Denizens Cafe

Excellent breakfast sandos, vegan/veggie options, delish coffee, warm and patient folks working. (We were 'Those People' with specific sandwich and coffee requests/questions, and they were awesome. When we went, they used Just Egg for vegan egg.) Cozy hidden gem. So good. Will be back!!

I'm kicking myself for not discovering this hidden gem sooner! This breakfast and lunch spot delivers exceptional fresh food and genuinely warm, family-style service. The quality is truly outstanding, and the vibrant atmosphere makes any wait enjoyable. We loved cozying up to the window bar, watching the world go by while enjoying fresh coffee and browsing National Geographic and Mad Magazine. The food? It exceeded all expectations, both in presentation and flavor. And knowing the owner and his daughter are a hands-on team makes supporting them even more rewarding. A must-try!

Great weekday breakfast! Enjoyed the ham and Gouda “hash” (I probably would call it something else since it’s not really a traditional hash), avocado toast, and a berry tart. Everything was really tasty! The coffee was great. We had to buy a bag to take home. Everyone working there was friendly. The atmosphere was laid back.

Stopped in while I waited for my son’s practice. Had an amazing breakfast. Everything was so fresh. I had a great day sandwich ala cart. Soooo amazing. Ordered a German pancake to go for my son. Also amazing. Will for sure be back

We are passing through town and wanted a brunch/lunch spot for hearty food and coffee. Wow, did we ever find the right spot! A great menu with a good range of options, excellent coffee, and such a cozy, cool atmosphere. The perfect blend of hip and homey. Service from the owner and his adult daughter was beyond excellent, so kind and friendly. Our food and drinks were delicious and beautiful. We had the cubano, the reuben, a corned beef hash, a chai latte, iced latte, and an orange juice. The sandwiches came with yummy salads which I forgot to photograph. Highly recommend this little Portland spot!

Thoughtfully prepared, great food, friendly service (and patient with first-time customers), relaxed neighborhood vibe. While we were there, business happened in waves. Tables would be full, then half empty, then at capacity again. There was just enough shade over our outside table (there were two that seat two) to invite a nice breeze between 10 and 11 on a hot summer morning.

Lovely neighborhood spot. They take great care with each order and the food always tastes fresh. I usually go with a breakfast sandwich--they are fantastic--but decided to try the Denizen's Hash with sausage. So glad I did- I have rarely had such perfectly cooked breakfast potatoes. Lattes are also excellent and they did not mind our requests for customization.

Sweet little coffee shop and cafe. Food is delicious and menu is extensive, considering its tiny size. Pleasant atmosphere. Breakfast sandwich with avocado, ham, vegan hollandaise sauce spinach was great. Crepe was unusual but delicious. Feels like family cooking for you!

Denizens inhabits a space once occupied by a previous business whose owner was petty, snobbish and dismissive, and I was glad to see its demise. I'm even happier to say that its replacement has washed all traces of those bad tastes and memories from my mind, because...damn, this place is awesome! My wife wanted to visit a coffee shop, and a quick Yelp search brought Denizens to our attention. Only upon driving up did I realize it was in the same location as the aforementioned previous restaurant, which made me hesitate for just a moment, until I realized that it was not a rebranding, but an entirely different establishment. We seated ourselves, and selected a couple of sandwiches to accompany our coffees: a Bright Days breakfast sandwich for my wife, and a Cubano for myself. She also ordered a vanilla latte, while I went with a London Fog (basically an Earl Grey milk tea). Wow. The Cubano was incredible! I'm generally not partial to ham (or focaccia, for that matter), but a Cubano is a weakness of mine, and this was one of the best I've had, anywhere! Thick stacks of deli meat, mayo and dijon, on a pressed focaccia? Sign. Me. Up! I doubt I would ever be able to order anything else off the menu here; it has forever ruined me for other sandwiches! Similarly, my wife loved her Bright Days, which was correctly made with the minor modifications based on her preferences (egg over hard, add sundried tomatoes). The accompanying side salad (with balsamic vinaigrette) and house chips that came with my Cubano were also liberally shared, and enjoyed, by my wife and toddler son as well, making everything about our brunch experience here enjoyable for all. And even though my wife loved her vanilla latte, after one sip of my London Fog, she had to order another one for herself, to go, because it was so darn good (and I concur, of course)! Denizens is a welcome new neighbor in Roseway; they are competent, efficient, friendly, excellent, and doggone delicious...the exact opposite of the space's previous tenant! And now that the stigma has been washed away, not only is this reviewer not just a customer, I'll probably be here frequently enough to be considered a denizen of the restaurant itself, bordering on becoming a squatter! Don't let this one slip away, folks!

The Ham and Gouda Hash was a baffling masterpiece of sheer deliciousness!! And the stoneground mustard was to die for!! The shining elements of this cast of flavors were the salt, sweet, sour and savory along with the contrasting & collectively delightful textures of the crisp textures of the roasted potatoes, the softness of greens, and subtle crunch of the pickled onions which all flowed in this synergistic effort and created a purely satisfying experience to just tantalize your brain and make that moment in your life brighter and vastly exuberant. I mean it was so good, it lasted all of 60 seconds and I am unsure if I even took a breath during the engagement I was so locked in. The Latte (brevia) was a absolutely and perfectly "balanced" ratio of that espresso bite and the creaminess of the Half & Half. Now I generally reserve that "balanced" word for cocktails as I've been a bartender for way too long but this is the FIRST and ONLY time I've had an espresso drink taste...balanced. Bravo Brevia Well done! Finally, it was truly a treasure meeting James, the owner and fine gentleman who not only provided this experience for me but also shared the journey of the restaurant, some neighborhood history (the mural inside says it all) and his expertise that truly sets him apart from the restaurateurs that do it solely to make a buck. Without this turning into a separate article, James has a background in roasting coffee that he has passed down a generation to his daughter, he has a culinary mastery of his own and in short, really cares about the quality he provides to his costomers. This is a place where I'd come back over and over until I've tried everything...twice!

Love the dog friendly cafe. They even have dog treats at the counter! Very fun, quaint spot with a delicious breakfast bowl. It hit the spot perfectly on the way home from picking up a friend at the airport.

Stopped in since this spot turned over from a bagel shop to what it is today What We Had: - Breakfast Sandwich - Ruben Sandwich Pros: - Very nice staff. Attentive. - A lot of food for the price (almost too much?) Cons: - Nothing to report yet Overall: A small place that appears to focus on coffee and a small selection of food and pastries. Nothing over the top from a menu perspective but a good selection. The food was filling and fresh and I couldn't even finish it all, there was so much.

The owner's daughter was very pleasant. Sitting by the window with my cold brew and spinach and red pepper focaccia made for a peaceful morning. I'd order those items again. It's not clear what the theme is here as the menu is very eclectic. A large container of vegan cheesy rice was a good deal. Tasteful interior layout and relatively easy parking. I look forward to trying lunch and dinner items.

The Perfect Place Around the Corner! What a great find! It seems most Eastside neighborhoods in Portland are missing that cozy cafe where they know your name and how you like your food made. My buddy and I stopped in to this new spot off NE Sandy for breakfast and coffee. The owner, James, greeted us with a warm smile and explained his menu and vision for the cafe. I opted for a veggie breakfast sandwich. It came packed full of eggs, veggies, melted cheese, and avocado on a toasted English muffin. They offer add-ons as well and I went for the roasted/smashed potatoes perfectly seasoned with a little spicy kick! Let's just say it was a breakfast to remember and will be a go-to for future visits. My buddy ordered a Denizen's Bowl, one of the house specialties. It was a rice bowl full of veggies and smothered in sublime house sauce! He loved it! We both had several refills of their great coffee, a local one called Rocky Butte Coffee Roasters. It's an excellent warm up for sure! The owner let us know they make their baked goods in house too. That fresh focaccia was all too tempting, and the sample he gave us will bring me back soon for a full sandwich! We opted to split a few extras like their dill- heavy potato salad which was great, and a fresh oatmeal cake that was next level yummy! It tasted just like those Little Debbie's I had as a kid only made with real ingredients! I'm a sucker for these "old-timey" nostalgic feeling cafe's. They even have an old fashioned lunch counter looking out the window! You can't beat excellent food, warm and friendly service, and a squeaky clean cafe I would bring everyone that comes to town for a visit. Great experience overall, we can't wait to go back!

Fantastic pastrami reuben on freshly made rye focaccia bread. And also very very warm and accommodating and lovely folks. Highly recommend

This is our second time here and the food is very good. I always enjoy a good hash. The fresh Avocado on top was awesome. We will continue to go here. Eggs cooked just the way I like them. If you want something done different just ask. Friendly service. You do need to bus your on plates and stuff to the cart.

Food - 8.5/10: great quality ingredients and super fresh. Excellent coffee. Service: 7/10: the owner was super kind and came and talked to us. Speed of getting food was average. Ambience: 9/10: this is why you come. You feel welcome. The vibe isn't obnoxious Portland pretension and actually has a soul to it. Prices: 5.5/10: just average Portland prices. Be ready to spend $20 per person for a full brunch meal. Overall score: 8/10: will def be a consistent customer moving forward. Places like this deserve a spot in our community.

Great breakfast/brunch with vegetarian friendly option. Very reasonably priced and genuinely friendly service. Excellent coffee with appetizing bake goods. Low key, no fuss, just good food and good people.

Food was absolutely fantastic, service was amazing & fast, friendly vibe, we're definitely returning. I ordered the sausage breakfast sandwich & it came w/some strawberries & salad on the side. The sandwich was flavored so well, I'm so impressed. My son ordered the Reuben sandwich & after the first bite he said we're coming back! Do your tastebuds a favor & stop by! Mmmmm

Excellent food a service. The pastries are delicious. The breakfast sandwich hit the spot and the potatoes are great! Their chai latte was just right. I highly recommend.

I was happy to discover Denizen's Cafe a few months ago. It has rapidly become my favourite place for a delicious deli sandwich, sides (like hummus), and delicious prepared foods all made really well with a gourmet flavour. This self-admitted foodie gives them an A+! Give them a try. You won't be disappointed.

Adorable little nostalgic cafe. James greeted us warmly and single handedly made my husband and I the most delicious breakfast sandwich and hash. You can make any of the sandos into a hash, so the options are robust. The crispy potatoes were perfect and the English muffin on the sando seemed homemade. James said they're expecting an espresso machine soon, which will make this place irresistible. We'll be back soon and regularly. Thanks, James!

Good food, great service, best coffee. Eclectic menu with good sweet, savory, and hardy meals, and in my not-so-humble opinion, best hangover food in town.

In for the weekend and we're looking for a breakfast spot. It has limited seating but the food was terrific, the service was excellent and the cost was very reasonable. Just AWESOME.

Fabulous focaccia sandwiches! Not a large space but at lunch today was fine. Friendly service and we will return.

The German pancake and sausage made for a marvelous sweet and savory breakfast! Many of the menu items looked really yummy - looking forward to coming back and trying more dishes. (And they have good vegan (non-soy) cheese!)

Gourmet food. Yummy focaccia sandwiches, super tasty bowls, vegetarian options, flavorful seasonal salads, sweet dessert pastries, friendly staff, fresh coffee from Rocky Butte Coffee Roasters. A great neighborhood hangout. We get take out about once a week.

This place is great. So glad they're in the neighborhood. Really delicious bowls and pastries. My only disappointment was that I wanted a black iced tea with my bowl. Well, I'm addicted. But no iced tea here. They are working on adding things to their menu.

The food is excellent made fresh to your order. The have a great variety of focaccia all delicious. The coffee is made with fresh beans roasted today in their on roasters. The service was great done with a pleasant smile. Small shop with space to handle small parties but everything is worth the wait.

Had the German pancake and it was fantastic. Came with a house made berry compote that complemented it really well. Coffee was very nice also!

Great little deli cafe! They make their own focaccia bread fresh for all their sandwiches and it tastes pretty amazing. The coffee is also exceptional. I asked the owner about it (super nice guy named James.) He told me that not only do they roast their own coffee, but he flew down to Honduras and went and found a coffee farmer to direct source their beans from. That's next level, even for Portland. Highly recommend for a tasty breakfast or lunch.

The food is so good! The homemade focaccia is amazing. The service is great. Nice old timey diner feel.

Great to have lunch at Cafe Denizen today. Delicious giant sandwich with their wonderful rye focaccia. Can't wait to try breakfast and lunch. Welcome to the neighborhood!