by Nick K.

Mmm Shiraz, how I love thee.  I wish you had more than 7 chairs and 7" of open walking space.  But then maybe I don't.  Something about a fresh shaved gyro (order more than you think you need) and a small crammed hallway, I mean, seating area...  They also have beer but I've never had enough time to enjoy myself there, usually just in out and they accomodate that well.  This place gets packed easily at lunchtime due to limited seating but even moreso due to great mediterranean food.  You will meet people whether or not you want to because you will rub elbows.  Nice family run establishment, you can tell they take pride in their restaurant and they take care of you.  Somewhat of a vibe that a secret handshake will gain you access to a whole 'nother menu of greatness.  What happened to the hookah room next door?

by Chris C.

Shiraz is a quaint restaurant off the Burger King parking lot in the ever so busy Nimbus light industrial area - where lunch is king.   And Shiraz shares in this bounty.  Having been there once on a Monday evening, I can tell you Shiraz is not forgotten when the sun goes down either. Seating is at a premium, with fewer then 10 spaces at the bar (one space is taken up by the plates of Baklava. There are a couple tables in the back and a few more on the covered walk in front.  Fortunately, Shiraz does a strong to-go business for lunch, so many customers are there just to pick up their food.  The bar seats offer the prime view of the grill where you can watch your skewered meats grilled to perfection. Let me say  that any reviews of Persian restaurants by me will always weigh heavily on the performance of the Koobideh Kabob - the gold standard, the cheeseburger if you will  of Persian restaurants. And Shiraz pulls theirs off nicely.  The meat is always grilled to perfection and oh so juicy. A nice heap of saffron rice and a grilled tomato complete the plate.   And the shaker of Sumac isn't there for decoration.  I lay it on for a little extra lemony flavor.  The one thing the koobideh plate is missing is an additional grilled tomato wedge or two and some lavash bread to make some Iranian burritos with. The service is great at Shiraz, run by a very nice couple, he handles most of the grill operations and she takes care of the service.  You're entertained while you eat your meal by a couple monitors showing Iranian pop videos.

by Sangorama s.

I like this place. A lot. Any place that serves gyros from a vertical rotisserie is ok in my book. It's also got a cool, clean city-ish feel smack dab in the middle of the suburbs.They've got a little different take on the sauce here. Instead of the standard white creamy cucumber sauce, they've got a bit of a spicy rose colored one. It's yummy with a little kick.The rice and salad here is very good too. I just stick to the gyros though.Warning - the portions are really small on the gyros. If you normally eat just one then I recommend you get two. They've got a 4buck special between 2pm and 5pm.

by kristin e.

If you order the gyro platter, be prepared to have an empty stomach because you'll get a LOT of food. Been here twice and ordered the same thing (gyro platter with beef/lamb) because it's so good. The meat tastes absolutely tremendous (no idea what seasonings are in it but it definitely works!) and you get a lot of it. You also get a decent serving of rice, hummus, pita and their house salad with their special top secret recipe salad dressing. The owner is really friendly and really appreciates his customers and the business they bring. If you sit inside, you'll be seated on a bar stool facing the kitchen where all the magic happens and after you order, your food will come out in no time. My only little gripe is their falafel. It's actually good but I can honestly do without the sesame seeds in it, but it's ok because I love their gyro platter and will continue to order it again and again.

by Sophie D.

I just ate there for the first time. Being new to this area I can not compare it with other middle-eastern restaurants in the area.however i think the place merits a three out of 5 stars. The food which we ordered (herb stew with rice) was tasting like it should, but it was frozen and they re-heated it as we were waiting on the other side of the counter, inevitably visible, doh!...      in my book a no-no for a tiny restaurant that charges almost 12 dollars for some mostly herb stew.   Again the taste was what it should have been except a bit watery. Compared to what i have had in other states, this is my rating; a ok.      i had heard from other people who rave about their kabobs,  and i haven't had that yet.

by Shawn O.

This is where we frequently go for lunch. So do a lot of other people, so sometimes it's hard to get a spot. It's a small place, very small. Seating is limited unless it's warm enough outside, in which case they roll out the patio furniture for some bistro ambiance - and it's fun when they do.It's a great place to eat, overall. The food is excellent Mediterranean with an obviously Greek slant. Gyros are the norm but they have excellent kabobs, too, and that's usually what I get - with rice and salad. Soft drinks and other non-water beverages come out of a fridge, though they do have some standard beers on tap. Since I'm always there on lunch I've yet to see how they treat their beer tap system. I get thirsty looking at it, though.The atmosphere is cramped-Euro-Greek, with an odd bit of Slavik thrown in just to be weird, it seems. They have two televisions which play strange European music videos...odd but nifty. It's fun to be there, as you're close to the grilling area (bar-style seating on the inside) and you can witness all of the culinary action first-hand. It's a fast-paced kitchen due to its size and...well, they're pretty busy come lunch time, you know. It's a popular place.The service is top notch. It's a family affair - the husband does double duty on the food prep as well as waiting. The wife takes care of customers. Both of them are good people and very attentive to the needs of the patrons. If you frequent the place they'll remember your menu habits and treat you like a family friend.Shiraz will always remain at or near the top of my list of lunchtime escapes. Good food, good service, decent prices, and everything happens pretty fast. You won't be disappointed.

by Abbey M.

I can barely describe how WONDERFUL Shiraz is.Here's all you need to know:It's small, so if you're planning to go on a weekday around lunch time, be prepared to wait for seats. Don't even think of coming with more than 3 friends. They have a fast turnover, so you won't wait too long. If you're in a rush, order your meal to go.Everything on the menu is good. I've sampled many friend's entrees, but I am incapable of ordering anything other than the Beef and Lamb Gyro Platter ($10.95) sans salad. It's so good I do not speak once my food is served.The staff is very nice. VERY nice. Be good to them and they will be good to you, by allowing you to eat their Gyro platter.

by Daniel E.

My fiancee and I decided that we would try more small restaurants (off the beaten path/not gaudy large restaurants).This restaurant was just what we were looking for. A small local owner, although with limited seating, just an absolute wonderful atmosphere. There are two small LCD TVs which feature Middle Eastern music (similar to MTV), stools front-row to the cook top, fryer, prep station, oven, and bar layout, a smell of delicious food grilling fresh in front of you and a small cafe like feel.If you're looking for a place to take your visiting family from Oakland to, order take out, because the food is definitely worth it, but there won't be seating for a large table.The food is spectacular. I've eaten at Persian, Greek, Armenian, Iranian (amongst other) places and the portions and prices for the food is phenomenal. One plate that I would extremely recommend is the Gyros Platter (which the lady there will pronounce "Ji-Row"), it has great basmati rice light and moist, a salad with a dressing that has a bit of a zing and hints of cilantro, balsamic and possibly even red miso, the equivalence to the meat from 4-6 Daphne's gyros (I mean we were shocked at how much meat was being put on this plate) and a slightly spicy tzatziki sauce on top of it.I ordered the Lamb Kabob and the lamb was flavorful and tender. Seasoned almost perfectly (could have used a PINCH of salt and lucky for me there was the salt shaker in front of my face!).I look forward to becoming a regular here and hope that you (as the reader) will give the place a chance. Realize that it's a family that owns it, run it, try to make a living off of it. It's not a conglomerate, chain or financially backed by a LARGER company. It's your down-to-earth, local small business with terrific food and a hope to capture the hearts of the locals

by Brian C.

I've been here twice, and both times got a fantastic gyro and hummus. The staff is usually really quick with everything, but the last time I was there the check took ages to come.

by Brandon T.

"I should warn them that their meal will be ready before they even sit down out there" the owner says to me as he hands me my own lunch.I am sitting at a bar styled counter starting my meal when I hear the owner shout "Hey guys, your meal is ready!"  to the people sitting outside. They don't look surprised but really it was not more than 3-5 minutes from when they had made their order to when they got it. I overhear later on that those folks were regulars and I can taste why. At this point I am half way through my delicious chicken gyro platter with a side of falafel and another customer walks in, a picky one. She is the type that needs to know everything about her dish (more power to her, right?.......whatever). Anyway she asks what type of dressing comes with the salad and the owner says "it is so good that I can't describe it for you, you will just have to taste it". I  am sitting there having just devoured my own salad, wishing that i had more because the dressing really was out of this world and I have half a mind to turn to this woman and say "don't ask questions just get the salad already".A couple minutes later I hear her exclaim "please put the tahini on the side, I have had bad experiences before with it in the sandwich" to which the owner ,full of pride, declares "well then you have never had tahini here before because it is never bad". Not surprisingly the woman capitulated and said that she had not tried it there yet but was just being cautious.  I am staring down at a my huge platter which is now nearly devoid of food, thinking to myself  "lady just put it in the sandwhich, this guy knows what he is talking about!"...The meal was great. It was surprisingly large and I did not think that I would finish it all, well to be honest I didn't finish it all but I got through all of the meat, bread, salad and most of the rice. I shared the  falafel but that was good too. Had I not had so many glasses of water I would have probably finished it all but the water was delicious (odd to hear, I know) as it came with generous amounts of ice which is something I really appreciate sometimes. Both of the owners cracked me up; the husband is very comical, laid back and proud of his establishment and the wife just looked like she was frustrated at the new worker in the kitchen after he nearly forgot to start the rotary on the gyro after having already lit the flame.... In short this place dishes up a pretty mean meal and I will have to go back someday. I suggest that you go here if you are in the area and you should know that they seem to primarily do take out meals as there is such limited seating availability. I think there is actually more seating outside than inside. That said though, if you are lucky and find that everyone else is ordering to go, then you likely will be able to find yourself a seat with some cheap entertainment along with a meal. Oh and it is inexpensive considering just how much great food you get and for those who care about such things they do serve around 6 beers on tap and I saw some wine on shelves in the back.

by John T.

Dinner last night was great!  I had the Barg Soltani (filet mignon ground beef combo) and I'd say that I should have just stuck with the Barg (filet) since there was SO MUCH to eat.  But they were both very flavorful and cooked well.  The salad was excellent.  My partner had just the Koobideh Kabob (ground beef) so that was equally as good as the skewer of the same stuff that I had.   We started with the Mas'Kheyar (yogurt w/cucumbers, dill, mint) which is an excellent appetizer, but I prefer it as a side dish with pita.  Dessert: the saffron ice cream was really tasty.  Comes with big frozen chunks of cream in it.  According to one of the owners, this is the typical dessert ice cream in Iran, which might get boring but certainly is a good choice!  The owners are friendly and conversational, which I think is required in a restaurant that is more adequately described as a service corridor with a kitchen and some seats.  It's actually quite nice and cozy, but seating is limited indoors, and it's a bunch of chairs in front of a bar-type arrangement, which looks directly into the "kitchen", which also spans the length of the space.  Overall: quite happy with the meal.  We've been looking for a good Persian place in the Portland area, and this seems to be the front-runner.

by Joan D.

Much like Joyce who reviewed much earlier - the food we had here was mediocre.  We are big fans of Mediterranean food.  Their Babaghanoush was excellent and home made.  The Chicken Swarma Salad I ordered was not up to my standards.  They used a lot of stems and ribs in the salad greens and the chicken was dried out.  My hubby ordered the Ghormeh Sabzi which is a lamb stew - tasted like it had been frozen and thawed and reheated.  Not much lamb and not very tasty either.  We won't be going back.  I suppose we should have had the gyros.  Additionally, the seating is extremely uncomfortable - no leg room and the stools are way too high.  Cramped and uncomfortable place.  Prices - middle of range - not inexpensive given the poor quality and low overhead they must have.

by Clare M.

This place is awesome.  I found them on yelp, and everyone's reviews are pretty much spot on.  I got lunch to go and found the staff fun and friendly.  They were super quick, and it was a great deal for the amount of quality food I got.  I brought my lunch back to the office, and a co-worker who had previously said he didn't want anything had to run right out and get his own after smelling mine!  I strongly recommend the salad over the fries... their homemade dressing is just too good to miss!It's really cute and tiny, so don't bring a large group.

by Greg W.

The only regret that I have for squandering valuable years of my life confined within the mediocrity of Beaverton is not stopping in to dine at Shiraz the one hundred times that I passed it previously.Perhaps what is an authentic Iranian dining experience, this small family-owned restaurant consists of a narrow bar tucked away in a strip mall.  An LCD TV runs the Middle Eastern equivalent of MTV.  The experience is markedly improved in the warmer months with ample outdoor seating.The shavings of lamb in their gyro plates are moist and perfectly spiced.  Hearty handmade hummus goes along with well with the delicate and balanced flavor of their handmade baba ganoush.Their salad is paired with the most wonderful balsamic vinaigrette - a recipe which the owner wouldn't yield even after much prodding.Even the baklava had a beautifully delicate crust with just the right amount of honey to sweeten it up - perhaps one of the best examples of baklava that I've ever had.I was going to give this place four stars after trying their mezza platter, but I couldn't in good conscience after trying their gyro platter.  Shiraz really deserves five stars - this is the best mediterranean food that I've found in the 'burbs.

by Hieu T.

I had the Falafel platter and my friend had the Gyro platter.Stunning.We came here based off of Yelp reviews.  The hours say they closed at 9, but I called and the owner said they were closing at 8 so we both rushed to get there before she closed it down for the evening.  No biggie.This place is indeed tucked away in a stripmall.  Most Beavertonians will be guaranteed to pass by unknowingly...which is a shame.  The actual restaurant is small and limited to a barlike sitting environment.  The owner was super friendly and most helpful.  The food was fresh and came out quick.  My falafel balls were fried, but there was no indication of oil when I was eating them.  It may have been a wee bit dry, but it still tasted good.  The salad was definitely appetizing and tastey as well.  My friend's gyro plate was spectacular as well.  The hummus was the best I've had and the gyro incredibly tender and flavorful.This place is definitely a hole in the wall type joint.  Stop by if you have that Mediterranean craving in ya.

by Hieu T.Greg W.Clare M.

I had the Falafel platter and my friend had the Gyro platter.Stunning.We came here based off of Yelp reviews.  The hours say they closed at 9, but I called and the owner said they were closing at 8 so we both rushed to get there before she closed it down for the evening.  No biggie.This place is indeed tucked away in a stripmall.  Most Beavertonians will be guaranteed to pass by unknowingly...which is a shame.  The actual restaurant is small and limited to a barlike sitting environment.  The owner was super friendly and most helpful.  The food was fresh and came out quick.  My falafel balls were fried, but there was no indication of oil when I was eating them.  It may have been a wee bit dry, but it still tasted good.  The salad was definitely appetizing and tastey as well.  My friend's gyro plate was spectacular as well.  The hummus was the best I've had and the gyro incredibly tender and flavorful.This place is definitely a hole in the wall type joint.  Stop by if you have that Mediterranean craving in ya.The only regret that I have for squandering valuable years of my life confined within the mediocrity of Beaverton is not stopping in to dine at Shiraz the one hundred times that I passed it previously.Perhaps what is an authentic Iranian dining experience, this small family-owned restaurant consists of a narrow bar tucked away in a strip mall.  An LCD TV runs the Middle Eastern equivalent of MTV.  The experience is markedly improved in the warmer months with ample outdoor seating.The shavings of lamb in their gyro plates are moist and perfectly spiced.  Hearty handmade hummus goes along with well with the delicate and balanced flavor of their handmade baba ganoush.Their salad is paired with the most wonderful balsamic vinaigrette - a recipe which the owner wouldn't yield even after much prodding.Even the baklava had a beautifully delicate crust with just the right amount of honey to sweeten it up - perhaps one of the best examples of baklava that I've ever had.I was going to give this place four stars after trying their mezza platter, but I couldn't in good conscience after trying their gyro platter.  Shiraz really deserves five stars - this is the best mediterranean food that I've found in the 'burbs.This place is awesome.  I found them on yelp, and everyone's reviews are pretty much spot on.  I got lunch to go and found the staff fun and friendly.  They were super quick, and it was a great deal for the amount of quality food I got.  I brought my lunch back to the office, and a co-worker who had previously said he didn't want anything had to run right out and get his own after smelling mine!  I strongly recommend the salad over the fries... their homemade dressing is just too good to miss!It's really cute and tiny, so don't bring a large group.

by Hieu T.Greg W.Clare M.Joan D.John T.

I had the Falafel platter and my friend had the Gyro platter.Stunning.We came here based off of Yelp reviews.  The hours say they closed at 9, but I called and the owner said they were closing at 8 so we both rushed to get there before she closed it down for the evening.  No biggie.This place is indeed tucked away in a stripmall.  Most Beavertonians will be guaranteed to pass by unknowingly...which is a shame.  The actual restaurant is small and limited to a barlike sitting environment.  The owner was super friendly and most helpful.  The food was fresh and came out quick.  My falafel balls were fried, but there was no indication of oil when I was eating them.  It may have been a wee bit dry, but it still tasted good.  The salad was definitely appetizing and tastey as well.  My friend's gyro plate was spectacular as well.  The hummus was the best I've had and the gyro incredibly tender and flavorful.This place is definitely a hole in the wall type joint.  Stop by if you have that Mediterranean craving in ya.The only regret that I have for squandering valuable years of my life confined within the mediocrity of Beaverton is not stopping in to dine at Shiraz the one hundred times that I passed it previously.Perhaps what is an authentic Iranian dining experience, this small family-owned restaurant consists of a narrow bar tucked away in a strip mall.  An LCD TV runs the Middle Eastern equivalent of MTV.  The experience is markedly improved in the warmer months with ample outdoor seating.The shavings of lamb in their gyro plates are moist and perfectly spiced.  Hearty handmade hummus goes along with well with the delicate and balanced flavor of their handmade baba ganoush.Their salad is paired with the most wonderful balsamic vinaigrette - a recipe which the owner wouldn't yield even after much prodding.Even the baklava had a beautifully delicate crust with just the right amount of honey to sweeten it up - perhaps one of the best examples of baklava that I've ever had.I was going to give this place four stars after trying their mezza platter, but I couldn't in good conscience after trying their gyro platter.  Shiraz really deserves five stars - this is the best mediterranean food that I've found in the 'burbs.This place is awesome.  I found them on yelp, and everyone's reviews are pretty much spot on.  I got lunch to go and found the staff fun and friendly.  They were super quick, and it was a great deal for the amount of quality food I got.  I brought my lunch back to the office, and a co-worker who had previously said he didn't want anything had to run right out and get his own after smelling mine!  I strongly recommend the salad over the fries... their homemade dressing is just too good to miss!It's really cute and tiny, so don't bring a large group.Much like Joyce who reviewed much earlier - the food we had here was mediocre.  We are big fans of Mediterranean food.  Their Babaghanoush was excellent and home made.  The Chicken Swarma Salad I ordered was not up to my standards.  They used a lot of stems and ribs in the salad greens and the chicken was dried out.  My hubby ordered the Ghormeh Sabzi which is a lamb stew - tasted like it had been frozen and thawed and reheated.  Not much lamb and not very tasty either.  We won't be going back.  I suppose we should have had the gyros.  Additionally, the seating is extremely uncomfortable - no leg room and the stools are way too high.  Cramped and uncomfortable place.  Prices - middle of range - not inexpensive given the poor quality and low overhead they must have.Dinner last night was great!  I had the Barg Soltani (filet mignon ground beef combo) and I'd say that I should have just stuck with the Barg (filet) since there was SO MUCH to eat.  But they were both very flavorful and cooked well.  The salad was excellent.  My partner had just the Koobideh Kabob (ground beef) so that was equally as good as the skewer of the same stuff that I had.   We started with the Mas'Kheyar (yogurt w/cucumbers, dill, mint) which is an excellent appetizer, but I prefer it as a side dish with pita.  Dessert: the saffron ice cream was really tasty.  Comes with big frozen chunks of cream in it.  According to one of the owners, this is the typical dessert ice cream in Iran, which might get boring but certainly is a good choice!  The owners are friendly and conversational, which I think is required in a restaurant that is more adequately described as a service corridor with a kitchen and some seats.  It's actually quite nice and cozy, but seating is limited indoors, and it's a bunch of chairs in front of a bar-type arrangement, which looks directly into the "kitchen", which also spans the length of the space.  Overall: quite happy with the meal.  We've been looking for a good Persian place in the Portland area, and this seems to be the front-runner.