Harlow — Restaurant in Portland

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars Harlow Vegetarian Café – Where Plant-Based Dreams Take Flight 🌿✨

Let’s take it alllll the way back—because Harlow isn’t just another Portland café serving overpriced toast. No, my friends, this place is part of the soul of Portland’s plant-based movement, and it deserves the full story told.

🥦 The Roots (Pun Intended): Harlow was born in 2013, when the minds behind Prasad—Portland’s downtown vegan café darling—decided to expand their vision to the bustling, funky heart of SE Hawthorne Boulevard. The founders, Karen and Juniper, were longtime friends, wellness warriors, and passionate believers that food could heal, uplift, and taste amazing—without animal products.

They didn’t just want to serve food; they wanted to create a community hub where people could gather, connect, and nourish their bodies and souls. Basically, they were doing plant-based before it was cool—before TikTok turned kale into a celebrity.

🍓 The Vision: Harlow’s mission has always been more than vegetarian; it’s about: ✅ Whole, organic, locally sourced ingredients ✅ Gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-conscious options ✅ Food that makes you feel good—like you’re being hugged from the inside by a group of friendly herbalists.

🥣 The Food & Smoothies: Pure Sorcery Let me just say: the Mighty Bowl isn’t just a bowl—it’s a lifestyle. It’s the kind of thing you eat and immediately want to text your ex to let them know you’re thriving. Their smoothies? Absolute liquid gold. The Ruby Dragon smoothie could literally replace my therapist (it’s that soothing). And don’t even get me started on the Rejuvenator juice—tastes like health, joy, and possibly enlightenment.

Oh, and yes, the gluten-free pancakes are actually fluffy, which I thought was physically impossible. These folks are not just making food—they’re performing culinary wizardry.

🌈 The Vibe: Step inside and it’s everything you’d imagine: boho charm, reclaimed wood, hanging plants, crystals, and a crowd of yogis, artists, and those friends who always know where the best brunch spots are. The people here don’t just eat here—they live here. Many locals joke that some regulars practically have their mail forwarded to Harlow.

☕ The Community & Fun Facts: • The owners are known for being deeply connected to Portland’s wellness and arts community. • Harlow is named after Jean Harlow, the iconic 1930s blonde bombshell, because they wanted the name to reflect beauty, charm, and a little sass (mission accomplished). • Rumor has it, some of Portland’s top yoga instructors and indie musicians make this their daily fuel stop. • The staff? Legendary for their kindness, tattoos, and encyclopedic knowledge of adaptogens.

🌍 Why It Matters: Harlow isn’t just another café—it’s a cornerstone of Portland’s progressive food scene. They proved that vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan food could be mouthwatering, decadent, and fun. And they’ve helped shape the way Portland eats, one turmeric latte at a time.

✨ My Personal Take: I visited not knowing what to expect—honestly, I thought I’d leave hungry. But not only was I full, I left lighter in spirit. The food is fresh, vibrant, and made with real love. The staff were warm, funny, and made me feel like I’d been coming there for years even though it was my first visit. You don’t just eat here—you experience it.

Harlow: where every bite tastes like a good decision and every smoothie feels like a warm hug from a yoga...

This was my first time at Harlow and I had a thrilling visit. They're a beautiful establishment with a diverse menu at decent prices.

I had one of their bowls and despite its simplicity, beans/kale/rice, it was absolutely delicious. The sauces Harlow offers are tremendous, I had the lemon ginger. Additionally, I had their hot Wellness Toddy which was made of ginger, lemon, honey, cayenne, and echinacea. I thought it was going to be mild but I was fantastically surprised by a warm brew of spicy ginger, sweet lemon with a kick of cayenne. All this for under $15 and I had food to spare. Their seasoned jackfruit is stellar as well. The menu at Harlow has something for everyone and ranges from breakfast to dinner with small bites in between.

The establishment itself is open and allows for inside or outside seating. With plants hanging and sitting around, the atmosphere is crisp and smells delicious. The staff is awesome! I was saying what I wanted out loud while in line, and all of the sudden someone was repeating it back to me. Additionally, they are always willing to suggest great dishes to try and provide wonderful service in the midst of a busy day.

All in all, get yourself into Harlow and give something new a try. Prices, very good. Food, very good. Atmosphere, very good. Overall, great place to eat...

I originally found this place for my best friend, whose diet is plant-based, and gluten-free. I had to try it myself, and I found that everything I ordered was DELICIOUS! Since my first visit, I make sure to stop by whenever I'm in the area. I have had their mac almost every time, along with some of their other items: chipotle bowl, three sisters enchiladas, steamed kale, soup, cheesecake, mushroom burger - all so good! My favorite smoothie so far is the "flamango" smoothie with almond milk (I believe it has strawberries, bananas, and mangoes). Sometimes I get a bottled kombucha, and all of the ones I've had are great ♡ I've also gotten cookies and muffins to-go, and they are good too. Basically, everything I've had here is great!

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MENU CHANGES BASED ON TIME OF DAY Breakfast items are available until 2:30pm. I noticed a happy hour menu right now; I thinks it's running 2pm-5pm weekdays. Dinner plates are available starting at 5pm. Their bowls, soups, salads, and mac, and a couple of other meal items are available all day, as they are on both menus. Their website has all menus besides happy hour available to view.

Parking can be tricky, but once you get there you should be able to find a seat. Give this place a...