Hoda's Middle Eastern Cuisine Reviews

Don't forget cash! I rarely go places that don't take cards but the food here is worth it.

We live in Ohio and were visiting our daughter in Portland. By luck, she lives 2 blocks from Hoda's and we ate there twice on our most recent visit. Our server, Macie, was very attentive and efficient. We loved the food and presentation. The hummus is very good and I loved both versions of lentil soup. The eggplant is one of the best I have ever eaten. I felt the portions were very good and the prices average.

Almost as good as Nicholas...

As a Middle Eastern person myself, I really enjoy going to Hoda's, The service is friendly, they have reasonably priced drinks, and everything is made from scratch unlike a lot of the other middle eastern restaurants in town. One of the things I really appreciate is that their meat is from a local farm and all grass fed. And chicken kebabs are from breast meat which is more expensive normally. My favorites are lamb shanks on the weekends. They are just amazing value. Also, their chicken kebabs, and vegetarian options are very good. Sheik Al Mehshi is definitely a great option and Mouhamra is a great and unique appetizer. There is almost never a wait which is always a good thing. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that they do catering. It is a good option for an inexpensive but high quality food. I am going to use them for my birthday coming up for catering. I think they do weddings as well.

My wife and I love Lebanese food. I had heard about Hoda yesterday on the local TV news. We were hoping to enjoy a late lunch. When we arrive Hoda wasn't busy. The waitress greeted us and told us to hold on while she cleaned a table. After waiting for 10 minutes at the front door, we left. I feel sad we didn't get a chance to eat, but with service this bad, it just wasn't worth it. Too bad, we were hoping to find a new restaurant.

The food was really good, the service impersonal and perfunctory, and being made to wait at the door for a table with at least 10 empty ones visible, while two staff consulted intensely, one glancing back over at us as though we were a problem, was just bizarre.

While visiting family in the neighborhood of this place I asked if we could eat here and I'm glad we did. From appetizer to main meals all was yummy. 3 of us ate and had leftovers to take home got only $50. The spices and dishes were very good. We enjoyed it a lot.

We went to this restaurant in memory of my father (it was his favorite) and were slightly disappointed. Everything was OK - but nothing exceptional. The pita bread was good (as we remembered), but the tabbouleh didn't have much (if any) bulgur at all. The humus was good. The falafel were small and thin, so almost all of it was the cripsy, fried part, with very little fluffly insides. (they tasted fine). The waitress asked if anyone wanted tea - but didn't tell us it was $3.00 and somehow, on our bill, 3 teas came to $11. There was only one waitress for the entire restaurant. She was as nice as she could be, but as we just mentioned, there were problems with our bill - and it was quicker to just pay and leave than try to pull her in another direction to fix it. Parking was nightmarish. As I said, all the food was fine, but I think it's better and cheaper at Nicholas or Ya Hala.

decent lebanese

Yes! Three of us enjoyed our early midweek dinner. This is a small neighborhood establishment in a cozy Portland neighborhood. Eggplant was prepared nicely, lamb was good, kabob was delish. Lentil soup was so good we ordered some to take home after our meal!

Steaming hot bread delivered to your table throughout the dinner, appetizers, mezza plates all delicious.

We went to Hoda's Middle Eastern Cuisine kind of on a whim over Christmas break. Wow!!! That was the best Middle Eastern food we've ever had! What a gem. We were greeted and seated right away by friendly staff. The room had a warm, traditional, colorful atmosphere with mood lighting keeping the glare at bay. Appetizers and drinks came quickly, the waiter helped us decipher some of the menu, and before we could even set our appetizer forks down, food started coming in waves. The flavors! The spices! The combinations! The colors! Amazing. We ate until we couldn't eat any longer, then found room for a traditional dessert suggested by the waiter that could be the best combination of rose water and almond that I've ever tasted. In the end, the total (including alcohol) for 3 people was less than $75. It was such an unexpected magical dinner. We will definitely go back again and again and again. Thank you Hoda's.

Good menu to choose from. Falafel baba ganoush. All the middle eastern specialties you can choose from

Food has been delicious but service could be better. Loved it when this place was small and cozy.

I went there with coworkers and we had a 13 course meal. It was great because everyone could try all the different foods family style. The fresh pita bread came to the table warm and soft! My favorite dish was the chicken kabobs.

Hoda’s has gone downhill. This place used to be special and well run. We just came from a family dinner there and the service was so disjointed and all over the place. Furthermore, there was an issue with the pita bread. It was not good and slow. We received all the first course of dips and no pita bread for 10 mins. They had trouble attending to the drink order, at one time citing that strawberry lemonades were taking so long bc they were backed up with drinks. The food is still fine, but the service took away from everything.

First let me start by stating that I am from the Mediterranean and the food at this restaurant is shameful!! I ordered a salad that was horrible too much feta cheese and they put this seasoning on it that made it even saltier!! Their eggplant appatizer tasted like hummus and was def a desipointment!! Never will I go there again!! I also like to state that I got sick when I got home, I wish I could get a refund!!

The restaurant looks charming & has a wonderful selection of drinks & authentic foods. The appetizers were big enough to be a meal. Anyone who goes there MUST have the Baklava!!! It was so delicious it made me weep!

This Portland landmark offers freshly made mezza and a variety of main dishes that are hard to choose from! Casual to romantic --- and they offer catering.

Hoda's Middle Eastern Cuisine had a hamburger for Hamburger week in Portland. The called it the Beirut Burger. I saw a photo of it and a description in Willamette Week. Where 35 places in Portland had their own special hamburgers during this week for $5. I have never been to Hoda's and thought this would be an excellent time to stop by for a bite to eat and see what the place was like. It is located at 3401 SE Belmont at the corner of the large building it is in. Outside there was a saw board advertising their happy hour. And a few tables on the sidewalk outside their front windows on SE Belmont underneath a green awning. All this gave the establishment a very friendly and welcoming establishment. I walked inside and was greeted by a friendly attractive brunette dressed all in black and her hair pulled back in a pony tail. She smiled when I told her that I saw something in the Willamette Week about their Hamburger week offering and would like to try it. She offered me to choose a place to sit. Add attentive and helpful to my description of my server. I glanced around and noticed they had many tables lined along the front windows along SE Belmont. And also a entrance to a smaller room to the Eastern side of their establishment. I thought it over and liked the table vacant near this small room and at the front window. I told her that I would like the Beirut Burger and a beer. She asked if I would like a combo for the Burger. This would be the burger with french fries. That sounded great so I said yes. For the beer I thought I would try a pint of three sisters red ale. The music was pleasant and interesting to listen to. I assumed it was middle eastern music. Perhaps it was middle eastern pop? Interesting and entertaining. Adding a lot to the atmosphere. Leaving a positive impression and a feeling that I should return in the future. The Hamburger has spices that slowly catch up with you. It was tasty and unique. I was trying something entirely new and refreshing for a change. It consisted of Grass-fed beef layered with fire roasted red peppers, pepperoncini, zaatar, basil, tomatoes, and walnuts. I din't thin it was overly spices. I did notices that the spices slowly creed up on you later as you eat the burger. I did like it. The combo and the beer came to $14. As I sat there by the window eating I witness the room slowly fill up as people trickled in. Everyone looking cheerful and pleased to be here for a meal. A very friendly place to enjoy your meal.

Unfriendly host and undercooked chicken kabob wrapped in bacon (the special) made this a very disappointing experience. Will not go back.

More hummus please! If you can help it, get one of the few window seats.

Firstly, Hoda's now accepts Mastercard and Visa! Hoda's is a good Lebanese restaurant located in Portland's Belmont district. The food is hearty, and authentic Lebanese. I like the lamb, it's tender, well spiced and succulent. The Tabouleh is excellent, and the Baba Ghanouj has a rich, smokey taste and aroma unlike any baba ghanouj I have eaten. There is definitely pride taken in each dish - they are all very flavorful and well spiced, and they don't skimp on ingredients. If you are looking for a good selection of well-crafted Lebanese food, then look no further.

we started with a corona and a red hook ipa...i had the green salad and falafel plate...so tasty, and the pita was so fresh..my friend had the meat mezza, and was very happy. ....the staff were very friendly, and efficient. we love hodas....never been disappointed....

This is one of the best Lebanese / middle-eastern restaurants we ever ate in, and we have eaten in many good ones The ambience was great, the staff very friendly...and the food, extraordinarily fine and refined...we ordered family style and each and every dish was exceptional, one by one: meze (hummus, stuffed grape leaves), salads, vegetables, main dishes (kabobs). The balance of spices was unique for each dish. Especially delightful was the makloubeh. Highly recommended

I love this restaurant. They have unique menu choices that you may not find in other Middle Eastern restaurants and the food tastes great! I loved their warm, freshly baked pita bread. I am a bread lover so this is one of my favorites! The dish I ordered was made with eggplants. I can't remember the name but it was delicious. Their Zaater bread is also wonderful. I really recommend this restaurant.

A friend told us about Hoda's so we decided to try it out. It is a comfortable, relaxed place. The service was excellent. We were brought piping hot bread with dip which was so tasty we finished it up rapidly and we were give another serving. I had the beef sharwana (sp) and my wife hid the mini-meat pies. Service sizes were more than fair. Our server spent time visiting at the end of the meal. I would recommend Hoda's for lunch.

We were wandering the streets of Portland looking for a nice place for lunch when we basically fell into this place by accident. We were pleasantly surprised by the menu. The best part was the hot-out-of-the-oven bread they brought to the table. It was absolutely delicious. None of us were disappointed with our meal. I would definitely go back there again.

Good, but their food can be a little too tart.

We had a delicious lunch at Hoda's Lebanese restaurant. The service was excellent. The humus, babagannouj, chicken kebobs, lamb sausage looking patties,cauliflower, fresh baked pita bread and the flafel were excellent. The only dish we did not think was that good was the Lebanese pizza (Lehm bi ajeen)....we thought it was tasteless and the crust was so so. The price was just right. If you do crave a vegetarian or middle eastern (Lebanese) food; this is an excellent option in Portland.

beautiful hot right out of the over pita -yum

The falafel and shawarma were incredible!! The fresh pita and dip and hummus that came with our meals were simply the best. The place was packed and unfortunately the wait was longer than it should have been. A little more help in the kitchen to turn out these delicious meals is needed. However, I will return and just know that there will be a wait, as that seems to be common complaint.

We have enjoyed coming here since it opened some decades ago; a true family and neighborhood restaurant, where if they don't know your exact name as in our case, know that you have been there before, though personal warmth abounds for all. It is clear that their priority is taking care of their customers. As described in other reviews, the food is very good, but I want to reserve extreme praise, my kudos, for Sheik al Mehshi (Grilled Eggplant stuffed with grass-fed beef , onions, toasted almonds with home made tomato sauce, topped with mozzarella cheese) This is a truly extraordinary dish, that is available without meat as well. And their various baklavas are above the ordinary. This past week we chose the item above, with a meat mezza, and it was more than enough in quantity and variety. The wait staff are easily available and they check on you, now and then, to insure all is well with you and the meal. They also have a full bar which adds to the options here. Additionally, they note, on the wall, the organic suppliers that provide the vegetable, salad, and meat appearing on the menu. One eats healthy here. Being in a busy part of S.E. Portland, parking can be a challenge, but a bit of sustained searching typically works. Regarding delivery, I did see a person come in with a delivery bag, and I assume that it is a service available in town, though not owned by this restaurant.

Hoda's has been at this Belmont location for many a year, and I haven't been back in a while. (No particular reason.) On a Friday afternoon went for lunch at noon ... and there was a holiday party going on in the back room of about 12 to 15 people. The overall restaurant wasn't that busy. I noted that they must have done a remodel at some point in the years that I've been absent ... since there now is a bar in the front room. One outcome of this is that it squeezes the seating in the front room a bit, which I didn't like. (I don't like some loud mouth at a neighboring table ruining my meal as I have to listen to every last word he or she utters.) I feared that the party in the back might mean that the service up front would be slow, slow, slow. Indeed, I felt a bit neglected in the first 30 minutes or so, but at some point, after my friend arrived, we started talking and I barely noticed the time. Our food seemed to arrive in a good amount of time (the kitchen wasn't backed up) and my falafel sandwich was amazing! (one of the best I've ever had in recent memory). The Middle Eastern Tea was O.K. ... and my friend didn't remark one way or another about her food (usually a bad sign with her). The bill with drinks and our lunch specials came to about 25.00 dollars without a tip, a tad expensive since we didn't really go crazy with ordering. (My friend ordered ice tea.) Will I be back? Yes. But it may be years again.

My husband was the officiant for a beautiful wedding at Hoda's Restaurant today. Dear friends of ours hosted this fabulous event for their son and daughter-in-law. The food was absolutely amazing....so fresh, and delicious and such kind, gracious, lovely people. Thank you for such a wonderful celebration!

My wife, our friend and I spotted this place several weeks ago and today, Thursday around 3-4 PM we made it in to the Belmont location. The hot from the oven, homemade bread was cake-like and absolutely delicious. Our server started off sullen as we moved tables after getting in as the first table was wobbly and she copped an attitude about having to move the silverware, etc. She warmed up as she saw the total bill started to build. I had the Vegetarian grilled eggplant over basmati rice and a house salad while adding feta and olives for an additional $1.50 which I think is niggling. I started off with a bowl of the green lentil that I would order again. I would not order the egg plant again even though it was good--I just do not like tomato based sauces on any entree and I was told by our waitress that this dish would have it so I was forewarned. Our friend just had a Baba Ghanouje appetizer and shared half of my wife's falafel sandwich, both of which were good. Only halal meat available was lamb. We met the owner, Hoda, as we were leaving. She is a very nice, 30 something Lebanese women who is the chief cook at this location and the owner of both. She was very gracious and gave us a cheese dish to take home as a gift. All in all a real mixed experience. All in all we spent $66 plus a $10 tip. This included three beers and one glass of Pinot Noir.

We arrived just after 5:30 on a Friday night, a party of 5 with one power chair. Hoda's staff went out of their way to accommodate us after we called first, holding a table contrary to the restaurant's normal reservation policy. This was deeply appreciate. As stated elsewhere, the pita is excellent. We found the hummus and the lentil pilaf fine, the bean soup thin and watery, the lentil soup almost perfect, but a bit too spicy hot for many. The roast veggies were ordinary and the lamb kebabs were quite tough, though flavorful. Surprisingly, even at this time on a Friday, the restaurant was significantly understaffed, and service was lacking, though well-intentioned.

Hoda's is one of our favorite casual dining places. Food is excellent. Our service was exceptional. The fresh pita bread is soooo good. Value is great. We will be back

Haven't visit this restaurant for a year (a prior fan) and decided to have an early dinner on Saturday night with my family. Our first appetizer, Tabouli, had a hair in it, found near the end. When the waitress was notified, salad was moved away and we were asked if we wanted it replaced. Price of the salad was taken out of our bill. However, not once was an apology given from the waitress or the owner that was in the restaurant at that time. Very disappointed with customer service and will not return. Just want to warn others to watch for a hair in their dishes.

House made Pitas! Warm, Soft and Tasty! Everything was amazing.... Beef, Chicken and Lamb. Condiments all excellent. Great service, Great people.

My son and I each had one on the Mezza selections, he got the vegetarian and I got the meat. Everything was so good. Lovely dining areas (no TVs, which I loved). Great service. We'll be back!

I ordered the vegetarian sampler, thinking it would be a light meal. Excellent bread (the waitress offered more, I would have exploded) and a sampling of sauces -- hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh -- along with falafel and a few things I've never seen before. I should have asked what everything was. More food than one person could possibly eat, although I tried (of course). A very good dining experience.

we were headed down the street to a brew pub that we found a good review on ... the waitress gave my boyfriend a horrible look and then would not take our order so we left and walked down the street we found this place and boy did we luck out! first off the server was sweet, great smile and so happy to have us. She helped us with the menu and made suggestions. In the end she let us change around a few things to create a great sample platter!! Wow the food was so good and fresh you could tell it was all made of quality ingredients. we were stuffed after our meal and feeling happy. the drink we had was great and the booze was generous. sitting on the side of the street with the warm breeze was great for us canadians! romanic date spot!

An appetizing enjoyable Mediterranean evening in the SE of Portland. The Menu is mainly made up of various humus dips, a variety of kebabs and fresh salads. There is a generous supply of fresh baked flat breads.

While at the farmers market we had a sandwich from Hoda's booth. Some days later as we were driving by my wife remembered the name so we decided to stop for dinner. Again the food was very good and reasonably priced. The service was inconsistent. It was friendly, but drinks were forgotten and had to be requested again.

Four of us on a weeknight came for dinner. I had a good martini. Sammy, our waiter, was wonderful, friendly, efficient, plus good looking. His family formerly worked at Nicholas. His parents opened Hoda in a nice area, a restaurant with plenty of window tables and a full bar. My husband had lamb shank, My friend and I each ordered lamb kebabs, which were tough. My salad was perfect, fresh and delicious, as were the fava beans. Favas have another name in Lebanese. My other friend had a larger, different salad. My friends come here very often and love it. I would too, if I lived here but I wouldn't order the lamb kebabs. But maybe it was just an off night for lamb.

Arguably the best Lebanese/Mediterranean food in Portland. The only place that can compare is Nicholas', and they're generally way too busy for an enjoyable meal! Even though they use organic ingredients, their prices are comparable to places that don't, and they offer 100% grass-fed flesh for those that eat dead animals.

Hoda’s is a family run restaurant that consistently serves up fresh flavorful food passed down from traditional dishes from their origins. Comfortable and quiet with great staff who are very attentive. The Lebanese wine is earthy and easy on the palate. A definite favorite of ours.

We were so hoping this would be a hit. The lamb schwama was very tough so I had to unwrap it to even pick at part of it. The eggplant appetizer flavor was flat and I missed the smokie flavor compared with Nicholas's. The pita bread did not have those nice crispy spots. My husband's chicken was excellent but the beef was very tough. The salads had a nice dressing but they should not throw in the cords of the lettuce.

Simple but very good fare. Great falafels! Love the fatosh salad. Wonderful hot, steaming pita and killer hummus. Nice wine list and attentive service. We enjoyed it on our way to PDX.

Hoda and her family are a really amazing group of people. We found her by chance and ended up with the most delicious and beautiful wedding catering we could have hoped for. She went above and beyond in so many ways - she acted as our de facto wedding planner on the day of the wedding (while the wedding planner we paid for stood around and didn’t do much), she worked so hard to meet all of the specific food requests we gave her, and she did all of this with grace and kindness. She and her family have become friends and we visit their delicious restaurant every time we come to Portland. Thank you so much!!

Had lunch there today. The place is way too noisy for me. The acoustics in this small place accentuate everything. The sandwiches are generous and the accompaniments are seasoned well. I had the lamb and it was very tough and rather bland for middle eastern. Parts of it I could not even chew. The hummus was excellent as well as the pita bread and the seasoned olive oil for dipping. I probably will try again, but stay away from the lamb.

A great place to grab lunch after walking/shopping along Hawthorne and Belmont. The hummus and babaganoosh are very tasty, so are the pita sandwiches. The service was friendly and efficient.

Not phenomenal food, but pretty good falafel and not too expensive. Service is good and the location is great.

Very good mujadara, chicken shwarma, and great oita. We had a wonderful time - all six in our party. Mint lemonade was also good. We'll be back.

I really enjoy the new menu. They have smaller, cheaper dishes to go with entrees. I definitely recommend the Sheik Al Menshi (ask without cheese for more authentic experience). Wash it down with a glass of arak or Turkish coffee. Their lentil soup both green and red are excellent. If you ask couple days in advance, they can make raw kibbeh for you as well!

Our party of four ordered the Meat Mezza for two and the Vegetarian Mezza for two - each was $22 and delicious!! Both were nice samplers of the traditional fare. Beer selection was disappointingly limited, but the meal as a whole was terrific. Will be going here again the next time I'm in town.

I was following a blind recommendation for Indian food on my GPS, when I found this place. It was clean, fairly busy for a lunch crowd and I wanted to try something I don't get everyday. I immediately changed my plans and had lunch at Hoda's. The service was quick, the food very delicious and from my limited knowledge, authentic Lebanese, and the very plentiful. I had a lamb kabob lunch plate and there was plenty of food. It was absolutely the best last minute decision I've ever made for lunch. Thanks for the experience.

Another dining month adventure. This time with friends. Their menu was one of the most extensive for selections. Two salads, tabouleh or romaine arugula feta. Both were fantastic. We also got humos with each salad. Oh yes, and the fresh bread piping hot! Yum. Next there were 4 choices--we did the meat grape leaves. Bite size & wonderful. Our 2nd choice was the batata. The garlic sauce was so smooth and guaranteed to keep vampires at bay. Third course had 4 choices too. This time we got the chicken kabob with basmati rice and the lamb shank. The chicken was so flavorful--and the lamb fell off the bone. The lamb broth was the best. And last but not least, baklava for dessert. The quality of the food is amazing.

this excellent restaurant epitomizes Lebanese world class hospitality setting The gold standard for other middle eastern restaurants you simply must try their Baked on premise lluscious bread dropping nu all of this served by at tent I've Par excellent the waiter Sami

My family joined some close friends for an annual holiday get together. Service was wonderful. We all ordered vegetarian and the food was delicious, even for those who are more picky eaters. Portions were good and we did have some leftovers to take home. Service was just right, not too little and not too much. We wanted a place where we could "visit" for a couple of hours without being pushed. They were very accommodating. We will be repeat customers.

We have been going to Hoda's for years and have enjoyed the food and friendly service, although sometimes a bit slow on busy nights, for years. In the last few years, the food taste has improved tremendously, the NYC-quality Lebanese food (e.g. like Mahmoun's Falafel in the West Village, but a full restaurant and full menu). Recently, I was hosting a dinner for work colleagues at my house and at the last minute I needed a caterer. Three days before the event, we contacted Hoda's, and they provided a wonderful assortment of delicious food at my house and then picked up their serving equipment the next day. In addition to great meat and vegetarian options, they had gluten-free options for our Celiac guest, who often goes to Hoda's because it is safe for her.

Good menu with lots of choices. Really good fresh pita to start the meal. Price point is pretty good. Would go here again if in neighborhood and craving Lebanese food.

Had a 6pm reservation the day after Valentine's day. When we arrived I stated that we had a reservation and we were seated in their upstairs area. Mind you, we had made the reservation a month earlier. There are 2 dining areas at the restaurant. A beautiful, lively, well kept downstairs, and a dark danky, smelly upstairs with no head room. There were plenty of available tables downstairs and didn't understand why we were seated where we were. I did not say anything to our server, because I didn't want to upset the person I was having dinner with. I did notice that a person who appeared to be the owner was sitting with a few other people downstairs and kept getting up to the chef's area to bring food to his table. I feel like he should have have been interacting with his patrons to see if their food was good, were they enjoying themselves, asking if anyone needed anything, etc. A pretty normal thing for someone running a restaurant, but no, he was too busy making sure that his personal guests were being well taken care of. I called the restaurant a couple days later and asked for a manager. I was told there wasn't one. I explained my experience to the person on the phone and she said that she would text the owner and ask him to call me. No call from the owner was received. He obviously doesn't care about his patrons. Will never go back, even though the food was great. I go to a restaurant for good service, otherwise I can cook at home. SUPER POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE!!

Hard to get in it's so popular. And with good reason. Very good food. Prepare to walk, as parking is at a premium. Vegetarian-friendly.

THis was so good on every level. Delicious mild flavored ground lamb stew w chicken peas and veggies. A great Hoda margarita and friendly conversation with owner. Bright and classic decor with a Middle East vibe. Family owned and staffed for 25 yrs and they still pay attention to details.

Stopped in for lunch had their mini pizza variety item. Couldn't find it on the online menu. Very reasonably priced 6 mini pizza, enough for two. Great place to eat.

I was in town on business and got takeout since it is 10 minute drive from airport hotels. The Falafel Appetizer Plate and Lamb Sharwama Plate were fantastic. They are in a cool little neighborhood with a bunch of others places. The inside can only seat about 30, so I bet they fill up quick. I don't know when I'll be in town again, but I'll eat here for sure. I can't recommend it enough.

I've dined here many times. The food is the best Lebanese in Portland, topping Nicholas'. It does lack the hot bread that Nicholas serves. Why the 4/5? I rarely give a 5 or less, but I feel like home here and I really want this restaurant to be the best it can be. I found the service not very personal and it didn't reflect the hospitality one would receive if they really were in the middle east. We weren't treat as friends in a home, but more as customers to be worked through. We have to complete the experience all round.

Great food everytime. Hot-from-the-oven flatbread is best!

We visited during Portland Dining Month and what a pleasant surprise! This small yet friendly venue exceeded our expectations on many levels. Lots of gluten free options and all were delicious. Drinks were hand crafted and fit the overall ambiance. House wines are from Lebanon, don’t shy away from trying them as the Chardonnay was crisp and delicious. Take out is clearly an option as the traffic was consistent without being disruptive and by the greetings, clearly full of many regulars. We can’t wait to return. One item of note which the restaurant can’t control yet needs to be planned for, parking is typical for the renovated neighborhoods of Portland so either be prepared to walk at least a block or grab a Lyft/Uber for front door drop-off.

Just a smidge below Nicholas', but still great food.

Oh how I love Middle Eastern food! Hoda's is pretty damn good, but not as good as Ya Hala.