Ken's Artisan Pizza

Pizza restaurants abound in Portland, but nobody serves it up better than Ken’s Artisan Pizza. One taste of their delightfully simple, thin-crusted pizza and you will join other Portlanders in making weekly trips to this local favorite. Served in the style of Naples and fired on a wood stove, their pies are traditional, but strives to push the concept further.

Located on SE 28th Avenue in Southeast Portland, Ken’s Artisan Pizza is a local favorite. Ken’s shares this neighborhood with many other wonderful restaurants, including Navarre and Bamboo Sushi. Ken’s Artisan Pizza is seemingly always busy, especially on sunny summer days. The wait, however, is never too long, and a good choice for two people is to eat at the bar. If you do have your name on the wait list, make sure to have your whole party present. Since seating is limited, they will only seat your party after everyone has arrived.

Upon walking in, you will notice a lively and family friendly atmosphere.  The wait staff are very friendly and will help you through the menu. The dining is clean and modern with long wood benches. In fact, the wood used in the restaurant comes from the old Jantzen Beach Big Dipper roller coaster.

Ken’s Bakery is well known around town for its delicious bread and the pizzeria grew out of the bakery’s weekly Monday pizza nights. Opened in 2006, the restaurant is inspired by the pizzas that owners and chef “enjoyed during visits to Italy and elsewhere in Europe.” Cooked in a traditional wood oven, the pizza is incomparable with any other restaurant in Portland.

A good recommendation is to order a pizza and salad for a table of two. Their pizzas range from the traditional Margherita to more local inspired favorites such as the Spring Onion Pizza. Whatever your choice, you will swear you can taste the authenticity put into each piece.

If you want a slice of Portland, Ken’s Artisan Pizza does a wonderful job. With delicious pizza and an affordable meal, it is a great visit for both locals and the city’s visitors. While you may have a wait, one visit to the restaurant will you make you understand why they attract such a crowd.

HelloPortland Tip: Make sure to try their desserts, such as the vanilla bean panna cotta. Garnished with seasonal fruit and tasty treats, it can make a wonderful finale to your meal.

- by William Crane, Portland Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

William Crane

William Crane is an accomplished print and online journalist (http://www.william-crane.com) His work covers a variety of topics including features, local community news, sports, music, and political/social issues. Graduating from Seattle University with a B.A. in Journalism, William's writing has appeared in a variety of different publications including the Stranger, Capitol Hill Times, the Skanner, Backfire Magazine, and the Internationalist.