Paradox Cafe

Last updated
Paradox Cafe
Portland, Oregon in January 2025 - 027.jpg
The diner's exterior in 2025
Paradox Cafe
Restaurant information
Closed2025 (2025)
Street address3439 Southeast Belmont Street
CityPortland
CountyMultnomah
StateOregon
Postal/ZIP Code97214
CountryUnited States
Coordinates 45°31′00″N122°37′43″W / 45.5166°N 122.6287°W / 45.5166; -122.6287
Website paradoxorganiccafe.com

Paradox Cafe was a vegan-friendly restaurant in Portland, Oregon, United States. It was among the city's oldest vegan diners before closing permanently in 2025.

Contents

Description

The vegan-friendly diner Paradox Cafe operated on Belmont Street in southeast Portland's Sunnyside neighborhood. It served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. According to Portland Monthly , Paradox was "a haven for vegetarians and vegans alike" and offered large food portions. [1] The interior had formica tables. [2] The menu included biscuits and gravy, [3] buckwheat pancakes, [1] burgers, salads, sandwiches, scrambles, and soups. [2] [4] [5] The restaurant also served a vegan corndog. [6] The vegan Holy Molé Chili had pinto beans, chiles, garlic, onions, chiles, and spices. [7]

History

Owner Bonnie Downey purchased the cafe in 2006. [5]

Danny Belthius was the chef in 2014. [8]

The restaurant had eight employees in 2018. [5]

The restaurant closed permanently in 2025, operating for approximately 30 years. [2] [9]

Reception

Paradox won in the Best Flesh-Free Restaurant category of Willamette Week 's annual 'Best of Portland' readers' poll in 2002. [10] In 2019, the newpaper said, "With its prices seemingly frozen in time and an inexplicable lack of crowds and lines, telling the world about this place feels like betrayal. Paradox Cafe may be Portland's best-kept brunch secret. A go-to is the hog-style (herb and onion) biscuits and gravy, washed down with a hot cup of coffee kept fresh by attentive servers." [11] Eater Portland included Paradox in a 2016 list of the city's twelve "iconic" greasy spoon breakfast restaurants. [12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Paradox Cafe". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  2. 1 2 3 Russell, Michael (2025-08-15). "One of Portland's oldest vegan-friendly restaurants has closed". The Oregonian . Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  3. Anderson, Heather Arndt. "A Field Guide to Old Portland". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on 2022-07-09. Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  4. Wu, Waz (2020-03-30). "Portland Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants Offering Delivery and Takeout During the COVID-19 Outbreak". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-08-21. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  5. 1 2 3 Southeast Examiner:
    • "PaRaDox Café". Southeast Examiner. Archived from the original on 2024-12-03. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
    • Rubinger, Jack (November 18, 2018). "PaRaDox Café" (PDF). Southeast Examiner. Vol. 29, no. 11. p. 11.
  6. "VEGAN LIKE ME". Willamette Week. 2002-06-25. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  7. "For Super Bowl, make super bowls of homemade chili". The Oregonian. 2011-02-01. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  8. "Vegan Iron Chef's Mac & Cheese Madness". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  9. "One of Portland's oldest vegan diners closes after more than 30 years". kgw.com. 2025-08-15. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  10. "best of portland -- READERS POLL". Willamette Week. 2002-07-24. Archived from the original on 2019-07-19. Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  11. "Thicc Vegetarians Only". Willamette Week. 2019-08-20. Archived from the original on 2021-08-02. Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  12. "Behold Portland's 12 Iconic Greasy Spoon Breakfasts". Eater Portland. 2013-07-15. Archived from the original on 2019-07-27. Retrieved 2025-08-16.