Highlights were the earnest and sweet staff, the delightful first two courses, and a lovely Bordeaux Blanc. The third (main course) gets marked down just a bit compared to the first two. While I recognize (and enjoy) that a degree of collision, chaos, and whimsy is part of the deal here, in the case of this course, the ideal balance of that with a necessary soupçon of coherence and cohesion was not quite there. Dessert was simple but well-executed.Service was another less-than-perfect element. One incorrect second course item was delivered resulting in a delay while the other person's food cooled on the table. The third course arrived prior to the clearing of the second. Do these things matter? For the price (see below) – yes, they do.The price of the meal and wine were fair but not the inclusion of a 20% gratuity for a party of two. Earnest and sweet service with hiccups certainly merits a kind tip but not that amount.In any event, by the end of the meal we were definitely full (solid portion as a meal) and quite happy. I recommend visiting and would gladly return.
Todd D.
Oooooo my goodness y'all we are starting the year RIGHT. Top line assessment: absolutely go for dinner. But more than that, go for an experience. We had a group of 4 and shortly after arriving were shown to a small table at the back of the restaurant, which was separated from other diners by a small screen. Nice, private, and homey. The server was attentive and gave us plenty of suggestions and guidance, which was great because the menu options are DENSE. We are talking a 3-course dining experience and every course has approximately 5,000 ingredients (I exaggerate, but truly - you'll see when you go). Every single thing I tried was EXCELLENT. I am not kidding - there were no bad choices placed before me. We started with a miso broth and squash amuse-bouche. Lovely, simple and tasty. Course 1 - Old Deuteronomy - a lemongrass-tamarind pork rib. I was iffy about getting this because I cannot handle fatty meats, but the server reassured me. It was crispy, flavorful, and accompanied by a citrus salad that paired beautifully. Also came with a side of passion fruit hot sauce that was DIVINE. I also recommend the Medusa, which I sampled and was very very good. Course 2 - Bellflower with Peanut-Sauced Fried Chicken - fantastic, leafy, and the chicken was perfectly prepared, no regrets! Course 3 - Important Helmet For Outer Space, 2nd Ed - an AMAZING slow-roasted pork shoulder, accompanied by a pineapple slaw and stir fried gai lan. All of this paired SO beautifully together and the flavor of the pork was just perfection. Have I convinced you? GO!! This is a fabulous meal worth having with dear friends.
Carole G.
An absolutely fantastic prix fixe 3 course dinner. ($60 per person which includes gratuity.) None of the menu choices were in the least bit familiar to us--all new ingredients or combination of ingredients, but each one was almost shockingly delicious! There were three of us and we shared our meals, so we got to try nine different dishes. My very favorites were eggplant and zucchini fries, crispy Jasmine rice salad, and tamarind pork rib. Each dish served was an artwork to behold! The service was perfect--friendly, knowledgeable, and unobtrusive. And the small restaurant itself was so charming, with various cozy nooks. I can't wait to go back! Reservations a must.
Anna B.
The food was tasty with lots of interesting flavors and textures. But there was lipstick on the mug of my miso soup and my friend found a hair in one of her dishes. The service was nice but not very attentive despite our being the last seating. I attributed this to the built-in gratuity. The ambiance was cute and intimate; unfortunately, I am 98% certain that I contracted COVID from my two-hour visit; the tiny dining room has no ventilation and the tables are maybe two feet apart. I considered walking out of my reservation once I saw the arrangement but for the cancellation fee. In hindsight I should have trusted my gut and just bit the 50% fee or whatever. C'est la vie. TL;DR: It was a decent meal but I probably won't go back given the many drawbacks.
Nisha P.
This is not a drill!! I repeat this is not a drill! Run, don't walk to Malka!!! During my recent visit to Portland Oregon I had the opportunity to visit one of the best restaurants I've ever been to, Malka -- I'm not exaggerating, this is seriously one of the best restaurants I've been to. The cuisine at this restaurant is a little bit hard to pin down which adds to its unique flavor profile, but the best way I can describe it as a fusion of South Asian and South American flavors. First of all they have an amazing prix fixe menu that only cost $60 (gratuity included). This is quite affordable when you're coming from California where most tasting menus are $100+! And another huge perk is there are plenty of really delicious vegetarian options at this restaurant. For the prix fixe menu you get three courses and each course was super unique, interesting, and so well balanced. I got the following: 1. Medusa: eggplant and zucchini fries 2. Bellflower: crispy jasmine rice salad 3. 45th & Clay: eggplant and fresh ota tofu 4. Jonny's day out: bay leaf and olive oil ice cream The variety flavors of sweet, salty, bitter, spicy along with the different textures like creamy, crunchy... It was just an explosion of flavor and an amazing mouthfeel. Every single bite was different in these complex dishes. It was truly a lovely experience and the restaurant itself is so homey, cozy. Plus, the staff are incredibly helpful and appreciative to work there! Truly culinary arts at its finest: amazing food, at a good price, made by people that are super passionate about what they do. I can't RAVE about this place enough!! Please do yourself a favor and make a reservation at Malka the next time you're in Portland Oregon because honestly I can't wait to go back and take all of my friends and family!
amber c.
Excellent unique space and unique veggie-forward dishes with unique flavors. Easy to accommodate all dietary choices. Great cocktails. The staff were really nice. Lovely spot for 2-4 ppl on a special occasion. Will be back!
Shauna F.
Great flavors and atmosphere. Great service. Well deserving of 5 stars. This place came recommended by a friend and I'd recommend it to others as well
Alisa H.
This is easily my favorite restaurant in Portland. Not only is it unique with its flavors but the staff is absolutely incredible and kind. I can't stop thinking about all the amazing food we ate. Truly a one of a kind place. I can't wait to go back!
Plain Jane
This place has been on my bucket list. They have a lot of options for gluten-free and vegan. At the same time, satisfying my husband with slow-roasted pork. We ordered from the three-course menu. For the first course, we got the Medusa and Old Deuteronomy. For the second course, we got the Bellflower and Wind-Up Merchant. For the last course, we got the I Have a Lot of Feelings and the Important Helmet for Outer Space, 2nd Ed. Every bite was emersed with flavor. We will be back :)
Angela K.
This place is INCREDIBLE!! The service was excellent, food is outstanding, and ambiance is incredibly cute and laidback. Honestly, the only reason I'm even writing this review is because of the Medusa. I enjoy food... maybe a little too much sometimes. I've lived in places considered to have the best food in the world (NOLA, Taipei, and now NYC), and when I tell you that the Medusa is potentially the single greatest thing I've ever eaten... whatever they did to the gochujang jelly sauce, was truly magnificent. This place is a MUST TRY!
I appreciate Malka and am happy to continue supporting them. I believed they opened right before Covid shut all indoor dining. I visited after they had pivoted to a take out only affair. The friend who recommended this place is a bit extra and I was trepidatious that an establishment who sort of throws dozens of ingredients into a dish could be as good as advertised. They definitely know what the hell they are doing, cus damn. Things are good there. As to what sort of food they serve, I would reckon its a mix of vegan friendly salads, veggie appetizers and small/medium sized protein bowls with a heavy eastern/southern asian flavor profile. Malka is now offering indoor/patio dining with reservations, so think twice before showing up and getting sat. As for what to order? You really can't go wrong. I believe they are now doing a pre fixe ordering system, where you select a veggie starter/salad/main protein/bowl. Ive always been partial to the Bellflower Salad - its quite literally 25+ ingredients but it just hits all the right notes taste and texture wise. The crispy rice bits always end up at the bottom so be sure to mix this baby up before diving in. Really though, everything Ive had on the menu has been amazing (if they have the zucchini/eggplant fries with Za'atar, order those, pronto). They also carry Landmass wines, which makes some killer wines. I am super happy they survived the last couple of years and will continue to support their crazy, amazing food inventions.
Terry C.
Firstly - my condolences to the previous 5 star reviews that I've posted. You've all been downgraded - there is no comparison any longer. Simply the best meal that we have EVER eaten. No qualification. No reservation. The best - by a wide margin. We found it through the various foodie sites & compared it with reviews. When we arrived it was tiny - perhaps 35 seats in total. They only allow reservations and have a seating limit to ensure that people don't linger. Typically I find that off putting, but I'll get to that in a bit. It only offers a 3 course option per person along with some creative cocktails. We started witch cocktails, which had a variety of flavors and a depth rarely found. Then the courses arrived. We made a point to not duplicate orders to try as much as we could - and are we ever glad that we did! Every bite was rich, full of complimentary flavors that intermingled with the neighboring ingredients masterfully. Incredible! The service was lovely. The atmosphere was eclectic, quaint and fun. If we could eat there every night we certainly would! Just tremendous!
Mary Peterson
An incredible place! Every dish is amazing and every bite is like a happy dance in your mouth! Love the kindness, generosity, and beauty of the space and the people. We were gifted with a spoonful of mango sorbet for dessert. What a sweet ending to wonderful feast. Grateful!
Jarrod Bouchie
Some of the best food I’ve had in a while. The combinations of flavors were surprising and everything worked. Tamarind salsa verde. Vadouvan bolognese. Lime leaf buffalo sauce. If you’re looking for a nice dinner for a special occasion, I recommend going!
Nina N.
You Malka my dreams come true! Wow what an incredible dining experience. I'm very glad that this was on the roster for our monthly yelp dinner because I had no idea the quality of food that would come from the 3 course dining experience. It's honestly really smart post pandemic to serve food this year with a pre-fixe menu and auto grat. I think is well worth the money that you give for the inside coziness and the aesthetic along with the great service. We had a 7:30 appt and stayed a bit after the 90 min slot being one of the last people there. The journey or path we took with our meal was a bit surplus and filing but definitely delicious with each bite. They play into SE Asian flavors really well along with amazing texture eating, knowing what to compliment with salt, acid and using veggies in a unique way. My friend said the salad was exciting to eat! Course 1: Medusa, the fried zucchini was definitely really filling the lemon was a much needed touch to it. Great texture and apparently a crowd favorite. Old Deuteronomy, this was such a great rib, definitely worth picking as a double first course because of all the flavors with the Hawaiian bread and the fresh cucumber and avocado salad. Wished it was 2 pieces but very delicious. Course 2: Bellflower, another texture masterpiece that makes you excited for each bite. The peanut sauce on the chicken hits a good traditional Thai peanut sauce note. You can definitely mix and match on this. If I could I'd have this for lunch everyday and be happy with my life Wind Up Merchant, I called the carrot forbidden lafty taffy. It was so savory and the bits of chèvre in it was a nice fat component to the acid. By this time we were so stuffed that the next course was going to be an effort to eat. We practically licked the plates clean so come hungry. Course 3: Bangarang & Important Helmut for Outer space, these were going to be very similar in intentional flavor. Again with the fresh veggies, the savory meats and the combination of everything into a perfect bite. I wasn't able to finish my meal but reheating it at home still tasted great! Surprise course! They also give you a small bite of their homemade sorbet that was a delightful pallets cleanser. Everything was wonderful. I'm taking my parents here next time they visit. Keith yes THE KEITH, was such an amazing host/server for our experience. This is like Michelin level deliciousness. Top meals I've ever paid for in Portland. They deserve all the stars.
Highlights were the earnest and sweet staff, the delightful first two courses, and a lovely Bordeaux Blanc. The third (main course) gets marked down just a bit compared to the first two. While I recognize (and enjoy) that a degree of collision, chaos, and whimsy is part of the deal here, in the case of this course, the ideal balance of that with a necessary soupçon of coherence and cohesion was not quite there. Dessert was simple but well-executed.Service was another less-than-perfect element. One incorrect second course item was delivered resulting in a delay while the other person's food cooled on the table. The third course arrived prior to the clearing of the second. Do these things matter? For the price (see below) – yes, they do.The price of the meal and wine were fair but not the inclusion of a 20% gratuity for a party of two. Earnest and sweet service with hiccups certainly merits a kind tip but not that amount.In any event, by the end of the meal we were definitely full (solid portion as a meal) and quite happy. I recommend visiting and would gladly return.
Oooooo my goodness y'all we are starting the year RIGHT. Top line assessment: absolutely go for dinner. But more than that, go for an experience. We had a group of 4 and shortly after arriving were shown to a small table at the back of the restaurant, which was separated from other diners by a small screen. Nice, private, and homey. The server was attentive and gave us plenty of suggestions and guidance, which was great because the menu options are DENSE. We are talking a 3-course dining experience and every course has approximately 5,000 ingredients (I exaggerate, but truly - you'll see when you go). Every single thing I tried was EXCELLENT. I am not kidding - there were no bad choices placed before me. We started with a miso broth and squash amuse-bouche. Lovely, simple and tasty. Course 1 - Old Deuteronomy - a lemongrass-tamarind pork rib. I was iffy about getting this because I cannot handle fatty meats, but the server reassured me. It was crispy, flavorful, and accompanied by a citrus salad that paired beautifully. Also came with a side of passion fruit hot sauce that was DIVINE. I also recommend the Medusa, which I sampled and was very very good. Course 2 - Bellflower with Peanut-Sauced Fried Chicken - fantastic, leafy, and the chicken was perfectly prepared, no regrets! Course 3 - Important Helmet For Outer Space, 2nd Ed - an AMAZING slow-roasted pork shoulder, accompanied by a pineapple slaw and stir fried gai lan. All of this paired SO beautifully together and the flavor of the pork was just perfection. Have I convinced you? GO!! This is a fabulous meal worth having with dear friends.
An absolutely fantastic prix fixe 3 course dinner. ($60 per person which includes gratuity.) None of the menu choices were in the least bit familiar to us--all new ingredients or combination of ingredients, but each one was almost shockingly delicious! There were three of us and we shared our meals, so we got to try nine different dishes. My very favorites were eggplant and zucchini fries, crispy Jasmine rice salad, and tamarind pork rib. Each dish served was an artwork to behold! The service was perfect--friendly, knowledgeable, and unobtrusive. And the small restaurant itself was so charming, with various cozy nooks. I can't wait to go back! Reservations a must.
The food was tasty with lots of interesting flavors and textures. But there was lipstick on the mug of my miso soup and my friend found a hair in one of her dishes. The service was nice but not very attentive despite our being the last seating. I attributed this to the built-in gratuity. The ambiance was cute and intimate; unfortunately, I am 98% certain that I contracted COVID from my two-hour visit; the tiny dining room has no ventilation and the tables are maybe two feet apart. I considered walking out of my reservation once I saw the arrangement but for the cancellation fee. In hindsight I should have trusted my gut and just bit the 50% fee or whatever. C'est la vie. TL;DR: It was a decent meal but I probably won't go back given the many drawbacks.
This is not a drill!! I repeat this is not a drill! Run, don't walk to Malka!!! During my recent visit to Portland Oregon I had the opportunity to visit one of the best restaurants I've ever been to, Malka -- I'm not exaggerating, this is seriously one of the best restaurants I've been to. The cuisine at this restaurant is a little bit hard to pin down which adds to its unique flavor profile, but the best way I can describe it as a fusion of South Asian and South American flavors. First of all they have an amazing prix fixe menu that only cost $60 (gratuity included). This is quite affordable when you're coming from California where most tasting menus are $100+! And another huge perk is there are plenty of really delicious vegetarian options at this restaurant. For the prix fixe menu you get three courses and each course was super unique, interesting, and so well balanced. I got the following: 1. Medusa: eggplant and zucchini fries 2. Bellflower: crispy jasmine rice salad 3. 45th & Clay: eggplant and fresh ota tofu 4. Jonny's day out: bay leaf and olive oil ice cream The variety flavors of sweet, salty, bitter, spicy along with the different textures like creamy, crunchy... It was just an explosion of flavor and an amazing mouthfeel. Every single bite was different in these complex dishes. It was truly a lovely experience and the restaurant itself is so homey, cozy. Plus, the staff are incredibly helpful and appreciative to work there! Truly culinary arts at its finest: amazing food, at a good price, made by people that are super passionate about what they do. I can't RAVE about this place enough!! Please do yourself a favor and make a reservation at Malka the next time you're in Portland Oregon because honestly I can't wait to go back and take all of my friends and family!
Excellent unique space and unique veggie-forward dishes with unique flavors. Easy to accommodate all dietary choices. Great cocktails. The staff were really nice. Lovely spot for 2-4 ppl on a special occasion. Will be back!
Great flavors and atmosphere. Great service. Well deserving of 5 stars. This place came recommended by a friend and I'd recommend it to others as well
This is easily my favorite restaurant in Portland. Not only is it unique with its flavors but the staff is absolutely incredible and kind. I can't stop thinking about all the amazing food we ate. Truly a one of a kind place. I can't wait to go back!
This place has been on my bucket list. They have a lot of options for gluten-free and vegan. At the same time, satisfying my husband with slow-roasted pork. We ordered from the three-course menu. For the first course, we got the Medusa and Old Deuteronomy. For the second course, we got the Bellflower and Wind-Up Merchant. For the last course, we got the I Have a Lot of Feelings and the Important Helmet for Outer Space, 2nd Ed. Every bite was emersed with flavor. We will be back :)
This place is INCREDIBLE!! The service was excellent, food is outstanding, and ambiance is incredibly cute and laidback. Honestly, the only reason I'm even writing this review is because of the Medusa. I enjoy food... maybe a little too much sometimes. I've lived in places considered to have the best food in the world (NOLA, Taipei, and now NYC), and when I tell you that the Medusa is potentially the single greatest thing I've ever eaten... whatever they did to the gochujang jelly sauce, was truly magnificent. This place is a MUST TRY!
Restaurantji Recommends
I appreciate Malka and am happy to continue supporting them. I believed they opened right before Covid shut all indoor dining. I visited after they had pivoted to a take out only affair. The friend who recommended this place is a bit extra and I was trepidatious that an establishment who sort of throws dozens of ingredients into a dish could be as good as advertised. They definitely know what the hell they are doing, cus damn. Things are good there. As to what sort of food they serve, I would reckon its a mix of vegan friendly salads, veggie appetizers and small/medium sized protein bowls with a heavy eastern/southern asian flavor profile. Malka is now offering indoor/patio dining with reservations, so think twice before showing up and getting sat. As for what to order? You really can't go wrong. I believe they are now doing a pre fixe ordering system, where you select a veggie starter/salad/main protein/bowl. Ive always been partial to the Bellflower Salad - its quite literally 25+ ingredients but it just hits all the right notes taste and texture wise. The crispy rice bits always end up at the bottom so be sure to mix this baby up before diving in. Really though, everything Ive had on the menu has been amazing (if they have the zucchini/eggplant fries with Za'atar, order those, pronto). They also carry Landmass wines, which makes some killer wines. I am super happy they survived the last couple of years and will continue to support their crazy, amazing food inventions.
Firstly - my condolences to the previous 5 star reviews that I've posted. You've all been downgraded - there is no comparison any longer. Simply the best meal that we have EVER eaten. No qualification. No reservation. The best - by a wide margin. We found it through the various foodie sites & compared it with reviews. When we arrived it was tiny - perhaps 35 seats in total. They only allow reservations and have a seating limit to ensure that people don't linger. Typically I find that off putting, but I'll get to that in a bit. It only offers a 3 course option per person along with some creative cocktails. We started witch cocktails, which had a variety of flavors and a depth rarely found. Then the courses arrived. We made a point to not duplicate orders to try as much as we could - and are we ever glad that we did! Every bite was rich, full of complimentary flavors that intermingled with the neighboring ingredients masterfully. Incredible! The service was lovely. The atmosphere was eclectic, quaint and fun. If we could eat there every night we certainly would! Just tremendous!
An incredible place! Every dish is amazing and every bite is like a happy dance in your mouth! Love the kindness, generosity, and beauty of the space and the people. We were gifted with a spoonful of mango sorbet for dessert. What a sweet ending to wonderful feast. Grateful!
Some of the best food I’ve had in a while. The combinations of flavors were surprising and everything worked. Tamarind salsa verde. Vadouvan bolognese. Lime leaf buffalo sauce. If you’re looking for a nice dinner for a special occasion, I recommend going!
You Malka my dreams come true! Wow what an incredible dining experience. I'm very glad that this was on the roster for our monthly yelp dinner because I had no idea the quality of food that would come from the 3 course dining experience. It's honestly really smart post pandemic to serve food this year with a pre-fixe menu and auto grat. I think is well worth the money that you give for the inside coziness and the aesthetic along with the great service. We had a 7:30 appt and stayed a bit after the 90 min slot being one of the last people there. The journey or path we took with our meal was a bit surplus and filing but definitely delicious with each bite. They play into SE Asian flavors really well along with amazing texture eating, knowing what to compliment with salt, acid and using veggies in a unique way. My friend said the salad was exciting to eat! Course 1: Medusa, the fried zucchini was definitely really filling the lemon was a much needed touch to it. Great texture and apparently a crowd favorite. Old Deuteronomy, this was such a great rib, definitely worth picking as a double first course because of all the flavors with the Hawaiian bread and the fresh cucumber and avocado salad. Wished it was 2 pieces but very delicious. Course 2: Bellflower, another texture masterpiece that makes you excited for each bite. The peanut sauce on the chicken hits a good traditional Thai peanut sauce note. You can definitely mix and match on this. If I could I'd have this for lunch everyday and be happy with my life Wind Up Merchant, I called the carrot forbidden lafty taffy. It was so savory and the bits of chèvre in it was a nice fat component to the acid. By this time we were so stuffed that the next course was going to be an effort to eat. We practically licked the plates clean so come hungry. Course 3: Bangarang & Important Helmut for Outer space, these were going to be very similar in intentional flavor. Again with the fresh veggies, the savory meats and the combination of everything into a perfect bite. I wasn't able to finish my meal but reheating it at home still tasted great! Surprise course! They also give you a small bite of their homemade sorbet that was a delightful pallets cleanser. Everything was wonderful. I'm taking my parents here next time they visit. Keith yes THE KEITH, was such an amazing host/server for our experience. This is like Michelin level deliciousness. Top meals I've ever paid for in Portland. They deserve all the stars.