Pepper Box Cafe

Reviews

• Dax D.

  star star star star star 7 June 2026

  Food is delicious!  Staff are very friendly!  It's my favorite breakfast in PDX hands down, but I'm from New Mexico so slightly biased.  My only recommendation...  one music station.  Classic rock in the kitchen and hip hop in the front of house??? ;-/
  
  It's always an unusual mashup of music when sitting in the middle dining area.  But seriously...  the food here is legit!

• Harrison Y.

  star star star star star_border 22 May 2026

  Fantastic breakfast options, tasty burgers, amazing fries, but the coffee can be a little inconsistent. Hole-in-the-wall spot for the working locals.
  
  It's always good to see familiar faces always coming back to the same spot. I worked a block away from pepper box, so I frequented the place enough to notice lots of regulars. I love the breakfast taco and if I am feeling extra hungry I'll go with the burrito. The price is probably the most reasonable in a 3 mile radius - having worked in Buckman district for years, I can attest to how fair the price is for its location. I always get a cup of coffee to go, but I started to notice that the quality of the brew really depends on the person working the shift. Sometimes it is very smooth and aromatic, but occasionally it tastes overly acidic or burnt.
  
  The four stars are for the amazing food and affordable prices, and the one missing is due to the inconsistency in coffee and my wish for it to open its doors earlier for my early mornings.

• Amber B.

  star star star star star_border 22 May 2026

  First of all let me start by saying this place serves my absolute favorite breakfast of my life. I love it. By far one of the best restaurants in Portland. I almost don't even want to tell you all that because I don't want to spoil it.
  
  But.. today I'm updating my review from 5 stars to 4 stars because y'all always be closing randomly! I have literally come there 5-8 times to find a sign on the door saying you're closed randomly during normal business hours. I think it's great to give your employees a break, but aren't there better ways to do this and not close? Idk really.. I don't run a business. But it seems like you've got an owner/ operator (which I highly respect) but like.. if he's gone.. you close... tons of super skilled restaurant managers out in there in Portland!!! Anyway-- I'm just sad because I came to you for my breakfast just now and you were closed so I'm currently waiting for a table in Gravy.

• Rachelle A.

  star star star star_border star_border 20 May 2026

  I'll start with the food wasn't bad, it was over priced but fine. The tortilla was good from the breakfast taco I had. Small menu, pretty much no drink selection. Employee at the register didn't have much personality or possess much customer service skills.
  
  The silverware is kept in a container by the door, you know so everyone can put their Grimey hands on it. The water is in a bucket if you'd like water. The place is small and the one booth they have is fixed with duct tape. They do have 2 high chairs. I happen to choose the lucky one I guess. No strap between the legs and buckle that doesn't work. When my 18 month old slipped out of it for the 2nd time and got seriously stuck the employee standing right there was more annoyed about the fact we were in his way rather than their negligence caused this. I can't say I'd ever come back here, or recommend it to anyone to try..

• Mark P.

  star star star star_border star_border 16 May 2026

  I absolutely love real hatch green chile enchiladas. I grew up in New Mexico and awesome green chile floods my senses. Everything seemed very promising with Pepper Box.  The motif, decorations, the size (tiny), everything.
  
  I'm sorry to be giving a 3-star rating.  The reason: all 4 of us had cold (temperature, not spice) food.  The grated cheese in the enchiladas wasn't even melted.  They were busy and we didn't have time to wait in line to send it back for more heat.  Plus I remain (irrationally so) superstitious about sending food back to the kitchen because of legends of cooks seeking revenge on your food.
  
  Because it was cold the flavors were only so-so. In fact, I didn't want to finish it so I boxed it up and took it back to work.  Later I zapped it in a microwave for 3 minutes until everything was bubbling hot.  It was great! The green chile was flavorful, I loved the beans and enchiladas. My wife's potatoes were also great.
  
  So Pepper Box - I hope you can get your temperatures figured out.  I'll try again in a few months.  In the meantime I am retreating to the safety and awesomeness of my main Green Chile provider: La Panza.