Balong Panaderia

Really yummy food and coffee, super cute environment, friendly staff. We ordered a couple of pastries, breakfast sandwich, and the breakfast rice bowl special. Everything was really good and well seasoned. The prices were reasonable. We look forward to coming back!

Hands down the best bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich I’ve ever had—everything was perfectly cooked, with crispy bacon, fluffy eggs, melty cheese, and a fresh, pillowy bun. And don’t even get me started on the hash brown… absolutely unreal. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and somehow magical. Truly the best I’ve ever eaten. On top of that, the staff is incredibly kind and welcoming—it just makes the whole experience even better. Balong is a total gem.

The new best breakfast sandwich in Portland. The pillowy pan de sal bun is the perfect vehicle for goopy cheese, a generous stack of bacon, and a perfectly cooked fried egg. I can't wait to come try the other sandwiches and biscuits and gravy. Kalesa coffee is also some of the best in town, what a good combo. Oh, and it's cute as hell in here.

This place is incredible! We had the sausage sandwich, biscuits and gravy and the hash brown (which were all terrific). the vibes felt like hanging out in your moms kitchen, the place was so personalized and so wonderful!!

Had a great brunch meal here with my wife and 3 younger kids. Options were great and quick, too. Kids were very happy upon receiving their pastry and then twice as happy as those breakfast sandwiches dropped. Everyone working was kind, smiles all around, easily be back to check out the rest of the menu, it was difficult to pick an item, they all seemed so good!

The pan de sol are really good. The bacon sandwich is delicious. The longganisa sandwich is also good, but the bacon is better ;)

Went for the breakfast sandwiches. Was very happy with them but for $12 they felt a little small. Been wanting to try them for a while now and happy we did. Worth checking out. I’ll be back to explore more of the menu.

Got the sausage egg and cheese breakfast sandwich and my socks have been knocked off. Easily one of the finest breakfast sandwiches in the city. The bun is exquisite, the longannisa is delicious, the whole dang thing was so good. On top of the quality food, the staff were so nice and welcoming. A+ 100% excellent.

I've been to Balong a few times and have recommended it to friends. Balong serves breakfast sandwiches and pastries inspired by his Filipino culture and most importantly his grandmother who played a major role in his upbringing. I've been to chef's Justin's pop ups and now have followed him to his first brick and mortar. He was featured in Oregon Live a few times among others which led to many people flocking to this place to try out thus long lines and wait times. I think people need to cut some slack and show some grace when it comes to long lines for small business owners who are just starting out getting a feel for things and making adjustments as they learn. Balong is a cute cozy place nestled in the Fubonn shopping center in the Jade District where Meianna used to be. The bakery was decorated with family photos from chef Justin's childhood which adds to its character and of family of who was most influential in his life. Yes, the place has a small menu sticking to the basics of what he has been known for which was his longanisa breakfast sandwich on a Filipino pan de sal breakfast roll and Filipino bbq chicken melt with shokupan bread. The longanisa patty is homemade and full of flavor -- I think this is what sets him apart from other breakfast sandwiches. I like that it's not sweet like traditional longanisa but more savory with a kick to it. My all time favorite is nanay's bbq chicken melt. The chicken is well marinated and is served with an amazing aioli in freshly made shokupan bread. I know my waistline will be in trouble if I don't stop eating this. Balong also serves ensaymada a traditional Filipino pastry which is not too sweet. Filipino deserts tend to be on the overly sweet side and am glad Balong's version isn't. I also love that it's a roll and has a nice soft chewy texture. My daughter's favorite is the coffee roll. It's lathered up with butter and sprinkled generously with freshly ground Kalesa coffee. Overall, this place is great and am excited to see the growth of Balong and hope to see an expanded menu in the future!

I tried Balong back when they were a pop up but hadn't made it to their new location. We went around 930 on Sunday and there was no wait. It's located in the Fubonn supermarket. When I tell you this was the best breakfast sandwich I've ever had. I took it to go and almost turned around to go back and order another. I highly recommended the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on the cheddar biscuit and ask them to make it extra saucy. I was a little worried that maybe the biscuit would be too hard as they sometimes can be with breakfast sandwiches but it was buttery soft and perfect! The service was amazing and we got our order within ten minutes. If you go, you will probably see me as I plan to spend most weekends here grabbing breakfast!

Never again, or at least for a while. The wait for the food to come out was ridiculously LONG! It's like they were using a hot plate to make one sandwich at a time. And there's very little seating which detracts from the experience! That said, the counter staff are very nice. If you're gonna order a sandwich and excellent hashbrowns then opt for the breakfast plate for better value, it also comes with a side of kaldereta gravy. The pan de sal longganisa sausage and egg was very good, the veggie sandwich not very far behind. The popular donut thing with the cheese (looks like coconut) topping was okay. Coffee was par for the course. Prices are fair. But stay away for the foreseeable future.

The first time I tried to come here was on a weekend and they were sold out of everything except for a couple pastries. I tried again during the week, as soon as they opened and was able to try the sausage breakfast sandwich, the gravy, the ensaymada, cheddar scallion biscuit, and the potato pave. The sandwich and gravy were both pretty good, and the potato pave would have been amazing if it hadn't been super salty. It reminded me of a hash brown patty but unfortunately I was not able to finish it because it was way too salty. The pastries were pretty decent as well.

Thoroughly enjoyed our experience eating at Balong and can't wait to fly out to Portland again to try the rest of their menu! Parking outside is plentiful as the panaderia is tucked inside the Fubonn Shopping Center. A helpful sign was placed to point us in the right direction. The interior is very cozy and allows a good amount of tables despite it being a smaller space. The staff greeted us with warm smiles and gave us a run down of their menu. We ordered the breakfast plate, breakfast sandwich, coffee roll, and an ensaymada. My breakfast plate came with medium two eggs (complete with crispy edges), longanisa patty, pan de sal, a side of kaldereta gravy, and a sizable hash brown that is definitely something to write home about. Eating each component of the plate gave me nostalgic vibes from growing up in a Filipino household, but with a uniquely modern twist. The freshly baked bread is truly the standout of the menu. The coffee roll was perfectly sweet with the slight bitterness of the coffee grounds. The ensaymada didn't skimp on the butter and cheese. But really, the simplicity of Balong's pan de sal is something I'll come back for. We actually took some to go because of how delicious it was! If you're thinking of trying Balong, definitely go for it! I personally cannot wait to go back!

Hours posted on the door: Wednesday-Sunday 8am-1:30pm. My first time came in around 11am. They were busy but not overly crowded. I over heard they saying the article published on the Oregonian this week brought in the crowd. Super tight and cozy space inside, two tables outside (for two persons) in the hallway, and a small bench for waiting area. I came in mostly to checkout their pastry because I'm a sucker for anything flaky and sweet, but not overly sweet. I ordered Calamansi & Strawberry Bar, $4.00, and Biscuits & Gravy, Gravy on side. $9.00. Reasonable price, I would say it's cheaper than most. I enjoyed the not overly sweet Calamansi & Strawberry Bar, the right amount of coconut flake, not too heavy base. I didn't care for the strawberry topping since I didn't really taste the strawberry at all. This was my first time having a tomato gravy, a bright tomato gravy inspired by the Filipino stew kalderata and a fresh-baked pan de sal. I loved the light, flaky, balanced flavor of the biscuits. It's reminded me more of tomato bisque and bread, instead of gravy. My gravy came out lukewarm so I didn't like it. There was a bitter aftertaste which I couldn't quite describe what it was. Since I wasn't really hungry, I asked for it to go instead of asked them to reheat the gravy. Below information are copied and pasted directly from the Oregonian article published on May 22. "Details: Balong opens from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday at 2850 S.E. 82nd Ave., #27, inside Fubonn Shopping Center, just past the supermarket entrance. Recommended dishes: Hash browns, breakfast sandwiches, the breakfast plate, biscuits and gravy, and a pastry or two with coffee to start. Vegetarian options: Pastries, hash browns, the biscuit plate and the breakfast sandwich with house veggie sausage. Accessibility: Balong is at ground level, but it's small and tightly filled with cafe tables. The ordering counter is clear, but there might be more room for wheelchairs at the two tables in the corridor."

Came at 9:30 on a Sunday and it was not super busy, food came out quick with very nice service. We tried the biscuit and calamansi bar for pastries and both were delish! I had the sausage egg and cheese and a hash brown and loved it! The hash was so crispy I'd come back just for that. The bread for the sandwiches is so nice and light but you can also order a sandwich on the biscuit which my friend did and she said it was fire. Small spot but super cute maybe like five tables inside and love the branding. Definitely want to come back again to try more pastries and the biscuits and gravy!

I have watched Balong go from Pop-ups to residency to this very first brick & mortar. What they're doing is incredible and with so much heart, you can taste it in every sandwich and pastry. I'm so happy to have them be apart of the mornings I'm able to splurge on a breakfast out~ Yes they're worth the hype !! You're gonna wanna be apart of this journey if you aren't already~

Balong is so popular that everyone seems to be flocking there to check it out. I first went on a Sunday morning around 10 a.m. and there was a line out the door. They have a tiny display case of their specialty pastries for sale, and I watched as everyone bought out the items leaving only the pan de sal (the bread) for sale. So I just turned around and left. I came back on a weekday morning soon after they opened at 8 a.m. and it was empty except for one diner. But there were a steady flow of people coming in, some ordering take out and others dining in. I ordered the egg sausage cheese breakfast sandwich and a coffee roll. They only had black coffee option and juices. Because this was a weekday morning and few people in the tiny space, it didn't take too long for me to get my sandwich. The langolista patty gave the overall sandwich a slight spice, and the egg was cooked nicely with runny yolk when you bite it. I enjoyed it. The coffee roll was like a cinnamon bun, with cream cheese swirl. Instead of cinnamon, espresso powder is sprinkled on top. The edges of the roll was a bit dry and not as airy. I felt this baked item was flat, it could have been airier and raised. If you're in the area, this seems like a fun spot for breakfast, and for now you should avoid the peak times during weekends and opt for weekday if you can.

A modern Filipino bakery. The longanisa party tasted homemade but it was pretty bland and dry. The pandesal was very soft. We ordered the sausage and egg sandwich which is there longanisa patty with over medium egg and pandesal. The tomato aioli saved the dryness of the patty. And the yolk from the egg also made it enjoyable. The ensymada needed more sugar that I'm used to. Hoping to see more dishes on their menu. Maybe some silogs in the morning to go with the pandesal and coffee combo.

Food was just as good as everyone is saying, 10/10! However the over all experience was very poor, 4/10. The place had a good line of people 25 or so, with a smaller menu (about 3 items), our order was two breakfast sandwiches and it looks two hours to complete the order. We were not the only ones waiting that long for one or two items. The food was good, but very, very inefficient.