Another five star review! I'd give it a sixth if I could, but my absences were limited. Lol. Today I had the chicken fried steak and eggs that came with hashbrowns and toast. Or was super delicious. I've had really really good chicken fried steak in the times that I've been here but today was exceptional. Kudos to the Cook! Today my server was Judy and she was at the light. She's helped me many times in the past and always a great experience. I absolutely love coming to her because it can count on the great food and friends people. read more

Gateway Breakfast House - Excellent chicken, fried steak and eggs! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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This USED TO BE my Favorite OMELETTE place... Not Anymore ! Years ago, I would drive 40 minutes to eat here and I would bring many family/friends here to get a GIANT Omelette ; that was full of Ham and was Super Cheesy. When I would cut into it, cheese would oooze out of the Omelette ! It was SO BIG ! I would write a review saying that they had the Biggest, Best tasting Omelettes ANYWHERE ! The Omelettes USED TO come on ONE plate, and the Hash browns would come on another plate ! I would BRAG to Anyone I could find ! I don't lie ! All I EVER eat are Ham and Cheese Omelettes ! I (Seriously) have eaten OVER 15,000 of them, from many states. Over the years, the Omelette sizes are SOOO SMALL, along with the Hash browns ! I can't even compare the size, the amount of ham/cheese and the type of cheese that they use now. It is NOT EVEN CLOSE to what I used to get ! The flavor of the omelette and the cook on it was really good, however it was SOOO SMALL ! I ALWAYS take a picture with a FORK beside the plate to show the meals ACTUAL SIZE ! The Server said she remembers how big the Omelettes were, and then said, "even though the Omelettes are small, these are bigger than what anyone else has". I told her "No they are Not", she said again that they were, and again I said "No they are NOT" ! Everyone heard me debate her. I AM the Customer and I know what is being sold at other restaurants. The Review Ratings are from a LONG TIME AGO ! They are NOT CURRENT ! I hate it when my Omelette price goes up, and the size and quality of it goes down ! I would gladly pay much more for the same size, flavor and quality of an Omelette that I used to get here ! But those days are gone ! Businesses are stupid, because they can't just raise the price, and give the customer the Omelette that they WANT ! Instead they ACT as-if the Customer is DUMB and that we don't know the difference ! PURE "GREED" ! I WON'T be going here anymore ! read more

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Good food and fantastic service! My server couldn't have been more friendly or helpful. Kind of a quirky decor, which I happen to love. I had the standard breakfast of eggs potatoes toast and bacon. All were good! read more

Gateway Breakfast House - Breakfast Menu March 2026 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Just a reminder... the Gateway Breakfast House is still ***** 5 star dining! I did breakfast, Colleen did lunch... I call my meal, the "Gateway Thanksgiving Platter" which includes the healthy trio...golden perfect waffle, fluffy hashbrowns and bacon and quality coffee. Colleen "The Vinyl Queen" went for the exceptional Tuna Melt. High quality tuna, not loaded with filler. Great! The people who run the Breakfast House are fast and smart. And the place has such a vibe, it makes me feel like I'm in a movie. Remember, it can get busy, we went around 11am and had no problems. Brunch for 2: $26 plus tip read more

Gateway Breakfast House - Gateway Breakfast House - 11411 NE Halsey Street - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Gateway Breakfast House is a staple for the Gateway NE Portland area! Been here for years, and there is always a line out the door on the weekends. It's actually pretty small inside with 12 ish tables? Really good food and service is great. Obama has even ate here! read more

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No frills just classic breakfast and lunch. Super friendly and fun folks here. Wait staff are cheerful, even singing at times and on top of everything. They've been doing this a long time and it shows. Big portions at good prices. The sausage links are some of the best we've had. And no extra charge for eggs like I've seen at other breakfast places recently. Maybe baked into the price, but still very affordable. It can be a wait--but they move folks fast. I can see why they received a Presidential visit many years back, this is where real people eat in their community. Keep up the good work! read more

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I never knew what these buildings were originally. Great place to have some great food while in Portland!! read more

Gateway Breakfast House - Gateway buildings twin. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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The food hear is always good. Everyone knows everyone and the portions are pretty good size. The service as always is good. The place is kids friendly and they have coloring pages and crayons. Never had a problem with parking. Rating out of 5 stars Food portions - 5 Food Quality - 5 Service - 5 read more

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Tried this restaurant on a whim. The service was impeccable! What a great staff. Even though I am not a breakfast person, I truly enjoyed the biscuits and gravy with a couple of links. The coffee was delicious as well. What a little gem. read more

Seated us right away in a small but crowded restaurant. Friendly, persistent and frequent refills of water and coffee. Substitutions no problem. Food was delicious and also both my veggie omelette and pancakes were well crafted. Coffee was good black (I didn't need sweeteners or half and half). They didn't rush us after coffee refills. For an American breakfast place, although it was ultra casual, it gets five stars. P.S. lots of funny signs on the walls made us laugh. read more

Gateway Breakfast House - "Country Scramble" Veggie Omelette, tomato instead of meat, 2 pancakes, sugar-free syrup and coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

First off I want to make clear, the staff were amazing! Very friendly! However, the food was lacking flavor. Very cute diner vibe. I can tell why people love it. The food was just very, bland? read more

Gateway Breakfast House - Left : Roast beef sandwich with Hash Browns Right : jalapeño burger with onion rings - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Staff was very friendly and the food was awesome!!! Great atmosphere. We dropped friends off at PDX and are going to Costco so stopped in for breakfast, made an excellent choice. read more

Cozy clean place. Love the decor/theme and the staff are pleasant. The food was really good. Glad we got a chance to experience this restaurant. read more

Gateway Breakfast House - Taco omelette and Pork Chops breakfast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We traveled from out of state, found this on Yelp! Fabulous food, quick service, and a must to see all the signs on the wall. They are a hoot! Highly recommend. read more

I had company from ABQ, and they really wanted to eat at the "Obama restaurant." I had never been there before, so I looked them up to check if they were accessible, since I use a power chair. All signals seemed to be "go," so we headed for the restaurant. Sadly, I was treated like an inconvenience from the moment I entered the door. Comments about how the wait staff were concerned they " wouldn't be able to get up and down the aisles," etc. To be fair, the restaurant is small, and they have overstuffed it with tables and chairs, but that is more of a "them" problem, and it was embarrassing that they were treating me as if I was the problem! I tried to enjoy breakfast with our company, and all was okay until I needed to use the restroom. That's when I discovered that the restrooms are NOT accessible! Not even slightly. Sooo, I had filled up on coffee, and no way for it to make an exit. One of the staff suggested I could cross the (extremely busy) street and ask to use the restroom at the lotto business there. That was all the assistance offered. This business is ALWAYS packed and rakes in SO much money due, largely, to their having served lunch to President Obama. They could absolutely afford to enlarge, upgrade, and freshen up this place. They could easily put in an accessible restroom, at the very least! The food was mediocre, but the service was good. Just not for people in chairs. President Obama would not approve. read more

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Gateway Breakfast House is a small old school restaurant for breakfast and lunch. If you want classic dishes with large portions in a clean unassuming atmosphere, this is it. Prices are mid. My 3 eggs, hash browns, sausage, toast, and coffee was about $20 without tip. There can be a wait, they have a seating area inside with benches for that, and a wait list. The staff keeps the list moving. The crowd was all ages, from families to grandparents and no hipsters in sight. The children at the next table were delighted by the waffles with strawberries and whipped cream. I had 3 eggs, classic shredded hash browns, wheat toast and German sausage, 2 links, interestingly served sliced lengthwise. I wouldn't say the sausage was particularly German, but Germany is big. They have a little local fame as President Obama visited for breakfast back in the day, so if it's OK for him, it's OK for me! read more

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There is not much more I can say about Gateway Breakfast House that I have not said already ...BEST BREAKFAST IN PORTLAND ... HOOAH! It is the first restaurant I visit when I return to Portland and for good reason, they have great food, reasonable prices, and the service is extraordinary, always. This place is an institution in East Portland and I hope they flourish for years to come. CombatCritic Gives Gateway Breakfast House 10 Bombs Out Of 10 And Remains On My ¨WALL OF FAME¨... More Bombs Are Better! read more

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Great place to eat. Wonderful service and people. Very affordable and gives it that small town vibe. Our omelettes were delicious and served up quickly. Sadly the place isn't open very late but when it is, it's quite busy every day of the week. Obama did eat here and if you're lucky you can snag the same booth he sat in. read more

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Excellent ambiance and staff. A step back in time. Super nice staff and clientele. I'll be back-- a neighborhood gem

This is what it is- a breakfast joint. The food was "okay", but the service was exceptional. All the wait staff were friendly, polite, and expedient. I prefer to avoid chain restaurants, especially when traveling. Gateway fit the bill. I could tell they had a regular clientele. There is no better way to become "part of the neighborhood" than to take a seat, then watch and listen to the interactions. I got fueled up, and headed out for an awesome day. Check it out if you're in the neighborhood! read more

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This small cozy restaurant has fast and friendly service with good food at a great value. Love that they support other local businesses by printing their business information onto the dining tables. Also the fact that former President Obama ate here! If he ate there, you know it's good! read more

Gateway Breakfast House - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Outstanding!! The staff are like going to your aunts house and having breakfast with family. The food is seriously so dang flavorful! Best breakfast we've had in years!! read more

If you're a breakfast lover like me, then do what Barack Obama and I did, go here! I am absolutely a breakfast person and hash browns are a must for me, so when I heard about the Gateway Breakfast House, I knew I had to try it. First, this is your typical diners and dives place... no fuss no muss, but what it lacks in chic, it makes up for in spades with the food and the people. Nancy the waitress greeted everyone who came in by name, even hugged a few and knew everyone's order. People chat to each other across tables and booths, so I never was left out. YES! Obama did eat here, which was part of the enticement for me, but the food was good at a very reasonable price. Every part of the experience made me feel like I was home. If you like diners, you'll love this little place! read more

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The service was fast and friendly and the food was delicious! It was crowded but food came out fast. We chose to sit at the bar rather than wait for a table. read more

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Always solid basic breakfast fare and great service. I can see why President Obama visited.

My boyfriend and I love little diners and this is a new one on our list. This is a small diner on Halsey with decent parking and a large breakfast menu. We were greeted right away and there was a waiting list for the tables and no waiting for bar seating, so we took the bar seating because we were hungry. The menu had a large variety of items from pancakes, omelettes, steak and eggs, and some lunch items as well. I got the waffles with strawberries and whip cream and my bf got their chili omelette. Now the waffles here are not Belgian waffles, they are the skinny ones. The waffle was good but I would prefer the thicker waffles since the strawberries and whip cream can drown the skinny waffle. If I ordered it again I would probably ask for a crisper waffle and the toppings on the side. My bf omelette came with toast and hash browns and he ate the entire thing before I was done with my waffle. We also ordered coffee, I got the vanilla cappuccino and I got free refills! I would also like to note that the staff here is so sweet. We had an older lady who took really good care of us and made sure our drinks were kept full and we were happy. I felt so welcome like I was a family member. We will return again. read more

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I was craving for some strawberry waffles on a rainy morning and I recalled of this local place in my area! I guess is a pretty well known breakfast/lunch joint but never had the opportunity to check it out before so it was the time for me to try it :)) Have your breakfast and dessert at the same time when you order the strawberry toast with whipped cream. It's three thick slices of French toast, covered in strawberries and generously topped with fresh whipped cream. Yum! You going to be disappointed when you visit this establishment. Something I noticed is that all the staff take customer service as a big priority perhaps it has to do with the fact the the place isn't too big. They came to our table many times (more than on other places I've been) to check up on us. Overall, a cool as tasty experience! Keep on Yelping! read more

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Came here for an American breakfast and got just exactly that! Everyone was so delicious and satisfied my cravings. Many people were ordering burgers so I'll be coming back to try one of those. Highly recommend if you are looking for a place with great service and food! read more

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Another Sunday Brunch, we waited 10 mins. (after putting our name down). We were seated at the bar. I ordered the Mushroom Swiss Hamburger. It came with a choice, that I wanted a soup for today, which was Chicken Noodle (perfect for a lightly rainy weather). Hubby ordered the Rib-eye Steak with sauteed mushrooms, mashed potatoes with gravy, and vegetable (corn was late, it reminded me of the corn that we used to eat, when visiting my husband's grandmother). This made me think: we should have sweet corn kernels again, it's been decades! I was surprise to have Mushroom Swiss (with very little mushroom), but it also had lettuce, fresh slice onion). It was huge! I was taking big bites, must be hungry, but I only ate 1/4th. It also came with fries! Lots of fries! Leftover is for another meal. (As usual). He thought the food was excellent. The portions were large (as usual), the price was lower than expecting. And everything tasted good. On our way out, I inquire about groups. "No reservations. Our restaurant can accommodate a lot, but it's first come first serve and they will have to sign in and still wait like everyone else. But, sure, we welcome groups!' UPDATE: As I sit to enjoy my MUSHROOM Swiss hamburger, the following day, cut into 1/4th, they actually used the same sauteed mushrooms as my husband's Rib-Eye and mine had very little mushrooms. It was disappointing! The 1/2 part, had two mushrooms slices. The main ingredient was mushroom, but where are they all? read more

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Food was great! Service was prompt after short wait. Ambiance very casual and friendly staff. Large portions.

The staff were really efficient. The space was nice and bright. The food was hot and brown and there was plenty of it! We went for a late breakfast and waited about 20 minutes. The fare is traditional diner fare and made well. No frills! read more

Gateway Breakfast House - Ambiance - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Excellent service! Food was exceptional and you'll definitely need a to go box! Portions are large. Weekends are busy, so I'd definitely go early and have patience. read more

Gateway Breakfast House - Country Breakfast.. Cinnamon French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Enjoyed a mid-week breakfast here ... friendly staff and good food, what more can one ask for?!? Eggs Benedict was well made and delicious. Hash browns were perfectly crisp! Pancake was a little tougher than I prefer and difficult to cut with a fork. Omelet was cooked perfectly and had lots of filing!! Lots of people were in PJs while enjoying their breakfast! read more

Gateway Breakfast House - Eggs Benny & side pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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This is a cute place. Wanted breakfast on the way to the airport and this popped up. Service is fast and friendly. Drinks and food came with a very little wait. My bacon and eggs were great. Cooked perfectly and came with hashbrowns and toast (extra straw for not dripping in butter!). His ham and cheese omelet had the right combination of ham and cheese. read more

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waitress forgot the coffee I ordered with breakfast. since I like to drink coffee while waiting for the food I didn't try to flag her down for it while waiting, she wasn't around enough anyways. the staff was singing and laughing very loudly- I am hard of hearing and it was very loud. I mentioned the coffee had been forgotten and she just got defensive and said I 'wasn't charged anyways'. I said I knew that and she got defensive again saying she would have brought it if I had flagged her down. I wouldn't go back again. food was on the cool side by the time I got it and chicken fried steak was soggy under the gravy. read more

Prepare for very long waits to sit & confined cramped space at the Gateway Breakfast House...

Good, solid diner food in a friendly and comfortable environment. The fresh grilled mushrooms in my omelette were tasty.

Great food, price, and service! Countryman breakfast is enough for 2 people. Chicken fried steak was good and gravy was definitely homemade! Would come back again for sure read more

Gateway Breakfast House - Countryman breakfast. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great people serving good food. I really like the french toast here. Hash browns and country fried steak are solid comfort food. I always feel welcomed by the friendly staff and other customers. read more

The food! Is OMGoodness!! Delicious!! The service is always amazing, we usually always get the same server and she is so sweet! She knows what we want. The place is old and charming, there's a booth where President Obama sat when he visited Portland. They have his photo and a plaque on the wall. It's always full of customers you might have to wait that should tell you something read more