Hoda's - Authentic Lebanese Restaurant & Catering

I love this restaurant with all my heart and my family and i have been going to Hoda's every time we are in town for nearly a decade now. and have never had a problem. Our experience there last night was an odd one, and unfortunately has put us off of making it a destination on our trips again. Our waitress was a sweetheart, and nothing was her fault and she was slowed down by the kitchen. Menu has changed, and service was slow were the first things we noted right away. Bread came cold and when asked for hot bread it was clearly older bread that had been warmed up. They used to make the bread fresh all the time. ALWAYS ноТ. We ordered labneh as an appetizer and it came over half an hour later. Mind you it is just a cold yogurt dish. Thin layer of it on the plate when it arrived. The tabbouleh was also fluffed in the bowl with unnecessary lettuce leaves to make it look fuller. One of the owners son's I have known to be in the restaurant was eating in the open kitchen space while also moving food for customers around. Again another thing I would have NEVER seen before at this establishment. Food arrived not all at one time. Food was interesting. My food came out first and then every 10-15 minutes another dish would come out. We stopped waiting to eat together and had to eat separately as our food would get cold otherwise. My mother got falafel and it was clearly not homemade like all the times before, tasted good though. My brother and Father got kebobs, a lot of oil on the plate. Tasted fine otherwise but not the flavor we loved and remember being. The rice I don't think was saffron or even basmanti rice as far as I can tell. I am aware restaurants go under change! This is just my opinion! We also haven't been to Hoda's in almost a year since last time so maybe we caught them on an off day. And service was very nice but not enough service people for the amount of tables, a little slow. I am saying all this because I have loved this place for a while and I know what it can be. Just minor fixes thats all.

Nice spot overall. The food was good — the hummus was a little bitter, but everything else we tried was really tasty. Service was pretty slow and we didn’t get much attention, which was a bit frustrating. Also kind of funny they didn’t have toothpicks, especially with all the meat on the menu. Still, I’d recommend giving it a try.

The food was really good, but our server pretty much forgot about us and we didn’t receive some of the items we ordered. Staff was friendly and seemed a little overwhelmed by a busy weekend night. We ordered three appetizers and an entree to split. It took a long time for the first appetizer to come out (mini dips). About 20 minutes later we got the entree we ordered, and by the time we finished that entree we still hadn’t received two of our appetizers. We ended up just cancelling those appetizers and going elsewhere for dessert. I was really disappointed in this experience because my wife and I looked forward to going here for long time. Four stars because the food (at least the food we actually got) was still so good.

Insanely good. I hadn’t been in before and stopped by cause it was close to an errand I ran, and omg pleasantly surprised! I would’ve been happy with a lot more average food, but everything I got was soo good. Meat, flatbread, hummus, even the rice was especially good. And the garlic sauce 😍 Will be back many more times.

The food was very good and I would definitely go back. We went on a Saturday night and with reservations were seated immediately. Sound dampening materials like acoustic art panels on the walls would make the environment more comfortable. While it may not be noisy all the time, when we went there the conversation from the group next to us and around us was so loud we could barely hear ourselves talk.

Amazing owners , staff , experience and quality of food , every time I travel to Portland I make sure I visit — the food reminds me of my mother’s cooking . Can’t wait to go back on my next visit.

Hoda’s Catering was absolutely incredible for our wedding! The food was a huge hit with all of our guests — people are still raving about the steak bite appetizers, the sea bass with mango, and those amazing potatoes. They were flexible with our cocktail choices and made the entire catering package so easy and enjoyable to use. From start to finish, Hoda and her entire family were warm, kind, and a joy to work with. Our tasting was such a fun experience, and it gave us so much confidence going into the big day. On the wedding day itself, the servers were professional and attentive, helping everything flow seamlessly. They offer excellent variety in their food options, and every dish was prepared beautifully. We truly loved working with them and can’t recommend Hoda’s Catering enough!

We ordered A Taste of the Middle East and got chicken and lamb kebabs, tabouleh, falafel, baba ganoush, hummus, and home-baked bread. Everything was so fresh and delicious! The food tasted very authentic. We couldn’t finish it all, so we brought home a huge bag of leftovers. The staff were very friendly and even gifted us some baklava when we were leaving. Thank you! we’ll definitely be back!

The flavors of the meat were very tasty. We ordered the kibbeh for an appetizer, not much flavor, would skip that. The pita bread and dip they bring out was great. It seemed undercooked, but it was so soft and chewy. Loved it. I had a meat platter. I usually don't like lamb, but this was great. It was busy so service was a bit slow. It is noisy, and cramped.

You really can't go wrong with the mini dips. They were all delicious and $15 is a very reasonable price. We also got a lamb stew and some cocktails and all were delicious. Staff were also very friendly. I love this place!

Absolutely stunning one of a kind restaurant. This place has a very friendly staff that are prompt and professional and still fun! The decor and ambiance in this place is amazing and such a great vibe despite the busy part of being on Belmont they have a great way of making you feel more like cozy. The seating upstairs is such a great idea! And my food was amazing. The tabouli salad was so fresh and delicate with a citrus zing that was so greatly paired with the hummus. This is a must try place for sure!

We had Gyros, Hummus, and some Falafel. While I applaud a unique take on a Gyro, the meat was a bit gamey(overly fatty and difficult to chew). The meat itself didn't have much seasoning, and the other toppings didn't combine well, leading to a pretty monotonous experience. I was definitely craving some olives, cucumber, more tomatoes, or anything to provide some contrasting flavors. Instead the wrap came across as just feta and meat. The Hummus was pretty average/classic. Nothing special. On a positive note, the Falafel was really good, with a strong kick of garlic, and a lot of other flavors/textures going on. Their Gyro is a new menu item and maybe they are still working out some kinks. We'll be back to try some of their more classic dishes.

My wife and I went here about 15 years ago and this trip reminded us why we had not returned. The service was friendly and the pita bread was fresh and hot - that's where the good ends. The food was a resounding meh at best. The lamb shank was bland, all bone and tasteless. The spinach pie was lacking balance and dying for some feta. The lamb gyro was small and average at best with minimal meat. Honestly, astounded how this place stays in business with such meager, tasteless food offerings. Spent nearly $70 with no beverages and feel we were ripped off. Would've been a 1-star if not for the friendly wait staff and pita bread. By the way, cover your baklava that is sitting out in the open!!!!

This place has a fantastic atmosphere, great drinks, and the food... just amazing. I can recommend the veggie mezza platter. Every part of it is flawless and there's just so much of it. It's very welcoming and the staff is really attentive.

I liked the food but the service was not good. I had to repeatedly ask for my friend's wine, an appetizer I had ordered and my main course. By the time I got my entree I was fairly full from the appetizer and a salad they brought.. My friend's mezza platter came and then a while later more food came. I asked if she had ordered that and was told that was part of the platter. The baklava dessert was excellent. The staff was friendly and welcoming. If The restaurant was fairly loud and it was difficult to have a conversation without raising our voices. If I lived closer I would get takeout.

This place is a staple! Excellent service, quality, portions. Support this lovely family!

great prices, ready fast, loved it. falafel was cruncby and not dry at all, bread was fresh and the sauces were delish.

Best lamb shank ever. Fun neighborhood place. Its gotten more upscale in recent years but now they take credit cards. lovely neighborhood in southeast Portland which is fun to visit too.

This was probably the worst Lebanese food I have ever eaten, served by friendly people in a pleasant neighborhood joint. I think fatayer is a good measure of the quality of Lebanese food. This one was supersized and waterlogged and had so much lemon in it I couldn't taste anything else. It looked like sumac was sprinkled on top but not mixed in with the soupy, bland spinach within. The pastry was soggy and floury. I found it hard to eat. This is one of my favorite foods, so it hurt. I also had the tabouleh. For some reason it was also was brightly over-lemoned. And too salty! And the lettuce wedge was a superfluous detractor. Another Lebanese staple inexplicably ruined. How this place can remain in business, I have no idea. I hope you can somehow improve the food here.

The family loves this place. Our absolute favorite Middle-Eastern food in the city. The service is always extremely friendly and welcoming.

My bf and I live down the street from Hoda's and have always wanted to try this place! Every time we walk by we creepily look at what people are eating and it always looks SO good. Well tonight was FINALLY THE NIGHT! It looked really quiet, which is unusual, so we were seated instantly at the table of our choice. There was middle eastern music playing, beautiful decor and murals and the whole restaurant was warm and had a cozy feel. We were instantly greeted with the puffiest looking pita I have ever seen in my life and some olive oil. The pita was easily the best I've ever had! Unbelievably fluffy, tender, warm and absorbed the olive oil perfectly. Everything on the menu looked great (lots of vegan/vegetarian options!), and I decided on vegetarian eggplant dish with rice. The eggplant was stuffed with other veggies and a tomato sauce and it was all so delicious and tender. The rice was HEAVENLY!!!! Oh my gosh and together with the eggplant it was the perfect medley of flavors and fireworks in my mouth. I was so full, but couldn't stop myself from clearing my plate and even continuing onto a second pita. I wish that I had room for desert but I will be back asap!!!

OMGosh! Went to Hoda's during the Belmont street fair today. It's a place I have not visited in years. I have to say it was outstanding to say the least. From our server Stephanie to the array of food we ordered, my husband and I were blown away how good everything was. We will certainly tell our friends about you and will be back with family soon. You have a customer for life! Thanks for everything. Suzanne and Peter Corvi

April 2021 dinner Saturday night during covid social distancing: We ate inside. They seemed pretty busy and although a number of tables were available we has to wait about 10 minutes before getting seated. Once seated we waited at least 7 minutes before any server came to our table. That was about the only negative we felt the entire time we were there. The Mini-Dip Platter is a must try as it consists of 4 different humus, like a humus sappler and all 4 humus were delicious. I felt like it was a deal at $14. Tabouleh Salad was very nice. $7 The Batata was good. $9 The Falafel Plate was pretty good $8 Sambousek with Feta was good. $11 + $2 for the Feta. Beef Kafta Kabab I found to be a bit too salty. It was good except for too much salt. $8 We got a bottle of Lebanese Ksara red wine (waiter called it their "house wine") and all of us enjoyed it. $29 Nice people and overall a good experience.

I was craving something a little sweet, a baklawa in particular and drove by this lovely and family owned middle eastern restaurant. The baklawa really tasted how it's suppose to! No different types to choose from, just the Original! Loved the baklawa best tasting one I had here in Portland definetly coming back to enjoy a lunch with the family :)

Great food! Excellent service. Mint lemongrass green tea highly recommended to accompany generous portions.

As a Detroit native, I have been spoiled with some of the best Lebanese / Middle Eastern food in the country. Being new to Portland, I was excited to find Hoda's and their good ratings. Unfortunately, my family and I were all disappointed! The food just wasn't very good and most of our order was so salty we all felt gross afterwards. Our order consisted of Hummus (salty), shawarma which my wife described as gnarly, rice, lentil soup ( so salty I had one bite only) and a kebob (also salty). Most of this food was wasted or given to our dog. After reading many great reviews, I so wanted to love this place but again...what a disappointment!

This was a great meal. We made reservations and brought in a LARGE group. We filled the downstairs up. The team working was small, but managed to keep up. We had preordered, and they had our salads out shortly after we arrived. The hummus was delicious, I think we needed more pita bread to keep up with it. The lamb kabobs were delicious. The meat was juicy and cooked well. Great service, great food!

What a great restaurant! The food was amazing - from the drinks to the hummus to the assortment of savory 'pies'! We unfortunately came on a day where the back room was completely reserved, and the staff seemed overwhelmed (maybe not enough people?), so we had to wait a while for a table. We were seated upstairs, which was a great ambiance, but we felt a little forgotten at times. But just let me say that I would DEFINITELY eat here again. Yum!

Hoda catered our wedding back in May. We had about 100 guest which all stated they loved the food. I actually got a couple of plates myself, and enjoyed every bit of it. Staff were super sweet and professional. Hoda walked around and checked with everyone to make sure that everything was provided. Wife and I are forever grateful to Hoda making our special day meaning and delicious to our guests.

Took advantage of the $40 kebob family meal, and wow was I amazed. First off - the hummus, a showstopper in of itself. Not only was the hummus larger than my hand (we're thinking pie-sized here, folks), but it is the best hummus I have ever had. Somehow, the mix of olives, onions, and whatever oil(s) they put really seal the deal. Add this to 5 pillowy pitas, and that's already a huge bonus. I would return for this hummus alone. Not to be ignored are the kebobs. The mix between chicken, pork, and another more sausage type lamb (?) along with the roasted veggies more than satisfied our high-standard palettes. The spices mixed with the basmati rice also made it a memorable meal. What I was not fond of was the salad, but admittedly I am not a huge mint person. However, the meal more than makes up for it. On top of all this deliciousness, they source their meat locally - there was a sign in front of their restaurant that proudly stated which Oregon farm they procured their meat from. I cannot recommend this place enough! I look forward to returning during and post-covid.

My wife and I have been Hoda customers for many years. We will not be going back again after our experience on October 11, 2023. My wife is on a special diet and on their web site they had a plate of grilled vegetables. We got there and I ordered a glass of wine which came and I'd taken a sip or two when it was time to place our dinner order. My wife ordred the vegetables only to be told we don't have those. They were removed from the menu a while ago. We complained that it was on the menu just an hour ago. She settled for something else, but they were not very nice about the mix up. Another person on staff mentioned a couple other customers also complained about that... If they had offered to discount something off our bill for the mix up, that would have been good customer service. They didn't. We are done. That is shitty service.

Food was ok, not great, service leaves a lot to be desired. Came in on a sat night, place was moderately busy, maybe 3-4 tables occupied inside, 2-3 outside. Seemed to be plenty of staff. We were guided to a table pretty quickly, a lady on her own walked in right after us and chose to sit outside. No menus or water were given. Staff seemed to be doing their own thing. One young guy was walking around seemingly lost but also very much avoiding eye contact with anyone. One waitress was busy chatting with the either the guy who seemed to be the only one that could make drinks or the chefs - anything but check on tables. Waited probably 15-20min for a menu. The woman outside was still waiting for a menu when we got ours. Waited another 15-20min for someone to come back and take our orders - outside lady had given up and left by then. Food was nice but not amazing. Chicken was cooked well and tender but overly garlicky for us. Dips were the highlight but only got one piece (would have been nice for the staff to advise it came with only one and we might have ordered another). The one waitress dropped our food and dashed so we couldn't even order another if we wanted. Finished meal promptly and waited for what felt like half an hour but was probably another 20min for the bill before we got up and paid at the desk. Won't be back and would not recommend sadly.

Yummy! I haven't had Lebanese food in a while and I enjoyed every bite at Hodas. I got completely supple pita bread that melted in my mouth. When I ate it all I was given more and a delux dipping sauce. Yummmm. The basmati rice here is next level and my falafel made me want to break out in song. I cannot wait for next time.

Their Muhamara is my favorite! Love it and would never get bored of it! It's just amazing. I have tried it at another place but nothing beats the taste of Muhammara from Honda's

Hoda's is one of my favorite restaurants! The staff is super friendly and the owners are amazing! The pita bread with hummus is my favorite appetizer and I would highly recommend the lamb and Hoda's margarita.

Yummy!!! Very delicious Lebanese authentic food. It is been a very long time since I had the perfect Hummus taste exactly like home. Falafel as well. I highly recommended to give it a try.

Great little gem with delicious food and great service. You can feel the love in this family operated business. Our server Laith was awesome and full of energy. Thank you for a wonderful evening on this rainy night. We had the fatteh with beef, chicken shawarma with fries and lamb kabobs everything was delicious

We tried the taste of the Middle East which was excellent. More than enough food with three to-go boxes! The drinks were good and our waiter (Wael) was fantastic. Definitely come back.

Our family has been coming here for years, and it's always maintained it's welcoming atmosphere, friendly service, and good food. Portions are generous, but I think the best part of Hoda's is the service. Whether you're there for a weeknight dinner or a bachelorette lunch the staff will always go above and beyond!

Update: I completely forgot I had written a previous review and I had the same experience. I guess I should check my reviews next time. At least it was consistently not good. :( ------------------------------------------- I ordered four items via GrubHub last night. Three of the four items were either missing or wrong. Also, I requested no onions in each item (I double-checked, it was written in the instructions). - Grilled Eggplant Sandwich (Vegetarian) - full of raw onions - Children's Combo - MISSING - Maanek Sandwich - the only item that was correct - Fattoush Salad - full of raw onions, also not worth the cost The two sandwiches were soggy, disintegrating messes. It was as if they had been sitting for a while and completely fell apart upon opening the tin foil. What a mess. I was also given a soup for some reason so I tasted it - there was no depth of flavor and the lemon was overpowering. I like lemons but it was the only taste and it gave off lemon water vibes and it was not good. I'm not sure if where the miscommunication was but it was a big one. I'm not sure what happened last night but I doubt I'll be giving this place a try any time soon.

We came to Hoda's last night for dinner while visiting Portland and we loved everything about it. Service was exceptional and the food was amazing. We ordered the wild salmon summac crust, the lamb gyros, as well as the chicken shawarma fries. Owners were very welcoming and friendly. We'll definitely visit again every time we're in Portland.

Was visiting my family in Portland and we decided to have our last dinner together here. Amazing food! My parents who hardly go off the beaten path when it comes to food totally loved it! We ordered the feast and the 6 of us could not finish it. Plenty of leftovers, great drinks and wonderful service! Highly recommend this spot...

Very fresh! Tasty. A lil overpriced. Not a fan of the orange blossom in the baklava but it was very moist.

I've eaten here before but it's been years since I came back. I just realized they have a pretty awesome to go family meals. These are a great value and delicious too! I've tried both the falafel and kabob tray. You get a hearty serving of the entree, salad, hummus and the best part...delicious fresh made pita. So delicious, warm and pillowy! The food is fresh, plenty for next day leftover and the service is top notch. The girl on the phone was sweet and efficient. I thought the kabobs were really tasty, a touch over cooked. I wish more restaurants had this type of offering when take out is all we are comfortable with. Definitely give this place a try!

LOVE it here. Staff was super nice and so welcoming. PLUS their Pita bread! Soooo yummy. Not to mention the food was so delicious and freshly made. Highly recommend you come and our waitress was the sweetest and definitely motivated me to go again! :,)

Zac was our waiter. My partner and I enjoyed the Beirut dinner for 2 and a side of babaghanoush. I had a Hoda's Margareta and that was delicious! We ordered baklava for dessert. That was yummy. We both enjoy Mediterranean food and can honestly say this is a 10/10. We will return!

I placed an order through their website and arrived at my scheduled pickup time. I had to wait almost an hour after the scheduled pickup time for my food. I received a complimentary dessert but it seemed like they didn't really respect my time or care that I was a paying customer. I was told my order had not been written down? Which I'm not sure I understand when I used their website and they had all of my order information. I understand things happen in kitchens on busy nights, but I tipped for a takeout order only to be treated as an afterthought. The chicken shawarma sandwich was delicious, but overall the experience left a bad taste in my mouth. I won't be coming back.

A cozy place for a decent lunch meeting. You cannot tell much fron the exterior, but when going in the interior, it gives you that cozy feeling. They have lunch specials, which is a plus and makes it easier to order. I ordered the chicken shawarma bowl. This came with the basmati rice, marinated chicken thighs, and some grilled veggies. The chicken was sort of bland to me, but ther veggies were delicious. The garlic dip was a bit too light for me. Overall, the food was ok, but service was friendly and prompt, which made experience good.

This is my third time coming here. This place is star restaurant. The pita bread is amazing it comes with a really nice basil pesto. It is very fresh. I order a Salmon and it was amazing very tender and delicate and very moist. It melts on your mouth. The rice is fluffy and light with a really good flavor that they add to it. I also ordered the beef kabob quick was juicy and tender with lots of flavor. I will be back for my fourth time

What a wonderful place tucked into SE Portland! A fixture now, we have been going for many years joining them in person where Hani and his wife welcome people to a wonderful evening at their tasty restaurant. We have also used them to cater many events and they provide usually the 'extra' amount so everyone can take leftovers home! Highly recommend and always on my list of great places to enjoy a big family dinner!

First time dining at Hoda's & it was an amazing experience! Staff is very friendly! The food was exquisite! We got the 8 course meal for 2 & it was phenomenal! We will definitely come back and bring our friends! Always happy to support small a business.

I ordered catering from this restaurant and was very disappointed. I ordered chicken, rice and kafta. They never gave me my rice (said they left it in the oven), the kafta I asked for wasn't even kafta- instead they gave me kafta sliders. Basically the only thing they got right on my order was the chicken and that was very dry and bland. I kindly called the restaurant l, explained the problem and asked for a refund for my catering order. I spoke with Hoda herself. She sounded like she was annoyed with my request even though her staff made the mistakes in my order. She very rudely said she'd refund the rice only. I told her this wasn't fair and that I'd write a review about my experience and she basically told me "go ahead". Clearly customer satisfaction doesn't matter to this business. I spent $200 only to have 1/3 of my order missing, 1/3 of my order incorrect, and the remaining 1/3 of my order was barely edible. Hoda was dismissive and rude to me and made me feel like my issue didn't matter. I wouldn't recommend this business for catering and I won't be coming back again.

I had originally planned to go to Two Brothers, just down the street, but since they closed early I found this place and ate here on a whim. Be prepared to wait, but it will absolutely be worth it! Everything was excellent - maybe one of the best meals I've had in Portland. Start with the house made humos and pita - delicious. The green lentil soup was a good precursor to the main course. I had the chicken schwarma and it was the best chicken schwarma I've ever had - super flavorful, tender, and the tzatziki was perfect. Highly recommend.

Since moving up here, I've gotten hooked on Lebanese cuisine. There aren't that many places in town, but the few that are around are all quality places. I used to live up in the Beaumont Wilshire neighborhood and Fremont was where I tended to end up frequently. Hoda's used to have a location there but I never had the opportunity to eat there. The original location on Belmont I've passed many many times but also I hadn't the time to go in. I was with several friends across the street at Aalto and yes, they have food, but I wanted something more substantial to eat. So me and one of friends were going to hit up a friends food cart, but they were closed, so we decided (and the pouring rain helped decide for us) to go into Hoda's. The warmth was helpful. We dried off, sat down and ordered some drinks and food. A roasted cauliflower dish for my friend and a chicken shwarma wrap with salad and hummus for me. Our server was quite friendly and made the margarita suggestion for my friend and he loved it. Fresh juices and according to him, some good tequila, not the well stuff. I stuck with a beer. The food was great. I actually like the cauliflower dish (that shocked me) and my food was terrific. The chicken was seasoned well, all the veggies inside were tasty, the salad was dressed well and the hummus was creamy. They served us some hot pita bread to dip in the hummus as well. Really good. It was a nice break from the downpour outside. Hoda's treated us well, and I'd like to go back and try some of the other options. There was an eggplant and beef dish that was unfortunately sold out that night. It looked like something I would have enjoyed eating. Oh well, next time and it won't take me so long to get in here.

We were craving some Lebanese and decided to check this place out, so glad we did! The food was packed with flavor and is owned by a lovely family. They are also donating money to Lebanon which we supported in addition to.

One of my favorite restaurants. The food is fresh, authentic, delicious. Service is exceptional. What a treat in the Portland culinary scene. Do yourself a favor and try this place for yourself.

I think this has to be one of the best places I've ate at in a long time, and not to mention how wonderful the staff are. I ate here last night with some friends before they left to Holland and we were shocked. I can't say enough good things about Hoda's team. We got the Meat Mezza, cheese pie, and lots of other things. Everything was well prepared and the flavors hit the spot. Sami, one of the staff members came over and chatted with us a bit. Stand up guy! Thanks for serving our neighborhood. You guys have great food + service.

Solid food and decent service. It was a tad bit relaxed, but once the food was delivered, I enjoyed it. Not a lot of places offer gluten free pitas, so this was a treat. I got the chicken shwarma sandwich with the gluten free pita. It comes with hummus and a salad. The sauce they use is super garlicky and delicious. They have a decent happy hour menu. And the serving sizes are decent as well.