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Name: Byways Cafe
Address: 1212 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR, 97209
Telephone: (503) 221-0011
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.89

Byways Cafe

1212 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR, 97209

(503) 221-0011
Store is closed

Byways Cafe Menu

Eggs

Basic Breakfast

Space Needle Scramble

Alamo Scramble

Athena Scramble

The Redwood Omelet

Big Valley Omelet

Pikes Peak Omelet

Happy Camper Omelet

Denver Omelet

Fried Egg Sandwich

Cape lookout Omelet

The Eldorado Scramble

Three Day Weekend

Basic Breakfast

Space Needle Scramble

Alamo Scramble

Athena Scramble

The Redwood Omelet

Big Valley Omelet

Pikes Peak Omelet

Happy Camper Omelet

Denver Omelet

Fried Egg Sandwich

Cape lookout Omelet

The Eldorado Scramble

Three Day Weekend
Cereals

Steel-Cut Oats & Toast

Granola & Toast

Steel-Cut Oats & Toast

Granola & Toast
Favorites

Sunrise Special

Biscuits & Gravy

French Toast

Mt Rushmore Hash

Meg's Veggie Mountain

Blue Corn Pancakes

Blueberry Pancakes

Buttermilk Pancakes

Sunrise Special

Biscuits & Gravy

French Toast

Mt Rushmore Hash

Meg's Veggie Mountain

Blue Corn Pancakes

Blueberry Pancakes

Buttermilk Pancakes
Sides

Bowl of Fresh Fruit

Cup of Fresh Fruit

Side of Fresh Fruit

Cup of Gravy

Home Made Biscuit

Nitrate Free Thick-Cut Bacon

Organic Pork or Chicken Sausage

Toast

One Egg

Salsa or Sour Cream

Home-Fried Red Potatoes

Extra Syrup

Honey Pecan Butter

One Buttermilk Pancake

One Blueberry or Blue Corn Pancake

Nancy's Organic Nonfat Yogurt

Chocolate or Vanilla Ice Cream

Peanut Butter or Cream Cheese

Bowl of Fresh Fruit

Cup of Fresh Fruit

Side of Fresh Fruit

Cup of Gravy

Home Made Biscuit

Nitrate Free Thick-Cut Bacon

Organic Pork or Chicken Sausage

Toast

One Egg

Salsa or Sour Cream

Home-Fried Red Potatoes

Extra Syrup

Honey Pecan Butter

One Buttermilk Pancake

One Blueberry or Blue Corn Pancake

Nancy's Organic Nonfat Yogurt

Chocolate or Vanilla Ice Cream

Peanut Butter or Cream Cheese
Beverages

Stumptown Coffee

Stash Tea

Freshly Squeezed Orange or Grapefruit Juice

Hand-Packed Milkshakes

Hand-Packed Malts

Floats

Fountain Sodas

Cranberry, Apple, V-8 juice

Lemonade

Arnold Palmer

Ice Tea

Milk

Assorted Bottled Beverages

Ghiradelli Hot Chocolate

Stumptown Coffee

Stash Tea

Freshly Squeezed Orange or Grapefruit Juice

Hand-Packed Milkshakes

Hand-Packed Malts

Floats

Fountain Sodas

Cranberry, Apple, V-8 juice

Lemonade

Arnold Palmer

Ice Tea

Milk

Assorted Bottled Beverages

Ghiradelli Hot Chocolate

Healthy Meal suggestions for Byways Cafe

Eggs

Basic Breakfast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Space Needle Scramble [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Alamo Scramble [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Athena Scramble [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Redwood Omelet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Valley Omelet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pikes Peak Omelet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Happy Camper Omelet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Denver Omelet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Egg Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cape lookout Omelet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Eldorado Scramble [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Three Day Weekend [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Basic Breakfast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Space Needle Scramble [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Alamo Scramble [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Athena Scramble [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Redwood Omelet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Valley Omelet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pikes Peak Omelet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Happy Camper Omelet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Denver Omelet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Egg Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cape lookout Omelet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Eldorado Scramble [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Three Day Weekend [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Cereals

Steel-Cut Oats & Toast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Granola & Toast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steel-Cut Oats & Toast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Granola & Toast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Favorites

Sunrise Special [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Biscuits & Gravy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

French Toast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mt Rushmore Hash [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meg's Veggie Mountain [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blue Corn Pancakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blueberry Pancakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Buttermilk Pancakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sunrise Special [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Biscuits & Gravy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

French Toast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mt Rushmore Hash [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meg's Veggie Mountain [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blue Corn Pancakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blueberry Pancakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Buttermilk Pancakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Bowl of Fresh Fruit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cup of Fresh Fruit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Side of Fresh Fruit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cup of Gravy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Home Made Biscuit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nitrate Free Thick-Cut Bacon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Organic Pork or Chicken Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Toast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

One Egg [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salsa or Sour Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Home-Fried Red Potatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Extra Syrup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Honey Pecan Butter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

One Buttermilk Pancake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

One Blueberry or Blue Corn Pancake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nancy's Organic Nonfat Yogurt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate or Vanilla Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peanut Butter or Cream Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bowl of Fresh Fruit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cup of Fresh Fruit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Side of Fresh Fruit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cup of Gravy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Home Made Biscuit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nitrate Free Thick-Cut Bacon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Organic Pork or Chicken Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Toast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

One Egg [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salsa or Sour Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Home-Fried Red Potatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Extra Syrup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Honey Pecan Butter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

One Buttermilk Pancake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

One Blueberry or Blue Corn Pancake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nancy's Organic Nonfat Yogurt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate or Vanilla Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peanut Butter or Cream Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beverages

Stumptown Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stash Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Freshly Squeezed Orange or Grapefruit Juice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hand-Packed Milkshakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hand-Packed Malts [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Floats [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fountain Sodas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cranberry, Apple, V-8 juice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lemonade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Arnold Palmer [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ice Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Milk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Assorted Bottled Beverages [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ghiradelli Hot Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stumptown Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stash Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Freshly Squeezed Orange or Grapefruit Juice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hand-Packed Milkshakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hand-Packed Malts [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Floats [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fountain Sodas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cranberry, Apple, V-8 juice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lemonade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Arnold Palmer [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ice Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Milk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Assorted Bottled Beverages [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ghiradelli Hot Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Joe M.

I will admit, I wanted to try this place when the Food Network aired a segment on one of their shows. One of my best friends already beat me to the punch when he went there a few months back. The scrambled egg and omelette dishes are a must have. The coffee is great and the service is friendly. It is pretty crazy in the weekend mornings and if you get there past 9 AM, expect a wait. I learned to get there a little early so I can beat the rush. I usually sit at the stool area by the kitchen, I like getting the frequent service and it certainly shows. The french toast is huge, it can easily feed 2 people. My friend ordered the biscuits and gravy, again portions were huge. We should have done it "family style" and shared both dishes. The place can be small and I do wish they were open all day since I do love having breakfast for dinner.
(4)
Tim C.

Great service and good food. I had the Prosciutto scramble -- well cooked eggs. Bacon was thick and crispy. Excellent coffee (stump town, I think).
(4)
Krystle B.

We barely made it for breakfast on a Monday (they stop serving it at 11 on weekdays) We had signed in before 11 so they honored that and allowed us to order from the breakfast menu! The potatoes that come with the dishes, in my case an omelette, are by far the best breakfast potatoes I've ever had. One of our friends got the Challah French Toast (full serving which is HUGE!!) The decor is fun and entertaining and the service was friendly and prompt.
(4)
G N.

Cute diner type place that's perfect for breakfast and brunch in the Pearl District. I can see how this place would be overlooked. It's not fancy in anyway, simple and quite quaint, but with reviews like this, I had to see what it was all about. I ordered the french toast. I love to venture into different brunch places and see who has the french toast. I anticipated that it would be like any other french toast, but Byways blew me away. BEST. FRENCH. TOAST. EVER. I've tried many french toast places in the area, in Los Angeles, in New York, DC, and other cities. BEST. EVER. The portions aren't stingy. I got 2 slices of THICK challah bread. You can taste the almond armaretto and the honey pecan butter is to DIE FOR. I wish I could order a jar of that butter. BTW, if you order the sunrise special, sub the pancakes for french toast for only $1. Such a good deal for only $10.
(5)
Rylie W.

Get the 3 day weekend if you are in the mood for biscuits and gravy, the Sunrise special for a bacon and pancake fix, or one of the scrambles for you paleo people. I love this place! Fair warning though the coffee is made like rocket fuel. I really love the staff too! Always friendly and honest.
(5)
Elijah H.

Great place for breakfast/brunch, located in the chic Pearl district. The interior has a cute 50's style diner theme. The wait staff were very nice and friendly. I had the biscuits and gravy - two HUGE biscuits smothered in creamy gravy. It was delicious. The French toast was also very good, especially the honey pecan syrup on the side. Great breakfast spot!
(4)
Megan G.

My family is a regular at this hole in the wall. The waiters know us by name and get us taken care of in a jiffy. The food is amazing. I've had the biscuits and gravy, the many scrambles and some of their lunch items. It's all great. The orange juice gahhhh so so good. They are always great and efficient. The wait is never longer than 10 minutes if they are packed. :)
(5)
Caroline N.

An old-school diner in the middle of the Pearl District, decorated with license plates and souvenirs from all the US states. The wait to get in for brunch was a bit long on the weekend, but it was worth it once we got in. Friendly, personable service. I love when waiters get down to the level of the table to talk to you! Byways has the largest selection of scrambles and omelettes of any brunch place in Portland. The portions were large, and my only complaint is that the food was a bit slow to come out. I got the Meg's Veggie Mountain, and my sister ordered the Pikes Peak Omelette. Both were good! My sister wanted to make sure that I told Yelp that she thought "the toast was really really good." Also, free refills of Stumptown coffee! Win!
(4)
Damian S.

Come here all the time. My girlfriend always gets the sunrise special (and I steal half a pancake from her) and I always get the space needle scramble. It's our go to place for breakfast.
(5)
Tony P.

Byways still impresses. Great food and friendly service. I forgot to take a new pic of my meal this time. Apparently I was taking pictures with a potato when I first came here in 2011.
(5)
Jeanine B.

We stopped in for a casual breakfast and were surprised with great service and fantastic food! Large portions of unique taste combos! Mt. Rushmore Scramble was awesome. The only downside is no bathroom :(
(4)
Caleb M.

Great service, great food! It's no wonder they are always packed. It's decorated like a old dinner that's owned by a trinket hoarder which gives it a small town dinner feel, but it's set right in down town Portland. Very homey and the food It's right up there with all the other "wait in a 30 minute line" places in Portland, except I would say the service is better.
(5)
Karen S.

Best breakfast ever! French toast from delicious bread with perfect nut butter and hot syrup. Fabulous scramble with light fluffy eggs with fresh ingredients. And the staff is very friendly - feels like home. Good bet for a stop!
(4)
Randy K.

One of my fav spots in town for and old fashion breakfast! Traditional breakfast menu items with specials to mix things up. The times we have gone I say we had great friendly service but we tend to stay away from the busy time by going early - opens at 7:30am on weekends! I am sure that when it gets busy the service may slow down but what do you expect. My cup of coffee was always full, which I like! The food served warm and tasted great!!! I would recommend and see for yourself.
(5)
Curtis H.

Biased on the food I'd give three stars. While I was thinking, "This service is so bad, I'm giving two stars" the service got worse! Skip this place. It'll be quicker to google 'blue corn pancake recipes'. Go buy the ingredients, and make them yourself.
(1)
Kristen E.

One of the best breakfasts I have had in a long time! Definitely will go back again when in town.
(4)
DiNA T.

Speedy, friendly service and delicious food! We sat at the counter and gawked over all the fun collectibles from yesteryear. I had the hash with sausage subbed for beef, and the BF enjoyed a standard breakfast with French toast. Nothing too fancy and that's the way we like it! Eggs cooked to perfection (which can be a problem for those of is who enjoy OM eggs), and some delicious substance (cheese? Yolk? Secret sauce?) held the hash together. It was divine. We went on a Sunday morning and the service was top notch. If you are in Portland and in need of simple, local breakfast, this is your place!!
(5)
Allen K.

Straight up, no frills diner food. My personal diner favorite (chicken fried steak) is unfortunately absent from the menu, however, there's plenty of other noms to choose from. I originally had the hash a while back and remember it was a glorious mound of potatoes, meat, and cheese. Nowadays I'm attempting to take better care of my lumpy self and got an omelette with spinach, feta, and onions along with fruit on the side (as opposed to potatoes and toast). It was good, but I missed the cheesy potatoes... being healthy blows. On a side note, they served great Stumptown coffee and the waitress came by often to top me off.
(3)
Karen V.

Great service, great food! Special requests not a problem and very tasty diner breakfast! I am rating it for what it is, not compared to a 3 star michelin restaurant but the chefs who do the 3 star michelins would love this progressively home cooked food! Yum!
(5)
Sarah S.

I visited Byways for the first time today with a friend, and I'm just thrilled with the service, food and location. Not a massive menu, but still a great selection, including a daily special and an a la carte option. Our waitress came to our table almost immediately, took our order right away, gave us great feedback on our food selections, and was just pleasant as all get out! We received several refills and frequent check ins (without being too pushy), and the food was excellent! I have read many reviews, and I believe the bad ratings were mostly posted by folks expecting immediate service on a crowded day. Make no mistake - I would NOT visit this establishment on the weekend. It's small and simply isn't equipped to handle large parties in a 15 minute window. If you are looking for that type of experience, Denny's is the place for you. Quite honestly, the food is good, the service is attentive, the atmosphere is charming and the experience is pleasant - what more can you ask for?
(5)
Andrew K.

The only reason I'm giving 2 stars is because I found bacon in my veggie mountain and I will quote one of my friends in saying that something like that 'is unacceptable'. Aside from that, I'd say that the food was very good, the service was excellent and if you don't mind finding meat hidden in your supposedly vegetarian dish, then definitely check it out.
(2)
Len S.

Awesome breakfast. Our new favorite. Been there several times and its always good. The staff are really friendly. Its a small location and there is usually a wait to get in, but not too long. If you are in the Pearl and are looking for breakfast, look no further.
(5)
Katherine R.

Their French Dip is the best thing there, in my experience. I don't bother getting anything else, anymore.
(4)
Vikki E.

OMG. Best Lemon Ricotta pancakes ever. They are not regularly on the menu. They should be. Phenomenal. Bliss. Kids loves the French toast and blueberry pancakes. You can't go wrong. Come here. Sit at the counter. Try to figure out if they have all fifty states represented in license plates and decorated dinner plates while you wait. Service is great too!
(5)
Pearl V.

It was our last morning in PDX. I wanted to go to Tasty's again but also wanted to try a new place. So Triple D brought us here. We were able to snag the last available table (yippee!) without having to wait. The service did take a while, however. I forget her name, but she was aloof for a server. Food took even longer to come out. Wish I could've said it was worth the wait... but honestly it was JUST OK. I suppose I am a breakfast snob as I am spoiled with delicious breakfast all the time by my hubby, but really though. It was average. I had the Corned Beef Scramble which I thought would be out-of-this-world-delicious but my first bite told me otherwise. I ate about 1/4 of it and had the rest boxed up to go. Hubby had the Space Needle Scramble which in hindsight, I think I would've enjoyed more than my dish.
(3)
Michael K.

Wanted to try this place for quite some time. The food was good and the wait wasn't bad. Nothing to rave five stars about, but it was worth it. I would definitely go back.
(4)
Virginia C.

Very friendly staff. Service is a bit on the slow side and food is good but could be better. Great location .
(4)
Kam A.

There can be a bit of a wait for this place considering how popular it is. If you are okay with sitting at the bar, do it! The inside is super cute and you'll have plenty to look at as your breakfast date scrolls through his phone to see what's going on in the world. Try the blue corn pancake...seriously, just try it! I had one of their hash dishes because it's not too popular where I'm from and it was really delicious. All the Tillamook cheese is a nice surprise, and the coffee is served in mis-matched mugs...how can you resist? Vegetarian friendly!
(5)
Jessica S.

My husband and I recently stayed in the Pearl for a few days. The Byways Cafe was just around the corner from our place. If you haven't been, go...GO NOW. The Byways Cafe makes some fantastic diner grub along with wonderful service. The decor is cute too. My husband had the blue corn pancakes (twice). They were light, fluffy and served with a wonderful pecan butter. I had the alamo scramble and it was delicious. I also had a piece of buttermilk cake with chocolate ganache. The best breakfast ever!
(5)
Dan F.

This is a small, local joint. My wife and I love Diner's Drive-ins, and Dives and this is one of those spots. The service was very friendly and the food was very good. It is a breakfast joint. I had a sourdough breakfast sandwich that was very good. What is special about this place is that my daughter wanted chocolate chip pancakes which are not on the menu and when we asked the server if he thought he could do that for her, he did not blink and eye and said "sure, no problem." That is the benefit of a local joint, they want you happy. The chocolate chip pancakes were yummy too, bonus. This place made us happy. We would definitely go back!
(4)
Kathleen Y.

Great eggs, great bacon, great biscuit, bad pancakes. We had the blueberry pancakes which lacked flavor except for the strong cinnamon. The syrup also had no flavor. Not sure why. My friend and I ate them and both agreed on this.
(3)
Nathan B.

The French toast was really fluffy and the whole breakfast tasted excellent. Process were reasonable. Only problem was it got really crowded on Saturday morning.
(4)
Katie K.

I am not from Portland, and I sort of stumbled upon the Byways Cafe while meandering around the Pearl District. It was crowded, but I was seated fast because I was by myself. I had the Frazzini scramble, and it was SO GOOD. The potatoes and the toast were also delicious. I only gave 4 stars because the staff wasn't too attentive, but I wasn't it any rush. If you are looking to get out of this place fast, that won't happen!
(4)
Mandar P.

Superb brunch! I was here for brunch and I loved it! It was crowded though. Visit this place if you have enough free time. Highly recommended for brunch.
(4)
Nate D.

Traditional breakfast with a focus on scrambles and omelets. Homey feel, great service, and the coffee cake is out of control.
(4)
Bea R.

Food is good. Had veggie omelet. Husband has French toast which is good. Food comes up very slow though. We waited 30 minutes from when we ordered until we got the food.
(3)
Nick G.

Let me just say that this place is fantastically amazing!! I will now forever dream of your blue corn pancakes, and am considering making the occasional drive from home in Sacramento, to Portland, just to be able to have breakfast here. Just fantastic. I saw this place on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives originally ( youtu.be/amvJCD4Q2-I ), and made my way over when I was in town on business. I started with a glass of (Fresh Squeezed!!! -so yummy) Orange Juice and ordered their Sunrise Special and opted for French toast (described as: amaretto challah honey pecan butter and syrup) with bacon and two eggs over-easy. I also opted for an additional blue corn pancake, as I was very curious and HAD to try them. OMG, I'm so happy I did as it has forever changed my life! Okay, maybe not that extreme, but everything was just absolutely delicious, and you have to have them. Next time I'm in, I have to try the corned beef hash, as it was recommended to me, and looked very good. By the quality of the meal I received, I'm sure everything there is good, and I'm doing my best not to sound like a raving lunatic, but YUUUUUUUUM-MEEE it was sooo good. Just go here, you wont be sorry!
(5)
Mike R.

A cool place that is a bit of a blast from the past coupled with great food. There aren't many seats, so you may have to wait. But the food is delicious, the staff is helpful and the prices are reasonable. This is where I go when I am at home on the weekend and feel the need for a hearty breakfast.
(4)
Lauren S.

Sometimes in life you just want a delicious, hearty breakfast. Made by nice people in a relaxed atmosphere, that's exactly what we got. My husband and I split the Sunrise Breakfast with the Blue Corn pancakes and it was delightful. Like a corn muffin and a pancake had a love child, then they slathered them in honey pecan butter--that's the greatness that these are. Really enjoyed our server as well, who was sunny and cheerful. The price was good, too!
(4)
Asher B.

I love this place! It's great to have a simple, American cafÃ© in the Pearl. Service is wonderful and the food good. Plan for extra time during tourist season.
(4)
Gene T.

Great Service, delicious Bisquits and Gravy as well as Blue Corn Pancakes and freshly brewed Stumptown Roasters coffee. We sat at the bar and avoided a wait. Waiter was efficient, attentive, professional, and not a douche. I had an over all great experience. I wish I lived in PDX still, I'd be a regular.
(5)
Becky R.

Love the small cafe feel. Reminds me of the The Wildwood" in McMinnville. We were here on a Saturday at 12:30. It was very busy even though they serve no lunch menu only the breakfast. We waited 25 minutes for our food. It was fresh and we were not disappointed. Great biscuits & gravy, scrambled eggs and fried potatoes. No complaints here.
(4)
Mitchell F.

Arrived just after opening on a Monday. Sat right down, booth. Good coffee with cream, good service, fresh ingredients. Very nice people. Would return if I was in the area.
(4)
Kathryn G.

The food here is amazing. My husband doesn't eat eggs, and they have a lot of brunch options that don't contain eggs. This is also the first time I've had a savory pancake (made out of corn meal). They were amazing!
(4)
Arsalan Z.

We waited over 40 minutes to get our food. I looked around and at one point only 2 tables had food in front of them. It may have been a bad day, but the staff didn't say anything about the wait so I'll assume it wasn't. The food was okay, definitely not 4 stars. We got the blueberry pancakes and the hash from the favorites menu. Thy were both mediocre at best. The hash was under-seasoned and the pancakes weren't cooked very well. I gave them 2 stars instead of one because they have a fun atmosphere inside. Unfortunately, I won't be going back.
(2)
Gerard B.

Have eaten here often, food is ok, service can be slow. But on are last visit my partner ordered the breakfast egg sandwich and asked for mayonnaise on it or on the side, and was told mayo is a lunch item and they could not do it!....WHAT THE HELL? WE WILL NOT BE GOING BACK.
(1)
David M.

If you are looking for tasty, comfort food with HUGE portions, this is the place! Atmosphere is classic and the wait staff are very friendly!
(5)
Amber M.

Amazing, delicious, memorable.. did I mention amazing? Bit of a wait for a table on a weekend morning, so definitely get there BEFORE you're too hungry, but once you're in the service is fast and friendly. They stay prompt with the coffee! I had the cornmeal pancakes with pieces of bacon and green onion cooked right in with the batter. They were INCREDIBLE. Savory, filling, satisfying, food coma-inducing. A friend got a side of bacon we shared, and on its own the bacon is fantastic also. Thick-cut, perfectly cooked, not too greasy. 10/10 would (and will) go again. Pearl District parking is never fun, but as long as you don't mind searching/paying for parking or Maxing in, then Byways is absolutely worth it.
(5)
Tom B.

First time I have gone out of town and visited a place I saw on TV. First time I have ordered a dish that looked mouth-wateringly good on the boob tube, just to see if it was a trick of the light. Happy to report that it came through. The corned beef hash at Byways really is awesome. You might or you might not find parking here. It's a busy section of town and you might have to get lucky, or end up paying. We got lucky with a spot right by the door, and then got lucky again with a booth waiting to be cleaned for us as soon as we announced ourselves. The service here is immediately warm and welcoming, and in a very genuine way. Some places just get lucky and score cool staff who sincerely make you glad you came in, and they do it without laying it on too thick. This is one of them. What you notice first, though (no matter how much you like people) is the flurry of bric a brac everywhere. Souvenir plates...ashtrays...snow globes...every conceivable bit of corny gift shop memorabilia from the heyday of the great american road trip (50s and 60s) lines two full walls. It's kind of like they raided thrift stores and bought everything that cracked them up, or all their grandparents' friends brought them back this stuff, or maybe a combination of that and more. Because there are hundreds of awesome little tchotchkes, and they're all mint. I love that there are places like this doing this kind of decorating and collecting, because it eases the throb in my Pokemon gene. The thirft store vibe extends to the furnishings and tableware as well. No two chairs, plates, or coffee mugs alike. There are matching booths and barstools, but everything else just jungles in together. The food is straightforward and made very well. It masquerades as an old-school diner lineup, but you know they're not slapping wads of lard on the flattop here. They cook things relatively healthfully, even if they are serving bacon and hash and other non-cardiologist-approved fare. They do offer great oatmeal and fruit and other fairly health-conscious items, and the coffee is delicious. I would eat here all the time if I lived anywhere near it. That corned beef hash is the best I've ever had, and that's a dish I crave anytime you say the words. Can't wait to come back.
(4)
Tabitha T.

Byways has the privilege of being located in the heart of Portland's Pearl District and really close to my son's house so I visit here anytime I am in Portland. The place is small and crowded. Sound level can range from moderate to loud on the weekends. You will wait for a table and sometimes be waiting outside. If you can get past this and see the charm then please drop in. The dÃ©cor is very classic American diner. You walk in and when you snag a seat instantly feel warm and happy. The menu is extensive offering Vegetarian and meat options in equal portion. The plate size is huge and the prices reasonable. I love the pecan butter and if it were not dairy and horrid for me would eat it straight. The challah French toast you must try, but it splits between 3 or 4 people so get it to share. It is rich, decadent, and sooo carby. I enjoy their scrambles and they can sub out meat for a veg sausage substitute, which I don't see done often. Also the service is courteous. The food comes pretty quick during the week. It can take 20-25minutes to get food upon ordering on the weekends so beware! Overall this place is amazing. I will return time and again.
(5)
Jennifer D.

Super cute cafe. Ginger snap pancakes were on special and they were amazing! My husband had biscuits/gravy, which were decent. Very good service and atmosphere.
(4)
Cheryl D.

My Sister In Law brought us here on our bi-weekly family breakfast. This was one of our first ventures into Portland for Family Breakfast. I think she saw it on Diners, Drive In's and Dives, and wanted to check it out. I am quite claustrophobic and was not thrilled, that place is small and packed with people. Our family of 6 ended up at the breakfast bar. The food was good, amazing, not quite, but good. If it were not so damn small in there I would be willing to go back. The other very off putting thing was the bathroom, it is in the kitchen, I mean IN the kitchen, a very small room in a very small kitchen. That grossed me the hell out. Yah, I guess I am not going back, there are too many other Restaurants that serve good food and that I can be comfortable eating at.
(3)
Adam G.

Yum!! A fun little place with great food and charm. We loved our meals and the people there were fun to chat with and clearly enjoyed working there. We'll be back!
(5)
Nicole G.

Killer breakfast - would re-visit!! Great, friendly service. I loved the Americana decor - with plates and license plates from all the US states and 50s diner era pie stands, chairs, stools, milk machines... etc. The breakfast was to die for. It was HUGE and amazing.
(5)
Ehow C.

Came here for a friend's reunion of college friends. We were seated surprisingly quick for a group of seven, though we ended up having to be split between two booths. I ordered their Three Day Weekend, which had scrambled eggs on top of biscuits and gravy with a side of potatoes or fruit (I chose the latter). The B&G were just mediocre; the biscuits weren't fresh and fluffy, the gravy wasn't super flavorful, it just. wasn't memorable to me. The fruit was fresh, at least? The service was at least spot on, and there wasn't a gigantic line at a prime hour (10am on Saturday). The prices were decent, but the food doesn't really deliver anything exceptional for me.
(3)
Devon O.

WOW. I got the El Dorado eggs and they were absolutely phenomenal... But even better, my boyfriend got the blueberry pancakes which were out of this world. Cinnamon, vanilla and blueberries... Mmm. 30 min wait on a Sunday, which was expected. Great service. Actually thinking about heading back there today... :)
(5)
Michael S.

Always people waiting in line, and for a reason. Good, hearty food in large portions. But the wait can be long, so don't bother if waiting will annoy you.
(4)
Michael J.

After all the hype our friend gave us about this place, I was sorely disappointed. The food took a considerably long time to reach the table, literally in the 45 minute range for pumpkin pancakes (did they send Charlie Brown to slaughter the Great Pumpkin just for our breakfast?) 45 minutes sitting at a breakfast counter, trying to enjoy the greasy ambiance while our water glasses sat empty as the "waiter" chatted with his co-workers? The HAIR in the food was a really special treat towards the end of the plate. As we left we indicated to the waiter that we felt the food was mediocre and his service was particularly abhorrent, to which he replied "my bad." Nice to know the waiter has the same mastery of foodservice as he does of the English language.
(1)
Christine G.

Delicious brunch.... very nice service. Good coffee. I had the pesto and veggie egg scramble plus potatoes and an english muffin. The eggs were amazing - lots of pesto and veggies. The potatoes were good (maybe not the most amazing breakfast potatoes ever) and the muffin was toasted perfectly. Husband had the special which was a Latin inspired egg dish which was also delicious and large. Will definitely go back.. lots to try!
(4)
Swapna M.

This place is TINY! Went on Saturday around 11. Waited about an hour. Staff are very friendly and nice. This place has great reviews and I wanted to be wowed... but honestly, this place is just like any old diner. My friend and I got 2 dishes and shared: The Redwood Omelet - 3 eggs, Spinach, bacon, cheddar and tomato. Served with potatoes and a biscuit - The best thing about this dish was the homemade biscuit and homemade jam! Both were DELISH! French Toast - Amaretto-infused brioche. The amaretto flavor was actually quite good, but the slices of bread are huge. One order is enough for 4 people! Lastly, I ordered a hot chocolate which was made right before my eyes in the microwave stationed on the table next to our booth. I found this to be a little funny.... only because I happened to be seated right next to the station. LOL
(2)
Rich C.

Had a great breakfast here on a recent vacation in Portland. Byways is a really funky cafe full of really interesting pieces such as postcards, old car number plates and other collectables. The menu is quite different, offering a refreshing change from your regular cafe breakfast menu. Servings are very generous - we even got the fruit salad to take away and ate it much later in the day. Friendly staff amd really efficient service.
(5)
Olivia L.

I'm glad we discovered this place on our trip to Portland! Stopped by a little after 9am on a Saturday morning, we waited perhaps 25ish minutes for a seat for 2. Tiny little place, they decorate the cafe with porcelain plates and various license plates from different states. I got the Mike's scramble (with apple sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms, greens) and my boyfriend got the 3-day weekend (biscuits and gravy with scrambled egg on top). oh my goodness, I don't know if it's an Oregon thing, but they did it again with their fluffy eggs! So light, so easy to eat, so healthy tasting. Mmm! The flavors were excellent, and blended well together with a hint of cheese gluing the ingredients to each other. They don't skimp at all either with the filling, so you don't get a scramble with more egg than the stuffing. I tried a little of my bf's biscuits and gravy and it was tasty as well! I'm not a huge fan of biscuits and gravy but I liked these! The biscuits were not dry at all!! I'd recommend this little cafe to anyone stopping through Portland!
(4)
Liz W.

Five stars for the excellent customer service, atmosphere and food. I was really impressed with my mediterranean scramble, and subbed the chicken sausage for broccoli...I LOVE that they don't charge you extra for fruit if you choose that over bread/potatoes like the majority of restaurants do, and on top of that the fruit was fresh and there was a good variety. The bloody mary was delicious too! I highly recommend you check this spot out, it's great for breakfast or brunch and they do a good job of turning tables quickly - so put your name on the list even if the line seems long!! I will be back on my next visit to OR for sure!
(5)
J B.

Wonderful breakfast to send us on our way before a busy day in Portland. Everything about our meal, from the coffee to the pancakes, eggs, perfectly prepared bacon, and wonderfully comfortable setting set us up for a great day!
(5)
Randi W.

WOW I was beyond impressed with breakfast this morning! If you're looking for a traditional breakfast, great coffee (a la Stumptown), and the best biscuits this side of the river, Byways Cafe has a seat at the counter with your name on it. I've attempted to visit Byways before, but made the amateur mistake of showing up after 10 a.m. with the rest of the first-timers. Don't repeat my mistake (or if you do then pony up your name on the wait list inside the door to the right and crowd around outside with the rest of the n00bs because it'll be worth it). I showed up at 9:25ish to what looked like a packed house and a waitress stepping outside for a moment was kind enough to let me know there was a spot at the end of the counter where I could squeeze in. I chained up my bike and stepped inside, and she ushered me on over to a menu and glass of water she'd prepped while I was securing my ride. As I was sat down impressed by the already stellar service, another waitress swung by to let me know she'd be right with me. As she lapped back and asked if I'd like coffee, I also mentioned I was looking for biscuits and she offered to put in order while I decided what else looked good. The coffee came quickly, in a charming mug from a Colorado National Park, accompanied by fresh cream in a cute individual server. I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but it was easily the best diner coffee I've ever had. I guess this shouldn't surprise me since the Stumptown coffee decals were proudly displayed behind the counter. When you come here, someone has to get a biscuit; when they ask if you want honey, the answer is yes. It will be huge, flakey, and perfectly sweet from the honey you'll pour over it. The pancakes are also fluffy and sweet, the bacon as baconey as you could like, and the eggs looked to be local (as well as poached nicely). If you sit at the counter, one of the servers or patrons (likely regulars) will be more than happy to strike up conversation with you. Put your phone away, and let the ambiance and friendliness that this diner captures so well take you back to a simpler time. And please, try the biscuits.
(5)
Jena C.

Super cute place we had a great friendly server. My husband got the corn beef hash and I got the blue corn pancakes and bacon. We both got bloody Mary's and let me say everything was DELICIOUS! The bacon was anazing. The blue corn pancakes are almost corn bread or fry cake esc. So good. We'll be back. Great price for the portion size and quality.
(5)
Derrick R.

DDDs inspired me to come here. Being from the Bay Area this cafe is awesome. I got the round-up burger and it was amazing. If you like a messy juicy burger this is for you. The staff was real cool and nice, didn't wait longer than 30 seconds to get service. My friend I was with got the fried egg sandwich w/ bacon, not too difficult to mess that one up unless u make soggy bacon and don't know how to cook an egg. Portland isn't the craziest city but this small cafe is a must do while visiting! Thanks to Diner Drive-ins and dines it was well worth it.
(4)
Eric B.

We bring our visitors here all the time. Amazing diner food worth the wait. Biscuits are wonderful--they are almost like a wheat shortbread. Love this place!!
(4)
Jeremy B.

Very tasty. The Mt Rushmore Hash is a delicious way to get both protein and veggies in one hot breakfast. This place is in the $10 and under category, but unless you keep it really simple by getting just toast of something like that, you'll end up over $10 after tip, but the food is good and the staff is delightful so it's well worth it.
(4)
Kaeli P.

Second meal at byways and just as delicious as the first!! Amazing grilled cheese with pesto and bacon. Excellent price for the food! Highly recommend for anyone who wants a delicious lunch
(4)
Al C.

Great service, ordered a Napa burger and it was delicious, though a little messy.
(4)
Meg R.

Everything a diner should be. Nothing more, nothing less. We came here on a weekday, so there wasn't a line and we were seated right away. The ladies running the diner are super friendly, very accommodating, and make you feel right at home. They also do a FANTASTIC job at making sure your coffee mug is never empty - I had so many refills I was shaking when we left. It was fabulous. The decor is quirky and retro-style with lots of knickknacks. I also loved that their coffee was served in a variety of fun grab bag mugs! The food here is hearty and perfect for a morning when you want to just crush some good ol' american breakfast food. Nothing fancy - just honest to good breakfast staples that are made with fresh ingredients and love. The portions are plentiful and the food is on the cheaper side for Portland... What more could you ask for in a diner? I can't wait to come back!
(4)
Sara W.

Tried this place with a friend from out of town. We both got the sunrise special: 3 pancakes, two strips of bacon and one egg. Inside tip: they will let you get two pancakes and two eggs inside of three and one. I got the blueberry pancakes - very good! But the best part was the bacon - thick and cooked just right: perfectly crispy! No wait on a Friday around 10:30am, might be a different story on the weekend, as this is a very small restaurant. Cool decor and a retro diner feel. Service was quick and friendly. Overall I had a great brunch experience. While nothing was crazy outstanding and inventive, everything was good. A nice place for brunch in the Pearl.
(3)
E W.

Overall thoughts- Meh. Orange juice was good but expensive. Biscuits were hard as a rock and flour flavored. Gravy was equally as "flour flavored." Manfriend enjoyed his hash.
(3)
Vega S.

Lovely little cafe. The customer service is nice and they refilled my coffee several times without even having to ask. The decor is really homey and quaint. Nice place for a quick brunch.
(4)
Kayla H.

Breakfast is great!! Staff is very nice and friendly. We were in and out on a Saturday around 11:30. I would highly recommend to anyone visiting the Portland area.
(5)
Sebastian B.

This really neat little city diner is not in the greatest neighborhood but once inside any concerns quickly melt away. The nostalgic feel of the atmosphere oozes from the extensive collection of vintage travel memorabilia including licenses plates, salt shakers and collectable dishes. I got there early and the place filled up right around me. Locals being greeted by name by the funky cool wait staff. I say at the counter and was served instantly with a really personable greeting cold glass of water and a fabulous cup of always filled coffee. Noting I was a Diners drive maniac the waitress pointed out the features items. She also listed a delicious sounding orange granola pancake too good to resist but wanting to try the blue corn cakes she offered me a combo. Thanks miss waitress I forgot your name but I won't forget your awesomeness. The food was great. A little pricey but you are in the city so just go with it. Great place the lost star from perfect is the neighborhood not a mark against the restaurant. Great job! Try this place you'll like it. FoodDude!
(4)
Lily S.

I loved our server - she was witty, polite, and very attentive. She pretty much made our visit here. I also loved the space - clearly the Byways Cafe has been around for quite some time (yes, it's taken me THIS long to get here) - it has a very loyal following, and people love love love it here. I liked it. I did not love it. I know, I know, how is this possible? It just is. I thought my food was ok, and my hubby's food was ok, but it wasn't amazing, and if you haven't gathered from my reviews, I LOVE AMAZING FOOD. While we adored our server, I just didn't love the food itself and unfortunately, there isn't much to be done about that, save going back and ordering something else. To be fair, I'm a bit of a chilequiles snob, so maybe I need to go back and order something completely different. Or maybe I just move on to the next restaurant for breakfast in PDX...since there seem to be SO. FLIPPIN. MANY. Yes?
(3)
Kirsten K.

Tasty diner style breakfast with very pleasant service and amazing amaretto French toast! Highly recommended ...
(4)
Corinna B.

My husband and I were looking for a place for breakfast and found this place on Yelp. Wasn't to sure at first but it was very crowded so we figured it must be ok. We figured wrong, it was better than ok, it was DELICIOUS!!!! I had a black bean omelet and my husband had the biscuits and heavy with scrambled eggs on top. So yummy!
(4)
Eric R.

Poppy Seed Hotcakes. If you are ever there and can try them, don't miss out. These are a rotating special, and they really earned the term special. If those are not on the menu of the day, the amaretto french toast is fantastic too. Only go if you're really hungry.
(5)
Layne M.

I went here the other day with a coworker for lunch. While I loved the kitschy atmosphere, I don't think I'll be going back. Atmosphere - As I said, it's a cute little diner with knicknacks and license plates on the walls. I could easily imagine it being on the side of Route 66. Food - I loved that they serve breakfast all day BUT I didn't really love my breakfast. I got an omelet with peppers and onions and potato salad. The omelet was a classic diner omelet so no complaints there. The potato salad was super bland. I like a tangy or mustardy potato salad and this was basically mayo + cold mushed potatoes. Bleh. My coworker got a corned beef sandwich and salad. Also pretty meh. He said it was dry and needed more flavor. Prices - I was really surprised how high the bill ended up being. After leaving a tip, my omelet and diet coke ended up costing me $17 dollars! Not what I would expect from a diner. Waitstaff - Super nice and friendly. Very quick and attentive. We joked afterwards that we would love to go back since it's a fun little place if they served different food at a much cheaper price. Until then, I think I'll be trying somewhere else.
(3)
Evan H.

Great breakfast/brunch. I go here often with the e-dawg family. They sing "never gonna let you down" every time we step in to the place. Huh..
(5)
Allison B.

I thought the service once we were seated (which happened right away even though Byways was really very busy at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday) was a little slow and spacey (I asked for more water about three times before I got any), but our experience was otherwise excellent. The restaurant seemed clean and there were plenty of tchotchkes to check out while we waiting for our food. There were also plenty of options on the menu and for a diner atmosphere, the coffee was top notch according to my coffee addict husband (it was Stumptown, which he later discovered just happens to be excellent coffee). I honestly don't remember what the hubs got for breakfast because I was so busy salivating over/gorging myself on my breakfast -- the Three-Day Weekend. Ranked highly on the list of "Top Meals of My Life." Biscuits, gravy, eggs, cheese, and wonderment. Really soo very good. Very, very good. So, that's all I really have to say. If I were going to go back to Portland, I would make sure I made it there again to have that breakfast. Check it out, for sure!
(4)
Tammy G.

While traveling we were looking for a good breakfast. My daughter chose this place and it was amazing. A bit of a wait, but totally worth it. Super good pancake and very fresh fruits and veggies used. I don't recall the name but I do recommend the Alamo Something, avocado and egg and pico de gallo are an awesome mix!
(5)
Jason S.

Hadn't been here for nearly 15 years. Limited menu but overall a very solid breakfast place. Being a born and raised Portlander, I get a laugh out of all the tourists that show up at local restaurants because it appeared on DD&D on the Food Network. I would go back but still feel one of the best breakfast places in town is Jake's Grill on the other side of Burnside.
(4)
Carolina K.

One step up from typical diner food. I ordered the Lake Cobb salad and it was fresh except for the avocado. The bacon and chicken breast were great. My husband ordered a melt and the brioche was thick and buttery.
(4)
Troy S.

We just moved to Portland and this was one of our first stops for breakfast. What cool decor and vibe! The waitstaff was excellent; very friendly and actively making sure we were having a good dining experience. I had the French toast with an egg and 2 slices of bacon & I am going to have dreams about how good that tasted! Be sure to give them a try if you're in the area. The place can get a little packed, but what would you expect from an awesome little diner!?
(5)
Frank B.

Portland breakfast is served best at the ByWays Cafe! I'm not a huge fan of morning food outside of a Voodoo donut, but this place makes a mean breakfast! I come for two reason! Corn Beef Hash and side of crispy bacon! Oh and served with fresh OJ! The perfect combo for me! I can care less what you order, but if you follow my lead you won't be disappointed! So when in Portland there's nothing finer than this diner!
(5)
Sudipto G.

Another weekend, another brunch place.. this one tucked away in the pearl is reminiscent of old american diners and reminded me of a few I had been to in the heart of the midwest. Liked the decor a lot with the different funny number plates. They have a vast selection of omelettes. I got the Happy Camper which was very good. Definitely a to-go place if you're up for a nice, inexpensive sunday brunch
(4)
Brad M.

Went to a show at The Crystal Ballroom last night and ate here in the morning. The waitress was fun and gave us some reconditions---which we trusted and went with. The burger was GREAT! Avocado, grilled jalapeÃ±o, fresh ground beef! Took home leftovers and had a Two Towns cider before heading out. Full and happy and ready to hit I-5 back home to Eugene.
(5)
Adam W.

This place is awesome! Staff was more than friendly and they were on top of everything. The restaurant is a nice little aclectic throw back cafe. Descently priced and delicious. Near perfect biscuits in the biscuits and gravy. I will go back.
(5)
Tiffani C.

Great breakfast! Simple food done right. We went last weekend for brunch. They had fantastic bacon and the mimosas were good, a pretty inexpensive. We had a great experience.
(5)
Lauren C.

I knew I would like this place from my research--kitschy old fashioned diner and all--but this really surpassed my expectations. Servers were super sweet and helpful when I asked annoying tourist questions. The scramble was amazing and ingredients were super fresh. Stumptown coffee was of course great. I wanted to come back the next morning I was in town for the weekend. If I lived here this would be my go-to.
(4)
Sarah F.

Classic small kitchen and chill atmosphere... These folks care more about a relaxing breakfast that takes some TLC to prepare than just dishing out a bunch of food as quickly as possible... And that's what gets them five stars instead of four! Pros? Their hash is amazing The scrambles are fresh and perfectly prepared Nice fruits assortment for the sides The service is on top of drinks and especially friendly Very reasonably priced Cons? None... Just be prepared to know that if you plan to go here, they're on island time, so don't expect the fastest food ever
(5)
Giovanna M.

Yeah, no. Waited. Waited. Finally got a squished table for 3. My chair was bumped, slammed and my bag stepped on (under the table) by other people 4 times. Coffee. Good. Service. Poor - Rude & slow, so don't expect too many coffee refills. Food. Sub par and lacking most normal breakfast choices. Will not return.
(1)
Christina L.

How did I know I arrived at the right place? I saw the sign! It says "You Are Here." The Alamo Scramble (3 eggs scrambled with peppers, onions, jack cheese, avocado, salsa, and sour cream, served with home-fried red potatoes and toast, $9.75) seems popular here. As a result, despite not being a fan of jack cheese or the idea of salsa with eggs, I decided to give it a try. Wish there were more options with avocado on the menu, or at least more avocado with this scramble. Everything tasted great, even the salsa. The salsa was refreshing and actually went really well with the scramble. The Ghiradelli Hot Chocolate ($3.95) is microwaved. Definitely not made the old fashioned way! This places uses commercial mugs for the hot cocoa. Friendly service. Clean. Love the collection of miscellaneous items from all over the nation. There are various license plates from different states, luggages of various shapes and sizes, a wide collection of decorative plates, and countless other trinkets all over the place!
(5)
Cindy K.

From the unpretentious decor (license plates! worn vinyl seats! tiny chalkboard menu of specials!) to the no-nonsense but attentive waitstaff, to the vast array of delicious options... to me, brunch means Byways. Because I'm a creature of habit, my go-to order is the Eldorado Scramble (ask for sour cream, always ask for sour cream) and one single bluecorn pancake on the side. Though the scramble will definitely fill you up, I've found there's always, magically, room for that extra slice of pancake heaven. And yes, this is also the only place where I resolve my inevitable 'savory or sweet?' brunch debate by just ordering both dishes. #treatyoself BUT if you can, wear a dress. Or a skirt. Or anything that doesn't have a restricting waistband of any sort. Just... trust me on this one. And for the uninitiated (on those busy brunch mornings) -- if you walk in and no one's around to greet you immediately, simply sign your name on the notepad paper up front and wait for them to call you. I haven't dealt with a crazy wait at this place (max 15 min) which, I think given Portland's Brunch Time Reputation, is fairly reasonable.
(5)
Rick H.

I went here for lunch on Friday and had a veggie burger. The burger was good and I have had breakfast here before. The best thing about this place is a very nice staff. No attitude just smiles, friendly hellos and good food. Nice selection at good prices. I think many of the newer places in the Pearl are just hype. I prefer this more relaxed friendly vibe any day.
(4)
Libby D.

Amaretto French Toast is amazing!!! Service is wonderful! Always packed on the weekends, so be prepared to wait, although never too long and always worth it! A unique spot in the Pearl!
(5)
Lola C.

Totally solid breakfast joint. I especially love the blue corn pancakes and the amaretto french toast. Great orange juice and Stumptown coffee. Service is almost always quick and efficient. A good go-to.
(4)
Amy P.

This little gem has been featured on the Food Network. It is totally tacky and kitschy and fun! I drank out of a mug that said Joan on it, nice. Nothing matches, it's all mish mashed, like a local hometown diner in the Midwest. The food is awesome, the coffee hot. Wait staff are prompt at refilling your cup, and incredibly pleasant considering they are busy all the time. Definite props, as I would be grum-pay if I had to deal with that many people all day long! I have enjoyed the omelette's the most. One note, if you order the egg breakfast sandwich, they don't melt the cheese, which seemed way weird to me. I'd correct that one. Also, sometimes I like a burger for breakfast while out at a diner, and these folks WILL NOT cook anything off the lunch menu, even if it's 10am:(. Definitely worth the wait you have at times.
(4)
Dino M.

I liked the funkiness of the place. The service was good and the waitress was entertaining. But the food....ummm...quite average at best. I had a scramble that had a lot of stuff in it, but really bland. The potatoes had so much paprika on them I really couldn't eat them. Disappointing considering it was almost $9 just for the scramble. I'll give them a second chance however in the near future. Maybe they were just having a bad day.
(2)
Eric T.

Blue Corn Pancake and honey butter pecan was always good.. But the potatoes were not so good.. Overall the food for some reason is now becoming average. Decor is cute, but I rather come for the food.
(4)
Kiran C.

Ok, I am not one for going out for breakfast because I make a killer one. Since I was visiting Portland, I thought it might be nice to go out for a morning bite to eat. This place looks likes it gets pretty busy. I can say that I really enjoyed the food and the service was great. The key to why the food was amazing is really two fold. The food was not greasy one bit which is extremely rare at breakfast diners. And the portion size was good for a solid eater like myself. As a visitor to Portland, I feel lucky to have stepped into this dinner with a nice collection of trinkets and cool cooks with tats that know how to cook up a tasty storm. The blueberry pancakes are some of the best I have ever had so I recommend them over the humongous french toast. Trust me, this is a breakfast place worth checking out if you get the chance....
(5)
Lester L.

Good prices, average food, weird service, and good location. Also, general service is quick along with coffee service. I would recommend they move the center tables apart a little so people stop jamming into each other. Lastly, don't come here solely because of the Food Network.
(3)
Jessica D.

Last time I was in Portland I had only two mornings to find food. I found this place the first day and easily went back again. I can't attest to their pancakes or any of that because I had the absolutely delicious oatmeal. I know that oatmeal isn't usually delicious but theirs is. Not only is it insanely cheap for oatmeal and toast (under $6) but you can substitute one of their homemade biscuits for the toast and be in absolute heaven. A biscuit is easy to mess up. Too dry, off flavor, you name it. This place has quite possibly the best biscuits I've ever had. Not dry, fluffy yet dense. Just absolutely yummy. I don't know about other Portland eateries for breakfast and happily now I probably won't. Oh, and the wait staff is very attentive but not overly so. Never had to wait for anything and yet even with the folks at the door they didn't seem like they were pushing you out either. Can you please pack this place up and bring it to Seattle?
(5)
Dee W.

Hooray! They were open on New Year's Day. The service was friendly and efficient. We had Mt. Rushmore and the pancake, bacon, egg breakfast (I forget its name). The portions were huge! We shared both and took half of the Mt. Rushmore home. It was good 2 hrs later served cold. Glad we got there within 15 minutes of opening, by the time we left there was a small crowd forming at the door. Delish dishes, guys. Thanks!
(4)
J M.

Great food. Service was a bit slow. Drinks (like Chocolate Milk) are way over priced.
(4)
J C.

Two things killed extras stars for this place...1) the wait; and 2) no mention that lunch is not served on Sundays. My partner was looking forward to building his own sandwich but was politely shot down by the waitress. Service is so-so given that it is a small place and only 3-4 people working the front. The Stumptown coffee is awesome. I got the Pike's Place scramble with a side of gravy....mmmm, gravy. It was good but I don't think I would want to wait 45 minutes again. Although I may come back to try the Amaretto French toast but I would definitely come early to avoid the wait. But a true dive/diner, lots of nostalgia there.
(3)
Melissa S.

A hometown greasy spoon kinda breakfast, without all the grease! Great little diner, good food, nothing fancy, just good eats! And let's face sometimes for breakfast all we want are some eggs, potatoes and toast.. just they way mom made them. :)
(4)
Michelle H.

This is a gem of a restaurant! Charming atmosphere, friendly staff, best breakfast ever! Portions are very generous.
(5)
Lizzie M.

This was a weird but solid breakfast. Loved the 50's travel kitsch lining the walls. Loved that the waiter kept calling us "homies" and "homes". Loved the blueberry pancakes, though I was dying to try the blue corn ones, too. Lots of blue choices. The bacon was to die for.
(5)
K F.

Love this place for a late breakfast!
(5)
Mark A.

This is my favorite breakfast place. Ever. It's a cramped/small kitschy diner, but that's exactly what you go in expecting and wanting. Sometimes there can be a wait for a table when it's busy, but it's worth it, and if you're alone or just with one other person and you don't mind sitting at the counter, there's pretty much never a wait to be seated. I'm an early riser/breakfast-goer, so I've never had to wait long. The waitstaff here is fantastic--they're friendly, extremely attentive, and happy to answer questions and make suggestions. They're basically just on that border of being almost overly attentive, but they never cross it. The portions here are HUGE. You really can't get a better deal for your money. I basically always leave with delicious leftovers for later. In addition, everything I've had here tastes great! Some of my favorites include the blue corn pancakes and the french toast. They also have a variety of different baked goods every day that are to die for. If they have coffee cake when you're there, pick up a piece to go, trust me! All in all: friendly, great service, kitschy/easy-going attitude, huge portions at a great price. What's not to like?
(5)
Ahoo K.

Per our 3 day stay in Portland, my husband and I tried to take advantage of the wide array of restaurants in Portland. As a fan of Guy Fieri's Triple D, I looked up what spots he visited in Portland and found this diner. I looked at the yelp reviews raving about the Blue Corn Pancakes and was psyched to try it out. We arrived just shy of noon (they're open until 3) and to our dismay they were no longer serving breakfast. We decided to stay since we had already sat down. The lunch menu was pretty standard, typical sandwich options and burgers. We asked for her recommendation and without much enthusiasm she said they're known for their corned beef, so I ordered the Empire corned beef on marble rye. It was a little on the dry side. My husband ordered the burger and it was mediocre. The tomato, mayo, lettuce gave the burger a colder temperature and the cheese was almost non existent. The black bean soup was very fresh, tasty, and perfectly textured. The ambience of the place was unfortunately uninviting, almost cold. The decor consists of license plates, souvenir plates from around the country, and antique luggage ( all sort of weathered and drabby). It almost felt like I was having lunch at a garage sale. All together, I wouldn't revisit this diner; especially when there are a lot of other diners in Portland.
(3)
J P.

Fun diner nestled in NW. Service and experiences have differed greatly, though. Often I have a much better experince at the counter than anywhere else. Service fast but food sometimes bland (particularly the eggs). Although inconsistent, it's worth a shot.
(3)
Sasha R.

You know when you just HAVE TO HAVE a good burger, milkshake and french fries?? Well this place is a little slice of heaven for those days. Byways is full of kitch and is not shy about the retro-dinner style that it's food actually lives up to. Everyone who works in this tiny restaurant in the Pearl is nice and friendly, and the soups are hard to beat. It's like discovering a hidden Vermont dinner in the middle of a winter storm, it's always cozy, there is perpetual pie and you never want to leave. Go for it!
(4)
Z Z.

I love going out to breakfast but I hate waiting. I pretty much refuse to wait, I would rather get take out. I hate milling around the front of a restaurant hoping that the hostess will call my name next. (OK, I will make one exception......Apizza Scholls) Anyway, I have had Byways Cafe bookmarked for quite some time but had always stayed away because of the wait. My boss who is located in Los Angeles recently told me that they were profiled on Diners Drive In's and Dives and that the host went crazy over their hash. My husband LOVES hash so, I figured I would give take out from there a try. Well, bad idea to go there a couple days after they were on the show, the place was jam packed, there were people up and down Gilsan waiting to get in. It took a while for my order to be ready even though I had called it in ahead of time but it was completely worth the wait. (And I rarely say that, I am way too impatient when I am hungry!) I got my hash loving husband the Mt Rushmore Hash which had potatoes, corned beef, onions, peppers, cheddar cheese, and an egg over easy. I also got him an order of wheat toast, figuring he didn't have quite enough carbs in his meal already. He really loved it, he said that the corned beef was good, it was nicely spiced, prepared well, and that overall it was just great. He did think the egg was odd, he found it strange that they add in an egg where the dish is already so heavy. But, whatever he ate it anyway. I got the cheddar and jack cheese omelet which I loved, it was quite good. The potatoes that it comes with are pretty awesome. They have a nice kick to them, I love that they put so much pepper on them. The omelet wasn't huge either which is good. I still had enough for two meals but still, I was pleased that it wasn't too huge. We really enjoyed our meal. In fact, I went back a couple weeks later and got the same thing on my way back from the airport. It was just as good this time. It didn't take as long this time either, perhaps Guy Fieri fever has died down a bit. It was still fairly crowded though. I am sure I will be back there again, the food is really great. 4.5 stars, possibly 5. I may update later!
(4)
Mike W.

I'll keep this review abundant, flavorful, clever, and pleasant; because that's what Byways CafÃ© is to me. Don't miss it!
(4)
C S.

mmmmmmm. Blue Corn Pancakes are good enough to rate a four. Everything I have had has been good; but as I ate these first everything else seems to pale in comparison. Quirky place, the waitstaff is always paying attention. I feel like my coffee cup never empties. The coffee cups are mismatched and the walls are covered with chatchkies from around the country. Normally I would be a little turned off by all the Americana, but it works here.We pass the time waiting for our food reading each others' mugs. I like that they open at 7 AM even on Sundays when everything else in the neighborhood sleeps in a bit. When weekend guests leave early on Sunday morning, we bring them here without fail. My only objection-if this could be called an objection by any reasonable person- is the amount of food. It's too much. My husband and I, who are healthy eaters, struggle to get through even half of it. I normally would celebrate this left-over making occasion. However, breakfast foods: pancakes, french toast, biscuits and gravy, do not generally reheat as well as lunch and dinner meals. Do not mistake me, I still box it up and jam it in the microwave about 1PM. I would just rather pay less and get a breakfast portion of food.
(4)
Taro B.

This was another DDD featured establishment that I wanted to check off my list. This is a very small place, so the place is usually packed and there's normally a wait to get in. The decor is kind of like you took a roadtrip and ended up in a hole-in-the-wall in some small town. We went there for breakfast. Everybody at our table ordered something different and everyone agreed that the food was good, although not spectacular. It was definitely better than Denny's nonetheless. I really question the sanitary conditions in this place though. The place is dirty and the one tiny filthy bathroom in this place is practically in their kitchen. Although nobody got sick after eating here, this is definitely a concern to me.
(3)
Tammy K.

Sunrise special: 1 egg, 2 strips of thick cut bacon and I got it with the amaretto french toast. O.M.G. It's made out of brioche. It's delicious! They kept my coffee full and my tummy happy. Mmmmmm. FYI though, there was a line when we got there. If you don't like to wait...well, that's up to you, but I totally thought it was worth it.
(5)
Leah D.

Good food and fun atmosphere! I'm always a fan of places that serve up coffee in an assorted collection of random/acquired coffee mugs from all over the world. Standard but yummy breakfast and lunch fare, a bit greasy but it's a diner so you expect it to be a bit greasy. Great hangover food and I love sitting at the old-fashioned diner bar. Expect to wait a while on weekends for brunch, but it's worth it.
(4)
Kiesha C.

Food was good and portions were HUGE! They also had great specials.
(4)
Andrew H.

If you want simple Americana you have Byways. A cozy space.
(5)
Sandi Q.

My friend had the blue corn pancakes which she loved, but wished she could have had some sort of pancake combo plate with other yummies. I had the hash - it was good but I wouldn't order it again. But maybe it was good for hash??? I am used to the hash that comes in a can and had never had real fresh hash before. I would definitely come back and try a scramble or something. Our server was SOOO nice. Here is what bothered me: The decorative souvenir spoons in the jam jars on the tables. Those are supposed to be used for DECORATIVE USE ONLY, not for food use. I work in an industry where it is really important to differentiate because of the risk of exposure to lead so I did not try the jam. It is a cute idea, but they really should use food-safe spoons.
(4)
Rebecca B.

Oh my gosh! The Ameretto French Toast was to die for! The Pecan butter made it all the better. We did have to wait for a little bit...but all that went away when the food game. The Space Needle scramble was really good too. Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives did a feature on this place, and it did not disapoint...it was worth all of the hassle driving, finding the place, and parking.
(5)
Kelly T.

Standard brunch fare with a bit of a twist (e.g., blue corn pancakes, gargantuan french toast slices). Enjoyed it so much the first time, we went back again the same weekend. Very limited seating - be prepared to wait. 2-4 is really the optimal group size for this place. Good service.
(4)
Katrin S.

There's a few aspects one should be aware: 1. parties larger than 4 are a tight squeeze. In fact if the four of you cannot fit into a booth it's probably not a place for you 2. the service is very Portland-ish - open your mouth if you feel something is missing or wrong 3. kids are OK - I see a lot of people with their offspings on weekends. But it is a tight place so take that into consideration 4. Most scrambles can feed two so plan accordingly. 5. Coffee's good old Stumptown - if you want decaf you have to ask for it. And it's bottomless;) Overall I love this place to meet up with friends with busy schedules - breakfast at 8, on your way by 9 with a full belly and a coffee buzz. And I can get my breakfast sans mushrooms and with extra spinach ;)
(5)
Beth K.

I made myself a tiny bit sick with the blue corn pancakes and Stumptown coffee here, but that was totally my fault for stuffing myself with delicious food. I had a tasty, quick, reasonably priced (whoever complains about their prices must not live in CA) meal served by a totally efficient waitress who was just the right amount of friendly (I like a decent greeting but don't want to make chitchat, not even when I'm by myself.) The menu wasn't super extensive but the fun decor--kitschy 1950s Americana--appealed to me, and the next time I'm in the area I will come back--but I won't eat so much.
(4)
Edward J.

My friend and I sometimes go to Byways for brunch after a good night of Friday or Saturday drinking and partying. I don't know why it is so popular by the suburb folks, but recently its been so busy that we had to find some place else like Stepping Stone or Genie Cafe on SE Division. I usually don't eat egg so I asked for scramble tofu, and it was actually really good. The country friend potatoes are tasty too. If you want to wait like 30mins to 1 hour for good breakfast, I recommend you to check out other places in the SE like Junior or Genie or Jam if you don't want to wait that long. You can also avoid the middle-aged gay hating conservatives from the suburb. Also, the waiter is really cute!
(3)
Mystery Z.

Not sure why the Byways is rated so highly, it's your average greasy spoon. Nothing to write home about.
(3)
Kelly M.

Long before the Pearl was revitalized and was still a dingy part of town recognizable by warehouse spaces and loading docks, Byways Cafe was a local standby. Resembling an oldie diner and well decorated with commemorative tourists plates from around the country, locals can sit at the bar or in the booths. Their menu includes the usual eggs, toast, and hashbrowns; and, being Portland, is well-supplemented with tofu scrambles. Now that Byways is surrounded by the boutiques, bars, and yuppies of the Pearl, it remains untouched and still stands as the Pearl's most unassuming breakfast place.
(4)
Mike E.

Got to a table just in time on Sunday. We had great service and enjoyed all of the meals that we ordered (pancakes, biscuits and gravy, three day weekend, and an omelet). Prices were very good, except for the drinks as $5 for an orange juice was a bit much. I wish that I would have seen the size of the French toast before I ordered, but I'll get that next time. I'll definitely be going back!
(5)
Chad M.

Many moons ago, before the Pearl turned into the "Pearl" there was a little restaurant in this space called Shakers. The glass cabinets on the walls all contained salt and pepper shakers. The food was great, the people were nice and it became one of my wife and I's special places. We even made a point of going there on our wedding day and they comped our meal and everything. Then the owner of Shakers moved on and sold the restaurant to one of his staff, but he took the shakers with him... so it was reborn as Byways and they went with travel memorabilia. Several of my Grandmas plates hang on the wall (I donated them to the restaurant). Are you getting weepy yet? From Shakers to Byways the food has been GREAT. Some of the same waitstaff are still there from the Shakers days. Scones, coffee cake, specials, pancakes are all terrific. Plus, compared to other Pearl and NW breakfast destinations they are much more reasonably priced. The kitchen is TINY. So be patient when waiting for your food. They only have one grill which is why when the switch to lunch on weekdays they have to switch completely and can't make breakfast anymore. Also, they have collections of veiwmasters and old viewmaster slides that our kids love. It can tight and crowded at times, in the center tables, but the booths are great! They now accept cards. I like it here a lot.
(5)
Sangorama s.

We went to this place for breakfast today (7/15/07) because we saw it on Food Network last night. Everything was as advertised; good food, neat atmosphere and good service. We had to wait about 30 minutes which wasn't bad for arriving at 10am. There were 13 people ahead of us on the wait list and the list kept growing even after we finished our meal. The place is not all that bad inside. It's clean and the seats look like they got new shiny covers. I ordered the space needle scramble and it was good - kinda hard to screw up a scramble, but I've had em pretty bad before so I was happy. We also ordered the french toast. It was dang tasty. Be warned, they say it takes at least 15 minutes for them to cook it and it's probably closer to 20+ minutes when they're busy. We didn't mind too much because we built up quite an appetite by the time the food arrived. I wanted to try the pie but was too darn full. Will also have to try the hash next time. All the servers were extremely friendly and courteous, especially the two owners we saw on the show.
(5)
Aly G.

We tried the specials- I had the Angel Food Cake Pancakes and my husband had a scramble with all sorts of veggies with a slice of French toast on the side. Whoa! Best pancakes I've ever had in my life! My husband loved his scramble and the French toast was delish. Even if a diner isn't your thing (it's typically not mine) don't let it stop you from trying this place!
(5)
Chris C.

I went to the Byways Cafe for breakfast and ordered the "Sunrise Special" with blue corn pancakes! So scrumptious! This place is small, has great service and awesome food! A must when your in Portland for breakfast! Cheers!
(5)
Dawna K.

I was in Portland for my husband's graduation from PSU and our whole trip was planned around me getting to visit a location from my Triple D book. I was so disappointed and I think we must've just had an isolated bad experience. We had a male waiter that was so rude and so annoyed and rushed us thru the ordering process and my food was absolutely horrible. I ordered corn beef hash, scrambled eggs and biscuits & gravy. The waiter had no idea what that was and I was brought scrambled eggs and a pile of cubed corn beef, hard biscuits with cold gravy. The waiter was so rude I was intimidated to speak up. My daughter, on the other hand, did get something off the menu that is a signature item and was featured on the Triple D show and it was absolutely delicious. I guess I ordered wrong. I hope to visit Portland again someday so I can re-visit Byways, but my first visit left me very disappointed.
(2)
Angela B.

Byways Cafe is tricked out in vintage decor and looks like something you might see on Happy Days. Although I have been here for breakfast before, I really love this place closer to the lunch hour when it's not so crowded. 11AM at Byways is the perfect time to grab a bite to eat after the crowd has cleared out. It's right around the corner from 24 hour fitness and makes for a great post-workout treat to regain all the calories you just sweated out. The burger at Byways kicks ass...for a real calorie infusion I dare you to order the milkshake made at the soda fountain. It's thick, it's rich and made with good old fashioned ice cream!
(4)
Bunneh L.

Ditto what everyone else said. Their breakfast scrambles are really good. I usually opt for the Seattle Scramble (sausage, spinach, and mushrooms, I think). Their lunch menu consists of traditional comfort food items, like meatloaf and patty melts. Mmm. Once, I forgot my wallet, but didn't realize it until after I had finished my meal. I was mortified, but the waitress thought nothing of it. She seemed almost unconcerned. She didn't even look relieved when I came back 10 minutes later, money in hand . I guess I don't look like a dine-and-dash'er. :) My one gripe with Byways is their hours. They close at 2pm every day. What the hell?
(4)
Alysia P.

Perfect fries. Very messy burgers, need a bib messy.
(3)
Jenny M.

We showed up around 10:30 on Sunday morning and the wait was about 15 or 20 minutes. Not too bad, only you have to wait outside and in Portland in October is is not terribly pleasant. Once we got in and were seated things shaped up nicely. The wait staff was attentive, the food was tasty, and the portions were good sized. We each ordered an omelette and didn't leave feeling bloated after clearing our plates (whether that is a good thing or a bad thing I will leave up to you). Everything was satisfactory and We'll probably visit again next time we are in Portland.
(4)
Andy K.

Had breakfast here while in Portland. Food was not bad. Good for a quick simple bite. The motif is travel themed and rather fun. The coffee was good to me because it was stronger than most diners. The server was great as well. I had an omlette with spinach,onions, and feta. I had it prepared as a scramble at the servers recommendation. Go visit!
(3)
Richard R.

Sure, I enjoy getting to Byways around 7:00/7:30 on a Saturday morning to grab a booth, sip on coffee, open up the Willamette Weekly, and wait 20 to 30 minutes for my blue corn pancakes w/pecan butter to be served. You can't go wrong with the experience or essentially anything at Byways, but just beware that your experience will be (as the name of the place would lead you to believe) a journey. Unless you're a semi-early riser you'll probably be signing in, standing in line, and/or jockeying for a few seats at the counter to wait a lenghtly time for your meal.
(4)
Elise W.

THE BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE YOU WILL EVER EAT!!!! I know everyone knows byways for its famous French Toast (which is probably delicous), but what really takes the cake is their baked goods. Their pies and cookies are baked in house and are out of this world. If you are too full for dessert I suggest getting a cookie to go. You will not be sorry!!
(5)
Matthew M.

Good. That's pretty much what I've got to say about it. It doesn't really stand out in my head as a place where I've got to go again, and the meal I had wasn't particularly memorable. That is however, not a bad thing because I don't remember it being poor. It's crowded, loud, and yeah, there's some seriously kitschy decor that is reminiscent of the days gone-by, but that's not really a selling point for me.
(3)
Gretchen M.

It's Sunday morning and I get the call from my best Cub man ( who is a travel agent) to finally try Byways Cafe for their breakfast he had heard on some travel channel. We get there at 12:30. We order one of their signature dishes, biscuits and gravy. They have run out. Really? One, how can you run out of a main staple of something on your menu. Two, they must be that good so it makes me curious to go back and try those damn biscuits and gravy! I think that was their master plan all along. We decided on sharing the hash and their amaretto french toast. Oh yeah, and a biscuit...with jelly. I have to say after devouring our meal I was sold!. Very delightful. When we go back for the biscuits and gravy and they're out, I'm gonna have a fit!
(3)
San N.

Catchy name right? Small place with decent service. Brings you back in time with the various state license plates, souvenir dishes, luggage, and odd end coffee mugs. Reservations - None. Prepare to wait. We waited 20 minutes on a Saturday at 10 am. Not too bad. Parking - Metered, street parking. Food - 1. Happy Camper Omelette with Biscuits and Gravy - White gravy had good chunks of sausage. Pretty darn good. Smoky ham, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese. 2. Blue Corn Pancakes - True to its name, they were blue! I like fluffy pancakes but this was a good change from the norm. Very grainy and mealy. Honey pecan butter, syrup and raspberry jam accompanied the dish. One of their signature dishes! 3. Meg's Veggie Mountain - Needed salt and spice. Huge portions and they didn't skimp on ingredients. However, it was missing flavor. A mountain of potatoes, spinach, onions, mushrooms, and jack cheese. Served with sour cream and salsa and topped with one egg.
(3)
Nickole C.

Now I think the breakfast is very good here...so my low rating is more about how long you will have to wait to eat that breakfast on a weekend. The place is tiny and while the ambiance is very kitchy and fun...reminds me of being in main...if your hungry you might want to walk the 5 blocks over to 16th and Nancy's Kitchen where the food is almost as good and there is never a wait.
(3)
Michael P.

I had high hopes for Byways after reading all these reviews, but alas, I was let down. After waiting 30 minutes for a table, and then finding out that they don't have espresso, the waitress also informed us they were out of the two daily specials and the gravy used in the biscuits & gravy (it was only 12:40pm.) We all looked at out menus though, and found alternates. I tried to order the delicious sounding Turkey & Bacon Club but was told "I'm sorry, on the weekends we don't serve the lunch menu." THEN WHY DID YOU GIVE ME A MENU THAT HAS LUNCH ON IT?!?! AND WHY DOESN'T IT SAY "LUNCH ONLY AVAILABLE M-F?!?! So I ordered my third or fourth choice--a greek scramble. But when it came, it was on the small and boring side. I've had better spinach and mushroom omlettes from Dennys and the Waffle House. Which brings me to a restaurant quirk I have--I never want to order something that I could make at home. I go out to be wowed, amazed, or at least served something that I have to come back for and can't make myself. Nothing I ate fit that description. Everything was pretty average and basic and in this town, that just doesn't cut it. Too many other good places to try. I won't be going back.
(2)
Sarah T.

I was a little skeptical at first but I decided to try this place this morning with my husband and kid. I ordered the blue corn pancakes with the pecan butter. HOLY MOLY!!! I am so happy that I ordered this taste of heaven. Not only, were these pancakes yummy, but they actually tasted AMAZING. The grainy texture was perfect. The pecan butter simply melted over the pancakes and gave them that added taste. This dish was honestly a party in my mouth. Will go back, just for these AWESOME pancakes!!
(4)
Shane K.

I frequent this place and I am yet to have a breakfast I didn't love
(5)
Jen S.

I went here for breakfast. I'm sticking with 3 stars. That is all.
(3)
Parisa A.

I am still dreaming of their blue corn pancakes, and have been inspired to attempt to make them when I return home to SD. These pancakes were soooo good- the crunchy texture mixed with the pecan butter was to die for! I also decided that I can never give up bacon after having two of their thick slices! The service was ok, but I was really there to eat so that didn't play a big part this go round. Highly recommend this lil diner if you end up in the Pearl District.
(5)
Richard T.

A little overpriced, reflecting its location perhaps. Kitsch decor holds an awkward line between deliberate and knowing and accidental and homely. The place has its regulars and that adds to its character. Was pleased that the waiter steered me away from the full order of Amaretto French Toast (4 slices) as I was defeated in under 2. Perfectly fine and yet nothing special.
(3)
Alex G.

I share Michael P's and Kelli H's sentiments on this place. Overrated. The food was blah, the coffee was bad and the wait was long. The blue corn pancakes tasted like jiffy cornbread mix with added blue food coloring and the biscuits were a joke. I am going to have to strongly disagree with Portland Monthly that this is one of the best breakfasts to be had in the city. Give me Genies, Screen Door or Pine State over this place any day!
(2)
j k.

We came here for breakfast b/c my hotel told us that they served breakfast till 230. Thats only on the weekends. Luckily they still had a fried egg sandwich on the menu. He got a btla with turkey. The service was good. There were a lot of flies in the restaurant which was annoying. The food was great. My fried egg sandwich wasnt all covered in butter and grease like most breakfast sandwiches. It had the perfect amount of egg bacon and cheddar cheese on yummy sourdough. His sandwich was good too. Byways is a great diner for a casual breakfast or lunch.
(4)
E T.

Totally bland and overrated. The mt. Rushmore hash had little hash and too much potatoes.
(2)
Ninihada C.

The service was OK. The place is kitschy, old-school diner style. The food was lackluster. I read good reviews and decided to try it out for breakfast this weekend. I was disappointed. I could definitely make better breakfast at home. The sour cream coffee cake was dry, the hash browns tasted funky, the sausage was a big english style sausage, not what I wanted (regular breakfast style links), overall mediocre.
(2)
Sarah M.

Loved the biscuits with their glazy, crunchy top and piping hot middle. Loved the pumpkin pankcakes, like pumpkin pie in a pancake form, what's not to like about that?? Loved the eggs and the potatoes that came with them. Oftentimes potatoes or "homefries" can be greasy, blackened, not so great, but these were perfect and delicious! It was the kind of meal that made you not mind the three different kinds of starch, so hard to say no. Cute decor and fun to hang out there.
(5)
Curtis L.

not bad... we were in the pearl district visiting out jeweler and was looking for some good food. looking for a sandwich again, we stumbled around to a few place that didn't look so promising and ended up here. Partly because we saw it on Diner, Drive In's and Dives, we decided to give it a try. It was around one on Saturday and it was too busy. we got a table right away and were told that they were not serving lunch because they don't on weekends. We were hungry so we started looking over the breakfast portion of the menu. we decided between the space needle scramble and the veggie hash. We chose the hash to split. the waitress reinforced that it was enough for both of us as I tried to explain we will order more if it is not enough. sure enough, it was enough to feed two. the food was very flavorful and was not greasy at all as we were expecting. probably since there was no meat, there was no grease. we also ended up order a single blue corn pancake since that is their specialty. It was delicious. Actually made for a good dessert. I would recommend the pancakes and the hash. The service is fair and prices are okay. This is a place I would go back to if I wanted breakfast in the pearl district.
(4)
Donna S.

Not understanding the hype on this place. The decor was cool and the service friendly...however the food was just ok. I had the grilled chicken sandwich which had literally the most disgustingly thick and huge piece of flavorless grilled chicken...I had to slice it in half on to create a reasonable serving (I hate too much meat at once on a sandwich)...the BBQ sauce was good, very sweet. The side salad was ok. Friends had the burger, which were huge and just ok, not spectacular or anything...the fries were dry and kind of overcooked. We got a snickerdoodle cookie to go which was the best part of the meal, huge and tasty. We were too late for breakfast, maybe that is where we went wrong. Oh well.
(2)
Wes M.

I wanted to try something new for breakfast, a place I had not been to yet. After taking a quick look at Yelp and Byway's online menu, I decided to give these guys a try. I wasn't expecting a wait, but that's not something I'll complain about. My two favorite breakfast places in Portland keep me waiting at least 15 minutes before getting a table, so waiting for breakfast is nothing new to me. My wait wasn't too long, probably about 15 minutes, so again, not bad to me. Walking in I felt like I had stepped through a portal out of Portland and into some small town, maybe truck stop, eatery. One wall was covered in license plates, another in souvenir plates, another wall had a mounted spoon collection on it - all very homey. It wasn't long before the waitress came by to get us started. I ended up getting the Space Needle Scramble with marbled rye toast, my girlfriend got the Blue Corn Pancakes. Now, like I said, normally I don't mind waiting for food. However, I expect that the food is going to be a little better quality if there's a wait. The eggs were alright, they seemed a little flat, and a little greasier than they needed to be. The garden sausage had an overwhelming maple flavor which, for me, through off the taste of the whole meal. The marbled rye toast and my girlfriend's pancakes were both delicious, but I was overall disappointed in the food I got. Maybe if I ever decided to go back it'll pull itself up to a four, but my impression today was just underwhelming.
(3)
Jeff W.

It's an OK place, and a good diner. You should try to go for breakfast though, the lunch wasn't the best... I think after being featured on TV a few times, it's become a little too busy for its own good.
(3)
Lindsay N.

this is the perfect time for me to execute my favorite phrase: what's all the buzz about!?!? yes. byways is INSANELY cute and the employees and really nice. but really, the food was nothing out of the ordinary. i had the athena omelet. again. i decided to give it a second try. frankly, i'm not sure why they even bother calling it an omelet. waaaaay to much spinach, a whole tree's worth of olives and too many chunky tomatoes. where are my eggs? dammit. my dining companion had the egg sandwich. looked delicious. he assured me it tasted delicious. why did mine have to suck so much?
(2)
Lana W.

The Santa Barbara Burger was absolutely THE very best Turkey Burger I've ever had. The bun was AMAZING, just enough crumbled bleu cheese, nice, fresh avocado, fresh crisp spinach and ever so delicately, thinly sliced onions..OH MY! Definitely will be back next time we're in Portland! Will be difficult to try anything else on the menu! The Santa Barbara was ultimate perfection!!!
(4)
Brian G.

Great breakfast. The wait was a little long, but once we were in, the service, food and the coffee were great.
(4)
Carissa W.

A classic diner with retro booths and a lunchers bar with shiny stools located smack in the Pearl. The tiny bathroom is practically in the middle of the slightly larger kitchen, but otherwise this place is a gem. The decor is vintage travel souvenirs that you might find at your great aunts house in Montana, or the home of your grandparents who logged considerable miles in that R.V. Never have 1950s postcards from North Dakota been so interesting! The wait staff is friendly and quick to refill coffee, chat you up, and talk you into a slice of pie (do it!). I ALWAYS get talked into a slice of pie. Who can resist pie in a diner? Not me. Pro tip: Splitting a sandwich is a great deal---for just a bit extra you can both get a full-plate sized helping of fries with the half sandwich.
(5)
Nichole H.

This is the kind of place I'd like to be a regular, to grab a cup of coffee, sit and read the newspaper, and just relax. The blue corn pancakes changed my life, if those were the only pancakes I could ever eat again that would be a-okay with me! I've also orded omelettes from here and they were delicious. I don't think I've ever finished an entire meal, I always have to get a box to go! In a nutshell, this place is freakin awesome. (Not to mention that this is probably the only place easy on the wallet in the pearl)
(5)
Krystal O.

While walking in the pearl my sister and just happened upon the Byways Cafe. I seemed to remember Guy Fieri referring to their food as "Money" so I decided we should stop in. The wait was long but the hostess brought out hot coffee while we waited- which was nice since it was an unseasonably chilly morning. Once we got in the waitress was smart enough to suggest that my sister and I share an orange juice, and it turned out we had a hard time finishing it between the two of us because it was so large. The juice was really fresh with sweet oranges. The food took a bit of time but it was worth the wait. My sister had the French toast which was really moist with a great flavor. I had the blueberry pancakes, that I almost died over the beautiful berries and the sweet cinnamon. All in all it was a pleasant experience.
(4)
G J J.

Pretty mediocre fare. Long waits for some reason. Lots of coffee and attention from service people. Cheap.
(3)
Jodi H.

This is a really cute cafe. The service was great. Coffee is Stumptown, nothing more to say on that. Food was okay. Next time I'll try the recommendations I saw here, the scramble I had had too much garlic (and I like garlic) But I will go back again! Go early or expect to wait.
(3)
Scott M.

Let me just say: Mt. Rushmore Hash! What better way to fuel up for a long drive then a healthy helping of corned beef in the morning? I've read that Portland is a sort of mecca when it comes to breakfast dives, hence why the Food Network probably focused on this joint. But I went there because it was walking distance from the Northwest Portland Hostel (they offer HI members a discount as well!) and go figure...it was raining. I also tried the Blue Corn Pancakes with Pecan Butter...if you can't eat the hash, then definitely order these! We got there early on a rainy Sunday morning and were able to grab a table...but take heed to others warnings about a potential long wait...it was about 30 minutes when we left!
(4)
Lindsay H.

Three words. Blue corn pancakes. With honey pecan butter. If you're not into that, they have amazing baked goods and egg dishes. Cute little diner-esque spot with lots of nostalgia on the walls. Pendants, plates from every state. Family friendly. Nice staff. Downside is the wait, but it's worth it in the end.
(5)
Adam G.

When I was a sophomore in college I drove my car from San Francisco to Nashville. While much of this drive consisted of realizing why France sold the U.S all that land for so cheap, there were some great road side breakfast joints. Byways has all the eclectic patchwork charm of a diner I stumbled across in the middle of nowhere Wyoming. They have a classic Formica bar for singles, booths whose plastic upholstery have seen better days and those old red plastic "View Finder" Toys at each of the table which are great for keeping kids busy while waiting. Byways has a nice selection of scrambles and omelets which can be ordered with garden sausage, egg beaters or egg whites for those who would like. They also chalk their specials on a board in the corner, but the real special is always on the menu. Their blue corn pancakes with amaretto butter. These thin pancakes made from freshly ground blue corn are not only deliciously unique, but also won't hit your stomach like Mike Tyson in the pre facial tattoo days. My final and favorite touch of Byways is their hallmark collection of souvenir coffee mugs from all over the U.S., many brought in by loyal patrons. Sadly, the coffee they serve is on par with what you would find at most diners across America as well. So if you are a coffee person see some of my other reviews or hit up Stumptown.
(4)
Andrew E.

I enjoyed the selection of mostly egg based dishes. My omelette was wonderfully fluffy. It really had a classic diner feel and an eclectic collection for decorations.
(5)
Natalie D.

The husband & I split the Sunrise Special w a side of scrambled egg & avocado. WONDERFUL MEAL! Short 15min wait to be seated, totally worth the wait. Only 4 instead of 5 stars because the coffee was a lil' bitter. Service was excellent!! Great prices.
(4)
Lily C.

i was wicked happy with this place. the only problem i had was with the wait. we waited over an hour for a seat at the counter and there isn't really any wait-seating -- mostly people milled around outside sitting on walls and the random 2 or 3 chairs available. they did offer coffee to the people waiting which was a pleasant surprise, so that was appreciated. also, i hear that the wait isn't usually this long, but, since the food network show featuring byways had just aired, it was this weekend. the food was perfect. i got the mount rushmore hash. it wasn't the traditional hash i expected -- but i was pleased with their take on it. cubed red potatoes smothered in cheese, onions, peppers and corned beef. the corned beef was the best i've ever had -- although i'm usually not big on corned beef. also, i topped mine with a sunny-side up egg. ! my friend and i both had milkshakes with our meals and they were really creamy and good. plus, the milkshake leftovers were enough for two more glasses full and more! serving sizes were plentiful; we both took leftovers home and had a whole other meal with them the next day. service was good but not spectacular. atmosphere kitschy but decent. food and ingredients excellent. wait was too long -- but the food made up for it. would go back if i knew i had a few hours to kill.
(4)
Kip D.

Went to this place after realizing the amass of reviews on yelp and we had heard this place has previously served a few famous diners. We managed to get on-street parking across the road at $1.60 an hour, which was perfect. We entered at 11.00 am, when their breakfast menu finishes, however they kindly let us order breakfast "if we ordered quick" so we counted ourselves lucky! From what I remember the cafe only has a couple of people dining in so it wasn't busy at all. The menu has something for everyone and they had a breakfast "special" on a chalkboard. We ordered our meals off the menu (some scrambled eggs + fruit salad plate, corned beef hash, omelette and hash) and they arrived pretty quickly. The meals were a great size (maybe even a little too big) and they kindly gave my friend a container take home her unfinished plate. The friendly waiter paid good attention to our table with good conversation and ensured that we never saw the bottom of our coffee mugs. Overall, it was a good experience, the food wasn't anything new or overly fantastic but provided some good comfort eating and was exactly as we expected. Would definitely recommend this to people wanting to grab a non-pretentious breakfast in a relaxed environment!
(4)
Cherie F.

Great little cafÃ© in the Pearl District we would call this a gym we drove over from Nob Hill just to try it very crowded so arrive early you will have a wait and you will have to pay for parking but it is worth the trip basic breakfast old style byway driving cafÃ© with state plates and license plates all over the wall everything was delicious.
(4)
Madame M.

I love this cafe and have been eating here for about 7 years now. I have liked everything I have ever ordered and enjoy the friendly waitstaff. I have noticed over the last few months, service has become a lot slower. I notice it takes longer to get my order taken and my bill. I also notice they have been running out of menu items more often each time I go there. I will still be a customer but I hope they work through whatever this change in service is so I will continue enjoying their delicious food.
(3)
Keaton M.

Good lord I will never go back here. Let me walk you through my Byways visit. First, I'll set the stage: Friday morning, 9:45 AM. Byways is busy but not full. Despite this previous fact, 5 groups of people are waiting outside for a table. Our name is taken down (by us, we write it on their paper pad), and roughly 15 minutes later we are sat at one of the tables which had been open the whole time. Waitress arrives promptly, says she'll have some coffee on its way. I can only assume she then traveled to Colombia, picked the beans herself, hauled them back, slow-roasted and dropped the coffee off at our table. Seriously, it took an eternity for the truck stop coffee to arrive. Food didn't arrive too long afterward. By this time, my coffee was empty but who cares right? It was refilled finally 10 minutes AFTER I finished eating. Great timing. The food wasn't terrible, as a whole. It was just a scramble with peppers, though, so I would hope that's not somehow ruined. Breakfast potatoes were fine. Both items were doused in hot sauce, though, so maybe I should just be thanking the creators of Tapatio. The whole wheat bread was hard and served without butter or jam - is that how they did it in the 50's? If so, I hate the 50's. Finally, we ask if we should pay inside or if she can handle bussing a bill. She says she'll be right back out. 20 minutes later, we decide to just pay inside where we watch her manipulate the cash register like a regular Derek Zoolander. It was a joy to see all of the orders waiting to be bussed, just to be reassured we weren't the only patrons waiting an eternity for a diner egg scramble and toast. A girl complimented my hair while I was there. That was the only highlight. My hair did look good.
(1)
Ryan N.

Great service, great food. Had a 10 min wait before seating and maybe a 10 minute wait for food with how busy they were. I had the Eldorado Scramble, my wife the Sunrise Special with blue corn pancakes. Portions were spot on and tasted great; could not be happier with this breakfast find in the Portland area.
(5)
Arun R.

Had the delicious Eldorado scramble with some good coffee. The place has a simple no nonsense feel with good service and a warm friendly ambience. Highly recommend!
(5)
High S.

Having worked in the Pearl for a few years, I can say that this place has saved me from office starvation moments. That being said, it's quite expensive for what it is. It's insanely crowded during the day but they do offer take out. I can't say, however, that any of their meals knocked my socks off enough to return outside of my (former) working hours in the Pearl.
(3)
J K.

Great little diner. Simple enough menu but they often have some really good, really creative specials. Interior is cute as well with old city and state plates hung on the wall. I have only visited on weekdays, and there is never a wait, so I cannot speak for weekend business.
(4)
Paul S.

French toast is five star, the full order is enough for 2. They offer a smaller order with eggs. The one omelet I had was good. Their scrambles look good, good sized, haven't tried one yet. Tried the place the last 2 Sundays around noon and wait for 1 was around 10 minutes to get counter seat. Prices reflect popularity of the place, could be a bit less.
(5)
Jill H.

They had a short menu, not a lot of things to choose from. I went out out of my comfort zone and tried their french toast with amaretto. It was good, but over all, a lot of food for me. They use brioche and I found out that I had to douse my french toast in syrup to avoid the dryness. However, cutting the left overs in bite size bites and toasting them in the toaster oven makes a great second meal. My BF tried the blue corn pancakes. He enjoyed them but there's something about the blue corn that left a bitter aftertaste. All in all, make sure you arrive early to avoid the lines and be open to sitting at the counter for a shorter wait.
(3)
Shannon C.

In my next life I want to live in the Pearl District and become a Byways CafÃ© regular. My breakfast here with my son on a glorious summer morning was incredible. Of course, I loved the place immediately upon walking in the door. It is decorated with old tourist destination plates, the kind my Grandmother collected and used to decorate her own kitchen. How can you go wrong in a place that looks like a blend of a classic diner and your Gran's kitchen? You can't. We sat outside and had big, delicious omelets and potatoes. The waitress was delightfully funny. A perfect way to start a perfect day roaming the streets of the Pearl District.
(5)
Denea Y.

Solid diner fare. My Eldorado Scramble sub fruit for potato side was good with big chunks of bacon and jalepenos for a spice factor, but the un-ripe avocado was a mis-step. I ordered a side blueberry pancake that was pretty tasty and had big fresh blueberries inbedded inside. My fellow diner's French toast had thick slabs of brioche, which was better than average. Orange juice truly tasted fresh, huge plus. We were quoted 35min for a table for 2, which was pretty accurate (maybe about 10min late) but our server was great and food came out in decent time. Hearty portions too.
(3)
Bryan C.

My partner and I stopped in to get a little breakfast before we went off to have a adventure day, and we are so glad we did. Although we had to wait just a little bit to get a table it was well worth it. The food was amazing and the service was excellent. I had the El Dorado which was a scrambled egg Mexican deal and it was amazing. My partner had a fried egg sandwich that he said was the best he'd ever had. He also had a side of bacon which obviously put the awesomeness scale over-the-top.
(5)
Steven K.

Byways is the perfect balance between old time realness (note red patent leather counter stools and tacky decor) and new age goodness (local free range eggs and real maple syrup.). I had the challah French toast- and as a Jew from NY I know my Challah. The amaretto and pecan butter were really great additions and provided a unique and flavorful twist. Might just be me, but I like really eggy French toast - to the point where you can't really see it's bread that's holding the whole deal together. That's where this FT fell a bit short. Let it soak so it really goes through and you get 5 stars in my book. Also the portion was too large - I hate wasting food and 4 huge slices is just too much. So order one and split it with your honey. Huge pluses for amazing sweet waiter and delicious Stumptown Coffee. The service was too notch at the counter. I love the feel of this place and will surely return next time I'm in Portland.
(4)
Naomi G.

I can only give three stars because the customer service was not very good when I visited, and it took over 50min after being seated to get my completed order. The food is good though, I have only been once due to the fact that it was slow and the people who worked there were not the friendliest. But over all good food
(3)
Vanessa M.

I come here for just the hash...the other dishes are probably tasty but when I do come I always order the hash. Check the times that they have the breakfast/brunch menu because thats the only time they serve it. also it was even on Triple D on tv I think!
(4)
Benjamin V.

Pretty solid food, not the best but good. What really stuck out to me was the excellent service. Very friendly servers and prompt given how busy they can be.
(4)
Dennis F.

best blue corn pancakes and coffee I ever had...
(5)
Tiffany O.

An real gem! Delicious grub & lovely hospitality! Proper eats. GIGANTIC PIES! I'll definitely return.
(5)
Laina R.

Service was superb!! French toast so flavorful infused with amoretto and the honey pecan butter, you can't go wrong. Portion are big and the price is just right. Others with me had the biscuits and gravy, biscuit was baked to perfection, with really tasty sausage gravy. Eldorado scramble was good sw flare served with corn tortillas. You can't go wrong here. Last Stumptown coffee, way better then Starbucks.
(5)
Amy S.

Reasons for this 1-star rating (would give none if Yelp allowed) for an October 2013 visit: - Inaccurate wait estimates - My group finally got seated after who-knows-how-long, but due to time constraints (because we weren't expecting to wait 1.5-2 hours for food), we had to order to-go. When we told our server this, the manager/owner asked that we wait outside in the cold (again) for our food! - We were told that Tabasco was included in the order, but it was not - Food was JUST okay I don't get the hype about the food and not just because of the horrible customer service. Portland has so many amazing restaurants, so why waste time here?
(1)
Diana M.

If you know me, you'll know that I am a huge fan of breakfast spots! That's the only way you'll get me out of bed so early in the morning. And I especially love the small diner feel! DING DING DING - we got ourselves a winner! The cutest diner with interesting looking decor. I can't explain it - random plates, native indian doll/statue, random knick knacks! It was odd but in a good way. It caught my attention and had me staring at everything! I always order french toast for consistent diner comparison sake - this one in particular serves french toast with armaretto. Yes, it was good but I wouldn't say it was the best. I've had better. The armaretto is a personal preference - I could do without. The hubster always orders something with MEAT. Clean plate competition was in effect. If you're looking for something small, quaint, and nothing fancy, this is a great spot for a cheap eat to start your day!
(4)
Kevin E.

One of the best breakfasts I've ever had. I had the ricotta cheese pancakes with honey butter (one of the specials). Absolutely melted in my mouth. My wife also had a special, which was a scramble with avocado, spinach, tomatoes, cream cheese and a bunch of other tasty morsels I'm forgetting. We sort of stumbled on this place by accident after setting out on a walk from our hotel. And I'm glad we did, as it was our dining highlight of our three-night stay. That says a lot in a city with as many great options as Portland. Decor was very cool. Only downside is the restaurant is very small, which means there could be a bit of a wait. That's easily overlooked after you take your first bite. We certainly found a "must-go" for our next trip to the Rose City.
(5)
Phil M.

We saw this on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives", and I recognized it from my commute home. "Hey! I go by that place every day!" So, we decided to check it out one Saturday. We each ordered a veritable mountain of food. I got a veggie scramble, while my wife got one with corned beef hash. It was a grand, delicious amount of food that made my day. Pro-tip: show up early and get your name on the list. We showed up around lunch time and had a good-sized wait. There were so many more things I wanted to try on the menu, so I'm sure I'll be back numerous times!
(5)
Erik S.

Extremely slow! 10 minutes to get seated is something I can deal with, but when it takes over 30 minutes from ordering for them to cook a simple breakfast, something's up. The food was actually pretty good, I'd say 3.5-4 star territory, but it is not worth the wait by any stretch of the imagination.
(1)
Tracy B.

Quintessential diner. The French Toast was a life changing experience! I had it with a side of bacon! Salty sweet perfection!!! I have been dreaming about that meal every since.
(5)
Tyler C.

Great little diner in the pearl with pretty good breakfast. It's not a greasy spoon with a lot of healthy options. My usual is the redwood scramble. Have never had a bad meal experience. Gay friendly!
(4)
Kate T.

I always think i love Byways, but every time i go, i'm underwhelmed. Somehow, each disappointing trip is turned into a glorious adventure in my memories. The food's decent, service is slow but friendly. The whole Road Trip Decor theme doesn't really do it for me, but it doesn't cause any harm either. It gets crazy-crowded once people start to wake up, too, so if you don't like long lines, you have to be there pretty early. So if you're in the area and want a serviceable breakfast, stop on by. Unless you're really into seeing souvenirs from random tourist traps all over the country, though, it's probably not worth a special trip.
(3)
EM F.

You go to Byways if you are serious about your breakfast and brunch game. The Miracle Mile and the Happy Camper are so fantastic that I have a crisis of faith choosing between them. You seriously can't go wrong with either one...but which do you choose? But what if you want french toast or pancakes? Personally, I lean towards the blueberry pancakes over the amaretto french toast on most days just because I love blueberries, but if I want french toast then the half size of the amaretto is a must because there's no way I can finish the regular size portion. The coffee is Stumptown. Natch. These people aren't messing around, and you won't be disappointed. The wait time can be considerable, so don't think you can just sneak in on a Sunday at 10 without having to wait a minute.
(5)
Amara D.

Byways was my favorite unexpected stop in Portland during a trip with my mother. It is a classic diner, decorated in all the good old ways. Make note that you may be in line for breakfast (although there are many interesting places nearby to peer in the windows while you wait). I had a Space Needle breakfast omelette (gotta represent the home) and sat at the bar enjoying coffee. It was good. I wish I could tell you more, but I honestly only remember thinking 'I want a slice of that pie'. Why did I want pie at 9AM? Because it looked so amazing. I thought about this on the train ride back to Seattle and again the last time I was in Portland unable to get to Byways due to another breakfast commitment. The idea of this pie is haunting, so I will be back Byways and ready to drop that last star... for pie.
(4)
Carrie S.

I brought my parents here for breakfast during their visit to Portland. They LOVED this place, particularly the decor. Tiny place, but I would totally wait for a table. They have fantastic breakfasts, and I love the options. Hash: yes please. I also love this place because they have a process for everything. This is definitely a cozy restaurant, but the staff just flow through the place easily. The service was fantastic, and this place is clearly well run.
(5)
Leah L.

I would definitely come back to this place. We walked in at 9am on a Thursday morning and were seated right away into a cozy booth. The corned beef hash is the best I have ever had. It is amazing. You can really taste all of the spices in the preparation. The amaretto French toast is also very yummy. It is cooked perfectly and I love the amaretto flavor! They also make a great cup of joe. The food here is taken the extra mile and you can really tell. It isn't your typical 'cheap' tasteless diner food. It is flavorful and well prepared which justifies the cost. I have easily paid $10 for a similar breakfast that wasn't bear as good. This place knows what their doing. Personally, I really liked the decor and ambiance. Although the diner was nearly full by the time we left, it was still quite unlike other places that become loud with chatter. The service here was by far some of the best service I have ever had. Everyone was happy to be there and refill your coffee. I really wish this diner was in my town...I would be a regular.
(5)
Jen K.

The definition of byway is a secondary road. It is an apt name, because while I enjoy the food, I'm not a fanatic. To put it into context.... *Friendlier than Fuller's *More kitschy than Zell's *Bigger hash than Helser's *Not as fancy as Everett Street Bistro *Not as many hipsters as Jam *Not as many dogs as Tin Shed *Not as swank as Meriwether's *Not as delicious as Mother's In Portland we are spoiled with many excellent breakfast places. Of all the places I've dined, Tin Shed and Mother's top my list. This is a good spot, and one I'll return to if I don't have to wait long. One of their signature dishes, blue corn pancakes with honey pecan butter, was very good if you're looking for something a bit different. On my second visit I had Meg's Veggie Mountain hash and it was okay, but not thrilling. On both occasions, the service was reasonably good and friendly. All together a nice place to dine, just not the best.
(3)
Quinn S.

Apparently I was supposed to come in for breakfast and not lunch, but I didn't get the memo. The service was great, but my sandwich was beyond dull, and the "jus" that was served with it was like diluted, canned chicken broth, almost flavorless. There was also a long blonde hair on my pickle. Good fries.
(3)
Burton S.

This was a wonderful spur-of-the-moment dining experience. We went there on New Year's Day - the place we wanted to go had a huge line - and the line here was manageable. The menu looked delicious. We waiting 15-20 minutes to get in, then we were seated. The staff was supremely friendly, and the food (I ordered the Mt. Rushmore Hash) was delicious. The side of bacon was the juiciest, most delicious bacon I can remember. The hash could have used an extra egg - it only came with one - but it was really, REALLY good.
(5)
Linda M.

My husband saw this on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, and couldn't wait to try it when we came to Portland. There is a wait, but they will happily put your name on the list if you call ahead. Do it. The food was really good. I had an omelette with home fries (bacon in it!). and tried my daughter's blueberry pancake (with cinnamon in the batter!), which was yummy. Mr. M said the hash was wonderful... they make their own corned beef. Fresh squeezed sweet orange juice always tops off a good breakfast, too. Coffee was a little strong for my whimpy palate. My nieces and nephew couldn't get past the warm "runny" (real maple) syrup, not as good as Log Cabin, I guess :P But I thought it was great! I'm pretty sure this will be a regular stop when we come to Portland again.
(4)
RJ H.

Classic American diner. Nothing less, nothing more.
(4)
Teresa T.

I intended to go here for breakfast since that seems to be what they're most known for but got a late start and ate lunch here. I got the Turnpike and was satisfied with the dish. The sandwich was a bit dry (I did ask for no mayo) and it wasn't the most flavorful it could've been. The fries I got, however, were pretty good. My dining mate for the Reuben sandwich, which was very flavorful and tender if not a bit rich for my taste. I would definitely recommend getting a salad with their house made honey mustard dressing, that was definitely my favorite thing there. Place was okay, I would still consider coming back for breakfast.
(3)
Dave S.

A little more pricey than a typical breakfast joint. But the large portions and friendly staff make it worth it. I came in mid-week at 8 am and got a seat immediately. By 8:30, the place was half full.
(4)
Kara M.

What a delicious breakfast at a price you can't beat! I had 3 blueberry pancakes, two veggie sauasages, and one egg. My hubby had the biscuits and gravy and added sides of bacon and eggs. We both had coffee and the total was only $27.40 not to mention that we very easily could have split one meal. My blueberry pancakes were so incredibly fluffy and delicious. The biscuits and gravy were amazing. The hubby said the bacon was excellent. A definite diner atmosphere. Would go back.
(5)
Jake P.

Small, but great!
(4)
Nick E.

Came down from Seattle for a night and made sure to try this place for breakfast. It seems like one of those spots that is always busy, especially at 11am on a Sunday. Everyone is dressed in Portlandia fashion, even the employees, so it's hard to tell who is working and who is just busy looking like a hipster. You write your name on the list and put your phone number next to it, then you're free to go do something world-enhancing for the 10 minutes you may have to wait. The food is freaking fabulous. There are a seemingly unlimited amount of options, which I love. I ended up sitting in between two people at the counter, where you can basically see back into the kitchen. I ordered the special for the day, a chorizo breakfast burrito with a side of fruit. Damn, it was good. Then this lady came in asking for the special and the waitress told her that I had ordered the last one. I felt shitty, so I ate faster. What a breakfast.
(5)
Jessi L.

This place is adorable. We were looking for a good, quick place to get breakfast during our weekend stay in Portland, and Yelp did not lead us astray! We had a bit of a wait, but what do you expect on a Sunday morning? We sat at the bar and were instantly served fresh, hot coffee that was very good. I had pancakes and homefries, and my wife had a cheese omelette that was bigger than her face. Some of the best pancakes I've ever had! They were perfectly cooked, fluffy and buttery and served with freshly whipped butter and real maple syrup. This place is affordable and delicious, and I think we have a new favorite spot for future Portland trips!
(5)
Erin H.

Best biscuits and gravy I have ever had. Prior to eating here, I didn't like biscuits and gravy and considered it to be the dumbest breakfast ever. Not anymore. The corned beef hash is awesome, if you like corn beef hash normally. The french toast is wicked good. Why oh why does my home town the worst restuarants ever??? :(
(5)
Mandy M.

Fun friendly cafe environment. Went there for lunch and had the Chef salad, it was fantastic and fresh. The portion was very generous from the turkey, ham, cheese and lettuce you would not go home hungry. The bread that came with it, was fantastic. The one complaint if you are going to get the ranch dressing, it was on the salty side. The waitress staff were very friendly with great customer service skills, the coffee kept coming; it was a great lunch experience.
(4)
Keshar N.

I love breakfast food. I take it very seriously. On our first day in Portland, we really wanted to start off our trip right with a delicious breakfast. After some research, my boyfriend found Byways Cafe and learned that it had been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on the Travel Channel. Naturally, my interest was piqued and my tummy rumbling. We arrived at the diner relatively early on a weekday and found it busy (a very good sign). We were seated quickly by a friendly server in the middle of this quirky-retro joint. With the ceilings annointed with license plates from different cites and large spoons hanging on the walls, you were transported to a small diner in the 1950s. We ordered the scrambled egg hash with mushrooms and bacon and a side of spicy potatoes. The hash was delicious, flavorful and fluffy. The bacon crispy but not burnt and the potatoes were done very well, spiced with an interesting blend of Italian spices. We also ordered a half-stack of plain pancakes and (my pick) blueberry pancakes. I won. The blueberry pancakes are to die for! Not filled with that gross blueberry pie filling that gets poured from a can, instead, the pancakes were packed with plump fresh blueberries and served piping hot with a side of maple syrup. The coffee and hot chocolate were also great! Our service was fast and friendly, and even though the waiter was busy, he took his time chatting with us and was fast with coffee and water refills. Overall, if you're looking for a great breakfast place I would highly recommend Byways Cafe!
(4)
Robyn R.

I adored this place from the moment we walked in. It's crowded and a bit chaotic, but in an entirely good way: It's a bright, cheerful, welcoming place that doesn't leak even an ounce of pretension. The walls are covered with random memorabilia from around the country, all of which seems to have been lovingly (albeit arbitrarily placed); the staff is hip and smiley; the food is fantastic, and, if you're in the mood for a cup of coffee that will shoot the roof, you're in just the right place: They serve Stumptown brew. Some diners might complain about the location of the restaurant's bathroom (behind the kitchen), but I thought the intimacy of its placement only added to the warm, family feel of Byways. Definitely check it out (and definitely order a biscuit and request honey. They're delish).
(4)
Rebecca R.

Good, old school diner atmosphere. The coffee mugs don't match but that just adds to the charm of the place. Be prepared for a wait but worth it. I had the blueberry pancakes and my husband had hash. Good food at a reasonable price. Breakfast is the only thing served on Sundays so if you want lunch type of food, it won't happen. Looking forward to try it again.
(4)
Marie F.

Breakfast was excellent.mbiscuits were light and graveyard was good. Of course egg agg, baco, and coffee were good too. Waitress was cheery, efficient and helpful.
(5)
Stevo S.

Was looking forward to it based on reviews. Long wait for underwhelming food. My fried egg sandwich was made with scrambled eggs. The potatoes were cold and mushy after asking for well done. All in all average food, especially considering the other great options a few blocks away.
(2)
Patti F.

I've been in Portland 4 years, and 2 of them I lived in the Pearl. I loved the hipster, yuppie, and dink places that are happy to charge me $10 for a nice glass of wine and a placemat. But, I longed for something more "real", less pretentious (and don't tell me the Pearl isn't pretentious because I LOVE it for that), and down-home good. Byways offers just that. The decor is something you just have to see. it's like every diner you've even been in your life, and then some. If you've taken a road trip anywhere and had to stop at that scary little diner because you were starving, and ended up enjoying your meal...you know what I mean. I love the breakfasts, although I always get the same thing: Tillamook scramble, or sometimes I would venture out and get the Athena. Both scrambles are generously glopped with cheese (which seriously, is it possible to have too much?) - come with home fries, and your choice of bread...or you can take a gigantic biscuit that resembles a hockey puck ...but luckily doesn't taste like it. OH! And they have a fresh dessert everyday, most times a coffee cake to die for. Eat your food, enjoy it, and take one of those coffee cake specials home with you - it'll last you 3 days (the portions are enormous). The staff is friendly, but not in a false "overly" friendly way. They are real people, busy, inundated by people waiting over an hour for a table, who come in a little crabby, yet they somehow know once they get you fed - you'll go away happy again. They seem like real people, who live like most of us Portlanders - a little strange, a little eclectic, but always willing to take a little time out to say "hello - how are you?" Believe me, sometimes in the Pearl, you just want a REAL person to wait on you - and it's refreshing when they also happen to be nice (and efficient).
(4)
Ryan A.

By far, the best omelet I've had in . . . possibly, years. That's it, though. The service was mediocre, the place was dirty (glasses, items on the table, just in general), and it was overpriced ($12 each for the meal and juice). We were here right when they opened at 7:30am, we decided to go because the wait is always way too long at any other time. I think that anomaly may be due to the fact that Portlanders love their breakfast, but they don't love working on weekend mornings. So, there aren't that many brunch places but there are a lot of people wanting breakfast/brunch. The wait is long everywhere. So, I guess the fact that you have to wait in line doesn't mean the place is great. Lesson learned. Again, it was one of the best omelets I've had in a long time, but the expensive orange juice seemed like it was out of a can, the toast was bad to say the least and the potatoes were downright awful (for their sake, I hope they just happened to get some bad ones).
(3)
Kelley G.

Fun place, delicious food, reasonable prices! I had the Space Needle scramble, which was PERFECTLY cooked, the home fries were deliciously flavored, tasty orange juice. Nice waiter. Decorations were fun. My boyfriend had the blue corn pancakes with pecan stuff. He thought they were great! The waiter even came back to ask him if he wanted more coffee after we had the bill which NEVER happens anywhere. We will definitely go there next time we are down in Portland!
(4)
Rob D.

Simple. Good. Heaping plate of hash. Strong coffee and weird but fun music mix this morning. Thanks Byways Cafe for providing the atmosphere for my Monday morning date. I highly suggest this to anyone looking for good eats on the cheap in this corner of NW Portland.
(4)
Tam F.

I added this restaurant to my bookmarks in June 2008 after seeing it on Diners, Drive-In's and Dives and today, I had the opportunity to dine here with the wonderful Jen K! This place has been reviewed so many times there is no need to go over every aspect. Yes, the diner is small. Yes, the coffee is Stumptown and good but not strong. No, they do not serve lunch on Saturdays and Sundays, only breakfast and yes, I will wager that their food is consistently good but not great or fancy pants. I had a combo of sorts-blue corn pancake (good, not great as it was bit dryer than expected), perfectly cooked bacon, perfectly cooked over easy egg AND they have marble rye toast which is always a plus for me! Decent breakfast and yes, I would come back. This all being said, I had the fortune of getting spend a lovely day with the infamous Jen K. and though this place was not the highlight of our visit, it was awesome to get to cross a place off of my "go to someday" list and to spend time with her!
(3)
Ben N.

We don't eat big breakfasts very much, either out or in, but for some reason we had a hankering for it early one morning during our Portland stay. We sort of lucked into Byways Cafe after we drove by it on our way out of the downtown area and thought it looked interesting, and my wife found it touted in the Willamette Week thingy we were carrying around from the hotel room. So we turned the car around and parked across the street. Byways Cafe has supposedly been around for only about a decade, but it feels older. Like decades older. It's got the plush-looking vinyl booths, an old lunch counter, and a rather odd collection of collectible plates and other knick-knacks as decor. On the morning we were there, the music was big-band and pre-WWII pop stuff. All in all, a pleasant and evocative room to spend some time in. Food-wise, the Byways' breakfast aims are pretty basic: big omelettes and scrambles, pancakes, egg-and-bacon plates, etc. And the food was competently prepared, nicely presented, and affably served. Fried-egg sandwich--egg over hard, good bacon, cheese, quality toasted sourdough--was very simple but good. Home fries were a bit better than average. My wife ordered this monster called Meg's Veggie Mountain, which consisted of the home fries mixed with spinach, mushrooms, and jack cheese, served with a nice homemade salsa. I had to help her finish it, so I found out how tasty it was. Serving the apparently obligatory but excellent Stumptown coffee. P.S. I'm getting friggin' embarrassed about this, but I found out only after the fact (by looking at Byways' website) that we had stumbled into yet another Guy Fieri stop-in. How the heck many places did this doof visit in Portland?
(4)
anna a.

Perfectly delightful! Boasts a broad menu, friendly servers, and a wealth of vintage kitschy travel stuff to look at while your boyfriend reads the paper and you sip your coffee. Definitely a winner!
(5)
Cass M.

Amaretto French toast is all I really need to say but I will say that every single person in our group was happy with the food and drinks. Its small and fun and perfect for breakfast. My only gripe is the insane bathroom, not good for heels or hangovers!
(4)
Kristy A.

Byways is my go to breakfast joint. It's in the Pearl, but I'm pretty sure it was there before the uppity was. I usually go when I'm with just one other person, not only because the atmosphere is welcoming enough to feel comfortable having a catching up gossip fest but you can sit at the bar without too long of a wait. Now the coffee is strong, the portions are perfect, and you have the option of proprietress cooked cake for breakfast. You can get cake for breakfast? Oh yes, yes you can. And there are usually a smattering of other baked goodies available behind the counter. I usually feel like a hash or such, but they serve a mean sandwhich, too. The only way this place could be better is if they sold snow globes, but that's just me. (Once you see the decor you'll understand... or maybe you won't.) Bottom line, Byways is a solid joint that is worth a small wait and isn't where you bring the whole gang. Come with one or two friends and enjoy yourself in this nook of morning goodness.
(5)
Brian H.

Seriously the best breakfast dinner in town. Good coffee, Great service, Amazing food!
(5)
Johnny S.

super great breakfast. from the coffee to the eggs benedict. left happy. will be back.
(4)
Kyle P.

Good diner with pretty good food. Remember it is a diner and not portraying a 5 star place. If you watch those shows on food network at least be prepared for the name of the show to be correct dumb asses. Line outside but moves quickly
(4)
Sasha S.

It's one of those days, today, those days you really don't want to make small talk with friends. You don't want to socialize, nor be burdened by political speak. You simply want a breakfast- an all American breakfast. Your stomach is sticking together from hunger the uncomfortable sensation from not eating in 12 hours... you need an omelet. You need toast. You need some swill. I googled this morning to go to a new place for breakfast. I came here and it was not the best, not the worst, A'OK. As I sat at the little cafÃ© bar a loud couple rumbled in and sat next to me exclaiming things like, "It's like the 1970's in here!" and "I once dated a cobbler." and "OMG I am like, so so hungry. I want a cherry coke." I placed my order, an omelet at $8.50 packed with green peppers, jack cheese, onions and avocados. Another older gentlemen came and sat next to me making small talk about his wife getting lost in Victoria, BC. I got my food, and... well here goes. The first bite was beautiful, the cheese was the consistency of a rich warm butter, melting lightly playing with the flavors of the thick avocado. The onions translucent complementing the crunch of the green peppers. The omelet was fantastic- but stars were dropped for... The potatoes. Every cafÃ© in Portland has their house potatoes, some burnt to a crisp with the black smokey flavor over-powering. Some have them undercooked and they are really cold and mushy, not good. These were.. weird. To be honest I bit a few times and I noted they were cold, not really warm, and had a pumpkin seed taste. They weren't quite delicious- meh. The coffee wasn't very good... But it was ok.
(3)
Roy S.

Roy 'The Hungry Englishman' So I'm getting a little behind on my 'yelping', so thought it best to get this one down promptly on my return home before I do anything else and while it's still fresh in my mind. Being back in Portland I was very much looking forward to a great breakfast at Byways as the reviews were so good not to mention it's feature on Dinners, Drive-Ins and Dives. But I'm sad to say my experience was a little lack luster, a great pity as the mistakes they made were silly and could easily have been avoided with a little more care. I ordered the basic breakfast with potatoes, eggs and my favorite, a big fat sausage. I was especially impressed with the latter as many establishments here in the US often use those awful sausage patties or those silly little, so called 'breakfast' sausages instead of the real thing. Lets face it there is nothing quite like a big, fat juicy sausage, at least when it is cooked correctly...! So the breakfast turned up, took a little while but that's okay as the place was busy. The first thing I noticed was that fat juicy sausage I was so looking forward to...and I'm afraid to say the cook made the cardinal mistake when cooking sausages, namely they cut it in half..! Even the most inexperienced cook knows that once cut open all the juices and flavor is lost and as a result, what was once my big fat juicy sausage was now dry and over cooked. What's the point in having such nice ingredients only to ruin them in the execution (and I do mean 'execution'...!). Regrettably that was not the only issue as my (underdone) eggs and potatoes were cold (along with the sausage). Normally I would have complained but I have better things to do today than hang around waiting for this to be put right and besides my wife was already tucking into here pancakes which by all accounts were excellent along with here 'fresh' squeezed orange juice. The place was great as was the staff and the coffee was fine too. When next in town we may try again but so often in life you only get one chance to impress and I was not. I hope Byways reads this post as I think I may just have been out of luck today. My advice would be to make sure the food comes out 'hot' and PLEASE don't cut the sausage cook, these things are supost to be plump, juicy and flavorful. I know it's easier and quicker to cook them when cut in half but if that's Your attitude then it's easier and quicker for a customer to find a better breakfast, especially in a great food town like Portland. Happy eating, Roy
(2)
Andrew E.

Quite possibly the best sausage gravy I have ever tasted. I will be ordering a side of gravy with any breakfast at Byways. Simple menu, but the gravy puts them over the top.
(5)
Jasmine L.

Located in the Pearl District, this little restaurant was featured on a Food Network show, and attracted my boyfriend and I to go check this place out. The interior is cute, filled with little souvenirs I'm guessing the chef collected along his travels. I really wanted to go have their breakfast, as that was the feature of the show, but we arrived too late, and tried their lunch instead... which made us both a little disappointed because we had lots of things we wanted to try on the breakfast menu... and really wasn't as interested in their lunch menu. And I'll have to say that I thought their food was only okay...
(3)
andy h.

The BEST cafe/diner I've ever been to! Walked in and was promptly seated at the counter, got a cup of some HEAVENLY Sump Town Coffee. The server came by told me a couple specials but I didn't want anything to do with em' I was I an omelet mood this morning. So after looking at their selections of omelets each one sounding better and better so I chose the Valley Omelet I think it was. So my server came back shortly after setting down my menu and refilled my half empty coffee and then it was wait time! Probably took about 10-15 minutes to get my food which gave me plenty of time to enjoy catching up on the news and another cup of coffee. And while I was reading I noticed that they have got a lot of regulars so that should mean that they have got some amazing food! And when my omelet came out I was amazed! It looked good and I was excited to get started! The only thing lacking was maybe a little garnish on top of the omelet itself. But "The proof is in the pudding" and it was amazing! It had spinach, feta cheese, mushrooms and onions and all cooked and seasoned to perfection. My potatoes came out hot an crisp with the perfect seasoning. My server checked on me and refilled my coffee several times through out the meal. The whole price came out to $11.45 which is not bad compared to the quality of the food and the service! My only is complaint is Why can't I give you 10 stars??!!!!! I am definitely going to be back regularly! I can't wait to get my next meal!
(5)
Chris S.

Always busy and consistently good. Fun place, quick service. I had the hash and it rocked. I love their mushroom soup as well. usually a 1/2 hour wait but never much more than that.
(5)
Christina B.

Two words: French Toast. It's massive and delicious (my husband's words not mine). I had an omelet and potatoes. I am a breakfast person, and I generally order some type of egg dish. This one ranks towards the top of the list for me. The atmosphere is relaxed, and it was fun to watch the interaction between the waitress and the regulars. This is a great breakfast place.
(4)
Jeff M.

A Haiku Review of Byways Cafe: Yes, decor is fun. But the food is just average. At least there's Stumptown...
(3)
Hugo C.

Breakfast might be the shit, but lunch was just plain shitty. I opted for that day's special burger: the Dallas Burger. Its toppings where forgettable, quite unlike the remarkable first bite that I took. I took a nice big bite and had to spend a few seconds staring back at my burger. "Wait, what is that? Is that what I think it is?" It was a cheap tasting, poorly seasoned beef patty. I'll grant that it's not as offensive as a chopped off finger or a dead insect, but it's still a Class A felony in my book! I suppose that I've been spoiled by enough fancy schmancy burgers that I've come to expect some quality meat that's worthy of being cuddled and loved into hand-formed patties. I can't be certain of the patties that they're packing, but I can say that I've had better 'Kirkland Signature' beef patties. And not even those decent half-pound Angus patties, I'm talking about the patties that come in bags of 24 for $5.
(2)
Sarah G.

Thanks to Triple D, I had to make this one of my stops in Portland. We came on a weekday, so it's wasn't pack. The decor... well, you just have to see for yourself (or pictures from other yelpers). My bf ordered the Amaretto French Toast (I believe the waiter offered him to opt for the half stack) and I got the Blue Corn Pancakes - half stack. I suggest that if you're not into corn bread, then don't bother with the pancakes because it's similar in texture. I think what really makes the pancakes good was the pecan butter. That butter was good and added some sweet richness to the pancakes. I should have asked for more, but didn't want to gain the weight for it lol. I took a bite of my bf's french toast and it was yummy. Too bad I can't give you more details on the toast because I had to finish my pancakes and I knew I wouldn't have room in my stomach if I ate more toast. And at the end, I still couldn't finish my pancakes. The portions here were on the big side, so don't over order.
(4)
Formicas F.

RUDE RUDE RUDE. Not sure the food is worth what you have to deal with to eat it. We never even got to order. I wouldn't try eating here with kids. They treated us so rudely when we tried and were very irritated that we arrived with a stroller. When our baby spilled water (Thanks to them sitting it on the edge of the table) and we asked for clean up help- the waitress got all miffed that we were in the aisle and told us to move then tried pushing past us and when that didn't work she marched around to the other side of the aisle and slammed down the menus on the counter. Really lady? There was no where for us to move while they were cleaning up the spill. We tried squeezing the stroller into the tiny spot they suggested and when that didn't work we just got up and left. They seem pleased. Now that I know their "true colors" you couldn't pay me to eat here- even if I didn't have the kids in tow. No excuse for such rudeness. They really need a better waitress because she gives the place a FOUL reputation for service. Instead we walked to Mothers and had a FABULOUS experience.
(1)
Von G.

Byways is quant in size, think walk in closet with attached kitchen. Because of this seating is harder to find than Hoffa. Parking in the same respect can be tricky since it's on a very busy street with limited spaces. We walked and took the trolly which was easy enough to do. The interior harkens back to a well-used Americana diner you'd find in the late 50's with a pull up to the bar counter and accoutrements to match through out the room. The service is friendly and engaging, quick to give helpful suggestions and answer any menu questions. I ordered the special for the day, a scramble with sauteed onions, bacon, blue cheese, and avocado with a side of fresh fruit and a cup of house coffee. The special had a rustic flavor and was quite good but the avocado wasn't ripe enough so it was hard and tasteless. It would have been perfect if the avocado was ripe. The fruit was good, yet the coffee was your garden variety food service brand and not much other than warm. Byways is a good example of a small business exercising their strength and for them that is breakfast. Specifically it's their pancakes and waffles which are so huge in size they'd gag Goliath. I doubt anyone truly clears their plate when ordering one of these monstrous meals. Everyone in our small group just put a small dent into their portion leaving most of it behind when we left. I think all the hype I've heard about this place in context of their breakfast is well justified even if they don't get it right 100% of the time.
(4)
Greg G.

We finally managed to get to this place before it closed and when it was not so crowded that we would have needed to wait for a long time. The seating is very limited and the atmosphere is very Portland. The actual date of this review was Mid December 2011. The breakfast choices are excellent and just about anything can be ordered as either an omelet or a scramble. The service is about typical for what you would expect for a place where everything is made by hand and to order. Definitely not fast but not slow either. In the interim, the server was very friendly and attentive. The only thing that I thought was a little odd was the size of the plates that the food is served on. The plates are really too small for what they put on them and does not allow for a garnish or your toast to be served on the same place. However, it just gives the food a rather odd presentation when the plate is so small for such wonderful fare. I am guessing that one reason for this is that they are attempting to use vintage dinnerware from the 50's and 60's but my recommendation is if you're in the mood for a very good and something that is not typical, average breakfast food. This place is different, just like Portland. However, I don't think that the server can provide you with a bio on the pig or the chicken that produced the food.
(4)
Heather H.

It has been almost a year since we visited Byways Cafe. This time we were in town for a Bruce Springsteen concert and stayed at the Benson which is relatively close to Byways. Our dining experience was so fabulous the first time we immediately decided we would eat here on our way out of town. Again, we were not disappointed. This time I had a cup of the saffron cauliflower soup...VERY DELISH!! Along with a chicken cobb sandwhich...the bread was fresh and chewy, the chicken was real (not processed) and it came with lettuce, tomato, bacon and avacado. My boyfriend had their teriyaki turkey burger. I tasted it and it was also very delicous! I highly recommend this cafe!
(5)
Haley S.

The fried egg sandwich add avocado, DO IT!! This place has got great American breakfast and a following to match. They're very busy I think all of the time but worth the wait. We usually have to wait about 45 minutes on the weekend. My SO always has the Space Needle omelette and loves it. It's small and is decorated with old Americana memorabilia. It needs a little bit of a face lift but is still comfortable. I've never had bad service here and am happy to see the same faces every time we go.
(4)
Jason L.

This is a pretty regular spot for me. Great character, great staff, great food. I've only had one bad experience (a hair in my fruit cup), but the staff was extremely apologetic and took care of it immediately. Be sure to check out the specials board, because they usually have some pretty good stuff up there. + pro - con + Awesome breakfast + Scrambles are outstanding + They have some bad-for-you breakfast that is HUGE and amazing - None, really
(4)
Christy L.

Ate the Multnomah Melt sandwich for lunch. The challah bread is wonderful and the fries are crispy and delicious. The sandwich was ok- I wished that I had been here for breakfast to try to the challah bread in french toast form.
(3)
Reggie J.

We almost went to a cafe that looked like a Starbucks - very corporate neutral. I wanted unique so we split and came to Byways Cafe. Big difference! Shiny red booths like a 50's style diner, greeted by very friendly staff at the door and offered a child seat for our wee one without having to ask. Also, one worker was just leaving as we sat down and the owner or manager called out to her "great job today!" Gotta love a place where employees are treated with respect and appreciation. Our waitress was so nice and our food was brought out quickly. Hubby had the basic egg, meat and bread option (over easy, bacon & english muffin), and I tried the blue corn pancakes with eggs and bacon. He really enjoyed his meal and I liked mine, but decided blue corn pancakes aren't for me (they were good though, just not my thing). Tasty fare and great service. I want to come back and try their lunch and desserts!
(4)
Lindsey S.

We've been looking for a close breakfast joint since we moved here in February. We saw the rave reviews of this place and stopped by on a visit here. The restaurant is really small, so you can literally watch your progress on the lineup inch by as people take their last bites. In other words, be ready for a wait. Then you get inside and it's a quaint little place. The menu is nothing special. Has your typical scrambles, hashes, and pancakes, with the exception of their blue corn pancakes which are inventive and pretty tasty. I had their French toast which was a little bland but the pecan butter made up for that. We've tried a few scrambles and the are nothing special but still good. All in all the food is satisfying. What makes this place a three is the service and the sanitary situation. I'm not normally a stickler for this kind of thing, but when half the waitresses hair is down, when one's eating a banana in the kitchen, the other is throwing stuff from the floor to clean dish pile, and then the bathroom is through the kitchen so people track who knows what through there during your delicious meal's cooking process.
(3)
Aimee L.

Great service, first of all - super nice gal who greeted us with a great big smile, good and genuine personality, and good follow up (hey, it's important to make sure the customer's happy, not just take their order and give them the check, so I give points to this!). I ordered the special burger - canadian bacon and swiss and mushrooms, and it was A-OK. Not spectacular but lots of juices running down the hands. Next time I want to try a non-beef item to see if I like it better, and definitely want to try breakfast, so hopefully I can raise the food rating to four or five stars.
(3)
Josh V.

I went here on my first trip to Portland back in February, but somehow I forgot to review it. This will be brief since it's no longer fresh in my memory ("Thank God!" my regular readers cry). I had an excellent breakfast here. The food was good, the waitress was friendly and the coffee really hit the spot. It was a bit cramped, and getting around sometimes requires the cooperation of people at other tables. I was alone, so I ate at the counter. The decor? Well, there's a lot of crap on the walls.
(4)
Jessica Y.

The blue corn pancakes are great! Pleasantly surprised to find this non-pretentious breakfast spot in the Pearl.
(4)
Jim S.

Review is for lunch, I know NOT breakfast? From the clever sign outside, to the lunch counter, booths and tables Byways is exactly what I expected. Arriving at 11:30 I was pleased to discover there was plenty of seating available and I was immediately greeted by our server with genuine good humor and service. Per our servers suggestions I ordered the gumbo special. All in all I give the dish a 3. It was well seasoned, had enough elements to be interesting and the portion was filling. It was prepared neutral in heat, which should satisfy all without insulting anyone. I would have preferred a more authentic sausage with more heat and texture, but for this venue and at this price I was satisfied and happy. I walked in at 11:20 and out at 12:10 so for a lunch break it was perfect service. Price point was about spot on and this is an affordable lunch at a fun quirky, pink plate sort of place! I say do it, baby yeahhh.
(4)
Karen J.

I have been here twice in a two year period. I'm a fan of both the Amaretto French Toast and the blue corn pancakes. Next time, which I'm hoping is soon, will try the hash. Good and friendly service. A great choice for breakfast and lunch in downtown Portland.
(4)
Marisa S.

I wanted to like this place. I remember I saw a Diners, Drive-ins and Dives a while back and I had been craving coming to this place. We spend summers in Hood River, so whenever I have a chance, I spend the day in the Pearl District. Maybe breakfast is great, but my lunch was nothing special. I had the Multnomah Melt, nothing to write home about. What I did like was the potato salad, it had crunch and was very tasty. I am going to spare my husband the disappointment. We will try somewhere else next time.
(2)
Kim W.

I love this place.
(5)
B. Y.

Slow service. Blue corn pancakes made up for it.
(3)
Debbie W.

Since the Everett St Bistro (and its delicious frittatas) had the audacity to be closed down :-( we decided to try, on Christmas Eve, Byways for breakfast. Wow, delicious. Love the space, the mismatched coffee mugs and flat ware, the lovely wait staff, the stumptown and most importantly - as somebody else has said - the HAPPY CAMPER scramble - best breakfast in years. The hombre had eggs, bacon and the blue cornmeal pancakes which were also outstanding. Stumbled out and back on the road to Seattle very satisfied.
(5)
Hunter B.

Nice Place! Friendly people, Wonderful coffee, good food! I got the Mt. Rushmore Hash. It was pretty good and the portion size was kinda awesome (basically just a big pile of goodness filling the whole plate!). I recommend it. Overall, a good place to have my first breakfast in Portland!
(3)
John S.

Bring your appetite and some time because Byways serves huge portions and everybody wants it. On a recent trip to Portland, my wife and I were taken to Byways by a local friend. My wife and I split a breakfast and both had plenty. Our friend ordered her own and had enough to feed a small family. If you are looking for the quintessential 'dive spot' for breakfast, Byways is the place. It has charm, great food, and a down home feel. Made me feel like I was back in the mountains of Tennessee and stumbled in to the local coffee shop.
(4)
Shiyala B.

I was super excited to try this place. Read great reviews on it and was thinking it was gonna be quite the hidden gem! We got there the decor was very cute, very fifties diner! The service was good and prompt! It was kind of disturbing that the bathroom is pretty much in the kitchen, and is super tiny. This can't be right with health codes, I found it a little wrong that in the same space they were cooking my food the public (aka paying customers of the restaurant) could walk in the kitchen use the bathroom and come back out! Big turn off! The food was so-so truely nothing to rave about! I got the pikes peak omlette and my friend got the redwood scramble and we got the blueberry pancakes to share! I have had better omlettes else where this one had no flavor at all and the home fried potatoes were nothing special. My friend said hers was okay but again nothing special! When we ordered the pancakes I told the waitress that we were gonna share the pancakes and we only got one tiny thing of syrup to share between the both of us. Needless to say I will not be frequenting this place again it just didn't do it for me much rather would of spent my money at a breakfast chain other than here!
(2)
Jeff G.

I went here because I overheard two seperate people talking about how good it was. When I saw the huge line I thought that it might turn out to be true. Turns out it's okay but not worth waiting an hour for a table. Our horrible waitress didn't help either. After 30 minutes our food hadn't come but we were on vacation so I decided to relax and not to say anything...45 minutes later I finally asked the waitress where our food was. The waitress told me she didn't know and when I asked if she could check she said with a straight face "No. I neverngo in there. It'll come when it's ready. There are a lot of places on my " must do in Portland list." this ain't one of them.
(2)
John T.

I'm giving them 5 stars for 1 main reason, i loved the biscuit and gravy. full sized biscuit covering a plate with delicious gravy smothering it with love made me smile. Wish i had ordered that instead of having to steal from my friend's plate. I had the mt Rushmore, a corned beef hash that looks like a mosh pit of onions, potatoes, cheese, and meat bouncing around trying to feel up each other. The meat was not obliterated and tiny, with a nice sweetness that stood up to the non proteins trying to push it around. Ahh such a good breakfast both plates satisfied me.
(5)
ShÃ©a M.

Had the Napa Burger. AMAZING! Unfortunately the service is rather slow, but the food is worth the wait. I love the cute, kitschy decor, too!
(4)
Pamela H.

I'm just gonna say it. Some of the best bacon I've ever had. Perfectly cooked, perfectly awesome. They must have found a magic pig or something. I love the old school aesthetic to this diner. Even our waitress appeared to have been there since the 50s, and I mean that in the nicest possible way. She had the mad skills that can only be obtained through years and years of serving. You go girl. Oh, and they serve Stumptown. I love.
(4)
S Luc S.

Three stars it is. Not for lack of trying though. Peter, our waiter, made the visit worth it. Let me backtrack. My eating companion and I decided to game plan on where to eat in Portland on a Sunday in downtown. I racked my brain for something mid priced and not schmancy...wah-la... Byways! I called ahead and asked if they took names on a list. The girl who answered the phone must have woken up on the wrong side of the booth. Phone etiquette, she does not have. Even when I asked how long the wait was, she was nonchalant and dismissive and hung up with out so much as a "hope to see you soon". I steeled myself on the walk over to not rip her throat out in the midst of my plummeting blood sugar level. So, we arrive, write our names down ( my companion noticed the dismissive nature of the hostess...hungsies perphaps?) and were seated in less than 10 minutes. Barely had time to get a good game of Marry, Boff, Kill going. On to the service which was the saving grace. Peter. Funny, flirtatious, helpful with the menu. We even shared stories of accidents that should have killed us as children, but only slightly maimed or injured. I wish my coffee would have gotten refilled once more. Though when he filled it, he made sure not to let it dribble onto the table like so many other servers do. The pancakes came out later than the rest of the food. Manuel and Megan gave me extra bacon as a make up. The cakes are wayyy better as soon as they come off of the griddle. Otherwise, they kinda gum up. I thought the sausage gravy could have had more kick, though my biscuit was completely on point. My omelet was satisfying. I had the Redwood which had less bacon than I imagined..no worries, given I had the extra and my companion gave me theirs...it was a bacon bonanza! My companion had the Fried egg sandwich, which was completely devoured. All in all, I would go back. It's simple, not over the top fare. Satisfying, and Peter is a doll! So, for this round, I'd Marry Peter, Boff the food, and Kill the hostess.
(3)
Anya K.

Wanted to eat breakfast here but found out they weren't serving it anymore by the time I arrived. I opted for a burger (which they were happy to put over lettuce for me instead of the bun) and it was delicious. Perhaps on the small side, but it still filled me up. Also had some pumpkin coffee cake which was phenomenal and as I was told, baked in house. Really friendly staff too!
(4)
John R.

I liked it soooo much, that I went back for breakfast twice on my last visit to Portland. Great food, cool interior... and the service was right on. Arrived right before 11 for breakfast, and they were cool with it. Usually they'll kill you for doing that at most breakfast stops. Kudos for playing cracklin' rose on the sound system btw! This place gets it all right.
(4)
Jason S.

Diner with kitsch on the wall. Service is friendly. Food is sub-par, at best. Went once and was underwhelmed. A couple friends wanted to go to breakfast and I didn't want to rain on the parade, so I went again. After the meal, I spent a good chunk of time in the bathroom. Won't be back.
(2)
JW R.

Been here for breakfast. Been here for lunch. Breakfast is better, but only because I'm a total fiend for breakfast food. It's a teeny place. It's crowded even before you fill it with people. There's no indication if you should just sit down or wait (you should wait). Once we got seated the service was prompt, the food was good (fried egg sammich with bacon, OMG). Prices were very much Pearly. Said fried egg sammich with bacon was 7 bucks. There was, however, a problem getting seated. If you're not wait averse, skip the rest of this review and head to Byways. Me, I'm wait averse, so this bugged the shit out of me. I wanted to go somewhere else after it took a few minutes for someone to acknowledge us even though we were taking up all of the space available for waiting and the place wasn't full. Then we were told to write our names on the list. Um, okay. There's only a one top in front of us, but we'll play along. Then she gets the one top settled, walks through us to the list and starts calling names. THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WAITING FOR A TABLE! W-T-F?? So she finally gets to our four top and starts looking for a table. IT'S. RIGHT. THERE! There's only one clean, empty table in the joint! I can see it! This is a room you can almost spit across the depth of, are you kidding me? Organization is not hard. Neither is hustle. Kitsch is not an excuse to drag your ass. Popularity, apparently, is. Maybe it was a bad day. I'm not sold on Byways, but if friends or coworkers want to go back, I'll go. Maybe they'll impress me then.
(2)
Alvin B.

Not much to really say other than its genuinely good food w/ a simple menu. Everything was made pretty much as you'd expect it to be so there were no disappointments yet no stand outs. The staff was attentive, friendly, and took care of our numerous requests w/ a smile and they were quick about it. After exploring more places to eat I'd definitely come back to eat at this quaint little spot.
(4)
John Y.

I heard about Byways Cafe on Food Network on the Diners Drive-Ins and Dives show and thought of it while visiting Portland this weekend. The diner is small and very popular so you can imagine the wait. We arrived for lunch around 12:30p and were happy to see they were still serving breakfast (served all day on the weekend). We waited about 45 minutes which seemed like an eternity with kids but I guess it could have been worse. The staff was very polite and helpful. I think I was expecting something amazing since the Food Network guys make everything look so great but I wasn't that impressed. I had the hash which was a ton of food. My wife had an omlette which wasn't anything special and the kids had some pancakes. Nothing was terrible, it just didn't stand out for me. If I was in the area again and the wait wasn't bad I would consider trying it again.
(3)
Amanda J.

I ate at Byways because Cha Cha Cha wasn't going to be ready for another half-hour and I was starving. I figured an $8 omelet must be pretty amazing.... wrong. Good amount of spinach, really cheap on the feta, but the worst part was the grey areas of egg. I was excited by the prospect of home fries - which are really good when they're done well - but, as others have mentioned, these were orange for some unknown reason (because it certainly wasn't any sort of seasoning; they might as well have been plain boiled potatoes for how bland they were). And I guess toast is difficult, too; mine was served dry with burnt crusts. I wish I had gotten the french toast!
(2)
Joel N.

Had the Mt Rushmore hash and the Amaretto French Toast. Both were delicious, in greatly different ways. The hash was a big hearty breakfast, lots of potatoes, corned beef, onions and the over medium egg I ordered on top was cooked to perfection. It's a dish I could eat at least twice a week, forever. For being a large savory dish I felt like the french toast was it's counterpoint. 4 large, think slices of *Flavorful* french toast, hints of the Ameretto and vanilla throughout, served with a side of pecan honey butter. The butter really set the dish over the edge for me and both my wife and I couldn't stop eating it. Service was great! Friendly and attentive but not over the top. Also got a chocolate chip scone to take with us as we perused downtown Portland. A nice sweet treat to nibble on as we enjoyed the beautiful views of the city. I'd definitely come back to get more of that french toast!
(5)
Martin P.

Stepping into Byways feels like flashing back to an awful family vacation out West, the memories of which are much fonder than the experience itself ever was. Intentionally kitschy, with plates, mugs and old-time souvenirs from around the country lining the walls. It's got an old-time diner feel to it that helps you forget you're in middle of the Pearl, or any city, for that matter. I generally roll my eyes at the breakfast craze that seems to have swept over this town (anyone who waits in line for an omelet and rosemary potatoes and brags about it probably doesn't know anything about cooking), but I'll give Byways props for being damn good at what they do. Scrambled eggs that are always moist, hangover-sized portions, and usually a special or two for when you're feeling unconventional. The waitstaff has always been exceedingly friendly, almost suspiciously so, like this is a come on for a cult or something. Quick coffee refills will keep you busy maintaining the perfect mix of cream and sugar. Nice selection of hot sauces for those so inclined. I hear Rachel Ray likes it, but I'm giving it 4-stars anyway. Solid breakfast joint all around, but for the love of God, don't wait more than 10 minutes in line for it.
(4)
Mal C.

FINALLY! After extensive searching, my first respectable breakfast in Portland! The blue corn pancakes were incredible - even after finishing an entire Pikes Peak scramble (3 eggs, bacon, mushrooms, potatoes, onions, chives, and jack cheese), along with homefries and toast, I couldn't stop stealing pancakes off my gf's plate. This is not b/c I was still hungry - the portions were great... Coffee could have been stronger, but all in all, everything was delicious! Good service at counter.
(4)
Steve C.

Good affordable food. Large portions. Great service.
(4)
Ashley D.

I met the (part?) owner on a plane into PDX the night before and she was a sweetheart!! I decided I HAD to try their breakfast, and I am SOO glad I did. Since I had never seen the Diner show episode, I wasn't aware that the special pancakes were all the rage. Instead, I chose a signature veggie omelet, and my father ordered biscuits and gravy. We shared a freshly baked scone-- which was UHHH-mazing. So amazing, that I wish I had the recipe even though I know I'm not skilled enough to cook something that delicious. The place was packed, the crowd was diverse, and the location is awesome. I will be back :)
(5)
Whitney B.

I absolutely loooove Byways! This place has a great atmosphere and great food. I have never been disappointed and if there is ever a wait, it is definitely worth it. I usually go with a few friends on a Saturday or Sunday for brunch and it's expected that there will be a wait because this place is so fantastic and in a small venue. We just stand outside and talk about what we are going to have that week and how excited we are. They make all their pastries fresh and in house, The OJ is squeezed minutes before consumption, and their biscuits and gravy are TO DIE FOR!! I always have leftovers, so it's nice to be able to eat the same fantastic meal twice in a day :-) It's also really enjoyable to interact with the servers as they are very nice and have real conversations with you. Yay for Byways!
(5)
David E.

Poor service. There were many empty tables/ counter stools, but the staff just let my party and a handful of other would be customers wait for 30 minutes. Finally, we were seated...the waitress was nice enough, but I was let down by the food. I've experienced this several more times and have given up. Now I just go to Fullers if I want a diner or Cafe Isabel if I want vastly superior customer service and food in my neighborhood. Location should keep them in business for a while...but not for long.
(2)
Aaron I.

Blue corn pancakes, mmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!! Milkshakes, mmmmm!!!!!!!!!! Ask about the combo flavors, strawberry banana, chocolate, super mmmmmmmm!!!!!!! Awesome nostalgic diner, servers are grrrrreeeeeat! Almost forgot the seasonal pumpkin cream cheese coffee cake, super super duper, mmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Audrey W.

When you walk into this joint it feels like you're taking a road trip along Route 66 and stopped at a roadside cafe. From the vinyl booths to the old school tables with the flinted/speckled linoleum tops with the the thick silver frame. It's amazing. I almost forget that I'm right downtown. Top that off with delicious food and an amazing staff. Our waiter actually asked us how we wanted our eggs...over medium...then asked "what is your definition of over medium"... detail oriented and I love it!! Most waiters aren't that enlightened or maybe they just don't care enough to ask. I thought it was very endearing and thoughtful. You should go here. Really. Now...I'm not kidding.
(4)
shala d.

I LOVE this place. Good old fashion breakfast with a modern twist. The first morning I had Veggie Hash with Scrambled Eggs. The hash had potatoes, spinach, onion and green onion. I tried to eat it all but couldn't because the size was generous. The second morning I had a Athena Omelet , whole Kalamatas, Spinach and Feta served with fried potatoes and toast and this time I was able to eat it all. The staff is quirky and fun! They also have fresh juices. When in Portland this is my place!!
(4)
Sam K.

I would call this a 'baseline' greay spoon cafe. (Note: In my world 'Greasy Spoon' is not a slur or put down by any means.) By this I mean that it is a great place to use as a middle ground to compare other places. It looks like a classic American Cafe. Plates from all over the USA on the walls. Red and white vinyl booths. Steel trim on the table edges. Round stools at the bar. Like I said, classic Americana. The food is competent. They serve BIG ass plates of biscuits and gravy. Omlettes made 'clean' the way I like them, not a flat scramble folded in half i.e. 'dirty'. The coffee and in my case iced tea refills were rapid. I don't think they are reinventing the wheel with the menu, but it is solid. As my friend said "It's basic stick to yer ribs breakfast." The waitstaff has been top notch. I have never experienced apathy, or indifference here (I call that McMenamins' Syndrome). What I find interesting about Byways is that a basic American style cafe is located in the heart of the Pearl District. I was told that the location has been a cafe/diner in some form or another since the 1930's. In a sense the Pearl came up around the cafe. So when local people want something down home this is where they go. I think it is a smart marketing plan. The Pearl District is its own little world, and Byways succeds because in a sense it's 'plane jane breakfast' is actually something unique to the area. Anywhere else, I think it would just be another greasy spoon cafe. Cheers to the vanishing classic American Cafe. Cheers to Byways.
(4)
Bears W.

The food was excellent and the owner is super friendly! If they make the carrot cake pancakes again, be sure to get them!
(5)
Matthew M.

I walked in looked at the decorations. According to the decoration, it seem a grandma died in the 80's and her college student grand son took over and added his own touch of college life. The each table looks like it can only accommodate up to 2 people. But the booth seem to barely give enough room for 4. After reading some of the reviews, I finally remembered why Byways Cafe seem so familiar. DDD's Guy Fieri went there and I saw it on TV at my home in Los Angeles. Dammit! I missed out the Blue Corn Pancakes! Oh well. I shall try them next time I visit PDX. Also the son of the son (Is he? Well, they so look alike!) is cute. *sigh...* When I first saw my Philly sandwich, I saw a plethora of steak and melted cheese... When I bit my sandwich, horseradish sauce was the most noticeable, but not overpowering. The balance was just right; there were plenty of horseradish for it to be noticeable but just the right amount to allow me to taste the delicious steak and cheese. The fries can do better, but if I had some malt, I would have eaten them, all. Oh did I mention the young waiter there was cute? If it weren't for him, I would have given it 2 stars...
(3)
Ryan C.

how can u not give a 5 for this?? oh wait! minus 1/2 star for the stank... clothes stank of food. it's a pet-peeve of mine to get my clothing to smell like what i eat! CORNED BEED HASH! (mt rushmore) OMG OMG OMG.... did i say OMG?!? the mix of hash, peppers, onions... ARGHH! can't get any better than this. the taste of the beef still lingers in my head and tongue after almost a week! i miss you, my lovely hash..... the blue corn pancakes was... weird? well, it's gritty... don't really dig it... the butter compund though... OUTTA THIS WORLD! how can butter taste sooo good. honey, butter, pecans.. woweee! so so so good!
(5)
Schuyler C.

If the plus-sized fraulein with the braids serves you, the service is slow and painful. They close at 2 on weekends, and stop serving breakfast at 11 on weekdays. There will ALWAYS be a wait on weekends - sometimes a 15 minute wait that turns into 45. The coffee isn't great. The lunch menu is boring and none of their sandwiches or salads are any good. But the french toast is outstanding. Otherwise, this would be a 2-star place. I come here for the french toast. I order that or occasionally the blue corn pancakes. The omelettes are so-so, and pretty much everything else on the menu kind of stinks... but the french toast is so incredible that it doesn't matter. Come here for breakfast - preferably around 10 am on a weekday. Order the French toast. Split it with someone and also get an egg or a piece of bacon each. Yummy times. Yummy times. I don't care that it's kitchy. I don't care for the service one bit, most of the time. But somehow this is my favorite breakfast spot in the city 9 times out of ten because of that damn delicious French toast. My god...
(4)
Amanda L.

I have been to Byways Cafe now twice and have each time ordered the same thing; 3 blue corn pancakes with honey maple butter and an over-easy egg and veggie sausage on the side. Their omelets and scrambles certainly sound delightful, but I don't know if I could bring myself to NOT order the blue corn cakes. After all, where else can you get such a menu oddity? Pancakes aren't even normally my thing. They are so dense and filling, yet unsatisfying in the way that eating a cupcake for lunch is unsatisfying. Byways blue corn pancakes are the rare worthwhile exception. Plus, I love how Byways looks like a 1950's diner in the middle of the hoity-toity Pearl District. It's like stepping back in time to sample a bite of American nostalgia. So if ever the pancake craving hits me, I have no choice but to go here.
(4)
christy c.

We stop here for breakfast every time we visit Portland- in fact, on this trip? Two days in a row! You can get any omelet made with tofu. Side of garden sausage? Perfect.... Now only if I could go tomorrow....
(5)
Brad W.

After wanting to try the Pearl's much-talked-about diner-in-the-rough, we decided to avoid the weekend lines and check it out on a weekday. I tried the half order of amaretto French toast which was two incredibly large pieces of brioche. I enjoyed this, but as a "big eater" wondered who could possibly ever consume a full order. Don't get me wrong. the FT was good, but I have had better. The coffee was Stumptown, but tasted burnt and bitter. (And can we talk about coffee for just a second here? $2.25-2.50 for drip coffee? WTF?) My friend refused to order because most everything on the menu seemed overpriced and I had to admit there was not a lot of variety in lower-priced options. Their online breakfast menu is not updated with these new prices yet either, which feels a little bit like the old bait-and-switch. I wouldn't got to the Byways Cafe again purely on the principle that food worth waiting in line for bad better blow my mind, not my bank account.
(2)
Danny G.

This restaurant was featured in our guide book, so we made a trip to this cafe for Sunday brunch. And as our guide book said, we would have to wait a while to be seated--my wife and I waited 30 minutes through a shower to get two stools at the bar. But our guide book was wrong about one thing--how good the food was going to be. Coffee was weak. Athena Omlette was bland. Home fries were forgettable. The blueberry pancakes had more cinnamon than blueberries. The hot chocolate--Carnation Instant Cocoa? Seating was uncomfortably tight. Service was incredibly slow especially since we were seated at the bar where the waiter was standing. The food at Byways is worthy of three stars but the wait and cramped, busy atmosphere make this a restaurant you can easily pass up.
(2)
Kirk F.

First, an observation. Some people don't believe in bringing coffee to a diner. My friend Ted is embarrassed when I bring a cup of good Peets espresso, for instance, to a breakfast joint where I fear I will be served weak diner coffee with my bacon and eggs. Other people get this. My friend Julie totally understands when I walk into a diner with cups of dark coffee to go with our breakfasts. I've seen many different reactions from waiters and waitresses. Aside from one fascist diner I no longer frequent with a sign saying 'no outside coffee', most shops just say 'oh, I see you are set with coffee.' But I have never seen a waitress do what the woman at Byways did. When she saw my Stumptown Coffee to-go cup on the table, she held up her thermos of Stumptown coffee and ASKED IF SHE COULD GIVE ME A WARM UP!!! How freaking cool is that, to top up my outside coffee? But besides the most amazingly unexpected customer service I've seen in months, the food is fantastic. Blue corn pancakes are great (ask for them to throw some blueberries in too, you'll love it). Great biscuits. Fresh eggs. They make their own corn beef hash--I saw a cook slashing away at huge, tasty looking beefs--and not every place advertising 'home made hash' really makes their own. And, they brew good honest Stumptown coffee. I don't need to bring my own in the future, they showed me that--showing that customer service is rewarded. Great local diner.
(5)
Jennifer R.

Tried to stop in for brunch on Sunday but found a line down the block, we decided to try again on Monday and easily walked in and found a table for 2. It is rare that you find a restaurant that offers both quality and quantity, but Byways has got it down! the portions here are not for the faint of heart. My half size order of Amaretto French Toast consisted of 2 inch and a half thick slices of the most delicious custard like french toast I have ever had. Sprinkled with powdered sugar and slathered with their honey peacan butter there was no need for the organic maple syrup provided! Hubby had an order of Biscuits and gravy the plate arrived looking like a small volcano erupting with liquid sausage. He assured me it was the tastiest gravy he had ever had and you can't beat those homemade biscuits! I reccomend Byways Cafe again and again and again and again!!!
(5)
James M.

My wife and I made our 2nd trip to eat at Byways last Friday and it was well worth the flight up from LA. 2 orders of Amaretto Fench Toast to go stuffed into Tupperware to eat back in LA. The biscuits and gravy are awesome. I begged them to make me the Mt. Adam's Patty Melt for breakfast (wich they did)! Enuf said!
(4)
Laura N.

I'm not usually a sucker for "theme" restaurants (I 'OD-ed' on Hard Rock Cafes by the time I was 13, and now have a copious HRC cleaning rag collection...) But Byways is an exception. The kitschy, nearly gaudy 50s 'Route 66' theme has somehow received a pardon in my book. Maybe it's because before I could rush to judgement, I had a bite of their coffee cake. Cause DAMN. Now this is the first place I think of upon walking after a long night on the town, or when parental-type guests are in town (which don't often occur simultaneously). Their menu is is comfortable in all respects, and each time I have gone, it is the daily special that I end up indulging in. I must warn - the daily coffee cake DOES sell out, so the earlier the better. One star down because the food does take an awfully long time to come out. Just another reason to order coffee cake as your "appetizer"!
(4)
Andrew D.

For being featured on the food network u would expect amazing food. It is just average. Not worth the hour wait. Nothing special. Breakfast ends at 11am during the week. Weekends it served all day with no lunch available.
(2)
Bella H.

Pros: great omelette's and scrambles, and amazing service. my boyfriend is an extremely picky eater, he actually wants his meat cooked until its dry. Its gross, but he explained it nicely to the waitress how he wanted it, and when the cook didn't cook it enough, she didn't even bring it to the table, she made the cook fix it. The staff was also very helpful when we needed anything else. Cons: crap orange juice, the cheap stuff you can get in a milk jug is what they served. And they charge 5 bucks for it. The red potatoes are bland, so opt for the fresh fruit of bananas and strawberries, much yummier. Also the place is small, really small. Its hard to find a time of day when they are not busy, I prefer weekdays because weekends are a nightmare. This is not one of the kind of places where you are going to get lard and grease on a plate, or breakfast where they everything is organic and free-range, blah blah blah. Its good breakfast food, for a decent enough price, but the kind of place where you have a favorite, you get that and only that, and don't both with other things because there's not really a large variety on the menu.
(3)
Matt F.

This is another Portland spot that I have been meaning to try forever and finally made a trip. It was on the day of the Grand Floral parade so the normal weekend breakfast rush wasn't really happening. I had and incredible omelet and was able to sub a great side of fresh fruit for potatoes. Also got a side of nice think bacon. I will be bringing my friends here on our next trip.
(4)
Sanjay F.

This was my favorite place to eat lunch during my frequent business trips to PDX. You know you can never go wrong with a greazy spoon, but this one is smack dab in the middle of the ritzy Pearl. But once you step inside, you understand why/ how it has the cojones to remain a neighborhood favorite. This is diner is colorful with character, tasty grease, pleasant waitstaff, warm coffee, large servings, huge piece of carrot cake! Love it!
(4)
Erica L.

The service was prompt for brunch here. The staff was friendly and our food was served quickly I had two scrambled eggs, which were a little undercooked and some potatoes. The potatoes were just weird. The menu said basic fried potatoes. There were orange and cooked in something that tasted like pumpkin, cinnamon, and turmeric. Not bad, but not what I was expecting and not amazing either. My companion absolutely hated them and we both expressed a little disappointment in how the menu made them seem like they were just plain potatoes. Overall not a bad place. Might try again sometime for lunch if in the area. Also, beware of coming here in groups.It is a VERY small place and if there are more than 3-4 of you, expect a long, long wait. The servers flat out told a group of 5-7 people outside the wait would be about an hour because they only had one place to accommodate a group that size.
(2)
Erin M.

Portland seems to be quite the breakfast city. The bad part: you wait thirty minutes plus for even the most mediocre breakfast. The good part: there are plenty of super breakfast options. Byways. Not mediocre, but not super. And I'm not convinced it is worth the wait, although the picnic table option out front (thanks to the Mexican joint next door) is a great way to wait with a cup of coffee from the Starbucks right down the street. Byways breakfast- the usual, with a few nice twists. Fresh blueberries in the batter makes for an excellent pancake. Vegetarian sausage options for the scrambles/omlettes is another nice touch. Everything I ate was tasty, down to the potatoes. However, nothing was spectacular. I don't know... maybe my standards have been set a tad too high. San Francisco, what have you done to me?!!
(4)
Jamie G.

So many places to eat, why choose here? The food was NOT worth waiting in that horrible line for. Interesting because we thought, since there was a line, that the food would be fabulous! So wrong. Overpriced, cool to warmish food, TERRIBLE service, NO coffee refills, and dirty tables/floors. There was NO way I was going to the bathroom. YUCK. Waiting in the rain was bad enough, paying through the nose for food that was not even warm... was just the straw that broke the camel's back. Bye bye, Byways.
(1)
Josh W.

I really wanted to give this joint a higher rating. The food IS great and the place is quaint but our first visit was unfortunately flawed. To be clear, the waitstaff was very attentive and friendly. The problem is it took almost an hour to get our food AFTER we placed our order. To make matters worse, a number of people who were seated after us, got their orders first. Yeah, I know it's Sunday brunch in Portland but really if it weren't for the quality of the food (which we almost didn't stick around for), this would have been a 2-star review. Especially since the (still nice) staff didn't provide us with any type of update or acknowledgment of the situation. Damn, that french toast is so good. Unfortunately our enjoyment was lessened by the additional waiting.
(3)
Brian K.

Famous for: - Mt. Rushmore Hash (Corned Beef Hash) - Amaretto French Toast - Blue Corn Pancakes - Brewing Stumptown Coffee I've Tried: - Mt. Rushmore Hash - Blue Corn Pancakes SUMMARY: I'd actually like to give this 3.5 stars, but oh well, Yelp doesn't support it. Meh, I'd visit this place if I was hungry and happened to be standing next to it. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit it again. I visited this place because Guy Fieri said so. Whether you like the guy or not, what matters is that he has researchers and scouts to go search for neighborhood gems. You and I don't, so thanks to the Flavortown iPhone app, I go wherever he's been. I like Corned Beef Hash. It doesn't take much for me to like someone's Corned Beef Hash (CBH). You usually get something that looks like raw ground beef, and i totally dig that. Up until I saw this episode of Guy Fieri's show, I didn't even really know (or care) what was in it. Mt Rushmore Hash Ok, the Mt. Rushmore Hash is chunky! Guy wasn't kidding! There're home fries mixed with peppers, onions, small block chunks of corned beef and a fried egg on top. The whole thing tasted like your average skillet, it aws just chunkier. The potatoes were, however, very good. They were cooked perfectly and really made the dish for me. The corned beef, the supposed star of this dish, was a bit hard to find. One thing that's very noticeable is that they've been seasoned with maple brown sugar. With each bite you taste your average skillet taste, but then you KNOW that you just bit into a chunk of corned beef because you get that maple taste floating around (lightly). And that's really the only way you taste the corned beef in an average mixed bite. Tasting it by itself was ok, you obviously got a lot of maple flavoring, and a hint of salt from the brined beef, but all in all, I wasn't really impressed. It's not saying it's bad, it's just that it didn't live up to the anticipation. C'mon, it's a skillet! You see, i love skillets. Denny's, IHOP, you name it, I like 'em. There are very very very very very few places where I love the skillet more than normal. This place...was not one of them. It was good. Tabasco made it better, and I enjoyed it a lot, but it's not something that stands out. Blue Corn Pancakes w. Maple Nut Butter The guy was nice enough to know that I wasn't from around here, so he generously gave me 1 bluecorn pancake (instead of buying a short stack of 3). I am also a big fan of corn products. Corn, Corn Tortillas, Corn Chips, Corn bread, etc. Corn pancakes were delicious. Just add syrup and I was golden! Guy made a fuss about this butter that goes on it. It's butter with nuts and maple sugar or something. In the show, he actually tasted the butter by itself and enjoyed it. I did the same.....and......was not impressed. It tasted like butter. I could barely taste anything else. All in all though, butter or not, these corn pancakes were delicious. Stumptown Coffee Meh...
(3)
Terra G.

Amaretto French Toast=Amazing!!! I can't seem to ever order anything else when I come here--even though I want to!
(5)
Julie G.

This cafe had an old school diner charm. We were in the area and sourced out this cafe via yelp. We showed up and there was a wait outside, and we decided to wait it out and make sure to give this place a try. After about 30 mins or so, we were sat at a table, and promptly asked if we wanted drinks. The server was nice, and personable. We noticed she was very friendly with not only us, but talked frequently to those sitting at the counter. I asked her what she recommended and she suggested out of my two choices the egg sandwich. It was good, and she asked afterwards if I agreed with her recommendation. The bacon was thick and perfectly crispy, and the potatoes on the side were really good. Definitely not a low cal meal, but a damn good breakfast. I would go back if I was in the area! Oh one warning - we noticed that in between lunch and dinner they let everyone know they were switching to lunch and it would be about a 1-2 hour wait for food so the kitchen can transition. I don't know if they were shortstaffed but in a small biz I could certainly understand. Many people were disapponted and didn't end up staying once they heard that, but I would just avoid going there at weird times between the different meal types.
(4)
Carlos C.

We tried Byways for breakfast last Saturday and it was a great experience. The service was very attentive and the food was great. I had an Alamo scramble. It was very flavorful and the right size for a breakfast dish. I loved the spices on the potatoes and their hot chocolate (I think it was Ghirardelli's). I will be back!
(5)
Rick E.

After something really great about your city gets exposed nationwide on some mainstream media, ain't it just like all y'all PDXers to be all "pshaw...it's alright, but..."? Except for maybe Voodoo Doughnut, Brandon Roy, and Fred 'n Toody Cole, nothing else can be sacrosanct. Yes, I did first see it on Food Network before putting it on a roadtrip to-do list. No, I don't think Guy Fieri is cool. Yes, I am from Sacramento, and no, I really don't think Guy Fieri is cool. Yes, I was kinda starstruck when I entered the kitchen on the way to the bathroom and glanced over and saw the head chef exhibiting a certain outstanding work ethic that is incomprehensible to most light-skinned Americans. Yes, I was also kinda starstruck when the gal that makes desserts was taking our order while wearing a floppy hat and crazy colored socks with clogs. We made it in there a little too late for breakfast, so I got a corned beef sandwich. It was so unreal that I insisted we come back for breakfast the next day, and I got the Mt. Rushmore, again featuring that corned beef. Among the 13 Yelpers who have complained so far about the wait, the average review was 3.0 stars. Among all the reviews that mentioned "corned beef", no Yelper rated Byways lower than 4 stars, and none mentioned the word "wait" without "worth the". Moral of the story: Get the corned beef hash here. It's uncommonly mustardy and (dare I say) sumptuous!
(5)
Rian M.

Stopped here for breakfast on a Saturday morning around 9AM. They were busy but there was no wait. The service was prompt and the coffee was good (Stumptown) and frequently refilled. My wife had the Amaretto French Toast. It was a huge portion we could have easily been satisfied splitting. It came with delicious honey pecan butter. I tried the Sunrise Special and upgraded to Blueberry Pancakes. The bacon was awesome--thick and very crispy but not over-cooked. I was pleased that the pancakes were made with nice large blueberries rather than those fake little blue specks you see at some restaurants. The short-stack of pancakes were good sized and filling, a full-stack definitely would have been too much. Overall it was a good experience and I will definitely stop in again, either to try the scrambles or perhaps lunch.
(4)
Leann P.

I'm a huge fan of The Food Network Channel! After seeing the episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives shooting at Byways Cafe, I knew I had to try it! It was pretty busy at 9am on a Sunday. We didn't wait long for a table for 2. Service was great even though they were busy. Coffee was great. The environment is relaxing. I ordered Pike's Peak Omelet. My husband ordered Mt. Rushmore Hash. Both dishes were delicious! Prices were reasonable. I will be returning!
(5)
Jesus A.

Byways CafÃ© was on the show and aired on the Food Network segment. The omelet dishes and coffee are great. The biscuits and gravy are okay. The stool area by the kitchen gets more service.
(3)
Amanda E.

This cafe is well worth the wait for breakfast / brunch! I particularly like their egg dishes. The decor is eclectic and interesting. The service is attentive, although not always the most friendly (which is forgivable given that they have to run around because the cafe is always packed).
(4)
Alyx W.

Can someone please, please, please, clue me in as to what the big deal here is all about? Unless I ordered the worst possible dish on the menu or I'm just way to stingy with money for my own good, this place was NOTHING special! $25 for a turkey sandwich and a grilled cheese sandwich, $25, does no one find something wrong with that? HELLO? Someone give me an answer!!
(2)
Cat S.

I used to work a few blocks from here. I remember being pretty neutral on their food (and put off by the atmosphere) the one or two times I ate here in person. However, after calling a to-go order in well ahead of time (about half an hour) and STILL spending my entire 15 minute break waiting for them to get around to giving me my food, and then taking it back to work only to find a fat, juicy fly fried right into my omelet, I am never, ever eating here again. Dirty, overpriced, and overrated. People of Portland, you have got to stop giving every breakfast place that happens to be open on the weekends high ratings just because they deign to feed your hungover asses some greasy eggs. Expect better!
(1)
Shelley M.

Everyone seems to go here for the breakfasts (and every weekend I see the line out the door). I think I've only done that once, and I don't recall much about it. Sorry. Lunch, though? I could eat there every day. I'm one of those boring people who almost always orders the same thing, but the one thing I always order is just THAT good: the Mutnomah Melt is on grilled challah with turkey and ham and the cheese is always perfectly hot - oh, it's wonderful. I pick the potato salad as a side (it's also incredible), and for $1.50 more, I can split the sandwich and get a second side for a friend (or my toddler). The staff is great - helpful but not hovering. The only thing that knocks it down a star is the seating - there's not very much of it and it's tightly packed. The counter's OK when I'm by myself, but I end up being a little closer to my neighbors on each side than I like.
(4)
Todd C.

Visiting Portland, visited Byways based on recommendation of a friend. I hadn't seen the DDD episode, but was excited after reading references it in Yelp reviews. My two boys and I fit in one of the booths with room for one more. All of the old tourist memorabilia made excellent conversation fodder for me to regale the kids with tales of road trips past. "And why, Dad, did people collect thimbles, again?" But on to the Cafe'. We decided on the two "staples" of the joint - Blue Corn Pancakes and Corned Beef Hash. Chase that with a cup of the much trumpeted Stumptown Coffee for me. The Pancakes were excellent! Nice corn-bread taste and texture - generous portion size (my boys split a full stack of 6 plate-sized pancakes). Honey-pecan butter sounded like a great idea, but added little to the pancakes. Hot syrup served in little tin pitchers did the trick, though. Then, my meal. The Corned Beef Hash was..... absolutely massive, but bland as boiled cabbage. It was essentially a pile of coarsely cut corned beef (home-made, with a slight sweet and maple flavor), quartered potatoes, and green bell peppers. If there were spices or herbs used, they were so diluted as to be undetectable. I tried to finish it, but ran out of enthusiasm quickly. Even with ketchup and Tabasco. The coffee. I don't get what the deal was supposed to be with "Stumptown Coffee" - I'll look that up later and see - but, it was quite possibly the worst diner coffee I've ever had. Might have something to do with the machines used to make the coffee, being a Bunn-style drip dispenser into a carafe continuously heated with a burner. But, then again, I've had some fantastic truck-stop coffee poured from identical machines. (Boondock's Cafe in Iowa, for example... or the Bar 19 in Ellensburg). Save yourself the hype, and get a Verona at Starbuck's just down the street a block to the East - they had a timer on their machine (yes, they were even using it, I checked), so it was fresh... and refreshingly, not scorched like Byways'. Oh, and if you're the owner.... I'll have to throw a bone to the staff - the waitress was outstanding. Quick, accurate, checking on refills, pleasant. The prices were good - $9+ for a full stack of pancakes seems steep at first, until you figure in location. Then, it's a bargain. In all, though my expectations were fairly high due to all of the hype, I think that Byways disappointed not due to hype, but due to failure to execute the basics of a diner. Flavorful food, fresh coffee, at a reasonable price. Watch the DDD TV episode online, imagine what it could be.... then go somewhere else.
(2)
robert g.

Blue cornmeal pancakes good, home fries OK, scone terrible. As a total experience I can only offer two stars. Coffee was at the bottom end of the flavor chart and the service was rapid, prompt and we had the bill laid down with the arrival of the food. That is OK, I am from NY and fast service is good! We tend to eat fast and want to be on our way. BUT, when it comes time to pay, I give a $20 bill for a $13 check and...no change. We wait, we wait, only four other customers in the place, no change. A 50%+ tip? I think not. I had to get up, find the waitress and ask for my change. So the coffee and the service, drag down the starts to two. Even though, had the service been better, I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Jim T.

Great Breakfast Spot. Nothing too fancy.. just good, solid breakfast. I love the feel and decor of this place. Really has a nice old school diner vibe. Great staff, good food, good coffee.
(5)
Nicole H.

Pretty good food. We wanted to try the breakfast but we got there to late. Lunch was yummy. A little snug on the amount of room.
(4)
T R.

Okay, I realize that Oregonians are very in touch with nature/nuture. I did not enjoy the lady, I use that term loosely, breast feeding her baby bare breasted for everyone's viewing willing or not. As for the food, it was awesome! The bacon and french toast I could eat at least twice a week if I lived there. Be prepared for a line to get in there.
(4)
Isaac K.

The amaretto French toast is off the chain. The decor is funky and the staff is very friendly. The kids loved the blue corn pancakes. We saw this place on Food TV's "DDD" and we HAD to come visit. Everything was just awesome, all the way down to the honey-pecan butter and the organic maple syrup. If you're anywhere near Portland you must run here as quickly as possible.
(4)
Quentin O.

Amazing biscuits! Kind of that "at home" feel when you walk in..if you're looking for a new breakfast place outside of the famous "Stepping Stone" you've found it. Enjoy a good nights sleep and get there early since their service hours are limited!
(4)
Courtney D.

Don't bypass Byways Now this breakfast place was well worth the wait. Byways Caf is that typical whole in the wall place that you'd probably never go inside from the way it looks on the outside, but trust me, it's a jewel. As we walked in, it looked like a greasy diner, but the food was surprisingly creative and yummy. I ordered the blue corn pancakes, which were deliciously crunchy. Not much of a bacon eater normally, I gobbled it down too. We also ordered some scones, which were wonderful. They make different ones every day. Yes, you always have to wait for a table on the weekends, but it's worth it. Besides, you're not supposed to be in a hurry on the weekend anyways. Tip: If you're alone, grab a seat at the counter. You'll eat faster and can enjoy reading the paper while you wait.
(4)
Kelli H.

Ok, I don't understand the reviews this place has gotten. It's gross!! It was so dirty in there. I was scared to even drink my water. A girl at the hotel front desk recommended it but I had no idea why. The buttermilk pancakes were so plain, they were nothing special at all. I honestly could have made a 1000 times better of a breakfast. The bluecorn pancakes were just weird and the omelette they made for my boyfriend had no seasoning at all. The potatoes it came with might have just been boiled cut up potatoes, that's how plain they were. The service was also weird. I just felt like the whole place was weird in general. They had cool old 'thing's' every where but it was just so cluttered and you know they don't clean it ever. Our server was kind of creepy in my opinion...
(1)
Christine H.

Its simple diner fair... with diner ambiance. I am a fan of their corned beef sammies. The service was a little long and drawn out and the staff couldnt decide who we belonged too... but all in all it was a nice place and I will return for breakfast one day... and most likely for lunch another day. I have to say though I couldnt help but check out the mexican place next door... i'll save that for another yelp at a more appropriate time;)
(4)
Erin O.

There are several things I won't do, and one of those things is wait in line for food. But in deference to my companions, I stuck out the hour wait for a coveted Sunday afternoon brunch at Byways. To be fair, it was the most pleasant wait ever. They brought out chairs, they took drink orders right there on the sidewalk and they gave status updates. But still. After an hour, I'm expecting my socks to be blown off. (if I were the type to wear socks, which I'm not.) My hypothetical socks may have tremored a little, but they remained firmly in place. The standard omelet, potatoes and toast dish was a little lacking in flavor, even after I drowned it in ketchup. So was the fresh squeezed OJ (although that, I'll blame on the oranges.) The lemon poppy seed pancakes tasted like lemon poppy seed muffins in pancake shape. The french toast, however, was pretty darn good (4 GIANT slices at that) with some sort of nutty creamy butter, and hot syrup. So what I'm saying here is - I'd eat the food if there were no wait. And the hodge-podge interior did keep me entertained. and the staff was great. and the prices reasonable. But i really hate waiting in line. (did I mention that?)
(3)
Amanda M.

The decor is (I know sad) right up my alley. Tons of vintage travel memorabilia and a cute diner style. Ther service was great, we did wait a bit (outside and it was cold !) . Coffee was so-so, I've had better. I guess I expect great coffee in Ptown. The food was great. Nothing too exciting , but comfort food like my Mom would make. I had and omelet and it was good. I would go here again if the wait wasn't so long.
(3)
Emily B.

Up there with some of the best corned beef hash ever! Saw it on an episode of diners driveins and dives a few years back and finally got a chance to make it there. Worth the wait!!! Careful though, they are strict with the hours they serve breakfast
(4)
Hideki K.

Don't Always Trust the Food Network. My gf was captivated by the epicurean channel's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" show segment on Byways Cafe. We were convinced to try the french toast and hash. Though not bad, neither impressed. The show hyped this neighborhood diner up way too much. It's a nice place that typically has a wait, but is definitely not worth traveling to the Pearl District with the sole purpose of dining at Byways. The Pearl has much to offer, but Byways isn't one of them. The hash tasted healthy, but my favorite dish here is the blue cornmeal pancakes. In general, the portions here are large and cheap. The french toast was standard. For great French Toast, try Mother's Bistro. For an amazing brunch/breakfast, I shall direct you to Bijou Cafe, a fine 5-star establishment.
(3)
Corrie N.

I don't get it. I went on a Tuesday around 10:30, and after reading all the amazing things about this place, I was expecting it to be awesome. I had the Redwood. The actual scramble was really good, and so was the biscuit, but the potatoes were cold. And the service. Yep, I'm going there. Again. I could not pay for the life of me. I almost had to dine and dash just because nobody would come and collect my money. Luckily someone did, so I didn't have to go to jail.
(2)
Donna R.

We too, took the recommendation from DDD and weren't disappointed. It was my first corned beef hash and I am happy to say it wasn't salty or greasy, which I've heard of most hashes. The blue corn pancakes were way better than I expected. If it weren't that there are so many other culinary choices in Portland and we visited more often, we'd be back to try some of the other great sounding items (Amaretto French Toast, and any number of the scrambles).
(3)
Rebecca F.

I don't know why anyone would give Byways less than 4 stars. It's not the Ritz Carlton, it's just for regular folks who want a good place to eat breakfast. It is pretty small and you may have to wait to get a table, but isn't that a good sign that people WANT to wait to eat here? They have a lot of choices on the menu, it always takes me forever to decide. The service is friendly enough, they're BUSY, and not going to stand around and chat. I'm sure there are many good breakfast places in PDX but you should definitely give Byways a try.
(4)
T K.

I wasn't sure what to expect, given the mixed reviews here. But still, we gave Byways a try. We went on a Friday morning, around 9am. There was no line, no waiting, only a friendly waitress to greet us and seat us. The place definitely has atmosphere -- kitchy, travel memorabilia, in an old fashioned diner setting. Nice. I ordered the Mt. Rushmore Hash (corned beef hash)... very generous serving, and excellent. Lots of chunks of meat, not salty, not fatty, just delish and flavorful. The over-easy egg that I ordered was cooked perfectly (don't you hate an overcooked egg?). YUM. Eating partner had the fried egg sandwich. Meh.... it was about as good as I make at home. I definitely ordered the right thing. Service was casual, yet prompt. I'll visit again.
(4)
Elizabeth E.

Kitchy top-notch breakfast in the Pearl. Expect to wait, but know that it's worth it. That's my approach when I decide I'm once again in the mood for some blue corn pancakes with honey pecan butter, either that or arrive at an indecently early hour. Expect the usual list of standard American breakfast fare: eggs, pancakes, omeletes, pancakes (but no waffles), and lighter options. Stand-out picks include the Amaretto French Toast, Blue corn pancakes, and on the rare occasion - fabulous biscuits and gravy (even though I usually don't dare subject my body to such a rich breakfast). The highways and byways decor of 1950s/1960s Americana lives on the walls of Byways Cafe. Old suitcases, coffee mugs from obscure tourists locations, and other interesting items create a definite theme to the restaurant, but I think it avoids out-and-out disney style obnoxiousness. Servers are seasoned - that is they are always prompt, polite, and there when you need them, not when you don't. Its a fun place to try, and a great place to return to, just expect to wait for your table.
(5)
Jennifer T.

Upscale diner chow. Very veggie friendly and good coffee to boot. The veggie hash hits the spot every time.
(4)
Bryan A.

I love cafe food and I don't know why anyone would give them 5 stars. The food was fresh and quick. I had the Athena scramble, spinach, olives, feta with toast. Perfect Sunday brunch
(5)
blanca g.

We plan our road trips around stopping here! Blue corn pancakes are dreamy. Love the hash. Kitschy the way we like it! Our waitress took great care of our road weary selves. Baked items are delicious.
(4)
Ryan L.

Though the wait can be a bit long, it's definitely worth it. With dishes as unique as the interior decor, this place made for a delicious and fun brunch experience. Great scrambles, and the amaretto french toast was the best french toast I've ever had - I regularly crave it. Their homemade honey pecan butter is wonderful (a little too good, actually - I'm sure I ate way too much of it), as is their maple syrup and raspberry jam. All around, this is a fantastic place to eat! Update: I went again and want to give this place 3.5 stars now. We tried the Rushmore hash and blue corn pancakes. Both were good, but not great. The toast was atrocious and the coffee was tepid. The french toast compels me to only drop my rating by a half star, so they best keep that on the menu....
(3)
Lauren H.

I go to Byways for the blue corn pancakes w/pecan butter. I haven't tried anything else although everyone else I've taken here has been happy with what ever non pancake thing they get. They serve Stumptown coffee witch is always a big a plus to me. The service is usually friendly and fast, I have only been on weekdays and even then the place can fill up so I imagine weekends are a long wait.
(4)
Levi D.

They had great vibe and awesome food. If we lived in town this is a spot we would feel at home. Don't miss this place!!!
(5)
Liliana G.

even though you make me wait out on the sidewalk, i heart you, byways. you have yummy non-egg dishes. you have friendly service. you have delish milkshakes and ameretto french toast. but most of all, i heart you because you have free coffee cake while i'm waiting ages for my food to come out.
(4)
Jenn L.

This place was like a beacon from heaven whilst visiting Portland from San Francisco. Admittedly, I have only been there twice and am probably embellishing because of the romantic-ness of it all. I don't live there, was only visiting and the second time my boyfriend and I ate there, we were just arriving back in Portland from an Amtrak ride from Vancouver. We were starving and in desperate need of GOOD coffee! I hate to say this, but coffee in Vancouver and Seattle, of all places, is shite! With numerous bags, we hoofed it to Byways from the Amtrak station in again, a desperate effort to get Stumptown coffee and pancakes before they closed! The women who work the diner are all professional and friendly. The breakfast was GOOD breakfast. Straight up good breakfast. The coffee, did I mention the coffee? When is Stumptown coming to California? Portland is LUCKY to have this place!
(5)
O D.

I don't normally give this high a rating but these people totally deserve it. Not only is the food really good but the service is out of this world. I arrived at 11:15 and unfortunately for me they stop serving breakfast at 11:00AM during the week. I had my heart and soul set on their breakfast and I spaced and forgot about the time. When I got there and realized that my dream was now going to be a nightmare I was instantly disappointed. They have a great selection of lunch items but I knew it wouldn't suffice. The waitress (I didn't get her name but very cute grecian hairstyle) suggested a few other restaurants that were serving breakfast and even asked the cook if there was anything that he could do. I didn't want to make a fuss over the breakfast but I knew that I didn't want to settle for lunch so my friend and I decided to leave. Just as we were getting our coats one of the owners came over and said that they could make it (it being scrambled eggs w/ cheddar cheese bacon and toast, they couldn't do the home fries since they throw them out after breakfast which was fine with me so I got regular french fries instead). I was floored by their generosity, and eagerness to please. They went out of their way to make sure that I had a good experience there and I did. I was there about a week prior with another friend and I knew then that I wanted to go back. I'm sorry Byways that I was such a tart but I have to say your breakfast is sooooo amazing that I hope you understand my reaction when I learned that I just missed it. I'll be sure to keep the breakfast times in mind for next time so I'm not faced with the same issue. Thank you for your patience.
(5)
M. M.

There is a little eatery in Alameda, CA that I have waited in line for - a million times. I will always wait in line if that is what that particular restaurant requires. This place? Not so much. I admit that it was gorgeous outside and I was admiring the city I *so* want to live in, but I was pissy that I had to wait for so long (45 minutes at least.). We figured that if we got in the car and drove to another place it would take just as long so we waited it out. The waitress served coffee and drooled over my bag, which - as a female, stroked my ego. it was stroked enough that I didn't complain aloud any further. Once inside - I felt claustrophobic. The space is just a literal hle in the wall and hardly big enough for more than a few people, I swear. I dont like that feeling. Not while I'm devouring an omelette and obscene amounts of bacon. No thanks. I could see the commotion for a perfect meal, but it wasn't. Good food, nice waitress, but not a place I felt cozy in.
(2)
Celina H.

Just went there a couple of days ago, early early, and all I can say is wow! it's cute, quaint, it looks great, the food is delicious and affordable. We had the blue corn pancakes and egg, bacon and Tillamook cheese sandwiches. We will definitely go back and show this place off for family and friends. If you are going with a big group, get there early!
(5)
Brenna S.

With the decor of a '50s truck stop diner, Byways is not your typical, snooty Pearl District breakfast. Vintage post cards, pennants, and bumper stickers from tourist spots across the U.S. cover the walls while the aroma of omelets, hash, amaretto French toast, and Stumptown Coffee fill the air. This place is small, and there is almost always a wait (especially on the weekends), but the portions are huge, so you will have time to build up your appetite.
(4)
Bryan S.

Byways is okay. I would say if you are hungry and in the area it is worth stopping in but I would not go out of my way to eat there. All of the food was average, nothing was great. The blue corn pancakes tasted better then I expected, but they were cold when delivered with the rest of the meal. The veggie egg scramble had a good amount of veggies. The eggs were cooked pretty good (at Byways they do a good job of cooking the eggs). I don't get the hype around the French Toast, It was better then most but not special. The honey nut butter was good, but the amaretto flavor was too strong and I could taste the 'alcohol' in the French Toast. A little less amaretto would have helped out a lot. Also the inside of the French toast was a little 'undercooked' and soft for me. At many cafe's the breakfast potatoes are nasty, they are okay at Byways, just like the rest of their food...I think they are seasoned with 'old bay'.
(3)
Joe T.

I got the veggie hash. It was OK. However, my girlfriend got the blue corn pancakes and they were awesome. Great atmosphere, friendly staff, definitely coming back.
(4)
Liz G.

Byways was recommended to me by a friend that saw it on a food network show. I've been there twice now and have been underwhelmed each time. The first was for breakfast, and admittedly I was fairly hungover. And the kind of hungover that makes eating hard, not the ravenous kind. I had a scramble with potatoes. It was pretty solid, but definitely not impressive (I ended up eating most of it as leftovers the next day, and it did reheat pretty well). My friend enjoyed her hash quite a bit though. My second time I went for lunch. Definitely not impressed. I got a bacon cheeseburger. It arrived at the table without bacon, and when i complained the waitress brought me some bacon on the side. It was not the best bacon. Also, the fries weren't that good, and if you ask me fries are just as important as the burger, especially at a diner. If there isn't a wait I'd say it's a pretty good place to stop in, but given the wait on both my visits I have to say it's just not worth it.
(3)
KP P.

I come to this place solely for the Amaretto French Toast! It's worth the wait to have the best french toast in Portland. Honey Pecan Butter, syrup, and a slight taste of amaretto..Amazing. The plate is really huge and sweet though and so the best deal is for someone to get an omelet and then split the french toast and eggs btw you.
(4)
Y L.

i saw this place on diners, drive-ins and dives.. you know, guy fieri's show on foodnetwork? anyways since hearing great things, we had to stop here while in portland. if you are a big portions, hearty kind of person, this is the place for you. they bring out plates of food, enough to feed an army. and yes, it's delicious! i had a veggie medly of potatoes, egg whites, and all the vegetables. the boys seemed to love their meat dishes. super small diner so there is gonna be a wait. why is everyone in portland so nice? damn i miss it there...
(5)
Tracy Y.

Is it a museum of old junk? No! It's yummy breakfast food with lots of kitschy decor. Oh yeah. What goes better with eating than wishing you'd saved your grandmother's tea cozy from that road trip to devil's tower back in 1962? If only....
(3)
Bob M.

Well, everything Jen K. said. Though I will add, and you knew that I would: the Mt Rushmore Hash smokes my bacon. The bacon that they serve is pretty top notch too, now that I brought it up. They know how to cook eggs. The coffee is diner-esque when it would have been nice if it was more Portland-esque. Dump enough water on Stumptown and will it taste like Folger's. Bring an umbrella if you are going to wait, and you will. If you are Rubenesque, this place is fraught with danger. Parking around here sucks gopher guts, but I suppose that you knew that already. Fin.
(3)
Jenna C.

This place has a cute, tourist-y appeal to it. We had to wait for awhile (15ish minutes) to be seated, and there's no room to wait inside. We were seated at the bar. The waiter was very friendly. I think the place felt a little dirty. Casey has the Sunrise Special with the BLUE CORN pancakes. It also came with bacon and two eggs. GET THE BLUE CORN PANCAKES! Best pancakes I've ever had. With normal pancakes, they are usually too starchy and dense and filling for me to eat a whole pancake, let alone a whole stack. These were excellent! I'm a cornbread fan, so these were my perfect pancakes. I had the Redwood omelet with egg whites. I believe it had spinach, bacon, cheese, and maybe some tomatoes. Not the best omelet I've had. Not enough flavor, which was surprising since the omelet had bacon (kind of chewy) and cheese in it. Especially after eating a fabulous Bacon & Gorgonzola omelet at Mother's the previous day! Both meals had breakfast potatoes (the omelet here and the omelet at Mother's) and Mother's by far takes the cake. Our coffee was constantly refilled, which is always a plus. Probably a 3.5 stars, but since I'm comparing it to Mother's in my head, it gets 3 stars.
(3)
Adrienne C.

My boyfriend and I were both blown away by their exceptional customer service and attentiveness to our needs. The food was absolutely delicious! And they have free refills.
(5)
Calvin Y.

This boy right here is a HAPPY CAMPER. How did this happen? It's a result of ordering Byways Cafe's Happy Camper scramble (ham, onions, and mushrooms). Byways Cafe certainly named their scramble very well, as it did not disappoint. The scramble was super cheesy and very flavorful. One of the main issues with scrambles is that the eggs can easily be overcooked, but it didn't happen here (there is a trade-off: the onions, however were still a bit raw though). Come at around 8AM on Sunday and you won't have to wait because the line starts forming at around 9AM.
(4)
Rick C.

Big portions food is good. Fresh coffee. If you are heading to the Pearl District parking is a premium.
(4)
Elizabeth M.

We usually come on weekday mornings or before 9am on weekends. The french toast is my favorite, it's so perfectly custard-y and sweet that I usually don't need to add syrup. The pancakes are also good, as are the creative omelettes. It's a small space, so if you have a big party or are trying to get in at a peak time, it's going to be a wait. But on a Tues/Weds morning, it's relaxing and cheerful. They are great with kids, and the service is friendly and very attentive (at least during the times we come, which as I mentioned aren't the busiest). The decor is kitschy and old-school, but the restaurant is still very clean and I really like that they use vintage plates and cups in their service. We love Byways!
(5)
Emily-Anne P.

My girlfriends and I were down in Portland for the weekend in April, and after we'd checked out of our hotel we dropped our stuff at the train station and looked for a place to eat while we waited for our train. One of my friends and I both remembers walking past Byway but we'd never been so we figured why not. There was a bit of a wait, which seemed totally worth it as people seemed really happy with their food. We waited maybe 10 minutes which is great for a breakfast joint at breakfast time. Once we sat down we were served right away. We each had a slightly different item, pancakes, eggs, scramble, etc and we all really enjoyed out meals. It was very much classic greasy diner food, so be prepared for that. The service was really good and the waitresses were super friendly. I'd say if you're in Pearl and looking for a greasy breakfast check these guys out!
(4)
Purdy J.

Busy, busy place for breakfast, especially on weekends. This is my second visit to Byways and I am sad to see a decline in their pancakes. The once very fluffy, large and delicious pancakes were less spectacular than i remember... a little Flat and lifeless. Perhaps it was just a bad day for pancakes. Their breakfasts are still generally solid with the corned beef hash being a must have. Byways has a nice, cosy, old school diner feel... Get there early to avoid the line up. Note to vegans: there are not many options for you but they are accommodating and can turn their scrambles into an eggless tofu scramble.
(4)
Adam H.

One of my absolute favorites for breakfast in Portland. Anything with egg in it is amazing. Try it on your hamburger, and you won't regret it! You should also check them out on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Great episode.
(5)
Uikwon L.

I liked their omelet so much! Creamy texture and the sour dough toast was crisp and buttery. The staffs refilled my coffee constantly and the seat felt cozy. Price is also affordable, I would definitely going back again.
(4)
Amy E.

On a rainy morning on our trip, we slept in late and headed out to Byways for brunch around 1:00 PM. No wait, walked right in and sat down and was immediately helped by friendly waiter. Coffee was on our table within a minute or two as we perused the menu. My husband went with the hash and I went with the Amaretto French toast. He really enjoyed the hash -- HUGE plate of goodness, right there. Everything I have heard about the Amaretto French toast was true. It was so, so good. It came with four huge pieces of challah and it took everything in me to finish 1 1/2 of those pieces and had to take the rest to-go. Delicious food, very friendly service, great little cafe atmosphere. Highly recommend!
(5)
Jeremy S.

Awesome made my tummy think it was in the boom boom room! Had the French toast and it hit the mark fo sho! The B&G were really god too. Also serves milk out an old time milk machine! Great place
(4)
Chris F.

Have heard about this place in the past, actually ventured in for the first time. I had the biscuits and gravy my bf had the french toast. Both were wonderful. I could see how there can be a bit of a wait, however, we got right in. The waitress was courteous and witty, we will definately go back! And the bacon was awesome
(5)
Matt L.

stopped by for lunch and grabbed a Reuben - not anywhere near the best I've had, unfortunately: bread was too crusty and dry from being over-toasted, and the sauerkraut drowned out the other ingredients, could have definitely used more sauce, less kraut. The fries were decent, though again, nothing special. I feel like this would be a reasonable place to stop in and get a quick lunch if you're in the neighborhood... but I wouldn't go out of my way.
(3)
Tom P.

The Byways Cafe is a Portland gem and the perfect place for a meal when you're hanging out in the Pearl District. It has amazingly friendly staff, delicious feel good food that is very well prepared, and kitschy decor that is fun to peruse.
(4)
John L.

I was a little disappointed with this place.... was excited to find a no-nonsense focus-on-the-food kind of hole in the wall breakfast joint. The wait was long and the food was just ok. Had the corn beef hash. 3 stars. My wife had an omelette which was also just ok.
(3)
Richard W.

Great food, great service and a true gem in the Pearl! We come here all of the time and have never had a bad experience. It's always fast and friendly. The food is always delicious. Even if there is a line it is well worth the wait!
(5)
Lisa H.

Great classic american breakfast. Pancakes, biscuit and gravy, eggs...it's all delicious! Huge portions! Good coffee. Relaxed, chill diner atmosphere. Wait can be long. Fun eclectic decor. Service is friendly! We got our food pretty fast considering it was a sat morning. Only downside: weird bathroom location. You have to basically go through their kitchen to get to it. Also it is super teeny and kind of awkward!
(4)
Becky Y.

A staff of another cafe suggested us to go to this place for breakfast. Ordered omelet and it was so yummy. Felt easy sitting inside and the staff kept refilling the coffee :)
(4)
Jane L.

We went after reading reviews and the whole DDD thing. It was a good breakfast. We went when they first opened on a saturday morning so it wasnt too busy yet. All the staff were attentive and friendly but didnt pester us. I was expecting more I guess out of it since it was on a major TV show but it was THE best or anything. It was good and thats all I can say.
(3)
Roger M.

Thick local bacon, organic sausage and free range eggs--good start to a great breakfast with good vibrations in a retro diner. Bisquits & gravy, french toast and pancakes all look good plated up on the tables next to me too. Been there a bunch with my baby! Byways, along with Bijou & Beesaw cafe's--if it starts with a letter "B" & it may "B" good breakast.
(4)
Joel B.

Okay, I should have reviewed Byways ages ago, but I'm really good at putting things off. I don't really know where to start. Byways is my home at lunch. The waitstaff and owners are fantastic, every one of them. Friendly, helpful, sassy, personable. It's a friendly, homey good old American cafe. Food-wise, I'm gonna just start with the soup. The soup is always delicious. I'm not even really a huge soup fan, but I've learned to just order the soup even if it's something that sounds out of my tasty zone (cauliflower soup? Ended up being one of my favorites). There's usually a new soup daily, and there's a huge rotation. See that soup on the sign? I highly recommend it. No, I don't care what it says. Get it. Desserts also range from tasty to really damn good, and they have a good selection of cakes, pies, pastries, and cookies that they make in-house. They put cream cheese in their pumpkin pie, and it is so unhealthy and so delicious, and when they have brownies they are excellent. What about the actual mealfood, you say? Big, tasty burgers, and a variety of other sandwiches and salads. The Pendleton Melt (beef, barbecue sauce, and grilled onions) is a standard, their daily special burgers are generally pretty good. And again, I don't really like salads, but the Sonoma is delicious and the perfect salad for me: chicken, spinach, grapes, red onions, feta...so tasty. I've only been a few times for breakfast, but what I've had is good. The blue corn pancakes really are a cornbread/pancake hybrid, so don't be expecting a normal-tasting pancake that's blue. Biscuits and gravy is tasty and more than I've been able to eat, which is saying something. Overall: if you're looking for fancy food, go to Andina a block west. Byways is tasty, friendly, comfortable American food with damn good soup, delicious desserts, and really quality people, and they will always have my heart.
(5)
Loon E.

This place can get pretty busy itself, but just jot your name down and take a quick stroll. We had learned about this place from DDD and I was excited to try out their hash. The servers here are really peculiar. It's really funny how they are constantly picking and choosing which coffee mugs to give to people, at least to me. They seem really indecisive sometimes when I'm sure the customers could really care less. It's like I'm missing something. Are these special and magical mugs? Onto the food. The brioche toast was amazing! Rich and so well done. Soaked nicely inside and a nice contrast from the exterior. I am not a fan of the soggy versions of French toast. The hash fell a little short for me. Flavors just weren't as memorable as I had hoped. Still, a very good spot for a comfortable and friendly diner meal.
(3)
Jennifer L.

We had the amaretto challah french toast which 1 order would easily be enough for 3-4 people to share. Our only complaint was that the middle was a little to mushy still so the bread soaked up too much custard and didn't stay on the grill long enough. We also split the scramble special which was a spicy chicken sausage, kale pesto, tomato and jack cheese scramble. It was really good and was a great mix of flavors. Staff was very friendly as well. Next time we want to try those giant cookies and scones though, man those looked good.
(4)
Phong D.

One word: meh. Byways wasn't bad and wasn't great for breakfast. The Mt Rushmore hash was kind of lackluster. It had great corned beef chunks but the overall meal was sadly bland. Teetering on this mountain of carbs was 1 sad egg, reminiscent of a mountain goat stuck on the side of a cliff. I would have preferred less potato and more egg. Now I have to wait 24 more hours to try breakfast somewhere else!
(3)
Cori W.

Came in St Patty's Day weekend and didn't have too long of a wait. Service was good but the food was disappointing. Myself and my parter both opted for scrambles and some coffees. The plates were small in serving size, something I wasn't expecting. My scramble, with onions, tomato, spinach and veggie sausage, was pretty lack luster and not very flavorful. My partner's with veggies and feta was the same. His dish was supposed to include toast yet the server never asked what kind he'd like and it never showed up. Byways Cafe simply has a case of 'I could make it better at home', especially with the price and small serving size. In Portland where breakfast is king, skip this place.
(2)
Mike S.

This cozy and funky diner has been on "the list" for years; my wife and I finally landed there today, and were not disappointed. We both love a good French Dip sandwich, yet are generally reluctant to order it at most places, as we've had too many bad ones. With, usually, just three ingredients--bread, meat, and au jus, there's just no room for error. So simple, and yet, if one or more are any less than stellar--well, again, there's nowhere for sub-par parts to hide. My wife put her trust in Byway's rendition, and was very happy with her choice. Very high quality bread. Juicy, flavorful, tender meat. Enough said. I had the Reuben. Generous and satisfying. We both had fries--hot, crispy on the outside, moist and fluffy interior--perfect. Add to the above their reasonable prices (around $8 for a sandwich *with a side*) at a time when many joints in town have decided that charging several more dollars for a decent sammie--without a side!--is ok, and the value quotient here just soars above the rest. Honest, well-crafted food, minus the much-parodied artisanal/craft pretension. We'll be back. You should visit as well!
(5)
Rick N.

This my first resturant for breakfast since I been to Oregon. It was good but was expecting more from the reviews. I had just the basic with bacon. The potatoes were just ok and I think this was there speciality. The price was a little high for the quality. I'm not saying don't go here because maybe it was a off day. One thing I can say service was great and friendly so that may bring me back to give it another chance.
(3)
Rebecca B.

Excellent food and excellent service! I got the Space Needle Scramble and it was delicious. Expect there to be a wait if you're going around peak brunch time on a weekend.
(5)
Gypsy T.

The Hash and the French Toast were so very good! Come hungry! Be prepared to wait for a table outside, but worth it. Would have given 5 stars but this particular time the food was pretty slow coming out. But with the Hash being all homemade that might be the reason. Go! You will be glad you did.
(4)
SuzyCreamCheese E.

We went for breakfast but we were too late. It was ok, nothing great. Had the spinach/chicken salad which I enjoyed, hubby had the tuna melt. He said the tuna was sparse and too sweet for his taste. Too many other places to try so won't be back.
(3)
Melissa P.

Go for breakfast. Get the granola and toast. Ask for some banana slices to put into your granola. Enjoy (and lament that you can't come back regularly because you live in Austin)!
(5)
John B.

Good food, but not great. Blueberry pancakes were a bit generic and flat. Friendly service, cool atmosphere, seating a little cramped.
(3)
Jenn V.

This place is by far one of the best in this area. It's quirky and cool, and the food is always SO good. Every single person there has always been very nice, and they never have any issue with food substitutions or dietary restrictions. Love it!
(5)
Crystal F.

I found this place thanks to Yelp. It's a quaint little hole in the wall. Breakfast was fantastic and our server's service matched. It was quite a long wait (to be expected for such great food), but there was no room inside to stand....and it was like 8 degrees outside. It was worth it though!
(4)
Adrienne R.

Byways Cafe made it on our list after seeing it on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives and it still received good reviews on yelp. So often a place appears on a Food or Travel show and then can't keep up with the hype. This place was hopping and was a great place to eat. We arrived about 9am on Sunday morning. Parking is street parking. We did not have much trouble finding a spot, and since it was Sunday morning, there was no fee to park. We were greeted promptly at the door. All booths and 2 tops were taken. There may have been seats at the bar, but we were seated at the remaining (only) 4-top. It actually 2 2-tops close enough together to shove together. We were offered to wait for a booth, or to take the 4-top. We opted to be seated right away. Booths were important when the kids were little and needed to be corralled. That has not been necessary for some years now. Right away we ordered juice and coffee and then took a look at the menu. They also had a couple specials posted on blackboards around the seating area. We were ready to order by the time our beverages came, although service wasn't slow, we were just so hungry and our top choices for breakfast were available on the menu. Our fruit pancake/waffle eater ordered the blueberry pancake sunrise special with bacon and scrambled eggs, our two biscuits & gravy eaters ordered that, and I had the blue corn pancakes sunrise special with the garden sausage and egg over-medium. Food came out in decent time. This is a diner, not fast food. But it wasn't slow, especially considering how very busy it was. As we sat there, several groups varying size from 1 - 5 came in. there was a wait for most everyone, although the 1 was able to snag a seat at the bar. The food was delicious. Ranking the biscuits and gravy, it was better than our usual stop (Beth's) but the hash browns were missed. The blue corn pancakes were perfect! Very filling and tasty. The blueberry pancakes were also appreciated. The eater tends to prefer the fruit top the pancake rather than be cooked in, but these blueberries held their shape and were very good. Also, there is no bad bacon in Portland. They get good bacon and they know how to cook it!
(4)
Art H.

Had to visit this Triple D-rated Portland mainstay. The place is pretty small and can easily fill up quickly. Was quickly greeted by one of the friendly servers. Great coffee and great OJ although the small OJ at almost $4 is a little on the steep side. Ordered the Rushmore hash and a side of bacon; yes meat and more meat. The hash was a large portion with lots of potato, green pepper, onion, cheddar cheese and of course, diced corned beef hash served with an egg on top. It was good although I prefer a hash that is more meat-centric than this one. The side of bacon was three generous strips that were crisp and full of flavor. Will probably not return but only because I visit Portland infrequently and there are a lot of other places to try.
(3)
Kate M.

This is the perfect breakfast joint. Their food is top notch and the prices are reasonable. There is limited seating but the food is totally worth the wait.
(5)
Cara S.

Pretty tasty and nice to find something less foofy in the Pearl.
(4)
Karly H.

Have never had a bad experience here! Great food, good staff! Awesome specials. Perfect spot for a good quality, traditional breakfast. Not to mention the cute classic diner atmosphere. Definitely a go!
(5)
Rich R.

I had a wonderful vegan breakfast here, very fresh quality ingredients. The eggs are free range as well. Very cool old school kinda feel, looks like you walked off the street in the Pearl and into a diner in Kentucky. This is one of my new favorite breakfast spots.
(4)
Jenny D.

Great atmosphere, good service, very friendly. Awesome coffee. Better than the Starbucks across the street!
(5)
Jessica R.

There are so many good breakfast places in Portland and I'm afraid this isn't one of my favorites. The food was ok, nothing fancy, just the basics. The place is small and there was a short wait on a Saturday morning which is to be expected. The wait was a lot shorter than most breakfast places in Portland. The problem is when it's raining outside there is not really anywhere to wait so you don't get wet. The service was decent, prices good. Would I go back, possibly, but it wouldn't be my first pick.
(3)
Tara C.

SLOW. We waited nearly an hour after our food order was placed. When the food did arrive it was hot and tasty but I cannot say I would be willing to wait an hour again.
(3)
Michael S.

Everything about this place says "comfort". From giant burgers to homemade pumpkin pie to 70s music in the background. Been here twice and 5 stars isn't something I give out liberally. But this place has worked its way into my heart and has become a favorite. And the service? Wow. It's like coming to Moms house. Bliss.
(5)
Randy C.

My breakfast was average tasting but way above average cost! Nothing special to justify the cost in my opinion. Service was good, the diner is quaint but I wasn't thrilled with the price point. I had the Mt. Rushmore Hash and it was mostly undercooked potatoes. Not worth $9.25!
(2)
Michael L.

Inefficient service. Many waiting with 6 tables open. Hire more staff or get your act together.
(3)
Tina B.

The food was good but... Our apatite was ruined when my 16 year old watched them microwave the syrup for ten minutes in plastic yogurts containers. Even he knew that was a big no no in food preparation. Yuck!
(2)
Ty R.

Saw this place on triple d. Great blast to go along with wonderful service. Love the retro feel of the place.
(4)
Joey Y.

3.75 You might say, "Wait, that's not fair! Why not just round up to 4?" First, it's none of your business. JK. Second, well... I have no second reason. The food, when compared to Mother's Bistro and Tasty's 'n Sons, is just OK. The said two venerable joints serve plates that are so unique and bohemian in the brunch scene. Byways is in the little league of brunch restaurants and has its own unique features; however, the food is not worth standing in the rain for an hour for. If you do go, try their hash. Pretty good. If you are feeling nostalgic about old American diners, go here. You will be surrounded by amazing decors and American relics that will place you in an old classic film featuring quintessential American diners.
(3)
Christy H.

I went here a few years ago and again this weekend. Same good food as when I was here before. I really like the scrambles and the omelettes. My favorite is the Almano scramble with onions, bell pepper, avocado, salsa, and sour cream. Most of the dishes come with a side of potatoes and toast. For a little extra you can substitute the toast for a biscuit. The potatoes have a seasoning similar to Bay seasoning. Super tasty!!! The biscuits are huge and fluffy yet moist. Some of the best in town as far as I am concerned. I tried a side of gravy just for the heck of it. So glad I did because it was awesome!! Creamy and rich with a large amount of sausage in it. The biscuit and gravy side totally made the meal extra yummy. The parking around here can be a bit tricky as it is i the pearl district. The crowds for this place can also be really busy because there are pretty much no breakfast joints around so everyone goes here. Once you get in though the service is fast and friendly.
(4)
Seth C.

We just went to Byways this past weekend to try some place new. The food was great, the atmosphere was great, and the place is very kid friendly. The portions were just right...I had the Sunrise Special and it hit the spot. It is definitely a repeat place for us!
(4)
Brandi M.

Fantastic cornmeal pancakes and coffee! Friendly vibe, but very small place.
(4)
ali l.

yum!! byways was the perfect pit stop on a very discombobulated morning. after having woken up at 4 am to catch a flight to portland, by the time we arrived at byways (at 8:55 am) my friend and i both had a disoriented moment of panic that we may have missed breakfast hours - this was after we had almost gotten on a flight to omaha by mistake, after forgetting my bag at the security checkpoint ... you get the idea. which i guess made it very fitting that we ate and got our bearings at this traveling-themed diner! the place is covered with knick-knacky souvenirs, and all of the menu items reference various city landmarks. i had the miracle mile (scrambled) and it was delicious! lots of fresh veggies sauteed and scrambled with eggs, and a little bowl of fruit salad. all filling, satisfying and very reasonably priced - the perfect recharge to send us (stumbling) on our way again.
(5)
Kim L.

I had read the reviews and really have a thing for good cornmeal pancakes. I went there mainly for them. My review is a little mixed. I loved the OJ, thought the decaf was bitter. I ordered the sunrise special and upgraded to one blue cornmeal pancake. The sunrise has 2 eggs, 2 bacon or other meat, and 3 pancakes but I just asked for one as 3 seems like a lot. The scrambled eggs and bacon were really good. The bacon was really crispy but not burned although not quite as good as the bacon at Bijou. The pancake was pretty flat and dense (not at all fluffy looking like the buttermilk ones) and I've had fairly fluffy cornmeal pancakes in the past. The maple syrup seemed fake. The pecan butter was tasty but not really the flavor I was looking for with my cake. I guess I expected more. That being said, there were some interesting sounding omelets and hashes on the menu and lunch sounded good. I may go back and try the buttermilk pancakes or other items.
(3)

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Address : 1212 NW Glisan St
Portland, OR, 97209
Phone (503) 221-0011
Website https://www.bywayscafe.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :7:00 am - 3:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Byways Cafe

1212 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR, 97209

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