Sanborn's

Claim
marker

3200 SE Milwaukie Ave
Portland, OR 97202

marker
(503) 963-8000
Incorrect info? Correct your listing
Photos
Sanborn's - Portland, OR
Sanborn's - Portland, OR
Videos
Reviews
( 31 )
( 3 )
( 0 )
( 3 )
( 3 )

Best

I had a huge family get together and for the life of me could not find a local restraunt that could serve a party of 13 for breakfast on a Saturday! Well i was pretty discourag...

Worst

I went there with a friend for the first time, the service was good but the fare was just ordinary. The corned beef hash was as dry as ashes and the eggs benedict way too lemony ...

Delicous Pancakes! 11/30/2007

Where to begin... Wonderful selection of pancakes, egg dishes, sides and beverages. It's so nice to have a place that serves top quality food until two in the afternoon! I don't know about everyone else but I can't always get that breakfast craving before noon. The sourdough pancakes and strawberry jam are the best. The wait staff is awesome! My only request would be that they serve cage free eggs!!! Pros: Homemade jam and great service Cons: eggs are not cage free more
Reply | Report abuse |

Can't beat this breakfast 8/6/2007

I tried this place on whim a couple of months ago and now I can't eat breakfast anywhere else. The breakfast burrito is amazing, the buckwheat pancakes are wonderful, and the coffee is good stuff. The service is good too, fast and efficient. The only negative thing about this place is that on the weekends it's busy, so you may have to sit in close proximity to someone you don't know. But you can hardly blame the resturaunt for it's popularity, after all it's the best breakfast I've ever come across. Go immediately if not sooner. Pros: quality coffee, best food ever, service, and it's affordable Cons: street parking more
Reply | Report abuse |

So good, I almost don't want to share... 8/3/2007

We've lived in the Westmoreland area for over 2 years and have driven by Sanborn's a million times, always saying, ""we've got to try that place."" Alas, we finally got to try it last weekend, and it was INCREDIBLE. Everything - ambiance, cleanliness, wait staff, food quality - was AMAZING. Rarely do you find a place like this, and at such reasonable prices. Having a 2 year old and a 4 month old, we are always hesitant to even try to eat out, but Sanborn's was kid-friendly and had no problem with us taking our 2 year old into the kitchen to check out how his food was made. This is our new favorite breakfast place, and are proud to be on the path to becoming regulars. We hope it doesn't become so famous that we can't get in -- yes, it's that good. more
Reply | Report abuse |

Best egg benidict 7/29/2007

My husband and I happened here one day around 12. The atmosphere is great. There is an upstairs that is quite if your by yourself or just you and a friend, the upstairs is small and cozy. You can see two pictures of the chef as a young boy cooking at a BBQ. That is Mr. Sanborn back in the kitchen and that is him as a boy doing what he already loved. His talented daughter works with her Dad. more
Reply | Report abuse |

Awesome breakfast spot! 7/26/2007

Not only is Sanborn's clean and appealing asthetically, but it has a friendly feel to it as well. The wait staff were friendly and helpful - and the service was quick. I'm very fussy about coffee, grind my own everyday, and theirs was delicious. I hesitated to try the blueberry Belgian waffle because of past experiences with blueberry compote that had a texture more like glue. But Sanborn's blueberry waffle was light and the compote was fresh and syrupy. My husband loved his hash and eggs; I don't like hash but found this to be very tasty. It was a little spendy for a breakfast place, but well worth it. I don't know if they have a parking lot. We didn't see one, so had to park on the street. This all said, I'm going again, with some girlfriends tomorrow, to introduce them to this great breakfast haven. more
Reply | Report abuse |

The best, period 6/12/2007

We go there almost every weekend. The food is never, ever disappointing. The chili relleno special is to die for, but check the most special board of specials, because there is always something new and unique. Where else can you get a rhubarb german pancake? The people that own and operate Sanborn's are quite possibly the nicest human beings on the planet, and the waitresses are the best in town. Pros: Food, service, Everything! Cons: Got a parking prob? Reduce your oil dependence, ride the bus, walk, bike, duh. more
Reply | Report abuse |

Make Sanborns your new tradition! 5/4/2007

After my plane landed in Portland early last week , my friend picked me up and wanted to take me to "" a wonderful little restaurant"" that makes ""a mean breakfast""...well how could I resist? My friend was right on the mark!! Coming from San Francisco, the ""foodie"" capital of the world, I have to admit I wondered how a little spot in Portland might measure up- I was stunned!! The food, atmosphere, and service were above and beyond many of the great spots in SF- the baked omelette was very impressive as were the mango pankakes my friend insisted I try! Our waitress was a charming server named Dayna who kept us smiling throughout our experience at Sanborns. The restaurant was bussling with customers, but the wait was not more than a minute! I determined with my friend that this will be our new tradition for each trip to Portland- if I lived nearby I would certainly be a regular! Pros: service, food-you name it Cons: not enough people know about it...? more
Reply | Report abuse |

Why Isn't This Place Packed? 4/20/2007

I cannot imagine why people are lined up out the door at the Original Pancake House, while this place sits undiscovered behind the Berlin Inn. The food is well-executed, including both common favorites like corned beef hash and less-common beauties like German pancakes. There are few other places in the city where you can get a baked omelette. The lunch-type offerings are limited, but I almost wish I had been having lunch there today; the garlic yam soup sounded interesting. Pros: A unique-but-not-weird menu in a nice space, executed well and with a pleasant manner Cons: Parking in the neighborhood isn't plentiful; the place is too small for a huge group (e.g., 10) more
Reply | Report abuse |

A must try! 2/24/2007

I am now a regular at Sanborn's on both the weekends and during the week...I can't say enough about this place. It is just so refreshing to have food that is not out of a can. It's the craft of the food that sets this place apart. NOWHERE in the city can you get a whipped egg omelete or a rhubarb german pancake! Pros: Gourmet food at a reasonable price... Cons: None...take your out-of-town friends here and they'll be moving within a week :) more
Reply | Report abuse |

Warm, friendly, charming and great food. 2/24/2007

I have been going to this restaurant since it opened and found the atmosphere warm, friendly, and charming. It is a small restaurant with attentive staff and delicious food. From huevos rancheros to mango pancakes, there is plenty of variety from which to choose. Weekends are busy so get there early! This restaurant is open Wednesday to Sunday until 2:00PM. In the summer they have the patio area open. It is surrounded by flowers and gated. What a way to enjoy a sunny summer morning! I recommend this place to all my friends. more
Reply | Report abuse |

Disappointed 2/24/2007

This was my first time at Sanborn's, and sorry to say will be my last. I was very impressed when I walked in and took in the atmosphere, but after waiting 40 minutes for my food none of that mattered anymore. I was in a party of four and the only hot entree was the omelet my friend had. Three of our dishes were luke warm at best and honestly not that good. I noticed everyone around us had a long wait as well, so maybe that is the norm for this location. For me I like my food in a decent amount of time and for it to taste as if it just came off the grill. more
Reply | Report abuse |

Best Mango Pancakes 1/27/2007

I've been going to Sanborn's for two years now and have loved it every single time. The food is not only great tasting, it looks picture perfect. I took a picture of my wife next to her huevos ranchos. The cook, Russ, always comes out and greets us with his chef's hat and a smile. I also like the location on a little street surrounded by old homes and pleasant shops. Pros: nice window view and fountains and hanging plants near Cons: tough parking on weekends more
Reply | Report abuse |

Breakfast and a SHOW!! 1/11/2007

Oh, beautiful little family restaurant across from the Aladdin! You have such nice mango pancakes. I like the little piano and the fact that I always get whatever local food I can get. Pros: Ambience, Location, Affordability Cons: Brooklyn more
Reply | Report abuse |

The only place for breakfast 1/10/2007

We eat breakfast out every Saturday morning. Since moving to Portland five years ago we have tried every recommended breakfast place in the metro area, and for the past year we have eaten nowhere else but Sanborn's. When an Oregonian review recently gave the mantle for ""best German pancake"" to another place, we just shook our heads. They certainly had never been to Sanborn's. My test breakfast for any new place is corned beef hash and eggs; Sanborn's serves the best ever. The staff is super friendly, including Russ and ""Mom"" Sanborn in the kitchen). They are happy to accomodate our idiosyncracies (e.g., ""burnt"" bacon for my wife and mango sausa for my scrambled eggs). The ambience of the place is perfect for a pleasant start to the day. I almost hate to write this review, knowing that it will contribute to competition for attention from Rebecca and Jodie and the rest of the staff, but darn it they deserve it. (Oh, and if they have the breakfast chili rellenos on special, get 'em). Pros: Great people, fresh food well prepared. more
Reply | Report abuse |

Good food, understaffed 1/7/2007

We checked out Sanborns for Sunday Brunch this afternoon. I was a bit shocked and slightly concerned that there was almost no line and shouldn't have been any (there were plenty of open tables...no one had seated people yet). Pros: good food, friendly service Cons: understaffed more
Reply | Report abuse |

warm, welcoming atmosphere 1/7/2007

I have been there several times now and tried various things on the menu. Everything was delicious, but my particular favorite is the Kelly Street Special, which they made at my request with kalamata olives instead of mushrooms. My book group held our meeting there over brunch and everyone was delighted with the variety and quality of the food and the friendliness of the service. I have been to breakfast or brunch at places all over the city such as Bread and Ink, Hawthorn Cafe, Cadillac Cafe, Kennedy School, Edgefield, etc. I have found none better than Sanborn's. Last summer I bicyled there with a friend and we sat on the patio behind the water feature. It was easy to watch our bicycles and enjoy our food. Pros: willingness to adapt to customer needs, more
Reply | Report abuse |

Wow! Best breakfast i've had in Portland. 1/6/2007

As a big fan of breakfast i've eaten at most of the spots in portland. Sanborn's is simply a cut above anything you will find here in town. Since it's family owned the staff all go out of their way to make the customer feel at home. I love seeing the families with kids (playing with the little toys that the staff gives them), I guess there just aren't that many breakfast places that have the space to be family-friendly. After talking to the waitress, it turns out that all the food is made with fresh ingredients and seasonal fruit. What I like most is that I can go on a weekday and have a gourmet breakfast for 7 or 8 bucks and pretty much have the restaurant to myself! Pros: great food for the money Cons: Only open 5 days a week more
Reply | Report abuse |

Best Breakfast 12/29/2006

I love breakfast!!! I have actively sought out the best breakfast in Portland. During my quest I have gone to most(if not all) of the highly rated breakfast places. So I was very pleasantly surprised when I stumbled upon Sanborns. The service was great! The ingredients were fresh! Pros: Excellent food Cons: Not open 7 days a week more
Reply | Report abuse |

Best Breakfast in Portland 10/20/2006

The food is to die for. The staff are friendly. The business is family owned and operated. I have eaten here several times and have never had a bad experience or a bad meal. Check out the options on the scrambles/omelets and on the breakfast burritos. The fruit German pancakes are the best I have ever eaten and with seasonal fruits added to the mix you always have a pleasant addition to the menu. If you have not eaten here you should. You don't know what you are missing. Pros: Everything more
Reply | Report abuse |

Amazing 9/23/2006

Sanborn's has quickly become my favorite breakfast spot. The decor is 1920's art deco without being overdone or pretentious. Their breakfasts cover the gauntlet of traditional favorites, including eggs benedict, scrambles, and waffles, but also offer unique and flavorful options, including hash, amazing blue corn pancakes, a breakfast burrito with nopalitos (cactus), and to die for German pancakes with seasonal fruits like pear, peaches, and kiwi. Beverages include fresh-squeezed OJ, mimosas, and killer coffee. The service is attentive without being too in-your-face, and the servers are very friendly, helpful and accomodating. Pros: Never too crowded, unique menu options, great service Cons: Hard to think of any more
Reply | Report abuse |
< Previous 1 2 3 Next >
Menu for Sanborn's


Summer SALE!!!:
15% OFF all yearly plans
Use year15 at checkout. Expires 1/1/2021
Owner Message

  • Please join us 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Wednesday - Sunday
    for Breakfast at its Finest. We are located on SE Milwaukie St, one block South of Powell Blvd just past the Aladdin Theater - on the east side of the street.

    Sanborn's is also a great place for lunch on weekdays!

Editorial

  • Family-friendly breakfast spot emphasizes fresh ingredients in its offerings like baked omelets, fruit-filled German pancakes and Belgian waffles.

  • 3/7/2007 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Wed-Sun 8am-2pm
  • Payments: Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Brooklyn Action Corps, Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Program
badge