Jarra's Ethiopian Restaurant - (503) 230-8990

I've been to Jarra's several times. I always get the vegetarian combination and it's always good which is what keeps me coming back. I've heard the meat dishes are very good but very rich. You definitely need to be prepared to spend a long time there though. The owner is the only waiter and is in no rush to serve anyone. He can be very talkative which is sometimes interesting and sometimes offensive or excessive. Because there is often not enough injera and there's only so much bread I want to eat in one sitting, I often ask for a fork (i know, i know...) and extra napkins and they're reluctant to get me either.

Ethiopian is not for everyone. It is spicey, exotic and often gruel-like and meant to be eaten without utensils. With that said, this is one of my family's favorite restaurants. Our 9 year old loves the mild lentils and chicken, while the rest of us like it as hot as possible. We have enjoyed Jarra's since before their present location on Hawthorne. Over the years the food has been consistant and delicious. It has been a small, family run business since the beginning. If you are looking for fancy surroundings, efficient, speedy service, this is not the place for you. If you can slow down enough to appreciate the food as it should be appreciated, you will not be disappointed. Many of the things said in other postings do not fit our experience there (shortage of napkins, injera, rudeness from the owner or charging exhorbitantly). Ethiopian food requires much preparation and the prices they charge seem very fair for the dinners they serve. In our opinion, Jarra's is the best Ethiopian in Portland and we often leave the restaurant feeling like we ate the food of the gods.

Really insulting and worst service ever! The owner/server came up to our table to take our order and basically said my friend and I had big noses, which was really a dig on our ethnicity. He then tried to guess where our families were from -- all with a smile. I thought it was rude, and I don't believe he was asking purely out of curiosity. I should have left, but stayed and really regret that because the food was luke warm and watery. I've had ethiopian food tons of times and I thought the bread was thin and tasteless.