Ya Hala Lebanese Cuisine

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8005 SE Stark St
Portland, OR 97215

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(503) 256-4484
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Ya Hala Lebanese Cuisine - Portland, OR
Reviews
( 36 )
( 6 )
( 9 )
( 3 )
( 7 )

Best

All i can say, is that this restaurant is the best restaurant i have ever eaten at!!! Pros: Best Everything!

Worst

I have been a regular at Ya Hala since moving to Portland 9 years ago. Agree with all the comments about the service ...its pretty dire at the best of times. I've noticed also tha...

Very busy on weekends...but worth it 9/11/2006

Ya Hala has a great array of appetizers, entrees, desserts and wines. Their Dajaj over Rice (marinated chicken on top of finel ground, spiced beef, over a bed of Basmati rice) is amazing and I find it hard not to order it even though the rest of the menu is excellent. The restaurant gets very crowded in the evening and does not take reservations but once you put your name on the list there is a Lebanese grocery store attached to mull around in until you table is ready. If you don't get there by 7pm expect to wait upto an hour. Pros: Excellent food Cons: Long wait, seating is very tight when restaurant is full more
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Best Lebanese In Town 9/9/2006

I absolutely love this restaurant. Awesome food at awesome prices. The veggie mezza platter can feed 2-3 people and only costs $8.95. The Lentil Soup is divine as well as the eggplant stew. Awesome food and prices, you can't go wrong here. Just be sure to come early as you can find yourself waiting 30 minutes or more for a table during their peak times. Even so, it's worth the wait! Pros: cheap, great food, good ambience Cons: be prepared to wait if you don't get there early more
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Great food / phonomenal menu 8/29/2006

take it from someone who know Lebanese food, the food here is excellent. With many items on the menu that are hard to find elsewhere. Mezza for 4 or more is by far the best bet - What a feast! Other menu items could be good/bad depending on your taste and preference. Skip the desert, however. OH, you'll want to get there early (before 6:45pm) unless you like to wait and/or shop at the great Lebanese grocery store next door (they have some fantasitc cheese) Pros: Can't go wrong with the food Cons: Long wait/ lack of appropriate waiting area/somewhat dark more
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GREAT food. HORRIBLE service 8/25/2006

You know when you have horrible service when you can't remember what your waitress looked like. Took us 20 minutes to get her to look at our table of 3 and get refills on drinks and more bread. I think we drank more water and soda than ate. The food is WONDERFUL, but the service was REALLY bad! If you want GREAT service.......... go to Hodas on Belmont you will NOT be dissappointed. and the bread is fresh there too...... in fact before you can even ask for more they already have it at your table. I'm 95% sure that I will not return to this resturant. I will say that if you want good food it's a good choice...... but don't look for the service. I'm sure they they are glad I'm not a secret diner anymore too! I felt we were in HELLS KITCHEN it took almost 1 hour to get our entree. Pros: GREAT food....... good quanity Cons: HORRIBLE service.................... lol bring you own drinks maybe! more
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better than Nicholas's 8/3/2006

so true, the service leaves a lot to be desired - but the food more than makes up for it. The babaganoush is the bomb. more
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Great place to eat! 6/19/2006

I went to Ya Hala for an experience and a new style of food. I am glad to say(as I pat my full and satisfied belly) I got both. The service was great and the Lamb Shank that I ordered was even better. If you are in the mood for a not so ordinary american meal, come to Ya Hala. This was my first time there but it seems like other people in the city know about this place. It was packed! Pros: Good food, good service Cons: If really busy, parking could be a problem more
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The Best in Town! 4/12/2006

Ya Hala is by far the best Lebanese restaurant in town! We across town (from NW PDX) all the time to enjoy the great food and wonderful service. Did I mention what a great value it is too! I would drive across the city daily if I had the time and could afford the gas! I am lucky, however, because John (the owner of Ya Hala) and his family now own Barbur World Foods (on Barbur & Capitol Highway). When I need a quick fix of Ya Hala or wonderful groceries I can now drive just a few minutes to get it! Try Ya Hala...and Barbur Foods too...you will not be dissapointed! All that talk made me hungry...I think I might go to Ya Hala tonight... more
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not for large groups 2/27/2006

i can't comment on the food, because i never got to eat it. a group of 9 of us went here for a friend's birthday, i had to leave because of a previous engagement BUT they waited 2 hours to be seated! Cons: long wait for groups, no reservations more
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Best Mediterranean Food in town! 7/9/2005

This is a restaurant where you are frequently and cheerfully served by the owner and his wife. In addition to the great service, this place has some of the best food I've ever eaten... for a great price. The hummus is the smoothest I've ever had, and the pitas are fresh and hot out of the clay oven. A delicious lamb shawarma sandwich for lunch runs for under five dollars, making this a very affordable lunch option. The dinner entrees are unique and well presented. If you like wine, there are some international varieties that go well with dinner, and that you may never have tasted before. Sometimes the place gets crowded in the evenings, but there is a cute and interesting mediterranean grocery attached for you to peruse while you wait. Pros: inexpensive, delicious food, great service Cons: sometimes crowded more
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some eats good, unfortunate lousy service 7/1/2005

food was mediocre, the baba ganouj was terrible. tasteless, overpowerd by lemon. The hummus was too smooth and lacking an appreciable flavor. Rice was excellent but unfortunetly accompanied by an overcooked kefta kaboob. Service was horribly slow and unattentive with snobby, sassy young girls, while the manager smooked her hooka looking on from the patio oblivious to the poor customer service. Pros: cheap, nice outside patio Cons: bad service, tasteless meza, bad view more
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The BEST Lebanese restaurant in Portland! 2/24/2005

I have been to Ya Hala for 5 times in last 3 months and I don't get bored at all! The flat bread is always hot and soft. Lamb shank is very tender, Tabouli, Baklava... I can go on and on. Everything is so good and very cheap. Don't forget to drink a cup of Turkish coffee! Pros: Kids friendly, Easy access, Price more
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Best Lebanese food in town!!! 10/3/2004

I don't know where to start. Whether it's the AMAZING food, or the gracious hospitality. I've been to Lebanese restaurants around the country, and this is the best lebanese restaurant I have been to in the US. John -the owner- is, without any exaggeration, the friendliest and nicest host you could ever ask for. The service is excellent, the food is delicious, and the choices on the menu would fit anybody's taste and budget. I've been there several times and tried all sorts of food and was never disappointed. Don't leave without having dessert! Pros: Delicious food, Great hospitality, Very afforable more
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another vote for Ya Hala! 5/25/2004

I can't say enough good things about Ya Hala. Since I first visited last fall, I've been back maybe a dozen times -- and it's kind of a trek to get out there! Not only do they do the basics (hummus, baba ghanouj, shwarma) better than anyone else in town, but they have some incredible dishes that no one else does at all. I'm obsessed with the makdous (pickled eggplant stuffed with chilis and nuts) and shanklish (a kick-in-the-pants cheese salad) and the makloube (an original creation, I'm told). The owner, John, is so utterly charming and friendly I'd come back even if the food were second rate. There is often a wait, especially on the weekends, but that just gives you an excuse to visit the attached grocery and pick up some exotic snacks for later! Pros: variety, quality, value Cons: , sometimes long waits, closed on sundays more
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YEAH HIZZLE! 4/18/2004

The owner, John, started our evening with a very friendly greeting and introduction. Later we had the pleasure of speaking with him again in discussion of their affordable but delicious wine list. The food came, best hummus in town, and we were blown away. We have been back 3 more times and haven't been disappointed once. If there is a line, enjoy the attached Lebanese grocery store, it is incredible. Pros: Inexpensive, Delicious, Atmosphere more
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Restored my faith! 3/19/2004

After visiting another similar restaurant I thought I'd found a food style I don't care for. Then a group of us tried Ya Hala today. We were all so happy and my faith was totally restored that there is such a thing as an OUTSTANDING Lebanese restaurant. The food was perfect. We loved the Veggie Mezza, as well as falafels, kebabs, shwarma. I had lentil soup as an appetizer. It was perfect. Not too heavy, just the right amount of delicious spices. Ya Hala is now on our all-the-time list of international restaurants. Pros: Excellent menu, Friendly owner, staff, VERY tasty! more
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A Life Enriching Experience 10/18/2003

My husband and I have been trying to find a restaurant that was affordable and that would be a place we would want to keep going back to. We found it at Ya Hala's! I found this place on this website and was drawn to it by all the good reviews. We were not dissapointed one bit! The owner and staff was very friendly making us feel very comfortable to ask questions. The food was very good and reasonably priced. Ya Hala's is one of those places that once you've expierenced it you want to share it with your family and friends. We will be going back! Pros: Inexpensive, friendly Staff more
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Best All Around!! 7/31/2003

The personable staff and amazing food bring us back weekly. I recommend Ya Hala to anyone who will listen. more
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You won't be disappointed... 6/21/2003

My friends and I dined at Ya Hala recently having been encouraged by all the positive reviews on this site. Having now eaten there myself, I can safely say that none of the praise found here was exaggerated, and all those with me would agree. The food was amazing, from the appetizers to the entrees. The portions were ample, as was the selection (Multiple kinds of bakalva! Enough reason to visit in itself!). The service was first-rate and exceedingly friendly without being at all intrusive. What are you doing still sitting there reading my review? Go try it! more
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Fresher Tabouli doesnt exist... 4/6/2003

outside of Lebanon. Trust me, I've been there. The hummos is also quite amazing. If I may recommend a dish, it would be the Lamb Bameye (ocra) which is almost as good as my moms. Overall the food is really good, and the owner is hospitable and funny. A truly excellent experience. Pros: Food, Service, Value Cons: Limited space more
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I still can't get over it 10/9/2002

My friend and I ate here for as little as $26 which included appetizer, 2 entrees and 2 desserts and a warm, welcoming atmosphere and host. The owners are a husband and wife team apparently, and the husband introduced himself to us as ""the interruptor"" and his wife as the cook. He answered all questions he could about spices and preparation and was very willing to share in his love of the food and his wife's remarkable creations. I hope everyone tries this restaurant. Pros: Authentic flavours, Warm Atmosphere, Sweet Staff Cons: Street parking more
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Menu for Ya Hala Lebanese Cuisine


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Editorial

  • Lively, mural-covered Lebanese restaurant features traditional favorites like falafel and kabobs, plus mezza, fatayer and sfeeha.

  • 2/26/2007 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Sat: 11am-9pm
  • Payments: Master Card, Discover, Visa, American Express
  • Neighborhoods: Montavilla, Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Program
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