Very solid and standard Middle Eastern food. Not exceptional but very good and much better than I can get in the last few places I've lived. Pickled eggplant with walnut appetizer was tasty with a nice blend of flavors, and foul madames was particularly good. The spinach fatayer was on the doughy side without the spinach soaking the dough the way I like, but was fresh out of the oven, which was nice. Zaatar flatbread was basically standard but the herb flavor came through well. read more

I ordered a lamb shawarma, was charged for a lamb shawarma and instead I got a beef shawarma. Called the restaurant because I know the difference between lamb and beef which is a big difference. The young lady on the phone tried convincing me that beef is lamb. Truly not ok! They are scamming people and are getting away with it! All I eat is lamb I have been raised on lamb! It really feels like because they are in a predominantly African America community they think we do not know the difference. Super upsetting! Don't go there what they are serving people is not lamb read more

Aladdin's Cafe - Selling beef but telling customers it's lamb - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Stopped by here for a quick snack before I headed off to the airport because it was recommended by Eater... maybe I ordered the wrong thing or just got done dirty by Eater but I really couldn't finish my food. Got the falafel plate and za'atar fries and I swear they were just frozen foods reheated and put on a plate with a little garnish. Fries tasted just like OreIda crinkle cut fries with za'atar tossed on the top which were just gross and a whopping $8 (a bag is $4 at Walmart). The falafel was definitely also frozen and reheated, rock hard and flavorless. Maybe they're better at meat dishes but I can't recommend this place based on my experience. read more

We went as a party of 6 to this restaurant, given its proximity to the area we were living at. It was disappointing in many aspects. The seating area inside is very small , we elected to sit out but at least I was bothered by whiffs or urine, likely from the toilet nearby. The food was OK. My chicken kabob was meh and so was the veggie kabob ( I prefer my cauliflower to be slightly more cooked). I heard the chicken salad was good from one of the party who ordered it. I paid about 100 USD for this food and it wasn't worth it at all. I wouldn't return since for a similar price range there are much better quality establishments in the Pearl district. read more

Aladdin's Cafe - Veg Kabob - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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We drives by this place so often and I said we finally have to stop. And so glad we did! Very friendly service and delicious food - I am a bit damaged by my husbands tzatziki- so every tzatziki I eat outside of our home has not enough garlic ahaha. But theirs is good and a perfect start for a meal - the pita bread is fresh and hot and the tzatziki is enough to cary over as a side for any dish. We had falafel fries which is a huge stack of fries (yummy once) and some sauce with falafel distributed over the fries. I had the three mixed kebabs chicken, lamp and kofta (which a ground meat skewer) All thee have been tasty but my favorite was the kofta :) We will be back. And since we get so many extras I decided against using the yelp coupon for a free drink! read more

Aladdin's Cafe - Tzatziki salad and feta - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

A Northeast Portland staple that I haven't visited in years. Still quality food. A great option at an affordable price. Try the meat mezza and ful medamas. read more

Falafel were horrible (frozen?) and the pizza thing we ordered was nice but overall unimpressed and do not recommend. Service was good; she tried really hard. Ambiance is meh. They need to invest some $. read more

Aladdin's Cafe - Home cooked meals from the Middle East Nestled in Northeast Portland, Aladdin's Cafe is a hidden gem offering authentic Middle Eastern cuisine. This is a family-owned and ran restaurant. Its warm hospitality makes you feel like family. Ambiance & Service The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, with casual yet inviting decor. The staff is super friendly, attentive, and quick, making the dining experience exceptional. Food & Menu Highlights: The owner of Aladdin's Cafe carefully makes each dish with fresh local ingredients. The pita bread is made fresh in house. (Not the warmed up premade stuff). You can taste the difference between a large restaurant and this small family restaurant. The attention to detail you can taste in every bite. All sauces are crafted in the kitchen not premade. ......OK, you get it! Pricing & Value: Fair and worth every penny. Final Verdict: This is now my number one choice for a Mediterranean restaurant. read more

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The owner is so kind and the food is amazingly delicious! I can't wait to try everything on the menu.

The first time I tried this restaurant, I thought it was great. Tasty, fresh, a little pricey but more or less worth it for the quality. Mind you this is for a delivery order, but they are still the ones who prepare it. A few weeks later, I order the same thing and the portion is literally half what it was last time, which is completely unacceptable, laughable for the description of what you are getting and dishonest for the price. Don't steal from your customers. read more

The food was so flavorful! The mint tea was quite refreshing highly recommend! The service was great as well. Nice flowers with outdoor seating. read more

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The menu may not be as extensive as, say, Nicolas, but their lamb rice bowl was amazing. The lamb was not in big chucks so was easy to eat. There was a wealth of choices to eat in the bowl besides rice and lamb: hummus, tzatziki, and babba ganoush edged the bowl along with tomatoes, cucumbers, banana peppers, etc. lettuce was under everything and topping it off were two kinds of sauces--one tangy. My roommate and I both loved it and will be back to try other things. My roommate found the Lebanese beer, Alanaza Pilsner, very tasty and he's the pickiest person I've ever met read more

My family and I were passing through Portland, and stopped at Aladdin's cafe for lunch. Everything we ordered was absolutely amazing. My favorite was the kibbeh this is something I've had my entire life and this was one of the best I've ever had. My husband had the lamb kabob he enjoyed every bit as the meat was well seasoned and very tender. I got the chicken shawarma plate to share with my daughter and it was so delicious we started to eat before I took the picture. The service was incredible as well very welcoming as if you were a guest in a home. I loved the ambiance beautiful decorated and my daughter loved dancing to the music after our meal. Thank you for such great hospitality and delicious food at your beautiful restaurant. read more

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Love the food here. Best Mediterranean place in town as far as I can tell. The Mezza Plates are great, veggie or meat, take your pick you really can't go wrong. read more

Cute little place for some good Mediterranean food. Great service as the cook came out to seat me.. very welcoming and the owner was busy, but working well under these circumstances Ordered the Gyro w/ fries instead of standard soup or salad that they offer and then some basmati rice.. haven't felt like rice in so long! The gyro was tasty.. good amount of feta, tasty combination of tzatziki and red sauce.. although meat was thinly sliced, I still highly enjoyed the sandwich Fries were good.. remind me of fast food, if not better.. had a nice crisp and pure potato taste to it Love how they put my Coke from the fountain inside a Moscow Mule cup with a metal straw to make it Pop meaning making the drink taste great and cold Good place for Mediterranean if you're in the area read more

Aladdin's Cafe - Gyro Sandwich w/ fries - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Been in a couple times now and can safely say it is either my favorite or 2nd fav spot for middle eastern grub. Nothing fancy about this place, it's got cozy home decor and a simple menu w/ all the familiar classics. They've got a few small tables inside but a good amount of covered outdoor seating. We got the mehumara as an app not quite sure what to expect but it was a tasty savory walnut dip w/ pita but was a little much for just the 2 of us. We also tried some eggplant dish, Moussaka I believe it was called. It was pretty good as far as eggplant goes. Our favorite was the lamb shank tho - in addition to being 'slide the bone out tender' it had a delicious kind of plum/apricot gravy and dip that I enjoyed much more than the kind of tomatoey sauce I've had w/ lamb shank at other places. I also came back by myself to try the meat mezze ($20) that was fantastic - a huge spread that easily made for 2 (large) meals. Came w/ tabbouleh, hummus, baba ghanouj, a couple dolma and falafel chicken shawarma and lamb gyro meat, tho strangely no rice. I enjoyed everything except the baba ghanouj, it was really bitter, but I usually don't like it much anyway. The server told me that next time I could ask for rice instead tho which was cool. The chicken shawarma was especially good, I just wished they served it w/ a tzatziki sauce instead of what seems like spicy mayo. read more

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The food is quite good and portions are amazing. Appetizers of labneh, hummus, and a greek salad were really good as were lamb bowl, shawarma, and kebabs. The homemade pita bread arrives hot and almost the size of a small pizza. You can't go wrong here, but come hungry. read more

Had high hopes for this place. Sadly was just ok. Staff was super nice and friendly. Lots of parking. Food was meh. Lamb skewers didn't have much flavor. Mezza was decent. Dessert was good. Baklava was tasty and cardamom ice cream had good flavor though wasn't smooth. Felt like there were chunks of frozen cream in it. read more

Aladdin's Cafe - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Don't let the outside vibe deter you! If you want a fresh,authentic and amazing Mediterranean meal do yourself a favor and stop here! They also offer cooking classes read more

Aladdin's Cafe - Restaurant sign - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Great Mediterranean food with generous portions and friendly service. Plenty of vegan options as well - my favorite veggie kebab by far!

Called a friend this afternoon and suggested we try this place. I told her "the food is supposed to be good, the prices look competitive and tonight they have some live entertainment, belly dancers." It's October, but as you know, it's still lovely enough to sit outside which is where everyone was seated. Lots of good things to choose from on the menu. I ordered the Meat Mezza ($19.95) so I could sample a variety of things, my friend had the same idea, they ordered the Aladdin's Combo ($16.95 for chicken, $18.95 for lamb) they went with the chicken. Let me tell you, the food was delish! I took at least half of my food home and still felt stuffed. The service was great, the setting is casual, and the food is a well worth the prices. I want to go back soon to try a few other tasty looking things. On a side note, and not a reflection on Aladdin's, rather a friendly warning: We pulled into the parking lot almost at the same moment, parked, got out of our cars and had a lady yelling at us to move our cars because they belonged to her business. I was confused since there is one building, half is a quick stop market and the other half is the restaurant. There wasn't any signage, just a frustrated employee/owner yelling at potential customers. We both moved our cars because who needs the bad karma or the potential damage that might have occurred had we left them. read more

Aladdin's Cafe - The entertainment was fun too. - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Yummy food and good service! Our group enjoyed our visit and we will be back. Plus, they have belly dancers!!

The food is very delicious. I recommend it to everyone who loves Middle Eastern food. Everything is available here. The people are very kind. read more

Great food and service. Love it. I will definitely be coming back soon to try more dishes.

We were visiting the area and decided to check this place out. The place was cozy and had lots of charm. Service was friendly and the food was delicious. The rice bowl with chicken was delicious! So was the Kafta ! We will for sure be back when visiting. The only thing that was disappointing is that my pita bread was microwaved and not crispy . read more

Excellent food! Highly recommend! Visiting from out of town and need to grab something in the healthier side after doing a day of hiking and this was amazing! read more

Really bad service, table wasn't set up for a reservation for 8-9 people. No water was brought out stayed thirsty for 30+ minute. Dirty tables. the food was overpriced for the taste and how basic it was. Wouldn't ever recommend this place for anyone. read more

I've driven past Aladdin's several times and was always intrigued. I finally got a chance to try it with my mom and sisters and it was well worth the wait. The food was fantastic. Everything was bursting with flavor! We ate so much and the food didn't leave a heaviness in our guts. It was the perfect, filling, light lunch. The service was quick and attentive. It was a beautiful day so we sat on the patio. It was covered so we weren't in direct sunlight, but still got a nice breeze. Our server also checked in frequently which was appreciated. The only thing that was bothersome were a couple bees that wouldn't go away. Otherwise it was just lovely. I've been back since my first visit and it was just as nice as the first time. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Stopped in to order to go. Waited about 10 min and was out the door! Got home about 12 min later and food was fresh and more than warm. We ordered the Mehumara. It is just ridiculously flavorful. The homemade pita that came with it was light, fresh, and perfect. My wife got the Chicken Shawarma Plate and she raved about it. The rice was cooked perfectly. I ordered the Aladdin chicken combo. All three items were gone in about 10 min. The chicken, hummus, and tabouli were good enough that I will return for the same thing next time. I want to eat in the restaurant soon so I can try a middle eastern beer. They look wonderful. Staff were over the top nice and personable. We will be moving to that area of town soon and can't wait to be a regular here. read more

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Are you looking for a casual dive of a place with absolutely terrific food? You have found it here. We made our way to this neighborhood after leaving the airport and discovered Aladdin's. For lunch we had the Cheese Saffeha and the Chicken Salad, both were so well seasoned and flavorful. I was a sceptic when I arrived, but a fan when I left. The service was good and we were delighted to meet the owner/chef who was preparing catering an event. Lucky people! read more

I went to Aladdin for lunch today and loved it. I had the Kafta and my sister had the lamb. Both were delicious. The service was fantastic. Loved having the outdoor seating option. I also saw they are teaching a cooking class in mid- September. Can't wait to come back! read more

Aladdin's Cafe - Kafta w/ salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Their food and service is amazing, my favorite thing is the creamy hummus! Would definitely recommend this place to anyone wanting Mediterranean cuisine. read more

I love this place. The food is really very good and the family who staffs the place are kind and warm. They offer all of the middle eastern cuisine classics: humus, pits, dolmas, and more. They also offer dishes that are unique to the proprietor's family tradition- fatoush salad is one of my favorites. I can't say enough good things! read more

It's so close to our place I had high hopes. It's fine but not going to be my go-to Mediterranean place sadly. The hummus had way too much tahini in my little opinion. They're sweet & quick but just kinda lacking in oomph, ya know? read more

The restaurant owner and head chef (who are one in the same) showed us beautiful hospitality you don't often experience in the last hour before closing. She served us two relaxed rounds of Moroccan tea, lentil soups, fresh pita bread, three fabulous lamb dishes, tasty Za'atr and garlic fries with feta, house recipe baklava and amazing pistachio cardamom ice cream! I also appreciate the variety of outdoor seating and the murals all around. It's a happy place I definitely recommend! read more

Aladdin's Cafe - Warmed peanut butter chocolate baklava and homemade cardamom pistachio ice cream - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Everything here is good. My husband says they have the best lentil soup and I love pretty much everything they serve.

Ordered both the Meat Mezza and Veggie Mezza appetizers for the wife and I, some chicken kabobs for the kids, all for carryout. Was projected to be ready in 15-20, but was ready in 10, right as I pulled up. At first, when unpacking it all at home, the serving sizes felt a bit anemic, but as it turns out, all told we only finished one of the appetizer platters and the kabobs, between the four of us. Thus, I blame its deceptively small appearance on the to-go packaging. We've still got a full set for lunch today, and no one is complaining! As for the meal quality itself, here's my Flavortown breakdown: The baba ghanouj has a stronger twang than I've experienced at other places; I believe this is due to the freshness and quantity of the parsley. Hummus was tasty, although the to-go packaging meant less olive oil that I would have liked. I'm not a fan of grape leaves and did not partake, but my wife loved them. Tabbouli was a perfect mix, fresh and tangy. The pita bread was more like a tortilla than the puffy pockets I am used to at other places, but it did its job serving as a vehicle to deliver the goods to my taste buds, and was warm and flavorful, if a bit chewy. Gyro meat and the chicken (both the shawarma and the kabobs) were cooked and seasoned to perfection, the latter being grilled with a glorious level of char. Aladdin's is a bit further from home than I'd prefer, but after our experience, we will be back, especially once dine-in service is resumed. I am looking forward to a hot Turkish coffee and some warm baklava. read more

This is hands down one of the best Mediterranean restaurants I have ever eaten at!! It is as good as homemade and the taste is absolutely delish. Every dish has a uniquely traditional taste just as one would get at a restaurant back in the Middle East- and we would know cause we've lived there. The owner Dianah served us and she was so kind and hospitable! It was a pleasure to meet her as well. Would highly recommend this place for the warm hospitality and amazing food! read more

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No way is this a 2-kabob chicken plate. That's enough meet for one person and it costs $20! Seriously! They have gone down hill. Burnt dry chicken and lots of dry rice, and I mean lots!!! I will never order from these clowns again. Save your money and go somewhere else! There are definitely better places to eat and you don't have go far to find them! What a joke. read more

Aladdin's Cafe - Chicken Kabob plate (2 skewers) - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Lovely little spot to grab some dinner. I started with a fresh made mint lemonade - it was tart and refreshing, really nice! The owner asked if I wanted soup so I said "What kind?" And he tells me "The best lentil soup in the West." So OBVIOUSLY i am not gonna sleep on that, and I'm here to tell you - it was great! Highly recommend a warm bowl of soup in chilly weather. For mains I grabbed the Aladdin Combo - chicken shawarma, hummus and pita, and tabbouleh - very classic me vibes. Everything was fab, and the vibe was cozy and friendly. Definitely would return! Check this place out! read more

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