of creative offerings. From the causas to the saltados; the pork to the lamb, Casa Z has you covered. The bar offers a selection of Peruvian beer, wine and the celebrated Pisco Sour. The pisco is Peruvian sourced and Gloria's mixes are not to be missed. The food is as beautiful to look at as it is to eat. Colors, flavors and textures all work together to deliver a delightful dining experience. Go, Eat, Enjoy

First off, the ceviche was fantastic. Second off, I'm doing Dry January, so I didn't have the purportedly excellent Pisco Sours. That's on me. My main dish was good, but it reminded me so much of Chicken a al King, circa 1979, that my mom used to make. I enjoyed it, but I wasn't expecting Chicken a la King in a Peruvian restaurant. My wife wasn't crazy about her seafood stew, either. I'd say, if you're not drinking, and you don't like casserole dishes from the '70s, maybe try somewhere else. But plenty of other folks love this place, and they are super nice, and I may have ordered the wrong thing. I've done it before.

We had several dishes family style and they were all great. Service was friendly and patio seating was comfortable even on a chilly day.

The Picante de hongos my friends had was super yummy but I was a bit disappointed in the ceviche de pescado which had pieces of grilled fish in it, that already disqualifies the dish to be called ceviche, I did like the leche de tigre. Overall a nice place, service was friendly.

I have to go to Every Peruvian restaurant in every city we visit because my wife hails from Peru. Is tiny little place servers up one of the better Peruvian meals you can find in the city. Wonderfully presented creations at relatively moderate prices. The ceviche was rather standard, tasty and not too sour. The arroz con Mariscos is kind of like a paella with exorbitant amounts of cumin added. Very tasty but a bit overpowering. The causa are wasn't entirely different style that I've ever tried. It seemed to possess most of the ingredients of a layered causa but it was spread beautifully across the plate instead. The real star of the show where the empanadas. A little background, I don't normally order Aji de Gallina at these places because my wife's is definitely the best I've ever tasted. However, these empanadas were stuffed with one of the best Aji de Gallina that I've had outside my own dining room. They were surrounded by a wonderfully delicate pastry there was lightly fried. If I decide I don't want to wait for my wife to cook and go back to this restaurant, I wouldn't think of ordering anything but these empanadas. They were fantastic. The only reason I didn't give this place a five star was that they had a very limited menu with no appetizers. All of these items are sold as entrees. I guess you could order one as an appetizer when is your dinner. This place also lacks the spit and polish of a finer dining establishment. Is very definitely a Hidden Gem in the rough.

We walked here from our hotel on Rosa Park and we were happy we did as we had a really good time. The service was both friendly and efficiant. The ceviche was wonderful and tastes just like it did when we were in Peru. Really authentic. The shredded chicken came in a very tasty sauce, however the meat was a tiny bit on the dry side. Would definitely recommend this place.

Excellent restaurant! Amazing food for vegan & meat eaters. They are happy to modify meat dishes to accommodate vegans/vegetarian. Highly recommend reserving the back patio. It was a chilly rainy night but the patio is enclosed and was very cosy. Beautiful spot with lights & plantings. The service was exceptional and the food incredible. We visit our son & daughter in-law every 2 to 3 months so have eaten at a number of great Portland spots but this is one on the best. Can’t wait to visit again and return to Casa Zoraya.

Thursday was our third visit. the last two times we brought guests. They raved about the experience. The causa and ceviche are to die for.

Delightful small menu. Food perfectly prepared. Dinner took 2 hours as dishes are paced out so that each may be properly savored. Not a place to rush but rather engage with companions and fill in empty spots with some great pisco drinks.

Update things seem to be going downhill here . The chopper was absolutely hideous . The crispy little strips that put on top of were at least 2 days old and chewy I don't believe this place deserves a 4.8 rating but then again it doesn't deserve a 3 either. It serves decent Peruvian food in an attractive manner. It has a little quaint rustic little location the kiss ridiculously loud. The only real complaint I had about it is they serve their calamari way over cooked like cold chewy little rubber band rings. Other than this I have no other complaints about the food, however Jerks with small children didn't read the website that states not to bring small children to this restaurant. They're too many of these rude parents. All in all, it was a decent meal and I would probably go back again. But, I would probably be better off just making it at home

The restaurant is quite beautiful and intimate feeling. Friendly and welcoming atmosphere. The food was amazing. The causa de camaron was so surprisingly colorful and tantalizing. The flavor did not disappoint! Each bite had a new delicious surprise. We were "oohing" and "awwing" the whole meal. We loved it and cannot wait to go back.

Generous family-style portions, Not stingy small plates. Delicious flavors abound. I will definitely be eating here again. Gracias Casa Zoraya!

Location is not ideal but but at the same time excited to get away from any other restaurant in the the Pearl or SE and their crowds. This Peruvian restaurant was excellent. Not a typical bar scene, small but not crowded, cute inside. Service was very good, drinks and food were delicious. Super tasty food, portions are big, presentation is good, prices can be a little high but they are worth your money. We were very satisfied and pleased with our food, drinks and service. Highly recommended, looking forward to go back another time.

Terrible customer service - They might not honor your reservation, so I wouldn't bother trying to make one. We had one for over a month, and they cancelled it less than a week out when other reservations are no longer available. They'd get 0 stars if possible.

We were taken to Casa Zoraya by family we were visiting in Portland and we had a wonderful experience. The food was outstanding!! I am not very familiar with Peruvian food but our hosts are and they also were extremely delighted. The food was delicious, the presentation was beautiful and our lovely server who is also the manager was very knowledgeable about the preparation. When I eat out I prefer to eat things I cannot make myself and this certainly ticked that box. The flavours and the dishes themselves were complex but not confusing. And everything looked fresh and beautiful. It was a chilly evening with a bit of wind so we did not book the patio seating. My only regret as it is a lovely spot and was not chilly at all, cozy with a lovely ambiance. Sadly for us the patio was fully booked...the joint was jumpin' so the word is out about this fine place. Off the patio is a little raised bed garden so I am guessing they are growing some of the ingredients...another box ticked.

Why not explore an exotic cuisine from Peru that fuses the ethnic historic influence of Incan, Spanish and Asian foods? Small place with limited parking, but very prompt and friendly service, coupled with a delightful varieties of food and drink in ample servings of very high quality ingredients. Reservations are strongly encouraged in a casual place. Start with a Peruvian cocktail (Pisco) and tapa-like appetizers. Peruvian geography and historic agriculture ensures lots of white and sweet potato based entree's, such as papa rellena (potato croquette). Empanada de Aji de Galliina provides a complex savory pastry of chicken and other goodies. Be sure to have Picarones for dessert. All of the foods we shared were exceedingly fresh and tasty.

Great neighborhood restaurant with excellent service. They can customize your order to make it Gluten free as well. The Pisco sours are excellent! Especially the passionfruit Pisco sour.

Fantastic place with amazing food! My wife is a native Peruvian so I'm no stranger to Peruvian cuisine and this place is as good as any I've ever had and better than most. We had the aji de gallina, the ceviche, lomo saltado, and the locro de zapallo, and everything was, as they say in Peru, para chuparse los dedos (finger-licking good).

Have been to this little restaurant 3 times and will definitely go back. Food delicious, interesting combo of flavors, and beautifully presented. Wait staff knowledgeable and pleasant. Prices very reasonable

Great food wonderful service. I have never tried Peruvian food and this was amazing. I would totally recommend this place can’t wait to come again

The menu here is much smaller than Andina but everything is done with care and flair. The Lomo Saltado is excellent, as is the ceviche. I read a review that didn't like the causa but we thought it excellent although different in presentation than what we had in Peru. The food is an updated version of some of the classical preparations but holding on to the essence of the dishes. The staff is very helpful and friendly. They've hit the map and I'd recommend reservations. They were full with folks waiting from 6:30 to 9 on Wednesday night.

Remember in the Twentieth Century when service was not turnkey? Sometimes you had to wait for things? When you couldn't just hire a Task Rabbit for the mundane tasks you had to do like stand at the DMV? That's the proviso I offer about Casa Zoraya. Twentieth Century. The food is quite tasty but it is the wait times that can offset your delight with the food. Don't arrive at the restaurant ravenous and make sure you order some type fo small bite to tide you over to the main event. We attended Casa Zoraya for my sister's birthday and were a large party of eleven diners. We had a reservation for 8:00 p.m. Since everything is served family style, all at once, we had to wait for everyone's dish to be cooked before it came to table and that meant everything arrived on the table at 9:20 p.m. People were getting hangry, and that, unfortunately can cast an ashen color on things. The food comes out beautifully displayed. I ordered the lamb which was tender and flavorful. Since this is a Peruvian Restaurant the drink menu is very Pisco based. I ordered the Chollita which was balanced and refreshing. Psychologists maintain that people usually make judgments about an experience based on how they felt about it at the end of the experience. I would say with that in mind I felt like it had been money well spent but we also spent a lot of time trying to appease hunger pangs in the meantime.

The Causa Vegetariana was like having dessert as a first course. It put to good use the beautiful colors and creamy textures of the Peruvian potatoes. Then came the Chicharron de Puerco. The pork shredded with my fork into a moist spicey heap on my plate. The two of us could have stopped happily full right there. I was sipping on my Chicha Morada which always brings back memories of cooling off in the Peruvian heat. But we still had the Arroz con Mariscos to go. The seafood of day, today included shrimp, scallop, and octopus all beautifully cooked. I have lived in the neighborhood for over fifteen years. I have traveled to Peru. The food, service, and ambiance of Zoraya are all top notch. I encourage all to go try Casa Zoraya. My only wish is there were a few more small plates at the lower prices. I worry for both the neighborhood and the lovely people at Zoraya that only Gringa's like me can afford this.

I spent a could of weeks in Peru and really enjoyed Peruvian food. When I found out about this place I was super excited. The food did not disappoint at all. Ceviche Morada - delish Lomo Saltado - super yum Arroz Con Mariscos - perfect dish for seafood lovers Empanada Galina - wowowie The prices are not cheap and I really wouldn't give it a great but only good value. Service here is very good. I totally recommend this place and ill be a return customer. Been here twice already, parking along the streets is easy to find.

This "Peruvian-focused" restaurant is embedded in a relaxed atmosphere but the food is all quality and the presentations lovely - only outdone by the flavors. Fish is at its finest. I had the arroz con mariscos - I am a sucker for variety of flavors - and this delivered a lovely meal. The empanada vegetariana was excellent. We finished with the alfajores tasted across the group. This is an establishment where conversation can flow and the servers were helpful and attentive without being overbearing. Great place. Many happy returns planned.

I have been very sick with a cold, but needed to get into the outside world. I decided to eat brunch at Casa Zoraya because I had read such praise from the Willamette Week and Eater PDX. On a very cold day I came into the restaurant as it opened. I was the first one in but the wait person told me that a large party was being held and the only room for me was at the bar. I was fine with that. I sat at the bar reading a book. To start I ordered a coffee and a Chicha Morada which is a drink made from purple corn. It is delicious to the taste and highly desirable. I recommend you try it. I then ordered what is called, Jalea Mixta, which consists of the fried seafood of the day, potato, yucca in replacement of the plantains which they were out of and salsa criolla. I was worried about the yucca because I had tried it before in a Cuban restaurant where it was boiled and extremely bland. The waitress swore to me I would like their version of yucca and she was correct. The entire meal was perfectly balanced and had tiny tomatoes with perfect acidity and these wonderful slivered onions that were amazing. The seafood was fresh and perfectly prepared and even with the cold I was suffering, the flavors were bold and delicious. I have to say this is one of the best new restaurants in Portland. The chef knows how to prepare a great tasting dish and the visual presentation is amazing as well so if you have a date or special occasion this would definitely be the place. The only thing I lament is that I forgot to photograph the meal before I ate it. A mental mistake brought on by the cold I have. Regardless, I highly recommend Casa Zoraya!

This is my new favorite spot. The food is delicious with combinations that are new and unique. The Pisco Sour is so delicious. The staff are really friendly. Definitely one to return to again and again.

What a disappointment after hearing good reviews. We each had to wait for our entrées to be served at least 10-15 minutes apart, resulting in the awkward situation of tasting/eating a meal before others were served (4 of us). By the time the last person in our party was able to enjoy their meal, most of us were nearly finished or picking at cold food. the waitress informed us that it was family-style and to share, but the vegetarians among us balked at the idea of eating pork or chicken. The food was substandard, tasteless and very dry. The total bill was an insult...not worth it. We will never return.

We love Peruvian food, so had to try out this restaurant while we were in Portland, and we are so glad we did! Tables are outside on a patio, which was perfect as it was a beautiful evening. We started with Pisco Sours, which were excellent as they were shaken not blended. The crevice was delicious, as was all the food. Our servers were very welcoming and we felt as if we had been transported back to Peru for just a little while. Highly recommend Parking is on the street, so arrive a little before your reservation to make sure of a spot.

It was a pleasure to dine at Casa Zoraya for an authentic flavor of Peru. Our party of 4 was looked after brilliantly by the staff, who were incredibly friendly and answered any questions we had. Casa Zoraya was specifically recommended by two members of our party - Sir Bryan and Lady Taylor who had previously visited the restaurant and it was a fantastic way to finish our vacation in Portland and the Pacific Northwest. Particular highlights were the Classic Pisco Sours as well as the Chicken and Sirloin entrees. We will definitely return to Casa Zoraya when we revisit Portland in future.

Lovely patio and enjoyed some delicious Peruvian food. We had a party of four and had the ceviche, chicken, lamb and sirloin entrees. Also some fun and well made cocktails.

Walked into the restaurant, it was still early and was asked if we had a reservation. There were only 2 customers in the whole place. She looked around and finally said she could seat us. The waitress was impatient and almost rude when asking questions about entrees that I had no idea what they were. Also the attitude that was given off may be fine in the Pearl but not in North Portland. Will not return.

In a word? Yummy. The pork belly fired rice and the potato with egg and shrimp salad were my favorites - so much flavor . We also had the empanada, seco de cordero, and papa rellano, which were also good. All the dishes were beautifully presented. Staff were nice and attentive. Ask to sit in the back with the twinkly lights.

This is easily one of the best restaurant experiences in Portland. The food is simply spectacular and so unique to Portland. I've never tasted any ceviche quite like this, and it was phenomenal. All the other dishes, and cocktails too, were great. Very friendly service too. They are completely unpretentious unlike so many restaurants in Portland. It doesn't seem like they're in it to win awards, but just really really good at what they do and trying to make a living! I really hope Casa Zoraya can survive the pandemic, because they are truly special.