I enjoy exploring and trying out the new places in Portland, as well as the re-openings as some restaurants pivot and revise themselves. But, let’s not forget to also keep supporting and revisiting the traditional standbys that we can always depend on. For instance, let’s not forget the legendary pizzas of Ken’s Artisan Pizza – still following the same winning formula of whatever magic is their dough and wood-oven consistently over the years. No surprise at all that Ken’s was one of the ones called out specifically in the recent Bloomberg article naming Portland America’s best pizza city. Whether you agree or not, I have to tell you that this corn pizza is one of the best I’ve had in the US. Every late summer they bring on a seasonal corn pizza – the exact combo on the Ken’s Pizza Seasonal Corn Pizza varies over the years. But, it never disappoints, it always makes me close my eyes and eat slowly and just focus on the perfection that is this corn pizza.
Apparently a few years back, when I visited when they debuted their cocktail menu to their beer and wine program, it was corn, mozzarella, ricota salata, smoked pickled jalapenos, scallions. I couldn’t find any other photos so I must have not captured it (probably too dark). Anyway. This year the combo of their Roasted Corn Pizza includes mozzarella, fontina, mama lil’ peppers, tajin seasoning, and crema. And as it always is every year, so so so delicious
Ever since they started the cocktail program I have switched to ordering a cocktail instead of wine with my pizza. My go to is the Ken’s Old Fashioned with Buffalo Trace, Ramazotti Amaro, Demara Sugar, Angonstura bitters, Orange skin. There’s still only a handful of cocktails available, not a full bar – and I like how they are very classic.
My recommendation of this no wait, they only do takeout if you order in person and they aren’t busy (so mostly a no during weekends) is to come when they open at 5 pm. They have a mix of indoor tables (with the windows all rolled up with the season right now) along with a handful of outdoor tables. They do not check vaccination status to sit inside, though of course you must comply with whatever is the current mandates on masking. They do offer seating at the bar too, which was great for me as a solo diner who did not want to share her pizza with anyone – it’s the fastest service if you want to be in and out quickly. On a Wednesday evening, I was out by 6pm, and only one other person sat at the bar all the way on the other end.
If there’s a lot of people, I recommend getting the Roasted Vegetables as a starter to hold you over as you await your pizza in the pizza oven queue. Here is the one from my visit, the Wood Oven Roasted Vegetable Plate: summer squashes, hazelnut romesco, fried capers. Pretty much this is what I order every time I have gone to Ken’s over the yeras – roasted vegetables, and a pizza for myself. The pizzas are 12″ so just enough that you can eat 3/4 by yourself and have two slices for breakfast/lunch the next day. Order a pizza per person if you are not solo dining.
Have you been to Ken’s Pizza, and if so, what is your favorite pizza combo they offer?
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