I got the chicken shawarma, Suqaar with rice, samosa, and mandazi. The chicken shawarma was disappointing, it was pretty much chicken with some lettuce and peppers stuffed in a tortilla. It didn't have much flavor and the wrap wasn't a flatbread... The Suqaar which is small cuts of beef cooked in delicious seasonings, peppers and onions served on top of rice with a side of lettuce. The portion size was big, and filling. I really liked the seasoning. However, my favorite was definitely their mandazi, a traditional East African sweet bread and their samosa. The samosa is stuffed with beef, onions, potatoes and various spices. Important note: Make sure to ask what they have for the day as the menu isn't accurate. I originally wanted to get lamb dish but that wasn't available. read more

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#27. Rice and goat plate. SO delicious. Perfectly seasoned. Lots of flavor and spices. Well balanced. Nice acid. Goat cooked perfectly. The rice not too greasy. They unfortunately don't have English in the menu but the people are very friendly and helpful. Large portions! This place is a hidden gem! The mandarin was also very tasty. Just slightly sweet. Perfectly fried. Chewy. Yummmmyyyy. read more

Salama International Bazaar - #27 on menu - rice and Goat Plate - African Near Me - Portland, Oregon

When my white coworker offered to treat me to some amazing Halal food, I was a little skeptical. When he asked the owner of the restaurant if the mandazi was any good, he said "Oh it's the best". I can't blame my coworker or the owner's confidence. Salama is AMAZING. For just $10, the chicken shawarma wrap is enough for two people to be completely stuffed. The chicken is succulent and fresh, and the seasonings was similar to tandoori chicken. I loved it way more than a chicken shawarma you'd get from a middle eastern spot. The creamy dressings and the fresh salad inside was the perfect complement to the chicken. I didn't try my coworkers lamb shank, but similarly for $15 you get a huge hunk of meat and a mountain of rice, enough to feed the fam. It smelled incredible. And yes, the mandazi was the best I've had in Portland. Ask for some of that spicy green sauce to dip it in read more

Salama International Bazaar - Chicken Shawarma - African Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I walk by here a lot on lunch and never stop in, so I decided to give them a try. I was confused at first, as the dishes in the window are varied and not at all like the dishes in the menu. That being said, I now adore this place. Despite then photos on the window outside (one of them taken from a famous Korean YouTuber's channel of her fried rice), this is a delightful Somali restaurant! I ordered the Shah (sweet Somali tea) which reminded me of the hot, sweet and spicy drink I used to get back in Minneapolis. I got Samosa as an appetizer. Their samosa are light, not too oily, with just the right amount of beef, onion and spices. These are not like Indian or Saudi samosa tho, and their flavor reminded me of the Somali diners in Minnesota that I used to frequent. Hot, fresh, and with a spicy green hot sauce that is like a tomatillo with a blazing fire on the backend. As my main dish, I got the braised goat meat over rice. For 12 bucks, I was shocked with the amount of food I got. The goat was falling off the bone tender, in a spiced red sauce. The meat was juicy and created a lovely gravy for the rice. The rice was wonderful too, buttery with onions...I was in heaven. This place is a diamond in the rough. They take cards, and be sure to ask for extra hot sauce. That stuff is heavenly. I will be back. read more

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The win: the hot sweet tea is one of the best I've had; resembles Turkish tea, but better. And it's served in a ceramic pot with a cup and saucer. All for $1. Another plus is the server: very sweet, very gentle demeanor. Unfortunately, this place is a one and done. As a layperson, I couldn't help comparing the Somali-inspired menu too Ethiopian. It fell way short. The Sabayad very closely resembled the Middle Eastern bread at Trader Joe's. It becomes very chewy after it quickly cools; I left about 75% of it uneaten. Sadly, they did not have the Oodkac (beef jerky) that's listed on the breakfast menu; I have a feeling many items are unavailable. The Anjeero (spongy pancake-like bread) is a treat, but prefer Ethiopian Injera. The Suqaar reminded me of collegiate cooking: fry some beef strips with onions and peppers and a tasteless mixture in a watery sauce is the result. The place is very big, but also very empty. I can't see them lasting too long. read more

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I love shopping here. I can always find something beautiful to wear like dresses, jewelry, sandals. The owners are wonderful and so friendly! read more

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One of my favorite Somali restaurant love their Lam over rice. I must eat there once a week.

Food was delicious! Inexpensive and great service. When we needed more injeera he brought some out. He even gave us an experimental plantain dish for us to sample and give feedback. read more

Great service, food and relaxing atmosphere. F My dad is from viet nam and I grew up eating homemade viet and chinese food every night. This place makes the best goat ive ever had. I could eat here everyday. Plenty of window seats and tables near outlets. Great place to take a lunch break and get somalian coffee or tea. Everyone who works here speaks at least 2 languages and great English. ADA accessible. Owner Mohammed and staff are friendly and accomodating to my medical needs and allergies. I love how they provide a banana at the end of the meal for dessert and digestion : ) 100% worth the drive. -Anna Mai Lê, M.S., SLP-CF read more

Was given day old rice and overly salty beef... Won't be going back. If you want Somali good, I'd go to Safari or forget it completely and get Ethiopian instead. read more

The restaurant is good , and the staff are very friendly but the prices are a bit high comparing with the same kind of restaurants , over all I think it's good restaurant especially if you are looking for Lamb Shank that will be the best choice for you in the city . read more

Salama International Bazaar - Lamb shank - African Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I ordered veggie rice and Somali tea, my partner got the fava bean stew with flat bread and Somali coffee-- all were DELICIOUS. Can't wait to go back when we can sit down and have the full experience. As it was, we got to talk to several folks there and everyone was so warm and welcoming. Thank you! read more

I thought this would be my go to place when I moved back but after being told my order would be ready then arriving and having to wait an additional 20 mins for them to start cooking became frustrating! My last straw was I ordered one meal that meal came to 26.00 I told them I knew I was being overcharged but since I want to support black owners businesses I'd let it fly! My last trip I ordered one meal and ended up paying and receiving two meals. When I mentioned it he acted like his English was broken and told me if I didn't like it I can get my next meal free! The food is good but the dishonesty in this restaurant is not ok read more

Great spot in Menlo Park. A nice selection of Somalian dishes. The Soqaar and rice was very tasty and the portions are large. read more

Salama International Bazaar - Soqaar and rice - African Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This place is great! My friend and I did the walking course up the road and wanted to try a place nearby; I had YELP'd this place and read the reviews; it sounded intriguing. It was/is! She had the lamb dish and there was SO MUCH MEAT! Plus the sides, and it was all delish! I had the chicken shawarma and it was also really tasty - and huge. (We each brought half of our meals home...) My friend had the Somali tea and I had the Somali coffee and they were both so delicious! The coffee has ginger, sugar, cinnamon and I'm not sure what else was in there but it was really good - and $2!!! The young man who served us (and took our order) was only a kid (son of owner?) - he's entering David Douglas as a freshman soon - and he was really sweet and accommodating. It was a really cool place with very good food - maybe I should give it 5 stars!? read more

I went there today and ordered the braised goat & rice my food took 30 minutes to come out and I go home to eat the goat was over cooked just horrible and the price is different from their website I will not be going back here read more

New favorite Somali spot. It's very well decorated and the spot is very big and open. The food is delicious. Better than any of the other places around town. We had the beef suqaar with spaghetti, rice suqaar with chicken, and sambusa (samosa). The portions are huge, we're all about to have leftovers for days. The meat tastes very fresh. We also received salad and some type of a pineapple drink included with the meal. The prices are very fair. The employees were very friendly, and we received our food quickly. Overall it was a great experience, we will definitely come back. read more

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Good quality food but nothing much in flavor I got the beef and rice 27 but the sambosa is excellent

Great customer service! Friendly, communicative, quick. Really DELICIOUS food!! We love the butter chicken and garlic naan

The samosas were different from what I am used to but they were good and the dipping sauce was excellent but spicy. The goat was good but a little tougher than I like but the taste was excellent The rice was also very good and so much flavor. The sweat tea was something new to me and I look forward to the next time Ivan order it. read more

Best East African food around! Support this amazing Black owned business! We got the fried fish and also the beef. Both so amazing!

doesn't look like much, but the food is delicious! lamb dishes are highly recommended

Love love love this restaurant. As a Somali immigrant, this place is home away from home. My favorite is the Chicken Sooqar (stew). The Sambosa and tea are winners as appetizers. Their service is great and the environment is comfortable and cozy. I come here regularly to eat in or take out and I would definitely recommend it! read more

Saturday night and we were the only table there. Not very clean and service was subpar, and they were out of things, including the bread. What we did get was just ok. Would not recommend. read more

The food here is delicious. I had the Lamb and it was falling off the bone tender. We tried all of the appetizers and all were great. This place should be packed but it's not. Try it ! read more

Wonderful food, family friendly! My favorites are the chapati with hot tea and Ethiopian anjeera and sauce (signi). Mango smoothie is perfect on a hot day. I have tried most of the other dishes as well and they also taste wonderful. Overall great experience for us! Fairly new business, excited to see them grow. read more