9 Best Breakfast Restaurants near South Portland

“I would just like to tell a very short story about how my friend Rex who is 65 years old he is a homeless man out of the Portland area. I took him in to Denny's in Portland to get breakfast on a cold Winter's day in January 2022. We ordered our food with our server who was very rude and after eating our cold yucky breakfast my friend Rex was refused a bathroom to use and then the manager came out and told us for NO REASON, to leave and never come back! It was the worst experience because all my friend Rex needed was a hot breakfast he doesn't bother anyone and never sticks up for himself or creates a fuss! So in looking for another breakfast place to eat we found IHOP in Portland and from the start of walking into that restaurant was so nice and clean the hostess was amazing and sat us immediately with a smile our server Bethany she was amazing so nice and kind she took our order and treated us like human beings she was not judgmental and she took our order the same way she takes everyone's orders with a smile and gracious heart! My friend Rex absolutely loves his fried eggs and his bacon so we now visit the Portland IHOP twice a week. I had told the servers about what had happened to us with our experience at Denny's and the server from IHOP told Rex and myself that we were allowed at IHOP anytime and that they would love to have us!! I can't even tell you how much this warms my heart knowing that I can take my friend who has fallen on some hard times into a restaurant to eat a very nice warm meal and have the best servers in the best wait staff around us! You are amazing IHOP and we love you so much! We will be there every Tuesday and Friday for bacon and eggs comforted by the graciousness and smiles of everyone in the restaurant at IHOP! Keep on being the most amazing restaurant in the world because from my point of view you absolutely are! We love you IHOP thank you so much for your hospitality!“

“This place is friendly, it looks great inside, and the food was great. The decor and the food are both very Instagrammable. The guac was very good as were the tacos and the birra brisket grilled cheese. The salsas are not the common salsa you get other places - they seemed pretty unique to me. The pancakes were good (corn which was a nice change) and the drinks were great too. Service was quick and super nice. We’d absolutely go back again.“

“It was the Best Breakfast Food i had during my entire visit to Portland A must try 🥰“

“Last year I stopped by this Cafe on the way back home, I tried a pistachio raised donut and it stole my heart. the vibes at this restaurant are so sweet and nothing but Mainer. Slow and sweet, colorful and flavorful. Everytime I'm in the area I'll be sure to re-visit! 10⭐️“

“Avocado Toast, hash browns, yummy pastries“

“Yummy! Friendly people. Loved the cornbread.“

“Ate breakfast here on Sunday for the first time. I believe it was the owner who sat us, and he was super friendly. Our waitress was nice, but was unsure of my menu questions. I ordered a breakfast sandwich with a side of well-done home fries and my dd ordered the blueberry French toast. The home fries were perfect, but my sandwich was made wrong and my dd's toast was super soggy and flat under more than a literal cup of what looked like jam preserves that she scraped off into a pile. We were disappointed with our meal, but the place was hoppin', our waitress was swamped, and we shrugged it off and both just ate the homefries.
Payment was made at the front register, and the cashier (Enzo?) exuberantly asked us a bunch of questions about our visit. He could tell we were holding back and pressed us, so we awkwardly told him the truth and I showed him the pic I took of the absurd heap of preserves and saturated French toast left uneaten, and the mismade sandwich that I was unable to eat. He immediately apologized for both issues, agreed the French toast had far too much preserves and would be addressed, and then credited half of our bill without us even asking! His attentiveness and genuine care and concern made all the difference, and we felt listened to and treated with such respect!
I didn't really want to pass judgement, but I am going to: The Scarborough Stacks customer service was fantastic! Based on that, we will definitely be going back for another visit and more of those deliciously crispy home fries.“

“I've been coming to Brea Lu Cafe for about 20 years. Started when they were on Forest Ave in Portland, and followed them to both of their Westbrook locations. Brea Lu has remained one of my favorite places all these years. The food is always good, and they always have creative, delicious specials that keep me coming back.

What really makes Brea Lu special, though, is the people. The family who owns Brea Lu and every member of their staff are some of the kindest, most welcoming people you'll ever meet. They make everyone feel like a regular, whether it's your first visit or your hundredth.

They also do a lot for the Westbrook community. It's clear they genuinely care about their customers and their neighbors, and that shows in everything they do.

If you're looking for a really good breakfast with a pedialyte mimosa, friendly service, and a local business that's truly invested in its community, Brea Lu Cafe is the place to go. I can't recommend them highly enough!“

“Amazing pancakes, so soft and fluffy!“