Portland was recently named the best pizza city in the country, which only solidified what most locals already knew: you don't have to travel to NYC for a proper slice. Here's 15 Portland pizza guaranteed to hit the spot.
LessKen's Artisan Pizza hails from Portland's best baker, Ken Forkish, the two-time James Beard Award wining mastermind behind Ken's Bakery in NW Portland. This iconic Portland pizzeria self promotes as Italian-inspired with an American accent. The long-fermented sourdough/yeast blend creates generous airy bubbles within the soft crust. Pies are expertly charred in a trusty wood-fired oven immediately after being topped with locally sourced ingredients like hand-stretched cheese.
Founded in 2005, this beloved Portland pizzeria has been serving Portlanders for almost 20 years and doesn't show signs of slowing anytime soon. Seating is limited but if you're lucky enough to snatch a reservation, the large pies are reward enough. Cooked in an electric oven with one mission: simple and fast. They don't complicate the art of pizza making, the menu is perfectly curated with a plethora of options. Clear standouts are the New York White pie and the classic pepperoni.
It could be argued that innovation sometimes comes at the expensive of quality, but that's not the case with Lovely's Fifty Fifty. Serving some of the most delicious and creative Neapolitan-style pizza in Portland, don't be surprised to see apricots and edible flowers on the ingredients list. This is the place to order something out of the norm because you'll be safe in the hands of the thoughtful creations churning out of the blazing hot oven.
Ask any Portlander about the best deep dish pizzas in Portland and the honest ones will mention Ranch PDX. The dishonest ones will keep it a secret. Boasting four lively locations since opening in 2017, Ranch PDX specializes solely in deep-dish pizzas in Portland -- making them the perfect example of mastering one thing. The hearty deep-dish pies coming out of the oven are guaranteed to impress even the most ardent food critic, everything on offer is great.
Nostrana is a high-end Italian restaurant owned by acclaimed James Beard Award finalist Kathy Whims. Kathy's traditional thin-crust Neapolitan pies are crafted using homemade cheese and locally sources seasonal ingredients. Every pizza on the menu is bound to impress, but a clear standout is the mushroom-heavy Funghi Verde pie. The masterpiece is adorned with toothsome shiitake mushrooms, fragrant garlic, creamy mozzarella, sharp pecorino, fresh arugula and citrusy olive oil.
Brooklyn-born Scottie Rivera wanted to share the joy of true New York-style pizza with Portlanders and he delivered. His large fold-able slices have earned him a permanent place in locals' hearts, but what he wasn’t expecting was for his deep dish pie, the Defino (named after his grandmother) to become one of the most popular items on the menu. Generously dressed with quality garlic-infused olive oil and fresh basil before being showered in Pecorino Romano, what's not to love?
We can't talk about the best pizza in Portland without mentioning deep dish options, and that's where Ex Novo Brewing shines brightest. The brewery swells with locals eager to quench their insatiable IPA palate but there's no denying some of the patrons use the brews as a disguise to get their hands on the delectable deep dish pie. In fact, this deep-dish concoction has inspired Ex Novo's second location in Beaverton, which focuses predominantly on pizza.
The traditional NYC pies at Red Sauce Pizza have gained a devote following, but recently it's their deep dish pies that have folks biking over from all corners of Portland. The secret here is the slow-fermented dough and quality ingredients -- most of which are made in house. The well treated dough transitions to a satisfying and chewy crust and creates a perfect canvas for quality ingredients bursting with flavor. This is one of the best places to go when you get a hankering for deep dish pie.
Located in a refurbished Mexican restaurant, this popular restaurant is part bar and part pizzeria. Specializing in both classic New York style pies and deep dish pizzas, East Glisan Pizza Lounge has earned quite a reputation for their vegan pies as well. The pepperoni and sausage are guaranteed crowd-pleasers but keep your eyes peeled for the seasonal specials. Local's Tip: Ordering the Sicilian pie is non-negotiable, it's one of the best deep dish pizzas in Portland.
Baby Doll Pizza opened in 2012 with a simple mission: serve proper New York-style pizza in Portland. Started by east-coast native Travis Miranda, he wanted Portlanders to have a pizza slice worth getting excited about. Patrons love him for three reasons: the crispy thin crust, the toothsome tomato sauce (which Miranda makes himself), and the quality ingredients (the ricotta and mozzarella cheese are made in house). Order the perfectly-balanced cheese pie to see what all the fuss is about.