Best Breakfast in Salem Oregon: Guide to Salem Breakfast Restaurants
From cozy diners, modern eateries and cool coffeeshops, Salem’s breakfast scene is not only full of beloved institutions offering all your American classics. Oregon’s capitol city is also home to hip restaurants with the latest brunch trends.
With all the options available, breakfast in Salem, Oregon makes for a great food trip!
Keep reading to discover the best breakfast places in Salem, Oregon.
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Table of Contents
Our Top 4 Best Breakfast Restaurants | Salem Oregon
Everyone has their own opinion about the best breakfast in Salem. These are our personal favorites.
1. Sassy Onion: Our Favorite Salem Breakfast Recommendation
Sassy Onion is a family-owned American style restaurant that serves comfort brunch food.
Located near downtown Salem, they’re known for their famous French toast which you can get with a variety of toppings (coated in crunchy corn flakes is my favorite) and seasonal fruit. Their menu is full of classics like from-scratch buttermilk pancakes, thick-cut bacon, and all sorts of egg dishes.
Tips: Signature items are French toast and homemade chicken fried steak. Serving portions are quite generous. Expect a wait on weekend mornings!
1244 State St Salem, OR 97301. Mon-Fri 6am to 2pm. Sat-Sun 7am to 3pm.
New second location: 3310 Market St NE
2. Word of Mouth: Popular Brunch Restaurant in Salem OR
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Word of Mouth not far from historic downtown Salem is a neighborhood favorite, beloved for its cozy atmosphere and friendly staff.
They have a wide ranging menu offering everything from eggs benedict, fried chicken dishes, different types of hash, and pancakes with all sorts of toppings.
Tips: The vanilla custard crême brulée French toast and corned beef hash are some of their most popular items. It’s recently reopened under new ownership. Expect it to be busy.
140 17th St NE, Salem, OR 97301. Wed-Sun 7am to 2pm.
3. Noble Wave Louisiana Kitchen: Southern Style Breakfast
Another great place in downtown Salem, Noble Wave Louisiana Kitchen is a restaurant and brewery specializing in Cajun cuisine.
They have a special Sunday brunch menu of delicious food with a Southern twist. You’ll also find brunch cocktails on the menu like mimosas and Bloody Marys.
Tips: Popular breakfast items include shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles. Their special brunch menu is only served on Sundays, all day.
189 Liberty St NE Suite #112 Salem, OR 97301. Mon-Thu 11am to 9pm. Fri-Sat 11am to 10pm. Sun 10am-9pm.
4. Taproot Cafe
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Taproot Cafe is a hip cafe dedicated to supporting local farms and businesses. They have two locations: Taproot Lounge & Cafe is open during the day to serve light breakfast options. At night it turns into a lounge for drinks.
Their other location, Taproot Old Mill Cafe, serves drinks and brunch all day. Its historical ambiance makes for a special place for intimate parties or family gatherings.
Tips: Their vegan menu and bowls are the most popular choices.
Taproot Lounge & Café: 356 State Street Salem, OR 97301. Mon, Wed-Fri 8am to midnight or later. Sat-Sun 8am to midnight or later.
Taproot Old Mill Cafe: 1313 Mill Street Salem, OR 97301. Wed-Sun 10am to 4pm.
Best Cafes, Coffeeshops, Bakeries in Salem
Now that we’ve covered the best breakfast restaurants, there are more great Salem breakfast options that have a more casual cafe setting or take-out that we want to mention.
Isaac’s Downtown: All Day Breakfast Cafe in Salem
Isaac’s Downtown is a cool, industrial-chic locale in downtown Salem that serves all-day breakfast. This is a nice place to grab a coffee and do some work or studying.
They offer quick bites like bagels, pastries, and toasts made with the freshest ingredients. There’s also a wide selection of coffee, tea, beer and Northwest wines.
Tips: Their toasts are a must-try, the most popular being their avocado toast Petaluma. 201 Commercial Street NE Salem, Oregon 97301. Mon-Sun 7am to 7pm.
Broadway Coffeehouse
Broadway Coffeehouse is a unique coffeeshop where I love to go and work online with a drink and a pastry. I especially love the big, tall ceilings that open up the space.
Enjoy delicious specialty craft brews whether their bright interior or spacious outdoor patio. A selection of baked goods like scones, morning buns, and croissants is available from the Dough Hook (also mentioned below).
You can reserve conference rooms and connect with community organizations serving Salem through the nextdoor church, Salem Alliance.
Tips: Serving Coava Coffee Roasters, Trade & Ferry Coffee Roasters and more. Great service and plenty of seating options, though they can fill up mid-day.
1300 Broadway St NE, Suite 100 Salem, OR 97301. Mon-Sun 7am to 8pm.
Archive Coffee
By day, Archive Coffee is a coffeeshop with a wide selection of coffee and tea. At night it transforms into a cocktail bar.
In the mornings, they often have creative sweet and savory scones or bring in a fresh donut vendor. Their trendy atmosphere makes for an ideal place in downtown Salem to get drinks, whether it be coffee or cocktails during happy hour.
Tips: Their signature brew called The Bee’s Knees (blend of espresso, honey, lavender, rosemary and more!) is a must-try.
102 Liberty Street NE Ste 120 Salem, OR 97301. Sun-Wed 7am to 10pm. Thu-Sat 7am to 11pm.
The Governor’s Cup
The Governor’s Cup in downtown Salem is the place to be for those who want relaxed, laidback vibes. To be honest, I haven’t been here much since high school but it’s still going strong!
Aside from their house-roasted coffee and bagels, they’re known for their live music shows and local art displays.
Tips: Their chai and bagels come highly recommended in reviews.
471 Court Street Northeast, Salem, OR, 97301. Temporarily closed.
Dough Hook Bake Shop
Dough Hook Bake Shop is a bakery in West Salem serving fresh doughnuts and pastries.
Aside from the classic sugar and glazed donuts, they offer unique flavors like creme brulee, horchata, and vegan options. You can also find them at Salem’s Saturday market.
Tips: The creme brulee donut is a popular choice. Only takeaway and delivery is available.
1970 Lancaster Dr NE Salem, OR 97305. Mon 6am to 4pm. Tue-Fri 7am to 4pm. Sun 8am to 4pm.
Iconic, Historic Breakfast Places in Salem Oregon
The Original Pancake House
The Original Pancake House was founded in 1953 and has two current locations in North and South Salem. It’s a classic American restaurant known for their signature pancakes, crepes, and dutch babies.
The Kitchen on Court St
The Kitchen on Court St has been a downtown Salem favorite. Though it’s currently closed for renovations, you can expect to enjoy traditional American breakfast favorites with a modern twist once it’s open again.
Busick Court
Busick Court is a long-standing favorite of many Salemites. Located in downtown Salem, offering good food at great prices. Enjoy classics like omelettes and French toast in their casual, cozy setting. 
Court Street Dairy Lunch
Another downtown Salem Classic, Court Street Dairy Lunch is a family-owned diner serving breakfast classics since 1929.
White’s Diner
White’s Restaurant is Salem’s oldest diner. Signature greasy-spoon style dishes include Don’s Big Mess, The Corned Beef Hash, and White’s Famous Biscuits and Gravy.
Annette’s Westgate
Despite changes over time, Annette’s in West Salem is a longstanding favorite for many. Atmosphere isn’t much but portions are hearty and standard breakfast fare hits the spot here.
Best Breakfast Near Salem Oregon
Just outside of the city are a number of excellent breakfast restaurants that are well worth the extra drive.
The Dizzy Hen – Philomath, Oregon
Our top pick for breakfast outside of Salem, The Dizzy Hen is an all-day breakfast and brunch spot. Known for their pastries and generous portions. We highly recommend The Dizzy, the cinnamon morning bun, and the bread pudding French toast!
Route 99 – Brooks, Oregon
Route 99 is a a small town bar on Highway 99 known for comfort food. Decked out in fun road trip signage with patio seating and great berry shakes next door.
Starduster Cafe – Independence, Oregon
Starduster Cafe is a family-owned coffeeshop located near the airport serving everything from cinnamon rolls and waffles, to omelets.
Loam – Dayton, Oregon
The brunch menu at Loam is small, like the town of Dayton itself, but it’s well worth the drive.
The top quality, locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients are expertly paired to elevate an American breakfast menu into something truly memorable like Challah bread french toast with egg custard, citrus curd, and Oregon berries.
Whether you’re craving for a traditional American breakfast, sweet pastries or specialty coffee, we hope this article helps you find the best breakfast restaurants in Salem, Oregon.
Do you have a recommendations for the best breakfast in Salem Oregon? Let us know in the comments below.
Read next about Salem Oregon:
Best Things to Do in Salem Oregon
Fantastic Day Trips from Salem
Favorite Places to Run (or Walk) in Salem
Top Places to Enjoy Salem’s Summer Harvest
Favorite Spots to Hang Out in Salem, Oregon
Best Coffee Shops with Wifi for Work or Studying in Salem
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Annette’s west Salem for people who actually know Salem.
Corner pocket is the best!!
Have you checked out Acme Cafe, South salem.
Excellent food, service is top notch.
Great cooks
Thank you for sharing, Kathy.
Amen. How about Annettes in west salem.
You must check out Turnaround Cafe in Turner. Worth the short country drive.
Thanks for the tip. We’ll keep it in mind!
You forgot Anette’s in west Salem
Thanks, James. It’s been a while since we’ve been back to Anette’s. It would have been higher on our list years ago, but I believe it changed ownership since then. Glad to hear you still enjoy it.