We went to Lulus for Valentines. I know this holiday is crazy for restaurants and stressful. With that said, the food was great and the person bringing the food to our table was super friendly and very apologetic for the delays. What was off putting was that we were told there is a strict 1.5 hour time limit (even though we had reservations) and there was no table service. We ordered at the bar, which was fine, but didn't make sense with such a strict time limit. The host actually walked up to our table, before we got all of our food, and said “excuse me, we have another reservation waiting.” I've never ever had anyone tell me that at a restaurant. It just makes for a bad experience...basically, they want t people to order, get food asap, eat as fast as you can and leave. Kind of crappy. If we were “allowed” to stay longer, we would have ordered more drinks and food. I think Lulus need to reevaluate how they handle reservations ...maybe take fewer reservations and get table service to help streamline food delivery and wait times. You can't have no table service, a strict time limit, and say you take reservations. It was a bad experience.
JNel
I made a reservation for a table, but when we got there we were seated at the bar. When booking, it did not specify table vs bar seating. I wanted to book a table, not bar seating. The food was fine and the cocktails were good, but definitely not worth the high price. The servers were very friendly but clearly were overwhelmed. They probably need more staff to accommodate.
Allyson L.
So Jarana is actually the kitchen inside of the bar, Lulu. It was a bit confusing when we first walked by and were trying to figure out where it was. We ordered the saltado with steak and the ceviche as well. The steak was soooo tender. The sauce had good umami flavor. The fries were crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. Rice had such a good seasoned flavor. I will think about this dish for a while. The ceviche was also really good. I loved the mango and passion fruit to add sweetness. I didn't expect fried fish and fish chicharrones. So yummy.It might be a bit pricey, but the food is SO good!
SarahP
It's seems like a place that's not sure whether it wants to be a bar or a restaurant. You have to order and pay your bill at the bar and then they put a number at your table. The ambiance may have been nice except there were a bunch of frat bros taking shots and yelling like they were back at the frat house. And the acoustics in the place made it really hard to talk without yelling. It doesn't seem like a place that should take $25 just to make a reservation. Unfortunately, the food wasn't good enough for me to come back.
Beerboy M.
Not bad.Drinks a little pricey but tasty.Food was good, but the chicken katsu bowl and steak saltado we wanted to try were out at 5pm. Salt and pepper squid was good, though a small portion for $14.Service was very nice, and it is a nice space. Large collection of liquors lining the wall behind the bar indicate you can find just about anything to drink here.
bkw11
The serrano based tequila drink on the menu was amazing! We started with the fresh rolls. Delicious pork belly and sauces with those. The oysters were unique and tasty with a light spice and trout roe. We finished with the duck empanadas which were outstanding! Service was great and the space is nice. I'll definitely visit again some day.
Lulu in Portland offers an unforgettable dining experience. With a cozy yet sophisticated ambiance, exceptional service, and mouthwatering dishes crafted from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, this restaurant truly stands out. The accommodating options for dietary restrictions and impressive selection of wines and cocktails add to the overall charm. The attentive staff goes above and beyond, making you feel valued. Don't miss the opportunity to indulge in Lulu's culinary delights.
Ember Creeps
This place is a TREAT. I recently found out I may have celiacs and it has been a nightmare trying to figure out what and where I can eat as someone in nightlife who frequently needs to eat out. Not only is everything clearly labeled, they go out of their way to record specifics about your allergies. And the FOOD! I got the mushroom and tofu saltado and I didn’t know those ingredients could taste that good. I’m going to quickly become a regular both in person and via ubereats
Suhasini G.
The food was good and I tried my boyfriend's drink, which was pretty good too. The servers were really nice too. Only thing is we had zero conversation coz it was WILDLY loud like a club. So, just not for me if i want to go for a dinner with some conversation, but for some late drinks and dancing, sure!
Grace C.
Wowie, Jarana brings the Japanese-Peruvian fusion that Portland didn't know it needed. Tucked away behind Lulu Bar, this cocktail bar serves delicious drinks and dope food. There's no table service and you order food and drinks from the bar. We came on a Thursday at 6:30 and the place was pretty quiet but got busier as the night goes on. They also feature various DJs in the evenings during the weekends. The ambiance is dark, classy, perfect for a date night or just enjoying good food in a cool location. We ordered the lomo saltado and chicken katsu bowl. Food did take a minute to come out, but boy was it good. The saltado was savory, tangy, and the chimichurri sauce freshened the dish. The steak was tender, juicy - perfectly cooked. The garlic rice was fragrant and had a hint of coconut - a beautiful pairing. The chicken katsu was crispy, juicy, not too heavily breaded. The coleslaw was light, refreshing, zesty. All the flavors and textures blended and harmonized like a fine-tuned orchestra. Everything was a hit, and it's always a double win in my books when a cocktail bar has food that is worth coming back for. The Nikkei cuisine that Jarana has highlights both cultures and adds to the diversity that Portland offers.
Delicious late night option. You do need to walk through a club to get to the food in the back, but the quality and flavor is worth it!
Curtis Susuki
Jarana PDX is the place to be! Do not miss your chance to try out some of the best food and drinks in Portland! Wether you’re on a date or visiting with friends Jarana PDX will set the mood for your special occasion.
Amir A.
Great service, super tasty food, solid drink section and nice design. It's a perfect spot for late dinner, which is hard to find in Portland! I'll definitely go back.
Rashi T.
I was expecting more when I returned to this much familiar bar . Jarana is located inside of Lulu or is it part of it ?? The answers from our server/bartender were kind of vague but nevertheless it was the same premises and the vibe is intimate, dark and modern. We started off with two overpriced cocktails, that did seem to justify the description on the menu but were just not my taste and this was followed by some mediocre food . we had - Empanada - Lackluster ,but not bad . Really average tasting . I dint taste the mozzarella at all Akisisho Wings and Noodles- Fried chicken with thin vermicelli styled noodles . This dish did have flavor and good portion sizes but the fried chicken was super oversalted and kind of overpowered the whole dish . The service was just alright and the food did come out really fast . The co-owner/bartender come in to chat with us and asked us about our experience and how they have revamped the menu post re-opening . I did have higher expectations from them as my previous experiences at Lulu have been good but this time they did not match them .
Fernando C.
This place doesn't just have some of the best food I've had in Oregon, it's the best late night food we've ever had on the planet. We got seated past midnight and got to eat delicious fusion style dishes. It's like a little gem. It's also a bar so probably crowded on the weekends but for a Thursday night it was perfect. It doesn't say that name outside it says Lulu just a heads up.
We went to Lulus for Valentines. I know this holiday is crazy for restaurants and stressful. With that said, the food was great and the person bringing the food to our table was super friendly and very apologetic for the delays. What was off putting was that we were told there is a strict 1.5 hour time limit (even though we had reservations) and there was no table service. We ordered at the bar, which was fine, but didn't make sense with such a strict time limit. The host actually walked up to our table, before we got all of our food, and said “excuse me, we have another reservation waiting.” I've never ever had anyone tell me that at a restaurant. It just makes for a bad experience...basically, they want t people to order, get food asap, eat as fast as you can and leave. Kind of crappy. If we were “allowed” to stay longer, we would have ordered more drinks and food. I think Lulus need to reevaluate how they handle reservations ...maybe take fewer reservations and get table service to help streamline food delivery and wait times. You can't have no table service, a strict time limit, and say you take reservations. It was a bad experience.
I made a reservation for a table, but when we got there we were seated at the bar. When booking, it did not specify table vs bar seating. I wanted to book a table, not bar seating. The food was fine and the cocktails were good, but definitely not worth the high price. The servers were very friendly but clearly were overwhelmed. They probably need more staff to accommodate.
So Jarana is actually the kitchen inside of the bar, Lulu. It was a bit confusing when we first walked by and were trying to figure out where it was. We ordered the saltado with steak and the ceviche as well. The steak was soooo tender. The sauce had good umami flavor. The fries were crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. Rice had such a good seasoned flavor. I will think about this dish for a while. The ceviche was also really good. I loved the mango and passion fruit to add sweetness. I didn't expect fried fish and fish chicharrones. So yummy.It might be a bit pricey, but the food is SO good!
It's seems like a place that's not sure whether it wants to be a bar or a restaurant. You have to order and pay your bill at the bar and then they put a number at your table. The ambiance may have been nice except there were a bunch of frat bros taking shots and yelling like they were back at the frat house. And the acoustics in the place made it really hard to talk without yelling. It doesn't seem like a place that should take $25 just to make a reservation. Unfortunately, the food wasn't good enough for me to come back.
Not bad.Drinks a little pricey but tasty.Food was good, but the chicken katsu bowl and steak saltado we wanted to try were out at 5pm. Salt and pepper squid was good, though a small portion for $14.Service was very nice, and it is a nice space. Large collection of liquors lining the wall behind the bar indicate you can find just about anything to drink here.
The serrano based tequila drink on the menu was amazing! We started with the fresh rolls. Delicious pork belly and sauces with those. The oysters were unique and tasty with a light spice and trout roe. We finished with the duck empanadas which were outstanding! Service was great and the space is nice. I'll definitely visit again some day.
Lulu in Portland offers an unforgettable dining experience. With a cozy yet sophisticated ambiance, exceptional service, and mouthwatering dishes crafted from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, this restaurant truly stands out. The accommodating options for dietary restrictions and impressive selection of wines and cocktails add to the overall charm. The attentive staff goes above and beyond, making you feel valued. Don't miss the opportunity to indulge in Lulu's culinary delights.
This place is a TREAT. I recently found out I may have celiacs and it has been a nightmare trying to figure out what and where I can eat as someone in nightlife who frequently needs to eat out. Not only is everything clearly labeled, they go out of their way to record specifics about your allergies. And the FOOD! I got the mushroom and tofu saltado and I didn’t know those ingredients could taste that good. I’m going to quickly become a regular both in person and via ubereats
The food was good and I tried my boyfriend's drink, which was pretty good too. The servers were really nice too. Only thing is we had zero conversation coz it was WILDLY loud like a club. So, just not for me if i want to go for a dinner with some conversation, but for some late drinks and dancing, sure!
Wowie, Jarana brings the Japanese-Peruvian fusion that Portland didn't know it needed. Tucked away behind Lulu Bar, this cocktail bar serves delicious drinks and dope food. There's no table service and you order food and drinks from the bar. We came on a Thursday at 6:30 and the place was pretty quiet but got busier as the night goes on. They also feature various DJs in the evenings during the weekends. The ambiance is dark, classy, perfect for a date night or just enjoying good food in a cool location. We ordered the lomo saltado and chicken katsu bowl. Food did take a minute to come out, but boy was it good. The saltado was savory, tangy, and the chimichurri sauce freshened the dish. The steak was tender, juicy - perfectly cooked. The garlic rice was fragrant and had a hint of coconut - a beautiful pairing. The chicken katsu was crispy, juicy, not too heavily breaded. The coleslaw was light, refreshing, zesty. All the flavors and textures blended and harmonized like a fine-tuned orchestra. Everything was a hit, and it's always a double win in my books when a cocktail bar has food that is worth coming back for. The Nikkei cuisine that Jarana has highlights both cultures and adds to the diversity that Portland offers.
Restaurantji Recommends
Delicious late night option. You do need to walk through a club to get to the food in the back, but the quality and flavor is worth it!
Jarana PDX is the place to be! Do not miss your chance to try out some of the best food and drinks in Portland! Wether you’re on a date or visiting with friends Jarana PDX will set the mood for your special occasion.
Great service, super tasty food, solid drink section and nice design. It's a perfect spot for late dinner, which is hard to find in Portland! I'll definitely go back.
I was expecting more when I returned to this much familiar bar . Jarana is located inside of Lulu or is it part of it ?? The answers from our server/bartender were kind of vague but nevertheless it was the same premises and the vibe is intimate, dark and modern. We started off with two overpriced cocktails, that did seem to justify the description on the menu but were just not my taste and this was followed by some mediocre food . we had - Empanada - Lackluster ,but not bad . Really average tasting . I dint taste the mozzarella at all Akisisho Wings and Noodles- Fried chicken with thin vermicelli styled noodles . This dish did have flavor and good portion sizes but the fried chicken was super oversalted and kind of overpowered the whole dish . The service was just alright and the food did come out really fast . The co-owner/bartender come in to chat with us and asked us about our experience and how they have revamped the menu post re-opening . I did have higher expectations from them as my previous experiences at Lulu have been good but this time they did not match them .
This place doesn't just have some of the best food I've had in Oregon, it's the best late night food we've ever had on the planet. We got seated past midnight and got to eat delicious fusion style dishes. It's like a little gem. It's also a bar so probably crowded on the weekends but for a Thursday night it was perfect. It doesn't say that name outside it says Lulu just a heads up.