Petra House Traditional Mediterranean Food is a family-owned Middle Eastern and Lebanese restaurant located at 1900 NE 162nd Ave in the Fisher’s Landing East neighborhood of Vancouver, Washington. Opened in the fall of 2013 by founder Issa Abudakar, the restaurant prepares multi-generational family recipes passed down from his mother and sister. Known for its strictly halal and kosher meats, scratch-made dips, and warm dining room lined with patterned banquettes and colorful throw pillows, Petra House draws diners from across Clark County and the greater Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area for traditional Levantine hospitality.
What to Expect at Petra House Traditional Mediterranean Food
The kitchen at Petra House Traditional Mediterranean Food centers its menu on slow-marinated meats, freshly baked pita bread, and bright Mediterranean produce. Diners frequently begin with the cold and hot mezze selection, which pairs creamy chickpea hummus, smoky roasted-eggplant baba ghanoush, and hand-rolled grape leaves (dolmas) with crisp, herb-flecked falafel and spiced kibbeh. Main courses showcase flame-grilled skewers—including chicken, beef, and seasoned kafta kebabs—as well as thinly sliced lamb, beef, and chicken shawarma and gyro plates served over fragrant saffron rice with Greek salad, garlic toum, and tzatziki.
Inside, the dining room departs from the typical suburban strip-center aesthetic through rich architectural details inspired by Jordanian and Levantine heritage. Ornate lanterns cast a warm glow over cushioned booth seating, woven textiles, and framed desert photography referencing the ancient rose-red city of Petra. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-sensitive guests are well accommodated with dedicated plant-based platters, lentil soup, tabbouleh, and fattoush salads, while traditional Arabic coffee, mint tea, and flaky pistachio or walnut baklava round out the meal. The complete current food and catering lineup can be previewed on the official Petra House menu.
- Halal & Kosher Flame-Grilled Kebabs: Skewers of marinated chicken breast, tenderloin beef, and ground lamb-and-beef kafta grilled to order and served with basmati rice, grilled vegetables, and warm pita.
- Mezze Combination Platters: Shareable appetizer spreads combining house-made hummus, smoky baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, dolmas, and golden falafel with tahini sauce.
- Traditional Shawarma & Gyros: Rotisserie-roasted lamb, beef, or chicken shaved thin and offered either wrapped in warm pita bread or plated with rice pilaf, garlic sauce, and tzatziki.
- Cushioned Banquette Dining Room: An intimate interior appointed with Middle Eastern tapestries, brass light fixtures, and pillow-lined banquette booths suitable for both date nights and family gatherings.
- House-Baked Baklava & Mint Tea: Crisp layers of phyllo pastry filled with chopped nuts and sweet syrup, paired with hot loose-leaf mint tea or cardamom-spiced Arabic coffee.
Petra House Traditional Mediterranean Food at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1900 NE 162nd Ave, Vancouver, WA 98684 |
| Neighborhood / Area | Fisher’s Landing East / East Vancouver |
| Operating Hours | Monday–Thursday & Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Friday–Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Check official website for seasonal adjustments) |
| Admission / Price Range | $$ (Moderate; most appetizers $8–$15, wraps $12–$16, and full dinner entrees $18–$28) |
| Recommended Visit Duration | 60 to 90 minutes for sit-down dining |
| Nearest Transit / Parking | Free surface lot on-site; C-TRAN Bus Route 30 and Route 92 stop along NE 162nd Ave & SE Mill Plain Blvd |
| Official Website & Phone | petrahouserestaurant.com | +1 360-718-7182 |
Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings
Weekday lunches between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM move briskly for wraps, gyro plates, and combination platters, while Friday and Saturday evenings between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM represent peak dining hours when the banquette booths fill quickly. While walk-in guests are welcome daily, parties of four or more planning a weekend dinner should call the restaurant directly at (360) 718-7182 to secure a table reservation or arrange large-format catering trays in advance. Credit cards, debit cards, and mobile payments are accepted, and takeout orders can be placed by phone.
Reaching the restaurant by car is straightforward via Washington State Route 14 (Exit 8 for SE 164th Ave, heading north onto NE 162nd Ave just past SE Mill Plain Boulevard) or Interstate 205, with free surface parking directly outside the entrance. Public transit riders can use C-TRAN local bus routes serving the 162nd/164th Avenue corridor and the nearby Fisher’s Landing Transit Center. The single-level venue features a step-free main entrance, wide aisles between tables, and ADA-accessible restrooms for wheelchair users and strollers. After your meal, walk five minutes south to the retail plazas along SE Mill Plain Boulevard, spend an afternoon walking the paved trails at nearby Pacific Community Park just 1.5 miles northwest, or drive 15 minutes west to stroll the Columbia River Renaissance Trail and Vancouver Waterfront Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the opening hours and best times to visit Petra House?
Petra House opens daily at 11:00 AM, closing at 9:00 PM Sunday through Thursday and extending until 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays depending on the season. For the quietest dining room experience and immediate booth seating, arrive for an early lunch at 11:15 AM or an early dinner between 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM.
Does Petra House serve halal meat and vegetarian options?
Yes, all meat dishes at Petra House are prepared exclusively with halal and kosher meats, including the lamb, beef, and chicken shawarma and kebab skewers. Vegetarians and vegans have extensive choices including scratch-made hummus, baba ghanoush, falafel platters, stuffed grape leaves, lentil soup, tabbouleh, and fattoush salad.
How much does a meal cost and are reservations required?
Petra House falls into the moderate ($$) price tier, where pita wraps and lunch plates generally range from $12 to $16 and full kebab or combination dinner platters cost between $18 and $28 per person. Reservations are not required for everyday dining, though calling ahead at (360) 718-7182 is recommended for weekend dinners and larger groups.
Is the restaurant wheelchair-accessible and family-friendly?
Yes, the restaurant occupies a ground-floor space with step-free access from the adjacent surface parking lot, standard table seating that accommodates wheelchairs, and accessible restrooms. Families with children are well served by casual dress norms, high chairs, mild grilled chicken skewers, rice pilaf, and shareable pita and dip platters.
Travelers exploring Vancouver often pair this stop with nearby highlights including SpringHill Suites Portland Vancouver (2.8 km away).
