by Lisa L.

This place is awesome. My brother took me for lunch on a visit home as it is one of his favorite places and now one of mine. The place is dark and hasn't been updated, but the chairs were wide and really comfy, and it is pretty quiet no matter where you sit. We had falafel to start. I found this dry and not too flavorful although my brother was wolfing it down, so to each his own. We next had the Shawarma plate. The waitress brought out a basket of warm pita bread, and a plate of grilled chicken (you can also have lamb sirloin, which is what my brother usually orders but now recommends the chicken), surrounded by hummus and pine nuts. I was seriously licking my fingers and the plate at the end of this. It was a simple dish that was really delicious.I would like to try a dish other than the falafel next time but would not go there without ordering the Shawarma plate.

by Willus W.

Ya Hala...Ya Hala atcha boy....Ya Hala...I am com-eing eing...nevermind...I'm babbling again..these are just some of the non-sequiters that go through my mind when I am in and around Ya Hala.  Actually, Ya Hala means "welcome" in Arabic, but to me, in my crazy non-sequiter filled mind, what it really means is "FABULOUS FOOD"!!  I might even have a new favorite Lebanese spot over Nicolas...the jury is still out on that one...I need a couple more visits in a close time span to each.  The first time I went to Ya Hala, it was with a large group for a going away party for my friend, who was going to New Orleans to work with Emeril Lagasse.  This particular group of folks all work  in fine restaurants in town, and really know good food, so I trusted that this was going to be a good experience.  I was not disappointed!  We had one of their "feasts" listed on the menu, and several other individual items.  It was enough food for an army of 100 (well, maybe 50), and we all ate until we couldn't stand ourselves.  They have this wonderful Armenian beer on the menu as well, though I can't remember the name of it.  The last time I went, we ordered the veggie mezza, which included 2 falafel balls, baba ganoujh (sp??), hummus, two dolmades, some roasted, spicy cauliflower, some tahini, two mini pocket breads, and tabouleh.  The veggie mezza combo is a little more expensive than Nicolas, or about the same, but different.  I think you get a little more food with the Nicolas mezza, but honestly,  it is alot anyway.  Aside from the combos, the mezza is sold ala carte, with an impressive selection.  I will say that for the rest of the menu as well.  We also had the Zaatar, which is a spiced, baked flatbread, and it was quite good.  The husband also ordered the kabob combo, which looked like a lamb kabob, a beef kabob and a chicken kabob, all served over a bed of basmati rice with a salad (you can also substitute Tabouleh for the salad).  I honestly couldn't even have a bite of the kabobs, because I was completely stuffed with only part of the mezza!!  But, it looked really good.  The service is excellent, and our seat by the window provided an entertaining view of the bus stop outside.  The decor is warm, and the space is large, though a little chilly (I guess that happens if you sit near a window in the winter, though).   The prices are very reasonable, and again, the portions are very large.  This would also be a great place to go if you are a  vegan, as many of their selections are vegan, and are marked as such on the menu.

by Brandy S.

This is one of the great Lebanese restaurants in town (both for vegetarians and meat eaters alike). There is more space here than in some of the other local eateries, so not a lot of waiting for food! I also love the fact that there is an attached grocery store where you can buy all of the supplies needed to make your own Lebanese feast at home.Overall: wonderful experience, even for those who are hesitant to try new, exotic flavors!

by Alexis K.

LOVE IT.  Can't go wrong.  Can't wait to go back.Was taken there to see a friend who works there, with a newly made friend.  All in all a wonderful experience and GREAT food.

by Kelly M.

I really wanted to be crazy about Ya Hala.  It seemed like everyone else is, so perhaps my expectations were a little too high upon going in.  While the meal was good, it didn't stand out as much as I had hoped it would.Ya Hala's definiely beats Nicholas' in its larger restaurant space which provides ample seating, and consequently, little to no wait.  The interior is decorated with funny, cheesy murals of somewhere that must be Lebanon, and their attempt to paint over flourescent lighting was a little weird and also funny.  I also like some choice phrases off the menu, such as "riot of vegetables" and "football shaped servings."Watch out for the rose water soda--it tastes like drinking your grandmother, but the lemonade is good.  We ordered a dish that was described as "crumpled cheese" and it was delicious.  The vegetarian mezza was as tasty as the other Lebanese favorites in town, although the falafel was a little dry.  Baba here is good with a smoky flavor.Ya Hala is a good Lebanese restaurant, but I'm not sure it's good enough to pull me out of my tiny corner of Southeast all that often.

by Brian H.

Ya know, I really used to like this place.....but it has gone down hill.The service suckssssss....... we practically had to use semafore with our menus to flag down our almost non existant waitress. The food isn't as good as it used to be either.....Lamb shank kind of gamey..... Very dry shawerma.They never have Shanklish (this really good spicey cheese) anymore.The hummus is ok. The salad is usually soaked in dressing.And what's with rose water in all their desserts?????

by Eric N.

I wasn't a big fan of Lebanese food until now. This place has introduced me the great food that I'm sure I'll be back many times.Let's start with the food. This is my first time coming here so I haven't had a chance to try a whole lot. Yet I came here with 3 others people and we decided to do a family style so everyone could sample everything. - Makloube (you gotta try this one if you are a lamb lover). The lamb is just right and juicy serve with basmati rice. YUM!- Dajaj over Rice, another rice dish yet the fowl is set upon a mixture of spiced ground beef, roasted almonds and pine nut. The chicken breast is flavorful yet was a little bit dry for my taste. - Artichoke hearts and beef... not so crazy for this. For 13 dollars, it's pretty small and to me it's more like an appetizer.- Fresh baked pita bread is sooo good. It seemed like I couldn't get enough of it. Be careful as the hot heat comes out from the bread... hehehe.. You'll be surprised how much you can handle this bread.- They have like 10+ kinds of dessert, too bad, I was so full that I had to say no. Darn it!The place is sorta small, decoration is alright, but you come here for the food so who really cares right? Service is great. The server was very attentive, helpful and nice.Here is my suggestion, if you come to this place w/ 3 parties or more, let's do the family style and ask the server to pick out those dishes that are big enough for 3 or 4 people. This way, you can taste the many things here.If you love Lebanese food, this place is highly recommended.If you haven't had Lebanese food, this place is highly recommended too! so you know what it's like. Parking is on the street. It's okay for lunch, but a bit crazy for weekend. Oh well, that what you get for having good food.

by Don B.

My wife and I found this place last night and are super stoked!  I am a meat eater, and she is a vegan/vegetarian (depending on her mood).  This place seems to be one of the few in SE PDX smart enough to mark DIRECTLY ON THE MENU what is vegan, what is vegetarian, and what is neither.  Why can't other restaurants figure this out. THIS IS PORTLAND, people!!! SE PORTLAND, to be exact. Freak central.  You are completely out of touch if you think that there's not a big restricted-diet market just waiting to be tapped.Anyway, now that I'm down off the soapbox...  I'll just say its nice to be able to go somewhere that my wife has options and I can still eat some meat if I want. The atmosphere in this place is cozy. Not too small, but nice and crowded (as every good "ethnic" restaurant should be).  The servers are friendly and seem to be pretty attentive.  The smells emanating from the kitchen are so good they make your stomach growl in anticipation while you are waiting for your food.The food:  The menu is big.  They have a ton of Mezza options, which makes this a great place to share small plates (everyone gets a bite of everything!!).  They have a really good Veggie Mezza platter, with Hummus, Baba, Falafel, Dolmas, Tabouleh, and pita.  Their Pita comes warm, fresh from the oven.  The Baba is super smoky (I can only guess they use liquid smoke - because its suspiciously smoky). The hummus is good (not as good as Nicholas'), and the falafel is nice and light and airy, while still filling (and its not too dry, thankfully).  They are generous with the tahini too, which is nice.  The other options include a list of stews, a whole bunch of kebobs, and a ton of entrees (some are just bigger versions of the hot mezzas). It is a nice, lengthy menu.We started with the Veggie Mezza, and then my wife ordered one more Mezza, and I ordered 3 more Mezzas (thinking they would be small bites - just enough for sampling).  We ended up with WAY too much food.  We got the little spinach and lemon vegan pies (can't remember the name right now) which were nice and lemony, I ordered the Foul (good, but needed salt), the spicy sausages (delicious - made especially for Ya Hala), and the Kibbeh (very tasty, but not the best I have ever had).  The Kibbeh came with yogurt, and the sausages came with tahini.  My wife and I just stared in awe at the mess of food in front of us, and then we dove in.  The food here is very, very satisfying.  The favors are not as deep and nuanced as I would expect, given the attention to detail on the menu, service, atmosphere, etc.  But, I would not hesitate to call this fare "Lebanese comfort food".  We got through maybe half of it and were over-full when we left.  They definitely weren't stingy with the pita (our server brought more without us even asking), which is very nice.  We ended with a couple of to-go boxes (yay, lunch today is Lebanese too!!!!) and a couple of leftover Pitas.  Probably one of the nicest parts is that the Veggie Mezza is $8, and the other mezzas are around $4-5.  2 people could get nice and full off of the veggie Mezza plus one or 2 more mezzas - and thus escape satisfied with only a small check at the end.  (I mark it as $, but if you get entrees, the you are at least in the $$ range).Attached to Ya Hala is a store that sells all sorts of middle-eastern goodies, including a wide variety of shishas for the good-time hookah smoking.  I just got me a hookah as a housewarming gift, so I am going to have to stop back my and pick me up some Jasmine Shisha!!!I look forward to trying the shwarma next time I go back.  I bet these people make a good lamb.

by Lindley E.

Tasty, fresh, fast...and a good value. We went with a few vegetarians and everyone left happy - this is a great place to bring your ovo-lacto friends as well as your vegan friends, as there's plenty here to please. There's a wide variety of mezza (small plates) and an extensive menu of salads, stews, grilled meats, etc. The menu is varied, so you can come here over and over and never have the same thing twice, unless that's what you really want. There's a modest wine list featuring Lebanese and Oregon wines, and a few beers are available as well. They close every night at 9 pm, so get there early.

by Beth M.

Holla, Ya Hala!  You rocked my world, and I will definitely be back.  The falafel was brilliant, the baba smoky and delicious, the cheese platter enticing and intriguing, the Lebanese beer... ummm, okay, the Lebanese beer wasn't that good, but I'll drink just about anything except lighter fluid, so whatever.For a HUGE meal for two with beer, dessert, Turkish coffee - the works! - we paid about $25 with tip.  Seriously budget friendly, even for non-vegetarian dishes.  Next time I go, I also plan to check out the attached funky fun international store next door.I heart  you, Ya Hala.

by Martha R.

While this isn't the best Middle Eastern fare that I have ever fared, it was rather good for being outside Dearborn, MI where there are more Middle Eastern restaurants than there are days in the year. I walked in at an "off time" (i.e., 1:30pm) and was seated right away at the window. My waitress was young, and a little bit stand-offish, but overall friendly enough. I asked for some suggestions - and ended up getting the Lamb Shawarma. It wasn't like what I'm used to - it had lettuce, tomatoes and lots of tahini... but it was still pretty good. The lamb seemed more like ground lamb, though - which was a little strange, but again, still good. Plus, I walked out of there paying $7 including a $2 tip. Not a bad lunch price.The waitress also suggested the veggie platter. There was baba ghanoush, hummus, etc - perhaps I'd try that another time, but it was just too much food for lunch. But I will say... I really miss Dearborn sometimes. Especially when I eat at Middle Eastern restaurants. Where's my garlic paste (made with raw potato, lemon, and garlic), my hummus-to-die-for, and my REAL Shawarma? The meat's suppose to be spinning around a heating device and sliced off the spit right when I order it. It's then supposed to be wrapped in pita, and grilled a little so that it's crunchy on the outside. There are only pickled goods in there with my meat - and then plenty of garlicky goodness to sum it all up.Until I visit Dearborn.... this will do - but it will not stop me from continuing to look for a Dearborn-substitute... I can't be hopping on a plane every time I have a craving.

by Mark H.

I love Ya Hala, my family loves it, my friends love it. Great food, good prices, very lively at any time of day. Vegan, vegetarian, meat, it's all there and all good. I'm confident enough that I have taken my New York City friends here and they were quite happy with the food. The owner is around much of the time to direct traffic and greet customers.They tend to be very busy, and they are expanding their floor space. The servers tend to be super busy so sometimes service is a bit challenging, but hey, I'm not complaining.

by Britta E.

Dude, this place is goooood. Quite possibly the best Lebanese in Portland.I had the good luck of being taken here for lunch by my work and being fed a spread fit for royalty. Not only did they manage to overturn my negative feelings about baba ganouj for life (why is it not all like this??) but I got to try something entirely new to me: vegetarian kibbeh. Mmmm what texture and flavor this stuff had, spicy potatoes and tomatoey bulgar wheat made into a flavorful paté, who knew it'd be so wonderful? We honestly had too many plates for our table and they just kept coming: dolmas, hummus, tabouli, falafel, stuffed eggplants, little flat breads topped with spicy meat called sfeeha, a sprawling cheese plate (with stringy salty string cheese complimented by olives!), these wonderful grilled meatball-like things called kafta and of course, endless steaming hot pita. Clearly after all that, we were pretty much incoherent and required caffeine in order to come down from our food high. And oooooo man did their Turkish coffee do the trick. We managed to jump from food high to caffeine high with utterly brilliant grace and balance.I've also been here under less feasty/more cheap eats circumstances (aka a quick falafel) and it's been equally satisfying. Make sure to leave some time to pop your head into International Food Supply a few doors down. It's a whole new world of goodies.

by Laurie S.

My favorite place for middle eastern food.Don't miss the vegan stuffed artichoke hearts. They are served with rice and salad. A lovely big meal; plenty to take home. The pita is homemade. The baba ganouj the best. I always ask them to serve the mezza without the extra oil on top. I love the aranabeet--deep fried cauliflower. It gets crowded in the evenings unless you go early, like 5:30. Lunch is fun there too.

by Nic Z.

Hmmm, I am so confused by all of the glowing reviews.  The food was OK, not great by any means.  The service was quite bad.  There was a wait when we got there, which is fine, it was late in the evening on a weekend night but geez, the folks that work there have no manners or people skills what so ever. Sorry, I am not normally so harsh but our waitress was downright rude to us.  The bathrooms were so nasty, I actually thought about leaving after I saw the bathrooms but figured I would give them a break given all of the glowing reviews.I ordered the falafel, hummus, bulgar wheat, and shanklish.  Paul got the chicken moughrabieh.  The hummus and falafel came out pretty quickly along with this amazingly delicious warm pita.  After a few bites I thought, wow...none of this has any taste.  It was so strange...hummus and falafel normally don't taste like each other...right?  The shanklish came out next and it was awesome.  I loved it.  It was encrusted in peppercorn and the flavors were fantastic!  So, that was great.  Paul's meal took forever and I mean forever to come out.  I was pretty much already finished before it had even arrived.  He was also disappointed.  He said that everything on his plate tasted the same also and it was so drenched in butter!  Ick.  When Paul was halfway through his meal, my bulgar wheat finally came out and it was just a big ole sticky mess of nothingness.  Our waitress had a habit of just dumping the food on the table and walking away without asking us if we needed anything.  Paul was quite bothered by the fact that our waitress never offered to refill his coke.  That drives him crazy!  And when she finally gave us our check (after I glared at her while she was in the kitchen talking and texting for about ten minutes) she just threw it on the table and said "here you go".  No "thank you" or "hope you enjoyed your meal".  Ugh.  So, why the three stars?  OK, well the shanklish and the pita bread was fantastic, easily five stars.  And the next day when I tried the left overs (yes, left overs...apparently my falafel addiction is so bad i would rather eat mediocre falafel then none at all), it actually all tasted better.  It was as if the food needed some time to let the flavors infiltrate through the ingredients or something!  So, the leftovers were three stars although the night before I had said two stars.  Totally not sure if I will ever go back, the service was just the pits.  Hmmm, should I change it to two stars?????  Check back in later........the stars may start dropping out of the sky.

by Christian M.

Not sure if I should go back and change any 5-star ratings I've given back down to 4 so I can emphasize that this is probably the best food I've had in Portland. Certainly one of those times where it's a bit pricey, but totally worth it. It's always pretty busy, so go early to beat the crowds or be willing to wait (it's worth it), because this place is no secret. Everything is very, very good. Best pita I've ever had. Good Turkish coffee. My family lets the birthday-boy/girl pick the restaurant as their main birthday gift, and I always pick this place.My Lebanese friend and I agree that this is the best Lebanese food in town. Oh yeah, and my friends parents, visiting from Lebanon, loved it.

by Barry S.

I ate there a couple of years ago.  We waited a long time not only to sit but to be acknowledged at all, just standing there, not even certain where to sit or wait.  When we were served the waitress regarded us as though we had just ran over her dog.  The food seemed fine, though overpriced (especially considering how much reasonably priced Lebanese food is out there).  I had some kind of lemony tuna dish that I didn't really care for.  I know this is a popular place but I wasn't feeling it.  I mostly felt the hate stare of our waitress.

by Jeffrey L.

Excellent Meza Plate! The falafel is superb...  Hands down better than Nicholas

by Mikalina W.

I love the fact that Ya Hala is in my neighborhood!  The food is just scrumptious!  We always get the veggie mezza starter, which is a great selection of appetizers, and a meal unto itself and share an entree.  And we always eat past the point of being full because it just tastes so good!  They're expanding, which is great because there is always a line on the weekends and oftentimes during the week.  The one thing that keeps this place from getting 5 stars in my book is the service.  I understand that they're busy, really I do, but sometimes, not always, the service is so rushed that there is zero eye contact I almost feel like a nuisance for being there and interrupting the servers' busy schedule.  I went to another Lebanese restaurant downtown with a friend for her birthday, because we were already downtown and she had never had Lebanese Food, and it just reminded me how awesome the food at Ya Hala is.  The food at the other restaurant was ok, sure, but nothing as awesome as I have become accustomed to at Ya Hala,  So by all means, go to Ya Hala!  You won't be disappointed at all.  Just don't expect any eye contact from the servers.

by bobby d.

This is a small lebanese restaurant serving traditional foods. It's on the one way road going west from 82nd ave.I went here a few times for lunch and it was always good. My recent visit was also good except they didn't serve the really giant size loaves of bread like they use to. They now have more of a flat type bread. However, the service was still good, you can still sit at tables outside if you want, and the prices were still reasonable. They also have the traditional desserts there. I ordered a lamb dish which was really good.Parking can be a problem since there is on street only. I will definitely go back when in the area.

by Donald E.

Trying to sum up my experience at Ya Hala's, all I really can say is "meh."  I've definitely had better.  And with so many Lebanese restaurants all around Portland, why settle for mediocre?We ordered take-out, and the food was prepared in a decent amount of time.  Granted the vegan in our group received not his ordered dish, but something meat-filled instead.On top of that, the food was just... okay.  Horribly underwhelming. The food almost had a pre-prepared taste to it. The lebna was more of a cream cheese than a yogurt, and the falafel is green on the inside.All said and done, was it a bad experience? No. If this was my only Lebanese option, would I be back? Yes.  Given the current circumstances, will I be back?  Probably not.

by Greg W.

This place serves quite good Lebanese food and gets busy.  Unfortunately they do not take reservations.Talk your party into ordered the mezza combination for four if you are feeling adventurous or are new to Lebanese food.  Their food has a fresh, homemade characteristic to it.  The baba ganouj is a standout with a unique smoky flavor.  Classic dishes such as the falafel and stuffed grape leaves have a lighter, more delicate taste than other places.After additional courses of pita, hummus, spinach fatayer, and vegetarian kibbeh, we were treated to kabobs of lamb, chicken, kafta and ahi.The meat dishes were all prepared well - some with hints of citrus.  My only complaint was that the Ahi skewers were cooked to medium well (should be rare on the inside).I did try the house Lebanese Cabernet and it is definitely different than American and European cabs - dry, a little flinty and with hints of olive.Our service experience was actually quite good, although the waitress said that she was new there.This is now my favorite Lebanese restaurant in Portland.

by Jodeen V.

Oh Lordy!Am I on the floor? Did I faint from a sheer, overwhelming foodgasim? Please excuse me, but that was a culinary experience that has altered me down to my cellular level and I shall move forward in this world a changed, better person. Okay, there was a line and a wait, but that's a good sign, right? The four of us got stuck at a teensie little table in the middle of all the hubbub and a breeze-blow from the door, but that was okay. One member of my party knew our server, so that may have helped everything go well, because they were really, crazy-busy and we could see right into the kitchen and "controlled-chaos" was probably the best term for all the clanging and yelling going down in there (although everyone seemed pretty okay about it). But the food......... oh, the food, it was like a first kiss from a boy you've had a crush on since 6th grade. It was sweet, spicy, exciting, interesting and perfect and utterly worth the wait. It was so fresh and abundantly-flavored. I may be easily impressed, but the people I was with are food people, and they loved it as much as I did (although maybe I was the only one swooning). Everyone shared, so I sampled at least 5 or 6 dishes. I even tasted the meat dishes (because I am not a PERFECT vegetarian and it WAS WORTH IT! COMPLETELY! Those animals did NOT die in vain!). It was wonderful. It was definitely the best hummus I had ever had and the rest is just a food-astic blur of happiness. All the stars and more for this place!!! I loved it!

by Liz S.

I love this place. I think it is probably the best Lebanese food that I have ever had the pleasure of putting into my mouth.  I have only ever gotten one dish - the vegetarian mezza platter of course! The roasted cauliflower is wonderful - it kind of melts in your mouth. I have to say I have never had a bad experience here. You get a huge amount of absolutely wonderfully prepared food that will satisfy people of all different food preferences. Vegans, vegetarians and carnivores alike. I think the prices are very fair for what you get. Only complaint - sometimes the dining area and bathrooms don't seem as clean as I'd prefer.

by Gavin M.

I love Lebanese food. This place is a great place to introduce someone new to the genre. I've taken several people who aren't gastronauts, or have an aversion to trying new foods. They always love it. The wait staff is friendly, the food is always tasty, there's a connected store if you want to pick up your own ingredients for making authentic middle-eastern food at home. The only downside is that there's no way to make a reservation and the place is always packed. I suggest taking small parties to this restaurant.

by Mari T.

I was tempted to give Ya Hala my very first 5-star review and then remembered that as much as I love the food here (and I do love it so so much!), I hate the service most times... The waitresses are usually slammed busy and getting their attention and service is difficult if they have a full house...That being said, the food here is my favorite Lebanese food in Portland - and my husband and I try Lebanese restaurants whenever we hear of a new one.  So when I say our favorite, that means of the other 10 or so Lebanese restaurants that we have tried (a few have closed - alas!), Ya Hala is the one we take friends and family to and the one we prefer to go to, given a choice.The bread here is piping hot when it is fresh and it usually is (we have occasionally been at the tail-end of a batch) -- The outside is crispy and the inside is soft and overall it is a huge puffball on the wicker plate.  Be careful when you tear into it at first because the steam is vicious - but once it vents, it goes pretty fast on our table.We usually get a vegetarian mezza plate which has hummus, baba ghanouj, tabouli, falafel, stuffed grape leaves and deep fried cauliflower. We fight over the baba ghanouj because we both LOVE the smoky rich flavor of the dip that is so different from the usual at other restaurants.  The hummus is also really good with a nutty taste and creamy texture that I love to eat with the tabouli.  And unlike most tabouli that I have had, Ya Hala manages to make the tabouli taste like something WAY more than the usual chopped parsley and lemon juice that a lot of places serve.My husband and I usually trade off on the falafel and stuffed grape leaves -- I hog 2/3 of the falafel and he takes the grape leaves.  The last few times, he has said the grape leaves were a little on the tart side, but I have no such complaints about the falafel!  It is always crispy on the outside, tender on the inside and absolutely delicious!For meat, we usually change it up a bit sometime getting shwarma or kebabs, other times getting some of the more specialized lamb or chicken dishes.  The meat dishes have never failed to make us happy and everyone we bring is happy with the flavor and selection.We always have a ton of leftovers that we enjoy the next day, though the dips don't travel as well as I would like.  Even the next day, though, the food is good and we get one extra day of Ya Hala, which makes us happy.

by Dingle B.

Used to be one of the best in Portland, took a precipitous nose dive after co-owner John left, and has been steadily declining ever since (just ate there last night). This place used to serve food I'd want in my casket. Tabbouleh used to be made to order, but not now. The stuffed grape leaves used to be made fresh, but have been replaced with canned ones (putrid...)  The pita used to be hand made, now its something from a bag.  Prices have doubled since 2005.  2 dinners last night was $32, priced on the 2005 takeout menu for $17.  Eh?Used to have top-notch wait staff, quite refreshing compared with the inept and affected servers around this town. Then the place got hugely popular and all the girls waiting tables look miserable. I still like this place, but it's hard to watch degrade due to popularity.  They now get so busy, and there is no waiting list or anyone who gives a shit you exist.   The food is always at its worst when they are busy.   I believe they are doing a lot of batch cooking these days  The last several meals were overcooked and like they'd been on the warmer for quite some time.

by Kris W.

A 4.5 star joint - the inexpensive hot and cold mezze choices are great for sharing. Very nicely spiced dishes with a good variety of options on the menu. Skip desserts.The stuffed grape leaves were small but very tasty; hummus was light and creamy. The salad with the grape leaves was dressed in a tart, garlicky vinaigrette with a little sumac in the dressing.On a par with Aladdin and a bit less expensive but comparable quality to Karam.

by Patrick C.

If they just fixed the A/C, I'd upgrade Ya Hala to 5 stars pronto.  By far the best of the mighty Attar family restaurant dynasty (members own Nicholas's and Hoda, although they are entirely separate otherwise), Ya Hala has the best falafel I've ever tasted, even better than Chicago's mighty Sultan's Market (I'm sorry Chicagoans, please forgive me but it's true).  It manages to be somehow light and fluffy even though it's fried-- I have no idea how hey accomplish this.The prices are more than reasonable and I've yet to have anything that wasn't at least pretty good on the menu-- it's also very vegetarian friendly.But it's very hot inside.  Their lack of functional A/C makes me hesitant to eat there-- I'd rather take it to go and eat at home.  Blah.

by Dan D.

Ya Hala was my family and my introduction to Lebanese cuisine. You'd think that at my age and with my attraction to restaurants, I would have wandered across Lebanese food by now, but alas.I found this place on Yelp as being in our neck of SE Portland. The Yelp reviews were favorable, so I took my whole family. My son was a little squeamish at first, having never tried Lebanese food. We didn't have time to study the menu online before we left for dinner.First thing we did was ask the server a lot of questions about the menu. She was not only patient, she seemed delighted to introduce us to Lebanese food, taking time to walk through the menu sections, tell us what "mezza" is, how some of the dishes are prepared. Nice touch that endeared her and the restaurant to us even before we ordered.So, we ordered the Nakanik appetizer and hummus for the bread. We had all had hummus before, but not as delicious as this. The Nakanik was spicy as expected, but curbed by the greens, yogurt and tomatoes.For dinner we ordered the Lamb Kabob, Kibbeh, Makloubeh and Artichoke Hearts (beef). See attached pictures. (The pics have a yellow caste to them because of the house lighting.)My artichoke hearts entree was very tasty and reports from around the table on our other choices were also favorable. Except for me, we took food home.Like other reviewers, I thought the food was good but a little pricey. We ordered one appetizer, hummus, a beer and an iced tea, and four entrees, no dessert: $69.20. With a 15% tip and you're up to $80 for four people or $20 each. That's pricey in my book these days, even for dinner.This area of town is known as Montavilla and it appears to be going through a mini renaissance of sorts, with this strip of Strark between 82nd and 76th, just coming to life in a way it wasn't for a long time. When the department store burned down and Dickson's closed, I thought this area was going to completely die, but I am happy to see that I was wrong! We used to live around the corner at SE Alder and 76th when it was an "older" neighborhood with traditional stores. Thatcher's and Flying Pie Pizza were the only viable eateries then and now there are several. So, whoever is responsible for revitalizing this area, congrats and well done.Parking is limited, apparently, to street parking. There is a lot behind the restaurant, but there are tow-away signs and no clear signage that the lot could be used for Ya Hala patrons. I parked on the street, which has signs saying "1 Hour Parking".My daughter said the ladies room was clean and neat.Will we go back? Certainly! Maybe next time we'll make it just the wife and me for a cozier evening. Now there's a thought...

by Nader A.

Ya Hala, dolla bill, y'all!!!With the departure a couple years back of my favorite Lebanese restaurant in PDX (RIP Abou Karim), Ya Hala had stood pretty much alone as my favorite Lebanese restaurant in town. Over the years I'd say it's taken a few steps back in some areas, but improved in others, and still stands out as my fave - though it's no longer head and shoulders above the rest.Next to Indian cuisine, Middle Eastern (or Near Eastern, if you prefer) is probably my second favorite type of ethnic food. I grew up eating a lot of Egyptian food in the home, and really the differences between Egyptian and Lebanese, or Greek or Persian, or any thing else under the rubric of "Middle Eastern"  food, are pretty slim and mostly at the margins; at least in so far as their presentation in US American restaurants.Though the names may vary a bit (Arabic "Kofta" is much like Greek "bifteki", Arabic "shawarma" is a shaved lamb or beef very similar to Greek "Gyros") you'll always find lots of grilled meats and kabobs (emphasis on lamb and chicken), falafel, hommous, baba ghanouj, pita, stuffed fine leaves, etc.Ya Hala has all of this, but they venture further off the beaten path with less common Lebanese specialty dishes such as Bulgar B'Defeen, Tajen, Makloube, and Moughrabieh. I've probably sampled 95% of what's on the menu and been pleased with most of it. One thing I avoid though are the sandwiches. It's probably more of a personal preference thing, but I think they pack too much cold lettuce and yogurt or tahini in there, and not enough meat or falafel, causing the pita to disintegrate a bit.Truth be told I think you're probably better off with the specialty dishes rather than the grilled kebobs, especially when you factor in the price. It's not ridiculously expensive, and the portions are generous, but $14 for 2 skewers of lamb ($12.50 for Chicken or Kofta kebobs) with rice and small salad certainly ain't cheap. And I'm a little miffed they charge $1.50 to sub in tabouli, but I bite the bullet every time 'cuz I loves me some tabouli.Compare this with say, Dajaj over rice (one of my faves and a pretty good bargain at only $12) and you'll end up with a much more unique and equally satisfying meal of braised boneless chicken, baked on a bed of basmati rice mixed with spiced ground beef, topped with roasted almond slivers and pine nuts, and served with a side of yogurt you can stir into the meal (I usually just leave it out). If you've only ever enjoyed the straightforward grilled meats, it's definitely worth your while to venture out a bit.Ya Hala is still an attractively decorated little oasis in what has become an up-and-coming stretch of SE Stark in Montavilla. The walls are painted with themed murals, or to appear like rustic cracking brick from the old country. The recessed overhead lighting is prettied up with painted panels that hide the boring fluorescent bulbs, and lend a filtered near sepia tone to the place. The ambiance is definitely part of the experience here, and sets it apart from many other Middle Eastern restaurants.But what about those changes I alluded to earlier? Well on the plus side they've expanded by converting the attached little Middle Eastern market into a second dining room, nearly doubling the space and tables (the market moved to a new storefront, still adjacent to Ya Hala). You can still expect a wait, especially during peak hours, but if you've experienced that awkwardness of standing elbow-to-elbow with as many as a dozen others all waiting for a seat, you'll be glad they've added the space. Plus, they seem to have a better staff-to-table ratio now, whereas in the past there would often times be a single server for the whole restaurant.On the negatory though, it seems like their kitchen has been much more inconsistent as of late. I've had Kofta which has looked well cooked from the outside, turn out a little on the rare side for my tastes. Also, I don't know if they switched where they're getting some of their meats, or if they're starting to cut corners in the kitchen, but the last Chicken Kebobs we ordered (for take out) were huge and nicely seasoned, but had a disappointing amount of fat that in the past I think they'd have trimmed off.Most of the mezza dishes however are much more reliable. I LOVE their Foul Muddames, and the Arabaneet is always a delicious way to start a meal.All in all I still give Ya Hala a very high recommendation, but the window has been left open for another Lebanese restaurant to perhaps sneak ahead of this place in my heart.

by Deb P.

Ya Hala is one of our fave restaurants in SE.  We usually get takeout, although no matter how far in advance you call in your order, you will still wait at least 10 minutes for it.  We love their veggie mezza plate and the lamb shwarma sandwiches.  The falafel and the bread is hit-or-miss, sometimes fantastic, other times just mediocre.  I am happy to see that they recently expanded (by moving the Lebanese grocery further down the block).  Last time we got take-out, it was a very, very hot day.  I could see into the kitchen area and proceeded to watch one of the kitchen assistants scratch at her nose, pick at the corners of her eyes and rub her face several times over 5 minutes.  It was so gross, it made us not want to eat our dinner.  I immediately reported it to the manager, who went to speak to the person.  Hopefully she brushed up on her kitchen hygiene!Overall, Ya Hala remains a great choice in SE.  Try it!

by Lori C.

The food might be great, but I never got the chance to taste it. I was a single dinner and was made to stand at the front door without any acknowlegment for what seemed to be an eternity! After flagging down an off duty employee, I was finally seated. I wanted to to substitute the salad for some hummus  and was told that could not, I then told the waitress that I did not want to stay and left. I'm not usually this impulsive, but the whole experience was unpleasant and rude! Darn it, I so wanted that Kafta Kabob too! :-( I went next door and has a patty melt at Thatchers with prompt service and a smile

by Secret Agent Vegetables I.

Compared to many of the other middle eastern restaurants in Portland this place is a rip-off, at least two stars below Nicholas and yet it's much more expensive. Sure, you have to wait for a table at other middle eastern restaurants in Portland, but that should be a good sign. Ya Hala had bland hummus, tiny portions, and a long wait for food (despite the fact that the restaurant was only half full). We won't go back.

by Nicole A.

If you're in the mood for classic lebanese cuisine, then bustling, family-friendly Ya Hala is the place for you.  Highlights are the lamb kabobs, the orange blossom lemonade, and the vegetarian kibbeh complete with  piles of fresh mint garnish.  Large portions and never ending poofy bread cater to social dining.  It's a bit too close to 82nd, but if you're in the neighborhood, it's definitely worth stopping by.

by Marc M.

Unsafe food handling!  I and two other homecare nurses became violently ill 36 hours after eating lunch here.

by Peter A.

Was great!  I love trying new foods, the service was quick, and even though I was very hungry it seemed the food came quickly!  I am definetly going again!

by Donald B.

Everything seemed quite good.  Unless you are knowledgeable about Lebanese foods go with someone who knows what's what and try a sampling of as much as you can.  This is a very safe place to try out Lebanese and our waitress was very helpful.For those of you who have hangups about sexual orientations, you're really missing a bet if you don't try out some Lebanese food.

by Robb W.

Since I'm recovering from yet another food-induced brain lock, I will keep this short...These fine folks do what they do very well.  I've had lunch there a handful of times and have been duly impressed every time.  When it comes to Middle Eastern / Lebanese food, I generally try to use a couple of items as a measuring stick - Falafel and Baba Ganoush (sp? yeah yeah...I can eat it better than I can spell it...sheesh...)The baba is really nice.  You can taste the eggplant (rare it seems) and it has an unusual smoky flavor that I really like.  However, it's the falafel that's the real showstopper.  As others have said, it's crispy, light and very flavorful...little green hockey pucks of LOVE...Their hummus is solid (tasted a little eggy, which I thought was odd, but not unpleasant) and the tahini is very good as well.While I'm certainly no expert on this genre of food, I've had enough to know good from bad...This is good!

by rick r.

This gets my vote for Best Lebanese in Portland.  Ya Hala has come a long way since its humble beginning as The Falafel King, more an extension of the market that it has since supplanted.The baba gannouj is amazing.  Creamy, smoky eggplant that goes with everything.  The skewers are fantastic.  I do recommend going with a large group and getting one of the family-style feasts (ya hala mezza maybe), it's amazing.  You will run out of table and tummy before you run out of food.The dinner wait can be a bit of a nightmare.  They don't take reservations (though kudos...I called once to warn them of a large party on a friday night and there happened to be a table waiting for us, despite the crowd at the door).Ya Hala, while by no means fancy, is a bit nicer than Nicholas'.  If you're craving street food, the cheaper Nicholas' might be a better destination.  But for some dining, hit up the kibbeh, dajaj, makloube  whatever.

by rick r.Robb W.Donald B.

This gets my vote for Best Lebanese in Portland.  Ya Hala has come a long way since its humble beginning as The Falafel King, more an extension of the market that it has since supplanted.The baba gannouj is amazing.  Creamy, smoky eggplant that goes with everything.  The skewers are fantastic.  I do recommend going with a large group and getting one of the family-style feasts (ya hala mezza maybe), it's amazing.  You will run out of table and tummy before you run out of food.The dinner wait can be a bit of a nightmare.  They don't take reservations (though kudos...I called once to warn them of a large party on a friday night and there happened to be a table waiting for us, despite the crowd at the door).Ya Hala, while by no means fancy, is a bit nicer than Nicholas'.  If you're craving street food, the cheaper Nicholas' might be a better destination.  But for some dining, hit up the kibbeh, dajaj, makloube  whatever.Since I'm recovering from yet another food-induced brain lock, I will keep this short...These fine folks do what they do very well.  I've had lunch there a handful of times and have been duly impressed every time.  When it comes to Middle Eastern / Lebanese food, I generally try to use a couple of items as a measuring stick - Falafel and Baba Ganoush (sp? yeah yeah...I can eat it better than I can spell it...sheesh...)The baba is really nice.  You can taste the eggplant (rare it seems) and it has an unusual smoky flavor that I really like.  However, it's the falafel that's the real showstopper.  As others have said, it's crispy, light and very flavorful...little green hockey pucks of LOVE...Their hummus is solid (tasted a little eggy, which I thought was odd, but not unpleasant) and the tahini is very good as well.While I'm certainly no expert on this genre of food, I've had enough to know good from bad...This is good!Everything seemed quite good.  Unless you are knowledgeable about Lebanese foods go with someone who knows what's what and try a sampling of as much as you can.  This is a very safe place to try out Lebanese and our waitress was very helpful.For those of you who have hangups about sexual orientations, you're really missing a bet if you don't try out some Lebanese food.

by rick r.Robb W.Donald B.Peter A.Marc M.

This gets my vote for Best Lebanese in Portland.  Ya Hala has come a long way since its humble beginning as The Falafel King, more an extension of the market that it has since supplanted.The baba gannouj is amazing.  Creamy, smoky eggplant that goes with everything.  The skewers are fantastic.  I do recommend going with a large group and getting one of the family-style feasts (ya hala mezza maybe), it's amazing.  You will run out of table and tummy before you run out of food.The dinner wait can be a bit of a nightmare.  They don't take reservations (though kudos...I called once to warn them of a large party on a friday night and there happened to be a table waiting for us, despite the crowd at the door).Ya Hala, while by no means fancy, is a bit nicer than Nicholas'.  If you're craving street food, the cheaper Nicholas' might be a better destination.  But for some dining, hit up the kibbeh, dajaj, makloube  whatever.Since I'm recovering from yet another food-induced brain lock, I will keep this short...These fine folks do what they do very well.  I've had lunch there a handful of times and have been duly impressed every time.  When it comes to Middle Eastern / Lebanese food, I generally try to use a couple of items as a measuring stick - Falafel and Baba Ganoush (sp? yeah yeah...I can eat it better than I can spell it...sheesh...)The baba is really nice.  You can taste the eggplant (rare it seems) and it has an unusual smoky flavor that I really like.  However, it's the falafel that's the real showstopper.  As others have said, it's crispy, light and very flavorful...little green hockey pucks of LOVE...Their hummus is solid (tasted a little eggy, which I thought was odd, but not unpleasant) and the tahini is very good as well.While I'm certainly no expert on this genre of food, I've had enough to know good from bad...This is good!Everything seemed quite good.  Unless you are knowledgeable about Lebanese foods go with someone who knows what's what and try a sampling of as much as you can.  This is a very safe place to try out Lebanese and our waitress was very helpful.For those of you who have hangups about sexual orientations, you're really missing a bet if you don't try out some Lebanese food.Was great!  I love trying new foods, the service was quick, and even though I was very hungry it seemed the food came quickly!  I am definetly going again!Unsafe food handling!  I and two other homecare nurses became violently ill 36 hours after eating lunch here.