Lil' Shalom

I absolutely love Lil’ Shalom, but honestly you can’t go wrong with any of the amazing restaurants from Sesame Collective. I’ve been a few times to LS and love the ambiance and feel in the restaurant, with the open kitchen and wood fire oven in plain view. The burnt beef ends hummus with pastrami and roasted jalapeño, served with fresh pita, were incredible. I also loved the grilled octopus with smashed potatoes. Every bite was decadent. And a great option for vegetarians is the Shalom Y’all Plate with some of the best falafel I’ve ever had. Great food, great service, fun ambiance - can’t go wrong with Lil’ Shalom!

A small, cozy spot that definitely deserves a solid 4.5. We tried the lamb gyro, burnt end beef, and chicken kebab with mejadara rice—all were pretty good!

Good food, diverse menu. We had the lamb shawarma and chicken schnitzel, both well flavored but I enjoyed the lamb the most. Also got the mejadara lentil and rice plate. They did ask to see vaccination status in order to eat inside which was nice, and surprisingly all too rare around here. There were heated booths outside that started to fill soon after we got there, indoor seating is very limited.

One of the best Mediterranean place and food that I have had in PNW. I stopped here while visiting Portland with my friend. Their Turkish coffee is delicious! Excellent Food, ambiance, staff.

We find this place on a trip to Portland. The restaurant is fairly small, but we were fortunate to have a day where we could sit at their outdoor tables. We tried the Nazareth kebab and an order of the classic hummus. The kebab was fresh and very flavorful. The hummus was smooth and tasty. I would recommend ordering a and pita if you get hummus.

Loved everything about it. The vibe is cool, food wonderful with layers of flavors. Just don't spend much time thinking about it ..go..good prices too.

Wow 😮!!! Best meal in Portland. Loved everything we had here. Our party of 6 literally was liking their fingers. Humus was unreal. Pita bread amazing. Shakshuka wonderful. Hold on, I am running out of adjectives. Anyway you have to go

Absolutely delicious. Going in with a small 3 person group that has a vegan and an adventurous eater, it felt like there was something for everyone. Served up family style to share. Everyone thought they are a little more than they would have normally, but because it was just so yummy we finished off our 3 dishes. Best part is nobody felt overly stuffed.

Been a couple times, the food is pretty good. It's a small place w/ mostly bar seating and a couple small tables inside & outside. Small simple menu but they had a couple interesting sounding things besides the normal Mediterranean fare. I tried their octopus dish, and some lamb stew. The stew was hearty w/ tender lamb, potatoes carrots and quinoa. Simple but tasty. The octopus was pretty good too, very tender but w/ a different sort of spicy sweet sauce (sorta like piri piri). Served w/ fresh arugula & olives with some fried sweet potatoes which seemed kinda like an interesting combo but they went pretty well together. Order at the counter. Overall pretty good if a tad high on the price. I may come back to try their huge sandwich style gyros.

With quick service and some counter seating, it's a good spot for a quick stop if you need to grab a bite on the way elsewhere or running some errands downtown. That said, it left us wanting more. We got the braised beef hummus to start and shwarma sandwiches for our meals. Service was quick and friendly, and portion sizes were decent enough - however, the flavors and spices were missing and were a bit bland for our liking. We visited upon opening, just after 11am, as we needed a bite to eat before we checked out of our hotel and headed to the airport. Full disclosure: I'm from a Jewish background and outside the PDX area, and my partner is of Middle Eastern descent - so, our palates may be a bit skewed. I feel that the palate for Lil' Shalom may be perfect for those who are unfamiliar with stronger Israeli/Middle Eastern flavors.

We found this on Yelp while stopping in downtown Portland for the afternoon. The whole experience was great! Very friendly staff and they helped us decide what to order for a family style meal. Well priced and good size portions to satisfy my family of 5. The food was delicious and very flavorful. They had unique flavor combinations and it was fun to sit at the "counter" where we could see them prepping the food and cooking the fresh pita bread. Definitely recommend for a casual lunch or dinner!

Wow, what a nice surprise! There are so many good Mediterranean restaurants in Portland, but we had a few lovely surprises when we tried Lil' Shalom. Those fries! So crispy, beautifully seasoned, topped with drizzles of both tahini and red s'hug and so delicious! I never expected fries to steal the show but these sure did! We also had the excellent grilled cauliflower and it was very good. I like my cauliflower a bit softer but the flavor was fantastic and the sauces were just wonderful. The Shalom Y'all sampler plate was fine but did not measure up to our other two dishes. Everything on it was good but the cauliflower and the fries are so great they completely overshadowed the sampler plate. This place has limited seating, only at counters or the bar, something to be prepared for. Service was friendly and helpful, and we will definitely be back!

Lil' Shalom in downtown PDX is a charming destination for Mediterranean cuisine. The atmosphere is casual and cozy. All the dishes offer various flavors. They have great cocktails, frozen drinks, wine list and Turkish coffee for beverages, along with a diverse menu. While the dishes are flavorful, some portions seem smaller in comparison to the price (also given you order from the counter and wait with the number.) With only a limited number of indoor seats, the interior can feel a bit cramped. However, outdoor seating is available. The staffa were friendly, but during my visits, they appeared incredibly busy.

My kid and her beau love this place, and its big sister Shalom Y'All (on Taylor Street. See: https://www.yelp.ca/map/shalom-yall-restaurant-portland-2). I think these two restaurants have the same owner/s. On my most recent visit, we came here, to L'il Shalom for dinner and it was great. Unlike Shalom Y'All, this L'il Shalom is indeed little. It doesn't seat a lot of people, and the seating that is there is primarily barstools along a counter on the wall, and a few seats in front of the main counter where they take your order and ring you up. Because I was there on a cold and rainy April night, it was cold in this restaurant as the place is so small, so whenever the door opened, the wind and cold came in, and essentially all the seating is in close proximity to the door. I wouldn't score this place highly for ambiance. But the food is great and that's what ultimately counts, right? The pita was incredible, as was the hummus. Probably the best pita and hummus I've ever had. I loved the chicken shawarma and my kid and her partner loved their platters, too (I forget what they ordered). Prices were reasonable for the amount of food you get and the high quality. It all was great!

Still an interesting spot with some excellent eastern Mediterranean food. The menu is now smaller and the cocktails are gone in favor of a few spritzes. The service is still a bit disorganized but it works and it is still friendly. I like it when I am in town alone because I can eat at the counter.

I waited to long too write this review and I can't recall exactly what I ordered lol (and forgot to take pictures) but it was amazing!! I was impressed with my (takeout) meal and it left a very positive impression on me so I wanted to be sure to leave a great review. Would highly recommend!

Amazing food! Not sure how that hummus was that delicious or that pita was that fluffy but dang this place is a winner. It's small and only had a handful of counter seats, but the open kitchen and decor gives it a great vibe. The chicken schwarma was recommended to me by the last person taking my order and it was spicy and delicious. 10/10 spot if you're in the neighborhood-

Delicious. Prices feel a little high, but the food is really good and they are in downtown Portland. Happy hour maybe the way to go here, but I came in earlier. I got the octopus place which had delicious, tender pieces over a bed of greens and a tasty sauce. We also tried the chicken shawarma pita and the carrot salad. The space is tiny (12 seats indoors a couple tables outside) so come at off hours. Service was friendly - you order at the register and they bring out the food.

Highlights/Lowlights 1. Cute Ambiance 2. Good Food 3. Fast & Easy Stopped in to Lil Shalom on a work trip recently. I had read a bunch of reviews and this place was super hyped up! The vibe is really cute but it's definitely small and counter seating only. Not a place I would recommend for a big group but since I was alone it actually worked perfectly. I ordered at the counter and was able to swap the pita bread for cucumbers to keep it gluten-free friendly. I ordered a hummus bowl and a glass of wine. My total with tip was about $35. I received my food in about 10 or so minutes and service was friendly. My bowl was ok! The meat was a little salty and I felt like this was slightly overpriced for what you got. I would for sure try this place again!

Amazing flavors at this small, unassuming Mediterranean Cafe. Everything was so fresh, even the pita bread had just come out of the oven. The two guys staffing and serving were really nice and made sure that our orders were perfect. (They were!) We enjoyed the sautéed grilled octopus, chicken shawarma with rice, sauteed onions, and tahina and a falafel plate with labne, hummus, hot olives and pita. The grilled sweet potato slices were the best. Reasonably priced and a good value. This place has my two thumbs up.

Some colleagues and I decided to hit this new to us spot after a Happy Hour downtown Portland and it did not disappoint. My coworkers' lamb gyro, Shalom Y'all appetizer sampler plate, and the roasted cauliflower apps disappeared quickly and I really enjoyed my orange blossom panna cotta. There were pistachio and other crunchy shavings on top of a wonderful thin but flavorful orange blossom gelée layer, and the panna cotta had the little vanilla seeds, made very recently and just divine in texture and flavor. I enjoyed a Moroccan mint iced tea alongside with my dessert and can't wait to come back with a full appetite.

Excellent quick bites that hit all the spots. Great cute small vibe. Well needed after shopping near by!

I ordered from here for a lunch meeting for a big group and the food came promptly and all correct. For me, I got the burnt ends with hummus plus a pita and it was amazing. I still think about it and plan on getting it again soon. Everyone else said that the food was really good too.

Visited this very interesting place on a Friday evening. It's interesting for me because everything was different at this place. Ambiance: It was amazing with all earthy atmosphere. The only downside of the place was their seating. There are couple of high chairs, that's it. You can't spend more time here because high chairs aren't comfortable. I guess it is mostly a takeout place because I saw more number of takeouts than people dining in. Next time, if I am trying, I'm definitely taking out the food and dining in isn't a good option here. Food: Food is amazing, delicious would be an understatement. We ordered cauliflower starter, chicken shawarma, falafel pita, cranberry cocktail. This place doesn't serve hard liquor, it's only wines and cocktails. It was authentic Mediterranean food. This is my first time seeing someone filling in the pita bread with falafel spread rather than creating a roll. It was delicious. Service: Staff is amazing and warm. Definitely a must try. Taking out is a better option than dining in at this place.

Love the daily happy menu. Huge portions that are shareable. I took a friend for the first time who absolutely loved the flavors of each dish. Food is well seasoned. Loved how each plate had different spices and flavors that mixed and complimented each other. Staff members are friendly and it was definitely popular on a Saturday mid afternoon! Outside seating available too.

[+] I had the lamb gyro, which was spicy and juicy. [-] The shop is small and lacks a variety of lunch options.

I just came to Portland for the first time and I forgot to bring my Turkish coffee and my pot . Drinking Turkish coffee is vital for me as I have addiction to caffeine and just Turkish coffee works for me . So I searched for a Turkish cuisine place and this spot was the closest one to me and I saw they have really good reviews, so I decided to come . So I came . They are a very small cute restaurant with inside and outside sitting area . The young gentleman behind the cashier was so friendly, welcoming and super nice . I ordered a Turkish coffee and one of their dessert ( pana cotta) They were just ok . I can not explain how it was . Those who are from Middle East if they try the coffee they understand if it's right or not . The dessert was good . It could be less sweet .

What do you do when your spouse is craving pastrami and you are looking for a vegetarian meal? Lil' Shalom (y'all)! When I saw a hummus plate that included pastrami burnt ends as a topping on the menu, I knew we would be just fine for lunch in downtown Portland. We had our pup, so we had to order at the counter and then our food would be brought out to the sidewalk seating. I snuck a taste of those burnt ends, which were delish, and made the spouse even enjoy the hummus. The spiced fries were crispy and liberally doused with red sh'ug and tahini sauce (shockingly, my non-adventurous eater was gobbling them up). The Shalom Y'all sampler is a great way to go if you want a little of everything: hummus, chopped veg salad, labneh, fresh baked pita and falafel. Lil Shalom is a must for hummus lovers!

Came here on a Saturday afternoon to grab a snack and relax, after coming back from Multnomah Falls. The space has limited indoor seating but the inside is very cozy and cute. We decided to sit at the bar, where we shared the Hawaij Spiced Fries and the classic Hummus with pita (tahini, paprika, parsley). The fries were crunchy and came with a lot of sauce. If you like spice, you'll like this one. The red sauce was a little too spicy for me. I wish I had known to order it on the side instead of all over the fries. I don't think I'd order the fries again, as I prefer your standard garlic or plain fries. However, they were very generous with their portions and it was plenty to share between 2 people. The hummus and pita bread were decent, but not spectacular. They seem to have a large wine selection, but we didn't try any of it.

Okay. Hear me out... this spot has the best pita sandwiches I have ever had. The pita is thin and crispy instead of doughy and the inside was stuffed with fresh yummies. Only 2 small tables outside to sit, but we really enjoyed this spot!

If you are into below average food and worse service from a tiny place with no seating - check out Lil' Shalom! Stopped in based off of yelp reviews for a quick lunch bite, got the chicken shawarma. Came in a pita pocket, very underwhelming especially for $16! My stomach felt strange after and I'm not sure it was because of the food or because of the lack there of it after spending $16!! Was frowned at and got the cold shoulder after I declined the happy hour offer for chicken shawarma that included a free beer. Guess I wasn't cool enough to be part of the "in crowd" at the lil Shalom and I'm quite glad I wasn't!

The hummus is maybe the best I've ever had in my life. Absolutely delicious. Lil' Shalom is a little pricey for a casual restaurant, but the quality is incredible. Everything is made in house and it makes a big difference. When I eat pita and hummus anywhere else, I'm disappointed.

I loved this place, great falafel, table and hummus. All super tasty and fresh. If you love the street food of Israel this is your place, with a sense of humor.

Food overpriced for what it is. Yes it is good and appears to be of high quality but trying too hard to be fancy, unique. The worst part was the $4 can of soda, $2 side of tahina which is literally the size of a couple tablespoons and to top it off they wouldn't let me sit down despite there being 3 empty seats. Because I had a to-go order and they said there was a waiting list yet no customers in sight.

Don't let the counter service ambiance fool you into thinking this is a regular eatery. It's next level. The Burnt Beef Ends Hummus was to die for. We enjoyed the Shalom Y'all plate immensely. Everything tasted fresh and house made.

Such delicious food! Prices feel a little steep for the overall experience compared to their other locations as the space is so cramped- it feels more like a diner / deli and maybe prices should be adjusted a bit for that...

I have been reluctant to review Lil' Shalom for a few years... out of selfishness. Truthfully, I feel like this place deserves all the praise in the world, and I enjoy how quaint the space, the team, and the vibes are. However, the fantastic experience at Lil' Shalom should be shared - and you should make this location your habitual restaurant, too. With a small and cozy interior and an ambient but private outdoor space, you can't go wrong with any seating options here. Just remember to head inside first to peruse the (perfectly sized) menu and then order at the counter with the lovely staff. The team will immediately greet you - be sure to ask for their recommendations if you are nervous. During winter, I prefer to sit near the window at the bar with a good book, a cocktail, and a few of their menu items. In the warmer months between spring and fall, the patio space is lovely - and there are even several heaters to keep you warm. This downtown area is a delight to spend time in, thanks to the mature trees that canopy the outdoor space while also being present in the city. When you order a menu item with Pita, I highly recommend ordering a second one - you WILL need it - and you will eat them both! My only wish would be for this location to add the Egg Shakshuka to the menu. I treasure my time here, especially on Sunday afternoons when the Shalom Plate hits perfectly. I would love to learn how to make Pita from the staff here - they know what they are doing! Thank you for creating this space and curating the city's best Mediterranean.

Some of the best falafel we've ever had! Fun, little spot with great food. Indoor has a unique ambiance. It's a small place, but we were able to find a seat right away on a Sunday afternoon. Food was worth it and great IPAs.

My first time here. I was looking for something convenient and close to where I was staying. The smell of good cuisine made me stop as I was walking by. I decided on the special, Lamb Tagine and it did not disappoint. I definitely would recommend this place. Keep in mind it's an order at the bar and seat and bus yourself establishment but I didn't mind. I'll be back.

A recent trip to Lil' Shalom was a lovely experience. The food and service were both outstanding! Our Burt ends were a burst of flavor. Don't fail to try them!! The fried cauliflower was amazing too. Shalom Ya was also really good. The bottom line is - go there a try things - you won't be dissapointed! We ate outside and the service was still amazing.

Delicious! We had the sampler platter and it was incredible. What a great cute restaurant. The staff was so helpful and we were so welcomed.

Ordered takeout. Fries and lamb gyro. Took about 15 minutes and watched the fries come out quickly and sit on the counter waiting for lamb gyro. When I got home, my lamb gyro looked good but the pita was soggy and the my hands were covered in oil from the dressed greens within the gyro. The fires were soggy and very salty. Based on this experience, wouldn't recommend takeout. Might try again for eat in...

Hit Lil' Shalom 10 min before Happy Hour, and the friendly staff agreed that we should chill for 10 min and then order. We sat outside with water then ordered a chicken shwarma and a mug of beer (more on that in a sec) for $15, a humongous plate of mcdonalds-style fries covered in a tasty hot sauce for only 5 bucks, and a falafel bowl for $7. Great deal all around, and the shwarma was the bomb. Amazing green hot sauce on top, very juicy. Only flaw was that "mug" of beer, which was a mini-mug like you'd get German mustard in (8 oz?). Pretty dumb little cheat - how much could 4 oz of beer cost them?

Lil' Shalom is a cozy little place with bar seating. The staff are friendly and the food was good! I really enjoyed the grilled cheese pitas!

It's really unfortunate having to spend hard working money on food that doesn't satisfy, nor enough for what you pay. Came in last night after a long day. Hoping to get some yummy food, considering sesame collective is well known for amazing food. Ordered a chop salad, hummus, extra pita bread, and chicken plate. Disappointing however, the chop salad. Why was it so small? Why is it $11? Why did it have mostly onions, what was I even paying for? Disappointed. Then the hummus came. Small again. Extra pita... lack of flavor. Then the chicken plate came. The rice was completely cold. Like it had just came out of the fridge. The chicken had a nice char but yet so small. What a sad meal. The staff was also not caring when I asked a few questions about the menu. I really want my money back. So sad. :(

Delicious and quality ingredients. We did take out. I had to wait awhile as the place was hopping. It's small with a few outside seats as well as inside seating.

Great food and amazing service. I highly recommend this restaurant if you're looking for delicious Mediterranean cuisine in Portland.

"The best hummus I've ever had", a friend shared with me. So of course I had to go and see how good their hummus really was. I went into the darling restaurant a little after 1:00pm and it was quite busy. They have seating at tables and at the bar. The ambience inside was very warm and welcoming and I wish I had time to stay and sit but I had to get it to go because I had a flight to catch. I ordered the Shalom Y'all Plate which had moroccan carrot, falafels, hummus, labneh, a pita, olives and pickles. The moroccan carrot was a type of slaw/salad and had red onion, parsley and a bunch of yummy seasonings in it. I had never had it and I really enjoyed it. So flavorful! They served 3 falafels on top of a tasty green sauce. I have a hard time describing the green sauce taste other than it tasted like it was made with fresh herbs. It was delicious. I licked it clean :0. The falafels were cooked perfectly and were very tasty. The hummus WAS delicious and probably the best I have had. What made it special you ask? The consistency was velvety smooth and they drizzled a high quality olive oil on top. It was delightful! The labneh (which is made by straining yogurt, and thus thickening it and removing the whey) was tangy, fresh, seasoned perfectly with fresh herbs and had a wonderful taste. The pita tasted fresh and was perfect for scooping up the hummus and labneh. The price point was a little higher than what I'm used to but it seemed justified due to the quality of ingredients you could't deny. I would absolutely recommend you visiting here and eating in. You will not be disappointed.

Had takeout from here & got a chicken pita & hummus. It was SO GOOD! There is a really spicy green sauce they put on it I wish it came on the side because my first bite had my mouth on fire !!! After I scraped that off I really enjoyed the rest of the flavors in the pita. I wish I tried more and would definitely come back.

All the food was incredibly salty. We ordered fries, falafel (2 portions) and pita which all came with the sauce. Fries were super crunchy which was great but not as soft inside as I prefer, it was more like chips. LOTS of salt including the sauces. The falafel was pretty small sized but overly crunchy too, maybe if it was bigger it would've had more flavor in the middle. Pita was excellent. Sauces weren't as salty but humus was very bland and disappointing. We also ordered olive cake which was the only thing I liked though the cake didn't have the rich chocolate flavor and I couldn't taste tahini in the cream maybe because it was overly sweet, I like mild. Overall, it was a disappointing experience and I don't think we will be back :( lots of salt caused lots of bloating for the rest of the day.

Lil' Shalom offers a delightful mediterranean experience with their Shalom Yall plate boasting a perfect blend of pickled carrots, creamy olive oil, and generous hummus servings. The Burnt Ends dish impresses with flavorful meat and thick, flaky pita bread. A must-visit for any mediterranean food enthusiast. The bartenders are not only skilled mixologists but also incredibly friendly and approachable. Their positive attitude adds to the overall enjoyable dining experience.

Super cute spot for fresh and flavorful Mediterranean dishes! This is great to stop. By for lunch if you work Dow town. The inside of the shop is tiny but welll decorated and they have a large enough outside patio to sit and enjoy your meal. I came for a quick lunch outing at work and none of us had any of our dishes left by the time we finished.

We ordered lamb pita and falafel plate. The lamb pita is okay. Too much sauce and not much meat. The falafel plate is surprisingly good. The falafel goes well with the humus and other sides. Highly recommended the Shalom Y'all plate!

Incredible food! Loved the seating but you gotta grab what you can get. Did I mention the food was awesome? I loved mine and my husband's pitas.

Excellent gyros. Cozy setting. Turkish coffee was delicious. Great service. Would highly recommend.

Had dinner here with my wife. It's a small restaurant but didn't take long to get a seat. We got the Succotash humus, grilled octopus, and chicken shawarma. The best thing was the Succotash Humus it was awesome! One of the best humus I ever had. The octopus was good but a little over cooked for me. The chicken shawarma good but nothing spectacular. The tahini was all at the very bottom would have been better if it was more spread out.

Damn good Falafal ! Reminds me of Mahmoud's in the west village nyc which only the true former comedy cellar and club kids will remember. Got the Falafal and beer combo on happy hr for $15. Very delicious. Very reasonable.