Portland, OR: Tofu Scramble Capital of the USA?
There is no denying that Portland is a vegan mecca. People seem to travel from around the world to sample deep fried vegan corn dogs, soft serve from Blossoming Lotus and biscuits and gravy from Vita or Paradox, among hundreds of other delicious ideas that immediately popped into your head. Well, here’s another crown you can bestow upon this city – Tofu Scramble Capital of the USA.
The Stumptown Vegans have joked about how we could spend a month eating nothing but tofu scrambles for future reviews, and have projects and podcasts up our sleeves, on top of recently being interviewed about all things tofu scramble, vegan breakfast and more on Breakfast in Bridgetown. The past few years have seen an expansion in tofu scrambles across this city, overall shifts from cubes to scrambles and a decrease in the many menus that used to say ‘sub tofu/pay more’. Why, I remember when I first talked my way into a ‘subbed’ tofu scramble with smoked tomatoes at Genie’s…
So!
I decided it would be, well, fun, to see just how many tofu scrambles are available at different restaurants in Portland. I started making a list and couldn’t stop, and that became a table, which I’m calling a census.
Portland is home to excellent local tofu and some of the best produce in the country, and really, it’s an easy, cholesterol-free dish for any restaurant to offer during breakfast & brunch. But who’s got your favorite? Who cooks that tofu just right and has the best sides?
The Great Portland Tofu Scramble Census.
| Tofu Scramble Location | Neighborhood | Variety | Spices | Notes |
| Asaase Ital Palace cart | SW/PSU | * | * | breakfast scramble |
| Bar Carlo | SE | scrambled | Yes | |
| Beaterville | N | pressed/grilled | Braggs | chewy and delicious |
| Beulahland | NE | scrambled | * | sub tofu for eggs |
| Bijou Cafe | Downtown/SW | * | * | |
| Blue Moose | NE | * | * | |
| Blue Pig | SE | scrambled | * | sub tofu for eggs |
| Bourgeois Z Vintage | SE (outer) | * | * | |
| Byways Cafe | Pearl/NW | * | * | |
| Chaos Cafe | SE | small cubes | Yes | wholesome! |
| Cricket Cafe | SE | cubed | lots of black pepper | seriously, lots of pepper. |
| Crush | SE | * | * | ‘Veganator’ + tofu, brunch |
| Cup and Saucer Cafe | various | scrambled | varies | order the special for flavor! |
| Equinox | N/Mississippi | cubed/scramble | seasonal | |
| Francis | NE | * | * | |
| Genie’s | SE | cubed | No | sub tofu for eggs on menu |
| Gravy | N/Mississippi | scrambled | tur-mer-ic! | hot stuff, but eh. |
| Hungry Tiger Too | SE | scrambled | Yes, light, lots of garlic | small and full sized options |
| Isabel’s | Pearl/NW | * | * | |
| Jam on Hawthorne | SE | scrambled | Yes | sub tofu for eggs on menu |
| Juniors | SE | Big chunks | Yes, light | the first to use spice?! |
| Laurelthirst | NE | * | * | |
| Morning Star | Downtown/SW | * | * | |
| Mother’s Bistro | Downtown/SW | scrambled/mush | * | |
| Old Wives’ Tales | Inner Eastside | baked | Yes | interesting. |
| Paradox Cafe | SE | squares | lightly seasoned | available as a side/in #2 |
| Proper Eats | N/St. John’s | scramble | Yes | tempeh scramble! |
| Red & Black Café | SE | during Saturday brunch? | * | |
| Ruby Dragon cart | N/Mississippi | scrambled | Yes | tempeh scramble! |
| Schavone’s | SE | cubed | No | sub tofu for eggs |
| Slappy Cakes | SE | * | * | |
| Star E Rose | NE | scrambled | * | daily specials |
| Stepping Stone | NW | cubed/large pieces | Ask for them (cajun) | sub tofu for eggs |
| Sweetpea Brunch | SE | scrambled, buffet serving | mild | rotating brunch items |
| The Original | Downtown/SW | * | * | foie gras fig newtons here. |
| Tube | Downtown/NW | scrambled | mild | served in tacos! |
| Virgo & Pisces | NW | * | * | * |
| Vita Cafe | NE | scrambled | Yes | tofu and tempeh scrambles! |
| Wild Abandon | SE | scrambled | No | reach for the hot sauce. |
*If you see something missing, retired or worth mentioning in this directory, please say so! There are places I haven’t managed to order a scramble yet, or I’ve blocked out of my mind.
Italics = my favorite places for scramble.
Onto some tofu scramble examples:
Superhero Scramble from Junior’s.
One of my favorite plates of food in this city (or their Vegan Potatoes + Tofu = Whoa, Yes).
Curry Scramble from Jam - on a ‘big pieces’ day!
Portland Scramble from Hungry Tiger Too. This one wears their cheesy sauce.
Greek Scramble from Hungry Tiger Too.
My go-to order here. Because I really love kalamata olives and garlic in my scramble.
Vegan Scramble from Jam Cafe & Arthouse on Hawthorne. Adore their jams and hash browns.
Check out the Everyday Dish cooking video to learn the spice mix!
Tofu Scramble Taco from Tube bar
Cricket Cafe Make-Your-Own Tofu Scramble.
Tons of black pepper – this was gigantic, but I’ve heard a friend mention theirs was tiny.
Genie’s (Subbed) Tofu Scramble – go for the smoked tomatoes! They have great roasted potatoes and an amazing cocktail menu.
P.S. I have to give my friend Bazu credit for the origin of this idea, with her post on The Great Tofu Scramble Debate. Personally, I go all three ways – scrambled mush, cubed, and the in-between. Oh, and don’t forget about baked scrambles! Not such a fan.
P.P.S. You probably make the best scramble in town.
I wish I lived even remotely close to Portland because some of those pics are making my mouth water. I’m making breakfast food for dinner tonight and tofu scramble is definitely on the menu!
Beaterville’s tofu is pressed on the grill not broiled.
Mother’s tofu is scrambled/mush
Slappy Cakes told me no tofu subs last weekend.
I know you would like to forget: The Old Wives Tale
Webly, you’re signed in as Stumptown Vegans!
Thanks, I’ve updated the rest.
0ld Wives’ Tales is up there…..what else to say?
I DO make the best scramble in town!
Nice post. I’m excited to try some of these options I didn’t know about. I’ll also check back into your blog in the future.
This is a particularly awesome post, made moreso by the discerning “variety” column.
For the record, I’m a scrambled mush gal myself.
Funny! I’m working a similar spreadsheet of the tofu scrambles of NYC (but have only had 3 or 4 so far) because I’m determined to find some good ones around here.
Those hash browns look SO good.
Meow; what a list.
I want to move to portland.
Bridges has a tofu scramble. Seems that they’ll sub tofu in their other scrambles as well. I got the special which included sweet potatoes and it was mighty tasty.
DAMN, you have so many on the list already!
i have to say, I will never go to Cricket again, the scramble was so small i went home and made ANOTHER entire breakfast, and i’m not a huge person. plus they charge so much extra for the sub, which gives you so much less food. uncool.
My goodness, that is a lot of tofu scramble! I live in Ottawa Ontario and I am pretty sure there is not 1 place here that serves it. What a shame, Canada’s capital needs to get with the times!
I am sooo jealous! I live in the UK and there’s not a single place near me that does such a thing.
The scramble at Hungry Tiger Too is so good! I am excited to have found it, since I will be back a lot! Yum!
I didn’t think I could be more excited about our move to Portland next summer (from tofu-scramble-less St. Louis), until I saw this post. Holy Bejeezus! I can’t wait to eat my way though the city!
again, awesome!!
weird, i’ve always liked cricket’s! tasty
and your genie’s scramble looks 100x better than mine was last weekend. it was like feta with nothin’ on it.
oh also, i think screen door still had their tofu “hash.” i haven’t tried it though!
had=has
wow, this list is crazy comprehensive!
this was a really interesting list, but yeah, i’m not sure if i personally make the best scramble in portland, but certainly if not me, one of my friends does. i don’t think i’ve ordered more than 5 of these, if 5!
p.s. beaterville is in N (not NE)