Karam - Ideal for You and Your Co-Workers
posted on November 13th, 2007 in Portland
the lowdown: Karam Lebanese Cuisine | 316 SW Stark St, Portland, OR 97204 | 503.223.0830 | Website | Lunch, Dinner | Entrees $4.50 - $10.95
Solid lunch choice for downtown working vegans.
I rarely go out for lunch because I like to save my cash for the weekends and I always have so many leftovers. When I do go out for lunch I am always stuck picking where we go since I have the strictest diet. If you are like me and can’t take the pressure, go immediately to Karam. Most everyone in the office, especially you, will find something good to eat!
At Lebanese restaurants I can never decide what I want so I always get the Veggie Mezza Platter. Karam’s platter was good but they were a little stingy with the pita bread. As long as you keep asking they will bring more.
oh yeah. You have to get out to Ya Hala sometime also, it’s fantastic.
Too bad Ya Hala isn’t downtown…I will get there though! Also, I am going to Bridgeport this weekend. Thank you for the suggestions!
Another vote for Ya Hala! That baba ganouj, swoon.
Their bread isn’t all that, though.
Never been to Karam…..1/4 of my office is too finicky to be talked into going there.
sounds like a hungry 25% then! The funny thing is that lebanese food to me is among the most novice-friendly…what American doesn’t love skewers, be they lamb, chicken, or veggie?
beerick, my coworker is intimidated and doesn’t eat when her chicken is grilled, and not fried. when her burgers are mashed, and not fried…etc.
sigh.
oops, her potatoes, not burgers..
hmm…tricky. I’d say schedule a lunchtime brown-bag meeting so she brings her lunch, then everyone else go to lebanese. Take her with you so she can see that grease isn’t an antidote to anything, except maybe health. Maybe even toss her a bit of skewer.
I have a friend who would only eat thinly sliced meat and round foods. I think she feared what she couldn’t see. She got over it.
mmm, burgermash.
Most Lebanese joints have a burger on the menu. I didn’t notice at Karam but perhaps that would work too! I went to Jerusalem Cafe in vancouver with my mom over the weekend who sounds just like your co-worker. Anyway, she had the burger but still found something about it she didn’t like :\
Another good downtown Middle Eastern option (Palestinian) is the Hush Hush Cafe, right across from Veganopolis at SW 4th & Stark. I always get the veggie mezza, and it is amazingly delicious! Fresh-baked pita bread, hummus, baba, tabouli, some of the best, most delicately spiced falafel I’ve ever had… The one interesting/strange thing is that you have to specify non-dairy, because otherwise the grape leaves come with a little dollop of yogurt. (They sub tahini.) HOWEVER, when you specify non-dairy, the woman taking your order will probably tell you there’s no dairy in it anyway… but once or twice she’s told me about the dairy in the sauce; and on one occasion, I received it, so I know it’s true. I have this conversation with her every time I order, which is weird and kind of annoying… but the food is really excellent, and if you specify no dairy you should be fine.
Maren - Excellent! I am happy to hear of other places downtown to eat. I went to Al Amir the other day and asked them what was vegan and they pointed out all of their vegetarian options but when the dishes came out I wasn’t so sure they were dairy free. Sometimes I hate leaving the fate of my intake to strangers :/
[…] Hush is your lunch spot. However, next time I venture out for lunch, I will head to the likes of Karam or check out some of the highly regarded food […]