When a restaurateur launches an eatery, it’s usually the culmination of a lifelong dream. Not so much for Maha Alharbi. She moved here from Saudi Arabia for school, first pursuing interior design at Portland Community College but eventually landing in business courses at Portland State, to which she would often bring homemade Saudi Arabian food to share with her classmates. Her meals’ popularity spread beyond PSU, and in February 2020 Alharbi launched Queen Mama’s Kitchen as a catering business. COVID-19 shifted things to a food truck in Beaverton. But the pandemic was not her most challenging obstacle. 

Shortly after the food truck opened, Alharbi’s husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Six weeks later, he died, and Queen Mama’s went on hiatus. A year passed, and the phone rang: the then-under-construction Ritz-Carlton was considering Queen Mama’s for its food hall. With no operational business at the time, she welcomed the food hall team into her home for a meal. “We were working and crying,” Alharbi says. Now, Queen Mama’s Kitchen is one of a handful of businesses that made the cut for Flock food hall, set to open this spring. Meanwhile, last September she opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant and bakery downtown, a few blocks east of the Ritz, offering traditional Saudi dinner and weekend brunch, and cheesecakes in flavors like almond and pistachio. 

Favorite place in the city to clear your mind?
A strip of grass near Valley View Park, at NW Miller and Thompson

Favorite part about spring?
The cherry blossoms

Go-to Portland restaurant to take out-of-towners?
Portland City Grill

Food you hate that everyone seems to love?
Cookies

A retail store that’s Portland’s best-kept secret?
The hospital gift shop in Providence St. Vincent 

Favorite book?
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

Favorite TV show?
I love cooking shows. Anything with Bobby Flay. 

Favorite dessert?
Rose croissant from Nuvrei

Eternal playlist song? 
“Un-Break My Heart” by Toni Braxton

Favorite Oregon road trip?
Lincoln City

Local spring dish you love? 
Tabbouleh

Who’s your hero? 
My dad

Best advice you’ve received?
When doing business, never think with your heart. 

Worst advice you’ve received?
“It’s too late.” It’s never too late to accomplish anything!

Scariest career moment?
Opening two restaurants in downtown Portland

What’s your mantra? 
If you can dream it, you can do it.

The best gift you’ve received?
My kids

What excites you the most about the future of Portland?
For people all over the world to see how beautiful it is

Three words that describe Portland?
Home. My life.

Three words that describe you?
Strong. Caring. Creative.