Urban Green

This is a review by a vegetarian
«Meh, I’ve experience better» really sums it up. Falafel is pre-​cooked and then microwaved when ordered. Decent ingredients but Pearl-​level pricing of $ 8.50 makes this a secondary or tertiary choice when in the neighborhood.
Nice looking space on the corner.

Overpriced !! $ 8.50 for a tiny cold sandwich ?? Really !! I’d rather go to a subway and get as much filled in as I want.
And the tofu sandwich is just bread with lots of mayo and ranch with some veggies and cold un-​grilled tofu.

I don’t want to start an argument with the other reviewer but I wouldn’t say this is the best vegetarian place in portland. There isn’t as many in the NW but there’s a other awesome vegetarian/​vegan places esp in the NE/​SE!
With that said, the flavors of their sauces in the sandwiches and marinated tofu (The Irving) were super duper delicious. Ate up the food and wished there was more.
The multigrain bread is yummy and quite thick slices. Choose that option if you are concerned about quantity.
The thing that separates this place from a 5 star is their limited selection, especially for vegans. You can take out the cheese but pay the same price. Sucks. Almost every sandwich option is vegetarian but not vegan.
The other thing is the use of paper plates even when ordering «for here». Doesn’t seem very sustainable to me. Wish they used real plates!

A great lunch spot with light vegetarian Mediterranean food. Casual setting indoors, not really much for décor. But the service is kind and they let you sample anything. It is quick and you can take it to-​go if you are in a rush (like most are in the Pearl).

Randomly stopped in to Urban Green today after a dental appt across the street and am happy I did. The staff and owners are very welcoming, and I was treated to several tasty samples before making my decision to build my own bowl. Everything I tried — the zucchini, eggplant, sauteed greens, mushrooms, cauliflower, lentils and rice — were all very flavorful and satisfying with that perfect mix of lemon, parsley, olive oil, onion and garlic. And despite the hot weather, I sampled the green lentil soup and it really hit the spot; I got two large containers to go so I could share with a friend who I know will enjoy it, too. On a whim I added a few falafel balls to my overflowing bowl, but could have done without them. Interesting flavor, but they were dense and the texture was a bit off from what I am used to (that may be a regional difference; these guys are Syrian). I’ll stick to Cedo’s for my falafel, but I’ll definitely stop by Urban Green again when I’m in the Pearl. Lots of yummy things to choose from and perfect on a hot summer day! Shukran, Urban Green!

This place is fantastic! The food they prepare in the salad area is always fresh and yummy. Try the tahini/​garbanzo/​fava bean salad. The lentil soup is some of the best I have ever had. I’m glad this place is right across the street.

I’m revising my review after speaking with one of the owners, Sam, who asked for more specific feedback to inform improvements for vegan clientele. I believe with some minor tweaks (labeling, etc) this place could be very vegan-​friendly. I appreciate their efforts toward this end!

Spectacular customer service and bold flavorful food. We tried the sandwiches, soups, sides, and raw juice. They even moved a table outside so we could eat with our dog. The couple who runs it is incredibly friendly and passionate about their business!

Delicious and generous. They kept offering me samples and everything was so good it was hard to decide

I’ve been looking for a GOOD vegetarian place in the city forever and I finally found it.
I can’t recommend this more. I absolutely love thier Mediterranean spin on vegetarian cuisine.
I’am not sure if it’s the recipes or the ingredients but You can really taste the quality.
Best vegetarian place in the city hands down.
Try the artisan sandwich «the Kearny» fresh mozzarella, basil, Tomatoes and garlic sea salt.
I’ve been addicted to these!
Love this place!

I’ve eaten here a few times and was pleased with the food. The sandwiches tend to fall apart because of the contents and sauces — make sure you’ve got extra napkins and an alternate way of eating.
Friendly people work here, they’re chatty and offer you generous samples to try. The place seems to be figuring out and evolving their identity, menu, and hours. Last time I went, they were open til 7 and I wished they’d be open til 8.
The frozen yogurt station will be a nice addition when that comes.

I ate here yesterday for lunch for the first time. I work just a few blocks away and was getting pretty bored of the same old chipotle and subway. I loved the wrap that I got! I can’t remember what it was called, but it was one of the featured specials. The woman working was very friendly and had she not pointed me towards the specials I wouldn’t have known they were there! Thanks!

Tried out this place with my family, as it’s right across the street from my husband’s workplace. Yummy! We were offered numerous samples as soon as we entered and everything was so fresh and delicious!

I had the misfortune of eating here recently. I ordered the Flanders wrap. It came with two falafel balls, half a pickle, and next to no sauce for $ 8.50. The falafel was dry and was most most definitely made out of a store brought mix. I felt violated by the extremely high price for such low quality food. I work nearby and love falafel. I could have eaten here every day. But sadly, the food is horrible. Shame.
(side note: these people employ sign wavers who dress up as vegetables to stand outside. I personally find that to be pretty damn trashy, but you can make up your own mind on that one)
EDIT:
About an hour after writing this review I received the following message from the owner, Sam A:
«I’m sorry you had a bad experience, but you are mistaken about our falafel… we DO NOT use mix. It’s made from raw garbanzo beans, feel free to watch our process. One of the factors to the dryness, is we don’t deep fry it. It’s all oven baked. Your entitled to your opinion, however the numerous 4 & 5 star reviews speak for themselves. And fyi, I employed that person, because she asked for the job to do that specificly. I don’t need to advertise, but helping her out, was my intention. Maybe one day, you can open a restaurant, and I can come to criticize. People that leave web reviews are cowards anyway.»
I do think that it’s nice of the owner to employ the sign waving girl, but does that change that fact that it looks trashy? I THINK NOT!
Also, it’s nice to know that the owner considers all of us online reviewers «cowards.» I did change my rating to 2 stars… but I did it for the sign waving girl, not for the food or customer service.
Wave your freak flag high, sign waving girl! I salute you!

I love it here! What a great place for healthy food options for vegans and vegetarians (or anyone for that matter!) The staff is so helpful and friendly. After convincing my coworkers to go, my entire salon is hooked!
The food is well prepare, and the portions, generous for the price. My only suggestion is a way for them to heat the food from the build your own bar before leaving. Otherwise, just as easy to do it at home in your microwave. A stamp card would be a good idea too!

Stopped by for lunch today. At $ 8.50 for a veggie sandwich (many choices), the prices weren’t low, but this the Pearl District after all.
The sandwich was good. The sourdough bread had good flavor and texture. I got «The Kearny» which had tomatoes, basil, fresh mozzarella, some leafy greens, and some olive oil.
I’ll probably be back to try some other options. I kind of regret not trying some of the mediterranean options, which looked good.

Uuuuum, AMAZING! Probably the best tofu I’ve ever tasted. Everything is fresh and extremely delicious! And you don’t have to stick to the menu — you can make your own! AND fresh juicing is an absolute plus!

I had some work in that area and parked my car in front of this place. After my work is done, I thought of giving it a try as I was hungry.
They are so welcoming. excellent service! I’ve been given lentil soup, 2 wraps samples. I bought the soup and Falafel wrap! They are so yummy!
Soup is so fresh, simple and tasted amazing! Falafel sandwich was yummy too.
I strongly recommend this place for all vegetarians who want to have some fresh and delicious food!

Been meaning to try this place for weeks and finally got here today for a take out on a very lazy Saturday. We’re vegan so REALLY appreciate such a vegan friendly place opening up so close to us.
So first of all, the people who run this place are DELIGHTFUL. So welcoming, and I was immediately encouraged to sample anything I wanted. I tried both soups (green lentil and brown lentil with chard), the tabbouleh, the mudjari (can never spell that!) and the hummus. Everything was amazing.
Chose a Pita wrap with falafel, tahini and super greens for hubby, and I went with the green lentil soup, and a mix of tabbouleh, olives and hummus (all the salads are weighed). This is tasty, simple comfort food at its finest for anyone who appreciates really fresh food and those wonderful middle eastern flavors. I noted they had tofu for sandwiches too.
Please try this place, it’s only recently opened and it’s amazing!

Went here for the first time and really enjoyed the food. I recommend the lentil soup, eggplant, fava beans, bulgar with yogurt sauce, and chard leaves (instead of grape leaves, these are nice because they are softer). The price is reasonable for the quality and food isn’t overly salted which I appreciate. Definitely going back for more, it is great to have a new vegetarian spot with authentic Mediterranean flavors.