Dish: Build-Your-Own-Hashbrowns

Price: $4.50 + toppings

Source: Jam on Hawthorne

The seemingly ever-expanding (really, they opened the portal between the big and little Jams recently) Jam on Hawthorne has been in my brunch repertoire since they opened. This was even before they had more than one basic tofu scramble options - before the chai blueberry pancake! While the Portland Roasting Coffee makes me want to skip a mug, they’ve got an appealing breakfast booze menu, with bloody mary variations you can order vegan (make sure to specify) or extra large. My go-to order in the past couple of years moved from a build-your-own scramble to what I was really going there for: the hash browns. Some days they’re crispier than others, and when they’re on - they’re on. Give me a plate of shredded potatoes, roasted garlic, a heap of wilted spinach and pass the Secret Aardvark and I’m more than content. And there’s toast with Earth Balance on the side. Jeez. 

That being said, my last experience including really bizarre service, and I’m taking a break for a while. Road Runner Cafe, let’s talk.

Dish: side of potatoes

Price: $2.50

Source: Cloud Seven Cafe*

Potato enthusiasts, stand your ground. While these oven-roasted red potatoes were very hit-the-spot with a cup of pour-over Intelligentsia at Cloud Seven and I would go for them over a toasted no-longer-Kettleman’s Kettleman any day, the cafe is currently going through a change-of-name to Super Jet* this summer. So, perhaps they’ll remain, perhaps you’ll have to turn your oven on at home. Hopefully, they keep the nice selection of hot sauce up. There was much more than Frank’s around, I just like to keep it simple every now and then.