Let’s face it, we take brunch in Portland VERY seriously.
We are a city full of people that do not hesitate to stand in line for two hours for the best fried chicken & waffles in town. We are also a city full of obnoxious food snobs that do not think it’s insane to pay $15 for a biscuit sandwich as long as it reads “scratch made” or ” homemade” on its menu description.
Brunch at Verdigris
In fact, we take our brunch to such an extensive degree that Portlandia dedicated an entire episode to this obsession.
And to be honest, all this brunch hype is 100% validated. We have a TON of restaurants in Portland that absolutely kill it in the brunch department.
But with all these great options, how do you choose which brunch spot is worth your money… and worth the wait time you will likely be faced with?
To help, I have shared my five favorite PDX brunch spots below, along with some honorable mentions and places I still want to try. I hope you enjoy… and please leave a note in the comments sharing some of your favorite brunch spots in Portland! I am always on the lookout for new places to try.
Without further adieu, here are my top picks for the best brunch in Portland:
2018 is already off to a great start with one of my favorite dinner spots, Bar Casa Vale, having recently launched their new Spanish-inspired weekend brunch.
Executive Chef Jacob Harth’s brunch menu is complete with boozy brunch cocktails and sinfully delicious dishes including a variety of Cazuelas, warm cinnamon rolls, and fried chicken & churros. As a bonus, since everything is served tapas style, you can order a plethora of dishes to sample.
BCV Lamb Cazuela
As a new dog mom to my studly Golden Retriever pup, Noodles, I am always on the lookout for pup-friendly cafes and eateries in Portland.
Tin Shed to the rescue!
It also just so happens that this Northeast watering hole is walking distance for me and Noodles. At Tin Shed, they let you sit with your dog out on their tented patio and even have a special menu for Fido! Noodles favorite pup dish is their Banana ice cream made with yogurt, peanut butter, and bananas. I actually tried it once and it was mom approved. 😉
As far as their human food goes, Tony always opts for the Good Dog plate (think eggs, potato cakes, and a biscuit smothered in a house-made chipotle aioli) and I am always switching things up by trying their different scrambles.
Controversial opinion: I also think Tine Shed has some of the town’s best biscuits and a great Bloody Mary.
To top things off, their wait staff is super friendly and awesome at managing the crowds that lineup around the block on Saturdays and Sundays. They give you free coffee while you wait (even in to-go mugs, so you can stroll down Alberta during your wait) and will give you a 15+ minute grace period to get back to your table once it’s ready — which is perfect if you end up leaving the area or going for coffee elsewhere in the neighborhood during long waits.
Screen Door IS the iconic brunch spot in Portland… and honestly, it lives up to the hype.
I have been to Screen Door numerous times and every dish I have tried is on point. Yes, you want to go take a nap afterward, but that is what makes a great brunch, right?!
Some favorites include their famous chicken & waffles, the bananas foster french toast (some of the best french toast I have ever had), and the PRALINE BACON… This stuff is crack. Just order multiple plates for the table.
Screen Door’s famous Fried Chicken & Sweet Potato Waffles
Warning: Portions here are huge, so you could easily split a dish with someone else (especially the chicken & waffles).
Pro tip: Brunch lines here are insane, so I would highly suggest going to Screen Door on a weekday here to avoid the lines, or go with a large group on weekends and make a reservation (allowed for parties of 6 or more).
Eating brunch at HunnyMilk is a dream come true for those brunchers that lack decisiveness… especially before their morning coffee. This 100% describes me. Whenever I go to brunch, I cannot decide between savory or sweet dishes. And yes, I realize how much of a first world problem this is, but I digress…
But at HunnyMilk, you can have your cake and eat it too! For $22, you get access to their pre-fixe menu which allows you to choose a drink, a savory item, AND a sweet item off their menu.
Their menu is always changing, but my favorites were their breakfast quesadilla and their carrot cake waffle. And you DO NOT want to miss their rich and sinfully yummy hot chocolate!
Platter of goodness at HunnyMilk
As an added bonus, everything is served on tin trays, which is a unique touch! Basically, eating at HunnyMilk is like eating in the cafeteria as a kid… except elevated and a bazillion times better.
I came here for a blogger brunch a couple years ago and was immediately blown away. Verdigris is a small, elegant, and contemporary restaurant, serving up French-inspired Northwest dishes.
Fancy table linens aside, owners Johnny and Kristina Nunn know how to make you feel warm and cozy on a lazy weekend morning. Their brunch dishes, such as the Spanish Chorizo Scramble and the 60 Minute Eggs with Duck Fat Fried Hash Browns, are the perfect balance of elaborate and timeless.
Brunch aside, I also recommend their epic burger, made with 6oz of ribeye (say what?!) and served with grilled onions, special sauce, and their perfectly seasoned house fries. If you want to get fancy, you can also get add-ons like Gruyere, house-cured bacon, a fried egg, and even foie gras butter. Tony and I were BIG fans…
Fancy burgers at Verdigris
Honorable Portland Brunch Mentions
Danwei Canting – If noodles and dumplings are your brunch thing (they are the best salty hangover food in my opinion!), Danwei Canting should be on your brunch radar. They open at 11 on weekends but have some incredible fried chicken dishes, house-made noodles, burgers, and other Chinese home-style dishes.
Danwei Canting’s Lamb Burger
Boke Bowl – Same as Danwei Canting, Boke Bowl is a hangover cure haven. I did a blogger event at their Westside location last year and loved oh-so-many of their dishes. Their steamed buns were a personal standout! Their Westside location also offers Dim Sum every Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM.
Dim Sum fun with @thekitchenpaper at Boke Bowl West
Portland Brunches I Still Want To Try
Lechon – I have dined at Lechon numerous times over the past several years for dinner and happy hour, and also attended several of their Sunday Suppers. EVERY SINGLE time I have eaten here I have left dazzled. From their food to their cocktails to their service, Lechon is 100% nailing it. As far as their brunch goes, I have heard it is the best of all their meals.
Challenge accepted.
Lechon’s boozy Mung Bean Punch
Proud Mary – PM is a new brunch hotspot that recently opened in Northeast Portland (my hood!) and is getting a lot of positive hype from Portland foodies and brunch-goers. Needless to say, it’s high on my list!
Wares – Located in the iconic Portland Zipper building, this counter-service restaurant features Asian-fusion dishes including ramen and small plates. Where I hear they really excel though is their brunch. During their brunch, you can order everything off their regular menu plus several of their brunch-focused dishes (like their Egg Benedict rice bowl and their Turkish eggs). Sign me up!
Pearl Tavern – Here’s what I do know: 1) Pearl Tavern is conveniently located in — you guessed it — The Pearl. This makes for a perfect location for brunch on the weekends because there is so much to do and see in the area post-brunch when you need to walk off all those calories. 2) I went to the Pearl Tavern once just for a Bloody Mary and it was solid. 3) I also went there for lunch with some gal pals and everything was very tasty. So why wouldn’t their brunch be awesome as well? Stay tuned…
Girls lunch at Pearl Tavern
I would love to hear from you: Who do you think has the best brunch in Portland?! Please share in the comments! 
Exhausted from traveling every week as a Business Management Consultant early in my career, I took a year off in 2012 to travel at my own pace. I am a high-energy girl that loves being active, eating food, drinking wine, and exploring the world with my partner-in-crime (and husband), Tony! I now reside in Portland, Oregon and continue to write about travel, food, wine, and the awesome adventures we have in the Pacific NW!
I just can’t bring myself to wait in line for brunch, so I haven’t sampled most of these locations, but I LOVE that The Tin Shed has doggie options! How cute is that?
Agreed! Tin Shed doesn’t have lines on the weekdays and if you go earlier on the weekends, you can avoid the lines too. It’s such a great spot!
This makes me miss Portland, brunch and YOU so much more!!!! Ahhhh why is there no good brunch in Costa Rica? It’s always rice and beans and I need a homemade biscuit!!!!
PS – GET TO PROUD MARY NOW!! It is amazing!
One more comment because I’m obnoxious – I would also vote for Beeswing for a top-notch brunch! Those waffles and the trout hash are legit!!
You have convinced me that a mom visit should happen in the near future. I’ve been to a few of these places with you guys and agree with your assessments.😀. Glad Noodles approves of some also.
Indeed! I took you to Tin Shed last visit, but we may have to go back again as a family with Noodles next time you are in town
Comments on this entry are closed.