J & M Cafe

4.6 ( 718 reviews )
Checking... 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM See Hours
$10–20
537 SE Ash St, Portland, OR 97214, United States
+1 503-230-0463

J & M Cafe, nestled in the heart of Portland at 537 SE Ash St, is a charming spot that invites you to enjoy a laid-back dining experience reminiscent of classic diners. Patrons rave about the cafe's consistency and the warmth of its staff, with many customers like Neth Rose celebrating the house-made bacon and delightful bagels that exceed expectations for the Pacific Northwest.

The atmosphere is a significant highlight, as noted by Mae H, who appreciates the spacious setting adorned with a variety of mugs and a playlist of nostalgic tunes. It's a place where the hustle of brunch crowds is softened by the inviting decor and thoughtful design. Reviewers note the scrumptious biscuits and gravy, praised by Alyssa Schultz for their creamy texture and perfectly cooked eggs, creating a comforting meal that stands out.

The freshly squeezed grapefruit juice also earns accolades, marking it as a must-try for anyone looking to refresh their palate.

With a legacy of delightful service and a community feel, J & M Cafe serves not just food, but a sense of belonging. It’s a sanctuary for brunch lovers seeking quality, a unique atmosphere, and friendly faces. Whether you're a local or just passing through, you’ll likely find yourself returning to this delightful haven.

Amenities and More

  • Accessibility
    • Has wheelchair-accessible car park
    • Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
    • Has wheelchair-accessible seating
    • Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
  • Service options
    • Has outdoor seating
    • Offers takeaway
    • Serves dine-in
  • Highlights
    • Has fast service
    • Serves great coffee
    • Has great tea selection
  • Popular for
    • Popular for breakfast
    • Popular for lunch
    • Good for solo dining
  • Offerings
    • Serves alcohol
    • Serves cocktails
    • Serves coffee
    • Serves comfort food
    • Serves healthy options
    • Quick bite
    • Serves vegetarian dishes
    • Serves wine
  • Dining options
    • Serves breakfast
    • Serves brunch
    • Serves lunch
    • Serves dessert
    • Has seating
  • Amenities
    • Has toilet
  • Atmosphere
    • Casual
    • Cosy
    • Trendy
  • Crowd
    • Family friendly
    • Good for groups
    • LGBTQ+ friendly
    • Popular with tourists
    • Transgender safe space
  • Planning
    • Doesn't accept reservations
  • Payments
    • Accepts credit cards
    • Accepts debit cards
    • Accepts NFC mobile payments
    • Credit cards
  • Children
    • Good for kids
    • High chairs available
  • Parking
    • Free of charge street parking
    • Paid street parking
  • Pets
    • Dogs allowed outside

Reviews For J & M Cafe

Neth Rose
Jun 17,2025
I’ve been eating here for the better part of 2 years now. If you happen to be in the central east side, and you want breakfast/brunch/lunch with an old school diner style, this is absolutely your spot. Huge shoutout to the staff, because everyone is absolutely wonderful. The food is 4/5 because it isn’t Michelin but it isn’t trying to be. It’s better than greasy spoon and maybe not going to beat out other heavy hitters in the saturated brunch scene in the greater Portland area, but that doesn’t matter. The house made bacon is AMAZING and even their outsourced bagels are surprisingly good for the PNW. I love this place and will continue to come back again and again for consistency and price point. A special place.
Alyssa Schultz
May 21,2025
Super cute little breakfast place! Went around 9:30 and it wasn't too busy. The servers were all really nice and seemed very genuine. I got the biscuits and gravy with a side of scrambled eggs, potatoes, and a fresh squeezed grapefruit juice. The gravy was creamy and the biscuits were buttery and not too dense. The eggs were cooked to perfection and the home fries were the perfect combination of crispy and soft. But the best part of this whole breakfast was the freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. It was amazing! Very pulpy and not bitter at all! It was the best grapefruit juice I've ever had that's for sure! 10/10 would recommend!
Mae H
May 8,2025
My new favorite brunch spot. They don't make you wait for coffee and have a cute assortment of mugs.The music is not too loud, an open room with lots of seating, yummy and fairly priced food and super nice staff .Guess I'm going to become a regular now.
Christina Bregante Swift
Apr 9,2025
Just came off the plane and Kex Hotel recommended this place for breakfasts.Shanti your waitress greeted us at the door with her big smile and pointed us to self serve coffee and water. I loved the mug tree with all the different mugs. They’re also playing older music from the 1950s. A culture of people here are well diverse. Beautiful atmosphere. Our food was delicious and Shanti was so kind. I would recommend this place.
Erika Van Patten
Apr 4,2025
Great food & relaxed atmosphere. I love picking out a mug & self serve coffee. The space is unique with tall ceilings, lots of light, large space for tables with an exposed brick wall & old timey counter space. I’ve been coming to J&M’s for decades and it always comes through with great food & enjoyable charm.
Justin Schram
Mar 28,2025
This was a cute cafe. Lots of patrons so you know it's good. The chi tea was excellent. Good portion sizes. Really fill ya up. Bit pricey. But the egg shortage upped anything with egg by 50c so not to bad. Service was excellent. And it was in a nice cute old building. Definitely would go there again or for a brunch date.
Tommy
Mar 11,2025
Make sure you order the bacon. It is THICK. We’re talking at least a 1/4” thick. And cooked perfectly! They help accommodate my gluten free request by swapping out toast with corn tortillas, but offered a few other options as well. Cool place, neat ceiling. Self serve water and coffee is nice, in my opinion.
PAZAZ SHOP
Mar 6,2025
Very good food. Coffee and water are self serve. OJ is fresh squeezed and the sausage and toast are wonderful. Servers walked past me for 5 minutes before I was acknowledged. That needs adjustment. Everything else was good.

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