Karam Lebanese Cuisine

We live in Seattle and every time we come to Portland we eat at Karam. The food is absolutely delicious, the service is warm and attentive and the ambiance is inviting. The prices are amazingly reasonable. We can't recommend this restaurant highly enough!

Posted 12/07/09

best middle eastern menu, great prices, and the most cheerful friendly staff

Posted 10/21/09

My wife and I came across this place in some searches and hadn't tried Lebanese food, so we thought we would give them a try for a late lunch during a trip. The place didn't have a lot of diners at the time, so service was great.
We both chose their Meat Mezza to get a variety of tastes. First off, the food took a little time to come, but wasn't unreasonable considering the freshness of the food. Their taboule salad was fresh and vibrant of lemon and parsley. Their hummus and babba ghannouj were very good, with the hummus being our fave. They bring a puffed pita bread that was very good. Their falafel has a nice outer crust with deep flavors. The grape leaves were nice. Their kafta kabab (lamb) had a nice array of spices, but was not heavy handed, so you could taste more of the lamb. Their chicken shawarma reminded my of a terriyaki chicken in small pieces with a different type sauce. Was very good. I think we both would come back to Karam again. The prices were not out of line and the flavors were very good.

Pros: Fresh tastes in a nice small location

Posted 10/01/09

I loved the food. It was fabulous. Cooked perfectly and nice to taste.. Very flavorful. Their interior is good too. Not too fancy, but very nice and middle easterny (to me, it seemed). I loved the maps on the table we sat at. I did not like the service though. The waitress took too long to bring in the food and the pita did not come with it. My husband and I were literally waiting with the dish for 15 minutes, when the pita came and it was cold. It was fresh though and I thought it might have been a case of forgetfulness on the part of the waitress and let it go, but what annoyed me was that she did not even come back to refill our water glasses. There was a party of 4 in the neighboring table and the place was not crowded. There was no reason that I could see for us to get a lousy service. The owner, who came a while later, was friendly. I will give them another chance.

Pros: Variety of food; Tasted Great; Good interiors

Cons: Service was not great

Posted 06/12/09

The food is great! I LOVE the homemade pitas, they are warm straight from the oven. They have great options for vegetarians. I highly recommend the veggie mazawat. I recommend this place to everyone!

Pros: The food!

Cons: The restaurant is downtown, so parking can be tricky.

Posted 10/29/08

I've only been on Valentine's Day (twice) but I have to say that the service is just wonderful. The owners are friendly and the food is fantastic. The lamb is always moist and tasty and they serve my boyfriend's favorite hummus and fatayeer.

Pros: Everything

Cons: Nothing that I can think of

Posted 08/21/07

We went there on a slow tuesday night and found the service incredible. Both of the owners came over to greet us and the waitress was on top of everything. Great atmosphere, the decor was very nice and romantic. The music was not too obtrusive and set the stage. The food was good overall: The Veggie Mezawat which consists of many different dips (with pita) and falafel and stuffed grape leaves was incredible and made a very good sample platter. The lamb was good, but not spectacular, though we did not eat it right as it got to the table because we were distracted by our other dish. The Turkish coffee was excellent for those who enjoy their coffee very strong. The bhaklava was also quite good and served as a suitable compliment to the coffee. The prices were moderate, but not unreasonable. Definitely a good date location! Also, parking was very easy to find because of the numerous garages in the vicinity.

Pros: Service, Parking, Atmosphere, Food

Cons: Limited Stomach Capacity

Posted 07/04/07

The restaurant is small and somewhat intimate. This may be why there was only one waitress covering the whole restaurant on a THursday night. Service was somewhat slow and the waitress forgot our appetizers, but the food was good. The babba ghannouj, falafel, taboule, kafta kabab, chicken shawarma, and ashta were all great. The ashta and falafel were especially noteworthy. However, I didn't quite like the Lebanese sodas (Rose water and mulberry) (it was my first time trying it, though)

There is a parking lot across the street, but you have to pay to park.

Disclaimer: this was only my second time trying Lebanese/Mediterranean food. The other restaurant i've tried was Nicholas' Restaurant, which i found to be inferior to Karam

Pros: decent price, good food, falafel, ashta

Cons: pay to park, service slow, lebanese soda

Posted 03/09/07

This is, bar none, the most authentic and delicious Lebanese food you will find anywhere. All dishes are fresh and cooked to perfection. The service is wonderful, and I NEVER miss an opportunity to bring anyone who has not experienced Lebanese food here. I make it a point to try something different each time I go, and have never been disappointed...never. I visited Portland for the first time 4 years ago, and 3 times since. Each time I have eaten at Karam's at least 2 times for each 1 week visit....realized it would just be cheaper to move here...so we did!
Now I can eat there anytime I want, and I surely do. SIMPLY, THE BEST!!!! Don't miss out :)

Pros: Food, Service, Value - Excellent

Cons: She won't cook at MY house :)

Posted 07/16/06

We had a terrific dinner there tonight. Amazing dinner and great service. Other reviewers said that the chicken sharmara and the lamb shank and goat stew were good- so that is what we ordered. My son adored the chicken and the lamb and goat were very good too. The hot homemade pitas kept appearing on the table and the spinach soup and hummus starters were really good also. I have never had hummus that creamy. We also liked the homemade ice cream. The dinners are very reasonably priced. A great value- we will go back again very soon.

Pros: great food, great value, left full and highly satisfied

Cons: I can honestly say that there were no cons.

Posted 07/15/06

This place rocks! The food is perfectly prepared, the ambience great, the service is wonderful. Karam has a '2 for 1' offer in the Entertainment book, but it is no longer valid. They now give a 20% 'manager's discount in place of the '2 for 1'. There is only a placard at each table notifying customers of the change - if that side isn't facing you, you'll find out the way I did - when I paid - that you won't get the discount you expect. Hopefully they will change the deal in the book next year - I find it in poor taste the way it's done now.

Pros: Food, Service, Ambiance

Cons: No more '2 for 1'

Posted 12/12/05

There is not a dish at Karams that wont leave you drooling for more, and the service was impecable! Got to try the Chicken Shawarma over the best homus I have ever tasted! Cant believe the prices either very very cheap! $ 10 will get you a sandwich, a drink and dessert for lunch....Totally killer!

Posted 05/18/05

Great authentic food! Love it, keep it coming! If you haven't been here you must go and try. They have special plate goat with ockra stew, excellent! Lamb is out of this world! Homemade ice cream to top off a great meal!

Posted 05/17/05

We had it all and loved almost every bite. The falafel was a bit too cooked for my preference but had wonderful flavors like everything else we had. Stuffed grape leaves that were just the right tenderness. A grilled eggplant appetizer withthe best feta I've ever had the pleasure of tasting. The Karam cocktail, of anisette in flavor paired perfectly with all the authentic flavors. Cumin scented marinated and griolled lamb over quite clearly fresh hummus. And although I was full I knew I had to have the baklava as it wouldn't be disapointed. And I wasn't when I ate it later that evening at home! Good Job!

Posted 03/09/05

Wonderful seafood and solid mezza stand-bys. The salmon with tahina (Samak Al Harra) and grilled shrimp kebobs were great. The fattoush salad was the best we ever had, and we have lived and traveled extensively throughout the middle east.

The staff are very attentive, and the owners knock themselves out making you feel like honored guests.

The surroundings and general ambiance is very nice.

Pros: Seafood, Service, Salads

Cons: , Wine and beer list

Posted 10/16/04

I love this place. The food is outstanding (try the lamb shank!) and the service is wonderful. We go as often as we can!

Pros: Great Food, Great Service, Authentic

Posted 07/16/04

I'm not a family member but I feel like an honorary one at this restaurant; the owner and the wait staff are helpful and chatty when we're so inclined, but not pushy. The menu is intriguing and hard to choose from, the actual food incredible. They're very proud of the home cooked nature of everything, and should be.

My first meal there with a friend was so good, I dragged my boyfriend back the next night to try it.

Pros: atmosphere, selection, quality

Posted 06/03/04

Kazam has the best and the most authentic Lebanese cuisine in town. I had sampled quite a few while I was working in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East (for eight years) and the food here has equaled and even surpassed some of the best I've been. This should say something about the place. Plus...the personable staff are amazing.

Pros: Authenticity, Ambience, excellent food

Posted 05/26/04

One of our favorite restaurants in Portland. The food is first rate, the service terrific - especially since the owners absolutely dote on you.

A cut above!

Pros: moderate, terrific food, great owners

Posted 03/13/04

Is there a better Lebanese place in Oregon? Doubtful! The food is simply amazing, the prices so low that anyone can enjoy, and Tony is the best host in the whole town! Anything with lamb is a must try and save room for the divine baklava. Simply one of the best places in town for lunch or dinner.

Pros: wonderful food, inexpensive, best service

Posted 03/11/04

I went to Karam on a recommendation from a friend, and I've been back 4 times since November. The food is astonishingly good; the first time I ordered the baba ghanouj, and it just tasted way better than anywhere else. My picks - the sliced eggplant appetizer is truly amazing, and the okra stew and goat entrees are wonderful. Very friendly too, the chef (Mrs Karam) often comes around to greet and chat with the customers.

Pros: wonderful food, great service

Posted 01/29/04

I first went to this place because of a coupon in the A&E, and I'm hooked! The food is excellent, especially the meat mezza. The veggie mezza is really good too though if you're not into meat. It comes with plates of hummus, baba ganouj, tabouli, etc with plenty of yummy pita bread. The tables are cool with maps of parts of the world on them and the music is good. Also, the service is very friendly.

Pros: healthy tasty food, friendly service

Posted 11/04/03

Excellent food and extremely friendly service. My best friend also took her Dad who is Lebanese and they said it was the most authentic Lebanese food to be had in Portland.

Pros: yummy food, friendly service

Posted 10/25/03