Grand Central Bakery - Hillsboro cafe

I'm a huge fan of Grand Central and its impact on Hillsboro's downtown. Great food and the staff is great. Leilani, for instance, takes it upon herself to ask and remember my name and it feels so good when I come in and she says hi! I've noticed, though, that the staffing changes quite a bit at this location and I suspect this is from the corporate office--something seems off whenever staff isn't stable in other words. As a local, this impacts my experience getting to know people who leave bc they feel unsupported by the corporate office. You've got good people--treat them as such and they make all the difference (yes, your scones are good, but your people are why I come back so much).

A tale of 2 breakfasts... We were on our way here and someone just couldn't wait so we stopped at a Wendy's for a breakfast: egg and cheese biscuit sandwich and seasoned potatoes. Kid was still dissatisfied so tried some of the lifeless food. Plain, boring, even with a fresh cooked egg. Contrast that with my egg and cheese bolo here - freshly butter grill roasted roll, tender egg, American cheese that had a little zing! GCB also excels at bread making, we can barely keep a sour rye loaf a week in our house. If you see Como at Fred Meyer or Market of Choice or another store, give it a try. The nicest non-sourdough white bread I've had. Many local restaurants work with GCB wholesale and I can see why. This Cafe is nice with lots of indoor and outdoor seating, gender neutral and accessible restrooms and a wheelchair friendly height counter and pastry case. The parking lot is free but read the signs carefully as only part of it is. Downtown Hillsboro can have available free street parking too, subject to a busy courthouse or downtown events.

Review for ONLY the Central Bakery on 1st/Main St in Hillsboro. The coffee cake was from yesterday and hard sides not soft, clearly left over night. The pecan pull apart were tiny, burnt, and didn’t resemble what they should be like. This location didn’t used to be this bad, not sure what happened? Did they change manager, baker? Other Central Bakery locations are excellent.

My first time stopping by any Grand Central bakery. The blueberry muffin was raw in the first bite. I'm someone who generally likes doughy and a bit underbaked so I was surprised to notice and be bothered by it. They don't offer a white chocolate flavor, and when I ordered a mocha, she asked the barista for a latte, which is a silly and semantic thing to be grumpy about but I guess I could have ordered a latte add chocolate instead. That said, the atmosphere was typical and customer service was good, and the mocha was made quickly.

I'm so excited for this new bakery in downtown Hillsboro! There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating with 17 picnic benches outside, both covered and uncovered. They have a great variety of breakfast items, available until noon. All their sandwiches can be turned into salads as a bread-free option! They have a wide selection of pastries and desserts. They have lots of beautiful hard-crusted bread loaves!

i'm vegan and have a lot of trouble when things are clearly not labels being vegan. i asked for a veggie grinder with no mayo or cheese and they went the extra mile to make sure the premade vinaigrette and veggie mash was vegan friendly too, and they were! i appreciate them going the extra mile for my meal. they even brought a small sauce cup full of the veggie mash for me to get my moneys worth. i also got an oregon mint tea and they had extra and gave that too me as well. amazing staff, amazing service, amazing food. amazing place 10000/10

I know there are several others, but this is by far one of the best cafes and bakeries in all of Portland and I've gone to this specific one the most. They also make THE best cinnamon rolls I've ever had in my life. Plus, their Nossa Familia coffee is excellent.

Every time I stop by the staff are professional and kind. Everything I have tried has been delicious. I love the inclusive environment - they have a pride progress flag up and often have fliers for community events posted! 💖

I would say pretty good and descent. I went for before the end of the day. No much selection which understandable. But staff was really nice. Maybe I will try next time earlier in the day.

If you love pecans and croissants, run, don't walk here for their PECAN PULLAPARTS. I was blown away by this pastry delight. Picture perfectly sweet pecans baked on top of light, flaky, croissant-like buttery dough. It's also big. Now my mom doesn't like sweets, but when I offered her the other half, she finished it! The spacious bakery opens at 7am. As I waited for my ham baguette sandwich, pastries fresh out of the oven were added to the display. Their quiches look amazing and had I more room in my carry on, I would have bought even more pastries. The sandwich was solid with chewy bread. Coffee Cake - today's fruit topping was strawberry and blueberry. It was yummy although the crumb topping was uneven. I appreciate how the employee asked if I preferred a corner piece or not! Prices are fair and the quality is top notch!

Nice and airy, lots of windows with good light and tall ceilings. It's in a newish building so the vibe is a little cold and chain-like/generic looking inside and out, but the layout is welcoming enough with a bunch of four tops, counter stools and one giant communal table in the middle. Not much personality or pizzazz, but I did have an awesome pillow of a breakfast sandwich called the Frittata - leek and kale piled onto a fluffy egg and wedged into a fresh potato bun. Sooo melt-in-your mouth good. The coffee is also very good (but not exceptional) and the servers/baristas are as warm and friendly as you like. The stable WiFi and outdoor seating make it a good spot to get some work done if you're so inclined. Thumbs up for reasonable prices as well. If you're looking for more of a cozy coffeehouse vibe, I'd suggest Insomnia, just down on Main street.

This is our first visit to Grand Central Bakery as a chain and also this new Downtown Hillsboro location. The store is bright and open with a nice flow to help you to the pastry counter and plenty of big tables and window seats to choose from. There are also picnic tables outside for warmer sunny days as well. Came with the moms and toddlers and everyone was so friendly and patient with our group. We all ordered different pastures to share and try including jammer (I think this is one of their signature pastry) , chocolate croissant, iced cinnamon roll, pecan pull-apart, and the seasonal fruit danish. I got the spring promotional drink iced "Bunny Brew" and the sprinkles on top make me so happy. All the kiddos enjoyed this nice little treat mid morning for sure! There is a water station with cups and you bus yourself. I was surprised to see no trash can to throw away some of the napkins and stuff before you put things in the bussing bins but maybe they have their own process. The bathrooms are family friendly too which was very much appreciated. Maybe next time we will be back to try some sandwiches and maybe take home some more baked goods ! Side note: this is not about the business itself but it was very off-putting to see that their parking lot required payment..but street parking is free around the area if you can find it.

I love a solid sandwich and this place does that well. Had a nice lunch with my vegetarian daughter, she had their veggie option which was lovely, we shared a cookie. So good. Seating is very limited, parking even more so.

The pastries were better than average but a bit on a drier side. I'll try them again if I'm in the area. The people working there were friendly and helpful when I asked if their bread was sourdough. They said one of those on the picture was sourdough. It's a great find near the farmers market!

I love a good soup and sandwich combo. I will travel for a good sandwich combo. I will drop everything for a good soup and sandwich combo!! Grand Central Bakery brought the good soup and sandwich combo to Hillsboro and I'm so thankful for that! Brand new building with a patio that's shared with Sizzle Pie. They have a rotating daily soup and an array of sandwiches. Get a loaf of bread to go! They also have some dough in a fridge too if you're a little more DIY. Service is quick and friendly, you walk up pay and wait! Protip for non-Hillsboro folks- park on the street for free, not in the lot that's next to the building. That lot is tow-happy if you don't pay the parking fee.

Brand new location in downtown Hillsboro! GCB is a great new addition to the area. Stopped by here for a sandwich while Saturday Market was going on. Fairly efficient service which is great considering they just opened this location. I had the french ham sandwich on this visit. Visually appealing and tasty. My only issue is the baguette is very tough. Looks great, but I'd prefer it to be softer and easier to bite. Next time I'll have to see if I can sub the bread. There's a variety of breads and pastries available to purchase here. You can get a coffee fix here as well. Having a good quality bakery close by is a dangerous thing, but I look forward to many visits here.

I decided to check this place out on Sunday afternoon, just after 3pm so the location was completely empty both inside & outside. (This location closes at 4pm on Sundays). Before entering the bakery, I was struck by the vibrant murals located on the exterior which definitely make the old brick building more attractive. An employee who had just cleared an exterior table held the door open for me as I walked in. Upon entering, I was even more impressed to see additional murals inside and a little blurb about the artist who created them. Because I was the only customer inside, I took the opportunity to view all of the offerings in the bakery case and the refrigerator case, as well as the pre packaged goods displayed on the wall (jams, books, coffee) and I was able to take pictures of the interior seating/dining area. There is plenty of seating both low & high that would make this a great place to gather with friends or bring your laptop and work while you enjoy a coffee and pastry. I decided to get an iced chai & the berry coffee cake which looked incredible.

Fantastic pit-stop for a quick break while working in the area, would def return and do recommend. I had the pecan pull apart and an oat milk latte, really enjoyed both.

I find GCB five stars for consistent quality, ethical business practices (a B Corp), and satisfying experiences. This new location is baking on site pastries so there's great selection and freshness. I've bought bread here on a sleepy Saturday and just bested a weekday lunch rush for coffee, perfectly warmed quiche, and a chai in a mug. Portland has supported them since the 90s and our lovely water works magic in bread. I like the classic Como but the new peasant loaf, the affordable sourdough, and the dark rye are solid too.

I love the new Grand Central location in downtown Hillsboro! It's conveniently located near the max and the main drag with shops. Very walkable. Breakfast is great here - I love their seasonal quiches or grabbing a pastry. Coffees are good and they often have out samples. For the drip coffee drinkers, they are one of the few places that I know of that do free refills.

Worst customer service employees upset. They were not friendly. Cold drinks. Ew. Never again.

The Nossa Familia coffee is a flavorful cup. The bread is amazing, Campagnola loaf is my favorite. The Hillsboro location is spacious and light. It was raining, otherwise I'd be sitting outside nice looking space. Service in Hillsboro is fantastic. I try to donate a loaf whenever I'm there. It is very kind that they offer that opportunity for customers to give a loaf of bread to the community through them.

Wow this may be my new favorite sandwich, so simple but done so well! The service was great the staff was so friendly. I loved all the seating indoors and outside. They had a bottle of hot sauce that went so well with my sandwich! I'll be back for sure.

This is the best BLT I've eaten this summer. Sweet, fresh, and ripe tomato slices, toasted bread with mayo, delicious bacon; what else can ai say about the blend of sweet and savory in a sandwich that fills you .

Are you asking us to participate in the cooking process? That is not what we came in for. Not only was the soup bland but it lacked texture and aroma. But most annoying was the fact that every table was covered in crumbs.

Super cute little spot with amazing baked goods and sandwiches. I had the tuna melt and my kids had breakfast sandwiches. Service was great, all the employees were responsive and helpful. Definitely recommend for Breakfast or Lunch!

Nice bakery place to grab snacks or lunch. They serve coffee too but bakery is their specialty. Check it out for brunch or to do sit there and work.

If you're looking for a breakfast sandwich try elsewhere. The ones they sell are dry and mediocre, cost $10 and there's no telling if someone asks if you want a little mayo or something to put on said sammy. Not even a slice of cheese on them kind of insane. The inside was nice to stop by, a good number of seating, high ceilings.

I have been here many times and LOVE the pecan pull-aparts! The staff have always been very friendly, kind and I appreciate their explanation of the various types of breads and pastries.

Excellent turkey sandwich on great bread and well presented. Clean minimalist vibe and welcoming staff. I'll eat here again!

Grand Central bakery is an amazing small coffee shop chain. Yesterday I got their seasonal honey latte and a vegetarian quiche, and both were absolutely delicious! They also make some really good breakfast sandwiches. I've had in the past past and a whole assortment of tasty pastries. I would categorize their pastries as some of the most hearty pastries around.

And now Downtown Hillsboro has a problem. As recently as a decade ago, breakfast wasn't something Downtown Hillsboro made with any degree of competency. Manaia and Artful Garden made passing attempts at coffee, Primrose and Tumbleweeds was still a few years from debuting a brunch menu and the area's best breakfast was easily whatever the Elmer's chain was cooking up. Today's standard bearers--Hillsboro Bar and Grill and Decadent Creations/Collective Market--were a methy old-man bar and an abandoned mortuary, respectively. That gradually changed, but Hillsboro accepted tradeoffs for its convenience. Primrose's brunch quality diminished with each chef who walked out the door. Clark's went to brunch menus inconsistently, and seemingly on whim. Decadent Creations was far more willing to give you a bar, cookie, cake or cupcake than a pastry with your coffee. Insomnia's pastries came from the Italian school of bone-dry coffee complements. HBG kept raising the bar on its brunch offerings, but not lowering its 21+ admission. And Collective Market, despite having one of the most creative breakfast menus in the Portland metro--including house-made bagels--was plagued by slow wait times that even next-door Decadent easily eclipsed with its breakfast biscuits. Grand Central isn't perfect by any stretch, but it represents a sea change in Downtown Hillsboro foodservice: Breakfast sandwiches that don't require a 20-minute wait and pastries that can actually serve as breakfast items. Never mind that Grand Central--just by existing--makes the only loaves of fresh-baked bread worth eating in Hillsboro (bakeries here are typically patisseries, not boulangeries or panderias). Or that its lunch sandwich menu of uncomplicated tunas, PB&Js, grilled cheese and simple Italian sandwiches exists seemingly solely to silence children. During its first week of business in Hillsboro, it was staffed and stocked so thoroughly that, on a Sunday during a street festival, it knocked out a full order of breakfast sandwiches, pastry and coffee without significant delay. If it wasn't our first visit to the new location, the pastries and sandwiches would've been an either/or situation, but when a place makes coffee cake that no one within nearly 20 miles does, makes chocolate croissant that doesn't require a trip to Orenco or further and makes a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on a hard roll in which all ingredients are easily identifiable AND there's no phantom mayonnaise? We had to give it all a trial run. Listen, it isn't all things to all people. You aren't getting your full breakfast plates here and you aren't getting anything with alcohol content alongside it. You aren't getting many seasonal changes to the menu, nor are you getting a bunch of grocery options beyond eggs and take-and-bake items for the trip home. But what you do get are consistently made items served in a timely fashion that aren't fast food. Downtown Hillsboro's breakfast and sandwich businesses haven't had to worry about providing such a thing because nobody's asked for it and downmarket competitors like Subway simply folded. That's not the case anymore. Grand Central is going to be there whenever someone only wants a croissant or coffee cake and a coffee or wants a breakfast served to them in less time than it takes to stream an episode of Friends. Downtown businesses who see this and stubbornly hang onto their plodding, lethargic, overly chatty way of conducting business will lose that revenue stream faster than their cashiers can ask "so how's your day going?" With Grand Central, Sizzle Pie and the cart pods coming, the fast to-go options just multiplied. If other downtown businesses don't start handing customers items either more quickly or immediately, the same fates that befell Manaia, AG and Primrose when more robust options arrived will be suffered by their establishments as well.

3.5 stars if I could... first time here , heard good things ... Customer service was good . Crossaint was buttery , soft and flaky. 9/10 . Iced cinnamon roll was solid 8/10 . Cheese danish 8/10 . Chocolate chip cookie was a 4/10 , it was so hard it actually hurt my jaw to try to eat it . And lastly I got the Italian bread , it was pretty average, much better when I toasted it at home though . Overall- For the price it was hit and miss ......

Sorry I was not impressed. I dislike writing bad reviews however I'll let the pictures speak for itself. This breakfast sandwich at nearly $9 was not good, I wish it tasted better than it looked but I couldn't finish the second half. Felt like I wasted my money. I hope the pastries are better.

Visiting from California we stopped here and grabbed 6 of your cookies. Oh my, sooo good (Crumble who). In leaving Oregon we stopped at and one of your locations for a breakfast sandwich.....oh my. Fantastic, hubby couldn't stop talking about the sausage sandwich. Hoping you were in California

Get the pork loin torta!! That was probably the best sandwich I've ever had. Service was great, and it was so cute!

So happy GCB opened a location in our neighborhood of Hillsboro I love this location and the staff are so welcoming and nice! Street parking is usually easy during the week. You may need to park down the street on a weekend. Last time I was there they were out of one of the pastries I ordered online. The manager kindly offered to replace the pastries with some other items and I really want to thank him for going above and beyond! I hope more people will visit the Hillsboro location. Their breads are amazing and pastries can't be beat!

ordered a BLT and could not eat it due to the size of the sliced tomatoe. they cut the tomatoes in a wedge size 1/2 inch thick. you could not pickup the sandwich without it falling all over you and the floor. took it back then the girl at the counter argued with me. I daughter out another familiar face that knows me as a regular and he took over and apologized and gave me a refund and a free sandwich besides a blt. someone needs to show cook how to slice a tomatoe.

I was excited to try one of their yummy cinnamon rolls, unfortunately as l tried pulling it apart with my fingers, I realized how hard the bread and sugar had caramelized. I was given a replacement which was nice but still the second pastry was very buttery, giving it a 3 for their great customer service. Prices are also high and the quality is not that great!

First time at GCB. We were really excited to try it out. We ordered pastries and breakfast sandwiches. For 4 pastries, 4 sandwiches, and 3 coffees, it was $75. We enjoyed the pastries but were disappointed by the sandwiches. They were very dry. They don't have any ketchup. The hot sauce they have doesnt complete the sandwich. I recommend sticking to pastries and coffee. If they had more of a selection of hot sauce and ketchup, I would try again.

Finally, no more driving to Cedar Mills for the family's fix of GCB. Great location, great staff, and as always great food and coffee!