Junior's Cafe

Order the Migas. Ya won’t regret it. This place provides excellent, fresh-tasting dishes at more reasonable prices than some other brunch spots nearby. Service is always great. Staff are down to earth and friendly. Plus it’s nicely tucked away so it’s a bit quieter. Absolutely one of my favorite brunch spots in Portland.

Absolutely the best vegan French Toast I’ve ever had! Our server, I forgot his name but he had glasses and a few tattoos, was amazing. Some of the best service I’ve had in Portland lol. I really loved how many great options the menu had for vegans and non-dairy eaters. It has the old school cafe vibes and I was able to get a table with no wait on a Saturday brunch—crazy. This place is slept on.

This place is an amazing little hole in the wall restaurant. The food was amazing. I'm so use to not eating all my food when we go out but here, I ate everything and even stole some food from my husband's plate it just looked and smelled so dang good. My teenager tried out some vegan sausage and loved it. (If you have a kid with sensitives, you get how big of a struggle this is.) And my daughter loved being able to build her own breakfast sandwich. There's so many options, including vegan and gluten free items. Our server Paula was amazing. They checked on everyone often and was on top of everything. And, they didn't rush us or sigh when we asked for things how we needed them, they were understanding and patient which was a huge plus. Can't wait to come back here again. I'm picky about my breakfast but here, there are so many things for me to choose from, I kinda can't be picky here. First place I've had a hard time picking what I wanted for my French toast there was several options. And absolutely LOVE that they have an option for only 1 slice of French toast.

Such a gem. A cozy, pleasant place to enjoy breakfast or lunch, with excellent service and an outstanding menu that caters to all types of dietary preferences and needs. Junior's is a credit to its neighborhood and to the most friendly and genuine side of the Portland food scene.

I had the Big Rig Burrito today and it was a work of perfection. The eggs were scrambled just right with plenty of vegan sausage. The hash browns looked and tasted amazing. The chai was lovely with it too. The chef and customer service were on point with great music in the background. You know you're in the right place when the Growlers are playing on arrival 😎 Service was speedy and they know when to you give you some space. I will bring my family back because their whole menu is perfection too.

I would say if you've read any reviews for this place, then you read my review as well. It's definitely a solid four. A bit better than other places, definitely more affordable. Only a few minor detractors. Hollandaise sauce that was too thin, but tasted alright. I get the feeling from reading other reviews that any negatives have more to do with who is in the kitchen than it does with the actual quality of the food. It's a cute spot you should try.

My first stop in Portland, and it was great! I ordered their Veganuary special, a Chipotle Burrito! Delicious! 😋 Friendly staff, amazing food and a great place with great vibes. - @theveganvegeta

Fantastic hidden gem for brunch! Great drinks, veggie and GF options + homemade applesauce! Daily specials and all your fave breakfast fare made from scratch!

Beautiful decor. Delicious food. Always an interesting special on offer. Friendly attentive service.

Probably the best pancakes I have ever had! This place is GOOD! Very cute spot but small so expect a wait if you go during typical brunchy times. Luckily we only had to wait maybe 10 minutes on a Sunday morning around 10am but they were attentive to us from start to finish. Food came out super fast and of course tasty. We ordered one pancake to try, the Jr. cristo, JJs Benedict and a peppermint mocha. The mocha was very sweet so I couldn't finish it but loved the little peppermint peep on top, great touch. The Benedict was soooo good! Loaded with chorizo and green chilis, I was in heaven with every bite. The Jr. Cristo was good but the bread was like Texas toast so the bread to filling ration seemed off. It still tasted great though! Applesauce is a MUST! It's smooth, creamy and has some delicious spices. This place is a must try for sure!

This cute cafe has been around for years and has a lot of vegan options. They have great hash browns now (their potatoes have been hit and miss over the years, but these are good!) and I've always had nice servers. The vegan burrito on the menu is my current favorite! It's a small place so expect to wait on weekends.

Great breakfast! Super friendly and fun staff. I haven't been here in a while, but it's the same good quality food and charm as before. We both had the Outlaw Scram.... Chicken apple sausage, mushrooms, a little shredded potato and fresh parsley. Hashbrowns side with rye toast. So good. Lots of alternative options with tofu scram, gluten free options instead of toast.

This place has pretty good in my opinion, but the winning factor is the endless coffee and the hot sauce! check this place out for the locally made hot sauce if nothing else. But you won't be disappointed by the food.

Awesome place to grab some breakfast! The eggs Benny and hash browns were perfect and I loved the unassuming vibe of the place - including the fact that the plates and mugs appeared to be thrifted. The service was great too and the prices were reasonable. I'd highly recommend Junior's!

Cute place and made exactly as requested (I didn't change the menu, don't do that folks).

I enjoyed this place very much. It's a small place, (maybe 8 booths) they do offer some outside seating. The server was really friendly and attentive. My food was excellent, had the envy Benedict & would recommend it! Also had a bloody Mary I felt had too much salt but it was good otherwise in flavor. It's not fancy, and the building is old. That takes nothing away from great service and an excellently prepared meal. I will be back!

Food was great. Didn't have to wait on a Sunday noon. Sarah, the host/waitress was the best! So, so compassionate and helpful (she even tried to contain a persistent yellow jacket friend). The other staff we interacted with were all friendly and seemed happy. Would definitely come back.

WOW! This place is awesome!! When First sat down to order I was excited to try almost everything on their menu. Very cute ambience, try to get here early to avoid the wait !

What a great surprise! Never been before. A classic local hole in the wall petit diner with old school charm, great food and truly awesome staff. Pauly (sp?) was extremely pleasant, quick witted and attentive to our hungry, coffee loving group of 5. I know we'll be back for more. Cheers!

Sarah (Owner) has a great presence about her. This is a sweet hole-in-the-wall type of family-owned restaurant. The food is great and they have new specials every 3 days or so, it's fantastic and they have a great vibe. Family friendly

Ordered an eggs Benedict, received no eggs nor hollandaise sauce. But really though how the fuck do you serve an eggs Benedict and forget the eggs. I'm sure the foods good when they aren't passing the pipe in the kitchen, but definitely not stoked on the place.

Canned food heat up and served. My fdish was tasteless worst than cafeteria food. Save your money !

Charming low key diner tucked away in a neighborhood. Not overcrowded on a Sunday at 9:30 am. Herblette was underwhelming. My friend loved the pancakes.The food was overall good.

03/07/20:  3.85 out of 5 - I came here with my Saturday Running Group.  We've been to Junior's Cafe many times.  Just haven't gotten around to doing a proper review. The Business The location isn't much to look at.  It's a small location and somewhat off the beaten path.  It is an old space that looks like a house in Portland.  It's not as clean and kept as it could be.  I have a thing for poorly maintained vents in any restaurant.  Therefore, Junior's Cafe can do with some cleaning with the vents. Scored:  2.5 out of 5. The Staff The friendliness and attentiveness of the staff have always seemed to be great.  Always nice and accommodating.  The staff seems to go above and beyond each time I have eaten here. Scored:  4.75 out of 5. The Food I had ordered the Hot Whole Oat Cereal with Fruits and Nuts.  There's not much to say about it except that it was very tasty. Scored:  4.75 out of 5. The Bathroom This may seem to be a funny thing to rate, but the bathroom in any restaurant/eatery should ALWAYS BE CLEAN and in tip top condition and working order...ALWAYS.  Unfortunately, Junior's bathroom is small.  More like a Water Closet, and it's pretty dirty.  Not sure it could be better, but... Scored:  2.5 out of 5. The Price Fortunately for Junior's Cafe, the prices seem fair for a brunch spot in Portland, Oregon.  Keep it low and fair, and the patrons will keep coming back. Scored:  4.75 out of 5. I have only come in to Junior's Cafe with my running group, so more than likely I will coming back for more.  I will update this review accordingly.  If you are in the area and finding yourself wanting a good meal at fair prices then give Junior's Cafe a try.  I hope your experience is as good as mine. As I always say, try it out once and decide for yourself.   Enjoy!

great breakfast and outstanding biscuit. Best vegan French toast. in my most humble opinion, Biscuit outranks Pine State and Grand Central.

BREAKING: New Owners of Junior's Cafe bring cheerful energy, prompt friendly service, and perfectly accurate orders to an almost forgotten brunch spot in Southeast Portland. Longtime patrons of Junior's who regrettably acknowledged that one of Portland's late-breakfast mainstays was circling the drain, will be pleased to know that a mother-daughter team have taken the reins, triumphantly wresting this velvet flocked greasy spoon from the depths of complacency and ironic impertinence. Gone is the acrid and contemptuous staff who needn't be bothered with your "egg allergies" or "being open during posted hours" Go back. Let bygones be bygones. Tepid water under the bridge, served in a warm plastic bleach bouquet.

We ordered the 2 piece French toast breakfast. It was 1 piece, nothing in a scramble except for tofu. No syrup. Just a bummer.

How can you run such a mediocre place with such terrible food in a city like Portland? Aside from the fact that we waited over 45 minutes for our food, the quality was just atrocious. I feel really terrible leaving this review, but it's not fair that paying customers get back so little for what they pay. Waitress was kind.

We stopped in last weekend for breakfast at Junior's, it's so nice that this portland staple has re-opened! The menu has been revamped while keeping the classics... my partner LOVES the Migas with chorizo, and I was really happy to choose from a variety of vegan and vegetarian options. It appears that they are taking covid safety precautions seriously, and they have a cute little outdoor set up now. Also, we love the friendly staff!

The wait staff was super friendly, but that is where the good news ends. Both my breakfast date and I spent the remainder of the day running to the bathroom after eating at Junior's. We used to go there all the time, under former ownership, but now... the tofu was soggy and gross, the toast was burned, the restaurant was freezing, they opened an hour later than their online listing claims, the table was dirty (and we were the first customers of the morning), and, like I said, we literally spent hours trying to get whatever bug we picked up there out of our bodies. HUGE disappointment from a place that used to be so dependable.

Wow!!! This place is an incredible diner. Has the exact look and feel you want in a diner, and has plenty of neighborhood parking. We didn't get the waiters name but he was a cool cat, very chill but informative and efficient. Everyone who worked there seemed to be passionate about the food coming out. The chai tea was out of this world. The Orange juice was solid, not from concentrate deliciousness. The best part about this diner is the abundance meat, Omni, vegetarian, and vegan options. It's so hard finding a place that caters to both crowds equally. If ever in a mixed crowd this is the place to go. The French toast was chewy and fluffy, exactly how it should be. The applesauce was homemade with lots of warming spices and the jam for the bread was fantastic. What a gem of a diner.

Don't go - the service was an absolute disaster, the food quite bland and low quality--the coffee was pretty good though and the price was right but man--since the new ownership has taken hold it's seriously gone down hill.

Best vegan French toast around! Very chill diner feel and super nice service every time I visit. Highly recommend!

Great breakfast spot in a great location. Eggs Benedict was classic, although lost some points for over-poached eggs. The hollandaise was very tasty and not as heavy as you would normally find, but I wish there was a bit more. Also had the pancakes which were delicious. Perfect soft but still a little chewy texture with a more prominent buttermilk flavor than most pancakes I've had. The stars of the show were certainly the sides. The hash browns were the perfect combination of crispy outside and soft interior with plenty of flavor. It was clear that they were given just as much attention as the main dish they accompany. The homemade applesauce was also very cinnamon-y and delectable, and i wish there was a dish where it was incorporated. Overall solid spot, but i will say we waited for while due to there only being one waiter and one cook. Will be back.

JUNIORS HAS REOPENED! New staff is fantastic. The service was wonderful, and the food was amazing!!! If you're an old regular you won't be DISAPPOINTED! If you're new, it's AMAZING! The hashbrowns (they call them something else) are out of the world! We have eaten here 3 times in the past 2 weeks and can't get enough. We will be back every weekend. Ps if you're a big sweetie, like my fiancé, get the chocolate French toast! The migas, envy Benny, and JJ Benny are also amazing. Pps After writing this I want it right now! Especially that lavender black tea and a Benny!

This place is great. Food is superb worth the price. That main chef got the magic touch. Would come again in the next visit to Portland.

AMAZING! everything about our experience was perfect, the server was incredibly kind and accommodating, the food was insanely good, highly recommended the outlaw scramble and the jr. Cristo, both were huge portions and were delicious! They also have outdoor seating which was a bonus! New favorite spot in Portland, we will be coming back very soon!!

Junior's was our favorite spot for years - close to our apartment, great coffee, cozy atmosphere, & they knew how to make great vegan options. Due to the pandemic the owners sold the place to new people. We were very excited to visit 'our place' again, but it's just not the same anymore. Coffee is still Extracto. Booths are still comfy & gold. However, the new hash browns were mushy - made further soggy by the inexpertly prepared, completely unseasoned (I'm talking just white unpressed chunks here) tofu scramble leaking water all over the plate. I used to order this scramble all the time (superhero) & the dish in front of me was unrecognizable by comparison. There are also several typos/mistakes on the menu (i.e. it said my scramble came with vegan cheese - it didn't - then also says you can add cheese for an extra charge) which made me wary. My partner had eggs, hashbrowns, & sausage & expressed that he was quite underwhelmed as well. My water glass was also visibly dirty so I didn't take a sip - my coffee mug was also coated in a film of something that I tried my best to ignore. The toast was good. I have beautiful memories of meeting friends & family at Junior's & want nothing more than to keep loving it. I'm hoping the new staff can find their groove & work through the kinks - I really want it to be so much better than what we experienced. I see the two 5 stars before me & hope that we just went at the 'wrong time' (the Monday morning of Memorial Day?) or wonder if the old cook left. Dot's is run by the old Junior's owners (as far as I remember) so we'll be going there. Maybe Cricket will be our new 'regular' breakfast place? 2 stars & not 1 for old times sake. The fond memories will endure.

Service was great. Food was good. But what really ruined it for me was the infestation of fruit flies. I was excited to come here but when we were sat, the slimy, slippery floors were the first red flag. The type of slimy when grease has built up and is mixed with water. Once we sat I noticed the constant buzzing of fruit flies and then noticed the probably hundreds of flies stuck on the wallpaper. By the time I received my food I had lost my appetite and had to be careful that I wasn't eating flies with each bite of food. It's a shame and I'm surprised they haven't been reported to the people that inspect restaurants for cleanliness yet. I unfortunately won't be coming back again unless they have a DEEP clean.

The food is amazing lots of vegan options friendly staff and the cook is amazing !!!!!!

Excellent hole in the wall place to enjoy super good service and food! I had the JJ Benedict on tomato instead of English muffins with bacon. My husband had the Oats and Milk with Berries and chicken sausage on the side. Totally recommend! The wait staff is very friendly and fun to chat with.

Holy guacamole, french toast with caramelized peaches as a special?! I don't know if I will ever be the same. Love love this place because it has a cute diner feel, but it's still young and cozy nuzzled in the cutest little neighborhood. The glittery gold booths and gaudy wallpaper are super charming and I find myself pointing out new things every time I come here. Will be back for sure, please keep the peaches french toast "special" indefinitely!

Giant breakfast burrito! Scrambles are pretty decent, they offer hashbrowns which is weirdly hard to find in portland. Oh, and you can sub vegan cheese! Can't remember the brand, but I legit thought they used real cheese in my food. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a little hole in the wall breakfast joint. Very nice staff, yummy food, and good coffee

The French toast was undercooked and soggy in the middle. The side of vegan sausage was cold in the center and the vegan scrambled egg tastes like dishwater. The biscuits and gravy was very good though. I'm giving one star because my girlfriend is pregnant and should not be eating raw egg. UPDATE: the biscuits and gravy made me throw up and have diarrhea. I thought it tasted good but it was food poisoning at its finest.

Great lunch with awesome service. The new ownership has really improved junior's vibe. I'll be back!

Fun little gem in the eastside. Service was awesome. This place is SOOOO-PORTLAND and it made me feel great to eat here. The breakfasty food creations were yummy.

This restaurant is absolutely amazing. Every time I enter I am greeted by the smell of bacon, and by the helpful staff. Absolutely delicious every time! Ask for the mango lemonade it is out of this world!

The space: Junior's is a small and awesome breakfast joint. It only has 8 booths and one two top window seat so there is usually a wait on weekends but it's totally worth it. Got here around 1 on a Saturday and there were 4 tables ahead of us - we were seated within about 40 min. What we got: I got the black pepper, Brie and honey omelet, add spinach with sourdough toast ($12). It was AMAZING. One of the best omelets I've ever had. Last visit here I ordered the country scramble ($10) and would highly recommend that as well. My vegan boyfriend got the vegan covered wagon, add tofu and wheat toast ($13.50). He loved it and was so full after he literally had to take a nap. The visit before he got the vegan French toast breakfast ($12) with tofu scramble and vegan sausage and it was delicious. We always get a slice of French toast or two to share - I cover it in their marion berry jam and syrup. It's bomb! They have a great drink menu as well - their spicy Bloody Mary is fantastic. Overall: Great food, large portions, good vibe. This is a great place to come if you are with a vegan diner but want traditional breakfast options for non vegans - they do both fantastically.

We had a lovely time here! Great options for my vegan self and omnivore partner. Had some of the best hot sauce I've ever had. The owner was a delight to talk to and frequently checked on us to see if we wanted or needed anything. The drinks were delicious and everything was very well priced. The food was exactly what we wanted and more-- the superhero and cracked omelette were outstanding. Would highly recommend!

Came here while visiting out of town, the service was wonderful and very quick! Food was delicious and the vegan options were great, thankfully we came when we did because they randomly closed early and turned away quite a few people after us.

This place has gone way downhill... First off, the food quality is not good. The prep and cooking is even worse. Their veggie sausages (gimme lean brand) are awful. The potatoes are terrible. A smashed patty: burned on the outside and undercooked on the inside. And the party of four that got seated before my party of two?... They weren't even around the entire 45 mins we waited for a table. The were treated like a royal family and it became obvious that they were friends with someone who worked there. Which is total bullsh*t. And finally, the awful sounding stereo/speaker setup: the sound was beyond shrill. When you bast your music to obviously entertain your staff (partially deaf, burnout hipster musician-by-night, S.I.-worker-by-day), and EQ the sound so that the high frequencies are boosted, you have a recipe for audio disaster. Or is it a plan to turn tables over faster? Is that why your "fiends" that got seated before us got to sit in the only hospitable booth (beneath your shitty sounding speakers where they are spared the offensive, awful sound)? Just no good at all. Don't waste your time or money.

Juniors is a great place to get a fantastic breakfast meal. Your mug is always brimming with their delicious coffee. And they have fun sauces like Aardvark Hot Sauce, made and bottled right in Portland. Ordered the special of the day: Kick Ash French toast, gluten free, with two eggs over easy. Kick Ash, a take on their Kick Ass French toast, has Nutella with bananas and crumbled bacon. The addition of maple syrup makes this an ultimate breakfast dessert meal. Hey, I got to eggs to even out the carb/sugar shock! And yes, it was so decadent I couldn't finish it. The dining room is clean and tidy, staff is friendly and attentive, and their tiny bathroom was clean.

Quaint, small operation and somewhat of a hidden secret in SE Portland for breakfast/brunch. Food is very good (the eggs benedict is excellent, as is their French toast). The rest is standard breakfast-fare, all of very good quality. About my only complaint is when it gets busy, service gets slower because of limited waitstaff and kitchen staff.

Visiting Portland and we were looking for a place to have breakfast. This spot had Awesome food, a friendly staff and delicious mimosas . Definitely give it a try!

I came in here Thursday afternoon hoping to get a quick bite before work, and quick is what I got! I was pleasantly greeted by the girl working, she was very nice and recommended some great vegetarian options for me. I went with the vegan potato dish with spicy dipping sauce. The portion was large and I took half of it to go. The server kept my coffee full to the brim and even brought me a fresh to go cup on my way out! My only complaint is that parking was scarce, and that the street is very busy, but I will definitely be back again!

Fantastic ... Late bunch Sunday's 5-10pm The food is too good... Be careful... You might get high off the energy... Amy rocks!!

Food is still great, but either their exhaust system is broken or needs serious updating, as it was incredibly smokey during my last visit. The windows up front are covered in a nice film of grease as well, which was not the case several months ago. After a quick breakfast, our clothes reeked even after a windows-down blast up the interstate. The service was friendly, a bit of a wait as expected but the food came fast and correct. Maybe they make it smokey so people don't linger long? Maybe the owner doesnt realize there's something wrong with the air system. Whatever the case, think twice about juniors if you have respiratory problems or issue with smoke. And dont wear clothes you intend to keep on for the rest of the day, unless you enjoy smelling like burnt grease.