Food: Ensaymada (5/5): Thick, rich, and decadent. Excellent texture and flavor. I *loved* this in my childhood. This took my memory and made it so much better. Pandan Donut with Ube Ice Cream (5/5): Wow. So rich and tasty, and the ube ice cream was delicious. Totally hits the spot. Would absolutely get this again. Just a heads up, come early. We got the last ensaymada and it was only 11:50 AM. Service: Not Rated Good. Ambiance: Not Rated Small tables. read more

Balong - Pandan Donut with Ube Ice Cream Sandwich - Filipino Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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We went with anticipation to have a selection of new and different bakery items, what a disappointment! We got nothing and left. First, it is difficult to locate. As you are practically at the entrance to Fubonn there is a sign with an arrow pointing straight ahead for Balong. Thinking that indicates it is inside Fubonn we enter searching. Find out it is located to the right and back of Fubonn. Why have a sign directing people straight ahead when your arrow should point right?‍. We enter to discover a small lucite cube with what appears to be bread rolls $2 ea. and a choice of two different pastries, different names but look alike, with what appears to be frosting on top. $8 each! The menu on the wall had just two breakfast sandwiches $12 or 12.50 each and three other things listed. That's it. Two pastries, bread rolls and two breakfast sandwiches. More expensive than any other bakery we've been to in the city. Mei Sum is close by with a very large selection of goods most of which are under $3. Kings Bakery is down 82nd a bit and great pastries. Also LiMin's on Division.... All much less priced. No reason to return to Balong. read more

Tucked away in the Fubon plaza area this little Filipino gem is EVERYTHING. PARKING: There's plenty of parking in the area as there is a parking lot as well as some towards the back and side of the building I believe. AMBIANCE: It's a pretty cozy place with a few tables inside and some out in the walkway area of the building. I loved the family photos on the wall, made everything seem very homey and inviting. SERVICE: Prompt and friendly. Didn't feel rushed at all. I got my food to-go and they brought out my food and drink to me which was super nice. FOOD: Sausage, Egg, Cheese Sandwich: I love me some longganisa. It's house made and tastes just like it should! The sun dried tomato aioli cuts through the richness and fattiness of the egg. The pandesal was toasted perfectly and was light and fluffy inside. This is probably one of my favourite breakfast sandwiches I've ever had. Hashbrown: This was a thick boy of a hashbrown. Fried perfectly and crispy with scallion powder and salt. This was potato perfection. We Balong: Cup Coffee was there and I had the We Balong which had an Ovaltine cloud cream and it was delicious. I try to avoid dairy but this was worth it. OVERALL: Filipino food is getting some great representation with this place. When I think of elevating the Filipino dining experience this is what I WANT. It keeps the essence of our food culture while bringing it forward with some modern day cuisine and I love it. read more

I just felt the need to comment on how nice everyone is here, every time. We love this place. It seems like they are getting even nicer than the last time we were here. We got the oldies but goodies, and still the same great 6 stars flavors, breakfast sand, hashbrown, cornbread. It was nice to see some new items on the menu, we didn't get to try them this time but it sounded really good, some kind of pulled chick sandwich. If you haven't read my previous review, come here and order the cornbread, and the cinnamon roll style pastry. We just saw they will be celebrating the 1 yr anniversary this June! YYYYYYYAAAYYYYYY! Happy you are in PDX. read more

Get everything, it's all SOOO GOOD! The pastries are amazing, some of my favorite in Portland, not soo sweet and perfect textures. The shop is small but very nice Vive, the people are so so nice, and the food and drinks are stellar. Literally one of my favorite spots in Portland. read more

Balong - Breakfast sando, breakfast plate with sausage, and pastries - Filipino Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Are you here for the breakfast (sandwiches, plate, side) or pastries? Balong have a small, easy to navigate menu. With their most expensive option: breakfast plate $16 and the least expensive option: hash browns $5. I mainly came for the pastry, which are NOT on the menu; coffee roll $8.00. We got one of the last ones (yay me); once they are gone, they will not make more for the day. However, we decided to get biscuits and gravy as well for $9.00 because the description say, "homemade cheddar scallion biscuit with tomato gravy". We were curious about the biscuit and tomato gravy. It did not take long for the food to come out. The biscuit and gravy were very tasty! The biscuit had a unique taste, tasted like something I have had before. But I could not pinpoint where, anyways, combined with a tomato gravy, it almost tasted like a tomato soup and grilled cheese. It was quite unique in a good way because I have not had that before. Next time, I will need to add bacon on there. The coffee roll looked like a cinnamon roll with crushed coffee beans on top; also, unique. Sweet enough and not too overpowering with the coffee flavor. The outside was nice and crunchy, yet soft inside. Both very good. I think they found us staring at their pan de sal bread... because they gave us one to take away to taste. We devoured it later that night, it was also very tasty; soft and buttery, reminded me of a croissant. The next pastry we want to try is the: Ensaymada. Beware of hours: 8am - 1:30pm, closed: Monday & Tuesday. Plenty of parking as Balong is located inside Fubonn. Cash or card accepted. Overall great experience and the service was awesome. He was very friendly and patient with us while we were trying to decide what we wanted to order. See you soon! read more

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Overall - Simply put, go try it! Location - Inside Fubonn Shopping Center, tucked in the back to the right of the grocery store. Service - This was honestly one of the best service experiences I've ever had. The team member at the register wasn't trying to upsell us. He had a real conversation with us and clearly knew every dish on the menu. Ambiance - I love the timeless vibe. The menu looks like a vintage order form, and the way they display their bakery items adds to the charm. Food: We ordered the biscuit and gravy, which is vegan and gluten-free. I highly recommend it. The gravy doesn't overpower the biscuit, and the biscuit has this crispy yet fluffy texture you don't normally find. The coffee bun was also perfect, with ground coffee beans on top, a crunchy exterior, and a soft inside. Definitely heat it up for the best experience! read more

Balong - Biscuits and gravy - Filipino Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Balong - Seattle, WA Stopped by Balong for some Filipino-style breakfast -- simple, old-school. Started with the Pan de Sal Bacon, Egg & Cheese. Solid -- nothing mind-blowing, but comforting and done right. Soft bread, warm eggs, crispy bacon -- simple and satisfying. Tried the Sausage, Egg & Cheese next, which uses a pork longganisa patty. This caught my attention -- not your typical sweet and garlicky longganisa you'd expect. It had a more savory, almost tangy twist -- kind of like a Vigan-style longganisa, with that salty, garlicky note and a hint of acidity. Not really my usual flavor, but interesting enough that I'd love to try a mix of both styles next time. We also tried Nanay's Chicken Melt -- visually, it looked great, but taste-wise it felt more like a regular sandwich than a melt. Bread was soft and fluffy, but I was expecting that grilled, cheesy "melt" bite. Now, the highlight -- the Ensaymada. This was bomb. Sweet, buttery, and cheesy with a nice crunch on the outside and an ooey-gooey center. Perfect balance of sugar and salt -- definitely something I'd come back for. Service was friendly and quick, and the decor had a clean, simple look with that bold signature green -- tasteful and memorable. Overall, would I come back? Maybe. For the Ensaymada -- absolutely, it's crave-worthy. The sandwiches felt a little pricey for what they were, but still worth a try, especially if you're into exploring different regional Filipino breakfast flavors. read more

Balong - Filipino Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I visited Balong for the first time this past weekend and instantly knew I'd love it! Located in Fubonn Shopping Center, this place just has good energy! The owner is incredibly personable, the decor is modern but still invokes warm fuzzues due to several clusters of family photos on the wall, and the pastry case is as inviting as it gets! My partner and I both ordered the sausage breakfast sandwiches (housemade longganisa sausage patty with egg, cheese & sundried tomato aioli on pan de sal) The sausage has a wonderfully unique flavor that sets it apart from other breakfast sandwiches around town. But the real star is the freshly baked pan de sal! One of the most popular breads in the Philippines, pan de sal is soft and airy and pairs nicely with anything breakfasty - sweet or savory! I loved it so much I made sure to buy a bag of 6 rolls to enjoy at home during the week. We ate the last two as dessert three days later and they still tasted fresh and amazing. I'll be returning to Balong to sample more items on the menu in the near future, and I hope this delightful restaurant will be around for a long time to come. read more

I tried Balong back when they were a pop up but hadn't made it to their new location. We went around 930 on Sunday and there was no wait. It's located in the Fubonn supermarket. When I tell you this was the best breakfast sandwich I've ever had. I took it to go and almost turned around to go back and order another. I highly recommended the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on the cheddar biscuit and ask them to make it extra saucy. I was a little worried that maybe the biscuit would be too hard as they sometimes can be with breakfast sandwiches but it was buttery soft and perfect! The service was amazing and we got our order within ten minutes. If you go, you will probably see me as I plan to spend most weekends here grabbing breakfast! read more

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Never again, or at least for a while. The wait for the food to come out was ridiculously LONG! It's like they were using a hot plate to make one sandwich at a time. And there's very little seating which detracts from the experience! That said, the counter staff are very nice. If you're gonna order a sandwich and excellent hashbrowns then opt for the breakfast plate for better value, it also comes with a side of kaldereta gravy. The pan de sal longganisa sausage and egg was very good, the veggie sandwich not very far behind. The popular donut thing with the cheese (looks like coconut) topping was okay. Coffee was par for the course. Prices are fair. But stay away for the foreseeable future. read more

Balong - Long lines to order is one thing, but the wait for food is unreasonable. - Filipino Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I was not aware that there was a Filipino bakery in this strip mall! They have various coffee drinks, pan de sal, ensymada etc etc. we got the drip coffee which tasted like it was from PI and the sweet cream iced coffee. Both were delicious. read more

Tucked inside of Fubonn shopping center where the Mei Anna Chinese bakery used to be. Very friendly service and cute spot. Not a ton of seating but didn't seem to be an issue on a brunch weekend. Breakfast plate was flavorful and filling and we quite enjoyed the brick style hash brown. Buns were also tasty. read more

Balong - Filipino Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Nestled within the Fubon shopping center is a cute little breakfast nook. Was really happy to have met the manager Justin while here and he was super nice. The breakfast sandwich had a killer tomato aoli sauce on it that really blew me away. Will be coming back here for a quick breakfast fix. read more

Balong - Breakfast sandwich - Filipino Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Hours posted on the door: Wednesday-Sunday 8am-1:30pm. My first time came in around 11am. They were busy but not overly crowded. I over heard they saying the article published on the Oregonian this week brought in the crowd. Super tight and cozy space inside, two tables outside (for two persons) in the hallway, and a small bench for waiting area. I came in mostly to checkout their pastry because I'm a sucker for anything flaky and sweet, but not overly sweet. I ordered Calamansi & Strawberry Bar, $4.00, and Biscuits & Gravy, Gravy on side. $9.00. Reasonable price, I would say it's cheaper than most. I enjoyed the not overly sweet Calamansi & Strawberry Bar, the right amount of coconut flake, not too heavy base. I didn't care for the strawberry topping since I didn't really taste the strawberry at all. This was my first time having a tomato gravy, a bright tomato gravy inspired by the Filipino stew kalderata and a fresh-baked pan de sal. I loved the light, flaky, balanced flavor of the biscuits. It's reminded me more of tomato bisque and bread, instead of gravy. My gravy came out lukewarm so I didn't like it. There was a bitter aftertaste which I couldn't quite describe what it was. Since I wasn't really hungry, I asked for it to go instead of asked them to reheat the gravy. Below information are copied and pasted directly from the Oregonian article published on May 22. "Details: Balong opens from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday at 2850 S.E. 82nd Ave., #27, inside Fubonn Shopping Center, just past the supermarket entrance. Recommended dishes: Hash browns, breakfast sandwiches, the breakfast plate, biscuits and gravy, and a pastry or two with coffee to start. Vegetarian options: Pastries, hash browns, the biscuit plate and the breakfast sandwich with house veggie sausage. Accessibility: Balong is at ground level, but it's small and tightly filled with cafe tables. The ordering counter is clear, but there might be more room for wheelchairs at the two tables in the corridor." read more

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I hate to write a review like this because I like to support local, small businesses especially AAPI owned ones. However, we ordered the longanisa sausage patty breakfast sandwich which was mediocre. I love myself some longanisa, but it was lacking the flavor that I've really enjoyed at other mom and pop spots in SoCal and Portland. I also ordered the lychee matcha and the ube banana bread. The matcha latte itself was ok, but the lychee flavor wasn't really there. The banana bread was good, but the ube flavor was really subtle. Everything could use more punch in flavor. Maybe the bacon sandwich could be a better choice, which I might try if we ever return again. read more

The place was interesting but 12$ for an egg and bacon sandwich is pretty spendy, my husband got the longanisa sausage sandwich he said it was good. I asked if the coffee was a dark roast, was told it was a lighter roast, no it wasn't. Hubby ordered a hash brown, it was absolutely swimming in oil and so salty i took one bite and drank a full glass of water to wash it down. The place was clean enough i guess but nothing great. Skip it and go to the egg carton food cart read more

Great flavors. The breakfast sandwich was solid. The pan de sal was a lot lighter than I expected especially while it looked so buttery. It felt light and flavorful. The Ensaymada also was sweet without being overbearing. Light, creamy and sweet. Great work all around. Definitely worth a second visit read more

Stopped by Kalesa Coffee and the guys recommended to check out Balong and I am so glad we did. Balong is located inside an Asian shopping center so it has a dedicated parking lot. My husband and I came here on a Saturday around 11am and we were able to order right away. We ordered the Bacon Breakfast Sandwich and Sausage Breakfast Sandwich with a hash brown. The entire meal left me so satisfied and fulfilled. If I had to pick between the bacon or sausage, I would get the sausage again. The pandesal was soft, fresh and fluffy. Can't forget the hash brown! It was thick, crispy on the outside and soft potato layers on the inside. If there was Jufran sauce, it would be an added bonus but ketchup did the job as a condiment. Definitely would come here again and try some of their pastries and breakfast plate! read more

Balong - Bacon Breakfast Sandwich, Sausages Breakfast Sandwich and Hashbrown - Filipino Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The first time I tried to come here was on a weekend and they were sold out of everything except for a couple pastries. I tried again during the week, as soon as they opened and was able to try the sausage breakfast sandwich, the gravy, the ensaymada, cheddar scallion biscuit, and the potato pave. The sandwich and gravy were both pretty good, and the potato pave would have been amazing if it hadn't been super salty. It reminded me of a hash brown patty but unfortunately I was not able to finish it because it was way too salty. The pastries were pretty decent as well. read more

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Thoroughly enjoyed our experience eating at Balong and can't wait to fly out to Portland again to try the rest of their menu! Parking outside is plentiful as the panaderia is tucked inside the Fubonn Shopping Center. A helpful sign was placed to point us in the right direction. The interior is very cozy and allows a good amount of tables despite it being a smaller space. The staff greeted us with warm smiles and gave us a run down of their menu. We ordered the breakfast plate, breakfast sandwich, coffee roll, and an ensaymada. My breakfast plate came with medium two eggs (complete with crispy edges), longanisa patty, pan de sal, a side of kaldereta gravy, and a sizable hash brown that is definitely something to write home about. Eating each component of the plate gave me nostalgic vibes from growing up in a Filipino household, but with a uniquely modern twist. The freshly baked bread is truly the standout of the menu. The coffee roll was perfectly sweet with the slight bitterness of the coffee grounds. The ensaymada didn't skimp on the butter and cheese. But really, the simplicity of Balong's pan de sal is something I'll come back for. We actually took some to go because of how delicious it was! If you're thinking of trying Balong, definitely go for it! I personally cannot wait to go back! read more

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I have watched Balong go from Pop-ups to residency to this very first brick & mortar. What they're doing is incredible and with so much heart, you can taste it in every sandwich and pastry. I'm so happy to have them be apart of the mornings I'm able to splurge on a breakfast out~ Yes they're worth the hype !! You're gonna wanna be apart of this journey if you aren't already~ read more

Balong - Bacon egg & cheese with the tastiest hash brown eveahhhh ! Also loving Kalesa coffee with every bite 3 - Filipino Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Everything we ate there was delish! Longaniza breakfast sandwich, corn bread,hash browns, coffee rolls, and the Kalesa coffee was everything good about breakfast. So tasty! Please come to Washington State. read more

Food is fantastic. We had the traditional breakfast plate with longanisa sausage and the breakfast sandwich. Then we got the cornbread/bibingka to go although it was much better fresh so save room to eat it there! What a fun, yummy find. read more

The BBQ chicken melt was our favorite item. Really cute space and friendly staff. Will be going back!

Definitely worth trying! Put this up there with the best for breakfast sandos. Dope ambiance too! read more

Balong is so popular that everyone seems to be flocking there to check it out. I first went on a Sunday morning around 10 a.m. and there was a line out the door. They have a tiny display case of their specialty pastries for sale, and I watched as everyone bought out the items leaving only the pan de sal (the bread) for sale. So I just turned around and left. I came back on a weekday morning soon after they opened at 8 a.m. and it was empty except for one diner. But there were a steady flow of people coming in, some ordering take out and others dining in. I ordered the egg sausage cheese breakfast sandwich and a coffee roll. They only had black coffee option and juices. Because this was a weekday morning and few people in the tiny space, it didn't take too long for me to get my sandwich. The langolista patty gave the overall sandwich a slight spice, and the egg was cooked nicely with runny yolk when you bite it. I enjoyed it. The coffee roll was like a cinnamon bun, with cream cheese swirl. Instead of cinnamon, espresso powder is sprinkled on top. The edges of the roll was a bit dry and not as airy. I felt this baked item was flat, it could have been airier and raised. If you're in the area, this seems like a fun spot for breakfast, and for now you should avoid the peak times during weekends and opt for weekday if you can. read more

Balong - coffee roll - Filipino Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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A modern Filipino bakery. The longanisa party tasted homemade but it was pretty bland and dry. The pandesal was very soft. We ordered the sausage and egg sandwich which is there longanisa patty with over medium egg and pandesal. The tomato aioli saved the dryness of the patty. And the yolk from the egg also made it enjoyable. The ensymada needed more sugar that I'm used to. Hoping to see more dishes on their menu. Maybe some silogs in the morning to go with the pandesal and coffee combo. read more

I've been to Balong a few times and have recommended it to friends. Balong serves breakfast sandwiches and pastries inspired by his Filipino culture and most importantly his grandmother who played a major role in his upbringing. I've been to chef's Justin's pop ups and now have followed him to his first brick and mortar. He was featured in Oregon Live a few times among others which led to many people flocking to this place to try out thus long lines and wait times. I think people need to cut some slack and show some grace when it comes to long lines for small business owners who are just starting out getting a feel for things and making adjustments as they learn. Balong is a cute cozy place nestled in the Fubonn shopping center in the Jade District where Meianna used to be. The bakery was decorated with family photos from chef Justin's childhood which adds to its character and of family of who was most influential in his life. Yes, the place has a small menu sticking to the basics of what he has been known for which was his longanisa breakfast sandwich on a Filipino pan de sal breakfast roll and Filipino bbq chicken melt with shokupan bread. The longanisa patty is homemade and full of flavor -- I think this is what sets him apart from other breakfast sandwiches. I like that it's not sweet like traditional longanisa but more savory with a kick to it. My all time favorite is nanay's bbq chicken melt. The chicken is well marinated and is served with an amazing aioli in freshly made shokupan bread. I know my waistline will be in trouble if I don't stop eating this. Balong also serves ensaymada a traditional Filipino pastry which is not too sweet. Filipino deserts tend to be on the overly sweet side and am glad Balong's version isn't. I also love that it's a roll and has a nice soft chewy texture. My daughter's favorite is the coffee roll. It's lathered up with butter and sprinkled generously with freshly ground Kalesa coffee. Overall, this place is great and am excited to see the growth of Balong and hope to see an expanded menu in the future! read more

Came at 9:30 on a Sunday and it was not super busy, food came out quick with very nice service. We tried the biscuit and calamansi bar for pastries and both were delish! I had the sausage egg and cheese and a hash brown and loved it! The hash was so crispy I'd come back just for that. The bread for the sandwiches is so nice and light but you can also order a sandwich on the biscuit which my friend did and she said it was fire. Small spot but super cute maybe like five tables inside and love the branding. Definitely want to come back again to try more pastries and the biscuits and gravy! read more

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10/10. Go! Vibes are so good! Friendly staff! Food is amazing. All of it! Order everything!

Food was just as good as everyone is saying, 10/10! However the over all experience was very poor, 4/10. The place had a good line of people 25 or so, with a smaller menu (about 3 items), our order was two breakfast sandwiches and it looks two hours to complete the order. We were not the only ones waiting that long for one or two items. The food was good, but very, very inefficient. read more