Saturday Brunch at Tasty n Alder

UPDATE: Tasty n Alder closed in 2020 during the COVID pandemic

Remember when I grabbed brunch with the gals last month? Well, we had so much fun we decided to turn it into a monthly tradition! This time, we chose Tasty n Alder for brunch.

Tasty n Alder is a staple in Portland and everybody knows it. Truth be told, it tops my list of favorite brunch places in the city, and I always take out-of-town guests when I’m trying to impress.

Knowing how popular (and busy) Tasty n Alder is during the brunch hour, we decided to arrive as soon as they opened at 9am. But before you start applauding my valiant efforts, I’d like to come clean — brunch is the only thing that can wake me up at a reasonable hour during the weekends.

Even though we arrived at 9am, I was surprised to see 30 people already waiting in line! Thankfully, we were seated shortly after the doors opened and found ourselves overwhelmed by the tantalizing menu.

Don’t forget to grab the super-famous Tasty n Alder cookbook while you’re visiting. I reference the cookbook often when I’m making brunch for friends at home. Highly recommend.

Standout dishes at Tasty n Alder

My all time favorite dish is the Tasty Steak & Cheddar Eggs, I can’t stop thinking about that skillet corn cake. With that said, I decided to forgo the dish this time because I wanted to try some new plates.

We ordered ricotta pancakes, biscuits and gravy, Raddichio salad, Polenta n Sagu, Smoked Trout Hash and Korean Fried Chicken. Next time around, I’d pass on the biscuits & gravy and ricotta pancakes.

Our favorite dishes:

Polenta n Sagu ($15) | Italian braised pork shoulder & belly, chicken, mozzarella, over easy egg
Raddicio Salad ($13) | Bacon lardons, manchego cheese, six minute egg
Smoked Trout Hash ($16) | Pickled beets, horseradish cream, over-easy egg
Korean Fried Chicken ($18) | Short grain rice, house kimchee, eggs two ways

Brunch at Tasty n Alder

Brunch is served daily from 9am to 2pm.
Address: 580 SW 12th Ave. Portland, Oregon 97205
Arrive as early as possible. It’s not uncommon for people to wait in line for 2 hours to get in. If nothing else, you can put your name down and wander around while you wait to be called on your cell. I suggest visiting Powell’s Books!

Ambiance | Casual and rustic vibe

Dress code | Casual

Kid friendly | Yes

Noise level | Moderate to loud

Vegetarian options | Yes

Tasty n Alder Happy Hour

Happy hour is served in the (small) bar and runs daily between 2pm – 5:30pm.

If you can’t make it for brunch, I recommend visiting during happy hour. I’ve been turned down for brunch before because I arrived at 12, and they had stopped seating newcomers due to the long waitlist.

If you find yourself in the same boat, fear not. The happy hour is worth checking out.

Make sure to order fries to start and I suggest getting the Alder Bowl or Steakhouse Sandwich.