Location: PSU Park Blocks next to Smith Center
(SW Park and SW Harrison)
Description: Lebanese food. An oldie but a goodie on the cart scene at PSU, food here was once petty mediocre but has improved quite a bit in the past few years.
Expect your usual falafel, sharwarma, hummus, etc. Food comes in either huge “plate” portions ($5.00 – $8.00) or in wrapped flatbread sandwiches ($5.00). The downside of Basha’s is that Gyros are nothing special, but the bread does taste fresh. The upside to Basha’s is that they have a ton of different hot sauces to add to your heart’s delight. This cart is also a little too fond of the amount of tahini they use in their hummus and baba ganouj for my tastes, but no matter. Food here is cheap, it’s filling, it’s relatively healthy and fast. What more do you want? 
Sample Menu:
Sandwiches – $5.00 – Chicken shawarma, kafta, falafel, gyros, hummus, baba ganouj, feta cheese
Plates – $3.00 – $8.00 -Chicken Shawarma or garlic chicken ($6.00), Kafta ($6.00), Lamb Shank ($7.50), Gyros ($6.00)
Basha Plate Special ($8.50) comes with choice of meat, hummus, falafel, basamati rice, vegetables, bread and sauces
Spinach pie ($3.50) – spinach, red onions and spices baked in homeade dough
Meza Vegetarian ($7.00) falafel, hummus, baba ganouj, stuffed grape leaves
Soups – $3.50 – Vegetarian lentil served with pita
Baklava – (sorry didn’t catch the price)
Hours: Mon-Fri lunch-late afternoon
Phone: unknown
Website: unknown
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I went there once and just didn’t like the falafel, but then again, I can’t stand green onions, and it was bursting with them – the patties, and wrap, everything. oh, well.
I agree with you on the tahini sauce, but I have to say that I do adore their falafel- in my opinion the actual chickpeas or recipe that they use for their falafel is the best one I’ve tasted in my (admittedly short) time as a semi-vegetarian. Although, the only other falafel I’ve tried in Portland with consistency has been Pita Pit’s, which is NOT very good.
I DO like, however, that they serve fruit juice there (albeit canned), which is a good change from the typical PDX Food Cart soda selection extravaganza, which makes me want to lug around my bottle of water when I go on lunch around here.
They also have another location on the corner of SW Pine and 6th. It’s not technically a cart;it’s in a kiosk on the corner of a parking garage. It’s a great alternative to the cart strip down on 5th, as there’s a bit of room inside to stay warm while waiting for your food, also a few barstools and some counter space.
Bashas has the best food available at PSU, and out of the many Lebanese options in Portland Bashas is the best hands down. I have tried many of the Lebanese restaurant in Portland area such as Abu Rasheeds, Alexandria, Nicholas, Habibi, and Cypress but they are nothing special. Bashas’ food is fresh and healthy and my personal favorites are their hummus,falafel, and shwarma.
I have to say that I disagree. I think this Lebanese food is a step above the typical. Their falafel is some of the best I’ve had. And the lentil soup that comes with fresh made pita for $3.50 – amazing.
The vegetarian mezza is delightful.
Disappointing! I had the garlic chicken (mediocre) one day so I thought I’d go back to try the falafel that’s so highly rated on this site. I can’t believe I paid $6 for 3 COLD falafel balls w/some hummus and salad. Everything tasty okay but it’s for overpriced such a tiny portion size that wasn’t even warm. I can make my own cold falafel for that price, thank you!
No offense to Bashas, but this is close to the worst falafel ive ever had. The shawarmas are always mushy and soggy, the falafel lacks shape and turns immediately into mush, and above all they put sliced pickles on the sandwiches. nuff said. If you want good lebanese food in portland go to nicholas. Or if you just want a falafel go to fat kitty instead. I shan’t be going back, thats for sure
Hey, I just wanted to drop a note and say nice post!
This is my favorite Falafel cart in town! The falafel here rivals Ya Hala and Nicholas’ both, although I don’t like comparing carts to restaurants, as it’s a different beast altogether. I’ve never experienced and off-day at Basha’s, and I eat there at least once a week. The falafel is crisp and flavorful. The tahini, hot sauce, and pickles (along with lettuce and tomatoes) complement it perfectly. Also excellent is the Chicken Shawarma (I like the sandwich better than the platter), with shredded chicken and hints of cinnamon- yum! I love their version of Lentil Soup, which at 3.50 with their delicious flat bread is a steal!
I tired for the first time today, even though I have been at PSU for almost a year now and I must say that it is delicious. I ordered the falafal sandwich and it is yumminess. And FYI its traditional to put pickles on the sandwich.
the falafel at bashas is awesome, they are actually known around campus for the falafel because they smell heavenly they are cooking them fresh. The shwarma is good, better as a plate than sandwich. The hummus very good, authentic lebanese flavor, not just some mashed garbanzo and garlic.
I must admit, being a resident of Lebanon, when I first came here, and looked for some traidtional Lebanese cuusine, my hopes were not high….until…I went and ate a Bashas resturant. Their falafel rivals even the best in Lebanon, and their Chicken Shawarma is to die for.
The owner there, I should say is freindly, kind, and at times slips in a few funny jokes and creates- though in a matter of minites- a great and freindly enviroment.
Just had the hummus plate for $4.50 and I got a ladle full of decent hummus, a piece of flatbread, a slice of unripe tomato, a few slices of onion, maybe 2 slices of cucumber and some shredded iceberg.
Complete ripoff!
No olives even? no feta?
All I have to say YUMMO. Its good and not expensive, a students BFF.
I had their falafel a couple of weeks ago at the PSU Farmers Market on a Saturday and thought it was delicious.
I’ve been eating at Bashas for years! I have never once been disappointed. The chicken coco is Yumminess in a plate!!!!!! They’ve actually opened up a burrito cart as well literally about 30 feet away. Great food, great service, and great prices!!