Best Pizza in Portland Oregon: Slices and Whole Pies

The best pizza in Portland Oregon is hard to define, and that is why people love it. The city has no single style: thin crust pies built on East Coast ideas, naturally leavened dough made with Oregon grain, wood-fired ovens that char the crust and slice shops.

You recognize Portland pizza when you see the menu. Slice shops, wood-fired ovens and pies built on Oregon grain are all part of the picture, so sample two or three styles in a day.

What is the best pizza in Portland Oregon?

Three kinds of pizzeria define the city. The neo-Neapolitan pioneers turn out thin, blistered East Coast style pies, and the waits can be long, so go early or reserve if the restaurant allows it. The sourdough pizzerias use Oregon grain and a naturally leavened dough made with a wild yeast starter. And the slice shops cover everything from New York style slices to thin Connecticut style pies, deep-dish pans and cornmeal-crust pies.

Where can you get Portland pizza slices?

Portland pizza slices are a good answer when you do not want a whole pie. A slice shop puts out a few styles, heats them in an oven and hands them over on a paper plate. It is a quick lunch, a cheap dinner or a late stop after a show.

Choose a plain cheese slice first. It tells you the most about the dough, the sauce and the oven. Then try a specialty slice with seasonal vegetables or sausage. If the shop reheats slices, ask for yours to stay in the oven until the cheese bubbles at the edges.

Why is wood fired pizza so popular in Portland?

Portland wood fired pizza reflects the city's love of craft and local ingredients. A wood oven runs very hot and cooks a pie in a minute or two, leaving a puffed, blistered crust with soft centers and char. The flavor is smoky and slightly bitter in a way a gas oven cannot copy.

Look for a menu that names its flour, its cheese and its growers. Simple pies, such as margherita or a pie with local mushrooms, show the dough at its best. Eat the pie while it is hot, and use the crust to wipe up any oil on the plate.

How does Portland pizza vary by neighborhood?

Portland pizza by neighborhood is a good way to explore. The northeast and southeast quadrants have a high concentration of independent pizzerias, many with patios. North Portland and the inner east side have newer, smaller shops, and downtown has places for pre-theater meals.

Plan a pizza crawl with two stops in one neighborhood and compare the dough. Bring friends so you can share and take notes, and walk between stops to keep your appetite. The city's quadrants can feel like separate towns, so allow time for travel.

Is there Portland late night pizza?

Portland late night pizza exists, but hours change often, so check a recent post before heading out. Slice shops and a few pizzerias with bars stay open later on weekends, especially near music venues and in busy districts. Late night pies tend to be simple: pepperoni, cheese and sausage reheat well and hold up in a box.

If you are planning a late meal, call ahead or check social media. Kitchens sometimes close early when they sell out of dough.

How do you order a pie that suits a group?

Share two pies with different personalities. Start with a classic, such as margherita or pepperoni, and add a seasonal pie with vegetables. Ask whether the kitchen cuts the pies into slices or leaves them whole, and whether it offers a half-and-half option.

A salad of bitter greens balances a rich pizza, and a glass of local beer or wine from the Willamette Valley suits most pies. Ask the server what pairs best.

What should you know about waits and reservations?

The best-known pizzerias get busy on weekends. If a place takes reservations, make one. If it does not, arrive at the start of service or put your name on the list and walk somewhere nearby. Some restaurants take names by phone or by text, which can save you from standing in line.

Weekday lunches are quieter, and a bar seat is often available when tables are full. Be flexible about timing and you will often get a table sooner than you expect.

What else should you eat in Portland and the Pacific Northwest?

For an evening out, read the date night restaurants in Portland Oregon guide. To go beyond the city, see Oregon food worth a drive and the Pacific Northwest fall food guide. The US guides page lists more cities.

For the rest of the state, start at the Food in Oregon page.

How do you defend your Portland pizza opinion?

Everyone in Portland has one. In the Mosey app you rate each pie by the dish, crust and char first, so the sourdough pie you loved in the northeast and the plain cheese slice from a late-night window both stay on your record.

Add the Wood-Fired tag where it fits, start a Portland pizza list and send the invite link to the friend who will argue with it. Follow friends to see what they rate. Rate your next slice in the Mosey app before the crust goes cold.