The Sparrow Bakery PDX

Absolutely incredible bakery with friendliest staff! Get the ocean roll for a unique taste-love the cardamom infused dough. Waldorf croissant sandwich was timeless

I want to like Sparrow. I do. The first time I went in, the ocean roll I got was delicious. Then I found a paperclip in it, fully baked into the dough. How? Why? No idea. But the coffee was good, and I figured any business can have an off day and hygiene is never gonna be 100%, so I went back a few months later. While I was waiting for my coffee and pastry, I watched an employee dump butter into a giant mixer with his hands, then dig around in his jeans pocket for a few seconds and pull out his phone, then check stuff on his phone, and then—without washing or even rinsing his hands—go straight back to dumping butter, with bare hands on the sticky butter, into the mixer. The phone germs would get baked to death, I guess, but those PLUS pocket lint was a bridge too far for me. Won't be back. And I don't order pastries at other cafes that use them as a supplier (which is more around town than you'd think). It's a shame, because the place is excellent otherwise. The coffee, service, and vibes are all great.

We absolutely love sparrow bakery! The bacon breakfast sandwich is one of my favorites! If you’re looking for something sweet, the classic choice is an ocean roll. Think: cinnamon role without the frosting, with an orangey glaze crusting the bottom of the roll. Absolutely delicious and one of their most popular items on the menu!

Have enjoyed an occasional ocean roll for years in Bend at Sparrows original location and at NW crossing location, but this was my 1st time buying ocean rolls at the Portland location. Was a total waste of money. I picked up 8 rolls to share with family. Didn’t try them until last night. Rolls were noticeably lighter, dough was very thin and rolled loosely, lacked the distinct cardamom sweet and lightly salty filling. Staff were friendly and atmosphere was good. Hopefully they are still making the original rolls at the Bend location.

I want to like this place, but I just don't. Their pastries look good and sometimes are, but they should always be good. I bought the pistachio croissant a few times over the course of a year or so, and it was stale, hard on the top making it unenjoyable to eat. Service is get in a line and wait, it's efficient. They have a small seating area near the counter, outdoor seating is available.

A must try!!! This place is a bit unassuming, but it packs a huge punch of flavor. The bacon breakfast sandwich is one of my favorite breakfast sandwiches of all time. The pastries were also delicious and worth trying. The ocean roll and Chocolatine were my two favorites.

I like their pastries and they do make a really good latte so I’ll keep going for that, but trying to order the vegan breakfast sandwich has been a mess both times. First time, they gave me a bacon and egg sandwich. I’m actually just vegetarian, so whatever I took off the bacon and ate it. Figured they’d mixed up orders. Second time there’s no Just Egg on it as advertised so just vegan sausage on an English muffin. Idk if it was forgotten on the two sandwiches I ordered or the advertising is just wrong online (checked before I went). Also still edible, just frustrating and not as tasty. So if you’re vegan and trying to eat the breakfast sandwich, just make sure you look at the food before you leave (unlike me), double check with them about the Just Egg while ordering, and/or expect time for your food to be remade.

Out of this world!! Sparrow is the quintessential PDX experience. Fast and friendly staff. Amazing bacon croissant sandwiches with a surprise runny egg inside. Blow your mind pistachio croissant. And truly, their latte tasted like it was made by Aphrodite herself. Please, PLEASE visit Sparrow when you are in PDX. 30 minute drive is worth it.

Order: lemon croissant, and vanilla latte hot ProsS the croissant was really really good! Not super tart or super sweet. It was just right. The latte was okay not my fav. Cons: n/a

I was pleasantly surprised at the size of this croissant. Crispy, crunchy, & sweet from the pistachio. Would have tasted even better if it were slightly warm. The cardamom latte was sweet and tasted as it sounds. I would come back to try more of their drinks and pastries!

This cafe was cute and we tried a few pastries. I thought the croissants were good but definitely a bit different than your traditional flaky croissant. I would almost describe them as bready.

We stopped by for the first time and had lox and bagels. It was absolutely delicious.

A sunny little coffee shop in the St.John area. I've had their bakery elsewhere before but I can confirm that it's better right at the source. They got a pretty comprehensive pastry showcase, as well as breakfast sandwiches and bagel sandwiches (apparently, they make their bagels in house as well!). I went with their Ocean Roll, Waldorf Sandwich, and a 16 oz Americano - a big treat to say the least. The Ocean Roll was decadent. The taste of cardamom really stood out, making the roll a little sweet and a little savory; very unique! The Waldorf Sandwich was their hand-rolled croissant filled with chicken salad. Their croissant was on the breadier end of croissants but still buttery and worked great as a sandwich. They're very generous with the filling as well, huge chunks of chicken and apples, making for a refreshing and filling salad. The sandwich was big, can easily be shared. Got a bite of their Lox Bagel as well and it's tantalizingly good. Their Americano was decent but nothing to write home about. Will be back for their baked goods for sure!

The Ocean Roll is amazing and so are the rest of their pastries. I typically go here mainly for the pastries but their lattes are also pretty good. The interior is really small so don't expect to sit inside but there is some additional seating outside on nice days however I typically just grab it to go. Service is typically quick and nice so moves well on those busy sunny weekends.

Sparrow is like no other in my mind. Maybe it's because of their unique Ocean Roll, but that can't be the only reason. They make exquisite baked goods. I wish their seating and location was a little more accommodating, hence 4 out of 5 stars

The non-bacon breakfast sandwich is so dang good! The croissant was baked perfectly, the aioli brought all the different ingredients together. I can't wait to have another! The lox bagel was money. Pickled onions and capers brought the whole delicious concoction together. According to the bf "they should call it the Goldilocks bagel because it's just right"- so I guess that means y'all should get it?

Great Service & sandwiches a bit spendy. Fresh baked goods are tasty. Could use a bigger sitting area only 4 small round tables inside. Please consider opening a shop in Portland or Beaverton - any area Thank you!

Great food options, great beverage options. The staff is always friendly. However, if given the choice, I would walk half a mile to Cathedral Coffee over Sparrow for beverages and pastries (+ the vibe). If looking for lunch along with bevs/sweets, then Sparrow is the place. Love the chicken waldorf sandwich.

I can't believe it's taken us 2 years to come here. We've been to and found this business out in Bend. Lovey to have one that's bikable. Wish there was more seating not taken over by the parents and kiddos but hey, they deserve the seating after getting up butt crack of dawn. I digress. The treats are amazing here. Friendly staff. Lattes are great and no latte art here.

Ocean roll - enough said. Can't get enough! Had it first time in Bend but had to have it in PDX and am so glad they have a location here in PDX.

Cardamom buns, cardamom knots, cardamom twists - call them what you want - they are my kryptonite! At The Sparrow Bakery, they call them the Ocean Bun. Not a sweet as a traditional cinnamon bun that is topped with way too much icing, a cardamom bun made with laminated croissant dough, has just the right amount of sweet and the hint of vanilla and cardamom take it over the top! Up until now, I have only indulged while in Hood River (Pine Street Bakery) and White Salmon (White Salmon Bakery) and love them so much that I would bring them home, wrap carefully and freeze because they were not available anywhere in Portland. Oh, my Yelp friends, why did you have to tell me about the Ocean buns? It's easy to resist when they are an hour away, but right in St. John's? I'm doomed. In addition to the Ocean (cardamom) buns, they have excellent breakfast sandwiches, always a fave of mine. My typical breakfast is a cup off strong coffee with a little cream, so once in awhile I like to get a breakfast sandwich on the weekends. Their bacon and egg sandwich on a croissant, dressed with aioli, is delish. They will even scramble the egg for me which is the only way I can eat an egg. Lots of other yummy and unique stuff in the counter like a pistachio croissant, a chocolatere (think cinnamon bun but with chocolate chips), lemon poppy scones, delicious and beautifully decorated shortbread cookies. Even home-made English muffins; trust me, they are worth it. Delicious coffee drinks, too! Of course I go for the cardamom latte. Fun, bright space, lots of black and white with pops of cheerful yellow. I love this place! Best bakery in Portland for pastries made with laminated dough!! While I was there recently, everyone sitting outside eating their pastries was oohing and aaaaing, doing happy dances. The Sparrow spreads joy one pastry at a time!

Local bakery shop with excellent food and choices. Very friendly service and the smell as you walk in is worth the trip itself. Visiting my family and they recommended this place for its cinnamon rolls, so, "when I'm Rome...". Very very good cinnamon rolls. I also got the breakfast sammich and the wife got the bagels and lox (pictured). My breakfast sammich was on a croissant which was light, flakey and buttery, with a poached egg, bacon, avocado, arugula aioli and arugula. My goodness!!! Excellent choice. The wife's bagel and lox was OMG delicious too. I've had many a bagel and lox and this rated up there with the best. The flavors added with the classic combination are worth it too. If you're here or looking for a special morning place to go, head on over and you will not be disappointed.

Delicious pastries. Ocean roll and pistachio croissant are a must. Cardamom in ocean roll is lovely, nice crisp outside with aromatic moist center. Pistachio filling is real pistachios with gritty flavorful chunks. There will always be bad reviews don't let them fool you. Pastries to die for. Not too sweet- very savory and flavorful

Incredibly delicious fresh baked goods and they usually have a selection of vegan options. Get there early to avoid the line!

Wow. I've been following Sparrow Bakery on Instagram and finally made the trip over. It's a very large space, but mostly kitchen (which is continuously pumping out the goods) with only 3 tables. So if you are considering studying or hanging out, that's probably not an option, at least not in inclement weather, there are more tables outside which would be a great summer option. We started with the ocean roll and a cinnamon knot. The ocean roll was so soft and pillowy with a beautiful crunchy layer of caramelized sugar on the bottom. It had a pretty strong cardamom flavor, so if that isn't your thing then I wouldn't recommend it. I, however, found it to be absolute perfection. I was even more surprised by the cinnamon knot. It was like a cinnamon roll, but somehow better, even without the frosting - what? Why didn't I miss the frosting? It had a beautiful texture, including some crunchy sugar on top, and a very strong cinnamon flavor. My daughter had a bagel and loved it. My husband got their breakfast sandwich which is greens, a poached egg, and bacon on a croissant. It was so good! We both enjoyed it despite it being more up my alley than his. It seems that you can't really go wrong here! After we left I immediately tried to figure out when we could go back. It's somehow simultaneously too close and too far from me, but I'll be making the trip again soon and you should too!

During my last visit to Bend I was sad I didn't get to make it out to the Sparrow Bakery so when I heard about them opening up another location in St. Johns I took it as a sign that I FINALLY need to check them out. Super central on lombard with the other food carts you probably won't miss Sparrow since it will be the place with a line out the door. Line goes by pretty quickly but they are allowing one group at a time inside and then once you order they have a system for you to exit and then they call your name at their open door/window when it's ready. Their pastries do run you $5+ which isn't the cheapest pastry you can buy but it's worth the weekend treat. I ended up trying their infamous ocean roll (similar to a cinnamon roll/croissant but slightly spicier) and the pistachio croissant. Both are pretty decadent and denser than what I expected. They were still flaky but not your standard croissant. The pistachio is a unique croissant so I had to get it and they did not skimp out on the filling! I can see the hype around the ocean roll and I will get it again when the cinnamon roll craving hits but I will likely try other pastries since they have quite the array to choose from. I also tried their vanilla bean latte and it was pretty standard. Need to try their Sparrow chai next time as well. I was also eyeing their breakfast sandwiches but wasn't craving it this time around so I will be sure to come again to finally try it and some other new pastries.

I'm a huge fan of Sparrow Bakery. The Ocean roll is cardamom and sugary sweet (but not too sweet) bakery goodness. The workers in the back are busy as bees and the folks at the cash register are just lovely. I have also had the breakfast sandwich here and it's perfection. And although I'm no longer a coffee drinker, I will usually get something decaf here because it's a special treat. There's a very small seating area inside and some tables for seating outside. If you're here on a weekend morning, be prepared to stand in line (it moves quickly). The only downside to this spot is it's a tad spendy. So I just save up for special times to go get me some Sparrow!

My first experience of Cardamom latte and still my favorite! Pair it with their signature ocean roll for sweet perfection. Originated from Bend and it can get busy, so make sure you get in early. Must visit if you're in Portland/ Bend.

Excellent! A wonderful surprise finding this bakery. Quality bakery items and helpful staff.

The Sparrow Bakery finally arrives in Portland from Bend!!! The Ocean Rolls and other bakery items are so good, our friends from Bend would bring us an assortment when they came to visit us. The Ocean Roll is our favorite. It's a cardamom roll that is crispy and flaky, remotely like a cinnamon roll but less sweet, less messy, more healthy. Who needs cinnamon rolls, after you've become a Sparrow Cardamon Roll convert. It takes me a half hour to drive to Sparrow Bakery in St. John's. BEWARE: They close at 3pm, so come early. If you've never been here, they are in the building behind the food carts. There's street parking on Richardson. The holiday shortbread cookies are really yummy. If you are making a trek out here, I recommend the breakfast croissant sandwiches, available with or without bacon.

I moved to Portland a couple of years ago. One of the only things I missed from Bend was the ocean rolls from Sparrow Bakery. Now I can have them whenever I want! Thank you

Ocean rolls, croissants w egg and avocado, take home a loaf of bread! Golden milk! Pretty much anything you order here will be fabulous.

Have you ever spent $14.95 for one sandwich and nothing else? Over priced, it's use to be $9.95. At least that's better than a $5 inflation, sandwich is good but not that good! Some of these places go over board with their prices because they become popular.

I love this bakery. Wonderful baked goods, love the non-vegan breakfast sandwich, good coffee drinks. Really nice staff. I'm so glad we have such a great bakery in North Portland! Highly recommend it.

I don't have any business ordering cinnamon twists because after I broke my ankle I was and due to the continued pain, am still somewhat sedentary. I used to be a cute little size 2. To my everyday horror I see that I've gained 40 pounds. To be honest, I'm depressed. So even though I knew that cinnamon twist would only make me fatter, I was in a depressed, I don't give a fuck mood. It was super good. Flaky and loads of sugar and cinnamon stuck to the clear glaze. After I was finished I was overwhelmed with anger at myself for being so weak and I was even more depressed. I took myself outside and limped around the neighborhood for about 30 minutes as I was trying to do my penance. If I was my normal size 2 self, there would be no guilt. I would cheerily tell you how delicious the pastries are. But I already have. 2022 - Review # 31

Yum oh! Was nearby and hungry so I stopped here for a quick bite. Good COVID measures - one person in the store at a time, pick up outside, etc. Bacon breakfast sandwich set a new level of expectation for breakfast sammys. Perfect croissant, poached egg burst and coated the sandwich perfectly, bacon, aioli balanced everything out. Lots of pastry's at the counter - $3-$5 each. Will definitely be back to try more!

Love their Bend location so had high hopes and drove across town to have the same experience - just wow. Coffee was good and came up in a standard time to enjoy. Ordered a Breakfast Croissant and watched the maker have no sense of urgency, no efficiency whatsoever, cross-contaminate with raw bacon to every surface and their hands as a vegetarian was really hard to watch and know safety and sanitation were not a priority. I think it took 25-30 minutes to get the croissant from the time of ordering till it was in my hand - really unacceptable. There were 5 other croissants ahead of me in an order so not "slammed" as they all had similar components and process for efficiency (former chef). I won't be back - the barista kept trying to be entertaining in light of her co-worker having no sense of time or service.

While a little on the pricey side, Sparrow Bakery is amazing. Their Almond croissant was sweet and flakey. The Ham and Gruyere Croissant was very large and filling.. I couldn't finish it but is was delicious.

Their bagels are great reminds me of back home. Just weird they don't cut them in half, the cream cheese is hit or miss. Once in a while you get a good amount of cream cheese and sometimes you can see straight through the cream cheese to the bagel. This is a crime in the bagel capital but according to my BF maybe they just don't know how to eat bagels in this part of the world. That makes sense considering there is no sense of urgency when you order. They have more employees than a bodega yet a bodega can spit out 7 orders in 7 minutes these guys spit out an order every 20 minutes. But it's totally worth the wait, unfortunately patience is not something I care for. Especially when I'm paying what I'm paying.

Haiku honoring great people serving up sweet ocean rolls, good cheer Best baked goods, croissants, English muffins, soup and sandwiches in St John's. Go once, you'll become a regular.

Wow! Yes it's a bougie, expensive, gentrified bakery, but damn the pastries are A+. Got the ocean roll which reminded me of a cronut, and also got the vegetarian egg sandwich. I was skeptical about a poached egg on a to-go sandwich, fearing it would ooze out and get messy. But it was actually easy to eat and absolutely delicious. It needed a bit of salt, so I think I'll probably get the bacon egg sandwich next time, but I'll definitely be back! There were some reviews about the coffee not being anything special so we went to the bodacious beans coffee truck right next door. A great combination!

Sparrow is always a must visit on each trip to Bend, OR. So as soon as I heard that they opened a location in Portland, I was ecstatic. I love their breakfast sandwiches and baked goods. I have tried many things here and I'm always blown away by the taste, quality, and freshness of the food. My favorites are the Bacon Breakfast Sandwich and the Ocean Roll.

I came here once and got a salted bagel while my boyfriend got the croissant sandwich. They were not stingy with their cream cheese but i wasn't a fan of the salt. We personally didn't enjoy either but the staff were friendly . The store itself is pretty small so beware of that.

Did not know about this place until I was watching the news then I had to check it out we had the Ocean Roll what a fantastic roll, also picked up a few bagels and one of the Chocolatine that was awesome. The staff was really helpful and amazing definitely you should check it out.

I went to this bakery and I purchased a ham/cheese croissant and it was good. However there was only a half of piece of ham in side the croissant. The reason why I gave 3 stars were for the service.

I haven't had a single item here that isn't excellent. Their non-bacon breakfast sandwich is the stuff dreams are made of. The Ocean roll is superb. The coffee, perfect. I can't wait to get there again.

SPARROW BAKERY is no doubt the penultimate Bakery + Coffee Shop in the St. John's. Its Ocean Roll and Cardamom Latte touches my heart each time I come through! Tucked away in the corner behind a food cart lot with many equally delicious Trucks, SPARROW BAKERY gives the feeling that you've found something that feels hidden from the rest of North Portland. you have found the Hipster's Hipster!!!!! huge recommends for the Ocean Roll and any Breakfast Sandwich. the only downside is a bit of a pricey menu, especially compared to the rest of NoPo that tends to feel like budget-Portland. however, most everything here hits and is worth the extra couple bucks! when you're in the area looking for a cure to your sweet tooth and caffeine fix, let SPARROW BAKERY be your spot! TL;DR: A secret to the rest of Portland that is worth going out of your way for

So Sparrow Bakery is the new kid on the block, and they're pretty legit. The day they opened, their cult following of fans lined up around the building to wait in line for a taste of Sparrow. This is the sister location to their Bend spot. So I'll start with what's *not* my favorite here, and that's the coffee. Idk why, I've had it a few times and I finally decided to stop trying to get a perfect latte here since there's plenty of other locations. Now let's talk about what I do love here and the reason they exist: the pastries. This is a deliciously scrumptious bakery. Everything I've had has been superb. The first time I ordered an ocean roll is was warm and gooey and perfectly crisp on the outside and soft and flaky on the inside. I wish they made a version without the spice- I can't decide if I love this flavor but the texture makes me keep ordering it. (The last time I got a roll they were not heated, maybe you have to ask? I hadn't asked the first time so I'm not sure). Also exceptionally splendid is the chocolate chip croissant. Also, if you're wanting a meal, for sure check out the chicken salad on a croissant. You won't be sad. Overall this bakery is a great stop to satisfy your pastry desires or to make up for the fact that you're running late to work (who can be mad at you for being late when you show up with treats for everyone?!) but they are a little pricey (rightfully so) so I make this one of those special treats to myself and not a weekly stop.

Great breakfast sandwich! The croissant is to die for. Shortbread cookies were flavorful and moist. Coffee is solid. Grab breakfast here and then go on a walk to cathedral park. Great addition to the neighborhood.

I think their baked goods are wonderful. I also love their croissant breakfast sandwich and their English muffin breakfast sandwich. The service is great. Nice people. The coffees are fantastic. And the ambiance is nice although a small indoor space. But you can sit outside on benches in nice weather. The only criticism is that I wish they had more variety. Other than that I highly recommend them.

OK croissants, no bread at that location. Visited Saturday at -2pm and were completely sold out except for some plain croissants. Trays and trays of fresh backed goods behind the counter in shelfs but those were only for next day and not for sale. Was very disappointed, more than I would have been had I not seen these other baked goods. Anyway, good if in the neighborhood, not worth traveling from Portland pearl district to.

This was our 1st time at the bakery. We were hoping they would at some point make fresh breads like the Bend stores, but were told they have no plans to do that. Disappointing sure, but the pastries at Sparrow are delicious and well worth the wait in line. (covid19 restrictions 1 party in store at a time, so line is outside). The pastries are flaky, tasty and scrumptious. I think our favorites are the ocean roll and cinnamon knot. Though the berry and beet muffin was moist and very tasty as well. Though not a complete replacement for the Tulip bakery that closed, they will are a nice addition to St Johns that we'll be visiting again.

A newer place that is located in the St. John's area. The shop has some very tasty pastries and coffee/tea. I am hoping they will succeed as it's a tough time for small businesses right now. I had the chorizo and cherry jam croissant and it was definitely delicious and something you don't see everyday. It went well with my jasmine tea. Theres outdoor area that you can safely enjoy your goods while socially distancing from others.

Wonderful! We stopped in twice while taking our son to UP. Both the bacon & non-bacon (lol at the name) breakfast sandwiches were delicious. Not being huge poached eggs fans (& eating in our car) we wanted them poached hard. Even though the eggs were pre-made and couldn't be made poached hard, they did offer to try to cook them a little extra. Second trip we had a vegan sandwich which was also amazing. Took a croissant a d chocolatetine to go. Also great. Now sitting here in the airport with an adorable box of cookies to bring home for the daughter who didn't get to come along. We will definitely be back.

Got mixed levels of courtesy from staff. I got the smallest cappuccino I've ever seen (1 shot of espresso and a tiny amount of foam) and when it was announced I didn't hear it, or it was announced so softly, once, that I'm not sure how long my to go drink was up there getting cold without a cover. Overall though, the chocolatini was superb and I'd maybe go back if I wanted to spend $36 again on 2 cold croissants (heat them up at home!) & a breakfast croissant + cappuccino.

Delicious sandwiches and baked goods. Outstanding chai and lattes. Great service. Smells absolutely amazing inside!

Some magic elves here! Everything I've been lucky enough to taste has been superior. Personal favorite is their Ocean roll (sort of a cinnamon roll with cardamom replacing the cinnamon) but I have to admit that I love cardamom. But even the unassuming banana bread deserves a crown -- the best I've ever eaten.

There is almost always a short line of customers waiting (outside), so bundle up in the chilly weather. Totally worth the wait! Everything that I've tried has been wonderful and the customer service is great! Such a welcome addition to our neighborhood.