Cold weather in Oregon means one thing: comfort food. When the temperature drops and the rain settles in, Oregonians look for something warm, homemade, hearty, and carrying enough spice to wake up the morning. That is exactly what diners find at Redwood in Portland, Oregon, where breakfast hash comes loaded with Yukon gold potatoes, eggs, vegetables, smoked trout, and poblano sauce. For anyone searching for comfort food on a chilly Portland morning, Redwood gives the search a very good ending.
Why Redwood Is One of the Comfort Food Restaurants in Oregon Locals Swear By
Redwood opened in 2013 on Southeast Stark Street in Portland’s Montavilla neighborhood. Chef Susie McWilliam opened the restaurant in the former Bangkok Bites space, and a longtime employee became an owner with Brenda Dunn in 2022. The restaurant has been part of the neighborhood’s food scene ever since.
Inside, redwood walls and tabletops give the dining room its name and its warm, woodsy character. The menu leans toward seasonal comfort food, with everything from sandwiches and salads to pot roast, stewed chicken, and brunch dishes. The kitchen also makes its dressings, pickles, sauces, and other accompaniments in-house.
That helps explain Redwood’s staying power among comfort food restaurants across the country locals swear by. The food feels made for a rainy Portland morning rather than designed for a photograph of one.
The Breakfast Hash That Makes a Cold Portland Morning Better
The smoked trout hash is the plate to know when the weather turns. Yukon gold potatoes, red peppers, and shallots form the base, with two eggs, dill crema, and capers adding richness and a salty bite. Toast or corn tortillas come alongside.
The veggie hash takes a greener route with potatoes, arugula, roasted squash, shiitake mushrooms, caramelized onions, two eggs, and roasted poblano sauce. The vegan hash adds kale and Beyond sausage.
These are the kinds of combinations found in long-running kitchens across the U.S. serving the same thing because they work. The potatoes bring the comfort. The eggs make it breakfast. The poblano sauce keeps things interesting.
What Else To Order at Redwood
For anyone hunting down the best comfort food in Oregon, Redwood’s brunch menu offers plenty of backup plans. The fried oatmeal waffles come with two eggs, bacon or Beyond vegan sausage, and maple syrup … and diners cannot stop raving about them. Frying the waffles gives them crisp edges and a richer texture than the standard brunch waffle.
The biscuit and collards skillet combines two eggs with smoked pimento cheese, braised greens, and a house-made cornmeal biscuit. The spinach scramble comes with Pecorino Romano, red pepper flake, toast, and a choice of hash browns, potato pancake, or salad. The fritters are a good move for sharing with the whole table. Six cost about $13, with choices including blueberry with lemon curd or cheddar-corn with chili vinegar. Ordering both is how breakfast diplomacy gets done.
What It’s Like To Eat Here on a Cold Day in Portland
Redwood serves brunch Wednesday through Sunday. It opens at 9 a.m. Wednesday through Friday and stays open until 2 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday hours run until 2:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday are closed.
Expect a wait for weekend brunch, but Montavilla gives you somewhere to spend it.
Shops and coffee spots line the neighborhood, making it easy to wander Stark Street while breakfast works its way toward your table. Mount Tabor offers a nearby walk, and the World Forestry Center gives rainy-day visitors an indoor option. The giant Paul Bunyan statue in North Portland is another wonderfully strange Portland detour.
What To Know Before You Go
Redwood is at 7915 SE Stark Street in Portland’s Montavilla neighborhood. Current hours are Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday. Reservations are available, though same-day reservations may not be an option.
Portland rewards a little wandering, especially when the weather turns cold. Explore Montavilla, walk Mount Tabor, or spend an afternoon among the forest exhibits before heading back to Stark Street. Then order the smoked trout hash at Redwood while the rain splatters against the windows. Cold weather in Oregon means comfort food, after all … and Redwood knows exactly what to do about it.
Dining and Cooking