Cafe Nell
6 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/askportland, r/PortlandOR10 comments cited below
What people say, in short
Cafe Nell is a brunch spot in northwest Portland that several people name as a go-to, with one calling it their top pick and exquisite. One diner recommends a bar-seat breakfast plate of eggs, a biscuit or toast, meat and a mimosa as budget-friendly, and another says the tented space plus brunch reservations make it workable for groups. Others find the food underwhelming, with one comparing it to hotel fare, and one diner reports a long wait for french toast that was only okay.
Address
CAFE NELL, 1987 NW Kearney St, Portland, OR 97209
At a glance
- Price
- Budget
- Best for
- Breakfast, Budget
- Opinions divided
- Yes
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Caveatu/likethus in r/askportland · Mar 2025taste
Says its vegan brunch entree is often disappointing.
- Mixedu/velouria-wilder in r/askportland · Jun 2024
Cafe Nell's tent space and brunch reservations suit groups, though the food seems underwhelming to them.
- Recommendsu/dragons_faeries in r/askportland · Dec 2023
Lists it among suggested brunch spots, with its northwest street location.
- Recommendsu/MonkeyMan800842069 in r/askportland · Mar 2025value
Recommends a bar-seat breakfast plate of eggs, sides and a mimosa, calling the drink nearly free.
- Caveatu/millertime020 in r/PortlandOR · Nov 2025wait time
Went once and had a poor experience: a long wait for a french toast they found just okay.
- Recommendsu/PaPilot98 in r/PortlandOR · Nov 2025
Says they had forgotten Cafe Nell; calls it great and a bit hidden at times.
- Recommendsu/120721 in r/askportland · Jun 2025
Names it as an answer, with no further detail.
- Recommendsu/Ambitious_Iron206 in r/PortlandOR · Nov 2025taste
Calls Cafe Nell their hands-down top pick and exquisite; one of their first Portland meals.
Show all 10 cited comments
- Recommendsu/Heyd388y in r/PortlandOR · Nov 2025
Offers Cafe Nell as one of two suggestions.
- Mixedu/HipsterSlimeMold in r/askportland · Jun 2024taste
Agrees the food is underwhelming, likening it to hotel fare, though the specials are reasonably priced.
Also on
Cafe Nell is on another map too, with what people said about it there.
More maps in Portland, United States
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Freshness
Details last checked 11 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.