J&M Cafe Reviews

J&M is located in a semi-industrial part of town, near several body shops, hardware stores, etc. It's also very close to NE Grand, which has a light rail line (sorry, not sure which one). worth going out of your way to get to it. It's is bright and open, with lots of 2 and 4 tops, plus a counter. Last time I went, there was a smoker outside wafting delicious odors onto the street. Breakfast menu is great, haven't been there for lunch yet. Where I grew up I'd heard of scrapple, but never had it. I just looked it up on Wikipedia and I can understand that the description is not entirely appealing. However, it is extremely well done at J&M. I'm a big fan of corn beef hash and eggs when I go out for breakfast, and this may have taken it's place. As a bonus (in terms of ambiance), the coffee is self serve, and you pick your mug from an eclectic collection hanging on the wall next to the coffee dispenser.

I have mixed feelings about this place, but will probably give it another try if I stay in that neighborhood on a future visit. Their coffee is excellent. It is self-service and you choose from a variety of mugs. At first I didn't like that idea, but on reflection, the most frustrating part of breakfast out is often getting coffee when you want it, so this solves the problem. I had the scrapple, and that was the one part of breakfast I didn't like. I like scrapple a lot and was surprised to find it on the left coast. I think they made it too healthy! Also, it was sweet, and scrapple should be savory. It also was not crispy. (In fairness, it appears their menu says it has a maple glaze and perhaps I missed that.) I'll try another meat or not have meat next time. The eggs, potatoes and toast were all good. I didn't really like the decor; it feel like they plopped a restaurant into a space that was designed for something else. Prices felt a little high, though cheaper than a hotel, which is why we went looking for a breakfast joint.

I was just looking for a basic breakfast place without a theme. I found a basic looking cafe with a lot of time and effort into what they do. It’s an underrated cafe based on the images shown. The get your own coffee and water was fantastic. And they use a local toaster for the coffee. Thanks J&M for making my morning !

Gritty 'hood but awesome breakfast place! We recommend the Manolo's Scramble, Chorizo Scramble and the Breakfast Burrito. Especially like the pick your own coffee mug. ;)

Fun spot in an industrial neighborhood just off Burnside with old world charm and amazing pecan Belgium waffles.

On a recent visit to Portland, our Hotel recommended we head to J & M for breakfast since it was in walking distance and we ended up having breakfast there three times! One of my favorite things about this cafe is the coffee mugs are hanging on the wall and you just grab the mug that suits you (they're all different) and serve yourself. After a late night of dancing it was wonderful to just walk in and have your coffee immediately!! My partner and I like to share dishes, so each day we ordered one main dish (Breakfast Burrito, Mediterranean Scramble & Garden Scramble), then we coupled the main dish with a bowl of fresh fruit with Nancy's yogurt & topped with dried cranberries, along with a large glass of fresh OJ. Our last day we splurged on a side order of local bacon -- OMG!! The main dishes were served with an orange slice, homefries & toast and we were barely able to finish our food -- all this wonderfully, fresh, yummy food for around $20-25! Fresh, local foods at great prices with a friendly staff...you can't go wrong.

Each time I visit Portland I visit J&M. It has such wonderful food and just a nice neighborhood feel to it. The service is always wonderful and the specials are always interesting. I always feel welcome and never rushed!

On first impressions this seems very airy and open to have any atmosphere, but once you sit down and take in the details, this is very cool. Between helping yourself to your own coffee (selection of different mugs on designated mug tree) and the collection of knick-knack collectables around the counter, you get the quirky vibe of the J&M quite quickly. Breakfast: super tasty & fresh. Service: top notch.

Great breakfast joint, friendly staff great food especially the thick cut bacon. Help yourself to a mug from the wall of mugs and poor yourself a coffee. A must if you are in Portland.

Our hotel attendant had suggested we eat here and we were not disappointed! Really tasty and satisfying breakfast at a very reasonable price. They offer complimentary self-serve coffee and water, which is neat. We were very impressed with the staff too. Only one waitress was running all the tables, and she did a phenomenal job, with an even better attitude! Definitely a good way to start the day.

I like the decor. It was clean and bright. I ordered the scabble breakfast. The taste was ok and a bit bland. My biggest complaint was the service. For such a simple order it took close to 30 minutes to get our food.

Server was not friendly!!! You get your own coffee and water!!! Definely have had way better food!! Bacon was strange!!

this was a little better than average, but for portland i wouldnt call it 'really good'. service was apathetic, menu is very limited. food was pretty good but not exceptional. lots of street parking which is nice.

I used to live in Portland and my friends and I would go to J&M religiously every weekend for delicious brunches to cure our hangovers. We'd gather up the Sunday papers and enjoy freshly brewed coffee while we waited to be seated. The smells that float around the restaurant drive you wild - so mouth-watering! It's impossible to figure out what to eat as everything on the menu is so amazing. But no matter what you choose, just know that it will be great. Your coffee cup is never empty as it is self-service in the kitschy mismatched mugs. Sunlight streams in through the old warehouse windows and there is a great buzzy atmosphere. I moved to London a few years ago but I still miss J&M and will wax lyrical about it to anyone who will listen! If you ever find yourself in Portland you must go here!!!!

Terrific breakfast. Would recommend to anyone. High quality and large quantities. Great country breakfast with thick sliced Canadian Bacon

My friend and I stopped by J&M Café for brunch on a Monday while visiting Portland. It was a short, pleasant walk from our motel. Since it was late morning on a Monday it wasn't busy so we picked a table right next to an open window. We each had the two eggs and added the super-tasty Willamette Valley bacon and had salads instead of the home fries. Everything was delicious, the coffee very good and the service was the best. I highly recommend this place if you are in the neighborhood!

WONDERUL food. Smoked chicken scramble was awesome, as was the breakfast Sammy. Good coffee (loved my oat milk latte). Thanks!

A great neighborhood spot. High ceilings, spacious, big windows, plus outdoor seating. I went for breakfast and had a cornmeal waffle with ginger butter and pecans and real maple syrup. Delicious! The ginger butter was pretty tangy and not sweet, but it blended beautifully with the syrup. The bacon was thick and good, but very salty. Good coffee, good OJ. Nice and smart server.

We walked here from the motel 6. Attracted by picture of the j&m plate 2 basted eggs with cheese over an English muffin. Thick cut very good. Nice room to chat and dine

I visit Portland once or twice a year, and always come back to J&M for breakfast. Its' food is very consisitent, the restaurant is very spacious and airy, and the service is very good. A very relaxing atmosphere for breakfast!

My wife and I spent a long weekend in Portland. During our visit we stopped into this pleasant smaller restaurant. Friendly staff and very attentive. Thanks for a great breakfast.

Went for a quick bit and a morning meeting. The coffee roaster used (can't remember name) was a delight and tasty. Love the self serve coffee bar. For breakfast I had pecan waffles with ginger butter. Yum. My companions had an egg based sandwich with sausage and a quiche. All were impressive in portion and TASTE. If on the east side of the river, you need to stop here. I plan to return on my next visit.

We'd been staying at a hotel and eating the expensive breakfasts there, and decided to head out elsewhere. J&M Cafe was an excellent choice. I had fun selecting a coffee mug from the tree by the self-serve coffee pumpers (no need to wait on the waitstaff for a refill). The breakfast I ordered was divine - cornmeal pecan waffles with ginger butter. I wish I could go back and eat here again!

Really good food, hearty breakfast. Proper coffee, great ambience. Beautiful ceiling beams. Went here a couple of times and it is warmly recommended

Ate here while the car was in for a service. Wait service is fairly slow but friendly, food is OK but nothing special. Will probably try somewhere else next time the car is in.

Just stumbled on this place... A delightful surprise. Friendly staff and tasty egg dishes ... A definite must try... !! ;) Enjoy!!!

Worth the walk from downtown Portland. Great food, relaxed charm - no rush, friendly service. Got there as Portland was just waking up. Can't fault a thing, help yourself coffee and amazing food. Helpful but I intrusive staff. Strongly recommend

We stumbled onto this place the first time we vacationed in Portland. We loved the quality of the food. The bacon is thick cut, not just a sliver. The scrambles are all tasty and plenty to eat. The fresh raspberry jam I could eat just by itself. Atmosphere is great! Service is a smidge pokey, but breakfast / lunch is always served with a smile. Keep up the great work. I'll see you soon.

Dependable neighborhood cafe - serves breakfast till 2pm so good for Brunch. Good coffe from local brewing company "Extracto" Regular and Decaf - I had the Decaf from Uganda, which was very good- unlimited mugs. Breakfast specials, good service and friendly.

We’re from Los Angeles, CA and visiting Portland for the weekend. We came in on Sunday, 8/13/23 around noon and although the host at the door was very kind and welcoming, the waitress was the complete opposite! It was insanely obvious how she walked around pretending we didn’t exist and ignoring us. We watched her take everyone else’s order before us (guests that were seated after us). I eventually stood up and asked for our order to be taken. We were told they would (not by the waitress) but no one ever came to our table so we decided to leave. That waitress was horrendous and should be fired. I felt bad for my brother who was very excited to try their food; as this restaurant was his choice after finding it online. I do NOT recommend J&M Cafe.

Great breakfast. Customize or choose from menu. Whatever you choose, you can have... do not have to adhere to menu. Nice atmosphere, great service.

I loved the vibe of this place. It was very welcoming and the food was great. I had the chorizo omelet. Very tasty. Scrapple was also tasty. I'd never had that before. Totally recommended. Unlimited water and coffee that you serve yourself. I think more restaurants should implement a self-serve station like that. Friendly staff. Easy checkout. Good location. Recommended!

We became regulars at J&M Cafe after having every breakfast there during our three day stay in Portland. The place offers a good selection of breakfast things like fruit bowls, granola etc. Especially great are their scrambled eggs with all kinds of stuff mixed in. There's also a daily special and good coffee and tea. Prices are a bit steep, good scrambled eggs costing close to 10 dollars and fruit bowl with yoghurt over 7. Recommended anyway, it's worth it.

This cute little cafe might not have the following of some of the iconic brunch spots in Portland, but it also doesn't have an hour+ wait. We eat here a few times a month, and have never had anything we didn't like. Everything is fresh, the staff is friendly, and their specials are always unique and delicious. Plus, they have awesome scrapple, which is incredibly difficult to find on the west coast. If you think you won't like it, try it anyway. It's awesome with a little maple syrup drizzled over it.

I've eaten here a few times, and I certainly wouldn't dream about returning. The menu is small, and the service is not that great.

I have enjoyed a big nutritious breakfast here many times here. The Mediterranean Scramble is so good! The atmosphere is homey and I like the wide variety of empty coffee cups on a wall rack one can choose from and then pump your own coffee as many times as you like. It is especially good place for a long conversation as it is not noisy and the tables are not crowded all together. Good for romance or a business meeting or just hanging with friends.

Chorizo Scramble was excellent. Super friendly staff and great coffee. Like most businesses in this area of town it’s sitting alone be down some side street but well worth seeking out.

My parents and I went to meet a friend and regular of this restaurant for lunch and it was fantastic. The Mediterranean scrambler is amazing! Everyone greatly enjoyed their food.

Some of the best I've had. Thinly sliced, wild caught NW salmon, served with an abundance of capers, onions, ripe tomatoes, fresh cream cheese, lettuce, and a nice toasted bagel. Great value, great taste, friendly and prompt service, and I'll go back next I'm in Portland. They don't accept credit cards, but there is an ATM outside the restaurant.

Did breakfast this morning and just a great spot. Selection was good with some interesting items. Items done well with great service, although things took a little longer to come out of the kitchen than expected. Nothing serious just a note. Server did a great job and was good when we asked for extra toast. Note that it's serve yourself for coffee and water and cash only but I think they have an ATM. Small points and, for me, added to the charm.

My wife and I had Sunday Brunch at the J & M Cafe and it was fantastic. She had the Eggs Benedict, which was a wonderful meal. The hollandaise sauce was special. I had scrambled eggs with zucchini, ham, black pepper rustico cheese and much, much more. The home fries were also very good. Coffee served at the J and M is a local roast and it is outstanding. Our server was an owner and service was super. All-in-all, this is the place to be for a weekend Brunch in Portland.

Small menu but filled with excellent items. My friend's egg dish and my sweet stuff were both delicious! I will definitely go back. Only problem I had was that the old industrial building was a bit drafty and loud when I went, but I warmed up with tasty coffee, so I was happy.

Excellent neighborhood cafe with interesting interpretations of breakfast dishes. This is the third time we've stopped in and have enjoyed every trip. Definitely a place to take your friends for brunch and to hang. Laid back, pleasant surroundings.

I was leery at first, but ended up enjoying our breakfast. The neighborhood is funky, and parking may be difficult at times. We were there on a hot summer day, and all the windows were open, so the inside was very airy and pleasant. Our party included a very young baby, and yet we were welcomed. There was only one waitress for the entire place, and it took her 20 minutes to get around to taking our order. But she apologized so nicely that we didn't mind. Other than that delay, service was pleasant, efficient and attentive. I had scrapple and eggs. Plenty of food, good quality. When we were there, most of the clientele were retired folk.

Heavenly Breakfast. Super busy but well worth the wait and wonderful waitstaff.

hands down the, i mean the best breakfast in portland.

J&M Cafe: sunny with big eastern-facing windows, open natural wood high ceilings, casual and classy, amazingly friendly service, well crafted food and beverages at affordable prices.

Good " mess" of potatoes Ok French toast Great hot chocolate OJ. Outdoor seating covered area is not always open but a few picnic tables seem to be always open. Indoors well ventilated bring a sweater for inside more for outside unless sunny no breeze etc Place can be busy so it can be slow, or there may be a wait. Check their website for hours (can change with COVID etc)

We were looking for a good simple breakfast place and wow! The food was great! The service was great! It's small and a little industrial, but nice. We tried a couple of places for breakfast but stopped in here 3 times, it was that good!

This is one of my favorite breakfast spots in Portland. It has wonderful cornmeal waffles and great eggs, too. The coffee is self-serve with endless refills. The space has good light and high ceilings. Bring money. They are cash only!

This is the best breakfast spot in Portland. Fine gathering place for friends and family on any weekday or weekend morning. I've never been disappointed in the food. Not even once. The service is excellent. Great atmosphere. The best part is they now take credit cards and they also have Wi-Fi.