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Southeast Portland

Whether you’re a dedicated brunchie, a classic diner hound, or just looking for a place to eat breakfast on a weekend we’re all out for one thing; our ideal breakfast spot

Everyone is entitled to a good breakfast. Even after a bike ride I prefer to conclude it with some semblance of a meal. No better time of the day than to go on a couple dozen mile bike ride then to top it off with a hearty breakfast. Portland has many restaurants to chose from. I will be covering some well known and other not so well known as we take a tour of Portland breakfast places.

The day was April 18th, 2015. My buddy needed some help moving house from the east side over to Hillsdale. It wouldn’t take long. The truck needed to get picked up and was just shy of ten miles away so we opted to grab some breakfast nearby. It was a perfectly sunny morning and not too cold to fit in an early bike ride. We rode from his old apartment in SE over to the cafe.

Cricket Cafe

On the corner on Belmont and SE 32nd is the cozy early bird restaurant coined Cricket Cafe.This place makes great food and is one of Portland’s oldest and fondest breakfast and brunch haunts. The food is exactly how one expects breakfast if you love a plethora of food and amazing taste! Burritos are big and loaded with tons of flavor. Just about whatever you order gets a side of potatoes. The potatoes are cubed and perfectly fried.

Just know, there could be a little wait but the staff here is great and portions are more than satisfactory.

I recently found out that Cricket was closed a while but, thankfully, is now back and packing the house as before. I’ve haven’t been able to check out the new place as of yet but will be planning to in the near future. All indicators and reviews rave that the food is still just as good as it was before new management. Please go check it out the place and let us know what you think!

Recommendations:

Savory: Looking for something filling? Grab the Truck Driver Burrito.

Sweet: Check out the Honey Cinnamon French Toast.

Jefe

Our next recommendation is Jefe. It is located off the main artery off Boones Ferry Rd close to Kruse Way. Skip the croissants with brie with the hour+ lines at the Parisian brunch place next door. Treat yourself to this hip and urban brunchie favorite (Pease Note* Especially Weekly Brunchday, Sunday, there are still lines but the table turnover is still quicker than the place next door).

Is Jefe technically labeled Mexican Food? Sure, however, there there’s more than meets the eye. Jefe is versatile. The sous chef has implemented Jefe’s own variation of breakfast food. French Toast, Eggs Benedict, steak and eggs, tamales and eggs, omelets, and more. The food combines a minimalist focus on accents and flavor that does not disappoint.

Sunday is definitely the busiest day of the week to eat here. Saturday mornings seem to be less crowded and better the earlier you get there. To my recollection week days are usually a great time to go if you’re a stay-at-home mom looking to curb those at-home-blues. Jefe is a great option for a posh meal out, especially if you’re looking to go out with your friends but can’t stand another trip to another “Acme E-Z breakfast diner”.

Outdoor seating in the summertime makes this location a beautiful place to enjoy a meal outside. Inside there’s main seating with a circular bar almost in the center of the restaurant. Interior design combines minimalist with tactile. Bottles strung from the ceiling array light when backlit by the sun or from ceiling lights. There’s a fair composition of darkly stained lumber and pale masonry to really polish things off.

Recommendations: Modern pallets expect modern alterations, not least of which for breakfast. If you’re looking for a traditional breakfast with a twist I would try either the Mexican omelette or the Kuala Mexican Toast. If you’re looking for something new and experimental I recommend the Huevos Rancheros or the Barbacoa and Eggs. The house coffee here is great as well.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you could go to a breakfast place and make pancakes exactly the way you like them. Either perfectly golden or dough-tastic, you can make pancakes to your own preferred taste, all without having to leave the table. Sure, you can make pancakes at home but you don’t have a griddle built into your dinning room table! Isn’t the novelty of such a thing the reason why you would chose this place as your brunch destination? The place is called Slappy Cakes and it’s likely to be your next favorite place to make and eat pancakes since grandmas’s!

Chose from buttermilk, peanut butter, vegan/gluten free, seasonal and more. Then chose what “fixin’s” from chocolate chips to scallions and toppings from lavender honey to whipped cream (or goat cheese if you’re craving something tangy). Then you’re all set an ready to make pancakes.

Recommendation:

Savory: Country Fried Steak and Eggs… also whatever you get make sure it includes a side of Chicken friend bacon!

Sweet: The pancakes of course. Chocolate chip, strawberries, and whipped cream are a must.

Original Hotcake House

Speaking of grandparents, if your grandparents are coming into town, or even if you’re just the type who likes breakfast made in the way it has alway has, and always should be made then you’re going to want to check out the “Original Hotcake House“. Huge pancakes, fried chicken with biscuits and gravy. More than you can eat, omelettes. Omelettes with ingredients that just make sense like, the Meat Lover’s Omelette which is a personal favorite. French toast is perfect and you don’t need butter for these biscuits.

Try not to get throw off by the behind the counter ordering system. The folks here are very friendly and make some of the best breakfast in town.

Recommendations: Just about everything on the menu.

Savory: I would try the meat lovers omelette if you like eggs.

Sweet: The French toast are the next best thing!

Oliver’s Cafe

Portland’s Foster Street best is known for its 1980s era resilience. Not so much in a good way, but it a “miles of out of date and dilapidated buildings, store fronts, billboards, and empty lots” kind of way. Yes, there are exceptions to the rule and slowly but surely this area too will be absorbed into the greater Portland culture. The pocket which has already embraced this change is around the neighborhood between Mt. Scott and Lents in deep SE Portland and the breakfast place on our list is called Oliver’s Cafe.

Set in a modern brick building Oliver’s Cafe is the new standard for Foster St.

The menu embodies the classic breakfast choices of good ol’ comfort food with that home town style.

Recommendations:

Savory: Try the Country Chicken Friend Steak

Sweet: Belgian Waffles with Strawberries & whipped cream

Vivacé

If already covered the amazing-ness which is Vivacé in my previous coffee article you can check out here. But did you know that one of the best places in town to get crepes is undisputedly Vivacé. Sweet and savory; Nutella or mozzarella Vivacé does not disappoint.

Recommendations

Sweet: ice cream, chocolate sauce, banana, and whipped cream (Indulgent much? Yesss.)

Savory: The chicken crepe (with mozzarella, mushrooms, spring greens, tomato and creame pesto).

This, by no means, is a complete list, just places I’ve been and have really enjoyed. Let us know what you think of these and by all means, share your Portland favorite.

The list of all coffee lists: The Best Coffee in Portland

There are plenty of things to do in Portland, but first, you’ve got to find the best coffee in Portland.

Coffee is a commodity in the Northwest. It beckons us in our waking hours, morning excursions and afternoon breaks. For some, the aroma and the warmth maintain it’s lure into the evening, especially when the weather may turn stormy or cold.

Knowing a good spot to get the best coffee in Portland, when away from the home, is an important thing in the Pacific Northwest! We’ve curated this list of a best coffee shops and the best coffee around Portland, that we believe you’ll appreciate. And now, for the best coffee in Portland!

Coffee Time

Nestled just below the West Hills off 21st street this local haunt is a favorite for writers, artists, and night owls alike. Coffee Time is the shop that Portland never talks about. For over 20 years this spot is something of a best kept secret. I’ve known many people who have lived in the city for many years and have yet to have heard of it. I was lucky enough to have some friends talk me into going one night just months after having moved to Bridgetown back in 2005.

This shop beckons you in with sidewalk seats, french doors that open up the front, and seating stretching back toward the rear of the establishment. Elaborate murals in the rear cove depict a story set likely during prohibition where people dressed in their best are fraternizing with each other at a bar.

There’s usually no problem finding a seat, unless of course it’s mid-terms or finals week. This place is open until midnight so students are able to take advantage of the free WiFi and a quiet space.

Coffee Time’s Coffee

The coffee is good. I cannot recall a single bad cup of coffee. They have a good balance between sweet and savory making them an attractive destination if you’re looking for something unique. Deserts here are delicious. The long bar boast of delicious pastries and food. It shows off the fact that this isn’t just a coffee shop; it’s a signature. The baristas are knowledgable and helpful knowing how to ask the right questions.

The main draw for me has been that it’s a good place to be with friends and have conversation while having a good cup of coffee. The atmosphere is prefect. It also perfect when you are alone but your want to at least be around people late a night.

Vivaće

We now arrive at 23rd Street which is a favorite for tourists visiting Portland. Off Pettygrove in the Knob Hill district stands another iconic Portland coffee shop dubbed Vivace’. Inside a Victorian style house built in 1893 Vivace’ is a fitting name which means “lively and brisk”! Founded in 2000 by the original owner, crepes and coffee are the cash crop of what makes up this coffee shop. Beautiful mustard painted walls with white trim and deep red curtains, a chandelier hangs from the ceiling lighting the room. There are a multitude of windows letting a significant amount of light in the main area. There’s a separate room off to the side usually more conducive to a quieter ambience from the bustle of the kitchen and overhead music.

Tables and chairs are plenty a caveat which makes for tight seating. This place is bustling during the weekend for all the “Brunchies”.

Vivace’s Coffee

Nutella, syrup, honey, and oil crowd the shelves behind the bar in the kitchen. The counter is set inside a makeshift tile boarder. The chalkboard menu offers a plethora of espresso, pastries, sandwiches, and a surprising amount of crepe options both sweet and savory.

The food and coffee here is well crafted, delicious, and punctual. The ambience makes for a great place to catch up with friends or simply to find a comfortable place to sip coffee and read a book. It’s no wonder this place comes in high on places we recommend. Anyone who’s been here undoubtedly has great things to say about Vivace’, We certainly do!

Ava Roasteria

There is something very special about Ava Roasteria. With strong influences from Italian design Ava stands out in Oregon’s Coffee City of cities.

(FYI-pronouced with a soft “a” – Ah-vuh. Similar to the “ah” sound in a-capella, not a hard “a” like Eh-vuh)

Most locations are large enough to accommodate a signifiant amount of traffic. Ava’s selection of menu items is broad. Pastries, desserts, soups, salads and sandwiches are all delicately prepared, making it more than a mere coffee shop and more like a cafe.

Ava Roasteria’s Location Details

Their locations are clean and bright while its interior design makes Ava a welcome alternative against a backdrop of danker and more questionable all-night coffee shops. While their locations look nearly the same on the inside their demographic is not. A broad span of racial and multigenerational diversity is a common thread seen in every location. Not only that but they have made an emphasis on rebuilding community within the suburbs of Portland. According to owner, Amy Saberiyan during a subcommittee meeting, their first coffee shop used to be a vacant and dilapidated fueling station, “an eye sore in the heart of Beaverton”. She follows up by saying, “Ava Roasteria is more than just an upscale coffee shop and bakery; it has become a community gathering place.”

This is quite true. On any given day Ava is see as a hub for students, families, bookworms, gamers, and coffee aficionados alike. There is little to no singular demographic dominating the scene. This is where I believe its diversity is a small, none the less, vital attribution of a larger balanced business model. Ava is strong and growing and in turn making their brand more accessible not limited to urban areas but in the neighborhood. With over ten years under their belt and even growth during a recession, their five locations leave little room for doomsday skeptics. A humble power (coffee) house.

Ava Roasteria’s Coffee

The coffee here is Fair Trade, and according one of Ava’s managers, is roasted in both the Beaverton and Orenco Station sites. It’s well roasted making both its use for espresso and house coffee delicious and is some of the best coffee in Portland.

Locations are open 24 hours and free 5G WiFi is provided.

Locations include: Beaverton off Hall Blvd, Tigard in Progress Ridge, Orenco Station in Hillsboro, Lake Oswego off Kruse Way, and their latest location is just off HWY 26 on Barnes Road.

Symposium

There’s good reason why most of Portland (and surrounding suburbs) use late 19th to early 20th century houses for businesses. Symposium in Sherwood is no exception. In a city full of cookie-cutter and one-decor-fits-all coffee shops this Craftsman style Bungalow house is a welcome retreat giving visitors a certain home like vibe.

The spacious front porch as well as portions of the front yard provides seating during the warmer months. The inside layout remains much the same as your typical home. Hardwood floors, muted interior colors, and large windows. It just so happens to double as a coffee shop. Seating is plentiful both on the main floor and upstairs. Cleverly, they’ve even chosen old church pews for seating. Pastries and sandwiches are on hand if you’re hungry.

Symposium’s Coffee

Symposium serves Stumptown Coffee, we think is a perfect choice. Due to it’s quality, popularity and that it’s local to Portland, it makes for one of the best coffees in Portland. The baristas are well informed displaying a craft for well made coffee without pretense. Although the menu is minimalistic showing only fundamental drink options (ie. “Latte, Mocha, Americano, etc) their offerings, however, extend to more lavish options. The baristas have some great ideas for drinks. I personally recommend the lavender latte. Believe me when I say it’s one of their most popular choices.

Although not open very late it’s worth mentioning that the upstairs tends to be much quieter which accommodates those who are studying.

Sherwood, Oregon is a relatively isolated little town about 30 mins outside Portland. Although close to highway 99W there’s no quick way to reach Sherwood. The highways are simply four lane roads (two lanes each way). Additionally there are a plethora of stoplights. Factoring in Portland’s relatively recently traffic increase rush hour now affects these districts as well. Despite the gridlock, there is a coffee shop in Sherwood we think is worth the drive. Set in an old two story house in the heart of Sherwood I hope to instill the desire within you to find yourself at Symposium Coffee.

*note there is another symposium coffee in downtown Tigard.

Other coffee shops with the best coffee in Portland

Sisters Coffee: Sisters Coffee in the Pearl is an homage to it’s flagship store in Sisters Oregon. With roots and a roastery in the Sisters Country of Central Oregon, Sisters coffee brings their down home flavor to the Pearl District. Much of the design is an homage to its flagship story in Sisters, OR. There are some cozy spots in the loft for reading or conversations, and large stone fireplace just steps from the bar. Check out their Roasters Blog

Insomnia Coffee Co.: Insomnia Coffee Co. brings quality coffee culture to the suburbs, featuring a comfortable vibe, live music and friendly staff. They have two Hillsboro locations at 3rd and Main and Baseline, along with a Tanasbourne in Beaverton. While at the coast you can enjoy their offerings at their Cannon Beach location. Insomnia features Dapper & Wise Roasters.

Southeast Grind: I’ve only been here twice but I was left with the impression that aside from being slightly overcrowded, the good coffee, wifi, and punch cards make Southeast Grind desirable destination in Southeast Portland. The barista’s are jovial and cheery. There’s a surprising amount of seating here and the environment was very quiet and peaceful.

McMenemins: Their house drip coffee holds it’s own. Simple.

Barista: Can be crowded but the baristas at Barista are well trained and helpful. There’ s a full service bar environment and lots of long wooden tables with bench seating.

Well And Good: A small location of 72nd Ave in Tigard. Well and Good is a great place for small chats and in and out stops.

St. Honore Boulangerie: Locations include Lake Oswego, SE Division, and NW Thurman. Get delicious pastries to pair with your coffee in this immersive patisserie experience.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Multiple Locations throughout Portland. The one I recommend is on the corner of Division and Southeast 45th. A full service bar for simple yet delectable coffees.

Please comment below about your favorite coffee shop and what you consider the best coffee in Portland!