What a sweet quaint little restaurant. My daughter and I went there yesterday for Mother's Day. It was a beautiful day and while they have outdoor seating we elected to eat inside. Reviewing the menu, there were lots of yummy things to choose from but ultimately we both could not resist the Lamb shank. I'm sad I didn't take a picture of it. It was so tender and delicious. It came with perfect Basmati rice and a side of eggplant stew that was exquisite! I've never had eggplant stew and it was luscious. I dream to about it all night long. It was quiet, comfortable, music was great; songs we all know but with native instruments and flare. We had house red wine - not a big selection of alcohol, which is fine the food is and should be the star. Our sever (Sorry my old lady brain forgot his name) but the good looking bald guy(LOL) was nice and personable. It was such a great low key dining experience that just made the day even better. I highly recommend this cute place and we will be back- there are a lot more wonderful food to try! read more

I need 1 more Halah type restaurant, the one I picked last week, did looked awful from the First Impression, and it adds up, as we got closer to the front door. My first impression as we entered here was: the AC was on, and I'm not ready for AC (yet), and the inside was too elegant, and empty. We waited awhile, when a staff appeared. We picked a seat outside, where the weather was pleasant and shady. I needed badly, to use the restroom, so I went back inside, only to be told it's outside. The mural on the walls, obscured the door to the restroom. But, there was no TP, no paper towel, and the trash was full. I had to use a toilet seat cover paper, for my TP, and went back to my seat, not happy with what I just did! I told my husband, who then told the staff, because HE need to use the restroom, too. (We've been gone all morning, this is now lunch hour). The staff gave water, menu and we ordered: The Lamb Shank. I love the eggplant stew! There's also a small salad with the Basmati rice. Also Chicken Kabob Mezza Platter with Pita bread. It was not until we're done eating, and ready to get up, did I notice there was cubed cucumber in the thaziki. But, it's got a very strong vinegar flavor, but I did like the hummus and the ghanoush. (When we eat at these places, we always pick the lamb shanks, btw). I had the other half, for my dinner tonight. The server was friendly, helpful and responsive. The atmosphere, was pleasant, and the photo taken of me, hubby thought I could pass as an Iraqi woman! LOL Thanks for the bag. We picked some crabapples, from down the street, there were 4-5 large trees ready for the pickin' from the sidewalk. read more

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Tasty and fragrant middle eastern food. I ordered the chicken kabob rice plate which was a hefty serving of chicken and rice. It came wish a delicious chickpea stew that I enjoyed smothering my chicken in. I wish my plate had included the a side salad but otherwise can't complain. The baklava was warm and gooey- one was enough. Looking forward to trying the other items. read more

Dar Salam - Chicken Kabob Rice Plate (GF) - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

New Year's Eve excellence! Fantastic service. The food is outstanding! So flavorful!! We loved the video historical film that showed the beautiful Iraqi people and culture. Outdoor seating when the weather is warmer. Quaint inside seating. Great restaurant!! read more

Dar Salam - Interior seating - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great vibes and flavors found here! The beet margarita had a vibrant color with an earthy tone that mixed well with a salted rim. The shredded lamb is rich and flavorful and the chicken and beef were deliciously moist and so good with the tzatziki sauce! The staff were helpful with suggestions for dessert which was a sweetened crispy dish with what seemed like melted cheese underneath. I cannot recall the name of it but if you like something not too sweet this is it! Enjoy! read more

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I guess I've been sleeping on Iraqi food because this place blew me away! Just a delicious meal from start to finish. From the soup to the baklava to the Arabic coffee, this place is just flavor heaven. Bonus points for the great service complete with "boss" and "queen" honorifics, and you have a perfect meal! read more

Hello, The food here is fantastic and delicious fair, served by lovely folks. It was a treat!!!!!! read more

Great food! Delightful ambience and thoughtful service. I go often to eat at this fine restaurant.

All of the food we ate was good. All of the dishes had a lot of flavor and the server was nice. You had options to sit inside or outside. read more

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Very solid spot to enjoy some Mediterranean food. Vibe was great, staff was welcoming, and the food was delicious. Went with the Lamb Shank($36) and I thought that was a bit spendy for entree, but was a hearty portion. The mezza chicken platter is a great way to start the meal. They have some good drink options as well. The iced tea was delicious also. Will definitely be returning. Be prepared to spend $100+ for (2) people if you do a coupe entree's, appetizer, and drinks. read more

Dar Salam - lamb shank was properly appointed - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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It took me 14 years, but I finally experienced this charming and often recommended spot. Upon entering you're welcomed by an aesthetically pleasing vibe. I appreciate restaurants that attempt to give you feel for the region they represent. There was nothing more perfect for a 90-degree day than their mint lemonade. I'm a huge fan of Persian cuisine so was curious how Iraqi-inspired compares. While I enjoyed the Basmati rice here I give the nod to Persian. The Iraqi Shish Kabob was tender and full of flavor, maybe a touch dry. Love the homemade condiment found on most tables. Pita was average, I definitely prefer flat bread like they serve at Nicholas Restaurant. I usually opt for Baklava so tried something new by ordering the Date Roll: loved it. Service was polite and a bit stoic. read more

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Came to eat my way through the arts district. DarSalam was on my list of must eat restaurants. Everything was so delicious! Ended up having a couple cocktails, the Chicken Kabob Mezza and kunafah for dessert. What a treat! Plus, our waitress was so personable and gave us some great recommendations for where to buy some really good arak to add to our tea at home. Warm and inviting, i felt like I was walking into my friend's house and their mom just made a big meal for us. read more

Dar Salam - Chicken Kabob Mezza Plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I thought I would drop into the area early before the show I was attending that night. My plan was to get food somewhere close by and be able to park early to be fairly close to the Alberta Rose Theater. I got a parking spot directly across the street from the theater and then saw DarSalam a half a black away, if that. I needed to use the restroom and they have a cute bathroom next to the restaurant which was easy to get in and out of (hay, you'd be surprised - I've been to places that you almost have to pole vault to get into). They do have soda cans but none I was into so I figured I would order an actual drink because their Belle Du Jour sounded delicious. It has prosecco, rose water and pomegranate juice. Amazing, delicious and she left me the rest of the can of Prosecco from Oregon, who knew? Unlike an airline, I got a fun can so I felt fancy! And I definitely tried to suck that whole glorious bubbly can before leaving for my show. The food was incredible, especially after the torturous wait sitting there smelling all of the good things while waiting for my order. I went with the chicken Mezza platter and it did not disappoint. A piece of delicious flatbread, a pile of incredibly moist tender chicken, some of the best tzatziki I have ever had, baba ghanoush and hummus. The very sweet beauty helping me slipped me baklava saying for after my show. And that was some of the most amazing baklava I've ever had. The pistachios in it were larger chunks which seriously was incredible. I will come over to this area just to go to this restaurant as I now want to try a large percentage of their menu. read more

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Food was beyond flavorful from the Cardadom Gimlet(bombastic) to the shredded lamb with fresh Pita bread. This Resturant is a NE middle eastern hidden Gem! This is my 2nd time here and it's just as delicious as my first visit. read more

Dar Salam - Sheredded Shredded Lamb Rice Plate (V,GF) - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We went for my wife's birthday dinner. Our table tried nearly everything on the menu and every single person was absolutely satisfied! Excellent service. Very friendly without being intrusive. Respectful without being over the top. Absolutely perfect. It was like having dinner at a friend's home, and that friend happens to make amazing dolmas. read more

I got the Khema to go for lunch and the meat tasted a bit under-seasoned. The rice was good, but I wasn't particularly impressed.

They got two stars not one because the inside decoration are pretty cool. However, the space is small, which leads to small tables. The prices are outrageous. For example, or the Humus was $12.5 and the plate hardly had anything on it. Do you know what humus is made out of hardley anything. Then I thought okay the food must be outrageously good. It wasn't. I had the falafel plate. The falafel was not good at all. Melanie T had the chicken plate. The chicken cubes were pretty good. For the price, I thought I was going to be blown away. The only thing that blew me away were the prices. The service was good. Everyone we dealt with was professional. read more

Excellent food and service! They also found my cell phone when I lost it outside and I was so relieved to get it back! Great people!

Cute and intimate space with a funky vibe, this evening we were treated to music and Belly Dancers. This was our second time at this location as well as two or three times at the downtown spot. I continue to prefer the downtown restaurant for its ambience and food. Downtown we have always left extremely pleased and both times at the Alberta location doesn't live up. This evening we split a past go to, the Dolmas Plate which consists of two interesting Onion Dolmas quite sizable and two Grape Leaf Dolmas also quite sizable and served warm. The Onion Dolmas which we are familiar with from ordering before was nice with a tartness that was acceptable but prevalent. The Grape Leaf Dolmas were so tart I found them almost inedible. We each had a Cardamom Gimlet which was quite pleasant! read more

So my partner and I were taking one part of my twin 8 year old boys out to see the Monster Truck Jam. We try to split up each twin sometimes so they get quality one on one time with each parental unit. So my kid wants to try something different. Not cheeseburgers, not spaghetti, not pizza. So we suggest Middle Eastern food. So we head here and he's excited. The menu is largely gluten free, which is great for my Celic partner. We order. I get the Iraqi beef kebab, because it is so damn good.... especially with the hot sauce and some slices of grilled onion... My kid gets chicken kebab. He tries it. The spices are unlike anything he's had before, but he wants to be a big boy. So he eats some. He's not a fan of the lentil soup, but he loves the pita bread and the rice. Boy he loves the rice. Long story short (too late), dinner was excellent. My son tried something new and was pleased with himself. My partner and I ate great food that was well done, and i got some extra chicken for lunch later. The waitress was amazing, by the way. Recognized the anime character on my son's shirt and spent a good five minutes talking anime with him. I'm sure he would have loved to have invited her to the Monster Jam as his guest! read more

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Wayyyyyy too expensive for the taste. Other restaurants I've been to add a moderate amount of salad and humus with pita included as sides in the dish while Dar Salam offers minuscule amounts or none altogether unless you pay extra. Dish consists of 85% rice. read more

Amazing. Our neighbors suggested we check-out the food and ambiance. Our party began with a lentil soup that amazed us all: creamy/rich flavors. I thought about licking the bowl afterwards! The chicken kebabs were spot on: char grilled and perfectly moist. The hummus (with warm pita) ranked among the best I've ever enjoyed. Tabouli was delicious: fresh/well seasoned. We've been looking for a good Middle Eastern restaurant and thankfully, we found it! The service was attentive without hovering. The interior and the music made me think we had magically transported to a place far away. Treat your taste buds ( and other senses) to this culinary treat ! We'll be back soon. read more

Dar Salam - Tabouli. Good stuff! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I am always happy after a meal at DarSalam. It's my absolute favorite place to eat baba ghanoush... smoky with warm, tender pita bread. The staff are so friendly and share information about their food and culture. Whether you're sitting on the front patio on a warm day, or taking in the beautiful artwork and photos on a cold evening inside the restaurant, it's an experience that doesn't disappoint. We will be back! read more

Amazing authentic Mediterranean food, the interior was so nice, and we had super sweet server! :) Definitely our favorite restaurant that we tried in Portland. read more

we came back here for dinner last night with a friend, and sat on the patio....i had an iraqi beer, and my partner had the lemonade....our friend had white wine....next we shared the chickpea stew rice plate/salad, and she also had baba ganoush...our friend had the mesa chicken kabob plate, and backlava....the staff is so friendly, and the food/drink is superb...thx read more

Food was amazing and inside was tastefully decorated and workers were very nice and accommodating.

Haven't been there since they closed lunch for Covid but was delicious, particularly their desserts. Be

The wife and I stopped in for a light bite while walking around the Alberta neighborhood, and really enjoyed our experience here. I'm familiar enough with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, but the Iraqi spin on some of the classics was a welcome surprise. Between us, we split the Falafel sampler plate, which includes its namesake, a piece of flatbread, hummus, baba ghanoush and tahziki, spiced a little differently than you might be familiar with (the baba ghanoush being the most radical of the three), but all three hit that perfect spot of sweet and savory. A side of homemade hot sauce, made from red peppers and balsamic vinegar, tied it all together nicely! The biggest surprise of all was my wife's Beet Margarita, which sounded atrocious to me (I can't stand beets), and even she, a beet fan, was a bit hesitant to try it. Those fears were instantly dispelled, as the anticipated earthiness was almost nowhere to be found: just a hint of rusticity, blended with sour and salty, and surprisingly good! Even I enjoyed the tentative sips I begrudgingly took! Just goes to show, everything is worth a try, at least once! Although I wasn't hungry enough for an entire meal, we both left full and content, happy with our portions, the price, and the fantastic food. Very recommended for any fans of Middle Eastern or Mediterranean cuisine! read more

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We enjoyed tonight the Basmati rice, egg plant stew and the lamb shank. Oh my goodness!!! I'm not a lover of egg plant but the way they made the stew was amazing. The depth a flavor was incredible. It had a deep umami taste. The basmati rice was perfectly cook and the lamb Shank was huge. They brought a knife to cut it but I didn't even need it. The lamb was so tender it literally fell off the bone. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. This was an incredible party in your mouth meal. We'll definitely be back. The only negative was the mint rose lemonade. All I could taste was lemonade. The glass had meant leaves sprinkled in but no obvious flavor. Other than that an incredible meal. read more

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Been to both locations a few times now, always good stuff. I've seen the owner at both places he's always very friendly. The beet salad is tasty and refreshing and cool with the yogurt but a bit much for one person. read more

Dar Salam - Noice - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Incredible service from the staff here. Extremely friendly! I had the lamb shank here and it might be one of the best things I've had in Portland. The flavors are indescribably amazing. I was able to eat my meal with just a fork because of how tender the lamb was. I will most definitely be back!! The Iraqi beer and hummus were also VERY tasty. The flavors in the beer perfectly complements the food. read more

We had gone to Dar Salam many years ago and liked it. But then we totally forgot about it. Recently, we decided to try it again and just loved it again! It was easy to get a reservation on the same day. The place is small but cozy. The lentil soup was one of the best I have ever had- so comforting! The falafel and chicken Tikka plates and drinks were great too! The only thing we didn't like that much was the pickled chickpea mango salad. It was a little too sour for our taste. Looking forward to coming more often now. read more

Dar Salam - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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This food takes time, so be prepared to wait. The waiter (owner??) was very nice, he took good care of us. We all enjoyed our food except for the lamb, it was extremely tough, but we have to come back and try other items because we were comfortable, well taken care of and enjoyed the rest of our meal. read more

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Nice atmosphere and friendly server but food was not as flavorful as we expected. Will not return.

Definitely fell for the ratings of this place. Not what I had expected. Came to this restaurant with my boyfriend. We ordered a chicken and rice place along with their famous beet salad. The chicken and rice tasted very dry like it was made the day before. The beet salad came out in such a huge portion. It didn't taste good at all. We then decided maybe it was time for some tea and Turkish coffee since i'm a coffee enthusiast. The tea was good but the coffee came in the smallest cup possible, and tasted like I had dirt jn my mouth. Unless it's supposed to taste that way? IDK. Then a while later a man walked to the restroom and was in there for about half an hour. Very sketchy. I don't plan on coming back here anytime soon. Parking was across the street and the only good thing about this restaurant was that they validated. read more

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Kunafah... AMAZING. Will order every time I return. this is a gift from above that takes the taste buds on a roller coaster of flavors ranging from delicate, to fat to sweet to umami.. Beautiful. Paired with mixed dolmas that were a journey into themselves, I am super eager to return to explore more of the menu. Great location, but the food was the standout performer! read more

AMAZING FOOD!!!!! We had the chicken kabob, house salad with falafels and the Iraqi draft beer. This was some of the best food my wife and I have had in a long time. I highly recommend this place, the service great and friendly. read more

Dar Salam - chicken kabob rice plate, house salad. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The ambiance inside Dsr Salam was very well done & comfortable. Pictures all over the wall from the "old country" makes you feel like you're in someone's home. The food was delicious. We shared a message plate which was perfect on a hot day. I'll recommend the Pilsner beer served only at Dar Salam. Fragrant & tasteful. And the lemon, mint, rose water tea perfect on a hot day. Refreshing. read more

Dar Salam, ugh, soooo delicious. Every single texture is right. Cooked perfectly and consistently, balanced flavors. Smoothest hummus of my life. The restaurant is small and adorable, fills up quickly. Absolutely wonderful food kind staff and vegetarian options. read more

Prior to coming here, I checked google to see if I need a reservation. Google showed me that there were no tables available in my time frame (1-5pm). I called and turns out you don't need to make a reservation at all. I hope this misinformation on google doesn't affect their business. I came here on a Sunday afternoon, there was one other couple in the restaurant. I ordered Iraqi Sheesh Kabob Plate ($21 as of May 2021). It was supposed to come with bread but I didn't realize it till we were almost done with the dish. Overall it was a delicious meal. The decor is fantastic and the service is friendly. read more