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    Ama

    4.6 (34 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

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    Gildas (Boqerones)
    Dan N.

    Last night was Friday Night Date Night, the night of the week where Wife N. and I practice the date night state-of-mind, even if it means staying home and cooking in. But tonight, we gave a second visit to Restaurant Ama, which at the moment is the west 'burbs closest legit tapas bar. This review is an amalgam of two visits; one about three weeks back, and last night. Both Friday nights. The cool thing about tapas bars is that each time you go (up to a point anyway) you get to sample a variety of different bite-size Pinxtos ("pinchos") and Tapas (small plate) dishes. It's also one of the problems: I keep wanting to order that delicious plate I had last time, instead of being focused on the goal of trying something new every time I visit. In the end, this second visit overlapped the first only in that Pork Belly, which won out over my ultimate goal. Delicious as it was last visit, the perfectly-seared pork belly was a delicious bite of an umami-bomb. The tangy salsa verde and the crunch of a crostini base augmented the meat while the baby shishito peppers lifted everything with their off-bitter bite. Gildas: bite-sized skewers of almost-creamy marinated sardine, green olive and two tiny banana peppers (think mild pepperoncini) all in one bite. It's two briny, creamy, fishy, tangy-yet-smooth bites of heaven. Papas Bravas: Delightfully-crisp fried potato wedges with a warmly-spiced bravas sauce, and a cooling beef fat aioli made for a lovely second. Grilled octopus: four bite-sized skewers with tenderly-grilled octopus cube, and roughly equal portions of confit potato and chorizo-stuffed green olive. Salsa verde. Wow. Queso Quemado: Baguette slices on which to spread the deeply-flavored and bitter-leaning salvitxada ("the orange colored sauce") and honey. Each element had a purpose, but the proportions were off-kilter. We felt there was way too much of the salvitxada, and not enough honey to balance it. The plate would have been better with half the sauce, but otherwise it was a good dish and the one dish we wished we'd eaten earlier in the course. The cheese, a half-inch-thick slice, hits the table hot and melty. 8 minutes (getting through the plates) later it's firm and doesn't spread and gets that "I used to be a hot cheese" cold cheese texture. Goes from a 4* dish to a 2* once it congeals. Best scarf down this one the moment it's brought to the table. Grilled Broccolini: great flavor combinations on this plate. It's a decent grilled veg to begin with, but then they add this ajo blanco (white, creamy sauce that tastes of almonds--think something along the lines of a soupy nutty Peruvian hummus), a quick drizzle of mild chili oil, and shaved garlic chips on top and this plate becomes a complex interweaving of flavors and textures. Grilled Endive: Nicely grilled, very flavorful, but could have used more restraint with the saucing. Half the amount would have been perfect. Rabas: think fried calamari rings. Great, good texture, but...probably about average. They were fine. Mussels: perfectly acceptable, great even, but nothing to write home about. Tastes just like white wine and chorizo mussels, which is what it is. Bone Marrow: west of the hill? Say whuuuuutt? As perfect as we'd hoped it would be. We shared the Txuleton (chu-le-tone) steak, rare. It came with fries, more of that salvitxada, and lemon wedges. The steak was flavorful, if a tad closer to mid-rare than rare (which wasn't really an issue, we were aiming for mid-rare anyway, but any time we order mid-rare we always get medium so we tend to order towards the rare side). Meat itself had been well-seasoned. We're not 100% sold on the salvitxada (though, traditionally, we do understand it's what one serves at a barbecue) but we found those lemon wedges brought the entire plate together. Get some lemon juice all over that orange sauce, and oddly, almost like miracle fruit, the bitterness of the salvitxada greatly diminishes and all the other flavors in the beef come alive as well. The lemon unlocks the flavors! Cocktails: * Flower Garden: much more floral than sweet herbal/floral drink. Delicious. * Birds of Paradise: Oh man I could not get enough of this drink (but alas, I was the driver, so one was enough, even though I'd otherwise want another). * Good Ol' Fashioned: Pretty typical, decent. Our overall cocktail impression: their in-house recipes are fabulous. Repeats of "every bar has one of these" are average to a tick above. You can get the same Old Fashioned everywhere--come here for the cool house recipes. Succumbed to the desire to cap it off with dessert. Had the Creme Catalina. Think "a creme brulee and orangy-citrus curd had a baby." Creamy not-quite custard interior, torch brulee on top. We've never had its equal. Guys, Ama nails it for anyone within a reasonable distance of downtown Hillsboro who has anything from the munchies on up and for whom tapas sounds good.

    Mussels
    Katie B.

    Ama is a fantastic addition to downtown Hillsboro. I've been in once every few months since they opened and every time walk away having had a great meal. The broccolini is simple but hands down probably the best item they have. The charred vegetable pairs so well with the white sauce. I also like the mussels, octopus and anything with olives - can't go wrong there! The cocktails are good and I do like the fun options on the HH menu that come with a bite sized snack garnish. Service has always been great and their rooftop bar is great in the summer.

    Pilsner
    Courtny M.

    Went on Saturday mor ing,they had brunch but I just wanted to sit in the patio and enjoy the sun. Had a few beers, and ordered the octopus app. Such a pleasant day.

    Best Cheesecake with Fig Jam
    David P.

    Our second visit was amazing! We really enjoyed the selections we made and shared. The wine was just right with the food. Dessert was a cheesecake with fig jam . I think it could win best cheesecake in Hillsboro! Great atmosphere, music was not too loud, attentive server. Service was very well organized. Very informative and helped us make informed choices.

    James D.

    Our son and his wife recommended this place. We met up with them, their children and his wife's parents. We came in with a large party, so we made reservations. Very nice, modern ,casual seating, friendly staff and a generally comfortable place to dine with a large adventurous group. Look, I love myself a tapas joint and it had been awhile. I didn't even pick up a menu, simply allowing everyone to pick for me. We received plate after plate of delicious, interesting and maybe a challenge or two dishes. A totally fun, tasty and satisfying experience. Worth a try...if only for a bite. I've included some but not all dishes we shared:)

    Stephanie S.

    Welcome to Downtown Hillsboro! Nice selection of drinks, wine and small tasting plates. (Tapas) Nice informative service. Upstairs roof seating where dogs are allowed. Great addition to the neighborhood. We will definitely be back.

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    1 year ago

    Amazing food, service, & atmosphere! Their portions and unique dishes are a treat! I highly highly recommend Ama!

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    Ask the Community - Ama

    Is there happy hour here?

    Yes!! 5-6pm and 8-9pm

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    The 649

    The 649

    4.7
    (375 reviews)
    6.6 mi
    $$
    Full bar
    Vegan friendly

    This is a great place to hang out, grab some nosh, have a drink, and spend time with your favorite…read morepeople. [Format & Space] Seat yourself*, review the menus at the table, order at the bar, they bring your food and drinks to your table. *Plenty of tables, some with long benches, others with chairs on the inside. There's also a large patio. This is a welcome and safe space. [Drinks] Right up front, I'm going to tell you I'm a lightweight. I'm allergic to alcohol, so I don't drink often. Here's one of the things I love about The 649. They have a fantastic selection of mocktails that are created with the same creativity, flair, and intention as a "leaded" cocktail. I appreciate that I get to participate and not be stuck with a lemonade, zero alcohol beer, or wine. So, HUZZAH for creating an inviting space for a non-drinker! There *are* times when I'm willing to risk the lobster-bod, itchiness, and stuffy nose and there are plenty of cocktails from which to choose! [Food] There's a nice selection of sharable plates and mains. I've personally tried the flatbread pizza, Bavarian pretzel, Cubano, and Brisket Press, all of which were delish. [Service] The service has always been fabulous. The staff are welcoming, friendly, and helpful. [Activities] There are a few TVs around the bar with sports. It was a great place to catch some of the World Cup games. Additionally, there are several games that you can borrow and play, which is a lot of fun. [Location] Tucked in a busy shopping center with Safeway as an anchor. Parking hasn't been super problematic yet, but based on one of the other reviewers (Ron R - loved your formatting too, so I borrowed it until we get rich text formatting or emojis!) I can see where it could be a challenge.

    This I'd say, is a fantastic little hang out! Here's the 411 on The 649:…read more * Parking Situation * Although the location of The 649 is just "where the F" (eye-roller). Because it's somewhat hidden in the corner of a Safeway shopping plaza. Look for the Baskin Robbins or Wells Fargo ATM and your find it. Like other reviews, when busy, parking can be a bit horrendous. But in hindsight, I'm not gonna reduce a star just because of location. * Bar Food Menu & Dining * Their menu starts with shareable bites, like a pretzel, tacos, quesadilla, loaded nachos, and even a charcuterie plate. Slightly larger dishes would be their Cubano and Brisket Press sandwiches. They even have a few choices for soup and salads, and a couple of dessert items listed. Don't forget to check the chalkboard next to the bar for specialty dishes and drinks. As for dining-in, they've got sturdy wooden tables that can accommodate 4-8 people. Bar stools by the windows, and a fairly large outside patio area. And with the times I've been here, I've never seen a dirty table. Very well maintained (two thumbs up). A few TV monitors showing the game, but its not like a noisy sportsbar. * Drinks & Services* You've got your choice of craft beers that rotate like a standard tap room. They also have tasty seasonal cocktails, but their normal everyday cocktails are just as good. And if you're gonna have a charcuterie board, then you've got to offer a wine list option right? Well they got that too! One last thing to mention, they've got some top-shelf bourbon and whiskey. The 649 is a bar that offers it all! Service has also been welcoming and top-notch. I recall only been served by Rich, Steven, and Crystal, but they always seem to craft up some lovely cocktails. Or deliver some clean tasting everyday type of bar food as well. * Last Call * Normally in my reviews, I'd list every item that I've tried, with price included. But The 649 is such a unique type of bar experience that I feel you should try for yourself; To me, their offerings are reasonably priced. Dining in is nothing fancy, but service is excellent. It's a great hangout for a business date, of even after a first date. I've got nothing but love for local support!

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    The 649
    The 649
    Slushies on the patio.

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    Slushies on the patio.

    Ama - tapas - Updated August 2026

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