They say it’s the most important meal, but all we know is that Portland has damn good breakfasts.
Byways Café $
1212 N.W. Glisan St.
503-221-0101
Weekdays: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Weekend: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Byways may seem a little run-down, but it’s cheap. It’s a blast-from-the-past 1950s-style diner, where most menu items are made from scratch. Their highlights are the amaretto-infused french toast and the Mt. Rushmore Hash, a mix of hash browns and their own corned beef.
Café Du Berry $$$
6439 S.W. Macadam Ave.
503-244-5551
Mon. to Fri.: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sat.: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sun.: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Café Du Berry is the hot breakfast spot of the new Pearl District: the Southwest Waterfront. They’re a little spendy and a little swanky, but their french toast is phenomenal. It’s thick, sweet and expensive, like most all of their breakfast items.
Cameo Café $$
2340 N.W. Westover Rd.
503-221-6542
Seven days a week: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cameo’s ginormous pancakes range from a quarter-acre to a half-acre to a full acre. OK, they’re not really thousands of feet wide, but they sure as hell will fill you up. Located in a house, the restaurant is a fun and at times pricey experience with tasty options.
Cheerful Tortoise $
1939 S.W. Sixth Ave.
503-224-3377
Weekdays: 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Weekend: 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.
$1.99: two eggs, hashbrowns and toast. That’s all you need to know about the Cheerful Tortoise. Well, they also have $6 omelettes and $6 steak, among other relatively cheap but greasy bar food. It’s Portland State’s local favorite.
Equinox $$
830 N. Shaver St.
503-460-3333
Weekend brunch: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Posh, trendy and a little pricey, Equinox does give you what you pay for. Their menu is filled with intricately designed dishes, like the Frittata do Outono with Portugese sausage, that will make hipsters in North Portland gush.
Genie’s Café $
1101 S.E. Division St.
503-445-9777
Seven days a week: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Genie’s has a variety of breakfast options that cater to vegans and vegetarians. The café has a weekly pancake special (recently it was huckleberry pancakes) and scores of scrambles with ingredients galore. The white chocolate chip hazelnut pancakes and eggs benedict are popular options.
J&M Café $
537 S.E. Ash St.
503-230-0463
Weekdays: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Weekend: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Bottomless cups of Stumptown Coffee and a cute, homey atmosphere are two things that make J&M a fun weekend spot for brunch. It is a simple restaurant with a small menu, but staples like waffles and scrambles make J&M work.
Mother’s Bistro & Bar $$
409 S.W. Second Ave.
503-464-1122
Weekdays (closed Mon.):
7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Weekend: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Mother’s is a classy, popular bistro with a variety of healthy and not-so-healthy food. Anything from the $8.95 Greek Frittata to the $7.45 Belgian waffle with a scoop of ice cream will satisfy the pickiest of eaters.
The Tin Shed Garden Café $
1438 N.E. Alberta St.
503-288-6966
Mon. and Tues.: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wed. to Sat.: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sun.: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
As if it were Food for Thought Café’s older brother, the Tin Shed functions in almost the same way that the PSU co-op does. It aims to have fresh, organic foods that come straight from the farms. You’ll find anything from omelets to salads here.
Zell’s: An American Café $
1300 S.E. Morrison St.
503-239-0196
Mon. to Fri.: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sat.: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sun.: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Healthy portions and good eggs benedict are the highlights of Zell’s. It can be pretty busy on the weekends, but good service and food make up for it.
Besaw’s Café $$
2301 N.W. Savier St.
503-228-2619
Mon.: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tues. to Fri.: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sat.: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sun.: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Clinton Corner Café $
2633 S.E. Clinton St.
503-230-8035
Mon. to Thurs.: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Fri. and Sat.: 8 a.m. to midnight
Sun.: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Food for Thought Café $
Smith Memorial Student Union basement (room 026)
503-725-2970
Mon. to Thurs.: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Fri.: 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed weekends
Fuller’s Coffee Shop $
136 N.W. Ninth Ave.
503-222-5608
Weekdays: 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sat.: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sun.: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Gravy $
3957 N. Mississippi Ave.
503-287-8800
Tues. to Fri.: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Weekends: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Original Hotcake and Steak House $$
1002 S.E. Powell Blvd.
503-236-7402
Seven days a week: 24 hours
Original Pancake House $$
8600 S.W. Barbur Blvd.
503-246-9007
Wed. to Sun.: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.