Post overview: Best Pizza in Portland, Oregon based on firsthand experience from a lifelong local.
We could talk about how Portland, Oregon was recently rated the Best Pizza City in America. We could talk about the discernible eye-rolls and sardonic sighs evoked from resolute east coasters.
Or we we could talk about the tepid applause from Portland locals because the sensational headlines only confirmed what we already knew — the pizza in Portland was underrated for too long, and we meant to keep it that way.
I mean, it’s only fitting that one of the best beer cities in the country is churning out some of the best pizzas too. The secret to our success? Variety and quality.
Between the traditional New York style, artisanal wood-fired Neapolitan, or the beloved deep-dish Chicago style, Portland can satisfy the needs of any ardent pizza lover.
I’m speaking from firsthand experience, of course. I’m a life-long Portland local that panics anytime I have to choose between staring longingly at my loving husband or a hot pie. I’ve had every pie on the map in the thirty years I’ve lived in Portland, below is my personal list of the clear standouts.
Best Pizza in Portland, Oregon
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You can’t make everyone happy. You’re not pizza.
Anonymous
The Best NYC-Style Pizza in Portland
Apizza Scholls
- Address: 4741 SE Hawthorne Blvd
- Website: Apizza Scholls
First things first, the style of pizza served at Apizza Scholls is hotly debated. Some call it Neopolitan, while others swear it can only be an east-coast pie. I’m with the latter, I’ve dined at Apizza Scholls more than twenty times — this is definitely a NYC-style pie.
Technicality aside, Apizza Scholls is a Portland institution. Founded in 2005, this beloved Portland pizzeria has been serving Portlanders for almost 20 years and doesn’t show signs of slowing anytime soon.
The restaurant has two cozy dinning areas and neither are very large, which means snatching a table on a weekend evening is nothing short of a feat but well worth the effort.
If you’re one of the lucky few that snatches 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 the proper toppings-to-crust ratio.
Clear standouts are the New York White (garlicky cheesy perfection) and the classic pepperoni (the pepperoni cups curl at the edges – mercy!). Whichever pizza you decide to order, make sure to start with the Caesar salad, it’s one of the best in Portland.
Unless you are a pizza, the answer is yes, I can live without you.
Bill Murray
Pizza Jerk
- Address: 5028 NE 42nd Ave & 621 SE Morrison St
- Website: Pizza Jerk
Pizza Jerk was founded by spirited east-coast native, Tommy Habetz, who churns out some of the best NYC-style pizza in Portland in an inviting, no-frills pizzeria (with old-school red-checker tablecloths, chef’s kiss).
How do I know? For starters, Bon Appetite named Pizza Jerk the best new pizzeria in America in 2016. Secondly, only people that haven’t had a pie from Pizza Jerk can ask such questions.
The char-blistered crust is the star of the show, creating an ideal crispy canvas for the plethora of innovative toppings (shout-out to the clam pie), but my favorite is the classic pepperoni.
The best part is that Pizza Jerk serves vegan and cast-iron deep dish pizza as well making this one of the best places to get pizza in Portland if you have a crew with dietary restrictions and/or different pizza preferences!
Scottie’s Pizza Parlor
- Address: 2128 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202
- Website: Scottie’s Pizza Parlor
Scottie’s Pizza Parlor is the only place to go when you’re nostalgic for the pizza parlors of yesterday. Scottie Rivera, the Brooklyn-born founder, 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. This is largely thanks to his two secret weapons: The #1 (a twist on the class margherita pizza) and the compelling Defino (Grandma-style Sicilian pizza named after Rivera’s grandmother).
The Defino is crafted using naturally leavened dough made with local ingredients. The crust is carefully delivered to a blazing electric oven to be cooked twice: once on high heat to char the crust and then on a lower setting to crisp it up.
From there, Scottie generously dresses the crust with high quality garlic-infused olive oil, generous heaping of fresh basil and a shower of fragrant Pecorino Romano.
I can confirm, based on firsthand experience, that this single creation is one of the best deep dish pizzas in Portland, and worth a one-hour detour most days of the week.
East Glisan Pizza Lounge
- Address: 8001 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR 97213
- Website: East Glisan Pizza Lounge
The first thing you’ll notice after walking into East Glisan Pizza is the laid-back vibe of this popular Portland pizza joint. Located in a refurbished Mexican restaurant, the restaurant is part bar and part pizzeria.
Specializing in both classic New York style pies and deep dish pizzas, they’ve earned quite a reputation for their vegan pies as well.
In terms of what to order, I can honestly tell you that I’ve never been disappointed by anything on the menu. The pepperoni and sausage are my go-to, but I always keep my eyes peeled for the seasonal specials. Also, I can’t resist splitting the customizable Sicilian pie when I’m with friends. Come for the vibe, stay for the pizza.
Baby Doll Pizza
- Address: 2835 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97214
- Website: Baby Doll Pizza
Baby Doll Pizza opened in 2012 with a simple mission: serve proper New York-style pizza in Portland. Started by Travis Miranda, a New York and New Jersey native, he wanted the City of Roses to have a pizza slice shop worth getting excited about, and he delivered.
Admittedly the name confused locals at first, Baby Doll? Thankfully, there was a simple explanation, he named his Portland pizzeria after his grandfather’s former strip club.
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). Oh, and did I mention that he grinds his own meats as well? A man of many talents.
The most popular item on the menu is a toss up between the two classics: pepperoni and cheese. I consider this a testament to the quality of the sauce and toppings, simplicity never tasted so good. But if you’d like to step out of your comfort zone, I’d order the white pie.
Vegetarian and vegan pizza options are available as well.
Verdict – Best New York style pizza in Portland: Apizza Scholls
Best Neapolitan Pizzas in Portland, Oregon
Ken’s Artisan Pizza
- Address: 304 SE 28th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
- Website: Ken’s Artisan Pizza
Ken’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.
Forkish recently relocated to Hawaii after twenty years in the baking business, but not before perfecting the pizza dough at Ken’s Artisan Pizza.
The new dough promised to be better than ever and (surprisingly) exceeded expectations. I say surprisingly only because it was hard to imagine the pizza getting any better.
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.
You can’t go wrong with a single item on the menu, but I’m partial to the Fennel Sausage and the Brooklyn (Mike’s Hot Honey steals the show). The Caesar Salad is non-negotiable and the cocktails are equally delicious.
P.S. Ken’s Bakery (separate restaurant – same guy) is one of the best bakeries in Portland.
Grana
- Address: 2811 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214
- Website: Grana Pizza
It took my mother notifying me that there’s a new Portland pizza joint getting a lot of buzz for me to finally pop into Grana for a slice.
What started as a Covid-era farmer’s market pop-up to “pay for the kid’s daycare” has quickly turned into one of the trendiest new pizzerias in Portland.
Husband and wife duo Chris Flanagan and Maya Setton are the masterminds behind these ingredients-forward pies.
Visiting for our first time this past spring I have to say it was love at first bite. My goodness. In a town known for its pizza these pies hit different.
And it isn’t just me saying so. Grana took home the 15th ranked pizza in the world at the Las Vegas International Pizza Challenge.
Lovely’s Fifty Fifty
- Address: 4039 N Mississippi Ave
- Website: Lovely’s Fifty Fifty
If you’re looking for unique pizzas in Portland, make a beeline for Lovely’s Fifty Fifty. It could be argued that innovation sometimes comes at the cost of quality (trying to stand out in a saturated market requires risk).
Thankfully, Sarah Minnick’s pizzeria makes it clear that serving top-quality pizza in Portland is non-negotiable. Locals can’t help but benefit. Offering creative Neopolitan-style pies with toppings sourced from local farmers markets, locals line up for hours to get their hands on these pies.
Don’t be surprised to see apricots and edible flowers listed on the ingredients list. Often considered the best Neapolitan pizza in Portland, you’ll want to arrive early to score a table, most flavors sell out before the end of the night.
Oven and Shaker
- Website: Oven and Shaker
Maybe she’s born with it. Maybe it’s the 70 year old sourdough starter used for the house-made dough. Whatever it is that this six-time James Beard nominated chef has, pizza lovers need it.
Cathy Whims wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas are among the finest in all of Portland, and that’s saying something.
All the ingredients used in the making of these artisan pies are locally sourced and fired in their imported Milanese wood-burning oven. The result is pizza perfection.
Some of our best friends here call this the best Portland pizza and it’s tough to argue against them. It took us getting a gift card to make our first trek here despite living within a 20 minute walk – thank you, Uncle Max! \
We’ve been back countless times as this has become one of our go-to Portland pizza joints.
P.S. Don’t overlook the cocktails here crafted by Ryan Magarian – also some of the best in Portland!
Red Sauce Pizza
- Address: 4641 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97213
- Website: Red Sauce Pizza
There’s no denying that Red Sauce Pizza churns out some of the best Neapolitan pizzas in Portland, Oregon. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The founder of Red Sauce Pizza, Shar Dues, has also successfully broken into the deep dish pizza game and fans have noticed. Their pan pies have folks biking over from all corners of Portland to get their hands on one of these bad boys.
The secret here, aside from natural passion and talent, 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 the top-notch ingredients after some quality time in the oven.
My personal favorite pie is the Jill of all Trades, which comes with anchovies, ricotta and castelvetrano olives.
Nostrana
- Address: 1401 SE Morrison St #101, Portland, OR 97214
- Website: Nostrana
Nostrana is a high-end Italian restaurant owned by acclaimed James Beard Award finalist Cathy Whims (also responsible for Oven and Shaker). You might be surprised to see an Italian restaurant pop up on a list outlining the best pizza places in Portland, considering how steep the competition is.
But that only speaks to the mad talent of Chef Whims and the love she pours into this place, everything on the menu is exceptional. Focusing on creating authentic Italian recipes using seasonal ingredients from local purveyors, success is all but guaranteed.
Her meals have been called out by The New York Times, Bloomberg, and Eater, so if you’re looking for the best pizza in Portland you don’t have an excuse not to visit Nostrana.
The traditional thin-crust Neapolitan pies are crafted using handmade cheese and delightful seasonal cuisine. My personal favorite pizza is the Funghi Verde, well adorned with shiitake mushrooms, garlic, mozzarella, pecorino, arugula, and a citrusy olive oil.
If you’re on the hunt of the best vegetarian pizza in Portland, the Funghi Verde from Nostrana is a must-order.
Life of Pie Pizza (best happy hour pizza in Portland)
- Address: 1765 NW 23rd Avenue & 3632 N Williams Avenue
- Website: Life of Pie Pizza
Life of Pie Pizza (two locations) is my go-to spot for happy hour in NW Portland. Happy Hour runs from 11am to 6pm, and at a mere $8 for a Margherita pie ($6 for house beer & wine), the prices can’t be beat.
The aroma of wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas hits you the second you walk through the door and serves as an invitation to indulge.
You can watch the pizzas being prepared as you place your order. The chewy crust is adorned with vibrant tomato sauce and generous portions of gooey mozzarella cheese, topped with fragrant basil leaves.
In my opinion, this is the best happy hour pizza in Portland, by a mile. The quality to price ratio is a steal of a deal, which is why this place fills up so quickly, arrive before the 5pm rush!
Gracie’s Apizza
- Address: 8737 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
- Website: Gracie’s Apizza
What I like best about Gracie’s Apizza, apart from the fact that it serves some of the best pizza in Portland, is the how personalized the service is.
Craig Melillo is a one-person show and churns out the pizzas himself in the charming St Johns neighborhood. The specialty at this food-truck turned restaurant are the 10″ Neapolitan pies, of which Melillo makes 70 per night which always sell out.
Perfectly chewy and charred, crusts are topped with homemade tomato sauce and house made mozzarella cheese. The ricotta pie deserves a standing ovation and the Very Vegan has tempted this carnivore more than once.
If you’re nervous about getting your hands on a pie, order in advance online (you can choose between to-go and in-house dining). The seating area is limited, offering 15 chairs and 8 picnic tables on a small patio he shares with the Garrison cocktail bar.
Worth mention, at $11-$15 per pie, this is some of the most affordable pizza in Portland.
Verdict – Best Neapolitan Pizza in Portland: Ken’s
Best Deep Dish Pizzas in Portland
Ranch PDX
- Website: Ranch PDX
Ask any Portlander about the best deep dish pizzas in Portland and the honest ones will mention Ranch PDX. The dishonest ones will try to 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.
The menu isn’t overwhelming (the perks keep adding up), and everything on offer is great. I’m partial to the classic pepperoni and The #4 (heaping portions of spicy port sausage neighboring chilies and soothing ricotta).
Also worth mention, with a name like Ranch PDX, the restaurant is making a statement. Their homemade ranch is a perfect companion for the deep dish pie.
Locations:
- 916 NW 21st Avenue, Portland, OR 97209
- 2239 SE 11th Ave Portland, OR 97214
- 1760 NE Dekum Street, Portland, OR
- 12960 SE 162nd Ave. Suite 202 Happy Valley Oregon
Dove Vivi
- Address: 2727 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR 97232
- Website: Dove Vivi
Skillet baked cornmeal-crusted pizzas are the top attraction at Dove Vivi, setting them apart from the competition. The buttery deep dish pies are topped with homemade sausage, goat cheese and creamy roasted eggplant. Nothing on the menu disappoints so pick something interesting.
The mere size of this Portland pizza begs you to arrive with an empty stomach (we all know that re-heated pizza isn’t the same). Also worth mention, Dove Vivi is known for having some of the best vegan pizza in Portland — order the signature cashew pie to see what all the fuss is about.
Verdict – Best deep dish pizza in Portland: Ranch
The Best Pizza in Portland, Oregon (Post Overview)
In sum, here’s the Portland pizza joints you can’t afford to miss.
- Apizza Scholls
- Pizza Jerk
- Scottie’s Pizza Parlor
- East Glisan Pizza
- Baby Doll Pizza
- Ken’s Artisan Pizza
- Lovely’s Fifty Fifty
- Oven and Shaker
- Grana
- Red Sauce Pizza
- Nostrana
- Gracie’s Apizza
- Life of Pie
- Ranch PDX
- Dove Vivi
Map of the best Portland pizzas
Let me know if I missed anything (but don’t be mean about it)!
Cheers,
Antonina
Pinky’s as well as Amalfi’s should both be on here.
A good list but it can’t be taken seriously if Escape from New York is omitted.
Thanks for your comment Dean! Curious to hear what other folks think?
I lived in NYC for 10 years after going to college in PDX and my whole time in New York, I was trying to find a pie as good as Escape from New York. It will always be Portland’s #1 for me.
Appizza schols, pizza jerk and Scotties are all Connecticut style pizza… not new york
What about Dino’s Apizza?
Amalfi’s Italian Restaurant has always served up great legendary pizza..check it out!
I can’t believe Flying Pie didn’t make the list. I didn’t even like Pizza until I tried theirs.
Bridge City has a pretty good Chicago style pizza. It is not deep dish and its cut in squares like most pizza places in Chicago are and they do a great Italian beef sandwich
This is great to know! I’ll visit soon and will circle back when I do. Thanks, Eileen!