DarSalam Lazurdi

I highly recommended this place, everything is excellent, I adore the Iraqi atmosphere, decoration, the lovely presentation on the screen, the
takes me back to my home.

This lunch buffet was so good, I’m still thinking about it a few weeks later! Everything I tried was eliscious.

Excellent food, very tasty. Unique middle eastern atmosphere, authentic setting, native (iraqi) servers. Highly recommended.

Wish there were a Dar Salem in Northern California, I’d be there every week to eat the beef kebob and eggplant dish. Excellent service from Jonathan, who is quite professional and gave us fabulous food and wine suggestions. The décor is bright and culturally appropriate. Enjoyed the slideshow on Iraq history and people which streams through unobtrusively.

I had a very wonderful dining experience here last Thursday evening. First of all, this restaurant is a gem. You feel like you stepped back in time since there is art all over the place that depicts a time when the temples in Iraq were rich with blue and gold. I actually have been to the Pergamon museum in Berlin where you can see the walls preserved. This made me savor my trip to Germany from back in the 90’s. We came during happy hour and had Cindy’s Happy Hour book of Portland, so we got a super special deal on our food. You don’t need to order drinks here with their happy hour and they even brought out a little bit of bread and hummus before our salads. We ordered the Beet yogurt salad and the pineapple and kale salad. Both were very good in flavor and taste. The portions were also good sized. I haven’t tried their weekday buffet yet, but it looks like most people on here are very satisfied and amazed. I hope I can make it back to try it. If you have the 2016 Happy Hour book, you can get a Beet salad for free if you purchase a salad or appetizer for the same price or more. We ended up dining for a steal of a deal. I will come back for the buffet, and plan to bring more people. I love this magical place.

The food was fantastic. Had the perfect mix of quality food, a good price, and ambience. My only complaint is that the picked mango salad could have had more mango in it. It was a bit skimpy. The décor was beautiful. We tried a little bit of everything and it was all delicious.

Best Arabic food around in Portland area! Stay authentic please! Love the decorations of the place too. Soups and baba ganosh are the best appetizers, gema, which is the lamb kinda soup is one of a kind! My mom best dish.

Very cute place. Friendly staff. Food was delicious. Portions seemed a bit small.

I really love DarSalam on NE Alberta and now have been to their new downtown location twice. I have had the falafel rice plate and the marga rice plate. I like their falafel but the marga stew is where it’s at for me. I adore the adis (curry lentil soup) that you can get as your side. It’s a creamy yellow, though I think it’s made from red lentils. It’s so delicious. A cup isn’t enough. I think I need to go there and just have a big bowl of the soup alone. They clearly mark on the menu what is vegan as well. The service is always friendly and attentive. Did I mention how great the adis soup is? Go get some now!

Had the lunch buffet. Everything was incredibly tasty, and the pita warm and fresh! Service was also good. Clearly a family owned restaurant, which I appreciated. Lovely décor on the inside. The only thing it was missing is a dessert in the buffet!

$ 6 for small portion of fries! Your thinking fresh cut? Nope, just simple low-​end frozen. They do come with a mayo and ketchup dipping sauce.
Pita bread was cold and hard, far from fluffy found at food carts.
The shredded chicken was overpowered by the curry flavor.
The star of the show was super yummy «Dark and Light» dessert, a great value for $ 4.
$ 2 for Middle Eastern tea with cardamom, I’m listening. Ah, it’s a tall shot glass that’s why.
Hey, is that homemade Iraqi hot sauce on the table? Nope, it’s only cheapo Cholula without the packaging.
A simple order took a very long time that the very pleasant server apologized for the wait. Nice décor, no parking other than pay by the hour structure.

Wow! Don’t be fooled by what appears to be a fairly standard menu… it’s the incredible quality and flavor that make this place stand out!
Andrea Spella recommended… no… RAVED to me about this place. He has never steered me wrong… Nostrana, Fireside, Alma, Raven&Rose all his recommendations are the best! Still, when I was showing my wife the menu online, we were like… «Huh, that doesn’t seem that special, maybe we should try Luc Lac…» Well, Luc Lac was closed at 2:30, so we felt the universe was speaking to us… and it was, so thank goodness we listened!
I had the Falafel and she had the Cauliflower and we started with complimentary pita. Starting with the simple pita, things we’re already looking promising. The dip was a mix of olive oil and so many spices… just wonderful and so much better than the usual hummus or unadorned olive oil.
At this point, I would struggle to describe to you what made the flavored of our dishes so special. After each bite, one of us might say «Coriander?» Or «Cumin?» Or «What is this spice, it’s incredible!» Even the rice was so good, we could not leave any behind and carried it out in a doggie bag. I can hardly wait to see what they might do with kibe, shawarma, foole madumas or other favorites! It’s not about the menu or the name here… it’s about the incredible flavor and execution.
I rate this place: YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM!

Great service, loved the staff! Also loved the décor, and the food was excellent, including portions! The price was meh… average and the one cocktail I had was good just not mind blowing. Overall, lovely little spot, really enjoyed it and will definitely be back! The lentil soup and beet salad were both amazing, it was all good but those two stood out! Also, if you’re GF or vegan it’s a great spot for you too!

This restaurant is terrible. Why? Because the food was so good that I ate so much I nearly exploded!
I’ve been to their Alberta location, and it was nice, but the downtown location with its weekday buffet is spectacular. (And this is coming from someone who thinks buffets generally range from mediocre to disgusting.)
A majority of items on the buffet were vegan. Today’s vegan options included potato and tomato stew, curried cauliflower (OMG — the coconut-​lemon sauce was AMAZING!), spinach and lentils, eggplant stew, curried or plain rice, flatbread, mixed green salad, spinach salad with peanuts, pickled vegetables, hummus, lentil soup, potato salad with herbs and green olives, and several other items, all for $ 11.99! There was nothing I tried that I didn’t like.
On top of that, the décor is adorable and colorful. There are so many evil eyes on the wall that you’ll ward off all evil for the rest of your lifetime. The staff were attentive and friendly. And the bathrooms were spotless, which is always a good sign, in my opinion.
Do yourself a favor and get down here for the weekday buffet ASAP!

Great atmosphere, authentic middle eastern food, and friendly staff. I had the golden rose IPA, curried lentil soup, and shredded lamb flatbread. All delicious!

What a pleasant find. DarSalam Lazurdi is Iraqi in nature. What we found were plenty of healthy, tasty, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free dishes that were super satisfying. They have plenty of meat dishes also for the omnivores.
We had Happy Hour and regular menu eats. The cardamom Arab Coffee was lovely. We sweetened it with the honey that was provided. It was strong and perfect. My favorite Happy Hour eats were the cucumber surrounded Garlic Eggplant ($ 4.50) and Mandarin Beet Salad ($ 4.50). My daughter loved the Chickpea stew with basmati rice and Curry Lentil Soup ($ 10).
Even before we finished our meal, we planned returning later this week. Of note is DarSalam Lazurdi’s walls. They are lovingly painted in beautiful motifs. We were told the beautiful work was 4 month long labor of love. Our server was friendly and attentive as well. Maybe we can try the lunch buffet as well. Can’t wait!

What a treat! Fresh, flavorful and more naturally gluten free options than you can imagine. The service was friendly and efficient but never over-​bearing. The portions are generous, so keep that in mind if considering appetizers. Prices very reasonable — I haven’t a single complaint… except that we live 2 hours away!

Happened upon this place on my first night in Portland. According to the waitress, the lamb shank «kuzi» was most popular among the Iraqis that frequent the restaurant. Excellent choice, paired with the levels soup. I have rarely been so satisfied for only $ 15 and I have already begun looking for recipes to recreate these delicious dishes at home. The environment was at the same time cozy, inviting and culturally immersive. I loved watching the rolling slideshow of pictures of Iraq’s culture and history.

We stopped here for the lunch buffet, and we enjoyed it very much. The hummus was excellent, as was the potato salad, the chicken, and the fish. The chick peas were very good as well. The staff was warm, welcoming, and attentive.

If you want great service with good food come here!!!
I am traveling from San Diego and every place I have been in Portland so far has had mediocre to horrible service! The employees and owner of this restaurant are phenomenal! The water glass never even made it half full!
This is place has great traditional Iraqi food! The rice and lamb were great! I also really enjoyed the chickpea soup and hummus!

I grew up on this food. It’s like eating with the family. Thank you for your delicious GF food. I’m Celiac and this place is the perfect way to eat out worry free!

Wonderful ambience, wonderful service, and delicious, fresh food. The owners are so kind and have clearly put so much love and heart into this new location.

In need of an introduction to Iraqi culture? Visit DarSalam and you will quickly gain some insight. Approaching the restaurant, I noticed the colorful detailing of the walls under low lighting – a very luring sight on such a chilly, wet evening. I entered, still preoccupied with the decorum. I awkwardly gawked about until a waitress – wearing a stylish ethnic vest – encouraged me to pick a table. We ordered drinks and I directed my attention to the TV, where they were streaming historical information pertaining to ancient Iraq.
A piece of flat bread accompanied by an olive oil/​herb mixture is brought to the table with your drinks (I fought the urge to devour the entire piece before the entrees arrived). Tea time… oh, wondrous tea time. I enjoyed several servings of hot tea here. Their black ceylon tea with cardamon grain really hits the spot! The presentation makes it feel like a true tea ceremony, served on an ornate tray in traditional istikans (dainty spoon included *joyful squeak*). If you fancy a cooler beverage, you must try the fresh-​squeezed mint lemonade. It is the most pleasantly refreshing lemonade I’ve ever had.
I debated on trying the «mahshi» for starters, which is stuffed-​onion dolma. Suddenly, it occurred to me that as much as I enjoy foods made with garbanzo beans, I had never tried falafel. These are served in the shape of small donuts. Crispy exterior, perfectly (evenly) fried & flavorful — very good combined with their fresh «tahziki» sauce. For the entrée, I ordered the «tikka» kabob rice plate, which comes with your choice of a green salad, or a cup of soup served on the side. I opted for the grilled chicken (all meat is certified halal), which is served atop a bed of basmati rice and a small bowl of eggplant marga. The rice is moist and fragrant, and the marga reminded me of a goulash-​type stew, minus the meat. It’s a very tasty medley that I assume consists of eggplant, onions, tomato, and spices. I’m a fan! Keep in mind that If you have a small appetite, these entrée plates contain enough food for two.
If you find that you have room for dessert. I highly suggest the baklava. Warm, crispy layers of phyllo dough. drizzled with honey, sprinkled with roasted pistachios. Mmm. Next time, I’ll pair this treat with a cup of Arab coffee. I look forward to bringing a group of family here.

3.50−3.75 stars.
This was our first time here. We tried the buffet to sample their cuisine. I don’t remember having Iraqi food before. I know that they have another restaurant across town. I have read online that they started from a food cart and built their business from there. I also understand that one of the owners needs gluten free and dairy free and so they always make sure that they have many options for this on their menu.
I know this place just opened up a few months ago so we are going to have to try them again sometime when they have worked out the kinks. When we entered there were probably 2 other tables with patrons. They had about 5 tables filled by the time we left around 2:30P.
Really super friendly staff. ⁵⁄₅ star
Awesome décor. ⁵⁄₅ star (check out photos in photo section)
Lunch Buffet Cuisine 3.5 stars
We were only served one piece of medium size pita to share between the both of us. :/​
Most of the time, we have only experienced unlimited amount of pita at a middle eastern restaurant. Meat selection on the lunch buffet was nothing to write home about.
They had some sort of shredded chicken stuff, the label read chicken shawarma but I am not sure that that is what it was. Lacked in flavor. They also had ground beef with pepper and onion, and tilapia that was so fishy removed it from my mouth with a napkin.
The hummus was standard. The chickpea soup had no seasoning at all. Just ground up chickpeas in a broth.
They had a good kale salad with pineapple and a good whipped beat salad on the buffet.
We both liked their cauliflower coconut curry but they only had a ¼ cup left in the buffet pan and did not restock while we were there. The eggplant stew type stuff was amazing! We both loved it.
Rice was perfectly cooked.
The price was above average than that of their competition as per other metro area middle eastern lunch buffets.
All in all, I would try this place again sometime.
We send them positive vibes and great success in building their new location, cuisine, and clientele.

Great middle eastern food in a nice atmosphere. Warm and friendly staff. Tried the kebab sandwich with lentil soup. Loved both. The tahina and date dessert was also delicious. Surprisingly good bar for middle eastern place.
I’d go back if I were local.

Best place to eat in sw Portland :). We eat there almost once a week or more when in Portland. The food is always fresh and full of flavor. Easily one of the best places to eat in Portland. The lunch buffet is option and has tons of vegan/​gluten free options. The chickpea Marsala and saffron rice are amazing. And I dream about the Leb lebby soup.

Where do i start?! The best restaurant I’ve ever been to. I’ve never really eaten much Middle Eastern food in my life, but if I can give this restaurant 10 stars I would! Let’s start with the best ambience. then staffing.the owners… cleanliness. and most of all. THE FOOD! the best Lamb Shank I’ve ever had! So juicy and tender! Their lunch buffet: a great variety. the drinks and their awesome bar! My favorite is their falafel and lamb marga. Don’t let me forget the soup! They’ve taken the history and essence of IRAQI FOOD in PORTLAND. I RECOMMEND EVERYONE TO CHECK THIS PLACE OUT! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!

Super great restaurant ! Their food is delicious, service is very good, the ambience is romantic, and the decorations are sooo beautiful. I highly recommend it

Very authentic iraqi cosine
Soo yummy delicious dolma
They’ve got a good variety of buffet dishes
Give it a try it worth it

Delicious food, awesome décor, friendly staff. I had never previously been to an Iraqi restaurant before. Highly recommended.

DarSalam has a great atmosphere (it’s cozy and the walls are full of photos and ephemera) and wonderful service. The servers were pleasant and accommodating. Prices are quite reasonable. The food is fine but not very memorable. I do like how they make their falafel into a doughnut shape as I think it results in a crisp texture. However, the hummus and the baba ganoush lacked flavor.

Dar Salaam is the place to go for thoughtful Iraqi food. The staff are attentive and knowledgeable without being intrusive. This site has a slightly more formal presentation than their Alberta outpost, with fabulous murals on the walls.
Highly recommend the mixed dolma. They’re served warm, and are rich and delicious, unlike any cold grape leaves I’ve ever had. The lentil soup has a smooth texture and a bit of curry flavor.
We had the mint lemonade, which included rose water along with fresh mint leaves. Enjoy!

We tried this place for the first time tonight and will definitely be back! The food was delicious, wait staff was attentive and not pushy. Probably the best hummus we have ever had! We were welcomed by the owner who was very nice and that was also a nice touch.

I love DarSalam! This is their newest location. I was a regular at their food card in south east Portland. The food is always excellent. Absolutely the best falafel in Portland. Check out their lunch buffet when you’re in downtown.

My kids where not sure about the menu so they decided to go to the buffet, they loved it! there are several vegan and gluten-​free options. Lentil soup is super. Super delicious! We order the kebabs and they were excellent! This restaurant was just opened last week, it was a wonderful experience for us, we will definitely come back.

Randomly ran into this restaurant while shopping. Was greeted with a warm welcome by the staff. Come to find out it’s their second business day. You can feel the enthusiasm and hospitality of the staff! The middle eastern décor suits the background music and atmosphere.
The menu clearly lists gluten free options. Tonight, I ordered the chicken and basmati rice plate. You get an option of lentil soup or salad. The soup was creamy and tasty! The entrée was also some of the best middle eastern food I have had. Forgot to mention that you also get a complimentary flat bread and Zaatar dip. You can taste the quality of the ingredients and spices in everything.
I see this place being a leader in ME food in Portland. I will definitely be back!