The salmon hash at Mother's Bistro (Mark Graves | The Oregonian)

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Along with "but I can make eggs at home!," the most common complaint we hear about Portland's highly competitive brunch circuit are about the lines. Fair enough. But if you plan ahead, even just a few days, there's another way. Below, find the city's 10 best morning meals that accept reservations, most pulled from our ultimate guide to Portland's 40 best brunch spots and our recent guide to the city's best new brunches of 2019. And while you're here, we'll share quite possibly the best secret brunch hack we've ever found -- a way to skip the lines at one of Portland's most notoriously busy brunch restaurants completely.

-- Michael Russell

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BULLARD

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Breakfast tacos at Bullard (Michael Russell | The Oregonian)

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Turns out, Bullard is as bold and fun in the morning as it is at night. Grab brunch reservations online for “Top Chef” finalist Doug Adams ode to his Texas upbringing and find crispy hash browns loaded nacho-style with shredded cheese, sour cream and Texas Red chile and giant Austin-inspired breakfast tacos stuffed with fluffy scrambled egg, smoked pork belly and avocado on larded flour tortillas.

Brunch served 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 813 S.W. Alder St. (at the Woodlark Hotel), 503-222-1670,

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LA NETA

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La Neta at The Hoxton hotel (Courtesy of La Neta)

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Let’s go ahead and just trust Submarine Hospitality with brunch going forward. The restaurant group already serves one of the city’s best morning meals each weekend at their Middle Eastern-leaning Tusk. Brunch is coming soon to Ava Gene’s And here at La Neta, their five-month-old modern Mexican restaurant in Chinatown’s new Hoxton Hotel, brunch is an early highlight, with their pan dulces, pineapple custard-filled doughnuts and avocado toast made with the restaurant’s good guacamole and escabeche.

Brunch served 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday (breakfast menu available from 8 a.m. weekdays), 15 N.W. Fourth Ave., 503-770-0500,

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MOTHER'S BISTRO

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Mother's Bistro (Mark Graves | The Oregonian)

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Despite its big January move, this downtown Portland institution will feel familiar to folks who lined up for years for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner just a few blocks away, with the signature gold touches still in place on mirrors and crystal chandeliers. Skip the wait for the popular cornflake-dipped challah French toast by calling ahead -- way ahead -- for reservations.

Details: Brunch served 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekends; 121 S.W. Third Ave.; 503-464-1122;

(note: limited reservations available by phone)

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Q RESTAURANT

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Q Restaurant (The Oregonian/file)

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This elegant downtown Portland restaurant from the Veritable Quandary team offers refined dishes like an eggs Benedict with house-smoked pork loin on house-made English muffins, alongside more casual plates like chilaquiles with salsa roja and scrambled eggs, for brunch goers of all stripes.

Brunch served 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends, 828 S.W. Second Ave., 503-850-8915,

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RADAR

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A ship painting at the back of Radar (The Oregonian/file)

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Brunch at this petite North Portland restaurant encompasses Scandinavia, Brittain and the continent, from a classic croque madame to the gravlax potato cakes with creamy dill dressing to the FEB itself, a full English breakfast with bacon, ham, black pudding, fennel sausage, roasted mushrooms, grilled tomato, baked beans, over easy eggs and toast.

Brunch served 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 3951 N. Mississippi Ave., 503-841-6948, radarpdx.com

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SCREEN DOOR

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Fried chicken and waffles at Screen Door (Michael Russell | The Oregonian)

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Little known fact: Portland’s most notoriously busy fried chicken and waffle house accepts morning reservations by phone, though only for parties of six to 12, and only for the first seating of weekend brunch -- 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Gather five of your closest friends and waltz right past the 50-or-so people milling around outside.

Brunch served 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; 2337 E. Burnside St.; 503-542-0880;

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SMALLWARES

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Chinese sausage congee at Smallwares (Michael Russell | The Oregonian)

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Where else in Portland can you start your day with fish-sauce-spiked oysters on the half shell and a glass of gently fizzy Oregon pet nat? Only at Smallwares. The rebooted brunch at chef Johanna Ware’s revived restaurant takes reservations for its East and Southeast Asian-influenced brunch, including griddled breakfast burritos stuffed with kimchi fried rice and chorizo and rich bowls of congee dotted with Chinese sausage and pumpkin seeds.

Brunch served 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 25 N. Fremont St., 503-206-6421,

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ST. JACK

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An everything-style Paris Brest at St. Jack (Michael Russell | The Oregonian)

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Northwest Portland’s preeminent French restaurant took its original inspiration from the offal-mad bouchons of Lyon. So you’d be correct in guessing chef Aaron Barnett’s new Sunday brunch would include decadent delights such as Calvados-soaked cinnamon rolls and fried chicken-stuffed croque madames.

Brunch served 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, 1610 N.W. 23rd Ave., 503-360-1281,

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TAPALAYA

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Tapalaya (file)

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This longtime Cajun-Creole restaurant, now owned and operated by Vietnamese-American chef Anh Luu, is large enough that reservations probably aren’t strictly required outside of a few high New Orleans holidays. But they are available online. So before you head down for your weekend dose of shrimp, andouille sausage and grits, you might as well snag one.

Brunch served 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 28 N.E. 28th Ave., 503-232-6652,

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TASTY N DAUGHTERS

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The steak and eggs skillet at Tasty N Daughters (Michael Russell | The Oregonian)

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In taking over the old Woodsman Tavern space for this Tasty N Sons reboot, chef John Gorham took a light touch in redecorating, adding a slightly more clubby, 1970s vibe without detracting from what was one of Portland’s best-looking restaurant spaces. Now called Tasty N Daughters, the restaurant continues to serve the signature Burmese red pork and shakshuka alongside a handful of new pastas and Turkish dishes.

Brunch served 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, 4537 S.E. Division St., 503-621-1400,

reservations available weekedays only)

-- Michael Russell @tdmrussell

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Ten more places to try: Beast, Bluehour, Gracie's, Imperial, Irving Street Kitchen, Lechon, Olympia Provisions NW, The Original Dinerant, Urban Farmer, Verdigris.

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MORE DINING COVERAGE