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Nothing is certain but death, taxes and Portland brunch lines, so it’s advisable to have a strategy before you head out Sunday morning on a fried chicken & waffles quest. I have two suggestions to secure everlasting first-in-line happiness—one, get up at 6am and finish “sleeping in” on the front step of your brunch destination of choice. Or, saunter up to the front of the line at 8:59am with a puppy and trade someone with the 6am strategy for their prime spot. Not being one for early rising, I never leave home without a 10-week-old bulldog in my handbag when I hit up these oh-so-worth-it PDX brunch hubs.
Best known for its lines, I mean, its epic fried chicken, this beloved Burnside brunch destination also makes fantastic waffles—big golden yeasty slabs the size of hub caps, topped with slabs of bacon (aka the praline bacon waffle) and lots of whipped cream.
There’s much to love about this PDX dining mainstay—the cool sunken space, the convivial communal dinners that guarantee fast new foodie friendships, and the weekend brunch menu--try their legendary fried chicken and waffles.
Even if you aren’t normally a cocktail person (Huh? What?) order one of hottie bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler’s creations—the barrel-aged Negroni is a perfect accompaniment to the beautiful people-watching. PS: Now serving brunch on weekends--think black trumpet mushroom quiche, buttermilk waffles with chicken-fried quail, and beignets with maple cream.
This quintessential neighborhood joint serves a mean brunch, spanning the gamut from impressively embellished granola, (aka Hippies on Parfait) to seasonal specials like the Dungeness crab eggs benedict, all best washed down with a hot ‘n spicy Bloody with MoonBrine pickles.
Normally brunch is an unabashedly decadent affair, but you can go either way at Tasty's--double down with the chocolate potato doughnuts & Steak n Eggs or play it demure with John's Breakfast--house kimchi & sautéed vegetables over brown rice.
This relaxed Buckman bistro has dubbed their weekend brunch “Eggs Til 2,” but even the yolk shy will find something to love on the succinct menu; greatest hits include the cottage cheese pancakes with nutmeg and bacon and the panko cod cakes with dill sour cream.
This hotspot lives up to its name in every way--it’s constantly shaking with posh Pearlites chatting, noshing and checking each other out over hot thin crust pies and craft cocktails. Come 10pm, the music kicks up a notch, the buzz gets louder, and the awesome late night happy hour menu (Sun-Thu) appears. And on weekends, a flatbread-centric brunch is now served, with signature brunch cocktails of course.
Come weekdays, this Mississippi Avenue gastropub is the coziest of spots for a bottle of Manhattans (yes, they come by the bottle) and a pork loin sandwich; come weekends, stumble in and temper the effects of one too many bottles of Manhattans with a Bloody Mary and the cowboy rancheros.
Portlanders don't lack for a wide variety of exceptional brunches, but the weekend morning fare at this charcuterie palace takes the cake. The pancake, to be exact. The feathery light house pancakes are nothing short of ethereal, and the dab of orange butter on top coupled with the absence of a grueling wait might have you seeing OP's brunch exclusively.
Not just a pretty happy hour and dinner face, this cheerful, casual counterpart to schmancy Genoa serves a delectable brunch as well, and with most dishes in the single digits dollar-wise, you can afford to go on both Saturday and Sunday. If the buckwheat crepes with seasonal compote are on the menu, order them at once.
There's nothing quite as fun as finding a superb restaurant hiding in an industrial wilderness, so your first visit to this Northwest gem will be a grand gastroadventure indeed. Lunch on OP's legendary Sweetheart ham sandwich, sup on sausage-choked choucroute garnie (with wine, of course, the list's A++), and for brunch, don't miss the prime rib benedict.
Open early, open late, this relaxed little Division Street charmer is just the place to while away a few hours with a good book, a cup of coffee, and a slice of cherry pie. Or a piece of Delicata squash, bacon, & goat cheese quiche, if you’re the savory type. Or a fresh flaky biscuit with homemade strawberry jam. Or a chocolate banana cream pie slider. Or…
If having to fight off clusters of sleepy hipsters and hordes of young families tumbling right and left out of mid-size SUVs with a thrift store fork to claim a seat isn't your idea of a good brunch time, well, then maybe stay home and make pancakes. Or, hit this exceptional little NE PDX breakfast spot early for their corncakes with braised greens, and the ethereal honey pie...personally, we try to arrive by 8:02am.
