Take your tastebuds to Tel Aviv at Northwest Portland’s Zula

The new restaurant on Northwest 23rd Avenue has a straightforward menu showcasing memorable Mediterranean flavors that will leave you feeling refreshed.

A spread of Mediterranean cuisine at Zula in Northwest Portland includes filo pastry, various salads, hummus, labneh, pita bread, and cocktails.

Aleppo pepper flakes and traditionally prepared eggs lend a special flare to Zula’s housemade hummus.

Photo by @zulapdx

Warm Portland weather calls for breezy clothing, sunscreen for our sun-deprived skin, and Mediterranean cuisine from Zula.

The PDXtoday team was recently invited to lunch at the restaurant on Northwest Portland’s bustling 23rd Avenue. Still new to the scene (it opened in March), Zula showcases owner Tal Dubitski’s Tel Aviv roots. There’s ample seating both indoors and on the sidewalk patio.

Friendly staff brought small plates that we shared family-style: smooth hummus with traditional soft-boiled eggs and stewed chickpeas, tangy radicchio salad, warm and delightfully tearable pita, tender chicken and mushroom skewers, and salad with tender mint and arugula leaves.

“Fresh,” “herby,” “memorable,” and “seasonal” are words we’d use to describe the experience. Be sure to try the housemade gazoz — a carbonated Turkish soda made with various infusions (we loved the beet shrub) and the filo-and-feta dish that doubles as dessert.

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