1212 NW Glisan Street


Average Overall Rating:

(3 out of 5)

Average Coffee Refill Rating:

(3 out of 5)

(3 out of 5)

Review by: Smiles on 11/14/2011

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My husband & I decided to visit byways cafe only because of the show diners, driveins & dives! We waited 20 minutes to be seated, then ten minutes to have are order taken, then 45 minutes for are food!!!! The food was horrible! The hash sucked my pikes peak was over cooked! My toast was burned!The coffee was bitter! The 15 minute french toast is horrible, big waste of money! This place is over priced for the crap they call "food"! Worst place to eat in oregon! I Will not recommend byways cafe to any of my friends or family!

Award Nomination: Biggest Ripoff

Review #22797Review by: kelleyknd on 3/4/2010

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We decided to try the café on a Saturday morning. We waited for a table for more than a hour. We only waited because of seeing it Diners Drive Ins And Dives. Guess It falls into the Dive catagory. The food was not just bad, I was actually pissed off that I had to pay that much for crummy hash. Yup we both ordered the corn beef hash, besides being extremely bland there was virtually no corned beef.
I ended up paying way to much for a plate of potatoes. I will never go back and I tell anybody that asked how bad it was. Can you tell I am still pissed off, thats how bad it was.

Award Nomination: Biggest Ripoff

Review #19480Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 10/25/2008

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I as well heard about the cafe, so I went. Well lets just say all the hype is for nothing, the pancakes were dry, the coffee was bitter, and the eggs were average for being fried over medium. The size of the cafe is kinda small but thats what gives it character.

Award Nomination: Biggest Ripoff

Review #15171Review by: accessbob on 9/3/2008

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My wife and I visited on a Wednesday morning at about 8:30 a.m. and it wasn't too busy. It isn't a very large restaurant so be prepared to wait during busy times.

I had the Mount Rushmore Hash and it was totally awesome. The corned beef has a sweet flavor (due to the brown sugar used in the prep at the restaurant) and a slight taste of mustard. The potatoes, peppers and onions mix to form a great tasting dish.

My wife had the Amaretto French Toast and, normally when you get french toast from a restaurant, you get about 4 half slices. But this was 4 FULL slices and it was definitely custard-like and you could taste the almond flavor. In fact it was so good, that the tastes that my wife gave me, I didn't even have syrup with it.

So, I know we will definitely be going back and I can hardly wait.

Award Nomination: Best Breakfast Ever

Review #14749Review by: Burgerman54 on 8/15/2008

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Question- Did anyone find out what the Recipe for the Cornbeef Hash was?

Award Nomination: Best Breakfast Ever

Review #14560Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 7/21/2008

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For being on Food Network, it was not all they hyped it up to be. My french toast did not taste like Ammaretto and there was no powder sugar dusting. The blueberry pancakes were just okay, my friends mom makes her even better and I do not get charged. It is not all that I expected

Review #14302Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 10/28/2007

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I just got home from a great weekend getaway up to Portland. I too had heard of Byways on the food network. However, I also had two friends recommend both Byways and Besaws(also VERY good) for breakfast. My friend and I shared two things, the Mountain corned beef Hash and the Blue Corn pancakes. I really liked the hash, I thought there was a little too much bell pepper but over all, you could tell it was home made, not too salty...good balance and portion.
The blue corn pancakes were delicious. I don't think some of the other reviewers here understand that when you cook with cornmeal, it will often be grainy and "fall apart". With that aside, I thought the taste was great...with syrup and some of the sweet almond butter...yum! I don't care how it holds up on my fork, as long as it tastes good!
We went at 10:30am on Saturday, waited for 20 mins...I think it's finally slowed down from the slice of fame they got a few months ago.
Service was great! Even though they were busy, never waited for coffee...food came out in a timely matter and our server, the gal with the "Molly" tattoo on her arm, was very sweet.

Award Nomination: Best Service

Review #11744Review by: kobesgamma on 9/25/2007

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We decided to try the café on a Saturday morning. We waited for a table for more than a hour. The amount of people leaving and waiting made us think that the hours wait was well worth it. NOT!!!!!! There were 5 in our party and nothing we ordered was deserving of a thumbs up. If I wanted mediocre unappealing food I could have stayed at home and eaten my own cooking. The only nice thing I can say about the place was that our waiter was friendly, and made sure our drinks were refilled in a timely matter.


Review #11464Review by: bobwilly on 8/26/2007

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I am a frequent visitor to Portland and having heard about the Byways Cafe on the Food Network and having read some of the reviews on this site and others I decided to try it. I was not impressed - this is a very average restaurant/diner/cafe with a dingy decor and nothing special on the menu. Yes I know the French Toast is supposed to be unique but why does it require a 15 minute wait? The Blue Corn pancakes were OK but not special. On one visit it took 20 minutes to get 2 eggs and toast and an order of the pancakes and the place was not even half full!
I think the Cadillac Cafe on Broadway is a much better breakfast place.


Award Nomination: Hugest Dump

Review #11219Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 8/6/2007

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The food is always better than good, and with the extremely friendly and professional staff, Byways is always my favorite. They also make really wholesome old school cakes, and will make any pie to order, or just because you want a slice (give them a day or two notice). Lunch is good too, with terrific burgers andfries on every sandwich. My favoriteneighborhood place. also, compared to other "breakfast" places, Dennys, diners, coffe houses and the like, Byways is light yrs ahead since they use the best ingredients: No worry here about all the creepy little possibilities of discount dining, and the bizarre breakfast offerings in places that don't really cook. As a comparison, a strange breakfast sandwich can cost from $2. to 4.95 elsewhere, add coffee were up to 6 or 7, and a tip, 8 buckaroos. Byways basic breakfast of eggs toast, coffee and potatoes ends up about the same, maybe a buck more. I'd always prefer knowing that the food is clean and fresh to a bargain basement meal. Byways rules.

Award Nomination: Best Breakfast Ever

Review #11036Review by: joyzerba on 7/14/2007

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My husband Jeff and I saw a feature on TV on a show called "Dinners, Drive-Inn's, and Dives", and liked what they showed, so we tried out the place 2 days later. We throughly enjoyed ourselves, and just loved the food. Can I say that it was one of the best, if not the best breakfast's we've ever had out. The staff was very attentive. Very clean environment also. We hope to be regulars now. We won't be going anywhere else, when we go out for breakfast. Have customers brought you guys plates for your wall collection? Joy Zerba

Award Nomination: Best Breakfast Ever

Review #10836Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 10/7/2006

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Expensive but a fun, eclectic place that has the BEST blueberry pancakes!

Review #8659Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 9/12/2006

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Kitschy yes, but definitely an old throwback to Diner days long gone by. I have been many many times, while indeed the weekend line can be a bit of a wait, the staff is genuine and attentive. The omlettes are to die for, the pasttries are all fresh, creative and home cooked (try the coffeecake if they have any). The milkshakes are deeelish as is the coffee (mmmm Stumptown). I happen to way dig the home fries (potatoes), and they have the best (BIGGEST) dang burgers you ever (tried) to get your mouth around. I say HURRAH Byways. Pleasant, not pretentious!

Award Nomination: Best Breakfast Ever

Review #8481Review by: squidderz on 6/13/2006

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I like the kitschy atmosphere better than the food. Potatoes tend to be underdone and cut into too-large pieces. Specials are 'spensive and often kind of precious.

Review #7747Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 5/1/2006

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We had a great time here. We didn't have to wait on a quiet Wednesday morning and the rain was drizzling outside...It was perfect pancake weather! They have a Blue Corn pancake that is heavenly. Served with honey pecan butter and real maple syrup it took my tastebuds to a new level of yum.
It's a kitschy little diner with knick knacks and great service. My wife went for an egg dish on special with canandian bacon, swiss cheese, mushrooms, and red onions she loved it.
Also, something else that deserves mention is their coffee. They only use Stumptown which is a local roaster that is exceptional in quality.
We'll definately be back! Bravo Byways!

Award Nomination: Best Breakfast Ever

Review #7399Review by: 3 In The Family on 10/2/2005

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Eating out with a 10 year old boy is always a challenge. The Viewmaster at the table helped. Once the food came, no one came back to check on us so we sat through the meal with no coffee and the potatoes were cold. The daily egg special was good and the husband liked the corned beef hash, though.

We won't go again.



Review #5987Review by: wibbet on 10/29/2004

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It is a funky little diner that still uses buffalo china. You can eat at the counter, table or booth. It is very busy on week-end mornings. While you wait for your fabu breakfast, you can gaze in awe and wonder at the collection of travel brickabrack, check out the veiw finder on your table or look adoringly at the one who thought to bring you to such a great breakfast joint! Breakfast served all day on Sunday and until 11 AM Tues-Sat--closed Monday.

Review #4028


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Reviews submitted here are meant to pertain to breakfast only. While Mr Breakfast cannot vouch for the validity of each restaurant review, he feels pretty good vouching for the excellent character of the residents of Portland, Oregon - who are primarily responsible for the review(s) you see above for Byways Cafe.