Shami Café

WOW! lets start there. This cozy space is an absolute gem that should be enjoyed by all! Their menu is approachable and has everyone in mind. From kid to vegan options, they have you covered. The owner (1 of 2) I met today welcomed me in with not only a smile but a lovely conversation and full walk through of the menu. The other employee working was also a delight and engaged in friendly conversation as well! Needless to say, if the atmosphere and kindness doesnt make you stay, the food WILL. I have never experienced food prepared like this. Truly authentic from presentation to flavor. They have brought so much culture and life into this corner of SE! I opted for one of their Fateh dishes called The D'Jaj. A lovely chicken, chickpea and rice dish with SO MANY other flavors, I do not have the space to add them all. The food was prepared beautifully, the chicken was seasoned and cooked to perfection and the sauces did not overpower nor takeaway from any other component. It was served alongside pita chips and pickles & olives. Just. Divine. I'm so blessed this space is around the corner from my house, because I will be returning weekly if not daily. Please do yourself a favor and give them a try! They have everything covered from authentic decor, front seating and a HEATED back patio, support and inclusion for the LGBTQIA+ community, culture, kindness, FLAVOR, and so much more. Thank you, Shami Café! Our city is so lucky to have you.

Shami Cafe is such a great new neighborhood spot! I had the chicken bowl and it was super fresh and flavorful. The hummus plate was also delicious—and I’m pretty picky when it comes to hummus. The staff were really friendly, and the cozy decor made it feel very welcoming. It’s family-friendly, sells local wines, and is just an all-around great addition to the area. I’ll definitely be back!

Was greeted by the owner who is incredibly personable. Wael walked me through the menu, made recommendations and told me a bit of his family life and Syrian heritage. The food was incredible! This is the kind of food I could devour and still feel good about myself after rather than having a brick in my stomach. I took my father there who is quite a particular eater (think steak and potatoes) and he absolutely loved everything that came our way. We loved this restaurant so much we got shirts after our first outing. Easily my favorite Mediterranean and overall restaurant in Portland.

Delicious flavors with great service! There are so many textures along with plenty pops of freshness. We split a hummus and the cabbage salad (my favorite thing on the menu!) to start then split a bowl which was the perfect amount of food. They built a beautiful covered patio in the back with two large jasmine plants that smell heavenly!

This place is definitely what the neighborhood needed! We had the Mezza Plate to start out. The Falafel is to die for! We did the M’Sabaha as our hummus option and it was so delicious! We had the Kufta Wrap and it was so good I def would highly recommend! The portion sizes are definitely worth it and the environment of the restaurant is very comforting! We def will be coming back again and again!

So happy they put something good in this resturant space. Its been empty for a while now, so it's nice to see it be an actual restaurant now. I got the chicken tawouk bowl and my partner got the kufta bowl. Both were great. Lots of good flavor and I loved the pickled vegetables. Everything paired wonderfully in the bowl. Also got the mint lemonade. So refreshing. So happy the neighborhood got this place now, ill definitely be back! Also they have a great back patio if you wanna sit outside.

Heard about this place on our neighborhood group and wanted to support our local spots. This place is worth a drive if you don’t live close. It was so flavorful and delicious!! Staff/owner are so friendly. Great environment inside and once the mt. Scott community center opens it’s going to be packed all the time so go now!

We're so excited about the new Shami Cafe! We came in to try it out today and we were NOT disappointed. Everything was delicious and fresh! The space is really cute and the service was super friendly. We especially loved the Fuul, the za'atar and pita, the mint lemonade and the Kanafe dessert! Can't wait to come back and try more of the menu.

Great spot! Super friendly, amazing food and cool atmosphere. I will definitely be coming back regularly.

Wow, delicious!! So pleased to have come across this cute little place! We ordered the M'Sabaha to share which is a hummus with a Syrian style topping served with pita bread. Amazing! Delicious flavor! For the main entree I ordered the Tawouk bowl which was basmati rice, grilled chicken, lemony slaw, Syrian pickles, greens and garlic aioli. Again so yummy! I discovered I love the flavor of Syrian pickles! Service was good and fairly quick! You can choose to sit indoor or the cute outside back covered patio. I will most definitely be back, delicious!

been on my list since they recently opened. finally stopped in for lunch takeout, excited to support a new small business and even happier that wael (chef/owner) is basically my cousin. different passports, same spice cabinet. while my order was being packed up, we talked about community and solidarity and it immediately felt like family. then i met his mom, all warmth, and i couldn't resist facetiming my own mom to brag about them. back home, the d'jaj wrapped me in tahini comfort with just the right crunch, the pickles iykyk, and the kunafa, bravo, didn't last long before i was doing the food dance. left feeling welcomed, came home to a meal that felt like a hug. i'll be back. go see for yourself!

The hummus may change your life in that revelatory moment when you realize, "I've been eating subpar imitations of the real thing!" This place is a new gem operated by people who are an active part of the community where they've opened this love letter to food, community and culture. It is a lovely and welcome addition to the Woodstock/Brentwood-Darlington/Arleta corner of SE PDX. You won't be disappointed!

Really great food and reasonable prices. We've been there twice now and everything was excellent. Best Hummos! The Fatteh, Shawarma, and Felafel were excellent too. And the Kunafe -- Yum The owner and chef - Wael - is very welcoming.

Outstanding: kid friendly, warm welcome, casual, beautiful food. A neighbourhood gem.

Super friendly service and cozy interior, plus a heated patio in the back. The food was stunning--fresh and perfectly balanced flavors and textures. I'll be coming back and bringing friends!

Great food made with love. We had a bowl and a sandwich and two mint lemonades. Friendly staff, fast casual, and a gorgeous patio that smelled like jasmine. we will definitely be back!

This place is such a gem. The food is so fresh and delicious, you can taste the owner's passion for his culture and food. Everything we tried was so fresh and perfectly seasoned. The customer service was a 10 creating a nice home-like ambiance. A new favorite for us!

The food is SO good. I actually can't believe that I found reallllllly good homemade falafel and more! The people working here are SO FRIENDLY and give great recommendations. The menu has a ton of choices for vegetarians and carnivores, lighter to heavier fair. Great mix of veggie/bean/meat choices. Also, could have stayed there for hours with how laid back and cozy the atmosphere is.

The service was friendly and helpful. We sat out back in the new patio they built. It was very cute and the large jasmine plants smelled amazing! The if us shared the m'sabaha hummus and the saltat malfouf appetizer. The hummus was delicious and the crisp cabbage slaw was perfectly crunchy, refreshing but still with a hint of creaminess. It came out so simple looking but we both couldn't stop eating it and relishing each bite! We shared the main dish, d'jaj, which was a bowl full of so many scrumptious textures and favors! Hearty but not heavy, aromatic with crunchy pita and almond slivers linger with savory chickpeas and rice. Pops of parsley are sprinkled throughout! Do not miss their house made chutney! Both are delish! My sister got a mint lemonade which was perfectly not too sweet! I had a glass of rosé and we both agreed, we found the best new spot in SE!

We decided to give Shami Cafe a try due to the reviews and the menu. It didn't disappoint. The food was delicious. The service was great and we enjoyed dining on the covered patio in the back. Give them a try.

What a wonderful restaurant!! The food is incredible and you can feel it is made with love. Came here with my family and the place & service was so warm and inviting. The decor is so well thought out and beautiful. The patio is so vibrant and comfortable. Highly recommend all bowls on the menu and the dessert they offer! Will be back again and again. This place is Portland gem!

Delicious food with an excellent variety and quantity, great value with superb service!

I stopped in for a Crunch Sandwich (falafel, hummus, pickles, mint) and it was delicious! The menu offers a lot more than sandwiches so I'm looking forward to bringing a friend and trying a few things, especially the Fateh. Location is great, right across from Mt Scott Park/Community Center. Service was friendly and helpful. I look forward to many more visits!

Delicious, fresh, and clean. We tried this place for lunch and it did not disappoint. We tried the crispy falafel wrap, the lamb Kafka wrap, and the chicken swarma sandwich. All were really good. Certainly going back.

The food here is sooo delicious and the owner is incredibly kind! I eat meat but I keep ordering the falafel crunch wrap when I go. They are also super kid friendly and have tasty kids menu. So happy to have them in the neighborhood! Bringing everyone we know!

Read the rave reviews so was excited to try this place but was disappointed in the hummus. It tasted off to me, like it was old and had gone bad. Got it as take out, so called when I got home to ask if they had tasted it today. They thanked me for calling and said they would check but didn't offer to taste it and call me back. So I called back an hour later. The woman said they had tasted it and it seemed fine to them, but out of caution they had discarded it. She didn't offer me a refund, but after talking to her for a while, said I could come back for a free portion some time. Then she asked me if that was all. Seemed anxious to get off the phone with me. I let her know that the food had left me feeling unwell and she didn't seem concerned or mention that she'd be passing on my concerns to anyone. I will not be back.

Went there last night for my birthday. Delectable! The paneer and phyllo dessert will haunt my dreams with beckoning! In fact, going back today to have in again! Atmosphere is cozy artistic. Real candles on the table. Staff let me tell them my old lady stories and laughed genuinely! Love for this place!

Didn't know what to try first, but one of the super friendly owners recommended the Kufta bowl and The D'Jaj, both of which were excellent. Looking forward to going back to try some more Syrian dishes. Great food, and a welcome addition to the neighborhood. Go try it, you won't be disappointed.

Wow! The food here is fantastic. What a delight it is to eat fresh hummus and kababs seasoned to perfection. The staff were so welcoming and the ambiance is fresh and modern. This little cafe is a unique gem serving delicious Syrian food.

A wonderful new addition to the neighborhood, will definitely be coming here on the regular. Ordered the Kufta bowl and the D'Jaj Fateh--both flavorful, delicious and satisfying. The hummus is very good, way better than store bought. Also had the mint lemonade, which on a summer day is perfect. Excited to come back and try more things off the menu!

We've been back several times. Great food and a new take on Arab food (at least for us) that is wonderful, fresh, and tasty. Nice atmosphere too! The people are very friendly and eager to please. We were going to go today but it was closed.... ;)

Everything was delicious. And the space was so cute! It felt good to be in there. It is clearly a family owned business and they were wonderful. So happy to have this place in the neighborhood.

The food is so tasty and the patio out back a delightful space to enjoy your meal. Definitely coming back!!

Everything was heavenly. Perfectly cooked. Wonderful array of textures. Sauces add so much taste. Recommend fully in every way

WOW! This new neighborhood gem is fantastic. Total remodel of the space. It's open, clean and inviting. The owner and staff were very welcoming and friendly. And the food ....YUM! I'm don't have a Syrian grandma but if I did, I bet this is what her cooking would taste like. Everything we had was super fresh and delicious. Definitely will be going back soon.

Always excited when this neighbohood gets a new restaraunt, especially middle eastern food! Love that we can walk there. Order at the counter and eat it on their amazing back patio. They bring the food out to you. Generous portions, pleasant atmosphere and friendly staff. The food is delicious! We tried a few diffrent things. Loved the hummus and the bowls we ordered.