Paradox Cafe

Such a cute diner spot! The service is top notch, and the food is incredible. I got the avocado benny with no mushrooms and it easily became one of my all time favorite breakfasts I've had in Portland. The potatoes are also cooked perfectly crispy without being oily. We cannot wait to come back and try everything on the menu!

Omg, I absolutely love Paradox! Paradox is one of the best vegan breakfast spots I have ever been to! We were in from out of town and decided to go here for breakfast and I am so glad that we did. The service was great and the vibe was very classic diner and hipster vibe. The food was delicious. I had the biscuits and gravy, bacon, eggs, sausage patties, and it was all incredible! I am vegetarian so I had real eggs and not plant based eggs. I could not even tell the food was vegan. The food came out piping hot and delicious. It had a very savory and flavorful taste. I will say on the weekends it can get very busy, but we were glad to have snagged a seat. I highly recommend Paradox cafe for a delicious breakfast or brunch! Next time we are in town, we will definitely be coming back!

This place has a nice, relaxed, cool and trendy feel to it. The staff are very friendly too. The menu has plenty of good stuff to choose from. Plenty of choices. The Mac tots are a must have. The cheeseburger burrito was quite good and plenty in portion, very worth it. And the avocado benedict was beyond yummy. Would definitely go back here to try their other stuff on the menu.

The server (Ian) had a notably calm, kind, welcoming energy. I ordered the avocado benedict, which was delicious. Oddly, my portion size was significantly smaller than another customer’s – someone even noticed this when I posted in the Portland Vegans group, saying Paradox's portion size must have shrunk significantly. No matter, I was full when I left, with just enough room in my belly for a tasty treat from the Shoofly bakery. There’s never enough time to eat all the amazing vegan things in Portland! I’ll go back to the Paradox Café next time I’m in town.

My Saturday afternoon dining experience was perfect. The biscuits and gravy with vegetables were delicious and the service was phenomenal. They kept my coffee filled and provided nice conversation. I'll definitely be back time and time again

Completely vegetarian and vegan but the recipes and the menu are to die for the burger tastes absolutely amazing the french fries are actually salted which is super fantastic the atmosphere is totally chill and the waitress with the black hair on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. was absolutely outstanding her attitude was phenomenal she was so nice I would recommend this place to anyone in a hot minute 5stars all the way if you're ever off of Belmont please try this place because you will not be let down absolutely awesome! Great customer service and the food is to die for!

First time coming in and was greeted warmly. Was allowed to choose where I sit, so I sat at the bar. After looking over the menu I decided on the Solstice Corn Cake with apples and walnuts and the Quinoa cocoa cakes with peach berry compote. I got a Sunrise smoothie (banana, pineapple, chia and hempmilk) as well. The portions are well sized and very affordable! I was surprised at how absolutely delicious it was! Will definitely be returning!

A cute modern take on the 50's diner looks on the inside. The meals were superb!!! Exquisite presentation, flavors above all things, fresh veggies, and tofu served up with perfection. The potato bites were some of the best I've ever had, period! Get in here and try their dishes, vegan or not you will not be disappointed. Wowzers!

I hadn't been to the Paradox in years and was so happy to see they are still in business! This place makes me feel like I'm back in old Portland, which is a good thing. Our server was friendly, kind and just great. Given that she was the only server and things started getting busy, she did a terrific job. The food was stellar. I had the totchos (just sub tots for the chips) and they were so delish. Also huge, I brought about half of them home. I would never know these were vegan if I hadn't already known. They were cheesy, sour-creamy, lots of potatoes and black beans. My friend had the plate with french toast, potatoes and veggies. She loved it. I'm not going to wait so long to come back. I do wish they would bring back the bbq tempeh sticks.

Omg, I absolutely love Paradox! Paradox is one of the best vegan breakfast spots I have ever been to! We were in from out of town and decided to go here for breakfast and I am so glad that we did. The service was great and the vibe was very classic diner and hipster vibe. The food was delicious. I had the biscuits and gravy, bacon, eggs, sausage patties, and it was all incredible! I am vegetarian so I had real eggs and not plant based eggs. I could not even tell the food was vegan. The food came out piping hot and delicious. It had a very savory and flavorful taste. I will say on the weekends it can get very busy, but we were glad to have snagged a seat. I highly recommend Paradox cafe for a delicious breakfast or brunch! Next time we are in town, we will definitely be coming back!

Our waitress was stellar! She was friendly, prompt and fun to chat with. The decor is eclectic but comfortable. We were seated immediately and given our menus promptly. My husband ordered the French toast combo with sausage and potatoes. I ordered the Avo Bene. The French toast was spectacular! Cinnamony and just right, delicious! The potatoes were spiced and fried to crispy perfection. My Bene was okay. The cheese sauce and veggies were good but the tofu could have used some love. I don't know if it's house made but it had a flavor that wasn't typical and I didn't care for.

Feels like the "old portland" millenials are always yammering on about. Food was decent but it was the general ambiance, incredible service and homey vibes that made me come here to write a review! Looking forward to coming back with friends.

The server (Ian) had a notably calm, kind energy. I ordered the avocado benedict, which was delicious. Oddly, my portion size was significantly smaller than another customer's - someone even noticed this when I posted in the Portland Vegans group, saying Paradox's portion size must have shrunk significantly. No matter, I was full when I left, with just enough room in my belly for a tasty treat from the Shoofly bakery. There's never enough time to eat all the amazing vegan things in Portland! I'll go back to the Paradox Café next time I'm in town.

I am a vegetarian working towards being a vegan, and I thought this place was a nice try towards that. I had the corn cakes, and I thought they were okay. There is the typically drop-off in taste from butter to vegan butter. The texture is different from a pancake - maybe similar to a mcgrittle, with some tasty apple in it. Overall, a decent offering on my first try. I would recommend this place just to try, and I think I would be coming back if I were to return to Portland to try something else on the menu.

Great Vegan food and great service. Nice little location in the heart of the Belmont area. Would definitely recommend especially for some of those picky eaters in your life.

I don't know why there aren't more current reviews about this cozy feel-good spot in the SE. When I'm hankering for a great home cooked vegan breakfast and not worried about calories this is my place. Waffles, yum. Biscuits and gravy, yum yum. Combo breakfasts, yum yum yum. Great staff and excellent music. Two thumbs up.

So so sad to see the nachos go, not the biggest fan of the new menu. --------------------------------

I've gone to Paradox Cafe for many years now and it's never let me down! It's a Portland staple and a must especially if you're visiting and/or vegan

Paradox Cafe has quickly become my favorite place to eat before 2pm. The staff is friendly, the service is great, the vibes are immaculate, and the food. THE FOOD!!!!!!!! Even if you aren't vegan/vegetarian it is worth checking out. I started coming here for the vegan French toast due to an egg allergy and kept coming for everything else. Everything is delicious, hot, just incredible. And to top it off, the cafe has wonderful lighting and I tend to get my favorite selfies here. Please check this spot out. It's fantastic.

Wow! My only excuse for never having been here before is I almost never eat breakfast out in Portland. The food was very good, and I'm no vegetarian. Yes the gravy tasted different, but still tasted fine. The potatoes were perfect. The biscuits a little too fluffy for my standards. Eggs just right. Excellent service. Place has a nice homey feel, a place you'd like to be a regular. Even the bathroom was fun to be in (but why does everything have to be graffitied?)

Been going here for years, can't beat a diner like this with vegan poutine and slutty breakfast options. Great place to go when you're hungover or have people in town.

My friend and I, who've gone to Paradox several times over the years, went there this morning for breakfast. The place was closed, although their webpage showed they'd be open. No notice in the window. No notice on their webpage. We won't be going back.

Paradox is DELICIOUS! If you're vegan or vegetarian or have someone in your life who is, you HAVE to go here! They have dairy options, like cream for your coffee, but their food is so good! My personal favorite is the benedict, but I have them replace the hollandaise sauce for their gravy, which is so freaking good. Try it out soon!

I've been eating at the Paradox Cafe for many years. My two favorite dishes are the vegetable scramble which makes me feel that I'm gifting my body, and the solstice corn cakes which are gluten free and have apples and walnuts mixed in. Be sure to ask for real maple syrup. Less busy but just as good as the other places in town.

I'm not a vegan, nor am I a vegetarian, but paradox scratches a particular eats itch for me. Like when I want breakfast that's not "breakfast" or a bit of indulgence, pretending that it's health food (and it probably is). I'm currently sitting here eating a huge bowl of tofu , steamed veggies, and kale over roasted potatoes for breakfast (with curry sauce added) and it's a "scrambowl" but of course it's nothing like a "scramble" but it's a lot of good fresh food at a good price. Sometimes a non traditional breakfast just hits the spot.

The food has potential but they need a real chef or something cause it not bringing me back to them and I tired to like them because I want more vegan restaurants in the world. The service seemed mechanical and lacked warmth and human'ness... in a world focused on inclusivity I felt unwelcome as a BIPOC, non Portlander. I've tried them 3 times and I'm done... each time they up charged me without notice and they got very short with me when I inquired why it wasn't communicated during the ordering process that there are charges for changing what I'm allergic to stating "well it's only $2" which makes this about principle not the fee. Communication, curiosity, kindness and seasoning goes a long way when running a restaurant, ijs!

I hate leaving bad reviews especially for local businesses but ppl need to know! Pros: plant-based restaurant dedicated to bfast/brunch, friendly service Cons: whoa that coffee was BAD (I don't recommend. Tasted like free hotel coffee). They only had one server ( not sure if they were short staffed but it took them a while to take our order). Way overpriced for what you get , quality wise (my partner and I were very disappointed and paid $14 & $15 for our meals. I didn't realize the chicken n waffles came w cooked frozen nuggets lol and the gravy and biscuits seemed so old).

First time I went here and got he most bland french toast and tasted sour. It was very burnt. The country potatoes were seasoned so much it was all pepper.

I've been here twice. The first time was a great experience of pancakes. I tried the other plates as well. I swore this was my go-to place for brunch. My friend loved her pancakes, and she's picky. This time they changed the menu. Quite literally it looked nothing like the original. Still optimistic, I ordered the Avo Benedict. I remembered their bacon was delish so I ordered the mung bacon as a side. The bacon did not disappoint. It was the star of the meal. Crisp, not too salty, great texture. The Avocado Benedict was ok. Too little avocado to be called Avo Benedict (sacrilege!) on top of a slightly toasted but soggy bread with huge slabs of tofu with veggies in a wonderful sauce. Luckily I don't mind tofu but if you do, this is not the dish for you. It was literally cut up slabs of firm tofu. I was expecting a tofu scramble of some sort. The veggies were cooked well. I tried the biscuits and gravy, and I have to say the biscuit was tough but the gravy was tasty. I tried the corn fritters. They were fine. I loved their black beans. The potatoes were yum. Overall it didn't feel as momentous as the first time. I won't be praying at their altar often, but like any church, forgiveness is likely and I just may forgive the sin and love the sinner. The mung bacon may be the martyr I need to come back to Jesus. Praise be to bacon.

So... I ended up going overboard with delicious goodies here. I don't regret it. Randomly swung by here after admitting to my husband I had never been. If you're into plant based goodies, or just like a good brunch, this place is a MUST VISIT. We noticed that early afternoon only one server and one cook, working super hard in keeping over a dozen customers happy. They did a heck of a job. The menu was overwhelming, especially for someone looking to treat themselves. So we said screw it, let's get a bunch of things! The corn cake was incredible- best item on the menu. Good for two people or one hungry person. Lil bits of apple are sprinkled in and taste gorgeous with maple syrup. A combo of sweet and savory! We went nuts and ordered the espresso sweet cakes. Totally didn't need them but come on, you can't say no to chocolate and coconut whip cream. This was rich, like overly indulgent. Worth it. The basic was fantastic too! Beautifully cooked potatoes with a tasty tofu scramble and toast. Again, huge portions but we inhaled every crumb. Highly recommend visiting this place, you might see me there trying every item on the menu!

Great vegan options and also non vegan options . Great to take your friends for breakfast

I ordered their food and got the BLT wrap. I don't know what in the unseasoned cookbook is going on but it was bland. Maybe they forgot to salt stuff? It isn't even gross because I can't taste any flavors to even judge (and yes I'm healthy and my taste buds work)! I don't know if the lack of seasoning is intentional but it doesn't do anything for me. If they're intentionally not seasoning their food, it would be helpful if they at least add a packet of salt or something. Because that was a waste and I didn't even eat the whole thing.

best vegan breakfast in town i got the comfort meal, babe got the avacado benedict. 5/5 incredible

Loved the food, tasted like home made food. great customer service, bottomless coffee and friendly environment.

I came here for breakfast on a Sunday with my boyfriend. Most of the tables were full but it didn't seem hectic busy. The waitress helped us right away and our food came out promptly. The waitress let us chill for a bit before bringing our check which was nice. I had a vegan version of the Mt Tabor taters, or something that sounded like that, and it was super yummy. The gravy was phenomenal and the jalapenos added a nice kick without making it too spicy. My picky boyfriend had scrambled eggs, which he liked, and plain pancakes, which he didn't like, because they got too soggy in the syrup. Overall I really liked this place and would definitely go back.

I came here on recommendation from a local(ish) friend and I'm glad I got that recommendation. I'm assuming the Paradox is that they serve regular menu items as well as vegan? Tell me. Anyways, I love the retro-vintage vibe here. It looks like a traditional old diner but the menu is very progressive. When we walked in we noticed the sign that said 'Please seat yourself. So we did just that. We sat at a table by the front window in the first room with the bar. There's also a room to the right with a little pasty display. If we didn't already have a ton of pastries at the hotel, we definitely would have picked something out of the glass. As for the food, we both left super stuffed. We stopped in for breakfast but ended up ordering more brunch-type items. Everything on the menu sounded great. I wasn't sure if I wanted to order a 'current feature' or a Paradox Breakfast. I went with The Hunger. It was kind of reminded me of Huevos Rancheros - minus the Huevos and minus the Rancheros. It was was so good that I cleaned the plate. My boyfriend went with a veggie bowl with curry. It was like a traditional English Curry, very flavorful and tons of veggies. He actually didn't finish his and I got to eat it for leftovers. I would love to come back and try more of the food here but alas, I'll have to wait for my next trip to Portland. If you're here, you better stop in Paradox. It's a quaint little diner with exceptional food.

Not a local or a vegan, but my local vegan friend loves this place and brought me through for brunch. I was skeptical because I have a lot of experience working in brunch restaurants, so I feel like my standard boils down to at least having the option to order a plate of eggs. Since that was not an option, I ordered the burger with "hollandaise" on it... BUSSIN'! I can't reiterate how much I loved it. Service was accommodating too! We showed up with a big*ss party at noon on a Sunday, and they sat us immediately. Given this place is so tasty, I'm surprised it wasn't a full house.

We've been eating at the Paradox for many years (20+) and always enjoy the meal! Some of our faves are the Tempeh Rueben, crispy noodles with tempeh and peanut sauce and the pancakes. YUM! Very good vegetarian food at reasonable price. Thanks to the staff for many years of good meals!

Paradox has been a Sunday morning stomping ground for my wife & I! For a while you could almost promise we would be there every Sunday, then COvID! The team did a great job keeping our belly's filled during that time! One of the greatest vegan restaurants in PDX! Fitting them into your schedule will be the right move for sure!

I am not a vegan or vegetarian but for health reasons, I am eating less flesh of a dead animal. Service was friendly and prompt. They have counter as well as table seating. It is very casual in this cafe, as you seat yourself, "at a clean table" as the sign said. Silver and paper knapkins, along with a pitcher of water and glasses are already on your clean table. They have fast wifi. I ordered the Rogue River hash with tempeh and toast, and my date had Hog Pile with a side of Field Roast apple smoked sausage. Everything is vegan or vegetarian here. Oddly, my soy for the cup of joe, didn't mix well and seemed to curtle. Not sure what was up with that. It still tasted fine, just an odd visual. Portions are large, well seasoned, and tasty. My hash was really very good. Our waitress offered a few condiments and I got katsup. I tried a bit on my hash but it simply didn't need it. My tempeh was full of sunflower seeds and yummy. My date's Hog Pile was sauteed onions and mushrooms with tofu and chucks of bread with a veggie (mushroom?) gravy over the top. Satisfying comfort food. The side of sausage was okay, as it had a sweetness, and then sage flavor that grew more intense as I chewed. Overall experience was great and the curtled soy creamer is not enough to knock a star off over.

Great food all around. The fritters are a must have, but everything I've had here was delicious! The breakfast burrito is hearty and and filling too. I seriously come here once a week, I would have them cater my wedding.

This is my favorite cafe and Im disappointed to see they changed the menu. They got rid of a significant amount of the menu and seemed to raise their prices. The old menu was adorable and hand written and the new menu is just printed out. No more sweet espresso cakes is such a bummer!! Hope they change them back.

Breakfast potatoes are the key to evaluating any breakfast spot, in my view. If the potatoes are bad, the restaurant is bad. If the potatoes are awesome, the rest of the meal is likely to be great. The paradox café is a paradox. Their breakfast potatoes are fantastic. However, what they bill as tamales, are not actually tamales but corncakes. To me, trying to pass off a corncake as a tamale is like trying to say chopped liver is pate de foie gras, same ingredients, wrong recipe. That this well esteemed restaurant can pass off corn cakes for tamales without anyone seeming to object, is really quite shocking.it tells me that this restaurant does not expect nor does it cater to the Latino community which is in shouting distance of this restaurant location. Hey paradox, little things like this are important. Get your tamale groove on.

A great vegan diner experience from start to finish. Friendly staff , a relaxing atmosphere, and a nice selection of comfort food. A full bar would be nice but not necessary given that there are already tons in the neighborhood. We had lunch and the portions were large and in charge. We'll definitely go back for more!

Great overall! However the menu is hit or miss. The French toast and breakfast burger is amazing but some of the Holly's and scrambles are underwhelming. Also, everything is very well priced!

They have some of the best breakfast in town. :) Lots of vegan options and really tasty. Good portions too.

Pretty good. I liked the French toast and the corn cake. The sausage and potatoes were just okay and the smoothie wasn't great. It's good but nothing to get real excited about

delicious food and drinks- great retro vibe inside and our server was very friendly. also i love all the plant based options!

I've loved going here on weekend mornings, and now that I tend to stay home I've appreciated how easy it is to order food from them. They are my go-to when I want a larger breakfast or lunch and want to treat myself. My favorite breakfast is the Belmont Bundle (gravy, veggies, biscuit and tempeh) and I've also been ordering their Reuben a lot. Best vegan reuben I've tried at a great price too!

Yum! Came in for my first time today, I'm on a mission to support local businesses. Super yummy and fresh tasting food. Prices are amazing and the staff is awesome. Thanks!

I was impressed with the reuben. i really like that tempeh stuff so much it may convince me i don't need meat anymore . It would be nice if the sandwiches came with fries but the world isnt over . I wont deduct a start on that. Good luck on finding convenient parking. ill be back to try the sweet surrender pancakes. Some reviews say the service here isnt good but my service today didn't bother me. customer service is always a tough job. Cant't stop choosing the club! It's awesome

Places that are vegan & gluten-free friendly that also serve breakfast foods? I can count the number of them I've found on maybe 3 fingers. And this place really does it right. The corn cakes with baked apples and pecans were delicious -- I'd honestly prefer them to normal pancakes any day. And the vegetarian Benedict was nicely smothered a covered with flavor -- a bit different than a traditional Benedict of course, but delicious in its own way. Definitely worth a visit while in Portland...had the Portland vibe along with the great food.

Wow. Wow wow wow. Never encountered ruder service at a restaurant. We came in for breakfast on a Friday and the place was empty. That should have tipped us off. My father ordered the French toast, and it came out ice cold. When he sent it back the waitress was utterly unapologetic and it took a very long time to get a new plate. When it finally came, every piece of French toast appeared to be an end piece. When we brought this to the waitress' attention, she gave us a blank stare and literally said "It's ciabatta bread. And it's vegan. That's how it comes. So now you know." My dad didn't eat it, but of course they still charged us for it. Other things we ate were fine. But the incredibly rude service ruined our experience. With so many great restaurants in Portland, give this one a pass.

Good eats at a good price! Vegan/veterinarian. Cool bathroom art, friendly staff, great menu. Go to their website and sign up on their email list for coupons and monthly deals.

I adore this place. I went all the time when I lived in Portland, and on a recent visit I found t hadn't changed since. It's exactly what you want in a diner: casual and unpretentious, with huge hearty plates and bottomless coffee. They have meat, but any menu item can be made vegetarian or vegan. (Try the paradox benedict or the country comfort if you're hungry and open to plant-based options.) There are gluten-free options, a sizable tea selection, and daily specials too. The bathroom murals are pretty cute and goofy, too.

Vibes=immaculate. The hot sauce is definitely home made in the best way. Dont even get me started on their amazing fry sauce. Affordable prices and amazing service. The sammy was great! Tots perfectly crispy. The biscuts lucious and soft. Definitely a hidden gem.

Bonnie was so kind and accommodating for our large group order. She went above and beyond to ensure order accuracy and labeled all the meals for us. The food was also very delicious! We will we absolutely be back.