Unlimited baba ganoush, lamb kababs and Vegeta wings marinated in kefir and fried until crispy. For two hours, a Balkan kitchen in Oregon simply keeps feeding you.
I noticed that this is not a buffet with steam trays and sad tongs. Every small plate gets cooked to order and carried to your table. You order a round, eat it, then order another round.
One detail I find worth mentioning is the chef behind it all. He arrived in Portland as a refugee at age 12, and he named the restaurant after his mother. The dining room even holds his family photos.
I’m particularly drawn to how personal the whole thing feels.
Two Hours, Endless Small Plates, Zero Steam Trays
Alma flipped its whole dining model in 2026, and the result is gloriously simple. After a spring renovation, the restaurant reopened in June with an all-you-can-enjoy Balkan feast.
The idea lives under a cheerful banner called Unlimited Balkan Hospitality. You can order unlimited rounds of included small plates, each prepared fresh, while certain premium dishes are available for an additional charge.
Each table gets a two-hour window to explore. That sounds short until you realize the food keeps rolling the entire time.
Sharing is the whole point here. Plates land in the middle of the table, and everyone grabs a bite of everything.
A friendly warning comes with all that freedom, though. Alma charges an over-ordering fee if a table leaves too much food uneaten.
So pace yourself like a pro. Order a few plates, see what you love, then circle back for seconds of the winners.
Kids get their own pricing, with children under six eating free and reduced pricing available for ages seven through twelve. That makes the feast a surprisingly family-friendly night out in Portland.
It also takes the stress out of menu decisions. Why agonize over one entree when you can try a dozen dishes instead?
A Chef Who Cooked His Way From Sarajevo To Portland
Chef grew up in Sarajevo, Bosnia. He came to Portland as a refugee when he was just 12 years old.
That story sits at the heart of every plate. His cooking blends bold Bosnian and Turkish flavors with a sharp, careful technique.
Where did that precision come from? Years in some of Portland’s best-known kitchens, including Bamboo Sushi, Langbaan, Gado Gado, and Oma’s Hideaway.
Think about that range for a second. Sushi, Thai, and Indonesian-inspired cooking all shaped a chef now celebrating his Balkan roots.
Before the restaurant had walls, Jordan ran Alma as a pop-up called Balkan Nights. The pop-up built a following that eventually earned a permanent home.
Then came the sweetest detail of all. He named the restaurant Alma after his mother.
Knowing that changes how the meal feels. Each dish reads a little like a love letter to family and home.
Eater Portland even called Alma the city’s first upscale Balkan restaurant. That’s a big first for a chef who started out as a kid in a brand-new country.
It’s the kind of origin story that makes dinner taste better. You’re eating someone’s history, served one small plate at a time.
Brass Lamps, Old Photos, And A Room That Feels Like Grandma’s House
Antique furniture, glowing brass lamps, and framed family photos fill the dining room. It looks more like a Balkan family home than a restaurant.
That was the goal of the renovation. The space shifted from fairly generic to deeply personal.
Look closely and the details stack up fast. Vintage ceramics, hand-woven textiles, and brass and copper vessels decorate the room.
Little trinkets add even more character. Every shelf seems to hold something with a story behind it.
The photographs might be the most meaningful touch. They show Chef Jordan’s own family, watching over the dinner crowd.
Big windows bring in plenty of light from the street. The warm colors make the space feel inviting rather than fussy.
There’s also a cozy back area for diners. It’s a nice pocket if your group wants a slightly tucked-away feel.
One clever bonus often goes unnoticed. Thoughtful sound design keeps conversation possible, even when the room gets lively.
That matters at a feast built around sharing and chatting. Nobody wants to shout across the baba ganoush.
The overall effect is warm, layered, and full of heart. It makes lingering for the full two hours feel completely natural.
Silky Dips And Garlic Bombs To Start The Party
Smoky, silky baba ganoush leads the charge on the menu. It’s an easy first order and a strong opening act.
Right beside it sits toum yogurt, and garlic lovers should take note. This one is heavy on garlic in the best possible way.
Then there’s the spiced mousaka. It brings warmth and a little kick to the dip lineup.
You’ll want something to scoop all of that up. Grilled flatbread is on the menu, and it does the job beautifully.
Olives and feta round out the snacking side of things. Salty, tangy, and simple, they’re great between bigger bites.
Here’s a smart strategy for the all-you-can-enjoy format. Start with a spread of dips so the table has something to share right away.
Then move on to the heartier plates once everyone’s warmed up. You can always come back to a favorite dip later.
That flexibility is what makes this setup fun. Nobody has to commit to one appetizer and hope for the best.
Fair warning, though. Once the toum lands, your breath becomes a group project.
Luckily, everyone at the table will be in the same garlicky boat.
Kababs, Kefir Wings, And Calamari Worth A Second Round
Kefir-marinated chicken wings might be the boldest idea on the menu. They’re called Vegeta wings, fried crispy and served with house-made hot sauce.
Vegeta is a classic seasoning across the Balkans. Using it on wings feels playful, nostalgic, and a little genius.
Adana lamb kababs feature on the menu, alongside other lamb preparations available for an additional charge. Meat lovers can work through them one round at a time.
The menu also includes ?evapi, the beloved Balkan grilled beef sausages. They’re a must for anyone curious about traditional comfort food from the region.
Calamari shows up as well, which might surprise some diners. It reflects how Chef Jordan mixes Balkan flavors with Mediterranean touches.
Fish fans have reasons to explore beyond squid. Seafood dishes appear throughout the menu alongside the grilled meats.
So how should you tackle all this protein? Try a little of everything first, then reorder your favorites.
That’s the beauty of unlimited plates. A great kabab doesn’t have to be a one-time memory.
Just keep that over-ordering fee in mind. Eyes bigger than your stomach can cost you.
Order in small waves, and the parade of meat and seafood keeps marching happily along.
Vegetables That Refuse To Be A Side Note
Roasted cauliflower earns a real spotlight at Alma. Vegetables here aren’t just filler between meat courses.
The kitchen blends Balkan cooking with Mediterranean flavors and seasonal Pacific Northwest ingredients. That mix gives plant-based dishes plenty of personality.
Imam bayildi is one name to know. This stuffed eggplant dish has deep roots in Turkish and Balkan cooking.
Braised beans make an appearance too, inspired by pasulj, a traditional white bean stew. Comfort food doesn’t get much more classic in the Balkans.
Vegetarians can build a full feast from the menu. The variety means nobody at the table gets stuck with a sad plate of lettuce.
Gluten-sensitive diners have some good news as well. The restaurant accommodates gluten intolerance, though it can’t promise a fully allergen-free space for celiac guests.
Garlic, onions, and peppers play huge roles in the cooking. Because of that, Alma can’t accommodate allium or nightshade allergies.
That honesty is helpful when planning a visit. Check your needs before booking, and you’ll avoid surprises.
For everyone else, the vegetable lineup is a sneaky highlight. You might come for the lamb and leave talking about cauliflower.
Save A Corner Of Your Stomach For Something Sweet
Baklava closes out the Balkan feast in classic style. Layers of flaky pastry make a fitting finale after all those savory rounds.
Desserts are part of the experience, so plan ahead. Two hours of kababs and dips can sneak up on anyone.
A smart move is to order dessert before your time runs low. That way the final plate doesn’t feel rushed.
Tea also deserves a mention here. Strong black tea fits right into Balkan hospitality traditions.
A warm cup alongside something sweet feels like the end of a family dinner. It’s cozy, unhurried, and very on brand for this dining room.
Sharing still applies at the dessert stage. Split the baklava so everyone gets a taste without overdoing it.
Remember that leftovers count toward the over-ordering rule. Ordering one sweet plate at a time keeps things easy.
The nice thing about an unlimited menu is the freedom to try again. Baklava makes a fitting finish to the meal when available, although dessert selections and their inclusion in the unlimited menu may vary.
Good Causes And Monthly Gatherings Beyond The Feast
Giving back is built into the way Alma operates. Alma has supported charitable causes through a rotating featured beverage program, directing proceeds toward organizations selected by Chef Jordan.
One organization that has benefited is Kids in Need of Defense. It’s a meaningful pick from a chef who arrived in America as a young refugee.
That connection adds weight to an ordinary night out. Your dinner can quietly support something bigger.
Alma has previously hosted special multi-course Balkan dinners, offering guests another way to explore Chef Jordan’s cooking. These ticketed events featured carefully planned courses highlighting traditional Balkan dishes and modern interpretations.
Those evenings offer a different pace from the unlimited feast. Courses arrive in a set order, telling a fuller story of the region.
Want a quicker visit instead? A small à la carte menu is available only at the bar.
Bar seats are first-come, first-served. Children can’t be seated there, so families should book a table.
These options show how flexible the restaurant has become. You can go big, go small, or go for a cause.
That variety keeps Alma interesting beyond one visit. There’s always another way to experience Chef Jordan’s cooking in Oregon.
Free Parking On MLK? Portland Will Be Jealous
A large free parking lot sits right behind the restaurant. In Portland, that’s practically breaking news.
Free street parking is nearby too. Getting there should be one of the easiest parts of your evening.
You’ll find Alma at 5237 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97211. The space previously housed Masala Lab PDX before becoming a Balkan home.
The brick-and-mortar location officially opened on June 13, 2025. About a year later, it reinvented itself with the all-you-can-enjoy format.
Timing matters, so plan around the schedule. Alma serves dinner Thursday through Sunday, opening at 4:30 in the afternoon.
The restaurant is closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Mark your calendar so a craving doesn’t hit on the wrong night.
Reservations are recommended, especially for groups. Walk-ins are welcome, but booking ahead protects your two-hour window.
Budget for one more detail on the bill. A 22% service gratuity is added automatically and shared among the staff.
Knowing that upfront keeps checkout simple. No mental math needed after a big feast.
So gather your hungriest friends and head for northeast Portland. Oregon’s most generous Balkan dinner table is waiting.
