Amir's Motherland Dish

Maria was wonderful. They were swamped with Ramadan orders and she still took a few moments to welcome us as first time visitors, and even gave us a plate of appetizers while we waited for or meals. The food was absolutely delish, affordable, and there was SO much of it! Our 2 orders could have fed 4 easily (and the leftovers were so good the next day). There were a few tables to sit down and eat, but it seems like they might do mainly to-go business. This reminded me of some the small family run deli style restaurant in Mexico, Thailand and Hong Kong. The menu is different than you will find online, I had the beef with veg and sticky cornmeal, he had lamb shank and chicken with rice. We will for sure be going back!

This is the second time I have ordered from this place, in every sense of the word, wow, the food is delicious and clean, as if it was made by a family. I highly recommend it. Thank you, my heroic friends.

Very Good food complete halal I love it

I accidentally ended up at Amir’s as the Ethiopian restaurant I was visiting was closed. I explained was unfamiliar with the East African cuisine and immediately was given some delicious tea and samples of the yummy samosas and sweet bread. The very friendly owner offered to make me whatever Ethiopian food I was craving and explained her own dishes. I decided on a veggie platter and a goat and rice dish . It was all delicious. I am so glad I found this place and this will now be my go whenever I pass through the area. Highly recommend!!! They can make so much more than the few dishes on the menu

The gentleman who works here is so nice! He was so happy and outgoing- true Ray of sunshine to your day. The goat with basmati rice was delicious and would highly recommend. This was my first experience eating Somalian food and really enjoyed it.

The food and service here are amazing! My very first time eating any type of African dishes, goat/rice and veggies and tilapia/rice and veggies, and both were delicious and the service I received was genuine and detail oriented. The server walked me through their menu explaining what everything was. Many locals came and grabbed their meals here too which speaks about the authenticity of the food. Highly recommended! 6/5 stars 🤩

I feel fortunate to have made the impulsive decision to stop in as I drove by. I was not looking for this gem but now that I’ve visited, I will be back again and again. As someone who knows very little about East African cuisine, I cannot speak to anything beyond my own individual experience of flavors and textures. I was so impressed by the complex yet masterfully balanced combinations of spices and textures in each bite. I was given some tips on traditional eating which truly enhanced the experience. What I can say based on some level of experience is that the goat was the most balanced, flavorful, and tender I have ever eaten. Highly recommended.

I came to visit my friends and we came to this place,I really like their plate,Wa ware 6 people and 2 plate was enough for us🔥😍😍😍😍

This was my first time here. Upon arriving, we were greeted by a friendly individual who appeared to be the only one staffing the restaurant that night. Decided on the pasta with fish and was thoroughly impressed. It took approximately 30 minutes to receive the food, but it was well worth the wait. Fish was cooked to perfection and paired well with the pasta and hot sauce. Was so impressed with the food, I'm already planning my next visit back. This is not the place to go if you only care about the ambiance of a restaurant. This is absolutely the place to go if you want quality East African food.

Ordered the spaghetti with tilapia, was given complimentary bread on the side due to the wait. I will wait every single time for this tilapia, the seasoning, the crispy skin and fins, the juicy flaky meat that resided under all that crisp, and the acidic hot sauce to cut through the richness. Absolutely fantastic. Admittedly, I went here only for the spaghetti because I've always been curious about it being offered at East African spots. I was already full from eating at another spot that was out of the spaghetti, was planning on saving this for later. But, I couldn't help but finish the tilapia because of how good it was. Honestly, can skip the spaghetti, but the tilapia and bread that was served was so delicious I couldn't stop eating. Friendly service from the guy who took my order. The wait time was a bit high, but again, I'd do this wait for this level of food every time. Prepare to get your tastebuds excited.

It takes a while to get your order, but good things come to those who wait! The portions are generous and the food was delicious. We got a chicken wrap and a chicken and chapati. The meat was seasoned well and tender, the chapati hot and flaky. The ambiance is clean and functional. We will be back!

Try this place out. I agree, the decor is not easy on the eyes, but I gave em a shot anyway and it was surprisingly good. Got a bunch of anjera, rice, stewed veggies and was stuffed after I ate it all. If you are not a regular, it might be hard to order. The person at the counter I read is named Ubax? The lady is soft-spoken, very nice and willing to work with you if you are seeing their menu or trying the cuisine for the first time.

We went here late, an hour before closing, on a hot Sunday day and ordered plenty of food to go, as requested and recommended by the owner as she seemed disinterested in us when we entered. It was a bit of odd behavior but it made sense when we opened our food after receiving it after maybe five minutes of waiting. What we got was about 3 pounds of lightly seasoned white rice and three drumsticks that did smell quite nice. But that was it. We didn't even receive a quarter or what we ordered and for some reason that was acceptable by this place. It felt like this was their last day of operation. This is very disappointing and we composted the food not knowing it it was even sanitary to eat. $25 down the drain. I don't like to write reviews like this but they failed across the board. I hope your experience doesn't match ours.

Went searching for some halal food , as we were new to Portland. Yelped it and saw some pictures with beef and mutton on rice , directly went to the restaurant . Ordered the chicken plate , and believe me. It was best food I had in Portland. They gave us a soup,banana and salad complimentary . They even gave us vimto and mango milkshake for free of cost ! Who on earth does that? Never in California , I got anything for free of cost . And at the end bill was just 10 dollars ! A great family run restaurant which I recommend to everyone !

Enter this place and transport yourself into Somalia. That's how real it gets here. Grab a seat and one of the sons will get you a menu. Family run. Meals start off with a salad and a banana. Some juice as well. They have the best goat in town here. The beef is also good. Each dish is served over a large bed of rice. The spices are indescribable. I devoured my plate. Peppers, onions, and great seasoning. It may be safe to say most patrons would probably like more meat. Staying true to tradition rice is the main source of food and meat is a luxury. This place is spot on with portions. Pay at the kitchen window. The lady dressed in traditional Somali clothing has the most beautiful heartwarming smile. Very thankful for our visit and the feeling was mutual. What a great experience to take a step off the beaten path and have entered this unique restaurant. We will be back.

First time in, ordered the chicken and rice. Everything was delicious and in an abundance. Had the tea as well and it was a great end to it all. Super tasty all around and will definitely be back

This place is such a gem. Please eat here and support this local spot. Food is amazing, fresh, and plentiful. The staff are friendly and kind. While decor is humble and location not ideal. The food is fantastic and affordable. They also serve breakfast and deliver!

First off, when you enter Amir's, it may strike you as abandoned or otherwise non-operational. It looks like the bodegas from New York that notoriously sold illicit items and carried a faux inventory that just sat collecting dust. Entering Amir's, you are welcomed by a large cafeteria-type room with tables and chairs, shelves and drink cabinets. Most of the shelves and cabinets are empty but a few are stocked with juice. The place isn't kept clean. There were sticky areas on tables, halfway filled cups of tea left here and there, and it was generally unkept. I wasn't sure if they were still in business until a woman greeted me from the other side of a white wall separating the kitchen from the dining area. There is a small window in this wall, from which you are greeted and you order. It being my first time here, I ordered what I figured would be familiar, quickly prepared, and delicious. And it was. I ordered the chicken and rice plate, anticipating something akin to the Halal I got in Manhattan so often. The food was done pretty quickly, and I took it to-go, not feeling particularly comfortable there. It wasn't until then that she offered me tea. I'm not sure what type of tea it is, but it's sweet and satisfying. I took a cup to-go with my food. I wasn't offered anything else, just the main chicken plate and the tea. At $10, I felt this was too much for too little. Reading here that most received soup and salad, juice, etc. - I can certainly say that this would have been welcomed. The food was undoubtedly delicious. It wasn't spicy, and I didn't love the "hot sauce" offered, but this wasn't an issue. The jasmine rice was great, the chicken tender and delicious, and everything else ideally balanced. It was a great sized plate as well, and the tea was a nice compliment. I would recommend Amir's to anyone looking for this type of food irrespective of the ordering environment or with the intention of taking it out (to-go). It reminded me of some middle eastern foods I've had, as well as the halal food so readily available on NYC street corners. If you're in the mood for something new, or maybe it's something familiar for you, try this place. It's always worth giving your local independently-owned restaurants a chance.

The food was delicious, especially if you want authentic East African food. I lived in Mozambique for two years and the atmosphere and quality of food brought back a flood of memories. Everyone was kind and friendly and we even met the cook! She told us she made everything from scratch so don't be surprised if the food might take longer than you expect at a typical restaurant but it's well-worth it. I ordered the Ugali (the most common staple starch in East African cuisine) and spinach, perfect consistency and yummy flavors. It came with a peppery goat broth and a salad. The sambusas were also fantastic with curry spices and beef. A little doughy inside, but otherwise perfect. Another person ordered the goat with rice, which is great to try if you've never had it before. The rice reminded me of spiced Indian rice with bold flavors. I highly recommend this place, give it a try!

The food here is FANTASTIC! I think it is easy to write this place off because it does not behave like a typical American style restaurant. I hope that non-somali customers can appreciate the space for what it is. Great prices, big portions. Both times I've gone their the meat (goat) has been superbly well cooked, not dry. Try both types of the free tea. One is chia. Also, watermelon juice is free! Tastes like a jolly rancher. Pro tip: walk up to the window upon arrival. Pro-pro-tip - you get more food if you eat there.

Amazingly good. I didn't know what to expect, because I'd never had Somalian food before. I got the goat with rice, and it was perfect- flavorful and very filling. Did you know that goat is the healthiest red meat and has fewer calories than the same amount of chicken? We all should have more goat in our diet. The service was slow but helpful and friendly. It was a Saturday afternoon, so I didn't mind the leisurely pace at all. My lunch came in courses- salad and a banana, then a delicious bowl of broth, then the rice and meat. Everything was better than I could have hoped for, especially considering how small and unassuming the restaurant space is. I'm sure I'll be back- it was inexpensive, tasty, and much healthier than most meals you can get for $10!

Really enjoyed this meal. Great food with lots of flavor. I would have ideally liked a little less rice and little more meat or a sambosa. They gave me some fantastic tea why I waited and gave my daughter some very sweet pink drink. This place is big on the hospitality and informality. Limited menu, but both the fish and the goat were great. Good food from good people.

Good and cheap. Meat is good, rice is alot (got to bring it home). Good tea. The downside is the ambience and surroundings.

Good food and service the people here are very nice although sometimes they aren't open the hours they advertise so be prepared for that. But otherwise a great restaurant.

Sticky floors with not a mop in sight. No hot water running in the lavatory. One sticky laminated menu and an odd glory hole to speak through to order. Sticky, dirty table. I could tell what the previous customer had to eat. Prices were outdated on menu so there was a surprise unhappy ending. I had to remind her to include the soup and salad. My entire lunch hour was spent here. I grabbed a beer at The Candlelight bar while I waited 45 minutes for new batch of soup to cook. Free tea was delicious. No brown rice available but jasmine rice was. Tip: call ahead and have meal to take-out.

Wow, the images on the menu look really attractive, but how about the rest of the place? Omg. This place is an absolute germophobe's nightmare. Very filthy walls and counters. Looked like a place I visited in Tijuana, Mexico decades ago, Very poor looking and unkempt. Wait until you see the cooking/kitchen area: filthy floors and surroundings. Food in deli glass case(behind take-out counter) seem awfully questionable because how food was stored, etc. Doesn't look fresh and clean compared to nicer resturants I've been to in the past. Wonder if they are overdue for a health inspection? If you really need to eat here, there is always Providence Medical Center down the road in case you get food poisoning. Final note: I almost went here to use a Groupon from them, but they no longer honor the voucher (expires 6/19). Groupon vouchers will not work at this location. And that's fine with me because this place looks really gross anyway.

This place is my favorite place in Portland! Please be respectful of it. The best African food in Portland. The meal always comes with broth, salad and banana. The service is wonderful. Everything is halal!! The owners are so great and helpful, often offering juice to drink at no charge. Everything on the menu is delicious!

Cultural authentic, or so I think... It's definitely a place where Africans go to eat so I'm assuming it's very true to the continent. Great service and food in a somewhat corner store-like environment. I love hole in the wall type places so it's definitely a good fit for me. They brought me a delicious dish of beef and rice along with the amazing hot tea, soup, salad AND juice. It was awesome. I'm so full! For like two days I'll be full. Love their hot sauce too. After I was done, the waiter cane out to tell me possibilities for my next order. I love that, I'll be back :)

Amazing little gem of a place. The food is amazing!!!! So much flavor at such an affordable price. The goat and beef plates and side dishes were perfect. Well be back.

Food is soooo good. Love the rice with the goat meat but you have to make an improvement for the restaurant ...it looks dirty and unattractive

Well, she ain't much to look at. And maybe you should just carry out. But our chicken rice dish was delicious! Well seasoned, generous portions, cool staff. Their verde sauce is also pretty great!

ordered the beef and rice, arrived via Ubereats hot and well packaged. The rice was actually good and the dish was well seasoned. However, first bite of the meat ruined the meal. Chewy, dry inedible. Tried to chew 4-5 more pieces, same result. Had to spit it out! Not a fan.

Amazingly nice family running an authentic Somali restaurant. Delicious sambusas and spinach as well as tender beef and flavorful chicken! Sweet tea was a nice touch throughout the meal.

This place has the best goat I have had in Portland, and probably on the West coast. Goat is one of those meats that people try and may not like because it is so easy to cook it wrong. They do it perfectly. The beef looks really good too, but I haven't tried it. Very generous portions. The homemade sauces are soooooo good, as was the sambusa. I agree with the reviews about the restaurant itself not being a typical American one, which is exactly why I like it. Service was very friendly, I will keep coming back.

Delicious!!! I've gotten the rice and goat 3x (they always recommend it to me) and it's amazing. The rice is so flavorful with spices, onions, and other veggies and the goat is delosh. The sambusa I got today was amazing...couldn't really tell what was in it (meat and onions?) because I shoved it in my face so quickly. Today I saw another customer order fried fish with spinach and flatbread (chapati) and I'll be going back as soon as I finish this enormous portion of rice and goat (3 meals for me...) to try it. The people are super friendly and taught me "thank you" in Somali (mahadsanid). Go!!!

Amazing food! Hidden gem in the neighborhood!!! Very friendly women cooking and they remembered me when i went back. Great food. Definitely try their homemade bread.

Simple menu but the food was so satisfying hot bowl of broth green salad with yogurt dressing perfectly cooked rice with goat with an amazing citrusy hot sauce topped off with a banana. Highly recommend. This will be a go to restaurant when we are craving comfort food. Lovely servers we were served delicious slightly sweet very light rolls "to try" they were amazing.Please patronize this restaurant.

Best Somali food in town also has a halal store if u like your spices and rice and etc

Amazing food, everything is homemade just amazing and authentic, good people good service and friendly

Delicious food and great service. The rice and flat bread are so flavorful! Also, a bunch of food food a great price.