Our History

Since 1999, family-owned and operated Ya Hala, Barbur World Foods and World Foods has been rooted in the culinary scene in Portland. Ya Hala stands as the cornerstone of our journey—a cherished restaurant that sparked our passion for sharing our Lebanese culture through food. From this beloved eatery, our story expanded, giving rise to Barbur World Foods and World Foods at Everett; specialty markets with a unique selection of products from near and far. Together, these destinations invite you to experience the flavors of Lebanon and beyond, offering a curated selection of goods and cherished family recipes at our chef-led deli.

Our Principles

All activities - from the day to day operations to the strategic growth of the business – are geared to support our principles.

• Hospitality and Warmth | We strive to enrich our customer’s lives with customer service that demonstrates genuine warmth and hospitality.  By engaging with our customers on a personal level, we elevate ourselves above being ‘just a business’ to being a cornerstone of the community we’re in.
• Unique and Inspired Selections | From staples to local favorites to international specialty items, the products available must consistently demonstrate our knowledge of local trends and show deference to international culinary favorites.

Working for us means you will:  

• Work an environment where our employees and leadership team are dedicated to the success of the store.
• Have the option to enroll in affordable health, dental, and vision insurance after 30 days.
• Set a schedule that works for the store as well as your life.
• Be paid commensurate with experience.
• Receive 50% off all deli items and 20% off all other purchases from both World Foods locations.  
• Flexible time off which increases with tenure.
• Up to 14 weeks of paid Family Medical Leave.
• Optional 401K and short-term disability insurance.

Interested in a job that isn't posted? You can send your information to careers@worldfoodsportland.com