Ameera Bread, Portland

Tucked away along Forest Avenue, Ameera Bread is easy to miss if you're not looking for it. But inside this hidden gem, owner and executive chef Ahmed Abbas is spinning together authentic Middle Eastern food that isn't soon forgotten by those visitors fortunate enough to happen upon the humble storefront.

For starters, Ahmed and his staff make bread the same way it was made thousands of years ago. They hand-stretch it and bake it in a tandoor oven at high heat, leaving it rife with bubbles and smoky flavors. The rest of the menu is just as authentic: it includes shareable plates like hummus and fava bean dip, plus filling entrees like falafel, shish kebabs, and sandwiches packed with chicken, beef, and lamb shawarma.