Tucked along NW Cornelius Pass Road in Hillsboro, Oregon, The Meating Place Cafe is the kind of local sandwich shop that makes you wonder how you ever lived without it.
From house-smoked meats to overstuffed sandwiches bursting with bold flavors, this mom-and-pop gem has built an intensely loyal following — and one visit is all it takes to understand why.
How The Meeting Place Cafe Won Hillsboro’s Hearts
Since opening in 2011 as a small custom meat shop and expanding into a full cafe, The Meating Place Cafe has been quietly earning its reputation one perfectly stacked sandwich at a time, drawing regulars who swear by its house-processed and smoked meats that you simply won’t find anywhere else in the Portland metro area. 🏆
What truly sets this place apart is the fact that they process and smoke all of their own meats — a rare, artisan-level commitment that gives every sandwich a depth of flavor that chain restaurants can only dream of.
The cafe operates alongside a full butcher shop, meaning the quality you taste in your Reuben or French Dip comes straight from the source, not a Styrofoam tray at a big-box grocery store.
Locals didn’t just embrace this place — consistently praising the generous portion sizes, the freshness of every ingredient, and the kind of warm, unpretentious service that makes a small diner feel like a second home. 🏡
What started as a small custom meat operation in 2011 has since grown into a sprawling 20,000 sq. ft. store offering smoking, curing, sausage making, and a full café — all under one roof.
It didn’t take a flashy marketing campaign or a celebrity endorsement — just really, really good sandwiches, a devoted team, and a neighborhood hungry for something real. 🙌
Food Highlights 🥪
The Hillsboro sandwich shop menu is packed with crowd-pleasers, and the following are verified fan favorites and menu staples worth ordering on your first — and every — visit:
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The Reuben 🥩: Loaded with house-made pastrami, Swiss cheese, tangy sauerkraut, thousand island dressing, and sliced rye bread.
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BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich: Slow-smoked pulled pork piled high with coleslaw, onion, pickle, and BBQ sauce on a brioche bun — rich, smoky, and deeply satisfying.
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Turkey, Bacon, Avocado (TBA): Smoked turkey, crispy bacon, fresh avocado, provolone, lettuce, tomato, and chipotle aioli on sourdough. 🥑
- Cowboy Club 🤠 (Tuesday Special): Roast beef, ham, bacon, smoked cheddar, tomato, onion, pickle, and peppercorn aioli all stacked on a parmesan onion bun — a bold, meaty triple-threat.
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Cubano: Ham, roasted pork, Swiss, pickle, and mustard on a herb ciabatta roll — with a fresh-off-the-grill execution that keeps people coming back. 🇨🇺
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Elk Burger 🦌: Bacon, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and chipotle aioli — a uniquely Oregon offering made with wild elk that adventurous eaters consistently call a standout.
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Chicken, Bacon, Cheddar: Juicy chicken topped with bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, chipotle aioli, and BBQ sauce on a brioche bun.
- French Dip: Thinly sliced roast beef, provolone, grilled onion on a hoagie roll, served with a side of au jus for dipping — tender and savory.
Atmosphere
The Meating Place Cafe is compact, casual, and completely unpretentious — the kind of spot where the smell of smoked meat hits you the moment you step inside. 🙌
Expect a cozy, no-frills vibe where the focus is entirely on the food, not the décor, and where the lunch crowd packs in tight because everyone in Hillsboro already knows the secret.
Lines can form during peak hours — a testament to its devoted local following — so ordering online in advance is a smart move for the impatient.
It’s the sort of warm, neighborhood spot that makes Portland-area food culture so beloved: real people making real food, and a community that shows up every single day to prove it. 🌲
Bottom Line
Reasons to visit The Meating Place Cafe: House-smoked, in-house processed meats — quality you can taste in every bite; an adventurous menu with unique Oregon offerings like the Elk Burger; beloved by locals with near-perfect ratings across the board; and a true mom-and-pop experience that big chains simply can’t replicate. ❤️
Address:
6495 NW Cornelius Pass Road, Hillsboro, OR 97124
📞 (503) 533-0624
🕔 Open Tues–Sun, 9 AM–3 PM (Café) | Butcher Shop: Tues–Sat 9 AM–6 PM, Sun 9 AM–5 PM (Closed Mon)