Behind the Museum Café – Japanese
Tucked away like a well-kept secret, this serene sanctuary blends the minimalist elegance of a Japanese tea house with the inviting warmth of a modern neighborhood café. The air is filled with the comforting aroma of savory miso soup and toasted baguettes, while the kitchen artfully pairs hand-pressed onigiri and delicate wasabi chazuke with hearty, artisanal sandwiches. It is a soulful retreat where every bite offers a moment of quiet contemplation, perfectly capturing the harmony between traditional craft and contemporary comfort.
1229, Southwest 10th Avenue, Portland, OR, 97205 +15034776625 https://www.behindthemuseumcafe.com/0Cuisine: Japanese
Price range: $
Dietary options: high-protein, vegetarian, nut-free, gluten-free, vegan, halal, dairy-free, low-carb, pescatarian, plant-based, low-fat, heart-healthy, sugar-free, diabetic, high-fiber, low-cholesterol, anti-inflammatory, clean-eating, south-beach, weight-watchers, atkins, volumetrics, tlc, detox, alkaline, mayo-clinic, macrobiotic
Currently closed
Hours
- Monday - Tuesday
- 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Wednesday - Sunday
- 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Menu
- Onigiri - $6.5: Rice ball wrapped with seaweed. Choice of filling: salmon, salmon mayo, ume pickles, teriyaki chicken, teriyaki shiitake, seaweed mushroom, or pickled tea leaves. Served with edamame or napa cabbage. Dietary tags: Nut-Free, Low-Fat
- Miso Soup - $5.75: Traditional Japanese soybean paste soup Dietary tags: Low-Carb, Halal, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Pescatarian, Diabetic, Low-Fat, Sugar-Free, Anti-Inflammatory, Atkins, South-Beach, Weight-Watchers, Clean-Eating, Low-Cholesterol, Volumetrics, Detox, Alkaline, Mayo-Clinic, Macrobiotic
- Miso Soup with Rice - $10.5: Miso soup served with a nutritious blend of brown rice, quinoa, millet, red rice, and black rice. Served with napa cabbage. Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Fat, Sugar-Free, Anti-Inflammatory, Clean-Eating, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol, Volumetrics, TLC, Detox, Alkaline, Mayo-Clinic, Macrobiotic
- Wasabi Chazuke - $10.5: Wasabi flavored tea over rice with one onigiri topping. Served with homemade napa cabbage. Dietary tags: Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Heart-Healthy, Low-Fat, Sugar-Free, Clean-Eating, Low-Cholesterol, Volumetrics, TLC, Detox, Mayo-Clinic, Macrobiotic
- Otsumami - $13: Assorted appetizers: cucumber with miso dip, organic edamame, and homemade napa cabbage. Dietary tags: Low-Carb, Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Pescatarian, Diabetic, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Fat, Sugar-Free, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, Weight-Watchers, Clean-Eating, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol, Volumetrics, TLC, Detox, Alkaline, Mayo-Clinic, Macrobiotic
- Mini Baguette - $8.75: Prosciutto, brie, pear, and honey glazed walnuts (olives substituted for vegetarian option).
- Ham & Egg Sandwich - $14: Ham, egg salad, tomato, and cucumber. Dietary tags: High-Protein, Nut-Free
- Tofu & Egg Sandwich - $14.75: Organic tofu, egg salad, tomato, and cucumber. Dietary tags: High-Protein, Vegetarian, Nut-Free, Pescatarian
- Bagel with Cream Cheese - $4.75: Plain bagel with cream cheese. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Nut-Free, Pescatarian
- Bagel Deluxe - $8.75: Cream cheese, tomato, onion, and capers. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Nut-Free, Pescatarian
- Salmon Bagel - $12: Cream cheese, salmon, tomato, onion, and capers. Dietary tags: High-Protein, Nut-Free, Pescatarian
- Matcha Brownie - $5.5: Green tea brownie with walnuts. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian
- Hojicha Brownie - $5.5: Roasted green tea brownie with hazelnuts. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian
- Chikara Cake - $5.75: Gluten-free cake with fig, blueberry, prune, raisin, pistachio, pecan, macadamia, walnut, and rice flour. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Pescatarian, High-Fiber
- Daifuku - $5: Japanese rice cake stuffed with sweet filling. Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol
- Omanju - $6: Traditional Japanese steamed cake. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Nut-Free, Pescatarian, Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol
- Matcha Parfait - $11: Green tea flavored parfait. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian
- Hojicha Parfait - $11: Roasted green tea flavored parfait. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian
- Zenzai - $9.25: Sweet azuki bean soup with mochi. Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Fat, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol
- Cookie - $4: Assorted flavors: Coffee, Fig and Prune, Ginger, Chocolate Chip, or Matcha. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian
- Tart - $5.5: Assorted flavors: Mixed Berry, Pistachio, or Pear Blueberry. Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian
- Sencha - $4: Green tea.
- Hojicha - $4: Roasted green tea.
- Genmaicha - $4: Brown rice tea.
- Matcha Latte - $6.75: 100% organic finely-milled green tea with milk.
- Matcha Set with Daifuku - $14: Tea ceremony-style matcha served with a daifuku rice cake.
- Matcha Set with Omanju - $16.5: Tea ceremony-style matcha served with an omanju steamed cake.
- Pour Over - $4.5: Extracto roasted coffee.
- Latte - $5.75: Espresso with steamed milk.
- Affogato - $7: Espresso with ice cream.
- Japanese Beer - $6.25: Premium Japanese bottled beer.
- Premium Hot Sake - $7.25: Warm Japanese rice wine.
- Yuzu Drink - $4.5: Japanese citrus beverage.
- Ramune - $3.75: Japanese marble soda.