I think I’ll be doing top 5 posts this week. I know it’s lazy, but it’s also fun. I mean, let’s be honest here, which would you rather read: a long heartfelt history of my problems with my lady parts, or a top 5 list with photos? Yeah, that’s what I thought!

Breakfast is my favorite meal to eat out in Portland. I happen to think that it’s what Portland does best. I’m going with “favorite” here, but you should know, of course, that favorite is not necessarily synonymous with best.

I will employ the countdown to favorite, starting with #5:

5. Vegan Tofu Scramble (with hashbrowns and toast) from Jam on Hawthorne: The tofu scramble is tasty, sure, but I could make it myself at home and save the trip. I’m at Jam for their hash browns and their JAM on my toast. Every table features two of their four housemade jams—but we have been known to poach jam from empty tables before. The pear chai is my favorite, but they’re all delicious.

4. Breakfast Burrito from Laurelthirst: What differentiates this from just being a run of the mill breakfast burrito is their housemade veggie sausage. Laurelthirst also makes vegan pancakes, which are the favorite pancakes of many of my pals, but like I said: I’m a savory breakfast girl. If only they served the pancakes at night…

Breakfast Burrito from Laurelthirst

3. Everything Bagel with Chipotle Cream Cheese and Bac’un Chive Cream Cheese (opposite sides) and Hempmilk-Almond Milk Latte from Sweetpea Baking: I hope I’m not pissing anyone at Sweetpea off by saying that this is my favorite breakfast there, but I’m not a sweet breakfast type! I love pancakes and waffles and french toast, but I can only eat them if it’s after noon. If you’re like me, then get this awesome bagel & cream cheese combo, then eat it while sitting in a booth and people watching (or hugging Katie), then get a Caramel Nut Bar on your way out for later.

Honorable Mention: McBrunch at Sweetpea. I don’t want to love vegan versions of the McGriddle and Egg McMuffin, but I do. I soooooo do. Thankfully, they don’t do this one frequently, so I don’t have to feel bad about indulging every few months.

McBrunch at Sweetpea

2. Vegan Sausage and Maple Waffle from Flavourspot: Veggie sausage, maple butter, wrapped in a warm waffle. What is your problem? Why aren’t you eating this right now?

Vegan Sausage and Maple Waffle from Flavourspot

1. Vegan Potatoes (with tofu added and a side of cinnamon toast) from Junior’s Cafe: This hits exactly what I want in a breakfast on every level: crispy potatoes, sauteed veggies, perfectly seasoned and cooked tofu,  a creamy and tangy (and spicy!) sauce, and the very slightly sweet cinnamon toast on the side. The portions are so generous that I can stretch one meal into two by taking my leftovers home, which means that I get to eat it again later. Heaven.

Vegan Potatoes from Junior's

Come back tomorrow for my top 5 favorite ways to hold a fork!