Ken’s Artisan Pizza
304 SE 28th Ave, Portland, OR, 97209
Ken’s Artisan Pizza Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Portland for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
304 SE 28th Ave
Portland, OR, 97209 - Phone (503) 517-9951
- Website https://kensartisan.com/#/pizza
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Jeff T.
The hype is real, so you'd better get there early, like even before they open the doors if you don't want to wait. We went with some friends and arrived about 20 minutes after they opened. Had to wait about an hour, but it wasn't too bad. And once the food came it was all worth it. The roasted vegetable app is awesome. The caesar salad looked great too, but I was the only one in our group that likes them. We split three pizzas, the prosciutto, the margherita with fresh arugala and the mushroom. All of them were great, but everyone agreed that the mushroom was the best of the bunch. We left with big smiles on our faces, 'nuff said. :)
(5)Rob T.
The pizza here is really good, but the size:topping:price ratio makes me only come here occasionally instead of regularly. Judging from the line outside they probably don't care if I come or not. I'd rather get Apizza Scholls based on the aforementioned ratio, but Ken's is indeed Artisan and if you don't mind the busy atmosphere (or go during a slow day) it's worth checking out.
(4)Built To Grill B.
Yes I had Pizza. Yes it was great. Yes the service was great. I'm actually very impressed by the whole experience. My girlfriend and I have found a new date night favorite. Thank you Ken's for making my busy life a little less busy one perfect slice at a time. P.S. to the owner or manager. The server we had was excellent. Won't bore you with why, just know he kicked ass and we will be back every week until I have had everything on the menu. Then were starting over. Nice place, great pie, Great Server.
(5)Rachael L.
After a long day of househunting, we wandered into Ken's starving and wanting to gauge the neighborhood. We left with full bellies and wanting to buy a house across the street - just so that we could be close to Ken's. The service at the bar was great, loved both pizzas and the beers were local and reasonably priced. Totally coming back when I live in PDX.
(5)Jessica M.
Ken, your pizza is fantastic. Your wait staff is not. I have been in to your restaurant on several occasions expecting to wait, and I did, no big deal. But on more than one occasion, I was treated like I wasn't good enough to be in there at all, often when I didn't order an overpriced drink. Is the point of your restaurant to sell your pizza/awesome bread recipe, or to sell drinks? I am starting to wonder...
(3)Chris B.
Great oven fired pizza probably best in pdx
(4)John C.
***Us First Timers*** 8:54PM. No reservations allowed! No accommodating to special requests! Another Pizza (Soup Nazi) establishment. So far the wait wasn't too long, about 15 min. Neighborhood street parking only. The ambiance was very nice (Oregon style). Service was not above and beyond expectations. I let her know it was my first time (and comparing them to Apizza Scholls) and thought I would get a good first time experience but mediocre. When we got seated we didn't expect to be eating family style, being so close to the next party. Expect to hear whole conversations of the table next to you. We ordered Cesar salad and the crutons were very tasty ($8). Pizza was a personal size (sausage) and reasonably priced at $13. You might have to order one per person and share to have variety. They don't let you split the pie into two different flavors. Absolute NO NO! A great place to go on a date. Found it interesting that the bathrooms were co-ed with a an imprint on the door WC. So expect to wait in line with the ladies. PS. Apizza Scholls tastes better and a lot more heartier in portions for the price. But the ambiance was a lot better here.
(4)Thor T.
Already hopelessly enamored with Ken's bakery, we showed up tonight for dinner here. The eagle-eyed and very professional manager took our names and correctly predicted the waiting time for our table - this in a friendly and accommodating manner so often missing at places that are successful and overrun. Once seated, we ordered the beautiful plate of oven-roasted vegetables and, of course, several pies. All were expertly done, from the simple marinara to the more elaborate fennel sausage pizza. Excellent dough, emerging from the fire toothy and crackling at the same time. Fine work, pizzaioli! Desserts were wonderful, we enjoyed the peach galette with raspberry ice cream and the blueberry crumble with edible flowers and hysope gelato. Friendly and knowledgeable service, lovely space, including outdoor tables. Is there some other culinary endeavor that Ken could start? I certainly would be there in a flash!
(5)Paul S.
Didn't meet the high expectation that my girlfriend and I had but was good enough. I would rather go to Apizza scholls though.
(4)Britt S.
Word on the street is that this place has some awesome pizza. Well, I am happy to report that this place lived up to the hype. Great menu choice, Great ingredients and awesome customer service. I recommend it.
(5)Big D.
Very good pizza cooked super fast in a wood oven. They do not have beef, pepperoni or ham. One side salad is $8 but it is big enough to share.
(5)S E.
It's hard to choose between Ken's and the many other pizza options in Portland but I can easily rank it among my top 3 best in the city. Service was good, pizza was delicious, and the wine was devine. If you're on vacation in the city or live in Portland year round, this restaurant is a gem and not to be missed.
(5)Michael C.
I hate to be such a bore but.... this is just one more Portland restaurant shipped to Boston and the owner is a bizzilonaire. The lamb appetizer is killer, lamb, pita, yogurt sauce and roasted tomato. This thing is so good I had to eat with one hand while beating off my wife's attempts to steal my food with the other. You know the old, " I just want a little bite of it". The pizza is absolutely stellar. Perfect crust, great sauce and my turn to attack my wife's undefended egg plant pizza. Service is great, atmosphere is A+; if they served martinis I would be lobbying Yelp for a sixth star.
(5)Daniel P.
My prayers have been answered!!!! The WICKED is gone! The only fly in the pizza has left Ken's. The evil hostess has officially left the country. WOW! Pizza is awesome as usual. ALL other staff is super friendly, helpful and a pleasure to give money to. Now my favorite is hosting the weekends as well. No more pre-meal stomach ache when thinking of getting on the waiting list. We sat outside for the first time last night and it was a nice change - a bit quieter experience. Love this weather. Love Fennel Sausage pizza even more! GET IN MY MOUTH!
(5)Joshua C.
Paradigm shifts occur when our perception or way of thinking about something changes. In life I've had many such revelations: -5.25" Floppy to 10MB hard drive -night sky viewed through LA smog to star filled Hawaiian sky -music prior to Metallica and music after -CGA to VGA -powdered milk to actual milk -land line to cell phone (i held out long enough to skip beepers) -snail mail to email -Italian food prior to visiting Italy to Italian food after -VCR to DVD -everything prior to much better half to everything better with her -TV before DVR to TV after -whatever i was doing before to finding fabulous food on yelp -life without a dog to life with -disposable camera to digital camera -sushi before Sushi Masa and sushi after ( yelp.com/biz_photos/m8rE… ) -pizza before Ken's Artisan and pizza after The pizza here made me reconsider what I thought good pizza should be. The crust here is perfection defined. Light, airy, not oily, a little crunch but not hard, a little chew but not tough, flavorful, warm, perfect. With such an amazing crust there's no need here to over compensate and they don't. Restrained amounts of sauce and cheese combined with one or two toppings. The result is a well balanced pie where each ingredient is allowed to shine. No soppy over-topped slices. No heavy mass of tasteless dough (note: not a reference to Chicago Deep Dish which I love and is in a category all to itself). We briefly considered sharing, but ended up finishing off both a flavorful prosciutto pizza and a wild mushroom pizza. One of the regulars standing in line suggested we try the spicy Soppressata Pizza (hot salami, tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil). [insert fake "sigh"] Guess we'll have to return. In truth three weeks have passed and not a day's gone by where I haven't had at least a slight craving to return. The vegetable trio is not to be missed. This appetizer changes regularly based on what's in season, but I doubt ever fails to be good. Fire roasted veggies are the best, naturally flavored, juicy, tender, delicious. While Ken's is totally worth a long wait (even in the cold), if your schedule allows come at 4:45pm. Even then the lines starting, but I'd rather wait 15 minutes before opening, than half and hour to an hour after. Warm cozy atmosphere, reclaimed roller-coaster wood tables, fire roasted veggies, and paradigm shifting pizza I'd be hard pressed to imagine it can get better than this (though I'm sure people thought similarly before watching the superbowl in high def) pictures: yelp.com/biz_photos/8st0…
(4)Matt S.
The good: The pizza is really good (though not the best in town), the vegetable appetizer is always excellent, and they consistently have good beer on tap. The bad: We have repeatedly had truly awful service experiences here. I have seldom felt as unwelcome in a restaurant. In our latest (and sadly, last) experience, we arrived on a weeknight about an hour and fifteen minutes before closing. There were a couple of parties waiting, all of whom had drinks already when we arrived. It took five minutes for anyone to notice us, at which point the hostess walked up and said "How many?" When I said "two of us," she said "about twenty five minutes," turned on her heel and walked away. I tried to catch her eye a couple of times over several minutes so that we could get drinks while we waited. One time she looked straight at me as I smiled and gave a small beckoning wave. She didn't break stride as she walked past within a few feet of me. At that point, I approached the bar, where the bartender was standing behind the bar talking to a patron sitting at the bar. She saw me, but ignored me as a I stood near the end of the bar. Finally she turned to me and, as I opened my mouth to ask for a beer for me and a glass of wine for my fiance, she said "you can't stand there," and turned back to talking to the other patron. I was so stunned that I stood there with my mouth open for a moment, at which point the hostess, finally deigning to pay attention to me, took my arm and actually pushed me back toward the waiting area, saying "please stand over here." I walked over to where my fiance was standing, looking equally shocked. When we got there, the hostess said "what do you want?" Trying to maintain a bit of dignity, I said "we don't need anything this badly." And we left. One point of clarity - when I was standing at the bar, I was neither crowding anyone else nor standing in the middle of where servers were trying to get by. I realize that people are human, but really, there is no excuse for a service establishment treating its customers this way. Regardless of the really good food, we won't be bothering them with our presence again.
(2)Niraj S.
I think this may be the best Pizza in N. America. Never fails to satisfy. Everytime I am in PDX, this is a must eat and must have! Get here early to get seated quickly or get here later and wait for a table. Just get here.
(5)Martha R.
I liked Ken's. It was good. The atmosphere was happy and big. The pizza was quite good - but give me Apizza Scholls anytime. Anytime. Oh, how I love their pizza... okay, I'm sorry, I digress... The pizza here is just a little too expensive for my taste. The parking around here is also quite annoying. It's a fun place to go with one or two other people, but I definitely would not take a group here. With the tall ceilings - it can get quite loud, and this is one popular place... which causes another problem for groups. I am glad that I went to Ken's - I love pizza, and theirs IS good... but I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't need to go back. Now, don't get me wrong... if someone else really wanted to go - I'd be all for it. But I would not head back if the decision were up to me.
(3)D C.
Always seeking brick oven style pizza wherever I go, so we decided to check Ken's out. And from the outstanding reviews, we had to give it a shot. It was a packed house when we arrived, however our wait was only about 20 minutes, and we got to admire the wood burning oven as we waited near the stack of wood that is used for the oven. We originally went for the Margherita with Arugula, however since they were out of arugula, we settled on the traditional Margherita. The Margherita runs about $11, and it was dead-on delicious. The tomato sauce was extremely fresh and natural. The doe was thin, with certain areas of raised crispy doe bubbles, and fresh mozzarella adorned the pie through out. And to top it off, fresh-picked basil joined into the mix of deliciousness. The wine and beer list is extensive and reasonably priced. I have to say I did not have high expectations going into this place, since I am an East Coast pizza lover (specifically NJ and NY), but this pizza place in Portland made my first time experiencing Portland even sweeter.
(4)Frank M.
Great choices among a variety of artisan pizzas, but the hour-plus wait wasn't fun. Staff poorly managed their table rotation, leaving our larger group waiting much longer than necessary.
(3)Micha V.
Ken's is one of those places I always recommend to people coming to Portland because it fits so many styles! You can always find something someone will like, they have vegetarian options, it's pizza which means it's amazing and it has a nice variety. I am partial to the grilled veggies, the Funghi (seasonal), Soppressata and the Prosciutto Pizzas. What I really love about Ken's is their sauce and their dough! For me, this really makes a pizza Pizza! It doesn't hurt that the ingredients are fresh and local and that they use one of those awesome brick ovens to freshly make it. The atmosphere is nice also. It's really laid-back and casual, but also really social. It's fun to sit outside and people watch with a good meal.
(4)Mike M.
pizza perfection. Been going here for years and never got around to reviewing it. thin, tasty, chewy crusts. great topping combinations, awesome salads and usually a really good dessert if you have room. only downside: they are always crowded. We always show up at 4:45 before they open. Trying to get in around 6PM is probably really really annoying and would require a long wait.
(5)Alicia J.
I consider myself K.A.P's #1 fan and have gone the extra step in creating a fan page for this amazing establishment on Facebook. Spread the love of Ken's and become a fan: facebook.com/pages/Portl…
(5)Lin N.
Kens does not need another 5 star review, but I had to do it. It really is the best of the best. Simple yet inventive pies fill the small menu, and I love their use of Calabrian chiles and cacciocavallo. Their desert menu is also fantastic.
(5)Jeff M.
A Haiku Review of Ken's Artisan Pizza: Best pizza in town? See: Apizza or Escape. Really crammed seating.
(4)Orian I.
How have I not reviewed this place? uggg..I hate and love you kens. why are you so damn good!! you're careful combinations your awesome crust, you're super Neapolitan tasting goodness. you're warm cozy space. makes me feel like I'm in your kitchen and you've invited me over to dinner. The always have a small but decent selection of beers on tap. the service is prompt and the pizza literally take like 10 min to come to your table after you order them. always amazed. So we always do have a dilemma, cause one pizza isn't quite enough, and two is most certainly too much. but we always get two and take half home. cause you want to be able to try two different kinds. The first time we had the bacon with fontina, it was tasty. The butternut squash, it was fantastic, my only thing is i wish it had been slices and not cubes it was hard to eat in the cube shapes. This last time we got the soppressata which was very very spicy, perfect in every way, i love the red sauce it's so tasty and well seasoned. The seasonal which was a chantrell and other wild mushrooms pizza on a olive oil base. I just love their combos so tasty. i will come back over and over again. I'm totally team kens.
(5)Kelsey S.
Went here for my birthday and loved the pizza! They have unique choices and cook the pizza in a woodfired oven where people can see it. Everything looked delicious. The place is rather small though and we would've had to wait awhile but sat at the bar and were kind of squished with other people. But, the food was great and we had a great time. Parking is tricky near the restaurant so be ready to search for spots!
(4)Brie P.
Hands down the best pizza in Portland. Wine selection is also pretty good. Yes there is a wait BUT I have a plan put your name down and take a walk down to coalition for a beer! yelp.com/biz/coalition-b… There is also a wine place that dose tastings on Saturday (Vino) yelp.com/biz/vino-portla…
(5)Calin P.
This is a good pizza. I have high expectations for pizza so that is why it is only 3. We tried half of their pizza menu in a siting :) The good: - very light pizza, reduced number of ingredients make a good balance and dont confuse you - good quality thin crust The not so good - ingredients are good quality but somehow none impressed us to remember it - small pizzas so you can eat a bunch of them so it becomes expensive :) Conclusion We would go there again but there is a better option in Portland. The most we remember is it is a light pizza so if you are on a diet, and crave good pizza, it is definitely recommended
(3)Cindy I.
I love Ken's!!! Best authentic Italian pizza on this continent! The prosciutto was so thin you could see through it but full of flavor and the slices covered the whole pizza. The freshest ingredients. I can't wait to go back. Good to get their early.
(5)michael k.
Just let me say I didn't want to like this place. That's right, like a thirteen year old chooses either team werewolf or team vampire even before they see the movie. I too was on another team ( I thought), Team Apizza Scholls. Even "my guy" Bourdain agreed with me that its the best restaurant in Portland. i will have to give him a call. Well dang I was disarmed by the smells wafting through the air as we walked up. And them its cute feel softens me a little more. But "Yes we have a table right away" aw that was not fair. OK I'm yours, do what you will to me. The Pizza Gods were with me again. Saturday night (7/3) 8:30, we walk in and have a choice between outdoor or dinning room seating. Its been raining and grey since last year already, and the sun is out so al fresco it is. Caesar salad -Very Good Spring onion(white pizza) pizza - Crispy from tip to crust. Lamb sausage Pizza - Spicy goodness & crispy crust. We are blessed here in Portland to have 2 places that serve ( and strive to) perfect Pizzas, that are very different. So I'm a Vampwolf watch out.
(5)Manish P.
Big airy windows, nice contemporary interior. Pizza: We ordered the Arrabiata (With hot Calabrian Chilis). Mind you, these are spicy! Our mouth was on fire, but it was delicious! Wood fired oven, cooked within minutes, amazing flavor and texture. Very good service! Definitely worth a visit
(4)Chris L.
Hands down, Ken's has some of the best pizza in town! Truly a Portland kind of establishment, it offers a fresh take on gourmet pizzas, coupled with great service and a certain "hipness" that can only be found in our weird little town. My wife and I were cruising around in our new ride and realized that our internal gas tanks were reaching "E" (no, not the glow stick type silly). We knew that filling up either our personal or automobile tank would be a similar expenses (actually filling up the gas tank was more), noticed that 5 was quickly approaching, and decided to finally give Ken's a try. We luckily arrived shortly after 5 and the place was already "happening"...we managed however to get seated right away at the bar, and any questions we may have had regarding our dining destination were quickly erased as we eased ourselves into our a wonderful Walking Man Knuckle Dragger. Abbot & Costello, Laurel & Hardy, Beer & Pizza...one is always better with the other. We each ordered our own pizza with the intent of sharing and having leftovers...perfect choice as pizza truly is one of the best left over meals on the planet (and not bad grub for a rehab Sunday). The crust was superb...thin and chewy; true perfection. Toppings were generous, but not over done, allowing for each unique flavor to make its own appearance on the taste buds. Definitely high recommendations for Ken's...
(5)Jeannine B.
We just moved here to Portland and I love Yelp for all the great reviews on this place. We were a little concerned about waiting but we got right in.. didn't even have a chance to get our bottle of wine opened at the bar. It did not disappoint. We started with the Roasted Veggie Plate and had the Fennel Sausage & Onion Pizza. Both were to die for. We were on the fence about dessert and the server said oh let me bring you something. She brought us a wonderful berry gelato and even better she said it was on the house. Great service, great food... great date night!
(5)Jayne T.
Ken's Artisan Pizza rivals the best of Portland in wood-fired pizza. It also offers a great location, right on SE's "Restaurant Row" (roughly 28th/Burnside) - and it coincidentally connected to another one of our favorite spots - Bamboo Sushi! I would call Ken's the upscale version of the Portland pizza scene, though you won't feel an uptight vibe or get hit in the pocketbook...the overall ambiance is notches above the other notables (Pizza Scholl's, Dove Vivi, Tastebud). Check out the phenomenal photography on their website and you'll see what I mean). Modern, sleek design of light wood tables and a great bar warmly welcome guests as they arrive. The wood-fire oven is in plain sight of everyone, and the stacked wood can be seen as you enter the restaurant...again, great atmosphere. As with almost all the best in Portland, my only complaint is the wait. Ken' is lucky because they have both outside seating and a great bar to waste time at, but overall you cannot be starving when you arrive - you are going to wait, end of story. Ah but trust me, with each bite of that hand-crafted, wood-fired pizza your memory will forget every second of waiting in line, trust me! There is also a second Ken's location in Nob Hill at 21st/Flanders, but this Ken's Artisan Bakery (fantastic spot for breakfast/lunch, and they serve Stumptown coffee). They do serve pizza from the 28th Ave location on Mondays nights, so go grab a slice if you can't make it to the real thing!
(4)Paul A.
All you need to know is this. The staff is engaged and attentive. Crust is perfection. Ingredients are universally pure, local, and fresh. I have liked every combination I have had -but pizza can be pretty personal so the staff will help you if you get all baffled. I prefer to sit and the counter. Mostly because the company of the NYT crossword puzzle has been consistently more interesting than my friends. if you really need to talk, the servers will exchange jokes with you or help with the puzzle in between getting beer/wine for the poor souls at the tables who lacked the foresight to come alone. P. S. Those new super designy condos across the street were listed at 749K originally and one sold at 699K. At least 150K of the home value is attributable to what they now will call "20-step pizza."
(5)Jennifer W.
I went here last night for the first time and I love it! This place was packed at 8:45 pm and I had to wait for 15 min before my friend showed up. If you are coming with a bigger group, the waitress won't seat you until your whole party is there. So leave your Hawaiian time at home :) So we ordered the ceasar salad and the fennel sausage and onion pizza (with hot chili peppers added on top) to be shared among the 2 of us. the salad was simple and refreshing.. the pizza is another different level... I love thin crusted pies and wood fired oven bake on top of it. This reminded me of those pizza I had in Italy... oh so yummy. I'm planning to come back again, maybe bringing a bunch of people to share more pizza together.
(5)Jack K.
Tried this place for the first time. Showed up at 6:00 on a Saturday and had to wait about 30 minutes which isn't bad for this place. The hostess got us beers while we waited which was cool. They had good beer: 10 Barrel, Goodlife, Amnesia, and one other. The calamari was really good with a nice presentation of tomato sauce and rustic garlic bread. It was a little chewy, but they cook it in a wood-fired oven so you have to cut them some slack. Pizza's were amazing. Tried three kinds and they all had a very different flavor. Tender, thin crust with a little char. Light, but flavorful sauce, and really good toppings. All three of the staff we talked to were friendly and attentive. I will definitely be back.
(5)Anna S.
Thank goodness we got in on the first seating (no reservations).....line around the building a half hour before opening, wowie. I had the olive pizza, and it was delicious. Great dining experience, the staff were all really friendly.
(5)Urban S.
Very good pizza, but nothing to write home about. Nice atmosphere, however some of the waitstaff are very inattentive and almost act like they are doing you a favor by waiting on you or allowing you to eat there.
(3)Melissa N.
Ken's, oh Ken's, you create a feverish mad dash to snap up your pies EVERY. DAY. I thank my lucky stars that I live close enough to scope out your insane line, come back and pre-party from my own liquor cabinet before my name comes up on your two-hour wait list. But those pies, they are worth the wait aren't they? In my dreams, I buy a bottle of Lambrusco, get a wood oven roasted veggie plate and then eat a Soppressata, a Fennel Sausage and an Arrabiata pie and don't share with a single person at my table. In my dreams I can also eat 10,000 calories without a food coma. Ahhhhh, dreams. Thank you, Ken's, for fueling mine since your opening a few short years ago.
(5)Eliana M.
I can be a bit of a pizza snob, but BEAR WITH ME. Mostly by 'snob' I mean 'avoids Domino's and Pizza Hut'. I appreciate that this pizza is different from your usual greasy fare. It's so satisfying to get something straight out of a wood-fired oven. But I wasn't blown away by Ken's pizza. I ordered the Margherita & Arugula, which turned out to be (by which I mean I had no idea what to expect, not that they did it wrong) a pile of arugula on top of a pizza. So every bite tasted mostly like arugula. An arugula-less slice wasn't much to write home about either. Only a touch of sauce, which itself was sort of bland. Little bit of cheese. All in all, just...okay. A nice change from Hammy's, sure, but not excellent. So... if you're in the mood for fresh, light, straight-outta-the-oven pizza, this seems like a good choice. But if you just want good pizza, I think Portland does better.
(3)Chelsea P.
Delicious! Right below apizza scholls in taste. Great crust, big pieces of basil, great sauce. I ate a whole pie myself.
(5)Peter I.
If it were for the food alone, I would probably give Ken's a solid four stars but the experience involved with the wait and being rushed to eat definitely knocks it down a notch for me. I'm from New York so that is my point of reference on pizza but I've been somewhat pleasantly surprised with the overall quality of Portland pizza. Ken's does have good pizza and you can really taste the oven in the crust, which I love. I also think their balance of cheese and sauce/toppings is great for really allowing you to taste all the flavors without weighing it down. I had the fennel sausage pizza and I give it overall high marks. That said, the pizza wasn't the highlight of the meal, which is somewhat disappointing for a restaurant that puts such a focus on it. For appetizers, we shared the Caesar salad and the calamari. While a Caesar salad is generally a boring pick in this context, it was a great starter and the croutons from the wood fired oven were really nice. Additionally, the grilled calamari on the wood toasted bread was easily the highlight of the meal for me. Think bruschetta with tender grilled squid on top...really good. Pros: solid food and great use of the wood fired oven Cons: wait time, limited menu, somewhat rushed service, hard to get a drink while you're waiting Overall: I wouldn't wait more than 15 minutes for this quality of food with so many other great option in the immediate neighborhood. I still have a lot of pizza to try before I can say what my favorite is in Portland but I have a hunch that I will find something that will surpass Ken's when you factor in the complete experience.
(3)Lee B.
Sorry Ken's, but you had your chance with me and you blew it. My friend and I decided to go here even though I knew little about this place except the name. We were actually seated right away, sharing a table with another couple, which doesn't bother me at all. What does bother me is that we sat there for ten minutes without getting a "hello" or a "would you like something besides water?" A new couple was seated next to us and within two minutes their waiter came by with their plates and red pepper flakes, took their food and their drink order. We had to wait a few more minutes still before our order was taken. We got bruschetta and tomato and squash pizza. Before our appetizer even came, the couple next to us had both their pizzas. Before our pizza even came, which was simply okay by the way (if you like pizza that's soggy at the tip and burnt on the outside crust), they were done and were getting their check. Before we got our check, a new couple was seated and had received their calamari appetizer. Also, they kept coming by to refill our waters. I mean, a lot. That should have told them something. "I've been at that table eight times to fill their water glasses... I wonder if they want food?" First off, yes we want our food. Second, buy larger water glasses!
(2)Erica M.
Pizza is okay. Good flavor, NEEDS MORE CHEESE! I get the whole less is more thing, but on my margherita pizza there was hardly any cheese. It was mostly bread and sauce and a few sprinkles of basil. People are sitting extremely close. The chcoctale moose was really good but the sauce they put on it was cough...cough...tasted like NyQuil. Try it cause everyone will ask you have you been to Ken's.
(2)Thomas M.
Ken's has redefined Pizza for me, I never knew what I was missing. I'm the kind of guy that always leaves his crusts and quickly attempts to cram as much cheap pizza into my face as possible. But not at Ken's Ken's is more of a fine dinning experience, I get a salad (Best Caesar I have ever eaten) wine and a reasonably price spectacular pizza, and really enjoy myself in the cozy environment. You will not see me leaving a spec of food on my plate for dinner but I still leave full enough. I have only tried the Prosciutto and the sausage and fennel but they were both awesome. I love the decor with the open kitchen, garage doors, and nice wood finishes. If you choose to give it a try, plan ahead and get there at 4:30 before the line gets to long or after 6:00 when people start to cycle through. In the debate of Kens vs Apizza, I am a firm Ken's advocate without question.
(5)Staci W.
The place was packed so we quickly grabbed the last two stools at the bar. We ordered a bottle of red and shared a really good ceasar salad. I'm the queen of ceasar snobbery. We received great service from the bartender and he happily shared his favorite local spots to eat. I'm so glad we sat at the bar. The service in the main dining area was visibly (and audibly) disgruntled. I know f-bombs happen but drop them in the back. Yikes. We (little hungry piglets) ordered two pies, the Arrabiata (Margherita with Calabrian peppers) and the Fennel Sausage & Onion. The sausage on the pie could have been better but the Arrabiata was the BEST PIZZA EVER. Cracker thin crust with a simple tomato sauce. Perfect. I ate leftover pizza for breakfast instead of ordering room service. Worth the cab ride from downtown.
(5)B-ton and Dr. J P.
What other way to sum up Ken's but fan-f'ing-tastic!! Now, we will be honest, be prepared to wait. However, order a beer, relax and wait for the taste bud explosion. We started off with the calimari. Amazing! Spicy, flavorful, cooked perfectly. For our 'za we rocked the ultimate meat, the prosciutto pizza! Phenomenal! Wood fired, thin crust with just the perfect amount of sauce and cheese. Then, after its exit from the taste maker, beautiful, thinly sliced prosciutto is placed on top for your culinary pleasure. In our opinion, Ken's is the best pizza in PDX!
(5)J L.
Date night pizza.
(5)Ana L.
Third time in a three-year row where I just got poor service AGAIN. Hostesses are always snooty and anything but friendly. Our server was friendly though. Pizzas are great but are NOT truly Italian style. Crust is OK for Portland but If you have been to Italy you know that you gotta go to other places to get truly Italian-style pizza. Kinda overpriced for what you are getting and not worth 1 hour wait. Try Via Tribunale instead.
(2)Brian M.
Love it! The food, the atmosphere, the drinks!
(5)Lee H.
During my visit to Portland, two of my girlfriends mentioned Ken's to me and how there's sometimes a line out the door waiting for the place to open at 5. When I lived in Portland I had been a fan of their bread and am always looking for a good gourmet style pizza, so I checked the place out with two friends. The salad choices are inventive; we had two between the three of us, one of which was the mixed heirloom and it was wonderfully sweet. The wine list was fabulous. Now on to the main event, the wood fired pizza. Luckily we sat alfresco that summer evening because we would have melted with the 700 degree open ovens inside the restaurant! We tried the Margherita with a pile of arugula on top, which I loved. The peppery arugula was perfect with the flavors. We also had to try the Soppressata made with hot salami, tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil. Much to my sausage loving friend's delight, I picked off the pork products and she doubled up on her slices. Now I understand what the hype is about. The crust is superb and the atmosphere is perfect. Now, on to the highlight of the evening - the bathroom. Normally I wouldn't comment on a bathroom, but this is worth talking about. The toilet was very low flow (gotta love eco-conscious Portland!) and the best part was the imported Japanese hand dryer contraption complete with cute cartoon instructions on how to dry your hands. Believe me, you need instructions because you have to actually put your hands into what looks like the inside of the dryer. It only takes a couple of seconds and the hands are completely dry and you haven't wasted paper towels or an excess of energy doing it. It's the first of its kind that I've seen and I hope it catches on. Maybe I'll look into getting one for my bathroom at home...
(4)Elena F.
Ken's Artisan Pizza came highly recommended and the pizza was amazing. We sampled two pizzas (Margerita and New York) and they were outstanding. The crust was slightly blistered and flavorful; the toppings were simple yet exquisite. In comparison with the outstanding food, the service was terrible. We waited a long time even though the hostess promised a 'short' wait. At the table the server was adequate but not particularly attentive. Despite the mediocre service, the pizza was amazing. If you love pizza, you'll have a great meal at Ken's!
(4)Tony F.
Pretty much as good as it gets when it comes to pizza. 100% authentic, I would say their pizza is as good or better than the pizza I had in Italy. Also their Cesar Salad is friggin awesome! This place would be worth it at double the price.
(5)Stephano G.
Ken's is the top of the vertical line in the pizza T. Let me 'splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up. If you start at Dove Vivi you can get a slice that will keep your belly full till you reach Ken's. Ken's doesn't do slices so pick me up on your way over there. We'll devour one of Ken's pies no problem. Then it's off to Pyro over on Hawthorne and 12th. Again, we'll kill that pie without a breath between bites. Finally, we can shoot up to Scholl's over on 57th to finish our T. One should note, since Scholl's doesn't do slices and has large pies, we will probably need to cab it home. That could take a while since there are only 4 cabs in this city. We can eat another Scholl's pie while we wait. Screw diets. I'm going on the pizza T eating binge!
(5)Amy T.
The first time I went to Ken's, it was an accident. We had met friends at another pizza place that shall not be named, maybe eight o'clock on a Friday night, and they had run out of dough. Yeah, yeah, I know, they make it by hand, blah blah blah, it's really hard and whatnot. Please. You don't run out of dough when you're a pizza place. It's just unseemly. So we went back up 28th to Ken's and had the best pizza in town. Not because the other place ran out of dough and I was put out, but because it's the best. Beyond that, the space is just lovely, Ken is a doll, the servers are always gracious and nice when you're waiting for 45 minutes (for which I would really like to take away a star, but I simply can't). Also, their ever-changing roasted vegetable dish is always brilliant, as are their desserts. So, in short, yes, the pizza is wonderful (the fennel sausage with hot Calabrian chilis is my favorite, followed closely with the margherita with arugula), but it's the whole package that sells it.
(5)L H.
Pizza was good. Not fantastic or great, just good. The service was bad, and slow. We had a Vegetable trio appetizer which was good, well parts of it were. The pumpkin with tomatoes was awesome. The beans were dry, like really dry. Flavors were still good. It took a really long time to get our pizza, and that was after another server tried to give us another plate of the same appetizer. I appreciated the flavor and dough on the pizzas but there were just not enough toppings. We had a Margherita and a Fennel Sausage and Onion. Both had hardly any cheese. I understand that they are trying to put forth a different style of pie but really, you gotta give me just a little bit more. There was not a lot of communication between us and the server, I had to wait way too long for another beer. We wanted to get dessert but couldn't see waiting any linger than we already had so went elsewhere. So, good food, not enough toppings, too long waiting for food, and not bad service. I wouldn't try it again.
(3)Amy C.
Great pizza! Very cute and restaurant with an intoxicating smell that hits you as soon as you walk in the door. I was not impressed with the staff and felt like we were inconveniencing them.
(3)Meghan B.
Absolutely loved it here. The pizza was perfect, and really, that's just about all I ask out of LIFE. Service was friendly, beer/wine list nicely chosen, not too bad of a wait even on a Saturday, and, um, perfect pizza. Perfect.
(5)Josh W.
If you like thin and crispy, wood-fired crust then this pizza will not disappoint. Little did I know it but this was the pizza that I have been craving for months and is now my benchmark for Portland pizza. Shared the fennel sausage & onion along with the soppresata and both were superb. The thin crust really let the toppings shine while providing a subtle, yet flavorful, crunch. At the end of the meal, there was one slice left, which our waitress suggested I take care of. It was the pep talk that I needed, coach! Thanks Ken's! Well-played!
(4)Z Z.
Hmmm, I think we need to disagree w/all the yelpers on this one. Total let down. I was excited to try Ken's, in my head I imagined leaving there happier than I had been leaving Apizza Scholls which would be hard to beat. And indeed.........it did not even come close. I found the hostess to be a tad on the prickly side, which is fine but geez, be a little more pleasant when there are so many folks waiting around. I also found it odd that there were two tables in the back that you could sit at to order drinks but you couldn't order food there. I also was bummed that you couldn't even order appetizers at those tables or even at the bar stools that were across from the main bar. It took about 20 minutes for someone to ask us if we wanted a drink which was a bummer too. When we finally were asked the two folks who asked us did not look pleased that we weren't ordering drinks, which was odd.... It took about 45 minutes to get a table which is fine, we expected that. Our actual waitress was super nice, very accommodating even though she was incredibly busy. I wasn't pleased with the appetizers and salads, out of what eight or nine options there were only a couple veggie ones and neither of them looked all that appealing. We had seen a couple tables getting bread delivered so we were anxiously awaiting that which never came....until we asked for it. It sure was delicious when it arrived though. I ordered the margarita pizza and I have to say right up front that the crust was phenomenal. I loved it so much. But, I really disliked the tomato sauce. It tasted like tomato soup that had been poured onto a pizza. Plus, there was not a lot of flavor to it, the mozzarella was cut so thin you could barely taste it and the basil was overcooked. It wasn't bad exactly but I wasn't wowed.....by any means. Paul really liked the crust on his pizza too but agreed with me about the sauce. He got a pizza with pancetta and shaved grana padano on it. He didn't like the cheese at all but to be fair, he dislikes most cheeses. He pretty much picked every bit of cheese off of it. He thought it was OK without the cheese but again, the sauce was just not that good. We pretty much agreed that we wouldn't rush to go back there. Such a bummer, I was so excited to try it. On the way home Paul mentioned a couple times that if we had to wait 45 minutes again....why not just go to Apizza Scholls??? So much better!!!! Sorry Ken's but you really let me down!
(3)Brandi B.
I think I missed something. Yes, it was crowded, and clearly very popular. Great people watching, in large part due to the family seating: a couple to one side of us were practically in each other's laps, and the couple on our other side had a pretty entertaining (and loud) argument over how far they'd driven for HIS craving, when SHE only eats raw food, and how she refuses to pay eight dollars for a salad that she can by-god pick from her own damn backyard. What a peach! But I digress. We split a ceasar, a pizza, and a couple of pints. Ceasar was good, but I'm a bit of a ceasar snob, and tend to turn up my nose at creamy dressings. Pizza was... well, good! But that's kinda it. In fact, Honey remarked that the crust was a little like Totinos. But, as he hastened to remind me, he really likes Totinos! I think we need to try Ken's again. Food-wise I'd give this three stars, but it's very reasonably priced (and the fellow-patron floorshow is pretty neat) so I'm upping to four.
(4)Liliana G.
to me, the pizza here is just your standard wood-fired fare. where ken's really stands out is in their grilled veggie plate and the calamari. the grilled vegetables (as well as pizza toppings) are seasonal, so you know you're getting something fresh from the market. i don't know exactly what they do to them back in the kitchen. all i know is they're always well seasoned and marinated to maximum deliciousness, and i am a pretty picky veggie eater. as for the calamari, it is not to be missed. this is not the typical batter-fried, chewy, fishy stuff you might see at many italian joints. ken's tender calamari is sauteed to perfection and served in a chunky, tangy, spicy tomato sauce with crunchy grilled bread for mopping up the extra sauce. it is a fairly addicting dish, so don't say i didn't warn you.
(4)PollyManda A.
Best Pizzas ever. MUST Tries = Margherita & Arugala Pizza = Arrabiata Pizza ( The calabrian chiles are AWESOME) And pretty good price too - $13 a pizza for the vegetarian ones. One big drawback is the waiting time - minimum of 30 mins. I've waited as long as 1.5 hours. The place gets really crowded and they don't accept phone reservations. But if you ask me, the wait is totally worth it!
(5)Libby C.
Ken's has the best pizza in Portland. Get the Fennel Sausage & Onion. Trust me.
(5)Cheryle R.
Ken's Artisan PIzza: Where the "Meat-and-Potatoes" Midwesterner and the "Weird Veggies" West Coaster Can Both Eat Happily My husband and I agree on most things, but not on what makes a good pizza. Kansas born-and-bred, HIS idea of a good pizza is meat, cheese, more meat, more cheese, and extra cheese. MY idea of a good pizza is a thin crispy crust with just a little cheese, garlic, maybe a little bit of meat, and some veggies. And if the crust is whole wheat and the veggies organic, that's even better. So when my husband announced that he wanted pizza for his birthday, I went into a panic. Where could both of us find Pizza Nirvana? Sure, there was always Flying Pie, but I was anxious to surprise him with something new. I immediately hit up and Yelp and based on the reviews, decided to take the plunge and give Ken's a try. We arrived shortly after 5pm on Saturday, as I had heard the horror stories about the epic wait times. Fortunately, there was space left at the bar so we decided to eat there instead of waiting an hour+ for a table. Hubs ordered the fennel sausage + carmelized onion, and I had the soppressata. When I saw the pizzas, I said that there was no way I could eat the whole thing, and that I would definitely have leftovers. I was dead wrong. That pizza didn't have a chance! Everything about it was delicious, and while I don't claim to be a pizza "expert" (and am suspicious of those who claim to be --- it's subjective) this is definitely in the Top 3 of all pizzas I've ever eaten (including in NYC and Rome, and this was better than all of those). For drinks, the delicious Caldera IPA was the perfect foil for the spicy soppressata. I'll definitely be back, and next time I'll try one of the delicious looking salads.
(5)Michelle M.
I spent a couple months in Italy and one of my goals was to find a pizza that rivaled ken's... but alas, Ken's in my opinion has the best pizza in the land. I'm a big fan of the arrabiata (spicy) and the margherita pizzas, if you like arugula as much as I do, order it on the side or on top of the margherita and add it to any and all of the pizzas.
(5)Sherry Y.
What's better than a slice of pizza after several hours of sampling various beers? Be forwarned they won't seat incomplete parties. One of my friends got lost on the way over to Ken's. When the rest of us arrived (at 9:40pm) the waitress kind of gave us a hard time about it but sat us anyway. Pretty much 90% of the tables were full, but how many people are going to walk in 20 minutes before closing (besides us slightly buzzed)? Plus we were ready to order right away. Another friend called and wanted in right after we , and they moved us to a larger table and were much nicer about it, go figure--if you are missing one person it's a big problem; if two people are missing, a-okay! The pizza was excellent. I had the Margherita and arugula and the fennel and sausage. The arugula was like a salad on top of my pizza (I think maybe it might have been a smidge better if the arugula had been seasoned lightly in some way). The cheese to crust ratio was great (I hate when they put a brick of cheese on it, yes I think there is such a thing as too much cheese on pizza). I think the wait at a reasonable hour might be prohibative though. Make sure you're not a starving drunk when you get there.
(4)Ryan H.
I'm torn. I love pizza. I really really love pizza. I lived in New York and I love New York Brooklyn pizza the most (Di Fara's all the way). I don't come here for the food. I come here for the ambiance. It's a great little place to bring people who haven't been to Portland before. You have all the pizzas being shuffled into a giant and cozy oven. I always grab a seat at the bar and eat there - you wait half as long. Pizza is OK. I've had them all. Veggie dish is better. If you ONLY care about great tasting pizza, go to Apizzascholls. New York, New York does a pretty good job too. That is all.
(4)Pam R.
I heard about the lines to get in so I planned to arrive on a weekday at 5:00 p.m.. I had no problem on both visits. Went right in. However, a few minutes later, the line started. As we were eating, the view across the room included people in line watching as they waited for tables. This place is casual, noisy and the seating is crowded at closely spaced tables. This is not a place for a romantic evening, business negotiations or a serious discussion with your significant other! You come here to nosh on real gourmet pizza. The items that make up the supporting cast on the top of the pizza are quality but the crust is the star. Ken really has dough figured out. The flavor of his crust is special: yeasty, mellow, sour and a bit nutty. When he gets his ovens fired up hot, the crispness of the crust really adds to the toasty flavor. I love those dark brown charred spots! If you are especially hungry, the roasted veg is a good first course. Ken's commitment to quality is shown here, as well, with a variety of fresh local baby vegetables. The selection included baby beets at my last visit. I would have preferred a more substantial salad as a counterpoint to the pizza, perhaps a bed of greens with chilled roasted vegetables on top and a choice from a couple of good house-made dressings. Ken has a good wine selection, although a bit pricey. It would have been nice to see a good beer selection, too, one with more variety. Since Ken is such an expert baker, a signature dessert such as fruit tart a la mode, would have been perfect to round out the meal. But we go for quality pizza and the other details of the meal are not half as important. I must say that this place compares favorably to Serious Pie, Tom Douglas' celebrated pizza joint in Seattle and we are lucky to have KAP in our town!
(4)Danphi V.
As I'm in the process of relocating to Portland, I've been meaning to try this place for awhile, but the big crowds always kind of put me off. Today, I decided to indulge my hankering for pizza and walk over to Ken's just after they opened at 5p. Place was pretty jumping at quarter past and I took a seat at the bar. Got a nice anchovy pie with a caesar and a few beers. Everything was really well done (not burnt, but done well). Salad was big romaine hearts with plenty of cheese shavings, croutons, and dressing. Good value at $8. I have yet to find an anchovy pizza in the states made like the ones I've had in Italy and Croatia, and Ken's stayed consistent with the US model, but no complaints. I like when the anchovy is in small pieces all over the pizza, so you don't pull the whole piece off in one bite. I'm sure I will be back again if I can get over my aversion to crowds. Actually the aversion is more of an annoyance, but that is another story.
(4)K M.
Absolutely delicious! Great atmosphere and lovely service.
(5)Matt M.
Wood-fired pizza is a craft. It's an art. And the pizza I had tonight was indeed artfully crafted. I am in town for a few weeks and was told by a few people that this is one of the "you-have-to-try-it-before-you-go" places. They couldn't be more right. I understand why it's packed on a Monday night and why the line forms early on the weekends. My pizza was perfect! I had a margherita pizza but with a slightly spicier sauce than usual. (I asked for it with a little kick.) It had the right amount of zing and wonderful flavors that pleased my palette. The crust was thin and cooked perfectly. The arugula was so fresh, as was everything else on the pie. Ken's sits in what appears to be a residential neighborhood. Nice, casual ambiance in there. I spoke to a member of their management team for about 10 minutes as I waited for my carryout pizza. He was extremely nice, very genuine, and certainly proud of the creations coming out of the kitchen. I look forward to going back while I am here, most likely later in the week, in order to enjoy a different pizza, some Caesar salad (which I hear is unbeatable), as well as some cocktails at the bar. Passion runs deep in this place. Check it out!
(5)J M.
Good Pizza. Nice place for dinner.
(3)Itto O.
I've been almost all pizzeria around Portland. I think Here is the Best pizzeria. We just wanted a light meal so we shared the Margherita Pizza. fresh mozzarella Basil, and very symple tomato sauce. Nothing Extra fancy stuff on it. This is not your typical run of the mill pizza place, so if your looking for the Americanized version like twilight pizza in cames, old town pizza, Pizza hut, this is not the place for you, this is very close authentic as pizza gets! The customer service was wonderful
(4)Kristine H.
Each pizza we ordered was fabulous! But the margarita with arugula was the best! Arugula on any pizza would be a refreshing bite. The green salad was another favorite. Plus I liked the low key & warm environment..
(5)Jenny H.
I remember when I was young and calorie-ignorant and took pride in my ability to eat, like, two whole large Domino's pizzas by myself while still wanting more. And sure I didn't really need to eat two whole larges by myself? But I built up this reputation, see? So I couldn't let my Girl Scout troop down at the annual (pizza-fueled) sleepover, right? Now, years later, while I no longer ask my friends to sign my shoes after a really good weekend trip or feel the need to sing a song to remind me how long to brush my teeth, I still can put away two pizzas if I wanted to--except I've traded the Noid in for Ken, friends. Ken's Artisan Pizza gives me the same insatiable pizza-monster feeling without the wallpaper-paste-in-my-belly-feeling repercussions!* And there are real, good-tasting, non-pellet-shaped ingredients involved with Ken's (Soppressata! Squash! I ate Brussels sprouts as an appetizer there and LOVED them!!! What's happening to my body?) as opposed to the waxy pepperoni toppings of my over-gorging youth! Also? Now that I'm a classy broad I can appreciate pizza with wine and a delightful atmosphere that involves doug fir tables and a pizza oven! My only dig is the lack of consideration for those waiting to eat. While I do commend K.A.P. for offering drinks to those who wait, it gets really tight and awkward in that little walkway space. And you can't help foaming at the mouth a little bit while watching people at nearby tables enjoying their apps/pizza/dessert/THREE ROUNDS OF COFFEE. I waited 83 minutes on Saturday night. I'm not complaining. I'm just saying. *Note: I haven't actually eaten two of Ken's Artisan pizzas in one sitting, so this is technically speculative, but I'm feeling pretty confident, dudes. I'm pretty sure I polished at least one off no sweat the other night, and it only made me want MORE.
(4)She C.
dismal... I was so utterly disappointed by our experience this evening that not only am I incited to come home and write about it, but we will also never return. (I have to admit I briefly even considered stopping at Pizzacato on the way home because we were still hungry!) My husband, and ten year old daughter gave into my begging to go, as other visits have proved to be pleasant and delicious. We arrived shortly before six and were told it would be a forty five minute wait (fine for a Sunday) we had a beer and watched multiple two tops get sat as they walked right in. Ironic that in the end we were seated (after an hour) at a two top with a chair pulled up. At 7:30, now over an hour and a half since we'd been there, our waitress came to say our food would be up soon, that it "only takes two minutes to cook the pizza in the oven, but since we didn't order appetizers it seemed like longer of a wait" ....what?! Still, at this point everything is fine, we are home bred PDX foodies and will wait for good grub. Suffice it to say the pizza was, as another guest said "just OK". Actually, I let our waitress know that my margherita had way less than normal the amount of cheese. Her reply was that I should have let her know and she would have fetched me a new one. I suppose I could have, had anyone asked me how my meal was while I was eating. I did tell her I was so hungry at that point it didn't matter. So, here I am out $50 bucks with the roof of my mouth cut up from close to burnt crust and friggin' hungry. What a waste of a night. Booooo Ken's
(1)Jay P.
Ken's does not suck. I think this is a fair statement and more relevant than gushing or ranting. It's interesting that all of the reviewers here either love or hate the place, and I think that says a lot about the experience of dining there. Yes, the wait is long, but the staff is super-pleasant and they have Stella Artois on tap. Just relax. To get to the heart of this review, in my opinion the pizza is not great, but it is good. I have had equally decent pie in restaurants not claiming to be 'artisan' pizza restaurants, so I don't think that I can fairly say that the pizza stands up as an attraction on its own. We had four different pizzas - and one of my issues with Ken's is that the options for toppings and combinations were all kind of a riff on one another and lacked creativity or variety. I also found the ingredients and crust to be pretty mediocre. Not what you want on an 'artisan' pizza. Again, the service was really pleasant. Desert, wine and beer were really good. The pizza was just not amazing......oh yeah, and it was $90 for two people!
(3)Marki V.
Based on my "Pizzeria Pyramid", Ken got everything that makes a Pizzeria the best! / \ / \ / \ "PIZZERIA PYRAMID" / Jet \ / Towel \ - What the heck is "Jet Towel"?? /________ \ - Will get to that in a minute! / Pizza \ /___________ \ / Salad \ /_______________\ / Oven \ /__________________\ / Ambiance \ /_____________________\ As you walk in you will be greeted by the beautiful floor-to-ceiling wood burning oven. Open kitchen makes it a dinner and show! Started with a perfect Caesar salad and for pizza went with the Prosciutto (sauce, mozzarella, basil and prosciutto). Slightly charred crust, which was crunch-chewy! Excellent sauce, fresh mozzarella and salty prosciutto....perfect. You gotta checkout the restrooms (shared with next door Masu), they have a Japanese hand dryer (called Jet Towel), which is really powerful and will dry your hands in few seconds. To help you with that nifty gizmo, I found these two educational videos after hours of research!!...check them out: In English: youtube.com/watch?v=e-Ez… In I donno language (sounds like Borat): youtube.com/watch?v=k5Rt… Good news: No more paper towels...more trees (for the oven)! Bad news: No more paper towels...to use on the door knob...germs!
(5)Peter N.
Very good pizza and appetizers. Limited selection of appetizers though; but very good. Good service and cool location. I would go back.
(5)Basil B.
Best pizza ever. My favorites: fennel sausage & onion, soppressata, margherita & arugala, olive. The calabrian chiles are amazing!
(5)Alex Y.
As far as artisan style pizza in Portland, this place is among the best. A nice setting, with a very rustic elegance to it. As for the food, quality and fresh ingredients are evident in everything I have tried. Plus, I enjoyed a meal outside with my dog sitting next to me on the pavement, so that's always a bonus when you're out walking your pooch and want to grab a quick bite without dropping them off at home. The pizzas are fantastic, and I've never left dissatisfied. Give the appetizers a try as well, we thoroughly enjoyed the ones we ordered.
(4)Megan G.
I spent my college years stumbling home drunk in New York City usually hitting am original Ray's pizzeria at 4am for a couple of slices of pie. I swear by New York pizza. I am one of those "Chicago style" non believers- if you can't fold it; it ain't pizza. So when I moved to Portland, I was unpleasantly surprised by the lack of quality and high prices of pizza. Yea, I am talking to you Pizzicato. Ridiculous. Every place I went to that claimed to be a "New York" style pizza was sadly just a new disappointment. I did however find salvation at Eat Pizza- it's an alright pie. Fresh, chewy and soft dough, but it's wicked expensive and the location just sucks if you're mobile. A chef friend of mine who also owns The Olive and the Grape in Lake Oswego (go there, it's pretty phenomenal), suggested I try Ken's. Skeptical, a couple of friends and I arrived at Ken's on a Wednesday night at around 8:30pm. After our twenty minute wait, which was really just enough time to pick out the pizzas we were going to order, we sat down. Huge wood-fire oven in the corner, people throwing dough in an open kitchen, petite hipster waitresses running around with expensive bottles of wine- I can dig it. Each of my friends and I ordered one pizza. The Amatriciana (roasted tomato sauce, house made pancetta and Pecorino), the fennel sausage and onions pizza with Calabrian chilies (these small deliciously spicy peppers from Italy), the Arriabiata (roasted tomato sauce, Calabrian Chilies, mozzarella and basil) and one that is not on the menu on-line but was the best out of all of them and of course I ordered it; called the Radicchio (grilled radicchio, grilled onions, blue cheese and rosemary). The dough was Smokey and doughy with a slight crispy crust- a great wood-fired pizza. And that's a about it. It was a good wood-fired pizza. The heifers at the table weren't done gorging so they ordered another pizza called the Soppressata (roasted tomato sauce, mozzarella, spicy soppressata and basil- it's basically like a pepperoni pizza). It was tasty. Nothing spectacular, but not mediocre. Above average. I will go back to Ken's. It's the most solid pie I have had since my adventures in New York City. Do I recommend this place? Sure. Is it good? Sure. Do the hipsters running the joint slightly freak me out? Sure. But it's worth it.
(3)Kelly B.
I went to Ken's because someone gave me a gift certificate. First of all, on a weekend trying to get seating for a larger party is impossible. Additionally, the hostess is extremely rude and short. If you can't handle the stress lady - get a new job! I eventually went back on a Friday night with a small party and we scored seats at the bar which are first come first serve. The wait was less painful, but still long. And the hostess was still cranky and appears to be on a total power trip. When we finally did get seated and no longer subject to the ghastly hostess, the service at the bar was pleasant. The food was good quality and the wine list was very nice. However, I would never return. The quality of food relative to other Portland eateries do not trump the extremely long wait time and rude hostess.
(3)David H.
Ignore the complainers, kens pizza is amazing and well worth the wait.
(5)Tet W.
I came here last Sunday night for dinner. This my second time to Ken's and both times I've been here the service has been excellent. I tried their sausage and grilled onion pizza and my friend got the margarita with fresh arugula. The pizzas were fabulous with just the right amount of topping keeping it simple and light with a great crunch on the crust. Their fresh lemonade is fantastic for a summer night and compliments the pizza nicely. The calamari appetizer was also delightful and full of flavor. This is one of Portland's top wood fire pizzerias and would recommend Ken's to any pizza fan! This is a fairly noisy place so coming here with a small group of friends or family would be ideal. I wouldn't recommend this place for a date mainly because of the noise and you sit close to your neighbor who can listen on your conversations. All in all, this is a fun place to get together and enjoy great food!
(5)Seth R.
Again, one star missing because I have only been here once. Being a huge east coast (New Haven) pizza snob, I was skeptical that a really good pizza could come from someone named "Ken", but this is the real deal. Brick oven thin crust pizza with quality (not quantity) toppings. May be the best pizza on the west coast, but given I live in Los Angeles now, god, I hope not. Bonus points for the cool hand driers in the bathroom.
(4)Rick B.
Now this was the best pizza I have ever eaten!! The on-tap beer selection was great. At the time they had Laurlehurst Workhorse IPA before it was out in bottles. A very nice find! I had both the sausage pizza and the bacon pizza. Oh my lord that bacon pizza was amazing!! There was really nothing to it just a light coating of sauce that had more flavor than you can imagine, a thin sprinkle of fontina cheese and then the bacon. Thin little strips of pork jowl bacon that just melt in your mouth. This was by far the best pizza I had ever eaten. The sausage and pepper pizza was great also, the sausage had a wonderfully savory fennel kick to it. The service here was also very nice and attentive. The only slight issue I had was that when I walked in there was a line but no front desk or stand to sign in on. You just stand there looking confused, until someone finally sees you and puts your party on the list.
(5)Neil O.
Good pizza, will be back. Less sides and drinks next time. Bill was a nosebleeder last time :-)
(3)Heather D.
LOVE THIS PLACE! The owner is sooo nice and often on site checking in with everyone. I hate to be a broken record, but the fennel sausage and onion pizza is beloved. It's just dreamy. The location has huge windows that open to let the summer breeze blow through what could be an unbearably hot enclosure. The wait can be long, but it just won't taste the same as take out. It's best eaten fresh on site. Besides, if you're willing to eat at the bar, your wait will be a bit shorter.
(5)Mitch M.
The Emperor Has No Clothes! I don't get it. I just don't get it. Like Apizza Scholls, this place is a mob scene every time I've gone by. At least Apizza Scholls features a pie with some interesting flavors, even if the experience can be a nightmare (see my review). The GF and I have gone by this place over a dozen times over the past few years, and have never been willing to brave the hours-long wait to get inside. But on a Thursday night two weeks ago, we happened by and found that there didn't appear to be the usual bread line-like crowd out front. After a bit or wrestling about for a parking space (another issue in the neighborhood), we entered the fabled establishment to find just one open table - a 4 top. But the waitress who greeted us wouldn't let the two of us sit there. Instead, she offered us the middle chairs of a 6 top occupied by two couples. Looking around I noticed that it was, in fact, one of those "communal seating is groovy" places ("so what's your problem with THAT?"), and frankly, if I'm going out with my Girl Friend and dropping a butt-load of cash (which one tends to have to do pretty much anywhere that isn't a swill-hole these days), I want at least a modicum of space and privacy - within the limitations one is afforded in a modern urban restaurant of course. "We can put you at a table on the sidewalk out beside the building", she offers. And I'm forced to accept. All things considered, sitting at a table on a narrow sidewalk in a fairly funky neighborhood wasn't so bad. At least it was a side street with moderate foot traffic, and we weren't' sucking car exhaust or being harangued by panhandlers..(just chewed on by bugs).. and I did my best to dismiss the waiter's moderate 'tude. So, to the food. The pizza was ... Meh. We ordered two, since they were stated to be smallish. The crust was terribly terribly terribly thin in the center. So thin that the moisture from the modest toppings soaked through and turned it into a limp rag in no time. The outer ring of crust was thick enough, although burnt dusty crumbling black all round on the GFs pie (ok on mine), and so chewy my jaws ached after a couple bites. As for the flavor (ah! At last to the crux of it) was completely unimpressive. Bland. Boring. .....Meh. And then the attitude from the waiter again as we had to beg twice for our check (and he didn't seem concerned that we ate less than half of each pie and didn't ask to take left overs home with us). In all, I have to say I don't get it. I don't get it at all. I won't bother wasting my time or money at this place again. I can make far better pizza on my gill at home (and will next time).
(2)Ethan S.
My mouth still waters for Ken's pizza... from thousands of miles away. We didn't experience any pains as a large group (including toddlers), but I certainly reaped the benefits. I got to sample pie after pie after pie. Flavors that a bout of insanity might dream up... but balance and complement each other beautifully. I still wonder... Is my next trip to Portland to visit family? or for pizza?
(5)Andrizzle A.
First things first, if you are craving a deepdish from the hut, don't come here and expect to be satisfied. If you do want to step a little out of your comfort zone and have some great pizza check this place out. They cook in a beautiful wood fired oven that is definitely the centerpiece of their kitchen. They offer a dozen or so pizzas and about six salads and a handful of desserts. I have been here with a large group and with just one friend, both times the service was great as was the food. You pay a little extra for the ambiance and quality ingredients, bit the product is well worth it. They have a coffee and ice cream dessert that is absolutely delicious, in fact I would probably trek over to Ken's just for an afogato. If you are trying to eat at typical dinner hours you will probably have a wait, if you want great service and some personal attention show up an hour before close.
(4)Sandie H.
This place gets soooo packed. But service is quick and courteous. The pizza is good but I like my pizza with more toppings and sauce. We ordered 5 different kinds and I was famished but just didn't find it completely satisfying. The ingredients are just so sparse on the pizza which I know needs to be so it doesn't overwhelm the thin crust. But for a group of 7, I'd rather carry out at Dominos.
(3)Lucas M.
On my last visit to Portland I checked out the popular and crowded Apizza Scholls. The long wait and crowd was WAY worth it. I enjoyed myself immensely. After telling a few friends in Portland about my experience, I was told that I _MUST_ try Ken's Artisan Pizza- that if I liked Apizza Scholls, I'd LOVE Ken's Artisan Pizza. I'll be honest, I was a bit underwhelmed. It's not that I didn't like the pizza, it was definitely good.... but it just wasn't that great. I enjoyed the lamb skewers, and the restaurant is very cool (stone oven in the middle of the dining room), but the pizza left a little something to be desired for my taste. We ordered a Margherita Pizza, with anchovies and arugula (I was surprised to find that the arugula was just thrown in large piles, fresh, onto the pizza after cooking). If anywhere else, I might visit Ken's once in a while, but being so close to Apizza Scholls, I don't think I'll be back anytime soon.
(3)David M.
last night jeff, jodi, isadora, and I went to ken's for pizza. we thought we'd get there a little late (8p) and avoid the crowds. on a saturday night, no less. of courses, we were grossly mistaken. 90 minutes and some glasses of wine later, we were finally seated (I can't say that I wasn't tempted to defect one door over to bamboo sushi, but luckily resisted the urge). we sat towards the back of the restaurant, at a family style table, with a group of other exuberant thirty somethings. Isadora and I split the mixed green salad; the content of the salad was delish, of course they use seasonal fresh produce, which is expected of almost any restaurant these days. the dressing was an elegant vinegar base, lightly acidic, but a little too strong in terms of flavor . our pizzas arrived shortly afterward, and were nothing short of fantastic. a thin crispy crust, each with a harmonious medley of toppings added in the right proportion. my olive pizza was amazing (isadora ordered the same). jeff quickly devoured his soppresata with basal. and jodi took special delight in her mushroom pizza. the pizzas were large enough that we each had leftovers! this restaurant is highly recommended.
(4)Sam O.
We expected a long wait as it was a Saturday night at almost 6:30, so the 45-60 minutes we waited was OK. We actually had a drink at a nearby bar while waiting. I will agree that the hostess was fairly rude, and most people there were not that friendly. However, hostess will get you drinks while you wait, which was nice. I won't dock a place because of a long wait, but I will if the workers are ornery. It does seem like a bit of a power trip, as this place could easily be much larger, and accommodate the many people who just want a good za. We started the meal with the recommended calamari, and it was OK. calamari was a bit fishy, but the bread it was on made it. It was a bit spicy as well, but I don't consider that bad. I probably wouldn't order it again. The pizza, however, lived up to the hype. it was delicious. not the best I've ever had, but pretty damn good, and pretty close to the best. I don't know if I'd go out of my way to come here again with so many other great places in PDX. Why a 4-star? Cause the pizza was pretty awesome.
(4)Chad M.
Best pizza on the west coast... Scratch that.. In the country.
(5)Rachel H.
The food here is REALLY GOOD and the wait wasn't too bad, they put our party at a waiting table in the back until one was cleared... but the hostess on staff on a Sunday night was condescending to the guys in our party who were trying to order beer at the bar, which causes me to knock off 2 stars. I'm sure she was busy and had a good reason not to let them order a beer while we wait, but it really pissed them off and she came off as super rude.
(3)Max W.
By far my favorite pizza in Portland. The pizzas are not greasy and consistency is good. I travel to portland once a month and this is the one place I HAVE to HAVE! Be prepared to wait though as this place gets really
(5)Shane K.
Tasty food and a good place to go with a group
(4)shyam a.
not sure what all the hype is about it was good...not great very light and fresh tasting...but is anything organic? non-greasy and not stomach achy very busily environment ... yet fancyish (strange combo) wasn't that expensive... but to pay $2 for condiments? not bloody likely. salads looked pretty weak woodshed red was very good we didn't have to wait... don't know that i ever would liked it...but didn't love it, nothing to write home about "best pizza in pdx"... yeah, i'm just not sure about that. call me crazy but i would prefer hotlips or mississippi
(3)Chris L.
Arguably the best wood fire pizza joint in town, Ken's Artisan Pizza has it all. The ambiance, the wait (yes you have to wait, it's quite popular. Anticipate anywhere from 15 min to 45 min depending on the time of night), the micro's, the wine, and of course the pizza. If you are a fan of wood fire pizza then this is a must try. And by chance you like apple crisp and cinnamon ice cream then you have found yourself a new home. The pizza is as good as it gets and the apple crisp cinnamon ice cream desert is the cherry on top. If you need a break from the pizza, it's still a great place to spend your night people watching and drinking your fine beverage of choice. A must visit in Portland.
(5)D B.
Pizza should be lucious, bold and memorable, think Sophia Loren. Ken's is flinty and thin, more or less like Audrey Hepburn. I want a pizza that hugs me back and reminds me later how yummy being in it's arms was. You tell me fellas, a night with Sophia, or Audrey. The question: is Flying Pie (a vastly more flavorable pizza) more like Scarlett Johannsen, or Sophia? Jury is out, but I'm taking votes.
(2)Jessica B.
We visited Ken's the night before Thanksgiving and had to wait an hour to be seated. It was definitely worth it! The owner (i think) was very funny and thanked us for sticking around. Once seated, the service was efficient. Our salad was good and came out only minutes after we ordered it. The pizza was to-die-for and we ate every last crumb. I LOVE the atmosphere - it is the perfect winter place. Very cozy and warm with great people watching. I give the whole experience an A +++!
(5)Chris G.
A big thanks to Ken's for providing delicious pizza-fuel for what amounted to a great trip to Portland. The Arrabiata was divine and the atmosphere was fun, while allowing for conversation and never getting in its own way. Well done.
(5)mya j.
Arrabiata is my fave pizza here. It is very very spicy but it's amazing. It's one of the best pizzas in town.
(5)Brock K.
By far some of the very best pizza I have had on the left coast. Ken's takes pizza to a new level. The only downside is the typical wait to get a table but the wait has always been more than worth it. Get there, wait and then enjoy a masterpiece of a artisian pizza.
(5)Rebecca K.
We went to Ken's Artisian Pizza expexting great things, with wonderful recommendations from family and friends...what we got was an almost 2 hour wait, horrible service, and burned pizza. On arrival, the hostess was curt and not welcoming. She refused to give even an estimate for a wait time. if your only job is to seat people...you should be able to see when people are ordering, finishing, starting to move, etc...she said there was no way of knowing...5 minutes later, 3 tables opened. After waiting for nearly 2 hours at a "waiting table" we eventually decided to claim some seats at the bar because we were tired of waiting, but still were willing to see if the pizza was worth it. The bar has a good selection of wine, but for a Portland establishment the beer options were strikingly sparse. I spent quite a bit of time in Italy and know a thing or two about pizza. I understand that the thin, oven fired pizzas should be well-done and crisp....but my pizza was black and tasted like, well, burnt pizza. Redeeming factors: The bartender, April, was amazing. She was helpful and personable. And must have heard our complaining because we got TWO complimentary desserts! Also, the restaurant-made vanilla ice cream (not gelato as advertised) was delicious! Even though April was great, I will not be going back or recommending Ken's Artisian Pizza!
(1)Marie K.
This restaurant is a wonderful experience, from start to finish. I'm really glad that my boyfriend discovered this place. Its popularity was apparent when we had three couples waiting for a table before us on a Wednesday night! but the wait was well worth it as the pizza was delicious, the wait staff polite and knowledgeable and the ambiance was great.
(4)Raj M.
More hype and trendy than anything else. Pizza is not bad, but could have been left longer in the oven. We felt that the crust was not crisp enough. Wouldn't go back, primarily due to price.
(3)Jamie R.
For those who love a simple quality pizza Ken's is for you! Hit up Ken's with my wife for the first time over the Forth weekend and this place quickly shot up to the top on my list of the best pizza joints in Portland. We arrived around 6 and the place was packed, but we chose to sit at the bar to avoid the wait. Service at the Bar was prompt and attentive. Sitting at the bar also allowed a great vantage point for watching the hustle and bustle of the place. Ken's just has a great energy to it. As for the food we chose to share the fennel sausage and onion pizza and it was amazing. It had just the right combination of sausage, onion, sauce and cheese, and made me wish I would have had it all to myself. Damn sharing! I also tried a new beer...Lompoc Pale Amber, also amazing! Check it out if you get a chance.
(4)Kathryn R.
I LOVE Ken's Artisan Pizza! This is our go-to date night place. The restaurant is super cozy with attentive waitstaff. I love that you can see all the cooking happening in the wood-burning oven in the middle of the restaurant. We always split the caesar salad and arrabiata pizza. Call ahead for a reservation or plan to wait at least 30 minutes on the weekends.
(5)Mark F.
Awesome! Amazing pizza though I'll order 2 next time since it's so thin. Highly recommend
(5)Riley M.
Wow. Brother took me here as we are visiting from SoCal. Frickin unbelievably tasty pizza. It was worth the 2 hour wait...
(5)Melissa C.
You know what? It really is hard to find a better place to enjoy absolutely fantastic pizza with family and friends. Ken is salt of the earth, and his pies are exploding with flavor and beautiful ingredients....though I must say that my favorite really is the fennel sausage and onion pie since I am a sucker for fennel. It's an upbeat place to be, and it just feels good to be there.
(5)ell b.
5 stars for the pizza. No contest here for best tasting pizza in town. And reasonably priced for what you are getting. 5 stars for atmosphere and open breezy pleasant dining space. 4 stars for service. Staff is competant and courteous. 2 stars for being able to go when you want since you can't make a reservation and extremely long line-up begins before opening at 5pm.
(4)Matt K.
I have heard great things about Ken's so I had to try it. I actually went here AFTER eating dinner, haha...I'm not in Portland that often so why the hell not! Appetizer: Bruschetta - Not a conventional bruschetta, very interesting green topping. Pizza: Amatriciana - The homemade pancetta really make this pizza. Also, could taste the fresh tomato sauce!!! I had 2 full slices after already having a full dinner...it was that good! Need I say more?
(4)Alessandro M.
i am a pizza eater. coming from Italy and of course i was really skeptical about the fact to eat a good pizza in the other side of the world. of course i was wrong! i can say that ken really make a great pizza that can be compared with the best ones in Milan and with the good ones in south Italy. You must be prepared to wait in line but you can drink at the bar a good prosecco. the wine list is impressive for a pizzeria with good Italians and France products. prices are OK for the pizza and little bit high for wine like in the other pdx restaurants. i took with me other friends from Italy and all of them said the same thing: wow! the service is good and in the standard for a pizzeria. of course i tried also the others pizzeria and i strongly suggest ken
(5)Helen G.
Best gourmet pizza in Portland hands down.
(5)Sharon H.
We visited tonight after numerous recommendations from friends. We expected the wait (30-45 mns), but thought we'd try getting take-out. The hostess recommended waiting for bar seating - first come first serve - since there's nothing like trying the pizza right out of the oven. We agreed and ordered drinks. To make a long story short, there was a fellow customer (as part of a couple) who put a lot of effort into being a complete jerk to us and the staff because he didn't want to wait longer than anyone else. After we got bumped from the bar for this pleasant guy, we were treated exceptionally by the entire staff. The hostess paid for our drinks, the bartender gave us an extra one, and our food came first. We ordered: Greens Salad, Margherita, Fennel Sausage & Onions, and Lemon Tart w/Marionberry Sauce. And it was all excellent! But I just wanted to express our appreciation for the graciousness that we experienced and give kudos for giving respect to someone who wasn't doing it in return.
(5)Catherine C.
I put arugula on pizza because of them. Stellar wood-fired crust, top-notch simple ingredients, and a helluva wait to sit down.
(5)Emily B.
I waited a long time to try this place because I was afraid of the prices, and the line. My fears were unjustified to say the least. Lines can be part of life when you want to try a popular joint so I just got over it. Anypizzaways, the food was a knockout, and totally inexpensive! My friend and I shared a cesar salad, delectable pizza, and desert for around $30 bucks. Such a great place for a girlfriends date because you can share. I was so enthralled with my pizza I took really bad cell phone pics and sent them to most everyone I know. Yeah, I was THAT excited. Get to Kens, and let it get to you.
(5)Chris T.
We had a party of 10 and arrived on a Friday night at 7:30. And yes, we were prepared to wait. We were told it would be 30-45 minutes as they only have a couple tables large enough to seat that many people (and 10 is the maximum allowed at a table). At 9:00 we were still waiting. They did "comp" us two small salads for being patient. Nice gesture, however that was not nearly enough for everyone so it was just awkward. Most people ordered pizza which I was told was OK; nothing extraordinary though. I ordered a roasted vegetable plate which was overly rich and not very good. The small complimentary Ceaser salad consisted of a few pieces of romaine, some parmesans and croutons. The bill came to 300.00 for pizza, beer and a few glasses of wine. Seems crazy high to me. Don't plan on returning anytime soon unless they start taking reservations. Actually, scratch that - I don't plan on returning whether they start taking reservations or not!
(2)S A R A H.
I'm not sure what all the 4 star fuss is here. I went last night and was not overly impressed with the pizza choices. The most interesting ingredient/topping choice was sopprasetta? Where were all the interesting cheeses and flavors?! Mozzarella... come on? I expected more. We ordered the Arugula pizza and well it's more like Pizza with Arugula salad dumped on top of it. Yes, that's right. You get a pizza (good, but very average in flavors) and literally two large hand fulls of raw arugula dumped on top. No oils, no nothing... just a heaping pile of arugula. The hi-lite was the heirloom tomato app. which was delicious!!! It's just that the pizza left us scratching our heads wondering what the 4 star buzz is all about.
(3)angie w.
This is a hard one becuase the pizza here is incredible, the roasted vegetable plate to die for, and the salads amazing. However, the wait is a huge PITA (get there early or expect to wait in upwards of an hour or more to be seated) and the service was a bit on the snippy side, which didn't sit well with me. I am all about the service, therefore, whenever I go out to eat I expect good service with a smile, and you don't always get that at Ken's. Ken himself is the nicest guy, but his food servers (some of them, anyway) are lacking in that 'nice' kind of area. Hence... Ken's gets only 4 Stars from me because of the wait (and, no, they don't take reservations) and also because of the less than friendly (at times) service. But, Ooooooooooooo that pizza! YUM!!
(4)Yuri S.
Got referred to eat here from the girls across the street at Kalista Salon and Spa. Loved, loved, loved the pizza! I am an east coast girl who has been looking for her thin crust, flat bread for months! My only advise is to bring a snack or get a beer while you wait in line. If you're not there right at 5 when the doors open, you'll be waiting a LONG time for a table. I can see why it has such high ratings!
(4)Darren L.
Cheese lovers beware! Who ever heard of a pizza with a tiny bit of sauce and even less cheese. We spent $25 and left starving. I'm sorry but if that's what gourmet is, I'll stick to the normal, extra cheesy, full sauce pizza of less fancy places.
(2)kelsey p.
A long time ago, my good friend Rebecca K. (scroll down to see her unpleasant review) recounted to me the tale of her negative dining experience at a certain "Ken's Artisan Pizza", during which she and her friends encountered rude staff, unbearable wait time, and burnt food. Fast forward a few months. My girlfriends and I spot "Ken's Artisan Pizza", a buzzing little joint, as we leave Bamboo Sushi (yummy!) one drizzly PDX evening. We gaze longingly in through the warm windows at the happy faces chomping on pizza and guzzling down glasses of red wine, and immediately decide we must return ASAP. Fast forward to last night, after I suggest to my dad to we try this place out for our bi-monthly dinner date, and I FINALLY connect the dots and realize that this is the very Ken's Artisan Pizza Rebecca had warned me about. But I figure I may as well give the place a chance and try it out for myself, so our dinner date stands. From the moment I entered Ken's tonight, I had a lovely experience. After putting my name in, the hostess kindly let me know that they don't seat you until your entire party has arrived, but that I could wait in one of their three waiting areas. When my dad arrived, we were promptly seated (remember, this was at about 5:30 on a Thursday night--I've heard there's usually a much longer wait), and then greeted by the sweetest waitress ever. After being informed by our neighbor that you can't go wrong here, we ordered the caesar salad to share, a Fennel sausage pizza for the pops, and a *squash* pizza for me. Yes, squash. Our salad came very quickly, and was delicious--a totally classic caesar, and not too fishy. The pizzas were goooood, and the oversized "personal" size allowed for three take-home slices! The pizza was definitely cooked in a wood fire, so the edges were crisp, but not burned, by any means. Just a little... toasty! After dinner we couldn't resist splitting the lemon tart with marionberry sauce. And, boy oh boy was it worth it!! SO. GOOD. We agreed we each could've eaten our own, even after our meal. So I'll give this place a solid four stars, based on service and food. The only reason I'm not giving five is because, after eating here, I realized that I would choose to eat thicker (sadly, Americanized) pizza, over the thin, crisp, traditional kind. And that's totally opinion.
(4)Sarah L.
Hands down my favorite restaurant in Portland. Go get a glass of wine or a beer (Ken is always changing the beer list) and prepare to wait an hour. By the time you get your table, you will have likely had a glass of beer or two and you will be so hungry and happy you'll want to order everything. My favorite pizza here is the fennel sausage and onions. Ken, a retired tech guy, who opened Ken's Artisan Bakery a few years ago, is an amazing baker but also makes a phenomenal pizza. Great for date night!
(5)Kathleen B.
Apparently Ken knows his stuff. We finally made it out to the pizza line, and it was so worth the wait. On a Saturday night, we actually lucked out; we got a drink at a lean-bar at the back, and two spaces at the bar opened up within about 15 minutes so we sat there to enjoy our meal. We started with the roast vegetable plate, which was really different and very delicious. We ordered two pizzas, the fennel sausage onion is a must (and make sure to get the hot peppers!) It was really the best pizza I've ever had. We even splurged for dessert, and even that was excellent; we had a perfect pear crisp with hazelnut ice cream. Service was good, restaurant ambiance, including open kitchen and giant wood-fired stove, is awesome. This a a great date place, but clearly it is family friendly too, which is cool.
(5)rc c.
Being raised near Manhattan has made me a pizza snob. I appreciate the creative and unusual toppings, but there's only so much a Jersey Girl can take. After a while, the toppings disguise the dough, the absence of sauce makes it dry and tasteless, the bastardization of pizza needs to stop! I've heard and read about Kens and Apizza scholls, that they both were the best pizza in Portland. Yes, Ken's is good-craving good ole plain pizza, I like the margarita the best. I've had some funky cheeses out here that try to pass as fresh mozzerella, but this was the real deal. My only complaint was the "rules" there. I understand about not being able to seat partial parties. So the 3 out of 5 of us decided to wait at the bar, nope can't sit here b/c we're just lowly customers waiting for a table. It was only 5 pm, we were some of the first people in the place, no one else was waiting. Apparently unless you're eating your meal, you can't wait at the bar. You get to wait in the corner, at an awkward ledge near the bathroom-awesome. Finally we're seated, only b/c the hostess feels bad b/c she sat another party that was incomplete before us and we started to notice what was going on. We were told that our entire party has to order together and that if the person who was stuck in traffic, we have to order for them. As a former waitress, I can totally understand this rule....if we were the last table to be seated, but at 530? really? The rules are what make me hesitant to return, I wonder if they would deliver......
(3)Michael Z.
It truly pains me to write this update, as Ken's has been our favorite restaurant over the past few years. But my zero tolerance rule of bad attitude was violated this past Saturday. Here's the scenario. We had tickets to see a show at the Aladdin, which entails getting in line early since all seats are general admission. As we usually do before Aladdin shows we arrived at Ken's at 445 to be at the head of the line. When the four of us arrived, we were 2nd, behind a twosome. The doors swung open at 5 and we were taken to the communal table of ten. I asked "Mister Host" if we could be seated at 1 four top, since there were so many children in the lineup behind us. He says.."If you don't want to eat with children, don't come here at 5pm." Yikes!..60 seconds later he's back with a party of 6 including toddlers..he looks at me with the skunk eye as if to say "Take that asshole" As usual the food was great, but he must have told our server about the situation, because the party of 6 had their orders taken first.. they had their food on the table just as we were getting our beers. The service dragged on at a snail's pace.. we didn't get out until 645... The great show Marc Cohn put on at the Aladdin made up for a lousy start to the evening. While eating out, dirty stemware, or an undercooked steak might be an accident, but bad attitude is not an accident. Unfortunately Ken's is now on the "No-Fly" list.
(3)Jim S.
When we lived in PDX, we'd hit up Ken's every week. Sit at the bar, get an app and a few drinks, share a pizza, and bring one home for lunch the next day. I've had better pizza, but not on this continent.
(5)E. C.
Based on the reviews, if you want good pizza in Portland you have two choices, Apizza Scholls or Ken's Artisan Pizza. I've checked out Apizza Scholls, and now I've been to Ken's. My report, you can't go wrong with either. I'm not talking pizza nirvana, as I have yet to find it, but I am talking really good pizza. I have to draw a comparison between A & K because they both are making really good pizza, and both (based on the reviews) have a loyal following, the comparison is more on how they are different, not necessarily better, though right away, I'm going to say K's crust is better. K's crust is really good, I mean really good. I never eat the ends (watching those carbs don't you know), but couldn't help myself with K's ends. Its wood fired, and that seems to make all the difference. It was flavorful and the perfect texture, not too crispy (thin), and not too soft (thick). A's crust is very good too, but K's has the better flavor. K offers more of a diverse menu, so it's more like a restaurant than a pizza joint. I just read somewhere that the desserts are supposed to be great, but I did not have room for dessert. K offers a one size pizza. It's right at that size where it's hard to decide if you can eat it alone or with your companion. We opted for two pizzas, because my boyfriend has a pretty hefty appetite, and anyway, there's nothing wrong with taking some left over pizza home. We also split a salad. There service was friendly and attentive. Our waitress guessed correctly on how much pizza would be left if we order two when we quizzed her on how much one pizza could feed two people. She also made a good recommendation on a light wine for a hot day. K has a full bar, which you can sit at for dinner versus a table. We went with the basic Margherita for both, but spiced it up a bit having Arugula on one and black olives on the other. The Arugula is nice, and does add some spice to it, but they put way too much on, Arugula goes a long way, baby. In comparing toppings, I think A gives you more (not choices, but more on the pizza) and it may be of a slightly higher quality. I'm splitting hairs here now, because both pizzas are really good, but A beats K in toppings and flavor of sauce. K wins with the crust. K's is perfect for families and groups. K's interior is industrial with an open floor plan. You're in the kitchen with the cooks. The energy is high, as well as, the noise level. When I was there on an early Friday evening, there were lots of families with young kids. They have outside seating as well. We went during a heat wave, so did not want to sit outside, but on a nice day/evening it's a lovely setting. If you want a smaller, more intimate setting, A's is the place. A's is also more like a pizza place than K's. If you really like pizza, you should check out both at some point. Either way, they are both widely popular, so expect a wait or get there right before opening to secure a seat.
(4)Jason W.
My favorite place to go in Portland. Warm staff, always consistent, good beer choices. Oh, and some of the best calamari (not battered and fried) that I've had in a long time. Great salads & the roasted veggi starter is Awesome! They cook pizza just as I like it... well done. The wait can be a little long for some but come on, it is well worth the wait. An hour is nothing to the delights you'll offer your senses. Great place to bring friends. Oh, and a word about the wait... the staff is the greatest about this. They don't get flustered when someone complains or gruffs about it and they don't rush you out of the place if you want to enjoy your last bit of wine and chat a bit. If you haven't tried this place, you are missing something!!! Get there at 4:30 and wait! You'll be glad you did.
(5)terry r.
OK, so I'll be the one dissenting voice from the crowd. This restaurant gets my "emperor's new clothes" award. People flock there thinking they're getting amazing pizza, but I don't get it. Yes the dough is fantastic. But their toppings fall under the category of "less is less". Now I don't go for all kinds of goop on a pizza. I've had the real thing in Italy and it was incredible. No, it doesn't need tons of toppings, just simple, fresh, good ingredients. But I find there's just not enough anything to give it that oomph of flavor that a good pizza needs. I'd try it again, but I'm damned if I'm going to wait an hour with the rest of the lemmings...I know there must be another place to try in this town.
(2)Bronson J.
Our family starting trying to search out the best pizza in Portland. Every Saturday night, we would try someplace. We eventually bounced back and forth between Ken's and Apizza Scholls. It's close, but I give the nod to Ken's as best pizza in Portland. The dough in just perfect, the sauce light but rich in flavor, the topings in classic proportions. Their drink menu is good, especially the wine. Beer could be a bit more diverse. I wish they would add a porter, or other dark/sweeter option. Service has always been fast, polite, and very kind to our toddler.
(5)Jim S.
This is the most awesome pizza place on the planet! Wood fired, fresh made crust, artisan toppings. They even use Grana Padana cheese, which is a rarity in pizza places today. I sat at the bar and watched the pies being made and I can tell you that every pie was perfect. Would highly recommend. Prices are reasonable as well. It's a gem in Portland! Everyone debates between Apizza Scholls and Ken's regarding the best pizza in Portland. Our vote goes to Ken's!
(5)Edward J.
Best pizza I've had so far in Portland. Maybe I was so hungry when I finally got a table with six other friends. But man, that pizza is GOOD! The dough is chewy inside and crunchy on the outside. It is served HOT and not too greasy. It is not new york pizza, but its definitely got its characteristic. The dough is so good, I can't say anymore about it. The tomato sauce they put on top is also very light and not too sour. Just right. I love anchovies, so I got anchovies on the side to go with a vegetarian pizza. According to my meat eating friends, get the sliced ham pizza. I don't think its ham, but it looks like ham. It smells really good. Just prepare to wait! 'cause its really popular and GOOD. Like many Portland restaurants, they don't take reservation.
(5)Helene W.
When I want a good pie, Ken's is my calling! Local, artisan pizzas--- yummy! Very seasonal menu, which make the food all that more good to eat.
(5)D. B.
Viewing this as an entire dining experience, I must say this establishment is highly over-rated by most. The pizza itself, as wood-fired pies go, is fine but not outstanding. The atmosphere, however, I find intolerable. It's claustrophobic, and at least the times I've gone I've found the staff somewhat smug and condescending. Apizza Scholls is, after expansion, a much nicer venue with, in my opinion, a better product. Even Nostrana is a more desirable option. But if you're a line lemming, I guess this is the place to be seen eating pizza....
(2)Adam E.
Expect a wait to be seated, but with good reason. The pizza is among the best anywhere. It'd be hard to categorize it as any particular style other than its own. Great crust, tasty dough, and lots of good toppings. High ceilings and large open windows make it a great place to go on a warm, sunny evening. Prices are very reasonable given the quality and portions.
(5)Sara M.
One of my favorite places to eat! I love really thin crust pizza and this is the place to go for it. The Caesar salad is also a must!
(5)eric c.
The pizza (soppressata) and veggies were good, but the calamari is probably the best I've ever had. If I'm ever back in town, I'd come here again for the squid.
(4)John V.
Grabbed a quick bite while in the neighborhood. Margarita pizza came with a heaping pile of arugula--it was fantastic. Washed it down with some amazing wine (pinot). We were in a rush and they served us efficiently.
(5)avant de mourir ..
Be prepared to wait in line before the place even opens, but it'll be worth it. I ordered a kind of pizza I normally would not have, and loved it. I forget the name, but it was a spicy chile kind. Absolutely the best pizza. The staff and Ken were nice to me and my boyfriend, though maybe it was because I took his favorite seat in the whole place.
(5)sarah C.
Excellent Pizza Scorching Hot Yum. What more to say?
(4)David B.
Pizza doesn't get any better than this. Artfully prepared, and wood fired ovens get it perfect. Limited choices on pizza varieties, but we tried 3 different ones, and they were all excellent. The salads were superb too. The only negative is that too darn many people have discovered this wonderful place, and you have to wait a half hour or more to get a table on most nights.
(5)kate m.
I really like Ken's Pizza. I mean, it is seriously some of the best pizza I've had in Portland, if not anywhere. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The place has a great vibe, high ceilings and big windows but it's nice and cozy because of the big wood oven they cook the pizza in. It's the kind of place you just want to snuggle up with a glass of red wine and stuff yourself on some delicious pizza. And that's where they lose a star. Ken's is so popular that you feel rushed to eat drink and get out so they can put someone else in your spot to do the same. And the other problem is that some of the yummy deserts they serve would be SO GOOD warmed up but they can't because they only have the giant super hot wood burning oven and it would scorch the deserts (so the waitress said). If I could linger over a warm desert I would give Ken 5 stars in the time it takes to cook one of those fantastic pizzas (which isn't long!) Edited to add the 5th star on behalf of the super-nice servers that always bring us a glass of wine while we wait and because lately there have been lots of gelatos that are meant to be served cold!
(5)Maria C.
The wait was insane. Truly. We arrived at 6pm and still had to wait a solid hour. But we did it, because we knew our dinner would be ace-in-the-hole delish. And it was. It is that good. What was even more insane, however is this: our pizza took almost an hour to get to our table. The party who sat down next to us at the same time had their pizza 30 minutes earlier than we did. Our waiter seemed stressed for us, and kept checking on us to drown us in more water, but never offered an explanation as to what happened. By the time we got the pizza, we were exhausted from all the waiting. What would have saved the evening for us (and what would prompt me to give a 5-star rating, without hesitation), is if our waiter had at least offered to comp us a dessert. Something. Anything. Some acknowledgement for the fact that we had been incredibly patient to wait an hour to even sit at a table, and then put us through torture by forcing us into an even longer wait, would have been nice. Maybe there was a mix up? Who knows? All I'm saying is communicate, acknowledge, and comp something. By the time we were done, I was not in the mood to put a negative spin on the evening by complaining about it. I just wanted to go home.
(3)Wendy C.
The Wait. OH: THE WAIT. By the end of The Wait, Charming Boy Companion and I were leaning into each other, trying to stave off the hunger-inspired hallucinations by reciting the entire plots of movies we once saw. What were we thinking going to Ken's Artisan Pizza at 8pm on a Friday? Probably not much other than we were craving some quality pizza and were going to Ken's and were in for the long haul, dammit. 90 minutes later, we were seated and things sped along nicely. My rosso was a short pour in a big glass, but Charming Boy Companion was pretty tickled by his Mr. Pibb with unending refills. Salad Time, and I once again got the short end of the stick: The trout salad with its tasty marinated asparagus chunks was loads better than the very lite-ly dressed bag-o-greens house salad. But MAN, I would surely wait another 90 minutes for that amazingly burnt and bubbly pizza crust! Although the margherita - arugula combo had 10 times more arugula than necessary, the crust/sauce/cheese combo was impeccable. I would have eaten more if I hadn't had stuffed a pound of salad greens and arugula in my gob like a starving, hallucinating idiot. Next time at Ken's will surely be 5pm on a Tuesday or something.
(4)K V.
I measure all other pizzas by how they compare with Ken's. So delicious... Only downside is the absurd wait -- I've literally gone at 4:30 and seen the line go around the outside of the building before they opened the doors -- but even thats worth it!
(5)B E.
Love the pizza and service has never been a problem. Beer selection changes regularly it seems and they always have a nice variety. Need to have realistic expectations of the pizza going in though, for those who are expecting american style pizza dripping in cheese and sauce with crappy pepperoni on top, go to Dominos.. If you are looking for an artfully hand crafted slice of pizza with high quality ingredients and unique flavors look no further. Wait time can be long but the pizza is worth it.
(5)Randy D.
man, i love this place. it's a little pricey for the portions but the flavors make up for it big time. the proscuitto pizza is to die for. it's baked in a wood fire oven so the dough comes out perfect with the char at the ends of the crust. and they top the pizza after it's done baking which is totally the right way to do it. it just all comes out perfect. maybe the finest pizza i've ever had....
(5)Abe I.
Share a pizza and a bottle of wine for two in a cozy atmosphere. It always seems packed, but without a wait. The location is great, right on 28th on the eastside and you can watch them make the pizza and put them in the oven as it is all open. I would recommend this place to anyone!
(5)Carissa W.
The new Ken's is a SE pizza spot that is always packed. I've walked by at every hour between 5 and 9 and have never seen an open table. The pizza is worth it, too. The pizza oven and mostly open kitchen are fun distractions, and it's always entertaining to watch someone toss dough. Great atmosphere, as usual for Ken's, and a fun little upscale pizzeria.
(4)Ken A.
Ken Forkish, proprietor of Ken's Artisan Bakery recently opened this new pizza joint on the 28th Ave. restaurant row. This place rocks! It is not traditional pizza--it is pizza with a very thin crust, cooked in a wood-burning oven, with toppings like arugula, anchovies, or spicy soppressata. The appetizers and desserts are great too. Decor is simple and contemporary, very pleasant and light-filled. The service is competent but they are always very busy, so the wait staff is usually not very solicitous. The atmosphere is very lively, and can get a bit noisy, but not overly so. It is already very popular so get there early if you don't want to wait for a table!
(4)Peri P.
The wood fired thin crust pizza are truly unique at Ken's. There aren't a lot of choices, but if you are looking for a simple tasty pizza you will enjoy your meal. The pizzas are not filling, but they are one of the most flavorful pizzas I have add. The chilies and arugula toppings are my favorite. The place gets crowded fast though, so be prepared to wait for a while on a weekend evening.
(5)matt p.
this is hands down the best roman / neopolitan-style pizza i have had in north americam and is up there with the best pizza i've had in italy. it beats places like spacca napoli in chicago, and the best authentic italian places in nyc cold. it has and has great draft beers and a smooth selection of oregon wines to boot. the desserts are simple (fresh mixed berries with gelato, for example), but rock solid. as an added bonus, this is an incredibly kid-friendly restaurant (for those with families) that still retains a cool vibe. highly recommended - although if you are going on a weekend, expect lines.
(5)belly o.
Aaaaaah, Ken's... Truly one of my favorite places to eat in Portland. I know I will probably receive hate mail for this, but I like it better than Apizza Scholls. The crust, the sauce, the cheese, the salt served on the side, made by Tom's dad and the best salt EVER. If you don't understand how salt can be so good, taste a pinch on it's own next time you're there. It's salty, sweet, mineral-y, complex and somehow light. It's what angels put on their pretzels. Anyhoo, back to the pizza. I have loved every kind I've had there, except a seasonal squash one once where the squash dried out too much. My favorite is the margherita with arugula. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. It comes with a pile of fresh tender arugula towering regally in the middle of the pie like a princess might live in there. I have not found arugula of that caliber anywhere else. It is so flavorful and sweet, with none of the bitterness you often find in arugula. Mmmm...The ingredients that go into the pizza are so superb that such a simple slice of pizza can end up absolutely amazing. Even with sparse cheese, and I am a HUGE cheese fan. But the amount at Ken's is just perfect so as to be in balance with the other incredible flavors going on. Their wood roasted vegetable plate is always delicious, no matter the season. Each veggie is always perfectly cooked, never overdone. It's like magic. I have had some amazing salad dressings there and also their desserts are rich and delicious, although I don't have much of a sweet tooth. A glass (or two) of Prosecco really rounds the experience out for me. I love Prosecco. Who doesn't? The service is lovely and attentive but not ass-kisssing. I don't ever go on the weekend, because I hate waiting in line. For anything. Ken's is amazing. Go.
(5)Michelle P.
Ken's Artisan Pizza is one of the best pizza places in Portland. Its great. It usually has a long line out the door. Thats how good the pizza is!!! I love its thin crust and delicious toppings. Anyone who hasn't gone to Ken's Artisan Pizza needs to go.
(5)Dennis S.
You must be kidding. The place reminds me of the " Wendy's Commercial, Where is the Beef". We ordered the spicy lamb pizza and there were almost no topping ingredients. Maybe a hand full for the whole pizza. If you like Pizza dough this is the place to come. The lamb was ground up in very fine chunks less than an 1/8" and tasted salty. Since there were no topping ingredients, the dough was baked completely dry since nothing added to or held the moisture into the dough. Our pizza ended up tasting just like dried salty dough. And, to top off the ambiance they share a bathroom with the Bamboo Sushi restaurant next door. So after we both waited in line to use the restroom, the pizza came and got cold while one of us waited to go bathroom for 10 minutes. The waiter did offer us another pizza, and tried to make our experience right, but by then we were ready to leave. The price of $14.00 looked reasonable, but it was really only for the pizza dough. This is the place to go if you like dried out salty pizza dough, cold pizza, and 20 minute restroom lines (for 2 people). A BIG THUMBS down. Taste: Salty Pizza Dough, no ingredients. Not sure what all the rave is about!!!
(1)Tim F.
This place has a very pleasant vibe. From almost all area of the restaurant, you can see the big wood-burning oven. It's a great site, and it's cool to see the guys throwing the pizzas and making them right in front of you. I've tried all sorts of the pizzas here. The fennel sausage is probably my favorite and the cherry tomato; both of those have a great combination of savory and sweet. It's really hard to stop eating slice after slice. The dough is crispy and soft inside. It is sweet and has a perfect black char on the crust. I didn't enjoy the speck pizza too much; the meat was just not very good. I was hoping for something that had a little bit more fat and juiciness. Eating pizza while smelling the aroma of burnt dough and a wood fire is a must sometimes, so I will be back for more. Have been there 3 times now.
(4)Jennell K.
We ordered the Margherita pizza with a side of prosciutto and salami (per waitress recommendation). It was delicious!! The crunchy thin crust was perfect and the basil was generous! We also ordered a side of oven roasted vegetables that were great! The eggplant slices were thick and layered with an amazing marinara sauce, the potatoes were nicely cooked, and the corn was delicious! We needed some greens so we also added the bacon and peach salad. I would recommend that you get dressing on the side if you're like me and do not like your greens drenched. But the flavor was delicious and the bacon pieces were huge!! Overall, the service was amazing, the restaurant had a great feel to it, and the food was memorable!
(4)Avni B.
Came here for a late dinner on a weekend and luckily didn't have too long of a wait, grabbed a drink across the street while we were waiting and the timing ended up being perfect! The fennel sausage pizza was my favorite out of the two we ordered, the other one was a prosciutto arugula. I really enjoyed the crust!
(4)Adrienne H.
If Ken's isn't the best pizza I've ever had, it's runner up. I have been looking for pizza like this in Portland and I've finally found it. No, it's not NY style. It's better. All of the pizzas are interesting and the ingredients complement each other perfectly. The verde called out to me as soon as I saw the menu. I hate when pizza is overly cheesy, but this had the perfect amount of pecorino lightly sprinkled on top of the scallion pesto, summer squash and smoked, pickled jalapeños. Perfection. The ingredients were so obviously fresh and high quality. I died and went to pizza heaven. My boyfriend had the soppressata and was just as happy. As per usual on a pizza date, we got a side of pizza sauce for the crust and it was phenomenal- SO flavorful. Our server was fantastic, too. She not only catered to us, but also our dog, who we like to think is just as important. She had plenty of water the whole time and got tons of love from the staff. I don't know how I managed to be sat at Ken's with no wait, but I'm thrilled to have stumbled into this place. I'll most likely be bothering everyone I know to grab a pie here ASAP.
(5)Chris S.
Delicious super fresh-tasting pizza straight from the flaming oven in view across the room. The crust is perfection for a thinner crust style. The sauce is very flavorful (I really enjoyed their spicier arrabbiata sauce) and the mozzarella is a fresh as it comes. Nice, very open decor and when the weather is right they open the huge front window. This place lives up to the hype. There's a reason people line up outside before they open. It's worth it. I could murder one of their pies as I'm typing this. They win over Apizza Scholls in my book.
(5)Stella M.
Pretty cool pizza joint in Portland. Loved the interior of the place. Very modern/chic. Loved their wine selection. Their pizza was pretty tasty. I forgot what we ordered but it was a prosciutto pizza. Get their VEGETABLE PLATTER!!! I don't remember what was exactly on it since its been awhile since I was here but the platter comes w 3 different vegetable dishes. All I remember is thinking how good everything on the platter was. The service was good. Nomnom! Definitely recommend this place! :) PS. Their affogato was amazing!!!! Get it!!! Nomnom :)
(4)Rudrajit D.
Downright awesome pizza. The fennel sausage remains a favorite. Although the Speck (capicola based) is a close second, mostly because of the creamy mozzarella and potatoes. Terrific crust. If I had to nitpick, I'd say that it's not quite as thin crust as some others. But regardless, extremely tasty. Weekend nights will likely guarantee you 30+ min waiting time. But the wait will be worth it. :)
(5)Astha M.
Hands down the closest pizza to an authentic Italian Pizza. We come here every month.
(5)Elizabeth W.
I really like kens! The service is quick and the pizza is probably my favorite in portland.
(5)Nicole W.
Great atmosphere with awesome thin style pizza & the best blackberry cobbler my kids have ever tried, albeit the only one ever, but they ate it in silence which is basically a miracle. Window seat with a lovely breeze and a phenomenal glass of rosé. Can't ask for much more.
(4)Sara Q.
I believe the hype. We got here at 5pm on a Sunday and was amazingly able to get seated right away at the bar. It was much better than I thought it was going to be. The stools were nice and padded and there were hooks to hang umbrellas, coats purses etc. We got the Caesar, spicy salami and prosciutto. I loved it all! The Caesar: a little too seasoned with dressing for me, BUT the dressing was very tasty. ATTENTION! They use whole leaf romaine for their salad so make sure you are not going to be bothered by this notion before you order. The put a handful of thick Parmesan slices/crumbles and a handful of croutons on the salad as well. The croutons are super BOMB, loved it. I don't know if I could pick a favorite between the prosciutto and spicy salami, but I can tell you they were both tasty. I did the prosciutto with a side of arugula on top. It was delish. After the pizza comes out of the oven, the prosciutto is freshly sliced and placed on top the pizza, it's cut and topped with a handful of arugula and served. The freshness of this pizza was out of this world. The spicy salami was different in the sense that it wasn't particularly "fresh" but the quality (both pizzas actually) was out of this world. The salami was so flavorful .. My mouth is salivating! We were wanting to order the fennel sausage and onion or the pesto, but we will have to wait for next time. Great ambiance, wonderful employees. Will most definitely be back. I am SOO a believer.
(4)Roger M.
Ken was a James Beard (dubbed the Oscar's of Food) award finalist twice in 2013 as an outstanding pastry chef and for his cookbook "Flour Water Salt Yeast." Who knew? Ken knows bread! This must be great artisan pizza. Let's taste after I take a picture of two masterpiece looking pizzas out of the wood fired brick oven, made by a master mason. First bite, the crust is perfectly cooked (Ken knows his bread for sure). Good crunch! Second bite with all the ingredients was a rush too! We ordered 2 personal size pizzas, Napoli and Capicola. The menu looks great. The last bite after 4-5 slices was just as heavenly as the first. Stick a fork in me, I'm done! I've been to the PDX pizza mountain top--Ken's belongs with only a few other pizzeria's. It's all about the pizza! Service on-the-ball and ambiance casual! We arrived at 5:20 PM (doors open at 5 PM) on Monday. Already full--seats 60. We waited 45 minutes with an IPA in hand. No problem! When you do order, your pizza only takes 2 minutes cook-time in the hot wood fired oven. Worth a wait anytime--trust my reviews!
(5)Shannon L.
While the pizzas were delicious, I enjoyed the vegetable platter and Caesar salad the most. The vegetable platter has three different, well-prepared combinations. I would definitely get this again. The Caesar salad was a carefully placed pile of crunchy romaine with house made croutons and pecorino romano (?). So peppery and yummy. If you get the prosciutto pizza, be sure to add arugula because it serves as a nice balance. If you get anchovies, they will put about one sliver on each slice. Overall, the cured meats we had were great quality, thinly sliced, and not too salty. Service was lacking because after getting our food, we didn't see the server much and ended up getting assistance from another.
(4)Sara W.
After trying to decide where to go for some delicious pizza I finally settled on Ken's, and what a great decision it was! Got there a little after 7pm on a Sunday and really only had to wait about 5 minutes to be seated. It was busy, but not crazy. The restaurant itself is beautiful. Upon walking in you are greeted by the huge open wood fire oven with the pizza masters meticulously making all of the glorious pies Ken's has to offer. All of the tables are wood, and the wood is from an old roller coaster that used to be in Jantzen Beach! How cool is that?! Once my friend and I were seated our server promptly greeted us and took our drink order. They have a great selection of northwest wines by the bottle and half bottle, and a few you can get by the glass. My friend and I split a Caesar salad (it was huge!) as well as the prosciutto pizza! And let me say: YUM!! First of all the crust: chewy and delicious with the appropriate black spots you want to see on it from a wood fired oven. The prosciutto was smokey and you get a lot of it! The basil was a nice complete as well as the fresh mozzarella. Overall Ken's is a great little place to get some delicious pizza. Friendly staff and great food! I will definitely be back again.
(4)Michael C.
You can't beat prosciutto on a margherita pizza cooked in a wood fire oven. There is no other way to cook a pizza and Ken's does it right. We waited awhile (about an hour) and there isn't a ton of space to stand inside. But they had told us the wait would be an hour and they were spot on. Not tons of parking, but that's standard with any place in SE. We got the Caesar Salad, vegetable platter, prisciutto and margherita. Each pizza feeds about 1-2 (I had my own and finished it no problem). And so far this has been my favorite pizza in Portland, above Apizza scholls (also very good)--mostly because of the wood fire oven. Servers were quick, nice, and prompt with refills. They gave some good recommendations and we didn't feel rushed even in a full restaurant. I'll be back
(5)Alexis C.
The pizza is great. The people are great. Everything is great. I ordered the margarita and arugula and the fennel sausage and onion pizzas. Perfect. I bring visitors here all the time and they always think the food is amazing. I love itttttt
(5)Mike C.
I had the Napoli being a big fan of the Buffalo mozzarella, and the artisan bread. While I enjoyed the bread very much, I found that they really ripped you of on the amount of sauce and cheese they give you, and for 18 dollars for a small to medium size pizza I thought it was a little high. My server Laura was really nice, but she asked me several times if was done with my meal. I know I only had pizza crust left, but I was trying to savor the only part that was really good. I thought it was a little pushy of her to rush me thru my meal so they could have an open seat. I believe this place is a lot of hype because it's different and trendy.
(2)Amber T.
Such a cozy place with good pizza! When entering the restaurant, the first thing you see is a huge oven with all the pizza makers at work. It's really nice that you can see them making pizza right in front of you! Unfortunately we came on a Saturday night, so the wait was quite long. We had to sit in the back until we got our seats. But once we got our table, I had a clear view to watch them throwing the dough in the air and putting pies in the oven. It was really neat! The waiter was nice enough to bring us bread on the house, since the wait for our pizzas were so long since they were busy. The calamari appetizer was really good, slightly spicy with red sauce. We ordered four pizzas: Proscuitto, Mushroom, Margherita w/ arugula, and Fennel seed pizza. The fennel seed pizza was just okay to me, tasted pizza like that before. But the proscuitto, mushroom and margherita w/arugula were a bit original which was nice. The Proscuitto had a thin layer of proscuitto on the pie, which did not over power the pizza flavor but complemented it. The Mushroom pizza had several different mushrooms which were really good. But the Margherita w/arugula pizza was my favorite! I only like arugula on pizza, and the flavor really complimented the margherita pizza. What I liked was the extra salt on the pizza, which was nice! Besides the long wait, the pizza is very good. Worth the wait, do try here!
(4)Peter C.
Great pizza. It's the crust! Incredible value. Roasted vegetable plate was awesome. Highly recommend this place!
(5)Phuong H.
Came exactly when they are about to open at 5 PM. Still had lines but hey its Kens Artisans Pizza! Sat down immediately and ordered the ceasar salad x2, always order the ceasar salad! You'll love it. Arugula pizza is our favorite, never once had to ask for water or soda refills, the waitress was on point! Great place to come for excellent wood fire pizza, if you can beat the line.
(5)CecilHillcrest W.
Need a casual and relaxed spot to enjoy wood-fired pizza? This is the place! The crust is flakey and toppings are top notch! Depending on how busy they are,It takes just a few minutes for a takeout order. The prices are decent compared to how good and delicious these pies are. Can't wait to try the sausage and fennel pie! Woo-hoo!
(5)Mad Max R.
Ive been hearing a lot about KAP, and have been wanting to take a crack at it. My BBQing plans got kiboshed this past sunday (stupid rain) so my buddy and I went for it. So if you've seen my other reviews then you know Im a straight up die hard NY style pizza enthusiast. Ken's is not that. That doesn't mean it isn't good...just different. Ken's name says it all: 'artisan' style. Which means there are some toppings that can be a little 'froofy' in a gourmet kind of way. Beers on tap were only 4 deep but they had like 5 billion kinds of wine. We were the only ones I saw drinking beer (they had Occidental's maibock which is delish)...so make a mental note of that too. That's not a bad thing, but just recalibrate your expectations. The sausage had some different spices going on than your normal spicy Italian. The sauce was good but seemed likewise differently spiced than what Im used to. The fresh Italian chiles and the dry cured olives were off the chain thought, and the crust is dialed in. Service is very good too. So while for my tastes, Apizza Scholls has nothing to fear, Ken's still does what they do very well.
(3)Ziyan C.
Nicely done pizza. Cozy, relaxing vibe that could also be romantic for a date. Their pizzas are a good quality thin-crust, with a fluffy outer crust, all of it crisped just that tiny delicate bit to give it a bit of a bite. I can't vouch for their desserts though, so just stick to the pizzas and you'll be good! THE WAIT: None for four on a Sunday night around 7pm. THE SERVICE: Great at explaining the pizzas & making recommendations. He really sold the dessert too thought, which ended up being a huge dissapointment. MUST-HAVES: For me, the Squash! I don't usually go out of my way to order pizzas with sweeter toppings, but this stood out as one of the better ones I've had. * Fennel Sausage & Onions: tomato sauce, mozzarella, sausage, roasted onions, basil, w/ calabrian chiles ($15) - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/kens… Not as spicy as it was sold to be, but still good! The sausage was definitely on the soft side, and this was a great start to the meal. * Squash: roasted tomato sauce, roasted squash, leeks, goat cheese, sage & garlic ($15) - 4.5 stars pic (we added arugula): yelp.com/biz_photos/kens… Once again, my fave of the night. I think it would've been great either way with our without the arugula. But the thing I liked best was the squash itself, which was sliced thin rather than your usual cubes. I realized that this spreads out the flavor of the squash more evenly, and this one especially had just enough sweetness to add some oomph to the pizza without it being overwhelming. That balanced with the every-so-often "ooh! goat cheese!" was fantastic. * Anchovy: tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil, Prosciutto di San Daniele ($15) - 4 stars pic (we added bacon): yelp.com/biz_photos/kens… A great addition to our meal as the "salty" one: anchovies + bacon make for a very salty pizza! It was a good combination with our other orders, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend getting this specific pizza all on its own unless you have a definite salty-tooth. * Side of mushrooms - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/kens… Thinly sliced, crisped lightly, and not too much of that overwhelming mushroom flavor! Good to sprinkle on to any of our pizzas, or just to nibble on as a snack. * Warm pumpkin cake & cream cheese icing, candied pecans, red grape juice reduction ($8) - 2.5 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/kens… Ugh, I wish we'd stopped at the pizzas! Our server loved this dish and I have a weakness for anything pumpkin. But the cake was very dry, the pecans lackluster, and the reduction way too watery and just kind of weird tasting (a sweet cream with a strangely tart grape flavor. I like tart mixed with sweet when it works, but this definitely didn't work). Menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/kens…
(4)Susan C.
Really awesome thin crust pizza. Ordered the New Yorker. Just the right balance of Flavors. Accompanying that was their ceasar salad. Great attention to detail. Quick and friendly service. Tip: parking is at a premium. Carpool or walk a few blocks. Also, your entire party must be present in order to be seated.
(5)Lawrence W.
Wonderful pizza joint. Hip, friendly waitresses... Very good-looking! Food even better. Caesar salad was tasty. Pizza was scrumptious with a healthy dose of arugula. Afogato was oh-so-tasty! Fabulously done!
(5)Chuck C.
Like other reviewers plan ahead for the line. I was able to avoid waiting as I dined alone at the bar. I had the Soppressata, I would highly recommend. I will be back next time I'm in PDX
(4)Debbie L.
I waited a long time to eat pizza at Ken's. It was delicious!! Great atmosphere and I am a pizza freak and truly enjoyed every part of my experience today. I highly recommend Ken's Artisan Pizza to anyone that really loves pizza. Their salads looked amazing too.
(5)Julie B.
Kens was my first Portland restaurant and it was quite the experience. The food was fantastic, but the staff is what really left a huge impression on me. My best friend moved to Portland 4 years ago and this was the first time I was able to visit her, in fact I hadn't seen her at all in nearly a year. We went to Kens with her mom and my mom to have a nice casual dinner. We got two pizzas, a salad, and a bottle of wine. As we were finishing up our last sips of wine and catching up on each other's lives, a woman waiting for a table approached us with a nasty attitude - "Haven't you ladies finished your meal? I'm here with my party and the staff won't seat us because there's no tables available. Do you mind....". Another waitress stepped in front of her and politely requested her not to harass "our" customers. Our own waitress came up apologizing up and down, telling us to stay as long as we'd like. Even the cook in the back gave us a look as to say "bitches be crazy - don't worry about it". Looking back, we probably did overstay our welcome, but the staff never pushed us to leave and in fact made us feel quite welcome. Tip your servers people, they deal with a lot of BS in this industry. Everyone from the wait staff to kitchen staff were TOP NOTCH!!!!!! Definitely recommend this restaurant to folks wanting a delicious pizza (salami was YUMMY) in a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere.
(5)Kimmy C.
I was driving around portland trying to find a great place to eat to scratch my itch...lo and behold...i found my scratcher. Ken ArtisansPizza is right next to the bakery that is also amazing, but that will be another review. We went inside and saw that the wait was over 40 minutes but it was well worth it. Let me give you a synopsis of my wait and how i got hungry to complete "hangry." 10 Minutes - I saw an order of Calamari and Magherita pizza. 20 Minutes: I saw an order of the Prosciutto blanketed pizza. 25 Minutes: i had to smell the Fennel sausage and caramelized onion and Soppressata Pizza pass me by. My level of hangry was so high that i had to walk outside for a bit. I came back in at 35 minutes and also saw three more meals go by. Thankfully at 40 minutes, my number was called and I was seated. You know those moments in life where you regret but you you keep doing it still....well i have a moment here. My mom asked me what i wanted to order, i think i gave her the evil eye because I was so hangry. I immediately ordered two appetizers, three pizzas, and dessert for my family, who don't really like to eat pizza. All things said.. i ended up eating everything up and we did not have any leftovers. My hangry turned into food coma...and it was the worst drive home...:-D. Will i make the mistake again?...Yes Please! The food here is freshly cooked and made with TLC. You guys can read the rest of the reviews, but you should try it and be amazed by the quality and the overwhelming taste.
(4)Vi B.
I'm beginning to think I'm a glutton for punishment. Why? I hate standing in line, but I keep going to these places where I have to stand in line. Ken's is definitely the kind of place you should expect to do this. They don't take reservations and you're pretty much guaranteed a long wait to eat. So my main tip is to go when you're moderately hungry, not starving. Otherwise you will be pretty hangry (hungry + angry) by the time you sit down. Still, the food & vibe are pretty cool (& yes, worth it). It's all wood inside, with exposed beams, a long bar, lots of tables smushed together, and an open kitchen where you can see a wood-fire oven and your chefs arranging your dishes. I always have the Caesar salad (you'd think I'd get tired eating the same thing every time, but I don't) and a pizza. This time I had the Margherita - really simple, fresh basil, fragrant ingredients... yum. Add a beer and your night will be molto bene! I don't know Ken, but if he's real, I want to meet him, shake his hand, and split a pie.
(5)Caden R.
Last night was the second time I've been here and I just have to write a review. This place is DELICIOUS! It's really busy, we had a party of 5 and had to wait an hour. Also, parking is pretty scarce so be prepared to walk a few blocks. The Caesar salad is perfect and the house-made croutons are crispy delights. I got the Margherita pizza. It could be split for two people, but it's so good that a half won't be enough. The crust is perfectly crispy and the flavor it gets from the wood burning stove in unmatched. My favorite part though, has to be the sauce. It tastes so fresh and almost has a hint of citrus to really bring it all together. The vegetable platter was also very delicious. Service was great, the pizzas got to our table quickly and our drinks were always full. This is one that is near the top of my list!
(5)Sudipto G.
Not a big pizza fan in general, but Ken's is something special. I've had wood fired pizza's in Rome, so my bar is set pretty high. These guys got very very close to it I must say. The atmosphere is great, service impeccable and friendly. I got the fennel sausage and onion pizza as well as the sopressetta and both of them were crispy slices of deliciousness. Oh and before I forget, top off the meal with one of their desserts, we got the warm bread pudding with cinnamon cream.. heavenly!! Will be back!
(5)Jez D.
Excellent pizza and super fast service! Tons of great flavors. We got a margarita pizza and the sauce was a burst of flavor with a mildest hint of heat. The cheese was a good complement, and the basil was fresh and fragrant. Our pizza was served very fast and was hot from the oven. This was a very enjoyable dining experience.
(5)Nick B.
Few pizza places in the United States so closely resemble authentic Italian pizza like Ken's. This is on our top 5 restaurants in Portland- great for groups, good prices and the food is ALWAYS fantastic. Pizza, salad and beer = perfect night out. I don't give out 5 stars often but no question, they deserve it.
(5)Jess P.
Monday night I found myself in Pizza heaven: no wait to be seated (this is an unusual and slightly miraculous occurrence), a full glass of wine, and an amazingly delicious pizza. You know Ken's is good; you've heard that everywhere. It's actually just a pizza fact, and I'm absolutely not here to discount what's proven and true. The pie is thin crusted, the kind that sort of droops in the middle if you were to pick up a slice. I use knife and fork to begin with, and at crusts' end I switch back to hands. The crust is stupid good. I found myself closing my eyes in pizza-ecstasy with every bite. I could have drank a vat of the tomato sauce alone with its perfect melding of sweet and savory. I chose the olive pie-- the olives were great quality, with tons of flavor and skin blistered from the heat of the oven. Everything was perfectly done, and eating was a blissful experience. Besides the pizza, I also got the oven roasted vegetables as an appetizer to split. All of the vegetable dishes were executed very well, and it was a decent sized portion. For dessert, I tried both the affogato and the maple custard. The affogato is my heart's dessert, and I fell head over heels for this one (cinnamon ice cream with espresso...yeaaaaah). As for the maple custard, I usually shy away from maple anything because of fear of uber-sweetness. I was happily surprised that the maple custard is packed with flavor without being sickly sweet. I'd highly recommend either dessert. Lastly-- the wine. Here, and only here, was I momentarily disappointed. One of the reasons I picked Ken's was because I heard they boasted a large by-the-glass wine selection. However, when I turned to the reds section, I was a bit dismayed. There was only 4-5 options. Now I suppose they offer other glasses besides red (who'd order those, I've no idea), but I still wish they had a bit more to offer. Of course, they have a ton of bottles to choose from, but I wasn't quite prepared to tackle an entire bottle (and if its placed in front of me, tackle I will). My disappointment was short-lasting. The nebbiolo transported me right back to those pearly pizza gates. Ken's is really good. I'm talking Portland-Pizza-Top-Three good. And that's saying something.
(5)Jenni L.
Ken's makes a solid pie. I joined two friends one night for a fennel sausage, onion, and Calibrian red chili pie and it was really good. Service was great and I appreciated that they set a spot for me when I dropped in on the other two at the last minute. The only downside is that they only serve beer and wine. I enjoy beer and wine, but it's kind of a bummer when you are in the mood for a cocktail. Someone suggested that we go to Ken's the other night and I vetoed it, not because the food isn't good, but because I really just wanted a martini. I'm sure I'll be back more often in the summer months.
(3)Patty K.
When in Portland, one must stop at Ken's Artisan Pizza for one of their Fennel Sausage & Caramelized Onion Pizzas! The combination of the sweet onions, aromatic basil & fennel, spicy red peppers and salty, meaty goodness of the sausage was a treat my tastebuds wish they could experience again and again! I've always had to wait at least 20 mins-1 hour to be seated, but that's just a part of Portland dining. Wait it out, the food will not disappoint!
(5)Nidhi T.
Wood-fired oven baked pizza?! Heck-yea! That's how I like my pizzas. Really wonderfully done here though. Husband and I shared one pizza and an appetizer and that was more than we could eat. Waiting to come back to try more. The roasted vegetable plate appetizer was the winner though. Mmm.. so delicious. They had 3 different veg combinations listed on the menu and we just couldn't decide which one to pick. But then the server told us that they serve all three. Score! It was so darn good... each veg combo was well thought out. Will surely come back!
(4)Cait O.
Pizza is great and is most of the staff. The hostess had an unfortunate attitude and when I asked, 'can I sit at the bar or are those seats reserved?' She snipped 'one second!' And walked away.
(4)Ruby T.
It's Friday night, and I'm out with my girlfriends! Where to go?? We were three girls who just wanted some amazing pizza! This was my first time here, and have to say two thumbs up! The salad was so good, we couldn't stop raving about it. Then the pizza came, and oh heavenly! It's like a little piece of Italy was dropped in our table! Our server was very friend and quite attentive as well (A+ for service)! My friend just recently celebrated her birthday, and once we told our server about it. He came back with some gelato with a lit candle on top! I definitely will be coming back to this spot!
(4)Kevin K.
Dear Portland, Ken's was near-empty Monday at 5:15 and only 2/3 full during the dinner hour--we got lucky! (but you helped us out like this so many times). Breezy and bright, the dangling lights sway through Spring as the sunlight pours through the large open windows at the front of the room. The back's cramped next to all the wood stacks, but Ken's is tranquil, even "chill". And so is the service. In fact Ken's has --the best-- service of all your restaurants. We lost count of how many of your servers said "Little Bird.. what's that? Belmont Station.. where?" Not Ken's. They provided awesome recommendations to us tourists for all over you, even including geology stops on the coast. They charged my phone behind the bar and let us chill even after paying so I could get into green. In terms of pizza, "fresh" is an understatement; it was one person's job to cut green garlic the entire 45 minutes we were there, non-stop. The nettles pizza was incredibly bright if confusing, the pizza texture too active--think well lemoned spinach. The bacon pizza? MY GOD. Apologies for listing eating accolades, but I've done DiFara's in Brooklyn, Lou Malnati's in Chicago, and Nomad in Philly. I've done Apizza Scholls too. Ken's is better Neapolitan than even Menomale in DC. Amazing crust, lightly smoky from the ample char. Amazing cheese, perfect amount and distro. Sauce ultra-bright with acidity, counters the salty bacon with precision. Portland, I give you the pizza salute. We did 40+ of your best according to Yelp. That bacon pizza puts Ken's in your top 3. Thank you! Sincerely, Indebted pizza lover Note: some yelpers need one of two things.. 1) the thorny branch removed from their whiny-ass.To those that write a 2 or 3 star review of Ken's pizza while admitting "I don't eat dairy" or "I just wanted a cocktail".. grow up. You belong on the spaceship from Wall-E where the robots do everything for the humans. 2) experience. Neapolitan pizza gets mushy in the middle. The crust gets "burnt". Get out more often.
(5)Marie P.
I was on vacation in Portland and craving really good pizza... I had heard about Apizza Scholls and set about getting there, only as I drove by looking for parking, I kinda got a 'eh' feeling about the surrounding establishments and somehow that turned me completely off to apizza. I'll have to go back and try it to be fair, just not this trip. Anyhow, Ken's Artisan was also highly recommended and so I plugged that into the gps... only to end up at Ken's Artisan Bakery... which closed upon our arrival. Feeling somewhat defeated (mostly hungry, cranky, almost hungry) I figured third time is the charm so I entered Ken's Artisan Pizza into maps and crosstown we went. We (my sister and I) finally got there at 7:30p on a friday evening. The place was packed, save for a table for two by the window. PERFECT. The ambiance, even the woood-fired oven welcomed us and our moods totally changed as we settled in. We ordered calamari, salad and a soppressatta pizza to share- should have ordered another pizza for later because it was sooo sooo soo good! The food was amazing and really fresh! Please check out the photos of our dinner, I know they don't do it much justice, but ha, they've got to be some sort of indication.The food at Ken's is so good! And you bet that we cleaned up each plate... each morsel was super delicious and not to be wasted!
(5)Katherine C.
My favorite wood fired oven pizza place in Portland, Ken's blows Apizza Scholls out of the water. Creative pizzas baked to profession with delicious non-pizza menu items, you can't go wrong. Be prepared to wait for a table!
(5)Cindy T.
Cute pizza joint nestled in a semi-residential neighborhood with a hipster atmosphere. It's a small restaurant so expect a long wait when coming during peak hours. We had a large group so ended up waiting 45 minutes to an hour. The weather was really nice so that made up for the wait time. It's also strictly street parking here as well so you'll have to park along the street somewhere. We ordered the calamari. It is not breaded or fried just so you know. Still delicious though! As for the pizza, we ordered the mushroom pizza and added sausages on it. The pizza was good but not out of this world amazing to me. However, their craft is commendable. FYI, they don't have pepperoni. The whole waitstaff was super friendly and service was wonderful. As for the pizza, it's good but still doesn't compare to Grimaldi's in NYC.
(4)Nicole B.
Typically a wait, for great Portland restaurants. Ken's wait, on a weekday night was about 25 minutes. We were sat in the corner, which was fantastic.If we got sat elsewhere, I would probably feel a little claustrophobic, as the tables are a little close together. We started off with drinks, an appy and shared the margherita pizza. Which was perfect for the two of us. The pizza was simple yet delicious. Perfect place for date night.
(4)Chels J.
Even though this is thin crust pizza (thick crust lover here), Ken's crust is to-die for! Tried the margherita with arugula, and hours later I'm still talking about how great the crust was and how wonderfully gooey the mozzarella was! Sat at the bar and could see pizzas behind me coming out of the oven. I have my eye on the chanterelle mushroom pizza for next time! The greens salad was pretty tasty. Can't go wrong with pickled things on a salad! Staff was friendly enough - had three different people ask if we wanted drinks while waiting outside.
(5)Annie C.
Num Num Num. I love a good margarita pizza! Read Ken's book...totally an inspiration for any bread baker.
(5)Aeric E.
Great pizza with seasonal choices and interesting recipes. We tried the veggie plate (it's on a rotation) and the primavera pizza. Great choices!
(5)Jessica S.
**Amy & Claire, this one is for you...** As the self proclaimed pizza aficionado, my counterpart and I ventured here for dinner last night. Fearful we were, because the place looked packed to the brim. However, we didn't have to wait - go figure?! We had a lovely table, with a small lit candle, by a window. FYI, we arrived a little after 7 p.m. and left a little before 8 (and yes, by this time there was a long wait, a piece of me felt giddy on the inside...queue the evil laugh, muahaha...) Now let's get down to business. Service, kinda lame if you ask me. When I go out to eat, despite the place and or location I like to feel taken care of and this not the case, hence no 5 stars. All in all, 3 stars for service. Ok, now the food, overall 4 stars. Call me crazy, but I actually like it when my pizza is a little burnt around the edges, but dayuum I wasn't expecting it to be this charred. It was still great nonetheless, but I can totally see how others would not appreciate their pizza overdone like this. I ordered the New Yorker - tomato sauce (which is delectable and full of flavor, yay!), provolone cheese, and oregano. My better half had the Margherita with arugula. Out of the two, the Marghertia with arugula is where it's at! It is so full of flavor, especially with the basil and various herbs and spices. Mine; while it was tasty, the only thing that really stood out was the provolone. Now, if these two pizzas magically conceived a pizza baby...that would be the epitome of the perfect pizza. So, would I come back? Been there done that, on to the next.
(4)Ben T.
Small location but the pizza is great. Toppings are fresh and local. Crust is nearly perfect, with a great chewy fire baked crust. Make sure to be ready to wait if you go at peak times. It's worth it though.
(5)Jacob G.
I've been a fan of wood oven pizza for a while and this place is really on top of things. After waiting an hour for a seat, I was hoping that it would be worth the wait- it sure was, my friend. The pizza is thin crust, sure, but it's good crust despite the burny parts. Their pizzas are pretty simple, but they are sure tasty. I probably should have got their earlier, but oh well. Next time.
(5)Brad S.
Great place to eat dinner. A little tricky to get a big table - but always something at the bar, or for a small party of two. Authentic, Organic and always good to eat.
(5)Tani S.
So similar to some reviewers and eerily similar to Rebecca K's review from a year ago, I also found the hostess curt (as she described) and almost rude. I simply asked for an estimate of wait time and she looked at me strangely (even though I could have sworn she had told the people in front of me a time). After the bad experience, I was quite ready to leave but pizza is best for our two year old (as opposed to the sushi place next door) so we stayed. The hostess incidentally did become warmer stopping by to take our drink order, offer us water, and seating us rather quickly (only about 20 minutes later on a Saturday night). She also had kindly laid out crayons and paper for our two year old making our daughter an instant fan. We were really impressed with the food... We love the artisan pizza places that we had tried in Seattle (Tom Douglas' Serious Pie and Columbia City's Tutta Bella) so didn't quite know what to expect but both the fennel sausage pizza as well as the squash, zucchini, ricotta pizza were delectable (I particularly liked the latter, it felt so light and tasted of summer...I've never tasted squash so sweet!). Our two year old approved as well! I'd venture this place was as good as our Seattle faves if not a little better. We really liked the calamari appetizer as well which grilled was a refreshing departure from the normal fried calamari appetizer. We will be heading back...and the rest of the waitstaff and even the hostess did make us feel quite comfortable at home in the cozy interior.
(5)Newman A.
Portland is lucky to have this and Apizza Scholls, most cities don't have *one* pizza place of their caliber. I go back and forth between the two places, and find they perfectly complement each other. If they had personalities, I'd say that Ken's is a bit more "delicate" and high strung than Apizza Scholls. If Apizza Scholls was started by a laidback Italian outdoorsman, Ken's was started by his younger librarian brother. Apizza Scholls is straightforward, simple, perfect pizza - if you could boil down pizza to a succinct drop of flavor, this is what it'd be like. Ken's has a bit more personality, and while it has solid basics, dabbles in more exotic ingredients and combinations. Normally the wait here isn't *quite* as bad as Apizza Scholls, the atmosphere is a bit more calm - and so the choice between the two comes down to mood. Apizza Scholls is a long, lazy boat ride through Old Italy, Ken's Artisan is a stroll through the local outdoor markets, and maybe a stop at the Armani store. If you like pizza at all, you'd have to be insane to not try both of these places.
(5)Af R.
Often crowded but great pizza and salads too. It's nice cause you can get an individual pie vs. one large pie at other spots.
(4)Tim G.
I like a pizza Margherita from time-to-time, and I like take-out. Unfortunately, some un-named pizza restaurants in Portland refuse to accommodate take-outs. So, we go to Ken's because they allow take-outs; the crust is tasty; you can get arugula, a perfect Margherita topping; and even when they're busying, they don't make you wait too long for your order.
(5)Nathan Y.
I came here with one question in mind: Is this the best pizza in Portland? I've tried nearly every "gourmet" pie shop in town (it's been hard to keep up the last few years), and nothing has come close to Apizza Scholls. On Yelp it's now old hat to diss on it as nothing special--because if it's not new, or really old, or otherwise unknown, it can't be that great--but every time I take my first bit there my only thought is, "Why do I keep holding out for someone to top this? Is such a thing possible?" So that's my bias. Ken's was my last hope for at least a challenger, and that hope is now dead, or at least dormant. This is not to say that Ken's makes so-so pizza--it's excellent. But mine was undercooked by about 20-30 seconds (which is significant for ~3 min total time), with barely a browned spot on the cornicione and the bottom (classic neapolitan crust is supposed to have surface-charred spots on exposed areas; it's adds a ton of flavor). To their credit, my companion's was basically perfect, but I've not seen this much variation among the 20+ pies I've shared at Apizza. The crust on both Ken's pies had great texture inside and out, and great flavor, but Apizza crust (which I sampled again the very next day) was easily better on both counts. I would also rate the oil/sauce and cheese on the Ken's pies as just slightly less stellar than Apizza, but I didn't compare every option, so they might be on par in that respect. Ditto for toppings. The decor and atmosphere at Ken's is better, I would say (largely to the pizza oven placed prominently in the center), and the service was on par, although the waitstaff at Apizza shows more interest in telling you about the pies. But for me, the decor and service are peripheral concerns, and even the menu options are merely a matter of personal taste. The dough, sauce, and cheese are the main event. By that criteria, Ken's was really good, and I was expecting it to be near as makes no difference to Apizza, but the latter was clearly better, from first bite to last, in every fundamental respect. Ken's is great. You should definitely go. But Apizza is, to me, clearly the best gourmet neapolitan pizza in Portland, regardless of what the haters and cynics and hype slaves say. PS: Due to reduced hype over the last few years, the wait at Apizza is not nearly what it used to be on most nights. The wait at Ken's was negligibly longer the night I went.
(4)Kristin D.
yes, yes, YES! the pizza is sooooooo perfect. I love the size of the pies, the fresh ingredients/toppings, the space and setup of the restaurant... everything was excellent - 5 stars! we had the proscutto pizza and arugula pizza... yummmm. next time i will try some of the starters. we got there at 5:20 and still had to wait over 30 min, but it was soo worth it. even after eating the equivalent of a whole pizza, i didn't feel disgusting - it doesn't leave you feeling greasy or weighed down.
(5)Trina M.
This place is awesome! Got back from Portland yesterday and I am already missing this place! The calamari over their artisan bread is so good! We got 3 different pizzas, a margherita, Soppressatta, and Fennel sausage. The pizza crust is super thin and a light coating of cheese which I don't mind. Wash it down with a pint of IPA and your good to go! Also got a super delish dessert with banana gelato and almond cookies, YUM! Another plus, my leftovers were even yummy cold and out of the foil! I would definitely come back here again next time around in Portland. Definitely worth the wait.
(5)Roy C.
Dear Mathew P. and Bella C., I just wanted to write a quick note to thank you for joining me on the first stop of our ambitious, yet well planned, Pizza Tour. Ken's was a great first choice, especially considering that none of us had been here before. I think we can all agree that we have been missing out. I am so glad that Bella C. decided to order that amazing spinach and prosciutto salad. Given the fact that I have an aversion to vinegar, I came close to refusing her offer to share it, but it simply looked too good not to try. Oh, that spinach was lovely and the saltiness of the prosciutto added a nice counter balance to the sweetness of the dressing. Do you realize we had prosciutto with every course? The apple butter and prosciutto was also very good, although I could have used less apple butter. Luckily there was plenty of salty, thinly sliced and delicate prosciutto piled on those things. But, oh, the pizza. I would have to say it is the best I have tried in the Northwest and, indeed, better than most I have enjoyed over the years in California, New York, and elsewhere. Although, different, I am not sure if I can say I like Ken's or Casa Bianca in Pasadena better, but I can now say that Ken's easily makes my all-time top 5 worldwide. We were not crazy ordering three pizzas for three of us, were we? We handled them all. But of course, our selections made it easy to finish all three pies. We had the prosciutto pizza which, was fantastic, with a handsome amount of that same thinly slice prosciutto from the appetizer. See? Three prosciutto dishes. We could not resist the fennel sausage and onions. So simple, yet, bursting with flavor. Add a bit of the glorious salt they provided and it makes the flavor punch you in the mouth. And then there was the soprassata. That spicy (but not too spicy) salami and basil combination really did it for me. It was the first slice I went for and the last one I saved for the final attack. This stuff was phenomenal. Dare I say, divine. But, come on you two. How can we pick a favorite? Luckily the three were variations on a theme since they all start with a solid foundation: A beautifully thin and delicate crust that had a near perfect texture and taste. All three had a wonderful sauce that had just the right amount of herbs and spices to make themselves known, but not to overpower the core tomato flavor. Of course, all three used a minimal, yet somehow just right, amount of flavorful mozzarella cheese. So thanks again, Mathew P. and Bella C. This was a great dining experience, made all the better by the companions I enjoyed it with. I will see you on the next stop of the Pizza Tour. Your friend, Roy C. PS That was great service they provided wasn't it? And although they only had four beers to choose from, one could be happy with any of them (especially that fantastic Pilsner).
(5)dre a.
So yummy! I went on a rainy evening and the atmosphere was perfect. I love all the wood and the oven that is visible to everyone. I had calamari, salad, and roasted veggies to start. Everything was perfect-I will tell you that if you go you must try the roasted veggies! Who knew veggies could taste so good! I had the arugula pizza and the sausage pizza. Perfect! The crust was crispy and chewy and the pizza had just enough toppings. I say you should go! And if you have to wait-who cares??? The pizza is that good!
(4)LISA S.
As a rule, i generally stay away from places that look 'nice.' But the BF and I were meeting up with some of his friends that were in from out of town, and the designated dinner spot was Ken's. What struck me first was the amber glow coming from the big glass windows, it was an intimidatingly beautiful effect. I was basking in this glow along the perimeter of the restaurant, until I was stopped dead in my tracks by a line of yuppies waiting to savor the flavor. I now strongly feel that amber glow is like a yuppie bug zapper. Luckily, our party was already seated, adn waiting for us before they could order, or else I would have booked. I do NOT wait in line, no matter how 'yummy' something is supposed to be. I have no patience, and I will not satiated into line submission with $9 glasses of Riesling. Some of the sour points...I felt that Our waitress was frosty, but speedy considering the packed capacity of this place. My seat was literally inches away from people crucnched in the pre-seating area sipping on wine and talking their organic and sustainable self-congratulatory BS. I was uncomfortable,to say the least-because I was trying to behave with some decorum. Plus, I felt out of place because I left my patagonia thermal at home. On the brighter side, We ordered the veggie platter app, which was interesting and aromatically delish. $12 gets you a pile of interesting beans-n-greens, au gratin potato slices and some curried cauliflower. It was tasty, but I felt it was overpriced for what we got. Our olive pizza was robust and filling. I wasn't so into the crust which was soggy under the toppings and burnt on the outer crust. I chalked it up to the colossal woodfire oven's magical flames licking the exposed crust.The pizza was $13, which I felt was reasonable for two people. I felt pretty mixed about this place, as I am pretty sure I should hate it, but I don't...really. I would never go there on my own, but if I wanted to wow out of town guests from small towns in Wisconsin, I would take them there so they could feel inferior to me.
(3)Jen R.
Prosciutto Pizza! The best Caesar Salad I have ever had! Service was ok.
(3)ToniAnn M.
OK, being a New York gal, I am skeptic when trying pizza places that others say is "the best ever". Portland is my home now, & I am settling in to finding my new favorites of old hometown loves. That being said, Ken's is clearly not NY style pizza, but it still kicks a little ass! The crust is thin, chewy in the right spots, crunchy in the right spots. The sauce is not over-powering, & the fresh ingredients all play well together. Each one supports & show-cases the other, while at the same time magically appears to be the star of the show. Great beer & wine selections & decent service. I must say, minus 1 star because I was a little disappointed in the fennel sausage. I was psyched when our server told us that they make it in house..... I found it to be a little lacking in the yummy sausage flavor..... if it were just a titch bolder, it would have been perfect.
(4)Robin B.
My daughter picked Ken's restaurant for her birthday dinner. We picked a Sun night and arrived early. There were 10 of us (adults and children). Not only could the staff care less that this was a special night for my daughter, they were never able to seat us together even after waiting an hour. Probably the most rude staff I have ever dealt with. Portland has better pizza and much better restaurants.
(5)Kathryn G.
We went on a night where it had been 100 degrees during the day. The restaurant was sort of cooled down, but not really. Hey, there's a giant pizza oven in the room and since most times, Portland is a rainy place, we can give that a pass. Our hostess was gracious. She directed us to a back 'waiting' table and told us the wait would be about 30. There were six of us and she got the wait time about right. It was on the late side - around 8. We were starving. Once we sat down, it became apparant that our waiter was extremely preoccupied. Not just with tables, but up in his head. It took him forever to get to us, or maybe it was just that we were hungry. We ordered bread and had to ask him twice to get it. He seemed very put out by the whole experience. By the end, I felt bad for him. It seemed like he was going through something and waiting tables was the last thing he wanted to be doing. BTDT. The food? It was good. Not New York, or Naples good, but good. We liked the fact that, compared to *our* 'artisan' pizza place in LA (Pitfire), this place actually put the pizza toppings *closer* to the edge than most places do. (Still was not close enough for my boyfriend, who really does not like the crust to dominate - that said, this crust was amazing). We all ordered pizza - I loved mine, which was arugula, hot peppers, anchovies. My boyfriend got one with sopprasetta. Fantastic. Less successful were the merguez sausage ones and one with bits of speck on it. We got the calamari appetizer, which had an amazing sauce. Everyone liked that except my boyfriend, who, we just found out, does not like calamari unless it's deep fried. Oh well! Not Ken's fault! The place seems too small for the crowds which seem to descend upon it every night. Maybe we were too hot and hungry. I would give it one more star if the waitstaff were more on their game and if there were even more toppings on the pizza.
(3)Melissa S.
While their pizzas are pretty darn good, I think others compete on the service. In the three years I've visited this place, I've never been happy with the tone that is set by the hostess. She's disagreeable and often unhelpful. So when my friends and I have a debate on Pizza Scholls or Ken's - Pizza Scholl's always takes the "pie".
(3)Mike S.
Consistently awesome pizza, beer list and service... Can't be beat on a weeknight. I always get the arugula or sopprosetta pie. Mmmm mmm!
(5)Jason K.
You know how when a movie gets really great reviews, like a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and you think "This movie is going to be awesome!" Then you go to this movie only to think "Meh, what's the big deal?" And then the more you think about it, the more you realize that all of those lukewarm positive reviews added up to an apparent awesome movie because numbers and statistics can be deceptive when taken en masse? This place is that movie. With a dash of overly excited foodie drizzled on top... Wood burning ovens: not so unique after the advent of California Pizza Kitchen.
(2)Chris S.
The best pizza I have had in Portland to date! Worth the wait!
(5)Jenny G.
Omg, one of the best pizzas ive ever had! Even liked the calamari. Staff was super friendly, atmosphere was cozy and warm. Will definetly go back
(5)Steve M.
Quickie: Some of the Yummiest Pizza I've had in Portland Friendly Staff Nice Ambience Longie: Friendly Staff, Yummy Food, and a tragic tale... Oh fellow yelpsteritos, I lead a tragic life. I'm fortunate in that I have a nice home, a lovely child, and a steady girlfriend, but there's a secret cross that I bear that only my fellow foodies can understand. The steady girlfriend? HATES fennel. So when I saw that it was on the menu at Ken's (along with host of other roasted veggies) and I was with a veggie loving friend, AND our waitress was soo cute (she had the prettiest eyes!), funny, and charming that she could have said "Oh the roasted fennel? You know we prepare that with Zyklon B?" I would've replied "Really? Y'know Hitler was a vegetarian, I'll bet that makes it extra tasty!!" Quick Side Note: I've never successfully acquired the number of, or dated someone who was my waitress, but if you decide to pursue this course of action you would be wise to start at Ken's (really!! She was sooooo cute!!) But getting back to the fennel, who knew? It was absolutely delicious. I'm probably about to describe it in a way that makes no sense but you know how people say it tastes like licorice? That part's kinda mild, it's more like a licorice, zucchini, potato (& yes, the other roasted veggies were good too) Pizza: Sorry, along with my failure in getting my waitresses number, I forgot to get my pizza's name. But it had chilis on it, was sufficently vegetarian, and was one of the few times when someone says "y'know that pizza's pretty spicy" that it turns out it actually IS. Came in that perfect pizza size that is just big enough that you can't finish the whole pie at one sitting and later enjoy the conversation of.. "umm, I need to get something out of my car" "You're going to finish that pizza aren't you?" "I'll be right back!!"
(4)Joel R.
Following Peter Reinhart's printed advice, my wife and I took our chances at Ken's on a Saturday night. Predictably, the place was packed and nary a parking spot was to be found. However, we pushed through all that, undaunted by the cited forty-five minute wait, and managed to poach two seats at the end of the bar. Probably a good choice for us, as the bartender took our orders quickly and with no fuss. We opted for a split on the roasted vegetable plate and the salami pizza, and I have to rate both dishes highly, the vegetables especially so. Parsnips and apples, who knew? Delicata squash with almonds and a paste (persillade? can't say this was pesto for sure); also delicious. The pizza was very good and worthy of Reinhart's recommendation, although excellent pizza seems to be everywhere these days, so I can't say that it was revelatory. Prices were reasonable and taking seats at the bar meant that we had basic but efficient service. I am definitely a fan. I imagine that weeknights would be a better option for most.
(4)Mark B.
The restaurant looks fantastic but crowded, and pizzas are hand made from top ingredients but Its just not my kinda pie I like my cheese...and its expensive.............
(3)Andrea F.
Pizza was good but I prefer Apizza Scholls.
(3)Smar T.
Kens is the model of a consistent restaurant. The pizza is always perfectly made, the rotating dishes and deserts are always so good you can order without question. The service is always good as well! Yes, there is a long wait - but that's how consistent businesses work.
(5)Sandra T.
Met some friends here while we were both on a long weekend getaway to Portland. Wasn't too busy when were there around 8:30pm and got a table almost immediately. Between the four of us we ordered two pizzas - one margherita and one pepperoni with cheese. Both couples had a pre-dinner elsewhere so we weren't super hungry. (There is never enough time to eat everything while traveling!) We all thought the pizzas were good, but nothing crazy good. Maybe expected a little something more with all the high reviews this place has. Or maybe Vancouver has really good pizza and my expectations are high. Service was pretty standard and food came out as a reasonable amount of time. Wished they had a bigger drinks menu. Overall, good, not great.
(3)John S.
Great pizza with a fresh and crisp taste. Service was busy, but relaxed and very friendly. Hard to find parking, but worth the walk. Just watch out for the flying bikes and speeding cars! Not the best for kids. Arrive late to pdx and where should you eat? Why not a great pizza and an ipa. It is pretty loud if you are sensitive to that.
(5)Brian C.
Ken's was really hyped up to us by many people before we visited last night. Ken's did not disappoint. For a Portland restaurant, they didn't have a huge on Tap beer list but the ones they did have were tasty and hit all the categories one could want. We tried both the green and Cesar salads. They were delicious! The Cesar had big flakes of Parmasean cheese on it. The Green salad had fresh Garbanzo beans. After salad we ordered 3 different Pizza's. The fennel sausage, Margherita, and spicy pepperoni. I think the best part was the crust but the toppings were a close second. We didn't have to wait long to be seated although we were here on a Monday at 7. I have heard other nights it can be a long wait. A good spot in Portland!
(4)Amber Z.
I had a great Pinot Gris and an ok pizza. The pizza got cold rather quickly but it was ok. We got a white pizza with three cheeses and spring onions. It was just ok. Generous helpings though. The table next to us had a red pizza with sausage that looked amazing- wish I had ordered that one :(
(3)Natalie B.
I'm sad there isn't an option to give a million stars. I was in Portland visiting a childhood friend and this is one of her favorite spots - I quickly learned why. Upon arrival, we were FIFTEENTH on the waiting list, yes 15. I was ready to jam on to the next place, but I was urged to stay and was convinced it was worth it. Begrudgingly, I agreed to stay [then regretting passing up the long line at Voodoo Donuts from earlier] Either the bottle of wine we split was that good, or the time went really fast because before I knew, we were being ushered to our seat. The menu was not very extensive, but we ordered a couple pizza's and salad to share...that is when my mind lost it. This is by far, hands down, no questions asked, the best pizza I have ever had....ever. Simple, olive oil, fresh mozzarella and tomato sauce and basil. I literally still have dreams of the dough.
(5)Joe Z.
Not having brick oven pizza in Chicago, this was a treat. Bubbly edge, thin crust. One pizza is fairly filling for 2 people. We also got the roasted veggies.
(4)John S.
Apizza Scholls serves my favorite pizza but Ken's ranks a solid second. The soppressata, a spicy Italian cured dry salami, is my favorite. It takes only a few minutes for the pizzas to cook in Ken's wood-burning oven. Service is great and I like how the restaurant is located in a neighborhood. Like Apizza Scholls, a line usually forms outside before the doors open, so plan accordingly.
(5)Heather F.
Amazing! I ordered the fennel sausage and onion pizza, and it was incredible. The service and atmosphere weren't bad at all either. Nice job, Ken.
(5)Lisa E.
The atmosphere is really cool. It's very open and industrial looking with windows that roll up so the inside of the restaurant feels outside. The kitchen is also right out in the open. You can watch them make the salads and pizzas right in front of you. We walked by the huge wood-fired oven to the bar, which was fun to see. The salad was pretty good, but nothing close to the amazing Caesar at Apizza Scholls. This salad was more "milky" tasting instead of garlic tasting like I like. The freshly made croutons were delicious. They used Grana Padano cheese instead of Parmesan, which was okay but not as quite as flavorful as it could have been. We ordered the Soppressata pie. It was basically a spicy pepperoni with mozzarella and basil. The pizzas were small but big enough for two people to share. There were six slices. What's the verdict? It was good pizza but not worth waiting an HOUR to be seated. Period. On the flip side, I'd always wait however long it takes to eat at Apizza Scholls. So I guess that's your answer.
(3)Hayden N.
Never disappoints! I love the personal, thin crust gourmet pizzas. I said personal but, typically, I share one with another person and it's a right amount of food. If you are a hungry person then you could probably finish off one yourself. The soppressata is probably my favorite, it similar to a spicy pepperoni. In the past, I have tired the anchovy, prosciutto and arugula pies as well...all were very exceptional.
(5)Lena K.
The hubs and I had a pizza-off two years ago: we went to Apizza Scholls and Ken's in the same week and thoroughly discussed which one we thought was better. Ken's won easy. In terms of pizza, their dough is still thin and dough-ier (Apizza Scholls' is super thin and crispy). Ken's also won on toppings and sauce (Apizza Scholls' is saltier and they use more of it) so really, in our humble opinion, their pizza is better on all fronts. Our go-tos are the fennel sausage and the bacon. If you get the bacon, get it with the side of arugula. It makes you feel better about obliterating the perfectly cooked and very crispy bacon that you don't have to worry about dragging off your pizza since your teeth will actually cut it. If you get the fennel sausage, get two orders of Calabrian chilies on the side if you like your pizza spicy. I also love their Caesar salad. It's the perfect Caesar with whole crisp clean leaves of romaine with just the right amount of dressing, house made croutons and thinly sliced Parmesan cheese. When we go with friends, we also get their calamari (not deep fried but roasted in delicious red sauce in the wood fired oven) and their oven roasted veggies. On to dessert...try everything. Nothing has disappointed us and a few desserts have been truly mind blowing. I love love love that they keep the Chinato on their wine list to enjoy with or without dessert. Lastly, their food is wonderful but their people are better. They always provide great service and we see the same people every time which can only mean the people who work there love it as much as we do.
(5)Tiffany M.
Go early and cross your fingers that you get sat when they open the doors. If you do end up waiting, find solace in the fact that what you're waiting for is totally worth it! This place serves up some damn fine pizza. Do yourself a favor and order the prosciutto or the fennel sausage. When I'm not feeling like some meat I dig the margherita pizza as well. They have a great wine selection and most bottles are reasonably priced.
(5)Sue B.
We ate here after eating at Ken's Artisan bakery (twice) - so yum! We went on a Wednesday night around 6:30pm and were told it would be a 45 minute wait. Luckily it was only 30, but we had so much fun watching the four guys cook in the open kitchen that we didn't mind waiting. They keep things simple and fresh. The Caesar salad was fabulous with home-made croutons. We split the sausage and onion pizza. So delicious and the thin crust was to die for! The servers were very friend and our food came up fast! It was a fun experience!
(5)Dylan H.
What can I say about Ken's that hasn't already been said? I haven't had too much artisan bread in my life and the crust at Ken's is killer (to quote Rodney Henry)! Although the people next to us failed to eat their crust and I wanted to shout out to them EAT YOUR CRUST!!! like a Bill Nye sketch on earthquakes I saw in grade school. Back to the pizza. Their prosciutto pizza is fantastic. If you haven't had fresh, thinly sliced prosciutto it will simply blow your mind. The olive pizza is good as well. A little side note though, if you're all about tons of cheese and an inordinate amount of cheap toppings this isn't really the place for you.
(5)In B.
Good service and their lemonade is delicioussss! Their ingredients are def. fresh and good quality but it would probably come in second place when compared with Apizza Scholls.
(4)Seth B.
great pizza and ambiance! Service was a little disconnected. Will definitely return for the soppressata pizza!
(4)Brooke B.
This place was DELISH! We were visiting from Denver and a local friend of ours took us here. The atmosphere was great (although be prepared to share large tables with other couples). The food was amazing. We ordered 3 pizzas for the 4 of us and had a lot of left overs. I would say 1 pie per 2 people. We got the Bacon, the New Yorker and the Soppressata. In order of Faves: Soppressata (my fave by far -- spicy pepperoni style.) Bacon New Yoker Enjoy!
(5)Alicya M.
Very nicely done, Ken. Pleasing atmosphere, menu selection, wine offerings, service. I've heard a lot to hype you up, since relocating to Portland. I had high expectations & you had a solid delivery. Bravo.
(4)Selena N.
I hardly ever get to this place anymore but I did really enjoy their pizza, and in the Summer they open up their windows and it is a really pleasant place to eat. I'll be going back again at some point for sure.
(4)Conrad B.
This was the fourth time I've tried coming here, and finally I got the hint, and showed up early. The first three occasions, scattered about different trips to Portland, always resulted in 1-2 hour waits for a table with my dining compadres and I being ravenous. So yes, 5:30 PM won us a table immediately. We opted to sit at one of the scattered tables outside, as the weather was perfect, and our server was completely attentive to us, and the couple nearby us. My friend and I decided to split the Soppressata ($15 - tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil, spicy Calabria salami). The salami had a great level of heat to it - wasn't blowing my mouth out, but there was a nice warmth permeating my gustatory senses. The crust was a beauty, and the basil worked its way into all parts of the pizza (always a good thing). I could've eaten a whole one, but i felt it necessary to exercise some self control here. OK 4 hours later as I write this...GIVE ME MORE! On the other end of the spectrum, my far skinnier friend decided to get another pizza, the New Yorker ($13 - tomato sauce, mozzarella, oregano, provolone). He enjoyed it greatly. I thought it was rather basic, after buying in for a piece, but it was somewhat reminiscent of a New York style pie. Ken's is a bit pricy if you want your whole own pizza (might I recommend 2 pizzas for 3 people?), but not at all unreasonable, as the quality of ingredients is extremely high, and the flavors are great. Will go back, at 5:30 PM.
(4)Michael W.
Ken's Artisan Pizza produced a solid, good tasting, good tasting, wood fired pizza. I thought the menu could have used more variety and creativity. All but one pizza had cheese on it. Not good for the one in our party with a dairy intolerance. Most the pizzas were your standard expected toppings (margherita, salami, fresh veggie, etc.) They share bathroom space with the neighboring restaurant. So plan ahead if you need to go. They don't do reservations. We had eight people and it took an hour to get seated. Granted we arrived at 6pm on a Friday night.
(4)Claudio M.
I'm a serious pizza fan and this place is in the top 3 for me. For me, the only place that tops Ken's pizza is Lombardi's in NYC.
(5)Fun T.
Super tasty pizza! Loved the crust and the c pepper + extra salt that popped in my mouth. I will be back. Don't let the long wait scare you, it goes quick
(5)Sara B.
I wasn't expecting what I found. We got there right before it opened and i thought that it would be a ghost town....Not at all. A line around the corner was what we had... Fun little place, lots of charm. The calamari on toast was tasty and a little spicy for a kick The pizzas were good, I think we should stick to the veggies from now on! The mushroom slices were AMAZIN!
(4)Stephanie A.
Had the calamari, it was delicious and not the normal deep-fried type. It was perfectly sautéed in a home-made tomato sauce and topped the best wood-oven garlic bread that's ever touched my lips. The occidental hefe was a fine companion to the meal and the fennel sausage pizza was amazing. The nearly perfect wood-oven crust was perfectly topped with spicy yet sweet sausage, herbs, grilled onions... you must try.
(5)H-cat H.
It was with some skepticism we finally broke down and suffered the lines--well worth the wait! The pizza (we had the fennel sausage and onion) was the best we've had in PDX and perhaps the best anywhere. Chewy, thin and perfectly executed crust--artisan indeed. The entire staff was delightful including our fab server who had pink shorts and a great, unpretentious friendliness. Ken even brought out our beer. Had the coconut ice cream sundae which was a great way to end a perfect meal. Unfortunately for the rest of you, we may be in line waiting making the wait even longer if you want a piece of this pie.
(5)Dan C.
Honestly - the pizza here is just "OK". If you're comparing it to bad pizza (chains, etc.) it's definitely a step up. But if you're comparing it the restaurants in town specializing in pizza (Apizza Scholls, Wy'east pizza, Pyro Pizza, Give Pizza a Chance, the new Oven & Shaker) it really doesn't hold up. That's not to say it's bad, but it leaves a lot to be desired. The flavor falls a bit flat compared to some of the other pizza spots mentioned, the price is a bit steeper, and there's really nothing that stands out as great. It was decent, but I would never go out of my way to make it back. I also finished my meal still feeling a bit hungry, which rarely happens for me at other pizza places. That said, the ambience here is great. Love the interior design - strikes a perfect balance between old style tavern and modern bar. The wooden chairs were surprisingly comfortable, the tables are made out of solid doug fir, the wood burning brick oven is displayed prominently, and the atmosphere feels warm and inviting. The clean lines, colors, and modern lighting add a level of class that make this place the best atmosphere of any pizza joint in town - hands down. No problems with our service on a busy Saturday night (unlike some other reviewers), and the dessert was actually better than the pizza. That's half a compliment to the dessert, and a half an expression of disappointment with the pizza itself. Maybe I'm jaded because I've been spoiled by some of Portland's best pizza, but Ken's just doesn't stand out in terms of flavor, which held true for all 5 flavors of pizza we tried.
(3)Julia W.
30 min wait or so around 7pm. Not bad for Portland wait times. Pizza was good to great -- the bacon pizza was just that, bacon pizza. The fancy ingredients really didn't do much. Now the mushroom pizza, DELICIOUS. Next time I am going with the mushroom pizza. Pizza prices average around $15. Service was a bit better than the average Portland service (yes, Portland has their own breed of server, unfortunately). Nice ambiance - ages ranged from young families and up. I would not say this is a typical place for young kids - unless they are well behaved. Really open kitchen/wood fire grill. Very cool. Definitely will go back.
(4)Andrew M.
Pizza was delicious! 5 stars Thin crust pizza cooked in wood-fired oven in Naples style (soft crust) . Pizzas are not too heavy with toppings. Crust done perfectly. Service was fine. Ambiance is nice. Decent selection of beer and wine. Menu is nice and small; heavy focus on the pizza. Caesar salads looked great, but I didn't get one. Desserts were ok; I'm not a big dessert person but my wife thought they were good.
(5)Thilo W.
Went her for the first time recently and was very happy I did. We got there before they opened, so no wait. Atmosphere is woodsy and comfortable. Our server was pleasant and present without being overbearing. Food included the calamari (not fried) that was served in a spicy tomato sauce -- very good. We also had the mixed wood-fired vegetables which were also very tasty. Our pizzas included a margherita with arugula as well as the mushroom and both were very tasty -- I thought the crust was perfect. We also had two deserts, the chocolate custard and the lemon tart -- both were also very good. Prices were very reasonable for the quality of the food. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because Apizza Scholls still edges it out in my mind.
(4)Valerie G.
This yummy little place is in our neighborhood and always busy so we head in later at night. I dream about the thin crust Margherita pizza with a mound of arugula. The finger dishes with salt and chili pepper are a nice touch. Love the woodsy interior, sliding glass windows walls, wood-fired oven and rows of firewood that greet you as you enter and move up the ramp.
(5)Danni D.
Stop the damned presses. This pizza really is all that. I admit in the beginning I did not understand the lines out the door and the throngs of people milling about outside, quietly stroking the windows and willing those inside to finish up already so they could take their seats. I get it now. I really do. Their crust is crisp and beautifully cooked. It's got a great chew to it as well. My favorite pie so far is the one that is *covered* in prosciutto Saint Daniele. Yeah, I got it because of the name. What of it? I have also tried the pepperoni. I know, it has some fancy other name like salumni or some other such word that makes it sound like it's something other or better than pepperoni, but come on already. It's a good pie - the (not) pepperoni gets really crisp around the edges, and we all know how delicious that is. It doesn't live up to the prosciutto pie though. Get both - judge for yourselves. They also offer a roasted vegetable plate with three different veggie combos, always different with in-season veggies. It's like a holy trinity of roasted creativity. Definitely try this plate! Each time I have been in, service is terrific - friendly, well-paced, and very thoroughly knowledgeable about the menu. The only reason this place isn't getting a full 5 stars from me is the whole communal seating situation. Even their non-communal tables are packed in so tightly that you are fully involved in your dining neighbor's date, divorce, argument over household chores, insert other awkward thing you don't give a shit to know about people you will hopefully not see again. Still, a little TMI in exchange for some fantastic pizza is a small price to pay.
(4)Pough K.
still love this place.
(5)Michael M.
Well worth the wait. Great crust. Get an app and dessert and try to get two pizzas and take some home. Taste good tomorrow as well as cold. Quick tip: don't arrive at 8 on a dry Friday and expect to sit before 930
(4)Ajay D.
Great pizza and great service. I am pizza snob. The crust has good amount of chew and crispy was just perfect. They forgot to bring my Caesar salad and got me some homemade ice cream which was amazing.
(5)Sylvia S.
Underwhelming pizza even by Portland standards. We ordered 3 pies (Olive, Fennel Sausage, and Prosciutto) and they were all just barely average. Salad was overdressed and also just meh. I am glad we went so at least I have confirmed my suspicion that a wait line in Portland does not mean people know good food. The restaurant is nice and we were lucky to not have to wait too long to be seated which is why it gets two stars.
(2)Josh F.
I love the pizza here. I have been to Italy 9 times and the way they do the dough is spot on. Since I have been out of the navy I have not found another pizzeria that can measure up to Kens'.
(4)Furious G.
Best pizza in town. Fennel sausage with onions and the Proscuito pizza are simply stunning. Their gelatos are pretty good too. I especially like the strawberry gelato when they have it in June... too bad they dont' have it for more than a couple of weeks in the year. Coalition a couple of blocks to the north is a good place to go wait while a table opens up.
(5)Jung K.
Pretty good wood fired oven pizzas but the wait times are ridiculous. We went on a Monday night (thinking things might be slow) but still waited 40 minutes. I don't understand why they don't utilize some of the tables towards the back. (they only use them as waiting areas. Perfectly fine for dining I think but what do I know) Service was pretty good and they were attentive enough to bring my two kids coloring pages and crayons. (considering the number of families with small children I saw here, I was surprised that they didn't have any booster seats or high chairs available) Pizzas was good but wish there was some cheese on all three of the pizzas. We had the Arugula, the Arrabiata (spicy!) and Prociutto and while the Prociutto was salty enough to even out that pizza, the other two were some what bland. If it weren't for the crust, I'd be majorly disappointed. Overall, pretty good but not mindblowing either. Eh, just another Eastcoast transplant lamenting the Portland pizza scene. Nothing to see here.
(3)Inanc T.
We went to Ken's Pizza with high hopes for their pizza crust. We were there on a Friday evening and waited about 35-40 mins for our table. The service was pretty decent. But the music was unnecessarily loud for dinner time. We had the Prosciutto Pizza. Unfortunately, the thicker part of the crust around the edges was little doughy (slightly undercooked) . And the crust didn't have much of a taste by itself. I'd thought that Ken would be aging his dough several days to add more complex flavors. I was very disappointed by the crust. I think Bellagio's Pizza crust has more flavor than Ken's! Also, the Prosciutto pizza was salty and needed tab bit more cheese under it (Of course, that would make it saltier). I had better Prosciutto pizza in town for similar price....Unfortunately, given the long waiting time and a weak quality / price ratio, I give them 3 stars. I'm not sure I'll be back there any time soon.
(3)Bob R.
This is a review by a vegetarian 4.5 stars You can't really compare this to Apizza because the pizza styles are very different. This is closer to a neopolitan but without the stupid wet center. My only negatives are that it's crowded because it's so good and the olives on my olive pizza maybe should be cut into smaller pieces. As they are whole, they are too intense and also tend to roll around. Definitely coming back. Doesn't break the bank either. NOTE: this is one dish we do WAY better here than in Europe. I've had pizza with olives in two different European countries (not Italy) and both times they were served *with the pits in*. That's like serving a sundae with nuts still in the shell.
(5)Sean K.
We absolutely love this place. The fennel and sauage is to die for. The ingedients can be a bit spartan for some but its a culinary gem. We try to eat here at least monthly. Crowds can be a bother at peak times.
(4)Ian M.
Great pizza, excellent wine selection. Otis Redding soundtrack kills... Order less than you think you can eat. Very filling but worth the stuff!
(5)Christopher K.
Ken doesn't need any more help from Yelp to get people into his restaurant; everyone knows it's good. For people who don't like it, or just want to SAY they don't like it because they want to be hipster-cool or punk rock or just discouraging in general, we don't care. There's a reason why Ken's is on the top of so many lists, not just here in PDX-based publications, but all over the country as a go-to dining spot in Portland. We love Ken's Artisan Pizza just the way it is. The crew at Ken's show up early in the day to start the wood-fired over and stoke the fire to bake their thin-crusted Neopolitan style charred pizzas to perfection. If I were to pick my favorite pizza in the world, it would be a toss up between (insert competition name here) and Ken's SPICY SOPRESSATA. This pizza is absolutely divine. The caesar salad is also wonderful, as it the best-you've-ever-had vegetable plate. If you ask, your server will bring you (gratis) several pieces of Ken's rustic levain bread, with a little dish of delicious olive oil to dip it in to start your evening. In addition, most of the desserts on the menu are outstanding and worth trying on any given night. Thios restaurant is superior to almost all other establishments in the city, and makes for a great date night, just try to show up a little early, especially in the summer, when the windows are open to let the evening breeze in.
(5)Jolene B.
we loved this place. get there early for a table. the we site says it opens at 4 but it's 5. the eggplant app is great and the pizza is as good as any I had in Italy.
(5)Chad S.
Completely disappointing.The char was good but I can't believe that people make a fuss about this. I see a review from someone else who had the olive pizza and thought it has "the best flavor." What flavor? Olives? bland, bland, bland. Apizza for the win. I will never stray again.
(2)Anita H.
Here is the skinny on Ken's Artisan Pizza. It's an awesome pizza joint if you like authentic Italian style pizza. The crust is thin, but has a perfect combination of crispy and chewy so you don't feel like you're working your jaw overtime. Ingredients are sparse and simple and sauce and cheese coverage is minimal. But these are all great elements of an Italian style pizza. If your pizza leaning is something more cheesier and top(ping) heavy, then you may not be a huge fan. I'm kind of a betweener in terms of pizza preference hence I gave Ken's Artisan Pizza four stars. We ordered the margherita & arugula, the fennel sausage & onion, finocchina(?), and the bacon pizzas. The fennel sausage & onion and the finocchina were clear winners! The fennel sausage comes with a small dish of chiles and it was a delicious combination of spicy and sweet. If you find the margherita and arugula a bit lackluster which I sort of did, jazz it up with the chiles. It makes it a whole lot better! Local greens salad is fresh and varietal but dressing is mediocre. Their vanilla pound cake and accompanying gelato was yummy. The pound cake was moist and dense and not oily. The chocolate mousse was pretty good, too but the pound cake definitely outshone the other dessert.
(4)Yomari C.
So far best pie we have found in Portland. The Bacon pizza is our favorite, although the fennel sausage one is fabulous as well. The restaurant is beautiful which is a plus and the waiters rock. Kids love it, we love it.
(4)susan l.
you would think that after all i have been eating in PDX id want to stop at some point. when i stepped into ken's and saw the stove set off to the side of the main dining room, i thought, i really CAN eat more. what i ate: - roasted veggie plate: polenta slices with some type of tomato tapenade, broccoli raab sauteed with garlic, sauteed veggie medley (mushrooms and other yummy things): after a meat induced eating frenzy i just wanted some good old veggies in my system. this plate was perfect. all the veggies were cooked well, everything was interesting flavor wise, and i was happy with it - soppressata pizza: a super fancy pepperoni pizza. omg ken, are you upset i said it? i mean, thats what it looked like when it came out. but dont worry, it was a pretty damn delicious pizza. the thin crust was amazingly good. i loved the dough; it tasted fresh and well flavored. the soppressata had a lil spice to it and it was tasty. not the kind of pizza you could eat every day without keeling over from a artery clogging heart attack pros: - the pizza. the dough was good. - service: amicable, attentive, available - price: not very pricy. you could definitely order a pizza and salad or veggie plate and share it with one other person. or if youre really really hungry just eat one pizza by yourself. most pizza were about $13 cons: - small space: this is definitely more of a date place. most of the tables were 2 tops. some 4 tops. one long table along one side. most tables were pretty close together. - wait: my dinner companions had the fortune of coming in early and were able to score a table quickly. when we left about an hour later, there was a wait! would i come again? since im not in PDX, probably not.
(4)Neil L.
I had heard so much about this place, mostly amazing positive feed back , even from people who have been to Italy, about that their pizza is the best in town that the pizza crust is exactly like the one in the original authentic pizza from Naples, thin, crunchy and well done on the outside and soft in the inside, with tons of real fresh mozzarella cheese topping, with plenty of juicy tomato sauce but not wet and soggy .... and I have been in Italy several times and eaten the real thing...so I recognize it when I taste it... so I was really curious and tempted but all this positive feedback. So I tried their Margherita which-- is supposed to have only a good amount of Mozzarella and tomato sauce and fresh basil leaves.-- That was not only far from what a real margherita pizza is about, but is was also very dry, almost burned, all the tomato sauce dried out and invisible pieces of Mozzarella that had also dried out, it was as tasty a shoe sole, hard to chew, in addition there was am unpleasant after flavor or Pepperoni and fennel all over the entire pizza, probably because they use the same oven container they do to bake the fennel and pepperoni pizza, pretty depressing. Then I tried one more time, thinking that maybe the first time maybe it was an occasional mistake thing. I tried the Arrugula pizza this time, same thing, just the taste of a shoe sole with the persistent aroma of fennel and pepperoni, no thank you, no more pizza for me, here.
(3)Dan E.
Outstanding pizza and salad. Service was warm and inviting. Highly recommended. The olive oil for dipping bread (we were hungry and couldn't wait for the pizza) was aromatic, flavorable and a hint spicy. Nice touch and another personal favorite way of judging.
(5)Samantha T.
A really charming place with really good pizza. I can't explain how great their pizza taste and with their thin pizza it's taste so well. A great place to bring a friend or a crowd.
(5)Neill P.
I have an oh-so-slight preference for the pizza at Apizza Scholls, but Ken's is definitely a top-tier pizza joint. It's atmosphere and overall dining experience is also far superior to Apizza Scholls
(5)Paris O.
the atmosphere is really cool. tall ceilings, tables that aren't on top of one another, open kitchen, nice long bar, and a great outside waiting area. the pizza was good, but a bit over priced. the staff was nice, but for some reason, i felt they were all a little pretentious. overall - there are a few other pizza joints i'd choose. arrive early, as there is always a line outside - sometimes around the block.
(3)Damon P.
Best pizza that I have had in Portland. Meat lovers UNITE! If you love fresh sausages this place is a must for you. Good sausage will go a long way on a fresh pizza that is cooke just right in teh oven. These people know what they are doing. I love the atmosphere in this place. It is all centered around their massive wood burning oven in the middle of the restaurant. The Caesar salad was also very delicious. Each time it is prepared and tossed separately. Plus, this place has Trumer Pils on tap; this beer was meant to be consumed with pizza. Enjoy!
(5)Nicole G.
Ken's, your Margherita pizza has stolen my heart. You have provided a pizza to which I judge all other margherita pizzas and pizzas alike against. Amazing crust, amazing fresh cheese, other ingredients, etc. Ken's also has a great menu that always seems to be changing every time I go there. They keep their standards on the menu (like the margherita) but I usually see a new pizza or two and a new seasonal vegetable plate. I've been there a total of 3 times, but 2 times were within a month and I was delighted by the new menu items both times. Down sides? This restaurant is so popular and so awesome that you really either have to go right when it opens or close to when it closes. It doesn't matter if it's a week day or not - this place gets packed. Fast! Also for whatever reason, I'm always seated on the long bench table where they usually get one or two other parties to sit down next to you. That's fine - it's kind of European in style. We Americans tend to want to sit as far away from each other as possible and it's kind of standard so in a way, it's a bit refreshing to sit elbow-to-elbow next to a stranger enjoying their pizza. Any other possible down sides don't really bother me at all because Ken's pizza is so good, but for the sake of fairness of the review, I'll mention them. The last time we were there, my boyfriend ordered a new pizza that was just put on the menu that day and they left off part of the main ingredient - fresh salad greens/other raw veggie type things. Because the toppings were raw and didn't need any cooking prep, it was easy for them to add it on and they were apologetic about it. Again, no prob. That pizza was amazing too! All in all, pizza is awesome.. I have a picture of their margherita pizza on my fridge (obsessive?) They included it with the bill one time I was there and it was a beautiful picture.. so I kept it and put in on my fridge.. Probably not a good idea because every time I pass by my fridge all I can think of is that perfect crust, flavor-bursting sauce, fresh mozz and basil. I'm an addict. Help! :)
(4)Michele T.
Very good crust, with just the right amount of gluten, chewy but not tough. We tried 3 pizzas here: the bacon with smoked provolone was our favorite, followed by the olive. Great sauces. The special (a ham with potato) was disappointing. Great service. I did leave feeling like I was missing what all the buzz was about, which made me give it 4 stars instead of 5.
(4)Jacqueline F.
Overall, I will be going back to Ken's based on my first time awesome experience. Went on a Sunday afternoon at 5pm in June with a group of five. Every table appeared taken, but there was no wait for a table and was immediately seated...Table Magic. Easy on-street parking too. Ken's has one of the two best Margherita pizzas in Portland; they put balanced amount of cheese and basil for every bite and the crust is both chewy and crisp. Also had bacon and proscuitto pizzas. Impressively, Ken's did not skimp on any part of the ingredients. We didn't want to the fun evening to end, so we ordered dessert which was panna cotta and ice cream. Very good. Atmosphere echoed the perfect sunny day everyone must have had. Our waiter was delightful; there when we needed him, good humored throughout his busy day, and honest (and good) recommendations on pizza and beer.
(5)Sam C.
My wife Reannin and I had date night here. I have been wanting to try this place for years, and finally happened to be right I n the neighborhood around dinner time and decided to check it out. I had heard Ken's Artisan Pizza was sort of a fork and knife, upscale pizza place, the kind you probably wouldn't take your kids too, but that's not true at all, at least not of the location near Stark street. The atmosphere was relaxed, with families, Couples and work friends filling the seats around us. The menu is small and simple, including the draft beer menu which in my opinion should be greatly expanded. I started with the green salad, which was really pleasing. Its enough food to consider a meal all it's own, an obtuse mound of succulent baby greens, fresh, cold beets, salty feta, ribbons of carrots and house made spiced cashews drizzled with a light vinaigrette. My wife ordered the Caesar, which neither of us cared for. The croutons were good, but the romaine leaves were left whole, meaning you were forced to eat it with a fork and knife, and the dressing was nothing to write home about. Honestly, my favorite Caesar can be found at Pizzacato. Next we ordered the margherita pizza to split. This pizza was absolutely magnificent. Multiple levels of flavor and texture. The crust was crisp on the outside and perfectly chewy on the inside. The sauce was embellished with garlic and basil just enough, and the cheese was high end. The pizza here really lives up to its name. My only complaint is probably more of a preference, but I wish our pie had come out of the over literally like 30 seconds sooner. It was pretty well singed on the very top of the crust, resulting in some slight bitterness. We had a really great night here. The waitstaff went above and beyond, checking with us often and bringing beers and refills immediately after we ordered them. Definitely a great low key date night spot, or a nice place to bring out of towners or the fam. Protip: make sure to get there right at 5, otherwise you will have to wait to get a table.
(4)Tom M.
Pizza is first-rate, especially the soppressata. But be warned, if you can't tolerate waiting in line, semi-rude/indifferent waiting staff, or communal seating, this place is not for you. Those points aside, the pizza itself is the best we've had in Portland, and maybe anywhere.
(4)Jason L.
Great Pizza. Really great. The atmosphere is great. The food is always of good quality and I love all the kinds of pizza they have. Their wine list is nice as well. There is always a bit of a wait - but that's to be expected when you are going some place this good.
(5)Jess E.
Pizza is top notch. Its beautiful with perfect balance. The wait wasn't too bad (although it can be) but the staff was super-nice, as were all the folks in line. Beyond that, you don't have to eat Pizza! the menu is tight and every item (that I tried) was great. For what this place aspires to be, they've nailed it.
(5)Kathy B.
I heard wonderful things about Ken's and was eager to find another good pizza place in Portland. I love oven fired pizza. The waitstaff was friendly and helpful and found me a place at the bar rather quickly considering the number of people waiting. I had high hopes. When the pizza arrived, it looked appetizing, but I found it to be bland. I thought it might be only my choice, but the couple next to me were disappointed as well. I won't bother to go back.
(1)Alena C.
I brought my brother here on a Weds night around 7pm. We waited about 35 minutes, but we expected it, so no big deal. The first thing we noticed is the sweet pizza oven. I couldn't help think of Hansel and Gretel. The next thing we noticed after being seated, was the stink eye we got from the well healed couple who's table was about one inch from ours. I gave her the same curt stare, the one that said "I really don't want to be an inch away from your uppity ass, either". Then I imagined throwing her in said oven. But I think I must have just been hungry. We both ordered beers and the Calamari appetizer which came out quickly. The Calamari was good, I was happy it wasn't fried and the tomato sauce doesn't seem spicy, but does sneak up on you. The brother ordered the Prosciutto Pizza and I got the Fennel Sausage and onions with Calabrian Chile's. When they both came out, I noticed how small they are, but they are kind of perfect sized for sharing. If you are really hungry, you could probably eat the whole thing..my brother did. My pizza was terrific. The waitress warned me the Calabrian Chiles were hot, but I disregarded her notice and added hot peppers to it as well. It really wasn't hot, but it was tasty. The onions and sausage were a great combination. But just wasn't really that impressed with the dough. I usually will eat everything, but I found myself leaving the crust because it just wasn't that great. It was really powdery and dry. Not my style. The brother agreed with me on the crust. His Prosciutto was okay, but there was so little basil, mozzarella and sauce that he said it seemed to be mostly dough. After another round on beers and a pass on desert, our bill came to $58.00-not too bad. Overall, I doubt I would come back unless someone else was paying. I would just rather go to Appizza Scholls. I can see why others would like this pizza, and the service was really great, but it just wasn't that great and not worth the wait.
(3)John P.
An intimate restaurant with an open air meets rustic motif, Ken's is where you want to go for exceptional (best yet I've had in Portland) pizza. Dining companion had the bacon and I proscuitto. The proscuitto was good but the mozerella and sauce combination were definitely the stars of my pizza. The 12 inch round pizza is six slices that will leave you filling full without making you feel overboard afterwards. Staff is attentive but not overbearing. If you haven't tried it, it's a great place for pizza and that's a nice alternative to the dinkier or chain restaurants.
(4)Aaron F.
Awesome pizza here ... We arrived on a Sunday (4 PM) and enjoyed the experience thoroughly. Outstanding pizza presented to let the ingredients shine. Only really downside is the size/seating of the restaurant - it's so in demand you definitely feel the pressure to rotate out of there.
(5)Rosy D.
Best pizza in Portland, prosciutto pizza was perfect. Layered completely from crust to crust, with the best pizza sauce I've had in a while. I suggest the calamari appetizer, I couldn't eat it fast enough.
(5)Rick G.
I've been spending the past month in Portland. For the most part, every high-rated place has been as good or better than anything similar that we have in Atlanta (where I live). So when I heard about a pizza place where people line up before they open, I expected something extraordinary. Unfortunately, Ken's didn't live up to they hype at all. We had two different and disappointing pies. In both cases, the crust was dry, the cheese had congealed, and the sauce was boring. For the first time in our Portland food adventure, I could think of several places in Atlanta that have better food (Antico, Varasanos, etc). I've even had better pizza at a food truck here in Portland (Pyro Pizza).
(2)Andrew D.
My rating is 3.5 stars the foods good, but I wouldn't go out of my way for this place. The hours are also limited. I enjoyed the atmosphere, its just i've had better and if you are visiting portland I wouldn't waste it on this place.
(3)Bob K.
This is a great pizza place. I was a little concerned by the reviews that complained that the service was not so good. So we went early on a Thursday night....at 5:45pm. It looked packed with several people waiting. But we were served right away. Our order taken right away. Drinks like right now. Salad came fast. Had to wait about 10 min after eating the salad....but then came the pizza. Bill came fast too. There are no service problems here!!!! The place is very homey feeling....and comfortable. It was packed with people but it was not that loud. We felt very comfortable. The food. We shared a mixed green salad. I was not expecting much but wow.....it was really good. Lots of varieties of lettuce...some I had never had before, tangy dressing, walnuts, radishes, carrots, apple. Very good. Then the pizza. We got the fennel sausage with onions. It's a very good..... Not great.....pizza. The crust was very good and also the sausage and onions but not much cheese and very little sauce. But still very good.
(4)Na S.
We waited 1 hr to get a table and once seated, it took 40 minutes for us to place our order. One of which was a salad that never came. One of our friends had to check with the server and she got the salad after our pizzas. I love wood fire pizza but I wasn't a huge fan of the red sauce. It was a bit spicy to my taste buds. This is definitely a high end pizza but I've had better ones and I don't think they are that delicious to wait 2 hrs for them.
(3)Devin P.
Probably one of the best meals I had in Portland. The fennel sausage pizza was excellent, even though I really prefer thick crust pizza. The pizza was very flavorful. There was a pretty long wait and they dont do "to go" on Sat eve's so I had to wait for awhile, but I'd say it was well worth the wait. All of the staff was very friendly and very attentive.
(5)Tim M.
Waxing poetic about a restaurant that already has 142 reviews is like trying to write a bathroom wall review about the village strumpet, I always imagine the replies to be "yeah, we know she can do that" or "Hey, she did that for me twice already", or "everybodys already been there" and stuff like that. So at the risk of being redundant and even worse commonplace, let me just say, this is flat out excellent pizza! They have a small but quite select line up of micro's on tap and a decent and reasonably priced wine list. We started with the roasted vegetables, and they were simply scrumptious, since there was only the two of us and we were ordering two pies we decided to forgo the Caesar salad, which I still regret after watching dozens of them being schlepped off to other diners tables, they looked delicious; I will order one next time. The pizza's we ordered were a prosciutto and a wild mushroom, The prosciutto is a pie with tomato base and mozzarella, then as it comes out of the brick, wood fired oven, it is covered with thin slices of prosciutto and basil, it is the perfect way to make it and very flavorful. The Mushroom pizza is covered with fresh chantrelles, caramelized onions fresh garlic and gorgonzola; another big hit in flavor combos. Combine all that good food and drink into a SE Portland "Hip" vibe kind of place and you've got a winner. No wonder there are so many positive reviews. But even though there have been so many there before us, we know they liked us more.... we're sure of it...I mean they said we were special.....
(5)Ken B.
Is uberfantastical a word?
(5)Jerry W.
Roasted veggies and squash pizza were excellent. Seated at bar and it was fine. Servers are very nice and friendly. Our favorite pizza spot in Portland by far. Be sure to ask for their bread, it is great. Often crowded and lines out the door but well worth the wait. Always eager to return and never disappointed.
(5)Harsha R.
Weekday : before 7 p.m. : ready to eat at the bar = 0 minutes of wait = finally, dinner at Ken's! I got to say Ken's did live up to the hype. Those pies were delicious! I just loved the Arrabiata. The Margherita and Arugula was just as awesome. Wood-fired pizza - you had me with your crust. Now that I think I've cracked the code of minimal wait, I'd like to be back more often. Wait, did I just say something I was not supposed to...
(5)Gastro N.
Dear Ken's Pizza, Thank you for making the best pizza in the Universe. NY, Chicago, that punk kid in SF, and even Sicily don't even come close. I am your BFF. Love, Gastro Ninny
(5)Todd D.
I don't care how good the pizza is. Having to wait for two hours and have the wait staff continually say "your next", while they continue to seat others that aren't on the list in front of us... Horrible. It would be better if they took reservations our better yet a buzzer or app to alert you when your table is ready. That way you could stroll the neighborhood and get a drink while you wait. The four of us won't return. Once is enough.
(1)A A.
I thought from the reviews I'd be magically transported to Italy, riding through streets in a scooter evading mafia heads. Instead I remained in Portland, finding ample parking for our prius in the residential hood, eating fresh pie avoiding hipsters. Still good though, and I was satisfied. This is solid brick oven pie, and you can tell the ingredients are fresh and carefully chosen. We got 4 pies for 6 of us, and they were all done and dusted without any talking. The calamari app was nice, but not blown away. I guess I wouldn't give it 5 stars because all the ingredients were there, but something didn't take it over the top. I can't put my finger on it...guess I wanted that extra umph. Nonetheless this was really good, especially for the cheap price point. The spot is nice and casual, with a great friendly staff and uber quick turnaround from the pie wielders working the oven. By 9PM on a saturday night, the fervor slowed down and you could find seats relatively easy. Sorry we're from san fran, so no comparisons to others in your city. However, if in portland again, I'd totally stop in again.
(4)Rikki W.
Ken's bakery is one of my favorite bakeries, so when this place opened I was very excited. And car-less living in outer SW. So it took me a while to finally get there, but when I did, I was not disappointed. If you go on the weekend (or probably any night, for that matter) you will have a bit of a wait. They pack this place to the brim, so you've got to elbow your way to the back waiting area where you can order a drink and chew on some amazingly crusty bread dipped in olive oil. The pizza is pricy, but worth it. I could probably eat one of their pizzas all by myself, but half a pizza and part of a salad is just perfect. The crust on the pizza is light, thin and crisp in all the right places with a light layer of sauce, cheese and toppings. Although the place can be a bit noisy (it is packed, after all) you can still have a conversation without having to yell (too loud). If you have a night where you want to treat yourself (and maybe a few friends), don't mind waiting for a while for a seat and then some very delicious food, this is the perfect stop.
(4)R S.
Of all of the Neapolitan style pizzas that I've had, Ken's are some of the best. The crust was exquisite: the outside with a nice char, crisp and chewy and the inside substantial enough to hold the ingredients. We had 3 different toppings, all of them very good. And as a bonus, we had a delicious 3 vegetable appetizer (I know, a 3 vegetable appetizer doesn't sound very good but this was something very special). And the atmosphere is very nice too.
(5)Lindsey K.
I absolutely love Ken's. This is the go-to pizzeria for my family, and every time we go, we are all satisfied at the end of our meal. I advise to come early right when it opens because the wait can be quite long. For the quality of pizza, the price is inexpensive. I enjoy that you can watch the chefs while they prepare the food. Ingredients are fresh and the craftsmanship of the food is great. Ken's Artisan Pizza is arguably the best restaurant for pizza in Portland. It's worth a visit.
(5)Mary M.
Great pizza, love their sauce, it's nice and light, wood fired, and they have Bacon pizza, Can't say No to that! Go, get several to share!
(4)Pete C.
Ken's definitely has better pizza than anywhere else in portland. Their pizzas are amazing and for the price you cant beat! 11-14 dollars a pie? its amazing how cheap it is. I love their soppressata, it is a little spicy, so if you cant handle spice, i would still get it. haha it never fails me. Like other great restaurants in portland, its always busy, so make sure you show up 10-15 minutes before it opens or later in the night. Its always busy here. also try their caesar salad, its literally the best caesar salad I have ever had. I love the way the place is set up and always have a friendly staff. And if you go in the summer, they have the windows open its just a great vibe.
(5)Donna K.
The battle of the Portland pizzas.. Apizza Scholls vs. Kens Artisan Pizza... I really couldn't tell you the winner because they are both different.. The ambiance of Kens is more of a date night for a couple who doesnt find a babysitter often.. While Apizza Scholls is located in your central hipster street serving Rainer on tap for cheap. Both the pizza doughs are delicious.. If you want a lighter fair Kens Artisan is your better bet.. However if you want loaded toppings hit up Apizza Scholls.. Price wise..it's about the same.. Kens Artisan is cheaper but a smaller pie.. Ranging 11-18. Apizza Schools is a much bigger pie for about 18-26. I'd love to see what the rest of Portland thinks about this pizza battle...
(4)Niki S.
Overpriced pizza that I could get from a food cart. Water leak from pipe literally right next to wall and our table. Wait for 45 minutes on a Tuesday night. Spotty service. Barely any cheese on my squash pizza. I will not go back. Waste of money and my time. I could have had both for half the amount I wasted.
(1)Fei C.
Went on a Thursday night and it was about a 30min wait. You can compare it Apizza Scholls but then you really can't. A mighty tasty pie is this Ken's Pizza. The main difference is the size. The plus is that the smaller size keeps the pizza from getting soggy in middle. The minus is it's a small pizza. It's just so exciting to get the mammoth pie at Apizza...maybe cause you have to wait 1hr to get in. Favorite is fennel sausage. Overall Kens' lives up to it's name. A nice fresh artisan gourmet pizza.
(4)Kevin L.
Awesome pizza, best I've had in Portland so far.
(5)C T.
Why a 4 star?? The wait was over an hour long!! And that's not including getting their 15 minutes before they open on a Saturday. That's about the only bad thing I can say about the place. Let's just say the wait is worth it! We came here as a group of 8 (that's the reason for the wait). Had 6 pizzas and a couple of appetizers. My favorite - Soppressata Pizza and the Prosciutto Pizza... since they don't have the pancetta one anymore. Next time- will just keep it simple and come with no more than 4 people
(4)Holy-foo' X.
All the planets aligned and we were able to finally come by and check out Ken's on a day in which they condescended to allow carry out! The locale for this very-trendy eatery is a bit curious--- originally it was strictly a residential zone, and now the same width streets and lanes are being taxed w/significantly more car, bike and pedestrian traffic. Other businesses are slowly but surely springing up..... nature abhors a vacuum but at the same time, loves to ride on the coat tails of a proven winner. Such is Ken's enviable lot in life: who has learned first-hand that, though there be no i's in "team", there are several, in "Winning!" We were pretty impressed w/the service @ Ken's. Despite the omnipresent crowd, staff kept business flowing like a well-oiled machine. We had our food and were back out the door in just a couple short minutes--barely enough time to run to the john. Sidebar: why do some places put mirrors directly over the backs of their toilets? I know it must come as a surprise, but some of us would really rather not watch while we heed the ol' call o' the wild.... 'specially not when eating is in the near future.... =S Sadly, Ken's was fresh out of their famed lamb flatbread sandwiches. So we opted for the calamari. No breading, but a fairly heavy marinara on this one that I didn't much care for, and it was served on several pieces of otherwise nondescript toasted garlic bread. The pizza itself was, only naturally, quite good. We went w/the fennel sausage and onion. The ingredients were few, but not sparse, and the distinction between these two concepts is very much lost on many pizzerias around town-- especially, it seems, on many of the pizza-themed food carts, with some notable exceptions like W'yeast, and Pyro. Contandino and Depakos would both merit inclusion in this list of exceptionals, but alas, they are (no longer) food carts... Back to the pizza briefly-- the crust was pretty near all that I was hoping for: light, chewy, fluffy, w/a thin, crisp exterior. The ingredients tasted fresh and were well and evenly distributed atop the pie. I would've like to have tried this same pie w/a garlic white sauce, and so sorry if that offends anybody's sensibilities. We all have our preferences...... Bottom line: I'd go back to Ken's, might even take a date there. It wouldn't be my first or second choice just on the basis of the pizza, but I would spend my money there long before I'd go back to a lot of other pizzerias. Ciao and grazi for being worth the time and effort!
(4)James O.
Great pizza and nice atmosphere. Ken's is great, and ill be back, but 5 stars is absolutely exceptional in my mind.
(4)Arun R.
Great place for a very unique taste of pizza. Tried their wood oven baked Veggie plate, Margherita and Argula pizza. Both tasted delicious. The queues to enter the place are long (understandably!). If you're tired of pizza chains, this is a nice break from the ordinary.
(5)Chris T.
Awesome! One of my favorites!!!
(5)Sung L.
We showed up a minute before it opened and there was a line around the corner. We were one of the last to be seated without waiting. The Wood Oven Roasted Vegetable Plate was a perfect way to start your meal. If you like individual sized pizzas with a thin crust, this is the place for you. Their pizzas feature the taste of simple rustic ingredients. Check out their photos on their website and get here early!
(4)Tamara C.
Usually in Portland, by 8 PM the dinner crowd would have died down but Ken's was going strong. All the tables were seated with and most everyone had an amazing looking pizza in front of him or her. This is a good sign that Ken's was going to live up to all the Yelp hyperbole. The menu was very tempting. Initially, my eyes settled on the olive pizza with rosemary. My dinner date and I settled on the mushroom pizza and the vegetable plate as an appetizer. The appetizer plate arrived and it was great - a super savory array of brussel sprouts, yams, and mushrooms. The pizza however, was not great. I rarely meet a pizza I don't care for and this was one of them. In fact, it was a huge disappointment. It was dull and flavourless. The only flavour that I could really identify was garlic and even that didn't have much flavour. The garlic really grossed me out...they really went heavy on the garlic, big tape-worm looking pieces of slimy garlic. I couldn't really detect any sauce and the mushrooms that were there were just ok. I pretty much just picked the mushrooms off with my fork and ate the crust. Seriously, this pizza was so bad that I did not finish it and I don't think I have ever left pizza unfinished before. My neighbors' pizzas all looked and smelled great. They obviously made better choices than we did. They all had the good sense to order pizzas with sauce. I love pizza with sauce. Sigh...I was so envious. I should have lobbied harder for my first choice the olive pizza with rosemary. Ken's obviously has something going for it because it is always packed when I drive by. It was packed that night, and they kept coming even after we got there. So, I am not going to ding them for having what I consider to be a really crappy pizza on the menu. Obviously some people must like that particular pizza or they would not offer it. The crust however, was great - thin, light and crispy. So, as horribly bad as the mushroom pizza was, I will go back because I am reasonably confident that if I order something with sauce, such as the olive pizza, I will not be disappointed. I will let you know...
(3)Eric H.
Apizza's was good.. But I enjoy kens pizza. The pizzas aren't that expensive for the size. Not to mention they were delicious. I'm just upset they don't have pineapples. The food came out relatively fast, with how busy it was.. It was a fun experience. Will comke back eventually.
(5)Dan G.
So much whatever! I tried the Salami, Sausage and Anchovy pizzas. They all tasted the same: dry and dull. Not at all worth the hour-long wait.
(2)Brandi M.
Lovely, lovely pizza. Pizza I'm not embarrassed to feed my (truly) Italian friends. Also, great atmosphere.
(4)Ian R.
The best crust and the best pizza in Portland would be more than enough reason to go to Ken's, but when you add in the wholly reasonable pricing and nice neighborhood-y feel, there is really no reason not to go ... ... except for the LONG wait. I've showed up less than 10 minutes after opening on numerous occasions only to find the place full and face an hour wait. If you don't want to wait but want the same delicious pizza, hit up the Monday night pizza night at Ken's Artisan Bakery in NW that inspired the restaurant. It doesn't offer the same selection of wine, appetizers or toppings but what it does offer is still super tasty.
(5)Elise B.
As an ex-New Yorker I may have an expectation of pizza which may not be what Ken's is trying to meet. Aside from the long waits and there will be a long wait, the pizza was just ok for me...the crust was really what stood out and was truly the sign of what an expert can do with flour and water, and the texture right out of the wood oven was excellent, cooked well but not burned, but the topping in specified combinations were so so, and there was barely enough cheese to taste, and the quality of the cheese was average...maybe it was a childhood filled with Rays pizza with 1/2 inch of cheese on top that set my standard, but it's still a concept that i like, good crust and a gooey cheesy mess on top. The Chez Panisse style standards are more austere conjured up during the era of nouvelle cuisine, and for this east coast gal, they don't quite satisfy as much. And our meal ended up being pretty expensive, 2 pizzas with some extra toppings, one salad to share, no drinks, $50. The staff was helpful though, and available and they aim to please doing everything they should to ensure proper service.
(3)Lauren T.
Found this place off a suggestion after realizing Apizza Scholls were done for the night (apparently, they have a limited amount of pizza dough for the day). The restaurant was pretty happening for dinner yet still open which we were pleased to find out. We had to wait about 30 minutes for our table at 8 pm but they offer you to sit at their bar area and drink while you wait. (sure why not!). Good wine selection. When we got to our table, the server informed us that they were out of calamari which broke my heart a little as it did look awfully delicious on other people's table. (oven roasted squid in spicy tomato sauce, oregano and garlic). damn! We ordered the prosciutto (mozzarella, tomato sauce, basil, and Prosciutto di San Daniele) and the arrabiata (tomato sauce with Calabrian chiles, mozzarella, and basil). Honestly liked the arrabiata much better than the prosciutto pizza. All pizzas are put into a wood-fired oven which can be seen in the heart of the restaurant. All ingredients are fresh and prepared in an open space area adjacent to the oven. Really good pizza and friendly service.
(4)Ellen E.
Service was slow for our table's salad & pizza, but when we did finally get them, they were delicious. We enjoyed the fennel sausage & onion pizza & it happily fed two. We had room for dessert & were glad we did. Definitely recommend the strawberry rhubarb shortcake & the pecan tart. Both were delicious.
(4)Quazi A.
i've been here twice now in my attempt to help answer the great portland pizza debate. i have to say that i prefer their style of pizza to the more traditional pizzeria pizza at Apizza Scholls. you won't go wrong with either, but at least ken's also offers something in the way of ambiance
(4)Holly D.
I have lived near Ken's for a couple of years but never gone in because it always packed. Caesar salad was great, pizza was good, but maybe I am a pizza snob. I would go there with a group of six or seven, not small children. Service was excellent and fairly quick considering how busy they are.
(3)Jimmy K.
When they say show up early for a seat, they mean it. Ken's is only open 5 hours on the typical day. We arrived at 4:30 on a Saturday and there was no line yet. We sat in the first chairs that lined the front of the building (they make waiting comfortable at Ken's) and were able to watch the prep inside through the large open windows. Within 10 minutes, people were steadily showing up and happily waiting for the doors to open. As soon as 5 p.m. hit, Ken opened the door and ushered us inside. We had our drinks and placed out order in the first five minutes. The wait may be long at Ken's but they have the service nailed down pretty well. Waiters taking orders, bartenders moving drinks, food runners all over the place servicing tables and a large kitchen staff. Your food is out quick and piping hot from the oven. We ordered the calimari to start, which was tender and mixed with a spicy red sauce. Came on a recommendation from a friend and was delicous. The woodfired vegetables and Caesar salad looked great too. All of the pizzas are $11-$15 bucks with 2-3 toppings per pie, as pizza should be. This pizza is unique, with charred thing crust and high-end toppings. We opted for the prosciutto, which was covered with thin layers of prsciutto and basil. The crust was chewy and crisp, sauce was sweet and there was an overall smokiness. This isn't everyday pizza, but pizza lovers will appreciate the quality. With a small menu and skilled staff, the food is fast and hot, the way it should be. The atmosphere is relaxed and youcna enjoy great food for reasonable prices.
(4)Daniel L.
My favorite restaurant in the entire city! The only negative is that the wait can be long at times, but it's well worth it! Ceasar salad, sopressata pizza, and the fennel sausage & onion (calabrian peppers on the side) are my favorites!
(5)Andrew W.
We had fun. Veggie pizza was outstanding, fennel sausage was not quite what we were expecting but still decent.
(4)Catherine G.
With 342 reviews you don't need to hear this from one more foodie but I'm writing out of embarrassment that it took my husband and I 5 years to get our lazy asses to this joint. Hands down the finest crust we've ever had. Thin and crispy all the way to the middle- by which point most crust flops and drops sauce and cheese on everything. We stayed basic with a margherita w/ arugula and devoured every bit. After that I had a Valrhona brownie w/ ice cream and almost wept. The good news is our house is for sale and we don't want to cook at home so we will be back every night until the house sells. IT'S. THAT. GOOD.
(5)Stacey G.
Best Pizza in Portland. Butterscotch Pudding PLEASE stay on the menu forever! This place is worth the wait
(5)Doug C.
They hardly need any more help from yelp, but I think it's fair to say that Ken's offers the best vegetable platter in town. It consists of three seasonal vegetable appetizers. I've tried it about five times now and it's always been great. It does get busy around 7PM, but you can usually get a spot reasonably if you go a little before or after. I think the complaints about wait times here are a little nutty. Since when is waiting 40 minutes at the peak hour unexpected? It's worth mentioning as well that the pizza comes up pretty quickly and I've never experienced a long wait to get my order in. The service is great. If you do end up waiting to be seated, it's comfortable, and you can enjoy wine or beer while you pass the time.
(5)Laura N.
It is so strange to be able to eat Ken's pizza everyday. It was all a part of the ritual, you see. Standing in line on NW 21st, eagerly awaiting the once-a-week treat of Ken's Pizza, dusting off my TGIM sticker on my bike... In all honesty, Ken's singlehandedly made me look forward to Mondays. Mondays were the new Fridays. Oh yeah. I said it. Now, it's almost sacrilegious that I can enjoy Ken's on, say, Tuesday...or, or, Thursday, or if I'm feeling reeallly crazy, maybe even Saturday. It's so sudden and new. It's completely dangerous and mind-blowing. Yet someway, somehow, I think I'll manage.
(5)Melissa O.
Overall, I would definitely go back again. Short wait, and was served very fast, even though it was a rather busy Saturday night. The pizza was really good: nice thin crust, good topping ingredients, crispy and uncomplicated taste, smaller size pizza makes for a nice split for 2 or leftovers for 1. Large, tasty salads, balanced good ingredients. not overdressed at all. Small beer menu, but they were good beers.
(4)Nina E.
I am not a big pizza person but the fennel sausage and onion pizza was amazing. Fire baked old school pizza making style. The salad was equally coated with just the right amount of dressing. They also serve stumptown coffee which is always delicious. The service was super pleasant.
(4)Ruggy J.
This place looked and smelled so good, it didn't matter that my crew and I had just eaten dinner next door at Bamboo Sushi! In a great display of good ol' American gluttony, Ken's was the perfect candidate for an awesome "second dinner!" Not only did it look and smell fantastic, but it was some of the best wood fire pizza I've ever eaten as well! As the name suggests, Ken's is all about fresh, artisanal creations. I wouldn't say they're necessarily reinventing the wheel or anything, but they do the basics better than most anyone in the game. The wait can be pretty massive, so get there early in the evening if you want to avoid a 30-minute delay in rounding up a table.
(5)Leah H.
I'm not one to blast comparisons in reviews, but the only apizza I want/need/desire in Portland is a-piece-a Ken's! This shit is delicious and there is hardly anything else to say about it. But excuse me while I gush a little. Ken's provides a delightful dining experience from start to finish. While there may be a wait, they are quick to offer you drinks and complimentary bread and dipping oil. This wait kind of works in their favor because most people use this time to look over the menu; by the time they are seated they know exactly what to order which speeds up the sit-down to food time. The salads are fresh and tasty. The price is right for a salad that can easily be split between two people. No point in filling up on that green stuff anyway, the most delicious god damn pizza is coming your way. What goes on with the pizza is simple enough. High quality ingredients combined and wood-fired. The crust is perfect. It maintains crispiness in the center (no floppy sogginess here). The outside is perfected charred in spots. Crisp and chewy. Oh so chewy. I cannot effectively use words to describe how good it is. The margherita is perfect . The creamy mozzarella and the savory sauce...mmm. My favorite is the prosciutto - take that marvelous margherita pizza and blanket it with paper-thin slices of prosciutto. Yeah, get some, prosciutto blanket. You can't go wrong with any of their options though, really. The staff is remarkably friendly. By the time you get your bill you are in the best kind of food coma. And this wont break the bank either which means you can leave a great tip!
(5)Don B.
I can't deny that this is some 5-star pizza. Ken's does live up to the hype. Portland has some really good pizza (yes, I have said it before and I will say it again, I've had plenty o' pies in NY that don't even hold a candle to Portland pizza), and Ken's is a shining example of it. Quality crust, hand tossed with care, topped with delicious and creative ingredients, and then cooked - no, I should say "doted upon" - in the wood-fired oven, and served up fresh. Damn good pizza. The best in PDX? Maaaaaaybe. Up in the top echelon? definitely. The crust is perfectly crispy on the outside with a nice chewiness on the inside. The sauce has a nice zing to it, and a depth of flavor that brings out the deliciousness of the dough in the crust. Zesty toppings applied in just the right proportion? Oh yes. It;'s quality. I'm not going to compare Ken's to other pizza in town, it stands on it's own. Good stuff. I'd be back more often, but the wait can be intense. I'll still come again to try more things on the menu.
(5)Dave T.
Hands down best pizza restaurant I've come across, just make sure you get there early or expect to wait. Admittedly it was a Saturday night but we got in line 20 minutes before they opened and were glad of it. Some of the people who arrived just before they opened didn't get a table and there was still a decent queue when we were done and left. Once you're in though the food is fantastic and they have a good beer selection too. Make sure to look at their oven, it's fantastic.
(5)Todd Q.
Ken's has one of the finest neapolitan pizzas you can get anywhere. The ambiance and design of the space is welcoming and hip. And they have a friendly efficient staff. My wife & I spent a few months in Brooklyn last winter try to top this place and came close but Ken's is still king. Well worth your time and money.
(5)Iain M.
You have GOT to be KIDDING!?! We were second in the door for lunch one day because we had heard so much about how great this place was. Well, it IS a nice place, and for native Portlanders, the fact that the wood used for the tables and chairs came from the iconic Jantzen Beach Roller Coaster definitely adds to the ambiance. That, however, is where the fun stops. Because we believe the best way to taste a 'first' pizza is by ordering the simplest, we ordered the margherita with arugula. We were anticipating something truly memorable, as even the people sitting next to us who were Ken's veterans raved about the pizza. What we got was memorable, alright - a small round of crust that appeared to have at one time had some sauce on it (but had been scraped off), several quarter-sized lighter spots that almost looked like a tip of the hat to cheese. Unfortunately, none of that was visible at first because of the 3" PILE of arugula leaves topping the entire 'thing.' I say 'thing,' because I refuse to concede that this was actually pizza. Had it not been so ridiculous, we would have returned it and walked out, but we were just speechless. Clearly, the people rating this place with four and five stars have never really had a real pizza. To them, I say try Amalfi's, then see if you ever consider going back to Ken's. Unbelievable. . .
(1)Laura C.
I'd heard very good things about this place for a while now so I was excited a friend decided to throw her birthday dinner here. While I don't like it when restaurants don't take reservations, the wait was not that long. I didn't like that they wouldn't seat us until everyone in the party had arrived - since one of our dinner guests was running late. In the end, we had to tell her to not bother coming, since we didn't want to stand around another 30 minutes. I'm not a fan of thin crust pizza, so I can't really be the judge of theirs. However; the other 4 people in my group like it and really loved this pizza. That's not to say I didn't eat it or that I didn't like the toppings, because I did and I did. We got placed by the windows - which felt great since we finally had a sunny day here in rainy Oregon. The only thing better would be if we'd gotten seated outside, but we were too hungry to wait. When asked what the facility used to be, our server stated Ken's had been a paint store...which would explain the paint can light fixtures. I'm all about decor and found that to be very cool. All in all, we had a really nice time and enjoyed our meal immensely. Even the salad with beets was good - but only because of the fabulous cheese.
(4)Emi T.
I was underwhelmed by Ken's Artisan Pizza, but I'm not sure how much of that was the actual pizza and how much was just the high expectations I had for it given all I've ever heard about it. I didn't feel like I had a bad meal, but I also was not impressed enough to be likely to return, given so many other better options in town such as Tastebud or Lovely 50/50. The tomato sauce was a strange combination of flavors, and I felt like the seasoning on the pizza was inconsistent - one big bite full of oregano here, hardly any there. There wasn't enough cheese on the pizza, either, so you really couldn't escape the odd tomato sauce and the over & under seasoned bites. In all fairness, we only tried the one pizza - the squash pizza. The table next to us ordered the Soppressata and that looked much more promising. Our caesar salad was very good, and the apple crisp we had for dessert was also good, although, as they warn you, not served warm. It would have been better warm, but it was good room temperature, too. All in all, I think this might kind of be a taste-preference thing in that not liking the tomato sauce really ruined the pizza for me. If you like the sauce better than I did, chances are you would enjoy a pizza here since the dough/crust was really good, as could be expected from Ken's Artisan. Bottom line: the wait and the hype didn't live up to the experience for me, but it obviously does for a lot of other people, so take it with a grain of salt, I guess. If I'm gonna wait awhile for pizza, it's gonna be somewhere else though.
(2)Dean N.
Heard some great things about the pizza for years and finally went. Had to wait but there was a couple vacant chairs where we could sit and order a drink. Not sure why next door at Bamboo Sushi they serve all customers waiting outside, but here it's only served to customers sitting down. Anyway, we ordered a fennel sausage & onion pizza, a soppressata pizza, and caesar salads all around. Disappointed with the sausage pizza as it had a few, very small crumbles of sausage and could not even see or taste the onions. Not what I was expecting. Soppressata however was excellent, some of the best any of us have had. The hot calabrian peppers gave it a nice kick, plenty of soppressata,.and the crust was exceptional. The salads were also great, perfect dressing. Had it not been for the sausage pizza I would give this place 5 stars. Would definitely go again, just won't order my (usual) favorite pizza next time.
(4)Kelsie L.
With the stellar reviews I guess I had a bit higher hopes for this place. I ate there last Friday with two other couples. No complaints about the wait, although it was long, it's to be expected. Service was good. The pizza was simply OK. Each couple ordered a pizza to share, and we chose the Bacon. The crust was completely burned on about 75% of the edges. Pretty big disappointment after a long wait with that price tag. Oh well. Might return again since I live so close, but it's not somewhere I'd hype up and recommend to all my friends.
(3)Francesca P.
Never, I repeat NEVER, did I imagine I would find proper pizza outside Italy. I am a pizza snob because of my childhood upbringing in Verona and my study abroad in Siena, plus a million other family related trips all over Italy (my mother is properly Italian). Anyway, we moved to Portland in the 90's. And we never went out for pizza as a family, because the pizza was not up to the cut supposedly. In Italy, we went out for pizza all the time. It was an occurrence I sorely missed as a tween/teenager already dealing with culture shock. I loved and missed pizza. Oh sure, I appreciated the deeper dish, non wood fired oven stuff I ate with my friends for what it was - but I did wonder about finding a fantastic pizza joint. A place that would rival Italy. A place my mom would even find worthy of going to, and suffering the wait time for. Ken's is that place. The pizza hits the spot in a big, big, way. I love the arugula pizza. Fennel sausage is good, so is the Soppressatta. They are all good, actually, every one. Order whatever. Service is good as well. Also their appetizers are really lovely - melon wrapped with prosciutto is my personal favorite. Cute guys slinging pizza dough around as well. Tip: go for an early dinner, or late dinner in order to avoid massive queues, or go on a weekday. For $15 it is not to pricey either - they could charge more. For example, Campagnolo in Vancouver BC, and Serious Pie in Seattle both charge an upward of $17 on their pizzas, and they are smaller and inferior to Ken's. Also, just an aside: by all accounts Ken himself is a lovely bloke who really looks after his place. Can't hurt. Did you know his last name is: "Forkish"? I find that delightful.
(5)Jon F.
Some of the best pizza in Portland. I had the sopprassata which looked more like pepperoni than I was used to seeing in NY, but it was really good and spicy...exactly how I like it. Oh, and the pizza is thin crust so very easy to share. Oh, If you have to wait there are some bar areas in the back where they will serve you drinks and simply hand a ticket to you for your server when the table is ready so no need to settle a bill twice.
(4)Isaac S.
I was looking forward to eating here - Ken's has been recommended to me by more than a few people. My girlfriend and I walked in on a not very busy Sunday evening and were immediately seated at a table that was very close to two others. My girlfriend thought she would move to another side of the table, where there was more room, and so we could better hear each other. The hostess immediately swooped in and said "I'm going to need you to move back." That's the kind of thing you hear from a police officer when he's about to arrest you. "Sir, I'm going to need you to step away from the vehicle." As much as we wanted to stay, this was a pretty terrible start to the evening. We went up to the bar to tell the hostess that we were disappointed in how she handled the situation. The staff gave us nasty looks, as if we would deign to ask them for something. It could have been dealt with simply by just seating us at a different table, but the hostess had the exact same response. We left and had a much more friendly experience (and delicious pizza) at Oven & Shaker. How's the pizza? Who knows, and who cares, if the staff is that rude?
(1)Travis S.
Wonderful pizza! Ken continues to produce excellent food, restaurant after restaurant.
(5)Joe S.
...we rank Ken's equally high on two different lists: Delicious, Quality Food and Absolutely Craptastic Service. * The following review is based upon our last 3 visits over 2 months - we can no longer write-off the terrible experiences to 'just a bad day' here... Historically one of our favorite PDX spots, we've been fans of Ken's pizza since he was experimenting with the recipes at the Bakery even before opening this place. We like Ken and love the pizza! But even this high admiration cannot override the terrible service staff here. Tenured diners and experienced service industry folks of old, we appreciate the hard work it takes to be a server in a busy place while keeping your 'game face' on...but its not impossible to do and is expected in even the much-lesser quality and priced restaurants throughout the world. But not at Ken's. If good service were the expectation here by the owner and management, then the entire service staff would have long-ago been handed pink slips and been replaced by the legions of great servers in PDX who would love to work in this busy, pricey restaurant. Ken's has lost two previously rabid fans in us. Pull it together, Ken. and teach the staff some customer-focused manners and common-kindness or replace them with more deserving professionals and then we'll return. We sincerely hope you can up-the game here, because we miss your delicious pizza already! Good luck...
(1)Seth H.
Ken's has an amazing reputation, but I didn't feel like the food lived up to the hype. It was OK, but I felt the same as another reviewer...just not great.
(3)Steve S.
The quality and the service here really stands out. Glad I found out about this restaurant for our short trip to Portland.
(5)Matthew N.
Outstanding pizza and great atmosphere. Worth the wait at the weekend for the simple fresh ingredients and thin pizza crust.
(4)Corrie H.
So, we finally went. Only some four years after first saying we needed to go. We arrived well before the restaurant opened, even though it was a weeknight, because we were expecting an epic, Apizza-Scholls-style wait. Nope. The sidewalk was empty: just us and one other man. A small family group appeared about three minutes before the restaurant opened. And that was it. No line whatsoever. But as we entered the restaurant, we realized we were super glad to be the first in the door, because there was exactly one awesome table for two, and we got it. Score! Many of the tables are communal, or nearish to the door, but ours wasn't. The atmosphere was excellent: industrial woodsy chic, people eating food with ecstatic faces, impassioned foodie waitstaff. We loved it. We also loved our veggie plate appetizer. It was amazing: the sweetest butternut squash, a startling caper cauliflower, and brussel sprouts to die for. You must promise me, this instant, that you will order the veggie plate. I mean it. Promise. Now. Our pizzas were pretty awesome by almost any standards--they just weren't quite as awesome as Apizza Scholls. That being said, Ken definitely knows what he's doing. We had an unctuous mushroom pizza and a meaty Soppressata. Yum. Highly worth it.
(5)Laura H.
Really don't need to go into specifics about the menu of this place -- it's pizza, wood fired, and any selection will be delicious. We've also had a few different wine selections, as well as the veggie appetizer, which were excellent pairs to the main focus of the pizza. Went there a couple times, once for my birthday, and the 3 stars is mainly for the service. I felt that they don't handle a busy restaurant very well; it's always packed with at least a half hour waiting time before getting seated. The most recent time: once we were at a table, i felt the wait staff was a little painful. We were waiting on her, actually. She seemed uninformed, preoccupied, and not very friendly overall. It was about getting people in and out because the busier they are, the more money they make. Oddly enough, we felt rushed to leave the table as soon as our checks arrived. We'll go back, I'm sure, but only because I prefer wood-fired pizza and really enjoy the atmosphere.
(3)Frank Lee F.
Food alone is easily 4.5 - 5 stars consistently. Service last time in was just unfortunate. Haven't been by in a while and didn't realize the take out policy changed (no phone in orders any longer). Totally understand, given the limitations of the oven and how busy they usually are. The dining room wasn't busy and my food was up in a snap. Sadly, the hostess seemed like a sleepy hipster - disinterested and unfriendly. If you're that tired or bored at your job maybe you should stay home. It sours the enjoyment of the food, especially since I'm plunking down a nice chunk of change for a smallish pie & roasted veggies. I know this is Portland and sincere present enjoyable service is sometimes a sublime find, but a little finesse and a smile aren't that hard to muster. Saving grace was the warm smile from one of the guys cooking. Thanks for that, man... I'll be back because we love your food, but please put some of that friendliness back on the menu. Cheers!
(3)John L.
Went back again and Ken did not disappoint. I tried 3 salads and loved them all. Smoked salmon, green salad, and the caesar. If I had to choose one I probably would choose the caesar. We went with a big group with lot of infants and despite their standing policy of no reservations and the whole group must be present, they were very accommodating. Only thing that sucks about this place is the parking and long lines.... but definitely worth it.
(5)Holly L.
I love Ken's pizza. I hate the long long long wait. I hate that you can't take out on certain days. I hate all the restrictions, but I love the food...so much! I pretty much like all the pizzas but if i had to choose I'd choose one of the ones with meat.The soppressata, the fennel sausage with onions, or the prosciutto. But, you can't go wrong with the plain,simple margherita & arugula.
(5)Joe C.
Wow...I consider myself a pizza aficionado, but never tired Ken's due to being in a rut. My wife and I went there last weekend and we have been craving it ever since. By far the best pizza I've had in 50 years!
(5)Karen M.
Apizza Scholl's: shut your bitch ass mouth - I'm talkin' about Ken's. Best pizza I've ever had. Anywhere. We started with the roasted veggie plate: Spring onions with favas, smoky asparagus, and roasted beets and carrots. Definitely enough for even three people to share. We were having trouble deciding on a pizza, especially after the group of guys sharing the family table with us ordered what looked to be one of each. The server must've seen the longing in my eyes and asked which ones we'd narrowed it down to. The carnivores in us wanted the soppresatta but the veggie lovers in us thought those spring onions would make a damn fine pizza. Although the crust is so wonderful that they must cook it at a temperature close to that of the fires of hell, the server proved to be an angel and suggested adding the soppresatta to the onion pizza - bypassing red sauce which is always fine by me. With a bottle of valpolicello on board we were set. The mozzarella was as close to the texture of butter as I've ever tasted. The meat was a little crunchy from the hell fire and wonderful. I think this is the best deal in town right now - $12 for a little slice of heaven. Our dinner was a little more spendy given the app, glass each of beer and wine while waiting, plus the bottle of red. If Ken's does takeout I am in serious, serious trouble.
(5)Mellie K.
I'm not really sure how to rate Ken's. The atmosphere is modern & warm (lots of wood and natural light) and the service is solid. Our calamari appetizer was delicious: roasty, spicy, tomato sauce & tender calamari. We had to wait a while for our pizzas but were grateful to have gotten a table and convinced it would be worth it from all the hype we've heard and seeing others' pizzas rush by. We ordered a Margherita w/Arugala and some sausage/red onion/pepper combination. They were wood-fired & beautiful...but NOT pizza... I would describe Ken's pizza as flatbread or "minimally-topped pizza for the cheese-a-phobic...who just enjoy the idea of eating pizza." The crust has nice texture but isn't as flavorful as others...e.g. Apizza Scholls. The ingredients are good and the execution is solid for what it is...but DON'T COME HERE IF YOU WANT PIZZA. You'll leave full of good bread but unsatisfied. Where is the cheesy goodness & robust sauce?? I don't even like cheese that much but know dried flecks of parmesan does not count as cheese. Is this what the term "artisan" implies? I suspect it was partly because I was craving pizza and partly because this place is SO hyped up (as rivaling Apizza Scholls)...but overall it was a disappointment. Sorry Ken & co. You make good bread, but I just can't call this pizza.
(3)Beth W.
Efffing delicious but not worth waiting 1.5 hours so arrive at opening time. The pepperoni is like crack. They probably call it something else, but it's meat cut in circles cooked on top of cheese and dough with tomato sauce. Service has always been okay, although they make me a little nervous. I don't why. Oh, it's because they know I won't be ordering all the really expensive stuff, like wine. I go here like one every year or two, 'cause I prefer the vibe at Nostrana's late-night happy hour. WAY more affordable on a teacher's salary and with a great, golden warm vibe...ooohhhh...Beth Willie feels another yelp review coming on. Go Ken. I like you when a rich uncle is buying. Oh, and sometimes they give you free bread and sometimes not. I've noticed when the uncle is around the free bread comes and when he isn't you have to awkwardly ask for it. I must look like a hobo!
(4)Sara S.
Failure on service. Close to failure on food. Here's the deal, it was my husband's birthday and neither of us wanted to cook. So we thought to try someplace we've never been before, Ken's Pizza. When we walked in there was only one couple waiting, and were told it was going to be twenty minutes. So we were ushered over to "the bar". Not the actual bar where someone would ask if you wanted a drink and actually serve you, but more of a shelf on the wall with a stool, that if you sit on it obstructs the pathway. I waited twenty minutes for a glass of wine, because when the host brought it back she also told us a table outside was ready. It was a lovely evening, the sun was setting and the sky was that magical pink color. We enjoyed our $9 glasses of wine while we waited for our server to acknowledge that we existed. Finally he showed up with a "hey guyssss, what's up?" I hate that, greet me like a professional, act like you actually give a crap. So, I was feeling pretty uncomfortable at this point but, I really wanted to have a good time. We placed our order, a caesar salad, calamari, mushroom pizza and a sausage pizza. The croutons were burnt on one side. Which means someone else didn't give a crap, forgot them in the oven and chose to serve them anyway. The calamari was really good, it was stewed in a spicy red sauce and served over two big slices of baguette. This dish would be pretty hard to mess up, and luckily they didn't. So we finish our apps, and ordered a second round of wine, and enjoyed the setting sun. Just when our pizza comes (no wine yet) it starts pouring rain!! The server doesn't even make an attempt to help, just says "oh this is weird", drops our food and walks away! Our normal server is no where to be found as usual, but the host comes back and straight away offers boxes to go! I hadn't even taken one bite, NO I don't want it to go!! I look inside the dining room and the first thing I see is a big empty table...."what about that seat right there, why can't we just move there". She seriously says to me, "well, there are people waiting for that table". I got super pissed... I tell here that we waited forever already and now that we actually have our food and it's pouring you wouldn't consider seating us at an open table? What the hell, Epic fail!!! Come on, seriously that just reeks of inexperience, unprofessionalism, and total lack of common curtesy. Then some other dude shows up with our wine in the middle of me about to lose my shit, and goes" do you still want this?" Me, "NO, I don't want it, and I don't want to pay for any of this, this service is unbelievable!!" Then, of course the server that was MIA, shows up with a bill for $76 . And just to note, the table that 'people were waiting for 'was still empty!! As I try to get my pizza in a box (with no offer to help from the staff), and keep my composure, I look over to my husband and smile and say "Happy Birthday, I guess we were destined to have pizza at home with a movie." I should have walked out and not paid for anything, but I don't roll that way, instead I'm leaving a nasty message on Yelp, and I can guarantee Ken will hear about it directly. Oh, and the pizza, makes really shitty take out! The outside crust was charred and yet the inside was partially baked, elastic and gummy. The toppings were really sparse and nothing exciting. I make better pizza at home for las than half the price. So if you decide to go, get ready to wait awkwardly for a while, eat expensive pizza and then possibly get booted out before you can even take a bite. There are so many other restaurants in this town that would Love my business, and that have umbrellas in case rain happens! This experience just reinforced that I should stick to those and cook at home from now on. Sorry Ken you don't get my vote.
(2)Andy D.
I walked in on a weeknight to place a to go order and it took 5-10 minutes for any form of acknowledgement. However, once I placed my order the pizza came out quick, was reasonably priced, and most importantly delicious. The crust was crisp but not hard and had that wonderful wood oven char. I have read a few complaints about not enough cheese - I found the cheese to be adequate and certainly would not want a gooey mess on this style of pizza. I had the soppressata pizza, and both the meat and the basil leaves were wonderfully fresh. It's easy to compare this to Apizza Scholl's - they're close by and at the top of Portland's game. If I were taking out-of-towners to one, I would choose Apizza. Thankfully, living in Portland provides opportunity to enjoy both 5-star pizzerias.
(5)Inga B.
I liked this place. Decor was nice, lighting well done, very relaxing atmosphere. Like most places in Portland, the beer selection was good. Pizza was good as well. Creative toppings. I was with a group of 4, we ordered a bacon pizza and sausage fennel pizza. Both very good. I would definitely come back.
(4)Jessi G.
Not sure what the fuss is all about. Do you think that just because the place might be poppin' and it got a bit o' hype, it must be good? I've tried it twice, and by god, if it wasn't some eh' ingredients on top of ketchup. Seriously. The space is nice, but I don't get it. The antipasto was overpriced and the caprese pizza was mediocre at best. Come hither my tiny sheep, follow suburbia to shit-town.
(1)Meghann M.
I used to think that pizza was like bagels...the further west you go, the worse they get. My best pizza experience was in the North End of Boston (no, not New York) followed closely by a pizza I had...on Maui. Yes, Maui. So you see, this kind of messed with my pizza perception. Ken's is a close third. Ken's pizza is just good old, plain, done well pizza. Not a whole lot of fancy schmancy ingredients, which some people appear to have a complaints about. This is okay with me. When I want "pizza" I want it to taste like "pizza" and not like Pad Thai. If I want Thai chicken anything, I will eat at a Thai place. See how that works? We got there early so we didn't have to wait, but I can see where the wait might be an issue. The husband got the Pizza Margherita and I had the soprassata (spicy salami). The crust is just perfect, the sauce is just perfect, it is all just perfect. It will be a treat for us. We're not on a $13.00 per pizza budget at the moment (it was our anniversary), but we'll be back next time mother-in-law gifts us with some "have some fun money" for sure. Next time I will be having the fennel sausage and onion pizza. The star reduction is a sympathy reduction for the table next to us whose order appeared to have been forgotten. The situation was remedied quickly, but I know if it would have happened to us, they would have been dinged.
(4)Josh B.
With so many comparing the quality and taste to Apizza Scholls I was sure that this was going to be a great pizza experience. However after eating there the only thing on my mind is "how does this place have everyone fooled?" The pizza is not good, not good at all. I understand that when eating brick oven pizza the crust will appear black, but its not burnt, the pizza i was served at Ken's was burnt. The toppings were okay, nothing special. What is it that makes people give this place so many great reviews. The long-never ending lines? The high douchebag ratio? The crappy pizza and family seating in which you are sure to be seated by at least two douchebags? I don't get it.... The bottom line is that this place is a hype-train who's only stops are "disappointment" and "wait in line some more". I never thought I would say this but i would have rather been at Rocco's pizza on Burnside (read my review) than this place. I won't be going back.
(1)Catherine E.
I went to Ken's for dinner this past Saturday. There was a hefty crowd but seeing as we were a party of 2 who love to sit at the bar, we were seated right away. The bf had a tasty dark hefeweizen that was new to him per suggestion of the bartender/server. We shared a pizza - the mozz/basil and arugala - and the bacon/apple/greens salad. Both were delicious and we left with two pieces of pizza leftover. Cozy small atmosphere, reasonable prices and the service was excellent.
(5)Von R.
So yummy! Pizza as always crisp and well balanced topping. Always enjoy sitting at the bar. Don't tell the others, but we walked right in and got a seat right away. Did think the roasted veggie salad was a bit skimpy for the price.
(4)Devon D.
Great pizza + classy/bustling atmosphere + yummy wines to pair = awesome! Service is friendly and nicely timed. Crusts are thin with a nice crunch, and ingredients are tasty-fresh!
(4)John K.
It's a good sign that I look forward to the lamb and pita appetizer here as much as the pizza. They're both wonderful. I have avoided weekend peak times when visiting, and in general, have had pretty good luck getting seated without an unreasonable wait. The service has always been pleasant and professional, and being able to watch the pizza oven activity adds to the enjoyment. Ken's is up there with Escape From NY as a favorite for pizza in Portland - very different experiences, very different styles of pie, but both are regularly what I crave.
(5)Raechel S.
Wine great! Service great! Great for kids (although time to get kids safe cups and not heavy glasses) Pizza was great, we ordered 3 and love them all.
(5)Becky L.
Seriously one of the best pizza in town. I highly recommend the sopressata pizza.
(5)Jeff M.
I had heard about the lines that build at this place. I arrived at about 4:35 PM; first one at the door. About 45 seconds later, a horde of about 20 soon followed. Honestly, you'd think this was a concert venue, not a pizza place. If you're not one who likes waiting and would rather stab yourself in the eye, you may want to take the time to get there early. This is a pretty huge place actually, seating wise. A lot of the country's best pizza places aren't generous with the amount of seating, a real nice plus about Ken's. If you grab a seat by the windows, it's great for people watching, not only people outside, but you also have a view of the guys at the oven. This was my first time here. As per usual, I ordered the margherita, the barometer of comparison. I wasn't surprised; this is delicious pizza. Damn! The dough and crust is tasty, sturdy, doughy, crispy, and chewy. Since the dough is fantastic, anything added is just a plus. Sauce, cheese, used newspapers, broken glass, it'll be delicious because of the greatness of the dough. I love the simplicity of the margherita; the quality of the ingredients shine through. This is indeed artisan pizza. My only regret is that I wish I had three other stomachs: I could have ordered three more pizzas off the menu. No brainer if you're visiting Portland like me. Stop here and behold one of the country's best pizzas!
(5)Paolo D.
Best pizza in town, atmo. If you want to taste the closest thing to real Italian pizza in PDX Ken's is the place. The toppings on some of the pizzas are a bit different but still very tasteful.
(5)Sophie M.
I wanted to like this place. The pizza left a lot to be desired in the crust (way too thin in the center), sauce, cheese, topping and taste department. Salads and roasted vegetable plate were better. The atmosphere is nice but the wait could be long depending on the time of the day.
(3)Skylor P.
I went to dinner here last week for the second time and I was very pleased both times. The first time was with a friend and Ken was there, we had a minute to talk with him. He remembered my friend's name from the last time she was in and was a wonderful conversationalist. The second time I went in with my boyfriend and it was a wonderful little date, especially for two people who don't normally go on "dates". It was laid back enough that it didn't feel too formal but it was far nicer than any pizza place I have ever been to! Keep up the great work team.
(5)Lindsey S.
This is definitely the best pizza in Portland! I love the atmosphere and the service is great. And there Caesar salad is amazing.. And the croutons.. I'm always raving about them. :D The only downfall is it's always busy and there's usually always a wait when Ive been there... But it's SO worth it! I've heard a lot about Apizza scholls.. So I tried it and was not impressed.. Don't get me wrong the pizza was alright, but the wait was SO much longer than I've ever waited at Kens.. And it wasn't worth it.
(5)Deanna N.
I forgot in all the pizza openings in PDX as of late, how consistantly good Ken's is, probably one of the best. We shared three pizzas - the salty yum of the bacon, the spicy soprasetta and the sweet chanterelle mushroom. The closes thing to tuscan pizza on Italy this is.
(5)Jen H.
Ken's Artisan Pizza is a popular pizza joint for locals. The restaurant is nuzzled between the neighborhoods in the east side of Portland. Pizza Talk: Dough is light and chewy making a great foundation for the pizza. Great breading with great ingredients on top An order is enough to feed a party of 3 Thin Crust Service: We were taken care of from beginning to end (4 stars) Salad: Green Galore; love the dressing and all the fresh greens! PS American Express not accepted and come early to avoid the wait!
(4)Serene E.
I don't live in Portland, but my family raved about this place so they took me. My mom insisted we go right when they opened at 5:00 pm because of the wait (no reservations), but we arrived at 5:30 and hurried to put our name on the list ( 6 of us), and Bam! Hour and a half! We almost left, but thought maybe we could order drinks and sit on the chairs lined up outside. It ended up being the perfect idea, granted it was probably the nicest weather Portland has had in 6 months. We were probably only 20 minutes into enjoying our drinks, when the hostess came out and said she should have a table soon! The menu is pretty standard which I like. We ordered 2 Caesar salads, and 3 pizza's for 6 of us. We definitely could have ordered another pizza or two, but it was enough. The Caesars were excellent, and the pizza's were delicious. There is a lot of crust on their pizza's but it is light and crisp. I left a lot of crust on my plate. I enjoyed the sausage fennel pizza and the hot peppers they put on the side for us. The bill came out to $109 for 6 of us. Including drinks. Very reasonable. :)
(4)Ritu K.
I'm going to preface this with one simple fact- pizza is my absolute fave and Ken's gets it right. The dough is perfectly chewy and delicious, not charred, oily or falling apart. The sauce and ingredients are top notch and we hungrily devoured our two pies- The Napoli and the Sausage and Onion (yes I felt like a heifer). Service was quick and we somehow beat the line that formed right after we arrived. The only downer was the Caesar Salad- needed a lot more anchovies. Oh and the wait looks like it could be cumbersome. Not sure if I could stand there ogling happy customers devouring their delicious pies. Besides Ned Ludd Pizza Mondays, this is my fave Neapoiltian pizza place in PDX. Rest assured, we will be back!
(4)Kayla J.
No one would argue that the food here is great but the service SUCKS. I met up with friends here last week and I was about 20 mins late but we had a large group (about 6-8 people) so one more person shouldn't be a big deal, right? The wait staff made a scene over us trying to pull one chair over to the end of our long table - made one of us stand and wait while they practically had a staff meeting trying to figure out just what to do with ONE more person. They kept telling me "well, if we had known you had a larger party" - really? One more person? It's not like a party of five turned into a party of ten. Mind you, there was an empty table of four right next to us! During the whole ordeal no one ever even offered me a water, never mind a glass of wine or a menu. We ended up moving two of us to a different table, so needless to say none of us will ever return.
(1)Jonah K.
Kens is by far my favorite pizza place around. I've lived in Portland my entire life and have never experienced anything quite like it anywhere else in Portland. The atmosphere is wonderful. It's very cozy and warm. I always appreciate an open kitchen if it's beautiful, and it is. Although I know how weird it can be to have customers watching you while you're cooking. The service there is fantastic. Especially because I'm a regular and they know me well. Even when I wasn't a regular, they were always fantastic. I especially appreciate how great they are even when the restaurant is beyond busy and they're still adding to the wonderful atmosphere. The pizza is out of this world. My favorite anywhere in Portland. Even though it can be a little pricey, it's completely worth it. I always order the Soppressata. I love spicy food, and it does the trick. Thank you to everyone at Kens. Keep doing what you do!
(5)Krista G.
Finally after 28 years and 6 days, ok not that long but a while and you wanna know what finally brought me here???? an hour and a half wait at my favorite pizza spot even though we were there when the doors opened! Thank you Ken's for only being a 45 minute wait on a Saturday night:) I love the bright openness of the restaurant itself. I had a perfect view of the kitchen and watching the staff work was pretty bad ass all on its own. We ordered three pies and the one with bacon on it was so mind blowing good I don't even care to talk about the others, that one was the WINNER! I ate 3 big ass slices and washed them down with a yummy Pilsner. Beer, pizza, friends...REPEAT!
(4)Ariel S.
What can I say? Wood fire cooked pizza-made to order, fire roasted veggies, amazing fresh authentic Italian salads, good beer and wine...? Who needs anything more?
(5)Drew M.
This place is pure heaven!!! Best pizza in Pdx hands down!! My next favorite is oven and shaker! The people here are very nice, place is clean, good beer!! Not much more to say but go there and Enjoy!!!!
(5)Daniel A.
While I have eaten at Ken's many times, the attitudes of the staff finally got me to write the review that has been in my head for a while. The food here is very good; the freshest salads I have had. But the staff sucks. They totally act as if they are doing you a favor to seat and serve you. A week ago Sunday I called 5 times with a question, finally leaving a voicemail as well. To date, still have not heard back. I had a friend in town that was gluten intolerant and my simple question was, do you have gluten free pizza? Well despite calling early in the evening and no one answering 5 times, I finally left a message. Again to date, not the courtesy of a response. So while the food is good, do yourself a favor and spend your money at the many Portland restaurants that actually care.
(1)Flavia A.
The bad news first: you will wait a ridiculously long time to get in. The good news: it's worth it. Some of the best pizza in town. And, it's WAY WAY better than the Ken's pizza they do on Monday nights only in NW Portland. The other location serves up dry, brittle and ingredient-shy pizza. This one, here in SE, provides you foodgasm pizza. Especially the bacon pizza. Just trust me. Corkage is $20/bottle, which is kind of a bummer. But the wait staff is friendly, outgoing and does a great job of making people comfortable for the long wait. The crust is thin and they gave you just the right amount of sauce/cheese to meat ratio. Among my faves are the aforementioned BACON (out of this world), potato and speck, and soppresata. And, very fun - you can order each pizza with a heaping of arugula placed atop. Go now! You'll love it.
(5)Rusty S.
Wow..... Great pizza. There WILL be a wait. Open at 5 and if you show up at quarter till you'll be on a wait list. Good beers! Good pizza! What else can you ask for? NOTHING!! Go here. Go here Now!
(5)Lemmy E.
Consistently amazing Neapolitan style pizza Great wine list Everything that comes out of that oven is great. Please refrain from coming if 1- you hate waiting a bit 2- you like your pizza covered with cheese (see Pizza Hut) 3- you think the perfectly charred edges of the pie are burned 4- you like the servers at TGIF cause they are fun and have buttons on their uniforms
(5)Scott S.
Best pizza in Portland hands down. Server was fantastic. Expect to wait to get in, but not as long as you'd expect for the quality.
(5)Angela L.
The pizza at Ken's is amazing. I mean, hands down, the best pizza in Portland. For the ten minutes it took me and my boyfriend to devour the perfectly prepared Arrabiata pie with the perfect amount of sauce, mozz, basil and hot peppers on the magically thin and blistered crust, we actually forgot about the shitty service. OK, so it took 45 minutes to be actually served that pizza even though we arrived when there was no waiting list (which is a small miracle for Ken's). And yeah, they put us at a table outside and completely out of eyesight despite the fact that tables inside were opening up (there was just the two of us, so I guess our option was outside or at the bar). But there's no excuse for a server to only show up once to light a candle.... He didn't even serve us our pizza, another guy did. Our server walked by, nodded, and we never saw him again. We waited another 30 minutes for the check and had to go inside and ask another server to write up our tab because our guy left for the night. The four guys who busted their asses shoveling excellent pizza in the oven all night are the only reason we didn't just leave without paying after such shit service.
(2)Jordan C.
We heard that there was no way we'd get in on a Friday with 9 people (3 kids and one baby), but we arrived at 5:30 and were seated right away. Staff could not have been nicer. If we lived in Portland, we'd definitely go back. Delicious pizza and the roasted vegetable salads were awesome.
(5)Nuria C.
I thought Pirilo pizza in Puerto Rico was the best pizza I'd ever had (yes, the Puerto Rico in the Caribbean), but Ken's is just as good and, it's in town! The pizza comes piping hot out of the oven and the crust is thin but fluffy with great texture. They have a variety of pizzas. We had one Capicolla and another Prosciutto. They sliced the prosciutto fresh right as the rest of the pizza came out of the oven. They told us they constantly rotate their menu, too, so there's always some new pizza to try. It was top notch deliciousness! Also, do not leave without trying their gelato. I got the affogato, which is two scoops of gelato (in my case, cinnamon and caramel), with a shot of espresso poured over them. It comes with a hazelnut biscotti. Yum! My friend got the chocolate pudding with caramel gelato, caramel crispes, fresh whipped cream and drizzled in chocolate sauce. Given everything I've said, I'm sure you can tell I'm coming back to Ken's soon! It's worth the wait!
(5)Haroun K.
Ken makes a good pizza. The chanterelle mushroom is a great ingredient, and is just short of having real truffles on a pizza. That said, eating here is not a life-changing experience, and if this is Portland's best pizza, then something is wrong. I don't think anyone should be waiting an hour for the privilege. It is a solid pizza, and kind of small, for which you're paying a premium (I think partially just because you're eating at a Ken's place). The ambiance and service are very nice. And the roasted veggie plate (a mere $12) is a great starter. At the core, this Portlandified legend should simply be a neighborhood joint, but it is worth a visit.
(4)Lauren S.
Really, really good. The pizza here was original, fresh, and delicious. The wait is longish, but a pizza for two and a bottle of wine is the epitome of a perfect date night. Also the atmosphere is really nice. Oh yeah, get dessert. Just do it.
(5)Anna R.
Came here this past Thursday night and it was alright. Luckily there was no wait and we got sat right away. My friend and I shared the olive pizza and a Caesar salad. I must admit I hate places where you have to cut up your own Caesar salad. Isn't that what I'm paying you for? But it was pretty fantastic and our server was awesome so overall it was a great experience.
(4)Mario C.
I went to Ken's Artisan Pizza on a Sunday evening and there was no wait. Ken's pizza is definitely up there with some of the best pizza places in the country. After having authentic Neapolitan style pizza in Italy I've been on a quest for it in the states, and have been successful at a few places around the country. Once you get the fresh ingredients with wood-fired dome oven down, these pizzas all taste the same(which is a great thing). Where you can differentiate yourself is the ambiance coupled with a great beer and wine selection. The selection was local and the wine selection had a blend of local wines as well as Italian offerings. You will not be disappointed one bit with Kens!
(4)Mark Y.
Best pizza we've had outside of Italy... We are from Seattle, and we've tried the 'best spots' here.. the Delancey, the Bar del Corso.. The Serious Pie... etc.. but nothing compares to Ken's.. it's the standard by which we measure a pizza shop and nothing in the US has come close. We make the 4 hour drive down to do some tax free shopping, and eat at this joint. Pizza dough is perfect, toppings flavorful, beer/wine list is good.. servers friendly. Almost always a wait of some sort..but that goes with the territory of being the best. Been here 4-5 times now.. nothing has ever been burnt.. bottom line: the pizza is perfection.. and taste is amazing and rivals the pizzarias in Italy. As good as it gets.
(5)Evelyn S.
My pizza tasted great or else this would be a 2 or 3 star review. Sadly 2-3 inches around the outside was burnt. They use the fairly common excuse that because it is Wood Fired its not burnt, its just the way it is when you use that kind of oven. That answer never fails to annoy me especially when the pizza that is set in front of one of my friends has a lovely golden brown crust with no burnt areas in sight. The service was friendly. The atmosphere was clean and inviting. Some of the seating is shared. My pizza tasted just like it was made fresh in Napoli (Naples), every bite that was not burnt was incredible. I will go back, and I will beg them to be a bit more careful with the placement of my pizza in their oven.
(4)Mallory K.
Great Pizza! Thin crust only Menu says that pizza serves 1-2 people but I could not imagine eating one on my own. Tables are kind of close together so if you want some private space do not come here. Great attentive service.
(5)Paul V.
Here's the deal folks - I love Portland, and I love Pizza. If you love either of those two things, or are in the process of growing to love them, you need to come to Ken's Artisan Pizza. Star 1: How was the service and atmosphere? Fantastic. Tucked away on 28th, Ken's is an absolutely charming spot for lunch, dinner, or just to hang out if the weather's good. Service is fast, friendly, professional and knowledgeable, and you really can't ask for more than that. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? Alas, my one gripe. For whatever reason, everyone's favorite late night eat is rolling in at premium prices these days, and Ken's Artisan Pizza is no different. My 12" Prosciutto pizza came in at $15.00 pre-tax and tip, and while I'm quickly learning to expect that from specialty, higher-end pizza spots in and around the United States, I haven't given second stars the other recent times I've paid as much for a 12" pie, and I can't quite justify it here. No Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? Marvelous. One of my disappointments with specialty pizza these days is that establishments claiming to be authentic go a bit overboard, and you end up with some bread topped with sauce that has a slab or two of cheese covering about 30-50% of the overall pie. Fortunately, Ken's does the exact opposite. Not only was there a hearty portion of cheese on my pie, but the thinly sliced prosciutto was topped so that it made an entirely new layer on the pizza. Check it out: yelp.com/user_local_phot… Next to the favorable topping style, this was an overall excellent pizza. Every flavor popped, and was complimented by a rich and consistent crust that was cooked to perfection. Very, very good stuff. Dual Stars Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? Cost aside, Ken's has among my favorite atmospheres in Portland, and the pizza is absolutely top notch. I would gladly dine here daily. Star Granted.
(4)Jeff W.
Ken Forkish convinced me with my first visit to Ken's Artisan Pizza years ago. This is hands down my favorite pizza place in Portland. Yes I've been to the others people rave about and yes they are great. But there just is something about this place that I just love. It might be the quaint size or the Portland style of kitchens located in the middle of the restaurant. Bottom line is I love coming here to have a great glass of wine and a rustic artisan pizza. Additionally, Ken has nailed it with two other favorites of mine. Ken's Artisan Bakery is hands down the most authentic French croissant you can find in the Northwest as well as his newer Trifecta Tavern was outstanding. Ken, who I've had the pleasure of meeting several times during my visits to all of his Portland establishments, has truly impressed! Enjoy!
(5)Vanessa M.
I think the pizza here is just okay. I do love the atmosphere and the pizza baking right in eye's sight but out pizzas didnt really come out perfect. The crust was cooked perfectly but the inside of the pizza was soft, mushy, kinda gross. For some reason it didn't really cook to the center. I think we might go back and try it again, since maybe it was just where our pizzas were placed in the stove at the time.
(3)Cayce A.
I'd heard so much about the pizza here, but it didn't really live up to the hype. First, the good was that I didn't have to wait nearly as long as I thought I would on a Friday night-- about 20 minutes. They also had a very nice staff, and the atmosphere was cozy and made for good conversation, even though it was a bit loud. The disappointing: The pizza was some of the most bland I have ever have. I feel like they don't salt their pizzas at all, and that's why you're given a dish of salt with your meal. I used up that dish of salt. Even the woodfired crust couldn't make up for the lack of taste in both the Margherita pizza and the Soppressata pizza (which was incredibly spicy, and I'm not all that sensitive to spice.) They also cooked the margherita with the basil on it, which burnt it the basil to an unappetizing crisp. I know everyone already compares the two, but I prefer Apizza Scholls above and beyond Ken's Artisan Pizza.
(3)Heather J.
Ok, Ken's is my second favourite pizza in town. Just because it's second, doesn't mean it isn't amazing. It is amazing. So amazing, I didn't even bother trying any other pizza for the 2.5 years I was hear. (sorry, Apizza just beat you out by a hair). Yes, there is often a wait. But they'll take your cellphone number and call you, so just go have a drink at Holman's down the street and relax. I actually like the atmosphere here a lot more than Apizza's, so if that's your thing, I love getting to watch the wood fire, and all the firewood stacked around. The big windows are nice, especially in the summer when they open them up. The toppings are always fresh and wonderful, the crust tasty (of course it would be, the man makes bread!), and the sauce delightful. I particularly like the white pie, but everyone I have tried so far has been stellar.
(5)Evan K.
Great Pizza. Hard to believe how fast it comes out.
(5)Mark M.
Ken's Artisan Pizza is a wonderful place., and expect a line unless you get there early or late. It is worth the wait. Excellent service, send super atmosphere. The salads and appetizers are beautifully prepared and plated; try the roasted veggies! The pizzas are very good, although sometimes the crust is a little over cooked. Some say a little charring is part of this type of pizza. Maybe. I just do not like it. Definitely a place to go back to again and again.
(4)Gordon M.
Waited 30 mins which seems like a requirement anywhere in Portland. No big deal because all the food was worth it. The caesar salad was simple yet amazing. The pizza had a thin, crispy, Fire-wood charred crust with just the right amount of cheese and toppings.
(4)Rachel S.
This is probably one of my favorite pizzas in Portland. Me and my family came in one night right around 5 pm when the opened and all of the tables were already taken so we had to wait about 45 min. for a table for 5. Waiting was definitely worth it because the food was amazing. We split 3 pizzas, the arugula, the soppressata, and the prosciutto pizzas. All of them were so good. We also had some apps of calamari and Caesar salad. Those were awesome too. I totally recommend coming here even if you have to wait. Worth it!!!
(5)Ryan A.
I'm going to go ahead and give out a five star rating to Ken's. I don't do this often, and the experience wasn't perfect, but I really am eager to go back and that's what it's all about. Right? We went to a place downtown that I would say goes for the same style of pizza as Ken's. That experience was truly awful. Maybe that's why I'm willing to give out a five-star review here. Our pizza was absolutely delicious. It was cooked perfectly. This style of cooking could end up with your pizza being limp or burnt to a crisp, but it was cooked exactly right. The topping were wonderful, as well. Our waiter was great . . . and he left a heart on the bill that he only did for us and never does for anyone else, right? I'll just keep telling myself that. The hostess was terrible. Absolutely terrible. She sat us efficiently and coldly, which was fine, but she was bad the rest of the night. She sat a couple behind us by walking about twice their speed to their table, throwing down the menus and walking away before the couple was even within 20 feet of their table. I'm not exaggerating. She might as well have handed the menus to them and said "go sit over there." She also took our payment and was rude in doing so. The slight bad was obviously not enough to take away from the experience. I'm never eager to head into SE for food, but I'll make a trip into the land that reality forgot for this pizza.
(5)Elyse L.
Best pizza in Portland hands down! I've had top-rated pizza in NYC and this is just as good if not better. It can get quite busy on the weekends so expect a wait. Love the atmosphere and open kitchen, it's very cool to see the pizzas and salads being made.
(5)Cheap F.
Excellent food! Great service even when busy.
(5)Kristin A.
We went here two times on our trip to Portland. We'd heard excellent reviews from our other friends who'd visited Portland, so we were amped to check it out. We arrived five minutes before the restaurant opened and there was already a lineup outside. It was awesome because Ken's had set up chairs outside to sit on while waiting. We were seated at this adorable two person table that had a small garage style sliding door, so we actually got to sit with the door opened. We got the roasted vegetable as a salad to start. So very yummy! There were three different roasted veggie quadrants on our plate and each had it's own amazing flavour profile. For my entree I had the bacon pizza and had a full on bacongasm! I was told they use pork cheek instead of whatever bacons made of and I gotta say, cheek is damn delish! My fella had the sausage and fennel pizza it was equally amazing!! They had great craft beers on tap and the restaurant is beautiful. The oven is super impressive! We actually biked back the next night like mad men to get there before the place closed! It was worth the burning quads. My only slight deduction and the only thing that keeps this from being a 5 is no wi-fi!! I mean I coulda wrote this review much more succinctly and on the spot if I'd had that. With that said all in all, fantastic experience!
(4)Kenneth H.
This is the best fancy pizza in Portland. There will be a wait if you go during regular dinner times, so I usually try and shoot for the end of the evening, or right when they open. I have been many times and everything on the menu is light years beyond amazing. The pizzas themselves are thin, chewy and crispy, sparsely topped with quality local delicacies, well balanced and perfect in every conceivable way. You will not regret the pizza, the service, the atmosphere, or the bill. You will regret showing up at 7:00 pm on a friday.
(5)Brian C.
Definitely one of my favorite pizza places in PDX, the crust and ingredients are great and of course they're cooked in a big wood fired oven and come out piping hot and tasty. They don't take reservations so be prepared for a wait - it's usually a bit crowded for me but there are quite a few seats by the bar and it's not the worst wait in the world. Ken's Artisan Pizza is doing things the right way, and producing good, high quality food. I'm a fan of that.
(4)Sarit W.
Seriously the best pizza in the whole wide world. Best crust and flavor! Makes me want to hoard the whole pizza to myself and become a pizzatarian!
(5)Jacob V.
I never ate here but I called to get a pizza. Waay to many terms and conditions no take put orders on Friday? Who does that and why? Especially in an area with limited parking and seating it's just turns me off.
(1)Elle W.
Went out with a friend. Heard great things about the place. I love Bamboo next door but agreed to give the place a shot. The service was good but did not make up for not have any ingredients on hand- for example, no mushroom for the mushroom pizza. Finally we settled for the basic pizza with arugula. It was just "ok". I do not eat dairy and they told tried to sell us on goats or buffalo cheese. I am allergic! Finally, we looked up and there was a spider web with the spider climbing. It looks pretty gross. Looked at others and saw the same thing. Yuk. Overall the pizza was "ok". I may go back one day to give them a second chance because I have heard such great things but not anytime soon.
(2)Jody M.
Amazing. Best pizza I had in Portland. Salad was really good too. I had to go here after trying the bakery-which was amazing too. Plain margarita pizza-sauce tangy, crust perfect. If I come back this is one place I will definitely revisit.
(5)Sean K.
Margherita with Arugula and Bacon pizza. Simple but amazing. Perfectly baked thin crust that's crunchy at the bottom and fluffy in the middle is very hard to find.
(5)Sherry L.
We visited this place because it was one of the top pizza places in the nation. I definitely see why! The wine options were endless, the salads and prosciutto were really good, the pizza was amazing, and the desserts were even better. With all the places to eat in Portland, I would want to come back here for pizza.
(5)Meghan C.
Okay, okay...this pizza is good. So far, it is one of my favorites in Portland. However, it's still not as good as it should be for all the hype. And I'm not just saying that to be a pizza snob, I swear! Look, I have two favorite types of pizza--the first is authentic Neapolitan pizza, the kind you find in Italy. The second is greasy, cheesy, New York style pizza. Ken's seems like they want to be closer to a Neapolitan-style pizza place based on their claim of "Artisan" pizza and offering of a DOC Margherita and other traditional toppings. So I'm comparing it against similar-style pies. Since the DOC Margherita was sold out, I ordered my second-favorite pizza preparation--proscuitto e rucola--and I tried some of my boyfriend's sausage and onion as well. Here is where Ken's confuses me--the sauce, cheese, and most of the toppings are Neapolitan-style, but the crust is not. In fact, it is very close to New York style! The type of crust you can get anywhere on the East Coast for mega-cheap. And because everyone said that the crust was so "Artisan" and unlike anything they had ever had, I was a little disappointed. When I want Artisan pizza, I want a thin crust that is simultaneously crispy, airy, yeasty, and a little charred--and I'm not compromising. That is why I can't give Ken 5 stars--but I certainly think it's delicious, and I will be back. And hopefully they have the DOC Margherita next time! Update: On the second visit, I finally got my DOC Margherita and the crust was WAY better! It was much more airy and light. Hopefully my first visit was just a fluke, I'll be back to find out!
(4)jason m.
Long wait here. Go next door to Bamboo sushi for cocktails while you wait. They have a beer and wine selection that looks good, Pizza is truly excellent. I love their crust, and the topping selections are varies enough for me. 2nd trip back for daughters 16th birthday party. Had the anchovy citrus salad. It is an odd sounding combination, but it's really good. The anchovies are more like pickled herring. They are not at all like the little salty buggers on many pizzas.(which BTW, I love).
(5)Carolyn B.
The crust had a nice texture and the ingredients were fresh and flavorful. Unlike many pizzas, it was not too salty or heavy. Definitely a nice option for a filling pizza without feeling stuffed. I ordered the pizza with mozzarella, basil, and a really nice pepperoni (not like cheap pepperoni you can find at most places). My husband ordered the sausage and fennel seed. I tried a slice of his pizza and while normally I don't like sausage pizza, I really enjoyed this one. We showed up right when it opened and were seated right away. However, it filled up really fast after that.
(4)Terrell O.
I've traveled a lot and have never had a better pizza anywhere in the world. The sopressata pizza was incredible. I have been to all of the highly rated pizza locations in Portland and none have impressed me as much as Ken's.
(5)Cin H.
The only love triangle I want is a pizza from Ken's Artisan. Delicious and affordable. Love and love.
(5)Todd G.
The pizza is spectacular. The roasted vegetables are among the best vegetable dishes I have every had, and the butterscotch pudding? Well, I would slap my mama for that. Ok, I wouldn't slap her, but I would think about it.
(5)Brent C.
The Portland pizza scene is a bit of an odd bird. While we are blessed with one of the absolute best pizza places in the entire nation with Apizza Scholls, there seems to be a dearth of "good solid pizza" that exists in other places. The west side pizza corridor is dotted with mediocre, overpriced faire like Eat Pizza, Sizzle Pie, Escape From New York, et al. In the meantime, head to the east side of the river and you have a grab bag of experimental pies that make me question the sanity of pizza eaters in Bridgetown (Dove Vivi, Lovelys Fifty-Fifty) or restaurants focusing on the mind-numbingly prosaic Neopolitan pizzas (Nostrana, Firehouse). In between, you have the local chains that are either overpriced (Hot Lips) not so delicious (Pizza Schmizza) or overpriced and not so delicious (Pizzicatto). Ken's Artisan Pizza, meanwhile, serves... well, it's called "artisan" pizza for crying out loud. What do you expect? But, really, it's an artisan pizza place that artisan-ness with a certain pride. It's really easy to go off the rails with this style of pie (I'm looking at you, Ash Woodfired Pizza), sometimes pulling back to the fundamentals and creating a really delicious handcrafted, woodfired pizza can be a revelation. The creme de la creme here is the soppressata. But if you're a sausage fan or a veggiehead, you'll find something worth the trouble. For westsiders, you can enjoy this pizza at Ken's Artisan Bakery on 21st Ave. on Monday nights. While it's not my "preferred" style of pizza, Ken's Artisan is such an amazing version of it that I can't help but bestow upon it "Must-Try" status.
(5)Kathy N.
Ordered the margherita + arugula pizza, the brick oven crust was perfect. It's like FRESH arugula, almost tasted like they just picked it from the garden though :T if the flavor of the pizza was a bit more bold maybe it wouldn't have been too bad. I enjoyed my dine in there, service was great.
(4)Sophie L.
I just love this place. Been here for years. The pizzas are great and they do have a nice wine and beer selection to go with your pizzas. I also like the atmosphere of the place, no rush, just relaxing with a few friends is enough. The service was awesome. Yes, it can be quite busy, so do try to go on the weekday if you don't want a long wait. I would bring Butters(Corgi) on sunny days.
(5)C.W. J.
So I hear all about Kens Artisan vs Appiza Scholls. I have been to both. I went to Scholls in December and Ken's in July. Kens was awesome on a beautiful evening in the River City I waited an hour for a pie in December at Scholls. The pizza was good. So was Kens If I had to choose I would go to Kens, but would be happy to go to both I lived in Portland long before we were a foodie city. All in all I'm quite happy for Portland getting these great restaurants
(5)Momo B.
NO UPS OR DOWN HERE Ordered a roasted veggie appetizer and a prosciutto with basil pizza. Wasn't expecting the entire pizza to be covered in prosciutto. Quality of the topping was excellent. Anymore would have made the eating experience too salty. Our server Andrew was right on top of everything making the first time visit most enjoyable. BTW... the very thick and clear Douglas Fir tables and bar are from the salvaged timber from the one time Jantzen Beach Big Dipper Roller Coaster 1923-1970.
(4)Michael U.
Moving next to one of the less pleasant experiences during my visit to Portland a pre-dinner stop for pizza on Superbowl Sunday took me to Ken's Artisan Pizza just after they opened the doors at 4:00 and arriving to find the place unsurprisingly quiet my issues with the space began with my greeting at the door, where I was told that singles are 'only' seated at the bar. Understanding that a small restaurant may not want to expend a two-top on a single during peak hour and happy enough to sit at the bar under most circumstances I found this a bit odd considering the fact that only one four top and one two top in the entire restaurant was filled when I arrived...and when you take into the fact that less than 25% of the restaurant was occupied when I left 45 minutes later it seemed even more peculiar. Touting Zagat scores, a cookbook, and a laundry list of fine artisan purveyors Ken's is nice enough on the interior - large central tile oven, concrete floors, wood tables, high ceilings and a bar plus a traditional meat slicer and some wood piles...it looks like a pizzeria - but bearing in mind my 'welcome' things really did not get much better once I sat down. Unnamed and unsmiling, a female bartender seemed put-off that I did not want alcohol (note, I did not want to sit at the bar) and sliding a menu before me I ordered what I knew I'd come for, a Prosciutto pizza minus half the prosciutto so I could taste the Margherita on its own...only to be told "we don't do half and half." Explaining that I'd pay for the $15 Prosciutto pie (the Margherita $11) but just did not want meat on half of it the words were uttered again "we don't do half and half" - her eventual compromise being that I could order the Margherita and get a 'salumi portion' of Prosciutto on the side and add it myself...ridiculous, but so I did. Sitting, ignored, with my water glass empty as the bartender fussed at the far end of the bar it would not be long before the pie arrived - along with a plate of pork - and aside from the impossibly flavorless basil (compared to both Nostrana and Scholl's, so not an effect of the season) it was...alright, the crust yeasty and neatly charred, the mozzarella creamy, and the sauce just a touch sweet but certainly not overtly so. Adding the prosciutto to half helped in terms of salinity; and doubling up on a slice was too much as the pork itself was actually quite hefty and wonderfully flavored. Taking half home for my friend I'm told it warmed up admirably in the oven the next day, so kudos to that I guess. Off put at this point but well aware of Ken's Artisan Bakery on 21st (another subpar spot I'd visit a few days later) dessert seemed a good choice, but watching it "prepared" was enough to turn me off to Ken's Pizza for good - the chilled cup of $8 Chocolate Custard coming from the refrigerator, the fresh whipped cream scooped from a container, and two room temperature chocolate cherry cookies plucked from a jar. Realizing that not all desserts are made and baked on the spot and not entirely expecting this the flavors were fine - a sort of rich budino with high quality chocolate, but to watch it be slapped together (by the bartender) in a few seconds from three storage units sort of killed the magic...much like every other bit of 'service' at Ken's Pizza spot.
(2)S C.
Best pizza in Portland. This is not NY pizza, it is delicious artisanal to die for pizza. Waited 45 minutes on a hot August night to dine here and was glad I did! Caesar salad was excellent. Marguerita was extremely flavorful with fresh basil and creamy mozzarella, soprasetta was nice and spicy but not greasy. Prices are very reasonable. Excellent service and charming owner.
(5)Kelly S.
Came here on a Friday night and the wait was about 45 minutes. Totally worth the wait! We got a few different pizza's to try: Prosciutto, Olive, and Capicola. If you like salty, I would highly recommend both the Prosciutto and the Olive. Good choices. Service was fast, and pizza's were served quickly for how busy they were.
(5)Heather S.
My husband started reading Ken's book and we learned something interesting: Ken first tried to make it in Corvallis before settling on Portland. (Ok so all you smartypants Portland hipsters probably already knew that) I'm so glad a small Corvallis neighborhood fought Ken so hard on opening his bakery, because now we get to experience all that he has to offer. Ken's Pizza is wonderful. True wood fired, just the right amount of cheese and sauce and other toppings. I've not been to Appizza Scholls, but I think Ken's is the best in town. We love going there in the summer when the huge windows are wide open. The indoor seating feels like outdoor. Very cozy atmosphere that's for sure. But we don't mind. Thanks Corvallis!
(5)Casey K.
AH! this place is amazing and delicious. their pizza is on the thinner side, but the dough is magnificent. slightly chewy and very well seasoned. i would recommend the prosciutto pizza, hands down. oh, and this also has good beer!
(5)Jenny H.
I think I found my favorite pizza place in Portland :D The funny thing is, I accidentally ended up here. I intended on going to Bamboo Sushi next door, but the wait was too long. Boy am I glad though. I'm not a huge fan of pizza besides a few exceptions like Cheeseboard in Berkeley, but this one was delicious! My favorite part is their thin, chewy crust and light but satisfying flavors. Here's what I tried: CALAMARI ($10) : This oven roasted squid in a spicy tomato + oregano sauce was a nice change from the typical fried calamari. I really enjoyed the spicy flavor, and it was cooked just enough so it's still tender. MARGHERITA & ARUGULA ($13) : My favorite!! I normally don't like to order Margherita pizzas because I'm usually too greedy and want to load up on other toppings and flavors, but this was simple and amazing. The arugula added a very refreshing taste and complimented the mozzarella/tomato/basil wonderfully. The arugula is uncooked and appears to just be tossed on after the pizza is baked, making it feel like i'm eating a salad + pizza combo. Yum~ BACON PIZZA ($14) : I'm a little biased because I don't like bacon much, so I found this pizza to be greasy and just, um, bacon-y. My friends seemed to enjoy this though so I'm guessing bacon lovers will like it I feel like a horrible yelper, but there was one last pizza I tried, but I can't remember what it was called. All I know is it had some spicy ground meat on it and that it was delicious. I feel like after trying 3 of their pizzas, I have a good grasp of how their food is. I love the ambiance of the restaurant too. There's a lot of beautiful wood all over the restaurant, and I vaguely remember reading that the wood is from an old roller coaster ride. Overall, great place! :)
(5)Amy S.
The best pizzas ever. I order takeouts on weekdays since I live nearby. Pizzas are baked in a few minutes to perfection! Their pizzas are thin (gooey and crispy) crust with the perfect amout of sauce and toppings. Absolutely amazing!
(5)Stephanie H.
I have no idea what these people are talking about? My boyfriend and I came in last night, Friday, and were seated immediately by a gracious host. Our service was superb! Our waiter was very attentive and sweet. Our pizza and salad were amazing and my wine paired perfectly with everything( by our server's suggestion). We loved Ken's and will absolutely be coming back!
(5)Dan H.
It had been a long time since my last visit to Ken's. At least 4 years. Probably closer to 5. It is right in my neighborhood, but for some reason it is one of those places that I just kept forgetting about. This is Sue's favorite pizza joint in Portland. I had been craving pizza for the last few weeks and thought we might go there and split a salad and pizza. I mentioned my craving to Sue without mentioning going here and splitting a salad and pizza and she suggested exactly the same thing. This is a good thing. You will wait here, but you already know that. I don't love waiting anywhere, but I will do it on occasion. We waited probably around 30 or 40 minutes on Saturday night until a spot opened up at the bar. We took it even though we would've been happier sitting at a table. The main reason why I hadn't been here for so long is because when I first came here I was probably a year or 2 removed from living back in NJ and I was a bit of a pizza snob. I liked (and still like) my pizza NY style. The whole artisan pizza thing was not something I was interested in at all. Pizza to me should be good, but also inexpensive. Something you can eat with beer while watching a football game. These smaller and expensive pizza's were not of any interest to me. Fast forward 5 years and I still prefer NY style, but I know there is a place for this kind of pie. We got a Caesar Salad ($8) and the Prosciutto Pie ($15). The pie came out loaded with prosciutto and anyone who reads my reviews knows that that is one of my favorite things in this here world. It was fantastic and I honestly could have eaten another one on my own. I didn't. I'm sure it won't be another 5 years until I walk through the doors at Ken's again.
(4)Brody L.
The wait was long but the pizza was delicious. I enjoyed being able to watch the people toss the pizza dough and our server was very nice and didn't seemed rushed when talking to us even though the place was busy.
(4)FoodE Y.
Awesome pizza and service. Here's a comparison with Apizza Schools: Here's the winner of each category: Crust: Ken's (crust is light and one doesn't feel too full after eating here) Tomato sauce: Apizza Schools (depends if you like tangy sauce then AS, if you don't like tangy sauce, then Ken's). toppings: Ken's Service: Ken's HANDS DOWN. Cleanliness: Ken's size of the pie compared to the cost: Apizza Schools Overall, Ken's wins the battle. AS used to be great and the great reviews and loyal customers got to them and then they changed. Ken's is still trying and I hope they continue to try.
(5)Lynn A.
First impression: large group waiting outside and fairly full restaurant, I assumed the wait was about an hour. The hostess promptly came up to me and when I told her the rest of my party was on the way, she was fine with it. She said most of the available tables were outside but then said she thought she could make one work indoors, which she did. We were seated within five minutes. SUCH excellent service, and I really appreciated it. And then the pizza, so good! Not a lot of meat options though, which was fine. They're not breaking any culinary barriers, but the pizza is made very, very well. They make all of their pizzas in a wood fire oven in the middle of the restaurant, which gives it a great ambiance. Although we did not order dessert, we were sitting right next to the dessert bar and woah they looked pretty amazing.
(5)Shy A.
I was surprised that we didn't have to wait a very long time to try out Ken's. We were going to head over to Apizza but I'm glad that we detoured and made our way over to Ken's. The pizza was great-we got the fennel sausage and onions-YUMMO! The crust was light and crunchy and the sausage was really tasty. My only wish that would've made the meal even better? Have alcohol! I would've loved a whiskey ginger! They only serve beer and wine :( The service was outstanding! They even made some room for a +1 that arrived later on. We couldn't have asked for better!
(4)Viswa V.
Pizza is awesome!! But the wait times are crazy long.
(4)Anthony K.
Ken's located right next to my favorite sushi place. God, when I go wanting sushi I smell the Pizza, when I go wanting Pizza I start craving sushi. Ughhh #firstworldproblems. Kens is really good. NO beating around the bush here. I like all of the items on the menu. The calamari plate was eeehhhhh ok but I go there for the pizza. But then again, 3 of us eating are greek so we have a high expectation on calamari. I would like if they didn't charge extra for parmesean for the pizzas but whatchagonnado. I would gladly go back!
(4)Le Sage D.
Good pizza, but not amazing. Really nice wine list. Very good service. The crust is good, I really appreciate good crust/dough on a pizza. We enjoyed watching the dough being tossed, pizzas cooking, etc. The space is pleasant. Nicely done in the wood fire. The sauce... If you've been to Apizza Scholls, well, you will recognize that this sauce at Ken's is lacking...
(4)Ronald A.
Six of us stopped in tonight. I hate lines, so it has been some time since we ate here. Today, we stopped in just after 4:00, just after they opened. Rebecca abs I split the green salad; loved the dates that were included with the salad. We also split the squash pizza. It was plenty of food for the two of us. Friends got Caesar salads and the prosciutto pizza. They were also a hit. The pizza and salads lived up to their reputation and I hope we make it back. My only serious complaint is the prices for wine. They felt a bit steep. Our waiter gave us a bum steer on one bottle. We can avoid that in the future. I am looking forward to our next visit.
(4)Massimo F.
I don't know how a good Thai should be, but I know for sure how a good pizza should look and taste like! Here is the final grade for Ken's after being there so many times: Crust: good enough, they often overcook a bit. Crispy but not crunchy. More NY style then Neapolitan (fluffy). I cannot tell for sure if they use the overnight fermentation as a good dough should have. Topping: not overloaded, that's good. Tomato sauce is too garlicky, bad! Some people like it, but I'm of the opinion that garlic taste should be optional. I always got the tomato sauce TOO much dried up! They overcook it, not good. Their quality is consistent. It is just not the best pizza in town. Still, it is a good pizza! Recommended if you crave for pizza and don't want to risk to get a bad one.
(4)Giggly C.
Just as delicious as their bread. Take out sooo hard, Long wait sucks, otherwise I'd eat here more.
(5)Rebecca C.
This is a good place for artisan pizza, although make sure you eat it while you're there because the leftovers are just not as good. I didn't have to wait as my friends were already seated, but I don't think it'd be worth anything more than 15 minutes at the most. The pizza didn't take very long either. I had the olive pizza, and my friends got the bacon pizza and the margherita pizza. All of them were good, but the olive pizza had the best flavor. I also would have liked a little more cheese on it, but it was still yummy fresh out of the oven. Reheated it doesn't do well. Definitely a nice, open atmosphere and seating area for a summer evening. I'd go again if my friends were going, but probably not on my own to grab some pizza.
(3)George H.
Wow. This place was excellent. We had the Margarita pizza and veggie plate appetizer. Excellent!
(5)Madeline S.
Ken's is a lovely go-to casual Portland spot. I like the wine choices that go well with my individual pizza and the salad is good too. I also appreciate that Ken is there on most nights and makes a point of stopping by our table to see how things are going. I haven't had a pizza here that I didn't like but the wait can be long.
(4)emily r.
My husband took me here on my birthday, and what a birthday dinner it was! We each had a beer and i was reminded of why beer and pizza are served together. It's just right. The pizza was perfectly perfect in every way. I really liked that I didn't need to ask for salt and crushed red pepper. We got there before "the rush" and went on a Thursday, so we didn't have to wait. I recommend this, because I imagine knowing that this delicious pizza is in store for you would make waiting very hard.
(4)Stephanie H.
I love Ken's Artisan Bakery so my sister and I decided to try out Ken's Artisan Pizza while in town. We stopped off on a Sunday night for a quick pre-dinner stop during our own Portland Foodie Tour. We came in around 6pm and it was packed and we still had to wait a good 25 minutes before getting seated. We really didn't want to eat too much so we just ordered a pizza to try. We had the Margherita and Arugula pizza. It was a good thin crust pizza. I've definitely had better but it was okay. There wasn't anything that special about it but it was a decent pizza at a nice restaurant. Maybe I had too high expectations for this place since I love the bakery.
(3)Sonia B.
Good god. Ken's makes some damn good pizza. The first time I went here with my boyfriend he made me order my own pizza and I kind of looked at him like he was nuts. Let me tell you, he wasn't crazy. We both polished off our own pies and were very happy that we didn't have to share. Simple yet delicious. This is a must try!
(4)Andrew Y.
A friend of mine and I sat at a narrow bar, were served up some bread, and absorbed the menu. Unfortunately, the hours are narrow as well, open for five hours in the evening on any given day, limiting the seats available on those busier nights. Fennel Sausage and Onions with hot Calabrian Chiles - came with a thin spread of marinara over an only slightly thicker crust. The edges of the crust were crisp and airy, and chewy when left absent a topping. The sausage was fair, and as suggested by our generous bartender, getting the chiles on the side made better sense for a sensitive mouth. The sausage and grilled onions tamed the heat-packed chiles and the smoky and tang hinted in the crust supported its toppings. Radicchio Pizza - was similarly built to the other: thin, crisp, airy crust, thin layer of sauce, thin layer of cheese. I've been accustomed to the bitter taste of radicchio and was pleasantly surprised that in its preparation to its wood-fire roasting, the flavor softened up and rounded out the pizza. My friend is a vegetarian and chose the grilled radicchio, grilled onions, and blue cheese combo as a 'new' alternative she has yet to have on a pizza. The sizes for personal plates are fine and to share is ideal given the assortment of flavors. It must be warned that these pizzas are thin, and if looking for an overwhelming doughy dine, this will not be the place for such an indulgence. Appetizers and sides exist, but they may become unnecessary when even the restaurant's name suggests the prime eat of fancy.
(4)S K.
Fantastic crusts - I love the initial crispness to the bite that is not too crisp, yielding to the chewy interior. I love the char and the air pockets around the edges. Well-balanced, delicious toppings, flavorful sauce. Don't miss the salads, the oven-roasted seasonal vegetables, and the calamari! I look forward to them equally as much as the pizza. Tip: you may be able to fit all those apps along with sharing a pizza amongst 2 people if you don't eat the bread under the calamari. Note that this will be very hard to resist, since the tomato sauce on the calamari is delicious, but if you don't you're in for some pain.
(5)Matthew W.
Maybe I was there on a bad day, but I just didn't feel my pizza was worthy of 5 stars. 4 stars, certainly, but I feel the pizzas at Apizza Scholls or even the Firehouse are a bit better. The crust and overall flavor at Ken's just didn't blow me away as one of the best pizzas I had eaten in Portland. I had waited for a long time to have dinner at Ken's Artisan Pizza, as it seemed every time we tried in the past, the lines or wait time were just too long. However, my family surprised me with a birthday dinner there and colonized a table early in the evening. The place was packed and, probably as a result, the service suffered a bit during our visit. My beer glass sat empty for quite some time and it was difficult to flag down our server at times. I chose the Sopressatta pizza and it was very good, but the crust was not as caramelized as I had expected and the sauce and meat were a little flat...just a little. I joke to my wife that this kind of criticism is like arguing over which supermodel is more attractive. Ken's makes a pretty good pizza, but I may be looking for another model of pizza elsewhere before going back to their runway.
(4)Jando S.
When it comes to pizza in Portland, there is good pizza and then there is Ken's. It is after all, among Portland's most popular and arguably one of the city's best. With fresh ingredients, an amazing crust, a light sauce in a warm and intimate setting, pizza lovers are in for a treat. Inspired by the pizzas from trips to Italy, owners Ken and Alan have done an outstanding job in providing Portland with a style not commonly found in the pizza scene. Hardly Oregon Style Pizza ( yelp.com/list/oregon-sty… ), these pizzas are just as light and airy and significantly more European. Each of the pizzas are 12" and feel almost like a personal size serving. Order 3 of them in a group of four with an appetizer and it should be sufficient. I love the classic margherita with some extra arugula ($13) and the radicchio pizza ($13) is quite tasty. Though the bacon pizza ($14) smells great, it's not the easiest to eat since the bacon is a strip instead of being cut. If there is a fail safe choice, let it be the soppresata, a simple combination of mozzarella, spicy soppressata, and basil. Since they don't take reservations, weekends and dinner hours can turn into a wait, especially for a large group. Service is friendly, especially given the nutty crowd management from time to time. They don't take more than 10 people at any given time and everyone needs to be present before being seated. It should be noted they don't do take out pizza often and if they do, it's between Monday and Thursday. Menus are often subject to change since their ingredients vary from season to season.
(4)Rachel S.
I liked this place so much I had to go two weeks in a row. There was plenty of seating at 5:30p on a Wed. Service was great- the pizza throwers managed to entertain my toddler nephew, which won them points in my book. I enjoyed a glass of Italian wine with my pizza- the margarita with arugula. Greens somehow make me feel better about eating pizza. The crust is so soft and delicious, and the sauce is just right. And can we talk about dessert? I had to fend off my 5-year-old nephew to get my fair share of the brownie sundae. It was damn good. For pizza, it's this place or Lovely's- it just depends what part of town I'm in!
(5)John S.
Great pizza with a fresh and crisp taste. Service was busy, but relaxed and very friendly. Hard to find parking, but worth the walk. Just watch out for the flying bikes and speeding cars! Not the best for kids. Arrive late to pdx and where should you eat? Why not a great pizza and an ipa. It is pretty loud if you are sensitive to that.
(5)Tim F.
This place has a very pleasant vibe. From almost all area of the restaurant, you can see the big wood-burning oven. It's a great site, and it's cool to see the guys throwing the pizzas and making them right in front of you. I've tried all sorts of the pizzas here. The fennel sausage is probably my favorite and the cherry tomato; both of those have a great combination of savory and sweet. It's really hard to stop eating slice after slice. The dough is crispy and soft inside. It is sweet and has a perfect black char on the crust. I didn't enjoy the speck pizza too much; the meat was just not very good. I was hoping for something that had a little bit more fat and juiciness. Eating pizza while smelling the aroma of burnt dough and a wood fire is a must sometimes, so I will be back for more. Have been there 3 times now.
(4)Jennell K.
We ordered the Margherita pizza with a side of prosciutto and salami (per waitress recommendation). It was delicious!! The crunchy thin crust was perfect and the basil was generous! We also ordered a side of oven roasted vegetables that were great! The eggplant slices were thick and layered with an amazing marinara sauce, the potatoes were nicely cooked, and the corn was delicious! We needed some greens so we also added the bacon and peach salad. I would recommend that you get dressing on the side if you're like me and do not like your greens drenched. But the flavor was delicious and the bacon pieces were huge!! Overall, the service was amazing, the restaurant had a great feel to it, and the food was memorable!
(4)Avni B.
Came here for a late dinner on a weekend and luckily didn't have too long of a wait, grabbed a drink across the street while we were waiting and the timing ended up being perfect! The fennel sausage pizza was my favorite out of the two we ordered, the other one was a prosciutto arugula. I really enjoyed the crust!
(4)Adrienne H.
If Ken's isn't the best pizza I've ever had, it's runner up. I have been looking for pizza like this in Portland and I've finally found it. No, it's not NY style. It's better. All of the pizzas are interesting and the ingredients complement each other perfectly. The verde called out to me as soon as I saw the menu. I hate when pizza is overly cheesy, but this had the perfect amount of pecorino lightly sprinkled on top of the scallion pesto, summer squash and smoked, pickled jalapeños. Perfection. The ingredients were so obviously fresh and high quality. I died and went to pizza heaven. My boyfriend had the soppressata and was just as happy. As per usual on a pizza date, we got a side of pizza sauce for the crust and it was phenomenal- SO flavorful. Our server was fantastic, too. She not only catered to us, but also our dog, who we like to think is just as important. She had plenty of water the whole time and got tons of love from the staff. I don't know how I managed to be sat at Ken's with no wait, but I'm thrilled to have stumbled into this place. I'll most likely be bothering everyone I know to grab a pie here ASAP.
(5)Chris S.
Delicious super fresh-tasting pizza straight from the flaming oven in view across the room. The crust is perfection for a thinner crust style. The sauce is very flavorful (I really enjoyed their spicier arrabbiata sauce) and the mozzarella is a fresh as it comes. Nice, very open decor and when the weather is right they open the huge front window. This place lives up to the hype. There's a reason people line up outside before they open. It's worth it. I could murder one of their pies as I'm typing this. They win over Apizza Scholls in my book.
(5)Stella M.
Pretty cool pizza joint in Portland. Loved the interior of the place. Very modern/chic. Loved their wine selection. Their pizza was pretty tasty. I forgot what we ordered but it was a prosciutto pizza. Get their VEGETABLE PLATTER!!! I don't remember what was exactly on it since its been awhile since I was here but the platter comes w 3 different vegetable dishes. All I remember is thinking how good everything on the platter was. The service was good. Nomnom! Definitely recommend this place! :) PS. Their affogato was amazing!!!! Get it!!! Nomnom :)
(4)Sara Q.
I believe the hype. We got here at 5pm on a Sunday and was amazingly able to get seated right away at the bar. It was much better than I thought it was going to be. The stools were nice and padded and there were hooks to hang umbrellas, coats purses etc. We got the Caesar, spicy salami and prosciutto. I loved it all! The Caesar: a little too seasoned with dressing for me, BUT the dressing was very tasty. ATTENTION! They use whole leaf romaine for their salad so make sure you are not going to be bothered by this notion before you order. The put a handful of thick Parmesan slices/crumbles and a handful of croutons on the salad as well. The croutons are super BOMB, loved it. I don't know if I could pick a favorite between the prosciutto and spicy salami, but I can tell you they were both tasty. I did the prosciutto with a side of arugula on top. It was delish. After the pizza comes out of the oven, the prosciutto is freshly sliced and placed on top the pizza, it's cut and topped with a handful of arugula and served. The freshness of this pizza was out of this world. The spicy salami was different in the sense that it wasn't particularly "fresh" but the quality (both pizzas actually) was out of this world. The salami was so flavorful .. My mouth is salivating! We were wanting to order the fennel sausage and onion or the pesto, but we will have to wait for next time. Great ambiance, wonderful employees. Will most definitely be back. I am SOO a believer.
(4)Roger M.
Ken was a James Beard (dubbed the Oscar's of Food) award finalist twice in 2013 as an outstanding pastry chef and for his cookbook "Flour Water Salt Yeast." Who knew? Ken knows bread! This must be great artisan pizza. Let's taste after I take a picture of two masterpiece looking pizzas out of the wood fired brick oven, made by a master mason. First bite, the crust is perfectly cooked (Ken knows his bread for sure). Good crunch! Second bite with all the ingredients was a rush too! We ordered 2 personal size pizzas, Napoli and Capicola. The menu looks great. The last bite after 4-5 slices was just as heavenly as the first. Stick a fork in me, I'm done! I've been to the PDX pizza mountain top--Ken's belongs with only a few other pizzeria's. It's all about the pizza! Service on-the-ball and ambiance casual! We arrived at 5:20 PM (doors open at 5 PM) on Monday. Already full--seats 60. We waited 45 minutes with an IPA in hand. No problem! When you do order, your pizza only takes 2 minutes cook-time in the hot wood fired oven. Worth a wait anytime--trust my reviews!
(5)Shannon L.
While the pizzas were delicious, I enjoyed the vegetable platter and Caesar salad the most. The vegetable platter has three different, well-prepared combinations. I would definitely get this again. The Caesar salad was a carefully placed pile of crunchy romaine with house made croutons and pecorino romano (?). So peppery and yummy. If you get the prosciutto pizza, be sure to add arugula because it serves as a nice balance. If you get anchovies, they will put about one sliver on each slice. Overall, the cured meats we had were great quality, thinly sliced, and not too salty. Service was lacking because after getting our food, we didn't see the server much and ended up getting assistance from another.
(4)Rudrajit D.
Downright awesome pizza. The fennel sausage remains a favorite. Although the Speck (capicola based) is a close second, mostly because of the creamy mozzarella and potatoes. Terrific crust. If I had to nitpick, I'd say that it's not quite as thin crust as some others. But regardless, extremely tasty. Weekend nights will likely guarantee you 30+ min waiting time. But the wait will be worth it. :)
(5)Astha M.
Hands down the closest pizza to an authentic Italian Pizza. We come here every month.
(5)Elizabeth W.
I really like kens! The service is quick and the pizza is probably my favorite in portland.
(5)Nicole W.
Great atmosphere with awesome thin style pizza & the best blackberry cobbler my kids have ever tried, albeit the only one ever, but they ate it in silence which is basically a miracle. Window seat with a lovely breeze and a phenomenal glass of rosé. Can't ask for much more.
(4)Sara W.
After trying to decide where to go for some delicious pizza I finally settled on Ken's, and what a great decision it was! Got there a little after 7pm on a Sunday and really only had to wait about 5 minutes to be seated. It was busy, but not crazy. The restaurant itself is beautiful. Upon walking in you are greeted by the huge open wood fire oven with the pizza masters meticulously making all of the glorious pies Ken's has to offer. All of the tables are wood, and the wood is from an old roller coaster that used to be in Jantzen Beach! How cool is that?! Once my friend and I were seated our server promptly greeted us and took our drink order. They have a great selection of northwest wines by the bottle and half bottle, and a few you can get by the glass. My friend and I split a Caesar salad (it was huge!) as well as the prosciutto pizza! And let me say: YUM!! First of all the crust: chewy and delicious with the appropriate black spots you want to see on it from a wood fired oven. The prosciutto was smokey and you get a lot of it! The basil was a nice complete as well as the fresh mozzarella. Overall Ken's is a great little place to get some delicious pizza. Friendly staff and great food! I will definitely be back again.
(4)Michael C.
You can't beat prosciutto on a margherita pizza cooked in a wood fire oven. There is no other way to cook a pizza and Ken's does it right. We waited awhile (about an hour) and there isn't a ton of space to stand inside. But they had told us the wait would be an hour and they were spot on. Not tons of parking, but that's standard with any place in SE. We got the Caesar Salad, vegetable platter, prisciutto and margherita. Each pizza feeds about 1-2 (I had my own and finished it no problem). And so far this has been my favorite pizza in Portland, above Apizza scholls (also very good)--mostly because of the wood fire oven. Servers were quick, nice, and prompt with refills. They gave some good recommendations and we didn't feel rushed even in a full restaurant. I'll be back
(5)Alexis C.
The pizza is great. The people are great. Everything is great. I ordered the margarita and arugula and the fennel sausage and onion pizzas. Perfect. I bring visitors here all the time and they always think the food is amazing. I love itttttt
(5)Mike C.
I had the Napoli being a big fan of the Buffalo mozzarella, and the artisan bread. While I enjoyed the bread very much, I found that they really ripped you of on the amount of sauce and cheese they give you, and for 18 dollars for a small to medium size pizza I thought it was a little high. My server Laura was really nice, but she asked me several times if was done with my meal. I know I only had pizza crust left, but I was trying to savor the only part that was really good. I thought it was a little pushy of her to rush me thru my meal so they could have an open seat. I believe this place is a lot of hype because it's different and trendy.
(2)Amber T.
Such a cozy place with good pizza! When entering the restaurant, the first thing you see is a huge oven with all the pizza makers at work. It's really nice that you can see them making pizza right in front of you! Unfortunately we came on a Saturday night, so the wait was quite long. We had to sit in the back until we got our seats. But once we got our table, I had a clear view to watch them throwing the dough in the air and putting pies in the oven. It was really neat! The waiter was nice enough to bring us bread on the house, since the wait for our pizzas were so long since they were busy. The calamari appetizer was really good, slightly spicy with red sauce. We ordered four pizzas: Proscuitto, Mushroom, Margherita w/ arugula, and Fennel seed pizza. The fennel seed pizza was just okay to me, tasted pizza like that before. But the proscuitto, mushroom and margherita w/arugula were a bit original which was nice. The Proscuitto had a thin layer of proscuitto on the pie, which did not over power the pizza flavor but complemented it. The Mushroom pizza had several different mushrooms which were really good. But the Margherita w/arugula pizza was my favorite! I only like arugula on pizza, and the flavor really complimented the margherita pizza. What I liked was the extra salt on the pizza, which was nice! Besides the long wait, the pizza is very good. Worth the wait, do try here!
(4)Peter C.
Great pizza. It's the crust! Incredible value. Roasted vegetable plate was awesome. Highly recommend this place!
(5)Ziyan C.
Nicely done pizza. Cozy, relaxing vibe that could also be romantic for a date. Their pizzas are a good quality thin-crust, with a fluffy outer crust, all of it crisped just that tiny delicate bit to give it a bit of a bite. I can't vouch for their desserts though, so just stick to the pizzas and you'll be good! THE WAIT: None for four on a Sunday night around 7pm. THE SERVICE: Great at explaining the pizzas & making recommendations. He really sold the dessert too thought, which ended up being a huge dissapointment. MUST-HAVES: For me, the Squash! I don't usually go out of my way to order pizzas with sweeter toppings, but this stood out as one of the better ones I've had. * Fennel Sausage & Onions: tomato sauce, mozzarella, sausage, roasted onions, basil, w/ calabrian chiles ($15) - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/kens… Not as spicy as it was sold to be, but still good! The sausage was definitely on the soft side, and this was a great start to the meal. * Squash: roasted tomato sauce, roasted squash, leeks, goat cheese, sage & garlic ($15) - 4.5 stars pic (we added arugula): yelp.com/biz_photos/kens… Once again, my fave of the night. I think it would've been great either way with our without the arugula. But the thing I liked best was the squash itself, which was sliced thin rather than your usual cubes. I realized that this spreads out the flavor of the squash more evenly, and this one especially had just enough sweetness to add some oomph to the pizza without it being overwhelming. That balanced with the every-so-often "ooh! goat cheese!" was fantastic. * Anchovy: tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil, Prosciutto di San Daniele ($15) - 4 stars pic (we added bacon): yelp.com/biz_photos/kens… A great addition to our meal as the "salty" one: anchovies + bacon make for a very salty pizza! It was a good combination with our other orders, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend getting this specific pizza all on its own unless you have a definite salty-tooth. * Side of mushrooms - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/kens… Thinly sliced, crisped lightly, and not too much of that overwhelming mushroom flavor! Good to sprinkle on to any of our pizzas, or just to nibble on as a snack. * Warm pumpkin cake & cream cheese icing, candied pecans, red grape juice reduction ($8) - 2.5 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/kens… Ugh, I wish we'd stopped at the pizzas! Our server loved this dish and I have a weakness for anything pumpkin. But the cake was very dry, the pecans lackluster, and the reduction way too watery and just kind of weird tasting (a sweet cream with a strangely tart grape flavor. I like tart mixed with sweet when it works, but this definitely didn't work). Menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/kens…
(4)Susan C.
Really awesome thin crust pizza. Ordered the New Yorker. Just the right balance of Flavors. Accompanying that was their ceasar salad. Great attention to detail. Quick and friendly service. Tip: parking is at a premium. Carpool or walk a few blocks. Also, your entire party must be present in order to be seated.
(5)Lawrence W.
Wonderful pizza joint. Hip, friendly waitresses... Very good-looking! Food even better. Caesar salad was tasty. Pizza was scrumptious with a healthy dose of arugula. Afogato was oh-so-tasty! Fabulously done!
(5)Chuck C.
Like other reviewers plan ahead for the line. I was able to avoid waiting as I dined alone at the bar. I had the Soppressata, I would highly recommend. I will be back next time I'm in PDX
(4)Phuong H.
Came exactly when they are about to open at 5 PM. Still had lines but hey its Kens Artisans Pizza! Sat down immediately and ordered the ceasar salad x2, always order the ceasar salad! You'll love it. Arugula pizza is our favorite, never once had to ask for water or soda refills, the waitress was on point! Great place to come for excellent wood fire pizza, if you can beat the line.
(5)CecilHillcrest W.
Need a casual and relaxed spot to enjoy wood-fired pizza? This is the place! The crust is flakey and toppings are top notch! Depending on how busy they are,It takes just a few minutes for a takeout order. The prices are decent compared to how good and delicious these pies are. Can't wait to try the sausage and fennel pie! Woo-hoo!
(5)Mad Max R.
Ive been hearing a lot about KAP, and have been wanting to take a crack at it. My BBQing plans got kiboshed this past sunday (stupid rain) so my buddy and I went for it. So if you've seen my other reviews then you know Im a straight up die hard NY style pizza enthusiast. Ken's is not that. That doesn't mean it isn't good...just different. Ken's name says it all: 'artisan' style. Which means there are some toppings that can be a little 'froofy' in a gourmet kind of way. Beers on tap were only 4 deep but they had like 5 billion kinds of wine. We were the only ones I saw drinking beer (they had Occidental's maibock which is delish)...so make a mental note of that too. That's not a bad thing, but just recalibrate your expectations. The sausage had some different spices going on than your normal spicy Italian. The sauce was good but seemed likewise differently spiced than what Im used to. The fresh Italian chiles and the dry cured olives were off the chain thought, and the crust is dialed in. Service is very good too. So while for my tastes, Apizza Scholls has nothing to fear, Ken's still does what they do very well.
(3)Smar T.
Kens is the model of a consistent restaurant. The pizza is always perfectly made, the rotating dishes and deserts are always so good you can order without question. The service is always good as well! Yes, there is a long wait - but that's how consistent businesses work.
(5)Sandra T.
Met some friends here while we were both on a long weekend getaway to Portland. Wasn't too busy when were there around 8:30pm and got a table almost immediately. Between the four of us we ordered two pizzas - one margherita and one pepperoni with cheese. Both couples had a pre-dinner elsewhere so we weren't super hungry. (There is never enough time to eat everything while traveling!) We all thought the pizzas were good, but nothing crazy good. Maybe expected a little something more with all the high reviews this place has. Or maybe Vancouver has really good pizza and my expectations are high. Service was pretty standard and food came out as a reasonable amount of time. Wished they had a bigger drinks menu. Overall, good, not great.
(3)Debbie L.
I waited a long time to eat pizza at Ken's. It was delicious!! Great atmosphere and I am a pizza freak and truly enjoyed every part of my experience today. I highly recommend Ken's Artisan Pizza to anyone that really loves pizza. Their salads looked amazing too.
(5)Julie B.
Kens was my first Portland restaurant and it was quite the experience. The food was fantastic, but the staff is what really left a huge impression on me. My best friend moved to Portland 4 years ago and this was the first time I was able to visit her, in fact I hadn't seen her at all in nearly a year. We went to Kens with her mom and my mom to have a nice casual dinner. We got two pizzas, a salad, and a bottle of wine. As we were finishing up our last sips of wine and catching up on each other's lives, a woman waiting for a table approached us with a nasty attitude - "Haven't you ladies finished your meal? I'm here with my party and the staff won't seat us because there's no tables available. Do you mind....". Another waitress stepped in front of her and politely requested her not to harass "our" customers. Our own waitress came up apologizing up and down, telling us to stay as long as we'd like. Even the cook in the back gave us a look as to say "bitches be crazy - don't worry about it". Looking back, we probably did overstay our welcome, but the staff never pushed us to leave and in fact made us feel quite welcome. Tip your servers people, they deal with a lot of BS in this industry. Everyone from the wait staff to kitchen staff were TOP NOTCH!!!!!! Definitely recommend this restaurant to folks wanting a delicious pizza (salami was YUMMY) in a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere.
(5)Kimmy C.
I was driving around portland trying to find a great place to eat to scratch my itch...lo and behold...i found my scratcher. Ken ArtisansPizza is right next to the bakery that is also amazing, but that will be another review. We went inside and saw that the wait was over 40 minutes but it was well worth it. Let me give you a synopsis of my wait and how i got hungry to complete "hangry." 10 Minutes - I saw an order of Calamari and Magherita pizza. 20 Minutes: I saw an order of the Prosciutto blanketed pizza. 25 Minutes: i had to smell the Fennel sausage and caramelized onion and Soppressata Pizza pass me by. My level of hangry was so high that i had to walk outside for a bit. I came back in at 35 minutes and also saw three more meals go by. Thankfully at 40 minutes, my number was called and I was seated. You know those moments in life where you regret but you you keep doing it still....well i have a moment here. My mom asked me what i wanted to order, i think i gave her the evil eye because I was so hangry. I immediately ordered two appetizers, three pizzas, and dessert for my family, who don't really like to eat pizza. All things said.. i ended up eating everything up and we did not have any leftovers. My hangry turned into food coma...and it was the worst drive home...:-D. Will i make the mistake again?...Yes Please! The food here is freshly cooked and made with TLC. You guys can read the rest of the reviews, but you should try it and be amazed by the quality and the overwhelming taste.
(4)Vi B.
I'm beginning to think I'm a glutton for punishment. Why? I hate standing in line, but I keep going to these places where I have to stand in line. Ken's is definitely the kind of place you should expect to do this. They don't take reservations and you're pretty much guaranteed a long wait to eat. So my main tip is to go when you're moderately hungry, not starving. Otherwise you will be pretty hangry (hungry + angry) by the time you sit down. Still, the food & vibe are pretty cool (& yes, worth it). It's all wood inside, with exposed beams, a long bar, lots of tables smushed together, and an open kitchen where you can see a wood-fire oven and your chefs arranging your dishes. I always have the Caesar salad (you'd think I'd get tired eating the same thing every time, but I don't) and a pizza. This time I had the Margherita - really simple, fresh basil, fragrant ingredients... yum. Add a beer and your night will be molto bene! I don't know Ken, but if he's real, I want to meet him, shake his hand, and split a pie.
(5)Caden R.
Last night was the second time I've been here and I just have to write a review. This place is DELICIOUS! It's really busy, we had a party of 5 and had to wait an hour. Also, parking is pretty scarce so be prepared to walk a few blocks. The Caesar salad is perfect and the house-made croutons are crispy delights. I got the Margherita pizza. It could be split for two people, but it's so good that a half won't be enough. The crust is perfectly crispy and the flavor it gets from the wood burning stove in unmatched. My favorite part though, has to be the sauce. It tastes so fresh and almost has a hint of citrus to really bring it all together. The vegetable platter was also very delicious. Service was great, the pizzas got to our table quickly and our drinks were always full. This is one that is near the top of my list!
(5)Sudipto G.
Not a big pizza fan in general, but Ken's is something special. I've had wood fired pizza's in Rome, so my bar is set pretty high. These guys got very very close to it I must say. The atmosphere is great, service impeccable and friendly. I got the fennel sausage and onion pizza as well as the sopressetta and both of them were crispy slices of deliciousness. Oh and before I forget, top off the meal with one of their desserts, we got the warm bread pudding with cinnamon cream.. heavenly!! Will be back!
(5)Jez D.
Excellent pizza and super fast service! Tons of great flavors. We got a margarita pizza and the sauce was a burst of flavor with a mildest hint of heat. The cheese was a good complement, and the basil was fresh and fragrant. Our pizza was served very fast and was hot from the oven. This was a very enjoyable dining experience.
(5)Jess P.
Monday night I found myself in Pizza heaven: no wait to be seated (this is an unusual and slightly miraculous occurrence), a full glass of wine, and an amazingly delicious pizza. You know Ken's is good; you've heard that everywhere. It's actually just a pizza fact, and I'm absolutely not here to discount what's proven and true. The pie is thin crusted, the kind that sort of droops in the middle if you were to pick up a slice. I use knife and fork to begin with, and at crusts' end I switch back to hands. The crust is stupid good. I found myself closing my eyes in pizza-ecstasy with every bite. I could have drank a vat of the tomato sauce alone with its perfect melding of sweet and savory. I chose the olive pie-- the olives were great quality, with tons of flavor and skin blistered from the heat of the oven. Everything was perfectly done, and eating was a blissful experience. Besides the pizza, I also got the oven roasted vegetables as an appetizer to split. All of the vegetable dishes were executed very well, and it was a decent sized portion. For dessert, I tried both the affogato and the maple custard. The affogato is my heart's dessert, and I fell head over heels for this one (cinnamon ice cream with espresso...yeaaaaah). As for the maple custard, I usually shy away from maple anything because of fear of uber-sweetness. I was happily surprised that the maple custard is packed with flavor without being sickly sweet. I'd highly recommend either dessert. Lastly-- the wine. Here, and only here, was I momentarily disappointed. One of the reasons I picked Ken's was because I heard they boasted a large by-the-glass wine selection. However, when I turned to the reds section, I was a bit dismayed. There was only 4-5 options. Now I suppose they offer other glasses besides red (who'd order those, I've no idea), but I still wish they had a bit more to offer. Of course, they have a ton of bottles to choose from, but I wasn't quite prepared to tackle an entire bottle (and if its placed in front of me, tackle I will). My disappointment was short-lasting. The nebbiolo transported me right back to those pearly pizza gates. Ken's is really good. I'm talking Portland-Pizza-Top-Three good. And that's saying something.
(5)Jenni L.
Ken's makes a solid pie. I joined two friends one night for a fennel sausage, onion, and Calibrian red chili pie and it was really good. Service was great and I appreciated that they set a spot for me when I dropped in on the other two at the last minute. The only downside is that they only serve beer and wine. I enjoy beer and wine, but it's kind of a bummer when you are in the mood for a cocktail. Someone suggested that we go to Ken's the other night and I vetoed it, not because the food isn't good, but because I really just wanted a martini. I'm sure I'll be back more often in the summer months.
(3)Patty K.
When in Portland, one must stop at Ken's Artisan Pizza for one of their Fennel Sausage & Caramelized Onion Pizzas! The combination of the sweet onions, aromatic basil & fennel, spicy red peppers and salty, meaty goodness of the sausage was a treat my tastebuds wish they could experience again and again! I've always had to wait at least 20 mins-1 hour to be seated, but that's just a part of Portland dining. Wait it out, the food will not disappoint!
(5)Nick B.
Few pizza places in the United States so closely resemble authentic Italian pizza like Ken's. This is on our top 5 restaurants in Portland- great for groups, good prices and the food is ALWAYS fantastic. Pizza, salad and beer = perfect night out. I don't give out 5 stars often but no question, they deserve it.
(5)Nidhi T.
Wood-fired oven baked pizza?! Heck-yea! That's how I like my pizzas. Really wonderfully done here though. Husband and I shared one pizza and an appetizer and that was more than we could eat. Waiting to come back to try more. The roasted vegetable plate appetizer was the winner though. Mmm.. so delicious. They had 3 different veg combinations listed on the menu and we just couldn't decide which one to pick. But then the server told us that they serve all three. Score! It was so darn good... each veg combo was well thought out. Will surely come back!
(4)Cait O.
Pizza is great and is most of the staff. The hostess had an unfortunate attitude and when I asked, 'can I sit at the bar or are those seats reserved?' She snipped 'one second!' And walked away.
(4)Ruby T.
It's Friday night, and I'm out with my girlfriends! Where to go?? We were three girls who just wanted some amazing pizza! This was my first time here, and have to say two thumbs up! The salad was so good, we couldn't stop raving about it. Then the pizza came, and oh heavenly! It's like a little piece of Italy was dropped in our table! Our server was very friend and quite attentive as well (A+ for service)! My friend just recently celebrated her birthday, and once we told our server about it. He came back with some gelato with a lit candle on top! I definitely will be coming back to this spot!
(4)Kevin K.
Dear Portland, Ken's was near-empty Monday at 5:15 and only 2/3 full during the dinner hour--we got lucky! (but you helped us out like this so many times). Breezy and bright, the dangling lights sway through Spring as the sunlight pours through the large open windows at the front of the room. The back's cramped next to all the wood stacks, but Ken's is tranquil, even "chill". And so is the service. In fact Ken's has --the best-- service of all your restaurants. We lost count of how many of your servers said "Little Bird.. what's that? Belmont Station.. where?" Not Ken's. They provided awesome recommendations to us tourists for all over you, even including geology stops on the coast. They charged my phone behind the bar and let us chill even after paying so I could get into green. In terms of pizza, "fresh" is an understatement; it was one person's job to cut green garlic the entire 45 minutes we were there, non-stop. The nettles pizza was incredibly bright if confusing, the pizza texture too active--think well lemoned spinach. The bacon pizza? MY GOD. Apologies for listing eating accolades, but I've done DiFara's in Brooklyn, Lou Malnati's in Chicago, and Nomad in Philly. I've done Apizza Scholls too. Ken's is better Neapolitan than even Menomale in DC. Amazing crust, lightly smoky from the ample char. Amazing cheese, perfect amount and distro. Sauce ultra-bright with acidity, counters the salty bacon with precision. Portland, I give you the pizza salute. We did 40+ of your best according to Yelp. That bacon pizza puts Ken's in your top 3. Thank you! Sincerely, Indebted pizza lover Note: some yelpers need one of two things.. 1) the thorny branch removed from their whiny-ass.To those that write a 2 or 3 star review of Ken's pizza while admitting "I don't eat dairy" or "I just wanted a cocktail".. grow up. You belong on the spaceship from Wall-E where the robots do everything for the humans. 2) experience. Neapolitan pizza gets mushy in the middle. The crust gets "burnt". Get out more often.
(5)Marie P.
I was on vacation in Portland and craving really good pizza... I had heard about Apizza Scholls and set about getting there, only as I drove by looking for parking, I kinda got a 'eh' feeling about the surrounding establishments and somehow that turned me completely off to apizza. I'll have to go back and try it to be fair, just not this trip. Anyhow, Ken's Artisan was also highly recommended and so I plugged that into the gps... only to end up at Ken's Artisan Bakery... which closed upon our arrival. Feeling somewhat defeated (mostly hungry, cranky, almost hungry) I figured third time is the charm so I entered Ken's Artisan Pizza into maps and crosstown we went. We (my sister and I) finally got there at 7:30p on a friday evening. The place was packed, save for a table for two by the window. PERFECT. The ambiance, even the woood-fired oven welcomed us and our moods totally changed as we settled in. We ordered calamari, salad and a soppressatta pizza to share- should have ordered another pizza for later because it was sooo sooo soo good! The food was amazing and really fresh! Please check out the photos of our dinner, I know they don't do it much justice, but ha, they've got to be some sort of indication.The food at Ken's is so good! And you bet that we cleaned up each plate... each morsel was super delicious and not to be wasted!
(5)Katherine C.
My favorite wood fired oven pizza place in Portland, Ken's blows Apizza Scholls out of the water. Creative pizzas baked to profession with delicious non-pizza menu items, you can't go wrong. Be prepared to wait for a table!
(5)Cindy T.
Cute pizza joint nestled in a semi-residential neighborhood with a hipster atmosphere. It's a small restaurant so expect a long wait when coming during peak hours. We had a large group so ended up waiting 45 minutes to an hour. The weather was really nice so that made up for the wait time. It's also strictly street parking here as well so you'll have to park along the street somewhere. We ordered the calamari. It is not breaded or fried just so you know. Still delicious though! As for the pizza, we ordered the mushroom pizza and added sausages on it. The pizza was good but not out of this world amazing to me. However, their craft is commendable. FYI, they don't have pepperoni. The whole waitstaff was super friendly and service was wonderful. As for the pizza, it's good but still doesn't compare to Grimaldi's in NYC.
(4)Nicole B.
Typically a wait, for great Portland restaurants. Ken's wait, on a weekday night was about 25 minutes. We were sat in the corner, which was fantastic.If we got sat elsewhere, I would probably feel a little claustrophobic, as the tables are a little close together. We started off with drinks, an appy and shared the margherita pizza. Which was perfect for the two of us. The pizza was simple yet delicious. Perfect place for date night.
(4)Chels J.
Even though this is thin crust pizza (thick crust lover here), Ken's crust is to-die for! Tried the margherita with arugula, and hours later I'm still talking about how great the crust was and how wonderfully gooey the mozzarella was! Sat at the bar and could see pizzas behind me coming out of the oven. I have my eye on the chanterelle mushroom pizza for next time! The greens salad was pretty tasty. Can't go wrong with pickled things on a salad! Staff was friendly enough - had three different people ask if we wanted drinks while waiting outside.
(5)Annie C.
Num Num Num. I love a good margarita pizza! Read Ken's book...totally an inspiration for any bread baker.
(5)Aeric E.
Great pizza with seasonal choices and interesting recipes. We tried the veggie plate (it's on a rotation) and the primavera pizza. Great choices!
(5)Jessica S.
**Amy & Claire, this one is for you...** As the self proclaimed pizza aficionado, my counterpart and I ventured here for dinner last night. Fearful we were, because the place looked packed to the brim. However, we didn't have to wait - go figure?! We had a lovely table, with a small lit candle, by a window. FYI, we arrived a little after 7 p.m. and left a little before 8 (and yes, by this time there was a long wait, a piece of me felt giddy on the inside...queue the evil laugh, muahaha...) Now let's get down to business. Service, kinda lame if you ask me. When I go out to eat, despite the place and or location I like to feel taken care of and this not the case, hence no 5 stars. All in all, 3 stars for service. Ok, now the food, overall 4 stars. Call me crazy, but I actually like it when my pizza is a little burnt around the edges, but dayuum I wasn't expecting it to be this charred. It was still great nonetheless, but I can totally see how others would not appreciate their pizza overdone like this. I ordered the New Yorker - tomato sauce (which is delectable and full of flavor, yay!), provolone cheese, and oregano. My better half had the Margherita with arugula. Out of the two, the Marghertia with arugula is where it's at! It is so full of flavor, especially with the basil and various herbs and spices. Mine; while it was tasty, the only thing that really stood out was the provolone. Now, if these two pizzas magically conceived a pizza baby...that would be the epitome of the perfect pizza. So, would I come back? Been there done that, on to the next.
(4)Ben T.
Small location but the pizza is great. Toppings are fresh and local. Crust is nearly perfect, with a great chewy fire baked crust. Make sure to be ready to wait if you go at peak times. It's worth it though.
(5)Jacob G.
I've been a fan of wood oven pizza for a while and this place is really on top of things. After waiting an hour for a seat, I was hoping that it would be worth the wait- it sure was, my friend. The pizza is thin crust, sure, but it's good crust despite the burny parts. Their pizzas are pretty simple, but they are sure tasty. I probably should have got their earlier, but oh well. Next time.
(5)Brad S.
Great place to eat dinner. A little tricky to get a big table - but always something at the bar, or for a small party of two. Authentic, Organic and always good to eat.
(5)Tani S.
So similar to some reviewers and eerily similar to Rebecca K's review from a year ago, I also found the hostess curt (as she described) and almost rude. I simply asked for an estimate of wait time and she looked at me strangely (even though I could have sworn she had told the people in front of me a time). After the bad experience, I was quite ready to leave but pizza is best for our two year old (as opposed to the sushi place next door) so we stayed. The hostess incidentally did become warmer stopping by to take our drink order, offer us water, and seating us rather quickly (only about 20 minutes later on a Saturday night). She also had kindly laid out crayons and paper for our two year old making our daughter an instant fan. We were really impressed with the food... We love the artisan pizza places that we had tried in Seattle (Tom Douglas' Serious Pie and Columbia City's Tutta Bella) so didn't quite know what to expect but both the fennel sausage pizza as well as the squash, zucchini, ricotta pizza were delectable (I particularly liked the latter, it felt so light and tasted of summer...I've never tasted squash so sweet!). Our two year old approved as well! I'd venture this place was as good as our Seattle faves if not a little better. We really liked the calamari appetizer as well which grilled was a refreshing departure from the normal fried calamari appetizer. We will be heading back...and the rest of the waitstaff and even the hostess did make us feel quite comfortable at home in the cozy interior.
(5)Nathan Y.
I came here with one question in mind: Is this the best pizza in Portland? I've tried nearly every "gourmet" pie shop in town (it's been hard to keep up the last few years), and nothing has come close to Apizza Scholls. On Yelp it's now old hat to diss on it as nothing special--because if it's not new, or really old, or otherwise unknown, it can't be that great--but every time I take my first bit there my only thought is, "Why do I keep holding out for someone to top this? Is such a thing possible?" So that's my bias. Ken's was my last hope for at least a challenger, and that hope is now dead, or at least dormant. This is not to say that Ken's makes so-so pizza--it's excellent. But mine was undercooked by about 20-30 seconds (which is significant for ~3 min total time), with barely a browned spot on the cornicione and the bottom (classic neapolitan crust is supposed to have surface-charred spots on exposed areas; it's adds a ton of flavor). To their credit, my companion's was basically perfect, but I've not seen this much variation among the 20+ pies I've shared at Apizza. The crust on both Ken's pies had great texture inside and out, and great flavor, but Apizza crust (which I sampled again the very next day) was easily better on both counts. I would also rate the oil/sauce and cheese on the Ken's pies as just slightly less stellar than Apizza, but I didn't compare every option, so they might be on par in that respect. Ditto for toppings. The decor and atmosphere at Ken's is better, I would say (largely to the pizza oven placed prominently in the center), and the service was on par, although the waitstaff at Apizza shows more interest in telling you about the pies. But for me, the decor and service are peripheral concerns, and even the menu options are merely a matter of personal taste. The dough, sauce, and cheese are the main event. By that criteria, Ken's was really good, and I was expecting it to be near as makes no difference to Apizza, but the latter was clearly better, from first bite to last, in every fundamental respect. Ken's is great. You should definitely go. But Apizza is, to me, clearly the best gourmet neapolitan pizza in Portland, regardless of what the haters and cynics and hype slaves say. PS: Due to reduced hype over the last few years, the wait at Apizza is not nearly what it used to be on most nights. The wait at Ken's was negligibly longer the night I went.
(4)Roy C.
Dear Mathew P. and Bella C., I just wanted to write a quick note to thank you for joining me on the first stop of our ambitious, yet well planned, Pizza Tour. Ken's was a great first choice, especially considering that none of us had been here before. I think we can all agree that we have been missing out. I am so glad that Bella C. decided to order that amazing spinach and prosciutto salad. Given the fact that I have an aversion to vinegar, I came close to refusing her offer to share it, but it simply looked too good not to try. Oh, that spinach was lovely and the saltiness of the prosciutto added a nice counter balance to the sweetness of the dressing. Do you realize we had prosciutto with every course? The apple butter and prosciutto was also very good, although I could have used less apple butter. Luckily there was plenty of salty, thinly sliced and delicate prosciutto piled on those things. But, oh, the pizza. I would have to say it is the best I have tried in the Northwest and, indeed, better than most I have enjoyed over the years in California, New York, and elsewhere. Although, different, I am not sure if I can say I like Ken's or Casa Bianca in Pasadena better, but I can now say that Ken's easily makes my all-time top 5 worldwide. We were not crazy ordering three pizzas for three of us, were we? We handled them all. But of course, our selections made it easy to finish all three pies. We had the prosciutto pizza which, was fantastic, with a handsome amount of that same thinly slice prosciutto from the appetizer. See? Three prosciutto dishes. We could not resist the fennel sausage and onions. So simple, yet, bursting with flavor. Add a bit of the glorious salt they provided and it makes the flavor punch you in the mouth. And then there was the soprassata. That spicy (but not too spicy) salami and basil combination really did it for me. It was the first slice I went for and the last one I saved for the final attack. This stuff was phenomenal. Dare I say, divine. But, come on you two. How can we pick a favorite? Luckily the three were variations on a theme since they all start with a solid foundation: A beautifully thin and delicate crust that had a near perfect texture and taste. All three had a wonderful sauce that had just the right amount of herbs and spices to make themselves known, but not to overpower the core tomato flavor. Of course, all three used a minimal, yet somehow just right, amount of flavorful mozzarella cheese. So thanks again, Mathew P. and Bella C. This was a great dining experience, made all the better by the companions I enjoyed it with. I will see you on the next stop of the Pizza Tour. Your friend, Roy C. PS That was great service they provided wasn't it? And although they only had four beers to choose from, one could be happy with any of them (especially that fantastic Pilsner).
(5)LISA S.
As a rule, i generally stay away from places that look 'nice.' But the BF and I were meeting up with some of his friends that were in from out of town, and the designated dinner spot was Ken's. What struck me first was the amber glow coming from the big glass windows, it was an intimidatingly beautiful effect. I was basking in this glow along the perimeter of the restaurant, until I was stopped dead in my tracks by a line of yuppies waiting to savor the flavor. I now strongly feel that amber glow is like a yuppie bug zapper. Luckily, our party was already seated, adn waiting for us before they could order, or else I would have booked. I do NOT wait in line, no matter how 'yummy' something is supposed to be. I have no patience, and I will not satiated into line submission with $9 glasses of Riesling. Some of the sour points...I felt that Our waitress was frosty, but speedy considering the packed capacity of this place. My seat was literally inches away from people crucnched in the pre-seating area sipping on wine and talking their organic and sustainable self-congratulatory BS. I was uncomfortable,to say the least-because I was trying to behave with some decorum. Plus, I felt out of place because I left my patagonia thermal at home. On the brighter side, We ordered the veggie platter app, which was interesting and aromatically delish. $12 gets you a pile of interesting beans-n-greens, au gratin potato slices and some curried cauliflower. It was tasty, but I felt it was overpriced for what we got. Our olive pizza was robust and filling. I wasn't so into the crust which was soggy under the toppings and burnt on the outer crust. I chalked it up to the colossal woodfire oven's magical flames licking the exposed crust.The pizza was $13, which I felt was reasonable for two people. I felt pretty mixed about this place, as I am pretty sure I should hate it, but I don't...really. I would never go there on my own, but if I wanted to wow out of town guests from small towns in Wisconsin, I would take them there so they could feel inferior to me.
(3)Jen R.
Prosciutto Pizza! The best Caesar Salad I have ever had! Service was ok.
(3)ToniAnn M.
OK, being a New York gal, I am skeptic when trying pizza places that others say is "the best ever". Portland is my home now, & I am settling in to finding my new favorites of old hometown loves. That being said, Ken's is clearly not NY style pizza, but it still kicks a little ass! The crust is thin, chewy in the right spots, crunchy in the right spots. The sauce is not over-powering, & the fresh ingredients all play well together. Each one supports & show-cases the other, while at the same time magically appears to be the star of the show. Great beer & wine selections & decent service. I must say, minus 1 star because I was a little disappointed in the fennel sausage. I was psyched when our server told us that they make it in house..... I found it to be a little lacking in the yummy sausage flavor..... if it were just a titch bolder, it would have been perfect.
(4)Robin B.
My daughter picked Ken's restaurant for her birthday dinner. We picked a Sun night and arrived early. There were 10 of us (adults and children). Not only could the staff care less that this was a special night for my daughter, they were never able to seat us together even after waiting an hour. Probably the most rude staff I have ever dealt with. Portland has better pizza and much better restaurants.
(5)dre a.
So yummy! I went on a rainy evening and the atmosphere was perfect. I love all the wood and the oven that is visible to everyone. I had calamari, salad, and roasted veggies to start. Everything was perfect-I will tell you that if you go you must try the roasted veggies! Who knew veggies could taste so good! I had the arugula pizza and the sausage pizza. Perfect! The crust was crispy and chewy and the pizza had just enough toppings. I say you should go! And if you have to wait-who cares??? The pizza is that good!
(4)Newman A.
Portland is lucky to have this and Apizza Scholls, most cities don't have *one* pizza place of their caliber. I go back and forth between the two places, and find they perfectly complement each other. If they had personalities, I'd say that Ken's is a bit more "delicate" and high strung than Apizza Scholls. If Apizza Scholls was started by a laidback Italian outdoorsman, Ken's was started by his younger librarian brother. Apizza Scholls is straightforward, simple, perfect pizza - if you could boil down pizza to a succinct drop of flavor, this is what it'd be like. Ken's has a bit more personality, and while it has solid basics, dabbles in more exotic ingredients and combinations. Normally the wait here isn't *quite* as bad as Apizza Scholls, the atmosphere is a bit more calm - and so the choice between the two comes down to mood. Apizza Scholls is a long, lazy boat ride through Old Italy, Ken's Artisan is a stroll through the local outdoor markets, and maybe a stop at the Armani store. If you like pizza at all, you'd have to be insane to not try both of these places.
(5)Kathryn G.
We went on a night where it had been 100 degrees during the day. The restaurant was sort of cooled down, but not really. Hey, there's a giant pizza oven in the room and since most times, Portland is a rainy place, we can give that a pass. Our hostess was gracious. She directed us to a back 'waiting' table and told us the wait would be about 30. There were six of us and she got the wait time about right. It was on the late side - around 8. We were starving. Once we sat down, it became apparant that our waiter was extremely preoccupied. Not just with tables, but up in his head. It took him forever to get to us, or maybe it was just that we were hungry. We ordered bread and had to ask him twice to get it. He seemed very put out by the whole experience. By the end, I felt bad for him. It seemed like he was going through something and waiting tables was the last thing he wanted to be doing. BTDT. The food? It was good. Not New York, or Naples good, but good. We liked the fact that, compared to *our* 'artisan' pizza place in LA (Pitfire), this place actually put the pizza toppings *closer* to the edge than most places do. (Still was not close enough for my boyfriend, who really does not like the crust to dominate - that said, this crust was amazing). We all ordered pizza - I loved mine, which was arugula, hot peppers, anchovies. My boyfriend got one with sopprasetta. Fantastic. Less successful were the merguez sausage ones and one with bits of speck on it. We got the calamari appetizer, which had an amazing sauce. Everyone liked that except my boyfriend, who, we just found out, does not like calamari unless it's deep fried. Oh well! Not Ken's fault! The place seems too small for the crowds which seem to descend upon it every night. Maybe we were too hot and hungry. I would give it one more star if the waitstaff were more on their game and if there were even more toppings on the pizza.
(3)Melissa S.
While their pizzas are pretty darn good, I think others compete on the service. In the three years I've visited this place, I've never been happy with the tone that is set by the hostess. She's disagreeable and often unhelpful. So when my friends and I have a debate on Pizza Scholls or Ken's - Pizza Scholl's always takes the "pie".
(3)Mike S.
Consistently awesome pizza, beer list and service... Can't be beat on a weeknight. I always get the arugula or sopprosetta pie. Mmmm mmm!
(5)Steve M.
Quickie: Some of the Yummiest Pizza I've had in Portland Friendly Staff Nice Ambience Longie: Friendly Staff, Yummy Food, and a tragic tale... Oh fellow yelpsteritos, I lead a tragic life. I'm fortunate in that I have a nice home, a lovely child, and a steady girlfriend, but there's a secret cross that I bear that only my fellow foodies can understand. The steady girlfriend? HATES fennel. So when I saw that it was on the menu at Ken's (along with host of other roasted veggies) and I was with a veggie loving friend, AND our waitress was soo cute (she had the prettiest eyes!), funny, and charming that she could have said "Oh the roasted fennel? You know we prepare that with Zyklon B?" I would've replied "Really? Y'know Hitler was a vegetarian, I'll bet that makes it extra tasty!!" Quick Side Note: I've never successfully acquired the number of, or dated someone who was my waitress, but if you decide to pursue this course of action you would be wise to start at Ken's (really!! She was sooooo cute!!) But getting back to the fennel, who knew? It was absolutely delicious. I'm probably about to describe it in a way that makes no sense but you know how people say it tastes like licorice? That part's kinda mild, it's more like a licorice, zucchini, potato (& yes, the other roasted veggies were good too) Pizza: Sorry, along with my failure in getting my waitresses number, I forgot to get my pizza's name. But it had chilis on it, was sufficently vegetarian, and was one of the few times when someone says "y'know that pizza's pretty spicy" that it turns out it actually IS. Came in that perfect pizza size that is just big enough that you can't finish the whole pie at one sitting and later enjoy the conversation of.. "umm, I need to get something out of my car" "You're going to finish that pizza aren't you?" "I'll be right back!!"
(4)Joel R.
Following Peter Reinhart's printed advice, my wife and I took our chances at Ken's on a Saturday night. Predictably, the place was packed and nary a parking spot was to be found. However, we pushed through all that, undaunted by the cited forty-five minute wait, and managed to poach two seats at the end of the bar. Probably a good choice for us, as the bartender took our orders quickly and with no fuss. We opted for a split on the roasted vegetable plate and the salami pizza, and I have to rate both dishes highly, the vegetables especially so. Parsnips and apples, who knew? Delicata squash with almonds and a paste (persillade? can't say this was pesto for sure); also delicious. The pizza was very good and worthy of Reinhart's recommendation, although excellent pizza seems to be everywhere these days, so I can't say that it was revelatory. Prices were reasonable and taking seats at the bar meant that we had basic but efficient service. I am definitely a fan. I imagine that weeknights would be a better option for most.
(4)Mark B.
The restaurant looks fantastic but crowded, and pizzas are hand made from top ingredients but Its just not my kinda pie I like my cheese...and its expensive.............
(3)Kristin D.
yes, yes, YES! the pizza is sooooooo perfect. I love the size of the pies, the fresh ingredients/toppings, the space and setup of the restaurant... everything was excellent - 5 stars! we had the proscutto pizza and arugula pizza... yummmm. next time i will try some of the starters. we got there at 5:20 and still had to wait over 30 min, but it was soo worth it. even after eating the equivalent of a whole pizza, i didn't feel disgusting - it doesn't leave you feeling greasy or weighed down.
(5)Trina M.
This place is awesome! Got back from Portland yesterday and I am already missing this place! The calamari over their artisan bread is so good! We got 3 different pizzas, a margherita, Soppressatta, and Fennel sausage. The pizza crust is super thin and a light coating of cheese which I don't mind. Wash it down with a pint of IPA and your good to go! Also got a super delish dessert with banana gelato and almond cookies, YUM! Another plus, my leftovers were even yummy cold and out of the foil! I would definitely come back here again next time around in Portland. Definitely worth the wait.
(5)Andrea F.
Pizza was good but I prefer Apizza Scholls.
(3)Inga B.
I liked this place. Decor was nice, lighting well done, very relaxing atmosphere. Like most places in Portland, the beer selection was good. Pizza was good as well. Creative toppings. I was with a group of 4, we ordered a bacon pizza and sausage fennel pizza. Both very good. I would definitely come back.
(4)Jason K.
You know how when a movie gets really great reviews, like a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and you think "This movie is going to be awesome!" Then you go to this movie only to think "Meh, what's the big deal?" And then the more you think about it, the more you realize that all of those lukewarm positive reviews added up to an apparent awesome movie because numbers and statistics can be deceptive when taken en masse? This place is that movie. With a dash of overly excited foodie drizzled on top... Wood burning ovens: not so unique after the advent of California Pizza Kitchen.
(2)Chris S.
The best pizza I have had in Portland to date! Worth the wait!
(5)Jenny G.
Omg, one of the best pizzas ive ever had! Even liked the calamari. Staff was super friendly, atmosphere was cozy and warm. Will definetly go back
(5)Af R.
Often crowded but great pizza and salads too. It's nice cause you can get an individual pie vs. one large pie at other spots.
(4)Tim G.
I like a pizza Margherita from time-to-time, and I like take-out. Unfortunately, some un-named pizza restaurants in Portland refuse to accommodate take-outs. So, we go to Ken's because they allow take-outs; the crust is tasty; you can get arugula, a perfect Margherita topping; and even when they're busying, they don't make you wait too long for your order.
(5)Jessi G.
Not sure what the fuss is all about. Do you think that just because the place might be poppin' and it got a bit o' hype, it must be good? I've tried it twice, and by god, if it wasn't some eh' ingredients on top of ketchup. Seriously. The space is nice, but I don't get it. The antipasto was overpriced and the caprese pizza was mediocre at best. Come hither my tiny sheep, follow suburbia to shit-town.
(1)Meghann M.
I used to think that pizza was like bagels...the further west you go, the worse they get. My best pizza experience was in the North End of Boston (no, not New York) followed closely by a pizza I had...on Maui. Yes, Maui. So you see, this kind of messed with my pizza perception. Ken's is a close third. Ken's pizza is just good old, plain, done well pizza. Not a whole lot of fancy schmancy ingredients, which some people appear to have a complaints about. This is okay with me. When I want "pizza" I want it to taste like "pizza" and not like Pad Thai. If I want Thai chicken anything, I will eat at a Thai place. See how that works? We got there early so we didn't have to wait, but I can see where the wait might be an issue. The husband got the Pizza Margherita and I had the soprassata (spicy salami). The crust is just perfect, the sauce is just perfect, it is all just perfect. It will be a treat for us. We're not on a $13.00 per pizza budget at the moment (it was our anniversary), but we'll be back next time mother-in-law gifts us with some "have some fun money" for sure. Next time I will be having the fennel sausage and onion pizza. The star reduction is a sympathy reduction for the table next to us whose order appeared to have been forgotten. The situation was remedied quickly, but I know if it would have happened to us, they would have been dinged.
(4)Josh B.
With so many comparing the quality and taste to Apizza Scholls I was sure that this was going to be a great pizza experience. However after eating there the only thing on my mind is "how does this place have everyone fooled?" The pizza is not good, not good at all. I understand that when eating brick oven pizza the crust will appear black, but its not burnt, the pizza i was served at Ken's was burnt. The toppings were okay, nothing special. What is it that makes people give this place so many great reviews. The long-never ending lines? The high douchebag ratio? The crappy pizza and family seating in which you are sure to be seated by at least two douchebags? I don't get it.... The bottom line is that this place is a hype-train who's only stops are "disappointment" and "wait in line some more". I never thought I would say this but i would have rather been at Rocco's pizza on Burnside (read my review) than this place. I won't be going back.
(1)Catherine E.
I went to Ken's for dinner this past Saturday. There was a hefty crowd but seeing as we were a party of 2 who love to sit at the bar, we were seated right away. The bf had a tasty dark hefeweizen that was new to him per suggestion of the bartender/server. We shared a pizza - the mozz/basil and arugala - and the bacon/apple/greens salad. Both were delicious and we left with two pieces of pizza leftover. Cozy small atmosphere, reasonable prices and the service was excellent.
(5)Von R.
So yummy! Pizza as always crisp and well balanced topping. Always enjoy sitting at the bar. Don't tell the others, but we walked right in and got a seat right away. Did think the roasted veggie salad was a bit skimpy for the price.
(4)Devon D.
Great pizza + classy/bustling atmosphere + yummy wines to pair = awesome! Service is friendly and nicely timed. Crusts are thin with a nice crunch, and ingredients are tasty-fresh!
(4)John K.
It's a good sign that I look forward to the lamb and pita appetizer here as much as the pizza. They're both wonderful. I have avoided weekend peak times when visiting, and in general, have had pretty good luck getting seated without an unreasonable wait. The service has always been pleasant and professional, and being able to watch the pizza oven activity adds to the enjoyment. Ken's is up there with Escape From NY as a favorite for pizza in Portland - very different experiences, very different styles of pie, but both are regularly what I crave.
(5)Raechel S.
Wine great! Service great! Great for kids (although time to get kids safe cups and not heavy glasses) Pizza was great, we ordered 3 and love them all.
(5)Becky L.
Seriously one of the best pizza in town. I highly recommend the sopressata pizza.
(5)Jeff M.
I had heard about the lines that build at this place. I arrived at about 4:35 PM; first one at the door. About 45 seconds later, a horde of about 20 soon followed. Honestly, you'd think this was a concert venue, not a pizza place. If you're not one who likes waiting and would rather stab yourself in the eye, you may want to take the time to get there early. This is a pretty huge place actually, seating wise. A lot of the country's best pizza places aren't generous with the amount of seating, a real nice plus about Ken's. If you grab a seat by the windows, it's great for people watching, not only people outside, but you also have a view of the guys at the oven. This was my first time here. As per usual, I ordered the margherita, the barometer of comparison. I wasn't surprised; this is delicious pizza. Damn! The dough and crust is tasty, sturdy, doughy, crispy, and chewy. Since the dough is fantastic, anything added is just a plus. Sauce, cheese, used newspapers, broken glass, it'll be delicious because of the greatness of the dough. I love the simplicity of the margherita; the quality of the ingredients shine through. This is indeed artisan pizza. My only regret is that I wish I had three other stomachs: I could have ordered three more pizzas off the menu. No brainer if you're visiting Portland like me. Stop here and behold one of the country's best pizzas!
(5)Paolo D.
Best pizza in town, atmo. If you want to taste the closest thing to real Italian pizza in PDX Ken's is the place. The toppings on some of the pizzas are a bit different but still very tasteful.
(5)Sophie M.
I wanted to like this place. The pizza left a lot to be desired in the crust (way too thin in the center), sauce, cheese, topping and taste department. Salads and roasted vegetable plate were better. The atmosphere is nice but the wait could be long depending on the time of the day.
(3)Skylor P.
I went to dinner here last week for the second time and I was very pleased both times. The first time was with a friend and Ken was there, we had a minute to talk with him. He remembered my friend's name from the last time she was in and was a wonderful conversationalist. The second time I went in with my boyfriend and it was a wonderful little date, especially for two people who don't normally go on "dates". It was laid back enough that it didn't feel too formal but it was far nicer than any pizza place I have ever been to! Keep up the great work team.
(5)Lindsey S.
This is definitely the best pizza in Portland! I love the atmosphere and the service is great. And there Caesar salad is amazing.. And the croutons.. I'm always raving about them. :D The only downfall is it's always busy and there's usually always a wait when Ive been there... But it's SO worth it! I've heard a lot about Apizza scholls.. So I tried it and was not impressed.. Don't get me wrong the pizza was alright, but the wait was SO much longer than I've ever waited at Kens.. And it wasn't worth it.
(5)Deanna N.
I forgot in all the pizza openings in PDX as of late, how consistantly good Ken's is, probably one of the best. We shared three pizzas - the salty yum of the bacon, the spicy soprasetta and the sweet chanterelle mushroom. The closes thing to tuscan pizza on Italy this is.
(5)Jen H.
Ken's Artisan Pizza is a popular pizza joint for locals. The restaurant is nuzzled between the neighborhoods in the east side of Portland. Pizza Talk: Dough is light and chewy making a great foundation for the pizza. Great breading with great ingredients on top An order is enough to feed a party of 3 Thin Crust Service: We were taken care of from beginning to end (4 stars) Salad: Green Galore; love the dressing and all the fresh greens! PS American Express not accepted and come early to avoid the wait!
(4)Serene E.
I don't live in Portland, but my family raved about this place so they took me. My mom insisted we go right when they opened at 5:00 pm because of the wait (no reservations), but we arrived at 5:30 and hurried to put our name on the list ( 6 of us), and Bam! Hour and a half! We almost left, but thought maybe we could order drinks and sit on the chairs lined up outside. It ended up being the perfect idea, granted it was probably the nicest weather Portland has had in 6 months. We were probably only 20 minutes into enjoying our drinks, when the hostess came out and said she should have a table soon! The menu is pretty standard which I like. We ordered 2 Caesar salads, and 3 pizza's for 6 of us. We definitely could have ordered another pizza or two, but it was enough. The Caesars were excellent, and the pizza's were delicious. There is a lot of crust on their pizza's but it is light and crisp. I left a lot of crust on my plate. I enjoyed the sausage fennel pizza and the hot peppers they put on the side for us. The bill came out to $109 for 6 of us. Including drinks. Very reasonable. :)
(4)Ritu K.
I'm going to preface this with one simple fact- pizza is my absolute fave and Ken's gets it right. The dough is perfectly chewy and delicious, not charred, oily or falling apart. The sauce and ingredients are top notch and we hungrily devoured our two pies- The Napoli and the Sausage and Onion (yes I felt like a heifer). Service was quick and we somehow beat the line that formed right after we arrived. The only downer was the Caesar Salad- needed a lot more anchovies. Oh and the wait looks like it could be cumbersome. Not sure if I could stand there ogling happy customers devouring their delicious pies. Besides Ned Ludd Pizza Mondays, this is my fave Neapoiltian pizza place in PDX. Rest assured, we will be back!
(4)Kayla J.
No one would argue that the food here is great but the service SUCKS. I met up with friends here last week and I was about 20 mins late but we had a large group (about 6-8 people) so one more person shouldn't be a big deal, right? The wait staff made a scene over us trying to pull one chair over to the end of our long table - made one of us stand and wait while they practically had a staff meeting trying to figure out just what to do with ONE more person. They kept telling me "well, if we had known you had a larger party" - really? One more person? It's not like a party of five turned into a party of ten. Mind you, there was an empty table of four right next to us! During the whole ordeal no one ever even offered me a water, never mind a glass of wine or a menu. We ended up moving two of us to a different table, so needless to say none of us will ever return.
(1)Jonah K.
Kens is by far my favorite pizza place around. I've lived in Portland my entire life and have never experienced anything quite like it anywhere else in Portland. The atmosphere is wonderful. It's very cozy and warm. I always appreciate an open kitchen if it's beautiful, and it is. Although I know how weird it can be to have customers watching you while you're cooking. The service there is fantastic. Especially because I'm a regular and they know me well. Even when I wasn't a regular, they were always fantastic. I especially appreciate how great they are even when the restaurant is beyond busy and they're still adding to the wonderful atmosphere. The pizza is out of this world. My favorite anywhere in Portland. Even though it can be a little pricey, it's completely worth it. I always order the Soppressata. I love spicy food, and it does the trick. Thank you to everyone at Kens. Keep doing what you do!
(5)Krista G.
Finally after 28 years and 6 days, ok not that long but a while and you wanna know what finally brought me here???? an hour and a half wait at my favorite pizza spot even though we were there when the doors opened! Thank you Ken's for only being a 45 minute wait on a Saturday night:) I love the bright openness of the restaurant itself. I had a perfect view of the kitchen and watching the staff work was pretty bad ass all on its own. We ordered three pies and the one with bacon on it was so mind blowing good I don't even care to talk about the others, that one was the WINNER! I ate 3 big ass slices and washed them down with a yummy Pilsner. Beer, pizza, friends...REPEAT!
(4)Ariel S.
What can I say? Wood fire cooked pizza-made to order, fire roasted veggies, amazing fresh authentic Italian salads, good beer and wine...? Who needs anything more?
(5)Drew M.
This place is pure heaven!!! Best pizza in Pdx hands down!! My next favorite is oven and shaker! The people here are very nice, place is clean, good beer!! Not much more to say but go there and Enjoy!!!!
(5)Daniel A.
While I have eaten at Ken's many times, the attitudes of the staff finally got me to write the review that has been in my head for a while. The food here is very good; the freshest salads I have had. But the staff sucks. They totally act as if they are doing you a favor to seat and serve you. A week ago Sunday I called 5 times with a question, finally leaving a voicemail as well. To date, still have not heard back. I had a friend in town that was gluten intolerant and my simple question was, do you have gluten free pizza? Well despite calling early in the evening and no one answering 5 times, I finally left a message. Again to date, not the courtesy of a response. So while the food is good, do yourself a favor and spend your money at the many Portland restaurants that actually care.
(1)Flavia A.
The bad news first: you will wait a ridiculously long time to get in. The good news: it's worth it. Some of the best pizza in town. And, it's WAY WAY better than the Ken's pizza they do on Monday nights only in NW Portland. The other location serves up dry, brittle and ingredient-shy pizza. This one, here in SE, provides you foodgasm pizza. Especially the bacon pizza. Just trust me. Corkage is $20/bottle, which is kind of a bummer. But the wait staff is friendly, outgoing and does a great job of making people comfortable for the long wait. The crust is thin and they gave you just the right amount of sauce/cheese to meat ratio. Among my faves are the aforementioned BACON (out of this world), potato and speck, and soppresata. And, very fun - you can order each pizza with a heaping of arugula placed atop. Go now! You'll love it.
(5)Rusty S.
Wow..... Great pizza. There WILL be a wait. Open at 5 and if you show up at quarter till you'll be on a wait list. Good beers! Good pizza! What else can you ask for? NOTHING!! Go here. Go here Now!
(5)Lemmy E.
Consistently amazing Neapolitan style pizza Great wine list Everything that comes out of that oven is great. Please refrain from coming if 1- you hate waiting a bit 2- you like your pizza covered with cheese (see Pizza Hut) 3- you think the perfectly charred edges of the pie are burned 4- you like the servers at TGIF cause they are fun and have buttons on their uniforms
(5)Scott S.
Best pizza in Portland hands down. Server was fantastic. Expect to wait to get in, but not as long as you'd expect for the quality.
(5)Angela L.
The pizza at Ken's is amazing. I mean, hands down, the best pizza in Portland. For the ten minutes it took me and my boyfriend to devour the perfectly prepared Arrabiata pie with the perfect amount of sauce, mozz, basil and hot peppers on the magically thin and blistered crust, we actually forgot about the shitty service. OK, so it took 45 minutes to be actually served that pizza even though we arrived when there was no waiting list (which is a small miracle for Ken's). And yeah, they put us at a table outside and completely out of eyesight despite the fact that tables inside were opening up (there was just the two of us, so I guess our option was outside or at the bar). But there's no excuse for a server to only show up once to light a candle.... He didn't even serve us our pizza, another guy did. Our server walked by, nodded, and we never saw him again. We waited another 30 minutes for the check and had to go inside and ask another server to write up our tab because our guy left for the night. The four guys who busted their asses shoveling excellent pizza in the oven all night are the only reason we didn't just leave without paying after such shit service.
(2)Jordan C.
We heard that there was no way we'd get in on a Friday with 9 people (3 kids and one baby), but we arrived at 5:30 and were seated right away. Staff could not have been nicer. If we lived in Portland, we'd definitely go back. Delicious pizza and the roasted vegetable salads were awesome.
(5)Nuria C.
I thought Pirilo pizza in Puerto Rico was the best pizza I'd ever had (yes, the Puerto Rico in the Caribbean), but Ken's is just as good and, it's in town! The pizza comes piping hot out of the oven and the crust is thin but fluffy with great texture. They have a variety of pizzas. We had one Capicolla and another Prosciutto. They sliced the prosciutto fresh right as the rest of the pizza came out of the oven. They told us they constantly rotate their menu, too, so there's always some new pizza to try. It was top notch deliciousness! Also, do not leave without trying their gelato. I got the affogato, which is two scoops of gelato (in my case, cinnamon and caramel), with a shot of espresso poured over them. It comes with a hazelnut biscotti. Yum! My friend got the chocolate pudding with caramel gelato, caramel crispes, fresh whipped cream and drizzled in chocolate sauce. Given everything I've said, I'm sure you can tell I'm coming back to Ken's soon! It's worth the wait!
(5)Haroun K.
Ken makes a good pizza. The chanterelle mushroom is a great ingredient, and is just short of having real truffles on a pizza. That said, eating here is not a life-changing experience, and if this is Portland's best pizza, then something is wrong. I don't think anyone should be waiting an hour for the privilege. It is a solid pizza, and kind of small, for which you're paying a premium (I think partially just because you're eating at a Ken's place). The ambiance and service are very nice. And the roasted veggie plate (a mere $12) is a great starter. At the core, this Portlandified legend should simply be a neighborhood joint, but it is worth a visit.
(4)Lauren S.
Really, really good. The pizza here was original, fresh, and delicious. The wait is longish, but a pizza for two and a bottle of wine is the epitome of a perfect date night. Also the atmosphere is really nice. Oh yeah, get dessert. Just do it.
(5)Anna R.
Came here this past Thursday night and it was alright. Luckily there was no wait and we got sat right away. My friend and I shared the olive pizza and a Caesar salad. I must admit I hate places where you have to cut up your own Caesar salad. Isn't that what I'm paying you for? But it was pretty fantastic and our server was awesome so overall it was a great experience.
(4)Mario C.
I went to Ken's Artisan Pizza on a Sunday evening and there was no wait. Ken's pizza is definitely up there with some of the best pizza places in the country. After having authentic Neapolitan style pizza in Italy I've been on a quest for it in the states, and have been successful at a few places around the country. Once you get the fresh ingredients with wood-fired dome oven down, these pizzas all taste the same(which is a great thing). Where you can differentiate yourself is the ambiance coupled with a great beer and wine selection. The selection was local and the wine selection had a blend of local wines as well as Italian offerings. You will not be disappointed one bit with Kens!
(4)Mark Y.
Best pizza we've had outside of Italy... We are from Seattle, and we've tried the 'best spots' here.. the Delancey, the Bar del Corso.. The Serious Pie... etc.. but nothing compares to Ken's.. it's the standard by which we measure a pizza shop and nothing in the US has come close. We make the 4 hour drive down to do some tax free shopping, and eat at this joint. Pizza dough is perfect, toppings flavorful, beer/wine list is good.. servers friendly. Almost always a wait of some sort..but that goes with the territory of being the best. Been here 4-5 times now.. nothing has ever been burnt.. bottom line: the pizza is perfection.. and taste is amazing and rivals the pizzarias in Italy. As good as it gets.
(5)Evelyn S.
My pizza tasted great or else this would be a 2 or 3 star review. Sadly 2-3 inches around the outside was burnt. They use the fairly common excuse that because it is Wood Fired its not burnt, its just the way it is when you use that kind of oven. That answer never fails to annoy me especially when the pizza that is set in front of one of my friends has a lovely golden brown crust with no burnt areas in sight. The service was friendly. The atmosphere was clean and inviting. Some of the seating is shared. My pizza tasted just like it was made fresh in Napoli (Naples), every bite that was not burnt was incredible. I will go back, and I will beg them to be a bit more careful with the placement of my pizza in their oven.
(4)Mallory K.
Great Pizza! Thin crust only Menu says that pizza serves 1-2 people but I could not imagine eating one on my own. Tables are kind of close together so if you want some private space do not come here. Great attentive service.
(5)Paul V.
Here's the deal folks - I love Portland, and I love Pizza. If you love either of those two things, or are in the process of growing to love them, you need to come to Ken's Artisan Pizza. Star 1: How was the service and atmosphere? Fantastic. Tucked away on 28th, Ken's is an absolutely charming spot for lunch, dinner, or just to hang out if the weather's good. Service is fast, friendly, professional and knowledgeable, and you really can't ask for more than that. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? Alas, my one gripe. For whatever reason, everyone's favorite late night eat is rolling in at premium prices these days, and Ken's Artisan Pizza is no different. My 12" Prosciutto pizza came in at $15.00 pre-tax and tip, and while I'm quickly learning to expect that from specialty, higher-end pizza spots in and around the United States, I haven't given second stars the other recent times I've paid as much for a 12" pie, and I can't quite justify it here. No Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? Marvelous. One of my disappointments with specialty pizza these days is that establishments claiming to be authentic go a bit overboard, and you end up with some bread topped with sauce that has a slab or two of cheese covering about 30-50% of the overall pie. Fortunately, Ken's does the exact opposite. Not only was there a hearty portion of cheese on my pie, but the thinly sliced prosciutto was topped so that it made an entirely new layer on the pizza. Check it out: yelp.com/user_local_phot… Next to the favorable topping style, this was an overall excellent pizza. Every flavor popped, and was complimented by a rich and consistent crust that was cooked to perfection. Very, very good stuff. Dual Stars Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? Cost aside, Ken's has among my favorite atmospheres in Portland, and the pizza is absolutely top notch. I would gladly dine here daily. Star Granted.
(4)Jeff W.
Ken Forkish convinced me with my first visit to Ken's Artisan Pizza years ago. This is hands down my favorite pizza place in Portland. Yes I've been to the others people rave about and yes they are great. But there just is something about this place that I just love. It might be the quaint size or the Portland style of kitchens located in the middle of the restaurant. Bottom line is I love coming here to have a great glass of wine and a rustic artisan pizza. Additionally, Ken has nailed it with two other favorites of mine. Ken's Artisan Bakery is hands down the most authentic French croissant you can find in the Northwest as well as his newer Trifecta Tavern was outstanding. Ken, who I've had the pleasure of meeting several times during my visits to all of his Portland establishments, has truly impressed! Enjoy!
(5)Cayce A.
I'd heard so much about the pizza here, but it didn't really live up to the hype. First, the good was that I didn't have to wait nearly as long as I thought I would on a Friday night-- about 20 minutes. They also had a very nice staff, and the atmosphere was cozy and made for good conversation, even though it was a bit loud. The disappointing: The pizza was some of the most bland I have ever have. I feel like they don't salt their pizzas at all, and that's why you're given a dish of salt with your meal. I used up that dish of salt. Even the woodfired crust couldn't make up for the lack of taste in both the Margherita pizza and the Soppressata pizza (which was incredibly spicy, and I'm not all that sensitive to spice.) They also cooked the margherita with the basil on it, which burnt it the basil to an unappetizing crisp. I know everyone already compares the two, but I prefer Apizza Scholls above and beyond Ken's Artisan Pizza.
(3)Heather J.
Ok, Ken's is my second favourite pizza in town. Just because it's second, doesn't mean it isn't amazing. It is amazing. So amazing, I didn't even bother trying any other pizza for the 2.5 years I was hear. (sorry, Apizza just beat you out by a hair). Yes, there is often a wait. But they'll take your cellphone number and call you, so just go have a drink at Holman's down the street and relax. I actually like the atmosphere here a lot more than Apizza's, so if that's your thing, I love getting to watch the wood fire, and all the firewood stacked around. The big windows are nice, especially in the summer when they open them up. The toppings are always fresh and wonderful, the crust tasty (of course it would be, the man makes bread!), and the sauce delightful. I particularly like the white pie, but everyone I have tried so far has been stellar.
(5)Evan K.
Great Pizza. Hard to believe how fast it comes out.
(5)Mark M.
Ken's Artisan Pizza is a wonderful place., and expect a line unless you get there early or late. It is worth the wait. Excellent service, send super atmosphere. The salads and appetizers are beautifully prepared and plated; try the roasted veggies! The pizzas are very good, although sometimes the crust is a little over cooked. Some say a little charring is part of this type of pizza. Maybe. I just do not like it. Definitely a place to go back to again and again.
(4)Gordon M.
Waited 30 mins which seems like a requirement anywhere in Portland. No big deal because all the food was worth it. The caesar salad was simple yet amazing. The pizza had a thin, crispy, Fire-wood charred crust with just the right amount of cheese and toppings.
(4)Rachel S.
This is probably one of my favorite pizzas in Portland. Me and my family came in one night right around 5 pm when the opened and all of the tables were already taken so we had to wait about 45 min. for a table for 5. Waiting was definitely worth it because the food was amazing. We split 3 pizzas, the arugula, the soppressata, and the prosciutto pizzas. All of them were so good. We also had some apps of calamari and Caesar salad. Those were awesome too. I totally recommend coming here even if you have to wait. Worth it!!!
(5)Vanessa M.
I think the pizza here is just okay. I do love the atmosphere and the pizza baking right in eye's sight but out pizzas didnt really come out perfect. The crust was cooked perfectly but the inside of the pizza was soft, mushy, kinda gross. For some reason it didn't really cook to the center. I think we might go back and try it again, since maybe it was just where our pizzas were placed in the stove at the time.
(3)Ryan A.
I'm going to go ahead and give out a five star rating to Ken's. I don't do this often, and the experience wasn't perfect, but I really am eager to go back and that's what it's all about. Right? We went to a place downtown that I would say goes for the same style of pizza as Ken's. That experience was truly awful. Maybe that's why I'm willing to give out a five-star review here. Our pizza was absolutely delicious. It was cooked perfectly. This style of cooking could end up with your pizza being limp or burnt to a crisp, but it was cooked exactly right. The topping were wonderful, as well. Our waiter was great . . . and he left a heart on the bill that he only did for us and never does for anyone else, right? I'll just keep telling myself that. The hostess was terrible. Absolutely terrible. She sat us efficiently and coldly, which was fine, but she was bad the rest of the night. She sat a couple behind us by walking about twice their speed to their table, throwing down the menus and walking away before the couple was even within 20 feet of their table. I'm not exaggerating. She might as well have handed the menus to them and said "go sit over there." She also took our payment and was rude in doing so. The slight bad was obviously not enough to take away from the experience. I'm never eager to head into SE for food, but I'll make a trip into the land that reality forgot for this pizza.
(5)Elyse L.
Best pizza in Portland hands down! I've had top-rated pizza in NYC and this is just as good if not better. It can get quite busy on the weekends so expect a wait. Love the atmosphere and open kitchen, it's very cool to see the pizzas and salads being made.
(5)Cheap F.
Excellent food! Great service even when busy.
(5)Kristin A.
We went here two times on our trip to Portland. We'd heard excellent reviews from our other friends who'd visited Portland, so we were amped to check it out. We arrived five minutes before the restaurant opened and there was already a lineup outside. It was awesome because Ken's had set up chairs outside to sit on while waiting. We were seated at this adorable two person table that had a small garage style sliding door, so we actually got to sit with the door opened. We got the roasted vegetable as a salad to start. So very yummy! There were three different roasted veggie quadrants on our plate and each had it's own amazing flavour profile. For my entree I had the bacon pizza and had a full on bacongasm! I was told they use pork cheek instead of whatever bacons made of and I gotta say, cheek is damn delish! My fella had the sausage and fennel pizza it was equally amazing!! They had great craft beers on tap and the restaurant is beautiful. The oven is super impressive! We actually biked back the next night like mad men to get there before the place closed! It was worth the burning quads. My only slight deduction and the only thing that keeps this from being a 5 is no wi-fi!! I mean I coulda wrote this review much more succinctly and on the spot if I'd had that. With that said all in all, fantastic experience!
(4)Kenneth H.
This is the best fancy pizza in Portland. There will be a wait if you go during regular dinner times, so I usually try and shoot for the end of the evening, or right when they open. I have been many times and everything on the menu is light years beyond amazing. The pizzas themselves are thin, chewy and crispy, sparsely topped with quality local delicacies, well balanced and perfect in every conceivable way. You will not regret the pizza, the service, the atmosphere, or the bill. You will regret showing up at 7:00 pm on a friday.
(5)Brian C.
Definitely one of my favorite pizza places in PDX, the crust and ingredients are great and of course they're cooked in a big wood fired oven and come out piping hot and tasty. They don't take reservations so be prepared for a wait - it's usually a bit crowded for me but there are quite a few seats by the bar and it's not the worst wait in the world. Ken's Artisan Pizza is doing things the right way, and producing good, high quality food. I'm a fan of that.
(4)Sarit W.
Seriously the best pizza in the whole wide world. Best crust and flavor! Makes me want to hoard the whole pizza to myself and become a pizzatarian!
(5)Jacob V.
I never ate here but I called to get a pizza. Waay to many terms and conditions no take put orders on Friday? Who does that and why? Especially in an area with limited parking and seating it's just turns me off.
(1)Elle W.
Went out with a friend. Heard great things about the place. I love Bamboo next door but agreed to give the place a shot. The service was good but did not make up for not have any ingredients on hand- for example, no mushroom for the mushroom pizza. Finally we settled for the basic pizza with arugula. It was just "ok". I do not eat dairy and they told tried to sell us on goats or buffalo cheese. I am allergic! Finally, we looked up and there was a spider web with the spider climbing. It looks pretty gross. Looked at others and saw the same thing. Yuk. Overall the pizza was "ok". I may go back one day to give them a second chance because I have heard such great things but not anytime soon.
(2)Jody M.
Amazing. Best pizza I had in Portland. Salad was really good too. I had to go here after trying the bakery-which was amazing too. Plain margarita pizza-sauce tangy, crust perfect. If I come back this is one place I will definitely revisit.
(5)Sean K.
Margherita with Arugula and Bacon pizza. Simple but amazing. Perfectly baked thin crust that's crunchy at the bottom and fluffy in the middle is very hard to find.
(5)Sherry L.
We visited this place because it was one of the top pizza places in the nation. I definitely see why! The wine options were endless, the salads and prosciutto were really good, the pizza was amazing, and the desserts were even better. With all the places to eat in Portland, I would want to come back here for pizza.
(5)Meghan C.
Okay, okay...this pizza is good. So far, it is one of my favorites in Portland. However, it's still not as good as it should be for all the hype. And I'm not just saying that to be a pizza snob, I swear! Look, I have two favorite types of pizza--the first is authentic Neapolitan pizza, the kind you find in Italy. The second is greasy, cheesy, New York style pizza. Ken's seems like they want to be closer to a Neapolitan-style pizza place based on their claim of "Artisan" pizza and offering of a DOC Margherita and other traditional toppings. So I'm comparing it against similar-style pies. Since the DOC Margherita was sold out, I ordered my second-favorite pizza preparation--proscuitto e rucola--and I tried some of my boyfriend's sausage and onion as well. Here is where Ken's confuses me--the sauce, cheese, and most of the toppings are Neapolitan-style, but the crust is not. In fact, it is very close to New York style! The type of crust you can get anywhere on the East Coast for mega-cheap. And because everyone said that the crust was so "Artisan" and unlike anything they had ever had, I was a little disappointed. When I want Artisan pizza, I want a thin crust that is simultaneously crispy, airy, yeasty, and a little charred--and I'm not compromising. That is why I can't give Ken 5 stars--but I certainly think it's delicious, and I will be back. And hopefully they have the DOC Margherita next time! Update: On the second visit, I finally got my DOC Margherita and the crust was WAY better! It was much more airy and light. Hopefully my first visit was just a fluke, I'll be back to find out!
(4)jason m.
Long wait here. Go next door to Bamboo sushi for cocktails while you wait. They have a beer and wine selection that looks good, Pizza is truly excellent. I love their crust, and the topping selections are varies enough for me. 2nd trip back for daughters 16th birthday party. Had the anchovy citrus salad. It is an odd sounding combination, but it's really good. The anchovies are more like pickled herring. They are not at all like the little salty buggers on many pizzas.(which BTW, I love).
(5)Carolyn B.
The crust had a nice texture and the ingredients were fresh and flavorful. Unlike many pizzas, it was not too salty or heavy. Definitely a nice option for a filling pizza without feeling stuffed. I ordered the pizza with mozzarella, basil, and a really nice pepperoni (not like cheap pepperoni you can find at most places). My husband ordered the sausage and fennel seed. I tried a slice of his pizza and while normally I don't like sausage pizza, I really enjoyed this one. We showed up right when it opened and were seated right away. However, it filled up really fast after that.
(4)Terrell O.
I've traveled a lot and have never had a better pizza anywhere in the world. The sopressata pizza was incredible. I have been to all of the highly rated pizza locations in Portland and none have impressed me as much as Ken's.
(5)Cin H.
The only love triangle I want is a pizza from Ken's Artisan. Delicious and affordable. Love and love.
(5)Todd G.
The pizza is spectacular. The roasted vegetables are among the best vegetable dishes I have every had, and the butterscotch pudding? Well, I would slap my mama for that. Ok, I wouldn't slap her, but I would think about it.
(5)Brent C.
The Portland pizza scene is a bit of an odd bird. While we are blessed with one of the absolute best pizza places in the entire nation with Apizza Scholls, there seems to be a dearth of "good solid pizza" that exists in other places. The west side pizza corridor is dotted with mediocre, overpriced faire like Eat Pizza, Sizzle Pie, Escape From New York, et al. In the meantime, head to the east side of the river and you have a grab bag of experimental pies that make me question the sanity of pizza eaters in Bridgetown (Dove Vivi, Lovelys Fifty-Fifty) or restaurants focusing on the mind-numbingly prosaic Neopolitan pizzas (Nostrana, Firehouse). In between, you have the local chains that are either overpriced (Hot Lips) not so delicious (Pizza Schmizza) or overpriced and not so delicious (Pizzicatto). Ken's Artisan Pizza, meanwhile, serves... well, it's called "artisan" pizza for crying out loud. What do you expect? But, really, it's an artisan pizza place that artisan-ness with a certain pride. It's really easy to go off the rails with this style of pie (I'm looking at you, Ash Woodfired Pizza), sometimes pulling back to the fundamentals and creating a really delicious handcrafted, woodfired pizza can be a revelation. The creme de la creme here is the soppressata. But if you're a sausage fan or a veggiehead, you'll find something worth the trouble. For westsiders, you can enjoy this pizza at Ken's Artisan Bakery on 21st Ave. on Monday nights. While it's not my "preferred" style of pizza, Ken's Artisan is such an amazing version of it that I can't help but bestow upon it "Must-Try" status.
(5)Kathy N.
Ordered the margherita + arugula pizza, the brick oven crust was perfect. It's like FRESH arugula, almost tasted like they just picked it from the garden though :T if the flavor of the pizza was a bit more bold maybe it wouldn't have been too bad. I enjoyed my dine in there, service was great.
(4)Sophie L.
I just love this place. Been here for years. The pizzas are great and they do have a nice wine and beer selection to go with your pizzas. I also like the atmosphere of the place, no rush, just relaxing with a few friends is enough. The service was awesome. Yes, it can be quite busy, so do try to go on the weekday if you don't want a long wait. I would bring Butters(Corgi) on sunny days.
(5)C.W. J.
So I hear all about Kens Artisan vs Appiza Scholls. I have been to both. I went to Scholls in December and Ken's in July. Kens was awesome on a beautiful evening in the River City I waited an hour for a pie in December at Scholls. The pizza was good. So was Kens If I had to choose I would go to Kens, but would be happy to go to both I lived in Portland long before we were a foodie city. All in all I'm quite happy for Portland getting these great restaurants
(5)Momo B.
NO UPS OR DOWN HERE Ordered a roasted veggie appetizer and a prosciutto with basil pizza. Wasn't expecting the entire pizza to be covered in prosciutto. Quality of the topping was excellent. Anymore would have made the eating experience too salty. Our server Andrew was right on top of everything making the first time visit most enjoyable. BTW... the very thick and clear Douglas Fir tables and bar are from the salvaged timber from the one time Jantzen Beach Big Dipper Roller Coaster 1923-1970.
(4)Michael U.
Moving next to one of the less pleasant experiences during my visit to Portland a pre-dinner stop for pizza on Superbowl Sunday took me to Ken's Artisan Pizza just after they opened the doors at 4:00 and arriving to find the place unsurprisingly quiet my issues with the space began with my greeting at the door, where I was told that singles are 'only' seated at the bar. Understanding that a small restaurant may not want to expend a two-top on a single during peak hour and happy enough to sit at the bar under most circumstances I found this a bit odd considering the fact that only one four top and one two top in the entire restaurant was filled when I arrived...and when you take into the fact that less than 25% of the restaurant was occupied when I left 45 minutes later it seemed even more peculiar. Touting Zagat scores, a cookbook, and a laundry list of fine artisan purveyors Ken's is nice enough on the interior - large central tile oven, concrete floors, wood tables, high ceilings and a bar plus a traditional meat slicer and some wood piles...it looks like a pizzeria - but bearing in mind my 'welcome' things really did not get much better once I sat down. Unnamed and unsmiling, a female bartender seemed put-off that I did not want alcohol (note, I did not want to sit at the bar) and sliding a menu before me I ordered what I knew I'd come for, a Prosciutto pizza minus half the prosciutto so I could taste the Margherita on its own...only to be told "we don't do half and half." Explaining that I'd pay for the $15 Prosciutto pie (the Margherita $11) but just did not want meat on half of it the words were uttered again "we don't do half and half" - her eventual compromise being that I could order the Margherita and get a 'salumi portion' of Prosciutto on the side and add it myself...ridiculous, but so I did. Sitting, ignored, with my water glass empty as the bartender fussed at the far end of the bar it would not be long before the pie arrived - along with a plate of pork - and aside from the impossibly flavorless basil (compared to both Nostrana and Scholl's, so not an effect of the season) it was...alright, the crust yeasty and neatly charred, the mozzarella creamy, and the sauce just a touch sweet but certainly not overtly so. Adding the prosciutto to half helped in terms of salinity; and doubling up on a slice was too much as the pork itself was actually quite hefty and wonderfully flavored. Taking half home for my friend I'm told it warmed up admirably in the oven the next day, so kudos to that I guess. Off put at this point but well aware of Ken's Artisan Bakery on 21st (another subpar spot I'd visit a few days later) dessert seemed a good choice, but watching it "prepared" was enough to turn me off to Ken's Pizza for good - the chilled cup of $8 Chocolate Custard coming from the refrigerator, the fresh whipped cream scooped from a container, and two room temperature chocolate cherry cookies plucked from a jar. Realizing that not all desserts are made and baked on the spot and not entirely expecting this the flavors were fine - a sort of rich budino with high quality chocolate, but to watch it be slapped together (by the bartender) in a few seconds from three storage units sort of killed the magic...much like every other bit of 'service' at Ken's Pizza spot.
(2)S C.
Best pizza in Portland. This is not NY pizza, it is delicious artisanal to die for pizza. Waited 45 minutes on a hot August night to dine here and was glad I did! Caesar salad was excellent. Marguerita was extremely flavorful with fresh basil and creamy mozzarella, soprasetta was nice and spicy but not greasy. Prices are very reasonable. Excellent service and charming owner.
(5)Kelly S.
Came here on a Friday night and the wait was about 45 minutes. Totally worth the wait! We got a few different pizza's to try: Prosciutto, Olive, and Capicola. If you like salty, I would highly recommend both the Prosciutto and the Olive. Good choices. Service was fast, and pizza's were served quickly for how busy they were.
(5)Heather S.
My husband started reading Ken's book and we learned something interesting: Ken first tried to make it in Corvallis before settling on Portland. (Ok so all you smartypants Portland hipsters probably already knew that) I'm so glad a small Corvallis neighborhood fought Ken so hard on opening his bakery, because now we get to experience all that he has to offer. Ken's Pizza is wonderful. True wood fired, just the right amount of cheese and sauce and other toppings. I've not been to Appizza Scholls, but I think Ken's is the best in town. We love going there in the summer when the huge windows are wide open. The indoor seating feels like outdoor. Very cozy atmosphere that's for sure. But we don't mind. Thanks Corvallis!
(5)Casey K.
AH! this place is amazing and delicious. their pizza is on the thinner side, but the dough is magnificent. slightly chewy and very well seasoned. i would recommend the prosciutto pizza, hands down. oh, and this also has good beer!
(5)Jenny H.
I think I found my favorite pizza place in Portland :D The funny thing is, I accidentally ended up here. I intended on going to Bamboo Sushi next door, but the wait was too long. Boy am I glad though. I'm not a huge fan of pizza besides a few exceptions like Cheeseboard in Berkeley, but this one was delicious! My favorite part is their thin, chewy crust and light but satisfying flavors. Here's what I tried: CALAMARI ($10) : This oven roasted squid in a spicy tomato + oregano sauce was a nice change from the typical fried calamari. I really enjoyed the spicy flavor, and it was cooked just enough so it's still tender. MARGHERITA & ARUGULA ($13) : My favorite!! I normally don't like to order Margherita pizzas because I'm usually too greedy and want to load up on other toppings and flavors, but this was simple and amazing. The arugula added a very refreshing taste and complimented the mozzarella/tomato/basil wonderfully. The arugula is uncooked and appears to just be tossed on after the pizza is baked, making it feel like i'm eating a salad + pizza combo. Yum~ BACON PIZZA ($14) : I'm a little biased because I don't like bacon much, so I found this pizza to be greasy and just, um, bacon-y. My friends seemed to enjoy this though so I'm guessing bacon lovers will like it I feel like a horrible yelper, but there was one last pizza I tried, but I can't remember what it was called. All I know is it had some spicy ground meat on it and that it was delicious. I feel like after trying 3 of their pizzas, I have a good grasp of how their food is. I love the ambiance of the restaurant too. There's a lot of beautiful wood all over the restaurant, and I vaguely remember reading that the wood is from an old roller coaster ride. Overall, great place! :)
(5)Amy S.
The best pizzas ever. I order takeouts on weekdays since I live nearby. Pizzas are baked in a few minutes to perfection! Their pizzas are thin (gooey and crispy) crust with the perfect amout of sauce and toppings. Absolutely amazing!
(5)Stephanie H.
I have no idea what these people are talking about? My boyfriend and I came in last night, Friday, and were seated immediately by a gracious host. Our service was superb! Our waiter was very attentive and sweet. Our pizza and salad were amazing and my wine paired perfectly with everything( by our server's suggestion). We loved Ken's and will absolutely be coming back!
(5)Dan H.
It had been a long time since my last visit to Ken's. At least 4 years. Probably closer to 5. It is right in my neighborhood, but for some reason it is one of those places that I just kept forgetting about. This is Sue's favorite pizza joint in Portland. I had been craving pizza for the last few weeks and thought we might go there and split a salad and pizza. I mentioned my craving to Sue without mentioning going here and splitting a salad and pizza and she suggested exactly the same thing. This is a good thing. You will wait here, but you already know that. I don't love waiting anywhere, but I will do it on occasion. We waited probably around 30 or 40 minutes on Saturday night until a spot opened up at the bar. We took it even though we would've been happier sitting at a table. The main reason why I hadn't been here for so long is because when I first came here I was probably a year or 2 removed from living back in NJ and I was a bit of a pizza snob. I liked (and still like) my pizza NY style. The whole artisan pizza thing was not something I was interested in at all. Pizza to me should be good, but also inexpensive. Something you can eat with beer while watching a football game. These smaller and expensive pizza's were not of any interest to me. Fast forward 5 years and I still prefer NY style, but I know there is a place for this kind of pie. We got a Caesar Salad ($8) and the Prosciutto Pie ($15). The pie came out loaded with prosciutto and anyone who reads my reviews knows that that is one of my favorite things in this here world. It was fantastic and I honestly could have eaten another one on my own. I didn't. I'm sure it won't be another 5 years until I walk through the doors at Ken's again.
(4)Brody L.
The wait was long but the pizza was delicious. I enjoyed being able to watch the people toss the pizza dough and our server was very nice and didn't seemed rushed when talking to us even though the place was busy.
(4)FoodE Y.
Awesome pizza and service. Here's a comparison with Apizza Schools: Here's the winner of each category: Crust: Ken's (crust is light and one doesn't feel too full after eating here) Tomato sauce: Apizza Schools (depends if you like tangy sauce then AS, if you don't like tangy sauce, then Ken's). toppings: Ken's Service: Ken's HANDS DOWN. Cleanliness: Ken's size of the pie compared to the cost: Apizza Schools Overall, Ken's wins the battle. AS used to be great and the great reviews and loyal customers got to them and then they changed. Ken's is still trying and I hope they continue to try.
(5)Lynn A.
First impression: large group waiting outside and fairly full restaurant, I assumed the wait was about an hour. The hostess promptly came up to me and when I told her the rest of my party was on the way, she was fine with it. She said most of the available tables were outside but then said she thought she could make one work indoors, which she did. We were seated within five minutes. SUCH excellent service, and I really appreciated it. And then the pizza, so good! Not a lot of meat options though, which was fine. They're not breaking any culinary barriers, but the pizza is made very, very well. They make all of their pizzas in a wood fire oven in the middle of the restaurant, which gives it a great ambiance. Although we did not order dessert, we were sitting right next to the dessert bar and woah they looked pretty amazing.
(5)Shy A.
I was surprised that we didn't have to wait a very long time to try out Ken's. We were going to head over to Apizza but I'm glad that we detoured and made our way over to Ken's. The pizza was great-we got the fennel sausage and onions-YUMMO! The crust was light and crunchy and the sausage was really tasty. My only wish that would've made the meal even better? Have alcohol! I would've loved a whiskey ginger! They only serve beer and wine :( The service was outstanding! They even made some room for a +1 that arrived later on. We couldn't have asked for better!
(4)Viswa V.
Pizza is awesome!! But the wait times are crazy long.
(4)Anthony K.
Ken's located right next to my favorite sushi place. God, when I go wanting sushi I smell the Pizza, when I go wanting Pizza I start craving sushi. Ughhh #firstworldproblems. Kens is really good. NO beating around the bush here. I like all of the items on the menu. The calamari plate was eeehhhhh ok but I go there for the pizza. But then again, 3 of us eating are greek so we have a high expectation on calamari. I would like if they didn't charge extra for parmesean for the pizzas but whatchagonnado. I would gladly go back!
(4)Le Sage D.
Good pizza, but not amazing. Really nice wine list. Very good service. The crust is good, I really appreciate good crust/dough on a pizza. We enjoyed watching the dough being tossed, pizzas cooking, etc. The space is pleasant. Nicely done in the wood fire. The sauce... If you've been to Apizza Scholls, well, you will recognize that this sauce at Ken's is lacking...
(4)Ronald A.
Six of us stopped in tonight. I hate lines, so it has been some time since we ate here. Today, we stopped in just after 4:00, just after they opened. Rebecca abs I split the green salad; loved the dates that were included with the salad. We also split the squash pizza. It was plenty of food for the two of us. Friends got Caesar salads and the prosciutto pizza. They were also a hit. The pizza and salads lived up to their reputation and I hope we make it back. My only serious complaint is the prices for wine. They felt a bit steep. Our waiter gave us a bum steer on one bottle. We can avoid that in the future. I am looking forward to our next visit.
(4)Massimo F.
I don't know how a good Thai should be, but I know for sure how a good pizza should look and taste like! Here is the final grade for Ken's after being there so many times: Crust: good enough, they often overcook a bit. Crispy but not crunchy. More NY style then Neapolitan (fluffy). I cannot tell for sure if they use the overnight fermentation as a good dough should have. Topping: not overloaded, that's good. Tomato sauce is too garlicky, bad! Some people like it, but I'm of the opinion that garlic taste should be optional. I always got the tomato sauce TOO much dried up! They overcook it, not good. Their quality is consistent. It is just not the best pizza in town. Still, it is a good pizza! Recommended if you crave for pizza and don't want to risk to get a bad one.
(4)Giggly C.
Just as delicious as their bread. Take out sooo hard, Long wait sucks, otherwise I'd eat here more.
(5)Rebecca C.
This is a good place for artisan pizza, although make sure you eat it while you're there because the leftovers are just not as good. I didn't have to wait as my friends were already seated, but I don't think it'd be worth anything more than 15 minutes at the most. The pizza didn't take very long either. I had the olive pizza, and my friends got the bacon pizza and the margherita pizza. All of them were good, but the olive pizza had the best flavor. I also would have liked a little more cheese on it, but it was still yummy fresh out of the oven. Reheated it doesn't do well. Definitely a nice, open atmosphere and seating area for a summer evening. I'd go again if my friends were going, but probably not on my own to grab some pizza.
(3)George H.
Wow. This place was excellent. We had the Margarita pizza and veggie plate appetizer. Excellent!
(5)Madeline S.
Ken's is a lovely go-to casual Portland spot. I like the wine choices that go well with my individual pizza and the salad is good too. I also appreciate that Ken is there on most nights and makes a point of stopping by our table to see how things are going. I haven't had a pizza here that I didn't like but the wait can be long.
(4)emily r.
My husband took me here on my birthday, and what a birthday dinner it was! We each had a beer and i was reminded of why beer and pizza are served together. It's just right. The pizza was perfectly perfect in every way. I really liked that I didn't need to ask for salt and crushed red pepper. We got there before "the rush" and went on a Thursday, so we didn't have to wait. I recommend this, because I imagine knowing that this delicious pizza is in store for you would make waiting very hard.
(4)Stephanie H.
I love Ken's Artisan Bakery so my sister and I decided to try out Ken's Artisan Pizza while in town. We stopped off on a Sunday night for a quick pre-dinner stop during our own Portland Foodie Tour. We came in around 6pm and it was packed and we still had to wait a good 25 minutes before getting seated. We really didn't want to eat too much so we just ordered a pizza to try. We had the Margherita and Arugula pizza. It was a good thin crust pizza. I've definitely had better but it was okay. There wasn't anything that special about it but it was a decent pizza at a nice restaurant. Maybe I had too high expectations for this place since I love the bakery.
(3)Sonia B.
Good god. Ken's makes some damn good pizza. The first time I went here with my boyfriend he made me order my own pizza and I kind of looked at him like he was nuts. Let me tell you, he wasn't crazy. We both polished off our own pies and were very happy that we didn't have to share. Simple yet delicious. This is a must try!
(4)Andrew Y.
A friend of mine and I sat at a narrow bar, were served up some bread, and absorbed the menu. Unfortunately, the hours are narrow as well, open for five hours in the evening on any given day, limiting the seats available on those busier nights. Fennel Sausage and Onions with hot Calabrian Chiles - came with a thin spread of marinara over an only slightly thicker crust. The edges of the crust were crisp and airy, and chewy when left absent a topping. The sausage was fair, and as suggested by our generous bartender, getting the chiles on the side made better sense for a sensitive mouth. The sausage and grilled onions tamed the heat-packed chiles and the smoky and tang hinted in the crust supported its toppings. Radicchio Pizza - was similarly built to the other: thin, crisp, airy crust, thin layer of sauce, thin layer of cheese. I've been accustomed to the bitter taste of radicchio and was pleasantly surprised that in its preparation to its wood-fire roasting, the flavor softened up and rounded out the pizza. My friend is a vegetarian and chose the grilled radicchio, grilled onions, and blue cheese combo as a 'new' alternative she has yet to have on a pizza. The sizes for personal plates are fine and to share is ideal given the assortment of flavors. It must be warned that these pizzas are thin, and if looking for an overwhelming doughy dine, this will not be the place for such an indulgence. Appetizers and sides exist, but they may become unnecessary when even the restaurant's name suggests the prime eat of fancy.
(4)Matthew W.
Maybe I was there on a bad day, but I just didn't feel my pizza was worthy of 5 stars. 4 stars, certainly, but I feel the pizzas at Apizza Scholls or even the Firehouse are a bit better. The crust and overall flavor at Ken's just didn't blow me away as one of the best pizzas I had eaten in Portland. I had waited for a long time to have dinner at Ken's Artisan Pizza, as it seemed every time we tried in the past, the lines or wait time were just too long. However, my family surprised me with a birthday dinner there and colonized a table early in the evening. The place was packed and, probably as a result, the service suffered a bit during our visit. My beer glass sat empty for quite some time and it was difficult to flag down our server at times. I chose the Sopressatta pizza and it was very good, but the crust was not as caramelized as I had expected and the sauce and meat were a little flat...just a little. I joke to my wife that this kind of criticism is like arguing over which supermodel is more attractive. Ken's makes a pretty good pizza, but I may be looking for another model of pizza elsewhere before going back to their runway.
(4)Jando S.
When it comes to pizza in Portland, there is good pizza and then there is Ken's. It is after all, among Portland's most popular and arguably one of the city's best. With fresh ingredients, an amazing crust, a light sauce in a warm and intimate setting, pizza lovers are in for a treat. Inspired by the pizzas from trips to Italy, owners Ken and Alan have done an outstanding job in providing Portland with a style not commonly found in the pizza scene. Hardly Oregon Style Pizza ( yelp.com/list/oregon-sty… ), these pizzas are just as light and airy and significantly more European. Each of the pizzas are 12" and feel almost like a personal size serving. Order 3 of them in a group of four with an appetizer and it should be sufficient. I love the classic margherita with some extra arugula ($13) and the radicchio pizza ($13) is quite tasty. Though the bacon pizza ($14) smells great, it's not the easiest to eat since the bacon is a strip instead of being cut. If there is a fail safe choice, let it be the soppresata, a simple combination of mozzarella, spicy soppressata, and basil. Since they don't take reservations, weekends and dinner hours can turn into a wait, especially for a large group. Service is friendly, especially given the nutty crowd management from time to time. They don't take more than 10 people at any given time and everyone needs to be present before being seated. It should be noted they don't do take out pizza often and if they do, it's between Monday and Thursday. Menus are often subject to change since their ingredients vary from season to season.
(4)Rachel S.
I liked this place so much I had to go two weeks in a row. There was plenty of seating at 5:30p on a Wed. Service was great- the pizza throwers managed to entertain my toddler nephew, which won them points in my book. I enjoyed a glass of Italian wine with my pizza- the margarita with arugula. Greens somehow make me feel better about eating pizza. The crust is so soft and delicious, and the sauce is just right. And can we talk about dessert? I had to fend off my 5-year-old nephew to get my fair share of the brownie sundae. It was damn good. For pizza, it's this place or Lovely's- it just depends what part of town I'm in!
(5)Brian C.
Ken's was really hyped up to us by many people before we visited last night. Ken's did not disappoint. For a Portland restaurant, they didn't have a huge on Tap beer list but the ones they did have were tasty and hit all the categories one could want. We tried both the green and Cesar salads. They were delicious! The Cesar had big flakes of Parmasean cheese on it. The Green salad had fresh Garbanzo beans. After salad we ordered 3 different Pizza's. The fennel sausage, Margherita, and spicy pepperoni. I think the best part was the crust but the toppings were a close second. We didn't have to wait long to be seated although we were here on a Monday at 7. I have heard other nights it can be a long wait. A good spot in Portland!
(4)Amber Z.
I had a great Pinot Gris and an ok pizza. The pizza got cold rather quickly but it was ok. We got a white pizza with three cheeses and spring onions. It was just ok. Generous helpings though. The table next to us had a red pizza with sausage that looked amazing- wish I had ordered that one :(
(3)Natalie B.
I'm sad there isn't an option to give a million stars. I was in Portland visiting a childhood friend and this is one of her favorite spots - I quickly learned why. Upon arrival, we were FIFTEENTH on the waiting list, yes 15. I was ready to jam on to the next place, but I was urged to stay and was convinced it was worth it. Begrudgingly, I agreed to stay [then regretting passing up the long line at Voodoo Donuts from earlier] Either the bottle of wine we split was that good, or the time went really fast because before I knew, we were being ushered to our seat. The menu was not very extensive, but we ordered a couple pizza's and salad to share...that is when my mind lost it. This is by far, hands down, no questions asked, the best pizza I have ever had....ever. Simple, olive oil, fresh mozzarella and tomato sauce and basil. I literally still have dreams of the dough.
(5)Joe Z.
Not having brick oven pizza in Chicago, this was a treat. Bubbly edge, thin crust. One pizza is fairly filling for 2 people. We also got the roasted veggies.
(4)John S.
Apizza Scholls serves my favorite pizza but Ken's ranks a solid second. The soppressata, a spicy Italian cured dry salami, is my favorite. It takes only a few minutes for the pizzas to cook in Ken's wood-burning oven. Service is great and I like how the restaurant is located in a neighborhood. Like Apizza Scholls, a line usually forms outside before the doors open, so plan accordingly.
(5)Heather F.
Amazing! I ordered the fennel sausage and onion pizza, and it was incredible. The service and atmosphere weren't bad at all either. Nice job, Ken.
(5)Lisa E.
The atmosphere is really cool. It's very open and industrial looking with windows that roll up so the inside of the restaurant feels outside. The kitchen is also right out in the open. You can watch them make the salads and pizzas right in front of you. We walked by the huge wood-fired oven to the bar, which was fun to see. The salad was pretty good, but nothing close to the amazing Caesar at Apizza Scholls. This salad was more "milky" tasting instead of garlic tasting like I like. The freshly made croutons were delicious. They used Grana Padano cheese instead of Parmesan, which was okay but not as quite as flavorful as it could have been. We ordered the Soppressata pie. It was basically a spicy pepperoni with mozzarella and basil. The pizzas were small but big enough for two people to share. There were six slices. What's the verdict? It was good pizza but not worth waiting an HOUR to be seated. Period. On the flip side, I'd always wait however long it takes to eat at Apizza Scholls. So I guess that's your answer.
(3)Hayden N.
Never disappoints! I love the personal, thin crust gourmet pizzas. I said personal but, typically, I share one with another person and it's a right amount of food. If you are a hungry person then you could probably finish off one yourself. The soppressata is probably my favorite, it similar to a spicy pepperoni. In the past, I have tired the anchovy, prosciutto and arugula pies as well...all were very exceptional.
(5)Lena K.
The hubs and I had a pizza-off two years ago: we went to Apizza Scholls and Ken's in the same week and thoroughly discussed which one we thought was better. Ken's won easy. In terms of pizza, their dough is still thin and dough-ier (Apizza Scholls' is super thin and crispy). Ken's also won on toppings and sauce (Apizza Scholls' is saltier and they use more of it) so really, in our humble opinion, their pizza is better on all fronts. Our go-tos are the fennel sausage and the bacon. If you get the bacon, get it with the side of arugula. It makes you feel better about obliterating the perfectly cooked and very crispy bacon that you don't have to worry about dragging off your pizza since your teeth will actually cut it. If you get the fennel sausage, get two orders of Calabrian chilies on the side if you like your pizza spicy. I also love their Caesar salad. It's the perfect Caesar with whole crisp clean leaves of romaine with just the right amount of dressing, house made croutons and thinly sliced Parmesan cheese. When we go with friends, we also get their calamari (not deep fried but roasted in delicious red sauce in the wood fired oven) and their oven roasted veggies. On to dessert...try everything. Nothing has disappointed us and a few desserts have been truly mind blowing. I love love love that they keep the Chinato on their wine list to enjoy with or without dessert. Lastly, their food is wonderful but their people are better. They always provide great service and we see the same people every time which can only mean the people who work there love it as much as we do.
(5)S K.
Fantastic crusts - I love the initial crispness to the bite that is not too crisp, yielding to the chewy interior. I love the char and the air pockets around the edges. Well-balanced, delicious toppings, flavorful sauce. Don't miss the salads, the oven-roasted seasonal vegetables, and the calamari! I look forward to them equally as much as the pizza. Tip: you may be able to fit all those apps along with sharing a pizza amongst 2 people if you don't eat the bread under the calamari. Note that this will be very hard to resist, since the tomato sauce on the calamari is delicious, but if you don't you're in for some pain.
(5)Tiffany M.
Go early and cross your fingers that you get sat when they open the doors. If you do end up waiting, find solace in the fact that what you're waiting for is totally worth it! This place serves up some damn fine pizza. Do yourself a favor and order the prosciutto or the fennel sausage. When I'm not feeling like some meat I dig the margherita pizza as well. They have a great wine selection and most bottles are reasonably priced.
(5)Sue B.
We ate here after eating at Ken's Artisan bakery (twice) - so yum! We went on a Wednesday night around 6:30pm and were told it would be a 45 minute wait. Luckily it was only 30, but we had so much fun watching the four guys cook in the open kitchen that we didn't mind waiting. They keep things simple and fresh. The Caesar salad was fabulous with home-made croutons. We split the sausage and onion pizza. So delicious and the thin crust was to die for! The servers were very friend and our food came up fast! It was a fun experience!
(5)Dylan H.
What can I say about Ken's that hasn't already been said? I haven't had too much artisan bread in my life and the crust at Ken's is killer (to quote Rodney Henry)! Although the people next to us failed to eat their crust and I wanted to shout out to them EAT YOUR CRUST!!! like a Bill Nye sketch on earthquakes I saw in grade school. Back to the pizza. Their prosciutto pizza is fantastic. If you haven't had fresh, thinly sliced prosciutto it will simply blow your mind. The olive pizza is good as well. A little side note though, if you're all about tons of cheese and an inordinate amount of cheap toppings this isn't really the place for you.
(5)In B.
Good service and their lemonade is delicioussss! Their ingredients are def. fresh and good quality but it would probably come in second place when compared with Apizza Scholls.
(4)Seth B.
great pizza and ambiance! Service was a little disconnected. Will definitely return for the soppressata pizza!
(4)Conrad B.
This was the fourth time I've tried coming here, and finally I got the hint, and showed up early. The first three occasions, scattered about different trips to Portland, always resulted in 1-2 hour waits for a table with my dining compadres and I being ravenous. So yes, 5:30 PM won us a table immediately. We opted to sit at one of the scattered tables outside, as the weather was perfect, and our server was completely attentive to us, and the couple nearby us. My friend and I decided to split the Soppressata ($15 - tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil, spicy Calabria salami). The salami had a great level of heat to it - wasn't blowing my mouth out, but there was a nice warmth permeating my gustatory senses. The crust was a beauty, and the basil worked its way into all parts of the pizza (always a good thing). I could've eaten a whole one, but i felt it necessary to exercise some self control here. OK 4 hours later as I write this...GIVE ME MORE! On the other end of the spectrum, my far skinnier friend decided to get another pizza, the New Yorker ($13 - tomato sauce, mozzarella, oregano, provolone). He enjoyed it greatly. I thought it was rather basic, after buying in for a piece, but it was somewhat reminiscent of a New York style pie. Ken's is a bit pricy if you want your whole own pizza (might I recommend 2 pizzas for 3 people?), but not at all unreasonable, as the quality of ingredients is extremely high, and the flavors are great. Will go back, at 5:30 PM.
(4)Michael W.
Ken's Artisan Pizza produced a solid, good tasting, good tasting, wood fired pizza. I thought the menu could have used more variety and creativity. All but one pizza had cheese on it. Not good for the one in our party with a dairy intolerance. Most the pizzas were your standard expected toppings (margherita, salami, fresh veggie, etc.) They share bathroom space with the neighboring restaurant. So plan ahead if you need to go. They don't do reservations. We had eight people and it took an hour to get seated. Granted we arrived at 6pm on a Friday night.
(4)Claudio M.
I'm a serious pizza fan and this place is in the top 3 for me. For me, the only place that tops Ken's pizza is Lombardi's in NYC.
(5)Fun T.
Super tasty pizza! Loved the crust and the c pepper + extra salt that popped in my mouth. I will be back. Don't let the long wait scare you, it goes quick
(5)Sara B.
I wasn't expecting what I found. We got there right before it opened and i thought that it would be a ghost town....Not at all. A line around the corner was what we had... Fun little place, lots of charm. The calamari on toast was tasty and a little spicy for a kick The pizzas were good, I think we should stick to the veggies from now on! The mushroom slices were AMAZIN!
(4)Stephanie A.
Had the calamari, it was delicious and not the normal deep-fried type. It was perfectly sautéed in a home-made tomato sauce and topped the best wood-oven garlic bread that's ever touched my lips. The occidental hefe was a fine companion to the meal and the fennel sausage pizza was amazing. The nearly perfect wood-oven crust was perfectly topped with spicy yet sweet sausage, herbs, grilled onions... you must try.
(5)Brooke B.
This place was DELISH! We were visiting from Denver and a local friend of ours took us here. The atmosphere was great (although be prepared to share large tables with other couples). The food was amazing. We ordered 3 pizzas for the 4 of us and had a lot of left overs. I would say 1 pie per 2 people. We got the Bacon, the New Yorker and the Soppressata. In order of Faves: Soppressata (my fave by far -- spicy pepperoni style.) Bacon New Yoker Enjoy!
(5)Alicya M.
Very nicely done, Ken. Pleasing atmosphere, menu selection, wine offerings, service. I've heard a lot to hype you up, since relocating to Portland. I had high expectations & you had a solid delivery. Bravo.
(4)Selena N.
I hardly ever get to this place anymore but I did really enjoy their pizza, and in the Summer they open up their windows and it is a really pleasant place to eat. I'll be going back again at some point for sure.
(4)H-cat H.
It was with some skepticism we finally broke down and suffered the lines--well worth the wait! The pizza (we had the fennel sausage and onion) was the best we've had in PDX and perhaps the best anywhere. Chewy, thin and perfectly executed crust--artisan indeed. The entire staff was delightful including our fab server who had pink shorts and a great, unpretentious friendliness. Ken even brought out our beer. Had the coconut ice cream sundae which was a great way to end a perfect meal. Unfortunately for the rest of you, we may be in line waiting making the wait even longer if you want a piece of this pie.
(5)Dan C.
Honestly - the pizza here is just "OK". If you're comparing it to bad pizza (chains, etc.) it's definitely a step up. But if you're comparing it the restaurants in town specializing in pizza (Apizza Scholls, Wy'east pizza, Pyro Pizza, Give Pizza a Chance, the new Oven & Shaker) it really doesn't hold up. That's not to say it's bad, but it leaves a lot to be desired. The flavor falls a bit flat compared to some of the other pizza spots mentioned, the price is a bit steeper, and there's really nothing that stands out as great. It was decent, but I would never go out of my way to make it back. I also finished my meal still feeling a bit hungry, which rarely happens for me at other pizza places. That said, the ambience here is great. Love the interior design - strikes a perfect balance between old style tavern and modern bar. The wooden chairs were surprisingly comfortable, the tables are made out of solid doug fir, the wood burning brick oven is displayed prominently, and the atmosphere feels warm and inviting. The clean lines, colors, and modern lighting add a level of class that make this place the best atmosphere of any pizza joint in town - hands down. No problems with our service on a busy Saturday night (unlike some other reviewers), and the dessert was actually better than the pizza. That's half a compliment to the dessert, and a half an expression of disappointment with the pizza itself. Maybe I'm jaded because I've been spoiled by some of Portland's best pizza, but Ken's just doesn't stand out in terms of flavor, which held true for all 5 flavors of pizza we tried.
(3)Julia W.
30 min wait or so around 7pm. Not bad for Portland wait times. Pizza was good to great -- the bacon pizza was just that, bacon pizza. The fancy ingredients really didn't do much. Now the mushroom pizza, DELICIOUS. Next time I am going with the mushroom pizza. Pizza prices average around $15. Service was a bit better than the average Portland service (yes, Portland has their own breed of server, unfortunately). Nice ambiance - ages ranged from young families and up. I would not say this is a typical place for young kids - unless they are well behaved. Really open kitchen/wood fire grill. Very cool. Definitely will go back.
(4)Andrew M.
Pizza was delicious! 5 stars Thin crust pizza cooked in wood-fired oven in Naples style (soft crust) . Pizzas are not too heavy with toppings. Crust done perfectly. Service was fine. Ambiance is nice. Decent selection of beer and wine. Menu is nice and small; heavy focus on the pizza. Caesar salads looked great, but I didn't get one. Desserts were ok; I'm not a big dessert person but my wife thought they were good.
(5)Thilo W.
Went her for the first time recently and was very happy I did. We got there before they opened, so no wait. Atmosphere is woodsy and comfortable. Our server was pleasant and present without being overbearing. Food included the calamari (not fried) that was served in a spicy tomato sauce -- very good. We also had the mixed wood-fired vegetables which were also very tasty. Our pizzas included a margherita with arugula as well as the mushroom and both were very tasty -- I thought the crust was perfect. We also had two deserts, the chocolate custard and the lemon tart -- both were also very good. Prices were very reasonable for the quality of the food. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because Apizza Scholls still edges it out in my mind.
(4)Valerie G.
This yummy little place is in our neighborhood and always busy so we head in later at night. I dream about the thin crust Margherita pizza with a mound of arugula. The finger dishes with salt and chili pepper are a nice touch. Love the woodsy interior, sliding glass windows walls, wood-fired oven and rows of firewood that greet you as you enter and move up the ramp.
(5)Danni D.
Stop the damned presses. This pizza really is all that. I admit in the beginning I did not understand the lines out the door and the throngs of people milling about outside, quietly stroking the windows and willing those inside to finish up already so they could take their seats. I get it now. I really do. Their crust is crisp and beautifully cooked. It's got a great chew to it as well. My favorite pie so far is the one that is *covered* in prosciutto Saint Daniele. Yeah, I got it because of the name. What of it? I have also tried the pepperoni. I know, it has some fancy other name like salumni or some other such word that makes it sound like it's something other or better than pepperoni, but come on already. It's a good pie - the (not) pepperoni gets really crisp around the edges, and we all know how delicious that is. It doesn't live up to the prosciutto pie though. Get both - judge for yourselves. They also offer a roasted vegetable plate with three different veggie combos, always different with in-season veggies. It's like a holy trinity of roasted creativity. Definitely try this plate! Each time I have been in, service is terrific - friendly, well-paced, and very thoroughly knowledgeable about the menu. The only reason this place isn't getting a full 5 stars from me is the whole communal seating situation. Even their non-communal tables are packed in so tightly that you are fully involved in your dining neighbor's date, divorce, argument over household chores, insert other awkward thing you don't give a shit to know about people you will hopefully not see again. Still, a little TMI in exchange for some fantastic pizza is a small price to pay.
(4)Pough K.
still love this place.
(5)Michael M.
Well worth the wait. Great crust. Get an app and dessert and try to get two pizzas and take some home. Taste good tomorrow as well as cold. Quick tip: don't arrive at 8 on a dry Friday and expect to sit before 930
(4)Ajay D.
Great pizza and great service. I am pizza snob. The crust has good amount of chew and crispy was just perfect. They forgot to bring my Caesar salad and got me some homemade ice cream which was amazing.
(5)Sylvia S.
Underwhelming pizza even by Portland standards. We ordered 3 pies (Olive, Fennel Sausage, and Prosciutto) and they were all just barely average. Salad was overdressed and also just meh. I am glad we went so at least I have confirmed my suspicion that a wait line in Portland does not mean people know good food. The restaurant is nice and we were lucky to not have to wait too long to be seated which is why it gets two stars.
(2)Josh F.
I love the pizza here. I have been to Italy 9 times and the way they do the dough is spot on. Since I have been out of the navy I have not found another pizzeria that can measure up to Kens'.
(4)Furious G.
Best pizza in town. Fennel sausage with onions and the Proscuito pizza are simply stunning. Their gelatos are pretty good too. I especially like the strawberry gelato when they have it in June... too bad they dont' have it for more than a couple of weeks in the year. Coalition a couple of blocks to the north is a good place to go wait while a table opens up.
(5)Jung K.
Pretty good wood fired oven pizzas but the wait times are ridiculous. We went on a Monday night (thinking things might be slow) but still waited 40 minutes. I don't understand why they don't utilize some of the tables towards the back. (they only use them as waiting areas. Perfectly fine for dining I think but what do I know) Service was pretty good and they were attentive enough to bring my two kids coloring pages and crayons. (considering the number of families with small children I saw here, I was surprised that they didn't have any booster seats or high chairs available) Pizzas was good but wish there was some cheese on all three of the pizzas. We had the Arugula, the Arrabiata (spicy!) and Prociutto and while the Prociutto was salty enough to even out that pizza, the other two were some what bland. If it weren't for the crust, I'd be majorly disappointed. Overall, pretty good but not mindblowing either. Eh, just another Eastcoast transplant lamenting the Portland pizza scene. Nothing to see here.
(3)Inanc T.
We went to Ken's Pizza with high hopes for their pizza crust. We were there on a Friday evening and waited about 35-40 mins for our table. The service was pretty decent. But the music was unnecessarily loud for dinner time. We had the Prosciutto Pizza. Unfortunately, the thicker part of the crust around the edges was little doughy (slightly undercooked) . And the crust didn't have much of a taste by itself. I'd thought that Ken would be aging his dough several days to add more complex flavors. I was very disappointed by the crust. I think Bellagio's Pizza crust has more flavor than Ken's! Also, the Prosciutto pizza was salty and needed tab bit more cheese under it (Of course, that would make it saltier). I had better Prosciutto pizza in town for similar price....Unfortunately, given the long waiting time and a weak quality / price ratio, I give them 3 stars. I'm not sure I'll be back there any time soon.
(3)Bob R.
This is a review by a vegetarian 4.5 stars You can't really compare this to Apizza because the pizza styles are very different. This is closer to a neopolitan but without the stupid wet center. My only negatives are that it's crowded because it's so good and the olives on my olive pizza maybe should be cut into smaller pieces. As they are whole, they are too intense and also tend to roll around. Definitely coming back. Doesn't break the bank either. NOTE: this is one dish we do WAY better here than in Europe. I've had pizza with olives in two different European countries (not Italy) and both times they were served *with the pits in*. That's like serving a sundae with nuts still in the shell.
(5)Sean K.
We absolutely love this place. The fennel and sauage is to die for. The ingedients can be a bit spartan for some but its a culinary gem. We try to eat here at least monthly. Crowds can be a bother at peak times.
(4)Ian M.
Great pizza, excellent wine selection. Otis Redding soundtrack kills... Order less than you think you can eat. Very filling but worth the stuff!
(5)Christopher K.
Ken doesn't need any more help from Yelp to get people into his restaurant; everyone knows it's good. For people who don't like it, or just want to SAY they don't like it because they want to be hipster-cool or punk rock or just discouraging in general, we don't care. There's a reason why Ken's is on the top of so many lists, not just here in PDX-based publications, but all over the country as a go-to dining spot in Portland. We love Ken's Artisan Pizza just the way it is. The crew at Ken's show up early in the day to start the wood-fired over and stoke the fire to bake their thin-crusted Neopolitan style charred pizzas to perfection. If I were to pick my favorite pizza in the world, it would be a toss up between (insert competition name here) and Ken's SPICY SOPRESSATA. This pizza is absolutely divine. The caesar salad is also wonderful, as it the best-you've-ever-had vegetable plate. If you ask, your server will bring you (gratis) several pieces of Ken's rustic levain bread, with a little dish of delicious olive oil to dip it in to start your evening. In addition, most of the desserts on the menu are outstanding and worth trying on any given night. Thios restaurant is superior to almost all other establishments in the city, and makes for a great date night, just try to show up a little early, especially in the summer, when the windows are open to let the evening breeze in.
(5)Jolene B.
we loved this place. get there early for a table. the we site says it opens at 4 but it's 5. the eggplant app is great and the pizza is as good as any I had in Italy.
(5)Chad S.
Completely disappointing.The char was good but I can't believe that people make a fuss about this. I see a review from someone else who had the olive pizza and thought it has "the best flavor." What flavor? Olives? bland, bland, bland. Apizza for the win. I will never stray again.
(2)Anita H.
Here is the skinny on Ken's Artisan Pizza. It's an awesome pizza joint if you like authentic Italian style pizza. The crust is thin, but has a perfect combination of crispy and chewy so you don't feel like you're working your jaw overtime. Ingredients are sparse and simple and sauce and cheese coverage is minimal. But these are all great elements of an Italian style pizza. If your pizza leaning is something more cheesier and top(ping) heavy, then you may not be a huge fan. I'm kind of a betweener in terms of pizza preference hence I gave Ken's Artisan Pizza four stars. We ordered the margherita & arugula, the fennel sausage & onion, finocchina(?), and the bacon pizzas. The fennel sausage & onion and the finocchina were clear winners! The fennel sausage comes with a small dish of chiles and it was a delicious combination of spicy and sweet. If you find the margherita and arugula a bit lackluster which I sort of did, jazz it up with the chiles. It makes it a whole lot better! Local greens salad is fresh and varietal but dressing is mediocre. Their vanilla pound cake and accompanying gelato was yummy. The pound cake was moist and dense and not oily. The chocolate mousse was pretty good, too but the pound cake definitely outshone the other dessert.
(4)Yomari C.
So far best pie we have found in Portland. The Bacon pizza is our favorite, although the fennel sausage one is fabulous as well. The restaurant is beautiful which is a plus and the waiters rock. Kids love it, we love it.
(4)susan l.
you would think that after all i have been eating in PDX id want to stop at some point. when i stepped into ken's and saw the stove set off to the side of the main dining room, i thought, i really CAN eat more. what i ate: - roasted veggie plate: polenta slices with some type of tomato tapenade, broccoli raab sauteed with garlic, sauteed veggie medley (mushrooms and other yummy things): after a meat induced eating frenzy i just wanted some good old veggies in my system. this plate was perfect. all the veggies were cooked well, everything was interesting flavor wise, and i was happy with it - soppressata pizza: a super fancy pepperoni pizza. omg ken, are you upset i said it? i mean, thats what it looked like when it came out. but dont worry, it was a pretty damn delicious pizza. the thin crust was amazingly good. i loved the dough; it tasted fresh and well flavored. the soppressata had a lil spice to it and it was tasty. not the kind of pizza you could eat every day without keeling over from a artery clogging heart attack pros: - the pizza. the dough was good. - service: amicable, attentive, available - price: not very pricy. you could definitely order a pizza and salad or veggie plate and share it with one other person. or if youre really really hungry just eat one pizza by yourself. most pizza were about $13 cons: - small space: this is definitely more of a date place. most of the tables were 2 tops. some 4 tops. one long table along one side. most tables were pretty close together. - wait: my dinner companions had the fortune of coming in early and were able to score a table quickly. when we left about an hour later, there was a wait! would i come again? since im not in PDX, probably not.
(4)Neil L.
I had heard so much about this place, mostly amazing positive feed back , even from people who have been to Italy, about that their pizza is the best in town that the pizza crust is exactly like the one in the original authentic pizza from Naples, thin, crunchy and well done on the outside and soft in the inside, with tons of real fresh mozzarella cheese topping, with plenty of juicy tomato sauce but not wet and soggy .... and I have been in Italy several times and eaten the real thing...so I recognize it when I taste it... so I was really curious and tempted but all this positive feedback. So I tried their Margherita which-- is supposed to have only a good amount of Mozzarella and tomato sauce and fresh basil leaves.-- That was not only far from what a real margherita pizza is about, but is was also very dry, almost burned, all the tomato sauce dried out and invisible pieces of Mozzarella that had also dried out, it was as tasty a shoe sole, hard to chew, in addition there was am unpleasant after flavor or Pepperoni and fennel all over the entire pizza, probably because they use the same oven container they do to bake the fennel and pepperoni pizza, pretty depressing. Then I tried one more time, thinking that maybe the first time maybe it was an occasional mistake thing. I tried the Arrugula pizza this time, same thing, just the taste of a shoe sole with the persistent aroma of fennel and pepperoni, no thank you, no more pizza for me, here.
(3)Dan E.
Outstanding pizza and salad. Service was warm and inviting. Highly recommended. The olive oil for dipping bread (we were hungry and couldn't wait for the pizza) was aromatic, flavorable and a hint spicy. Nice touch and another personal favorite way of judging.
(5)Samantha T.
A really charming place with really good pizza. I can't explain how great their pizza taste and with their thin pizza it's taste so well. A great place to bring a friend or a crowd.
(5)Nicole G.
Ken's, your Margherita pizza has stolen my heart. You have provided a pizza to which I judge all other margherita pizzas and pizzas alike against. Amazing crust, amazing fresh cheese, other ingredients, etc. Ken's also has a great menu that always seems to be changing every time I go there. They keep their standards on the menu (like the margherita) but I usually see a new pizza or two and a new seasonal vegetable plate. I've been there a total of 3 times, but 2 times were within a month and I was delighted by the new menu items both times. Down sides? This restaurant is so popular and so awesome that you really either have to go right when it opens or close to when it closes. It doesn't matter if it's a week day or not - this place gets packed. Fast! Also for whatever reason, I'm always seated on the long bench table where they usually get one or two other parties to sit down next to you. That's fine - it's kind of European in style. We Americans tend to want to sit as far away from each other as possible and it's kind of standard so in a way, it's a bit refreshing to sit elbow-to-elbow next to a stranger enjoying their pizza. Any other possible down sides don't really bother me at all because Ken's pizza is so good, but for the sake of fairness of the review, I'll mention them. The last time we were there, my boyfriend ordered a new pizza that was just put on the menu that day and they left off part of the main ingredient - fresh salad greens/other raw veggie type things. Because the toppings were raw and didn't need any cooking prep, it was easy for them to add it on and they were apologetic about it. Again, no prob. That pizza was amazing too! All in all, pizza is awesome.. I have a picture of their margherita pizza on my fridge (obsessive?) They included it with the bill one time I was there and it was a beautiful picture.. so I kept it and put in on my fridge.. Probably not a good idea because every time I pass by my fridge all I can think of is that perfect crust, flavor-bursting sauce, fresh mozz and basil. I'm an addict. Help! :)
(4)Michele T.
Very good crust, with just the right amount of gluten, chewy but not tough. We tried 3 pizzas here: the bacon with smoked provolone was our favorite, followed by the olive. Great sauces. The special (a ham with potato) was disappointing. Great service. I did leave feeling like I was missing what all the buzz was about, which made me give it 4 stars instead of 5.
(4)Jacqueline F.
Overall, I will be going back to Ken's based on my first time awesome experience. Went on a Sunday afternoon at 5pm in June with a group of five. Every table appeared taken, but there was no wait for a table and was immediately seated...Table Magic. Easy on-street parking too. Ken's has one of the two best Margherita pizzas in Portland; they put balanced amount of cheese and basil for every bite and the crust is both chewy and crisp. Also had bacon and proscuitto pizzas. Impressively, Ken's did not skimp on any part of the ingredients. We didn't want to the fun evening to end, so we ordered dessert which was panna cotta and ice cream. Very good. Atmosphere echoed the perfect sunny day everyone must have had. Our waiter was delightful; there when we needed him, good humored throughout his busy day, and honest (and good) recommendations on pizza and beer.
(5)Sam C.
My wife Reannin and I had date night here. I have been wanting to try this place for years, and finally happened to be right I n the neighborhood around dinner time and decided to check it out. I had heard Ken's Artisan Pizza was sort of a fork and knife, upscale pizza place, the kind you probably wouldn't take your kids too, but that's not true at all, at least not of the location near Stark street. The atmosphere was relaxed, with families, Couples and work friends filling the seats around us. The menu is small and simple, including the draft beer menu which in my opinion should be greatly expanded. I started with the green salad, which was really pleasing. Its enough food to consider a meal all it's own, an obtuse mound of succulent baby greens, fresh, cold beets, salty feta, ribbons of carrots and house made spiced cashews drizzled with a light vinaigrette. My wife ordered the Caesar, which neither of us cared for. The croutons were good, but the romaine leaves were left whole, meaning you were forced to eat it with a fork and knife, and the dressing was nothing to write home about. Honestly, my favorite Caesar can be found at Pizzacato. Next we ordered the margherita pizza to split. This pizza was absolutely magnificent. Multiple levels of flavor and texture. The crust was crisp on the outside and perfectly chewy on the inside. The sauce was embellished with garlic and basil just enough, and the cheese was high end. The pizza here really lives up to its name. My only complaint is probably more of a preference, but I wish our pie had come out of the over literally like 30 seconds sooner. It was pretty well singed on the very top of the crust, resulting in some slight bitterness. We had a really great night here. The waitstaff went above and beyond, checking with us often and bringing beers and refills immediately after we ordered them. Definitely a great low key date night spot, or a nice place to bring out of towners or the fam. Protip: make sure to get there right at 5, otherwise you will have to wait to get a table.
(4)Alena C.
I brought my brother here on a Weds night around 7pm. We waited about 35 minutes, but we expected it, so no big deal. The first thing we noticed is the sweet pizza oven. I couldn't help think of Hansel and Gretel. The next thing we noticed after being seated, was the stink eye we got from the well healed couple who's table was about one inch from ours. I gave her the same curt stare, the one that said "I really don't want to be an inch away from your uppity ass, either". Then I imagined throwing her in said oven. But I think I must have just been hungry. We both ordered beers and the Calamari appetizer which came out quickly. The Calamari was good, I was happy it wasn't fried and the tomato sauce doesn't seem spicy, but does sneak up on you. The brother ordered the Prosciutto Pizza and I got the Fennel Sausage and onions with Calabrian Chile's. When they both came out, I noticed how small they are, but they are kind of perfect sized for sharing. If you are really hungry, you could probably eat the whole thing..my brother did. My pizza was terrific. The waitress warned me the Calabrian Chiles were hot, but I disregarded her notice and added hot peppers to it as well. It really wasn't hot, but it was tasty. The onions and sausage were a great combination. But just wasn't really that impressed with the dough. I usually will eat everything, but I found myself leaving the crust because it just wasn't that great. It was really powdery and dry. Not my style. The brother agreed with me on the crust. His Prosciutto was okay, but there was so little basil, mozzarella and sauce that he said it seemed to be mostly dough. After another round on beers and a pass on desert, our bill came to $58.00-not too bad. Overall, I doubt I would come back unless someone else was paying. I would just rather go to Appizza Scholls. I can see why others would like this pizza, and the service was really great, but it just wasn't that great and not worth the wait.
(3)John P.
An intimate restaurant with an open air meets rustic motif, Ken's is where you want to go for exceptional (best yet I've had in Portland) pizza. Dining companion had the bacon and I proscuitto. The proscuitto was good but the mozerella and sauce combination were definitely the stars of my pizza. The 12 inch round pizza is six slices that will leave you filling full without making you feel overboard afterwards. Staff is attentive but not overbearing. If you haven't tried it, it's a great place for pizza and that's a nice alternative to the dinkier or chain restaurants.
(4)Aaron F.
Awesome pizza here ... We arrived on a Sunday (4 PM) and enjoyed the experience thoroughly. Outstanding pizza presented to let the ingredients shine. Only really downside is the size/seating of the restaurant - it's so in demand you definitely feel the pressure to rotate out of there.
(5)Rosy D.
Best pizza in Portland, prosciutto pizza was perfect. Layered completely from crust to crust, with the best pizza sauce I've had in a while. I suggest the calamari appetizer, I couldn't eat it fast enough.
(5)Rick G.
I've been spending the past month in Portland. For the most part, every high-rated place has been as good or better than anything similar that we have in Atlanta (where I live). So when I heard about a pizza place where people line up before they open, I expected something extraordinary. Unfortunately, Ken's didn't live up to they hype at all. We had two different and disappointing pies. In both cases, the crust was dry, the cheese had congealed, and the sauce was boring. For the first time in our Portland food adventure, I could think of several places in Atlanta that have better food (Antico, Varasanos, etc). I've even had better pizza at a food truck here in Portland (Pyro Pizza).
(2)Andrew D.
My rating is 3.5 stars the foods good, but I wouldn't go out of my way for this place. The hours are also limited. I enjoyed the atmosphere, its just i've had better and if you are visiting portland I wouldn't waste it on this place.
(3)Bob K.
This is a great pizza place. I was a little concerned by the reviews that complained that the service was not so good. So we went early on a Thursday night....at 5:45pm. It looked packed with several people waiting. But we were served right away. Our order taken right away. Drinks like right now. Salad came fast. Had to wait about 10 min after eating the salad....but then came the pizza. Bill came fast too. There are no service problems here!!!! The place is very homey feeling....and comfortable. It was packed with people but it was not that loud. We felt very comfortable. The food. We shared a mixed green salad. I was not expecting much but wow.....it was really good. Lots of varieties of lettuce...some I had never had before, tangy dressing, walnuts, radishes, carrots, apple. Very good. Then the pizza. We got the fennel sausage with onions. It's a very good..... Not great.....pizza. The crust was very good and also the sausage and onions but not much cheese and very little sauce. But still very good.
(4)Na S.
We waited 1 hr to get a table and once seated, it took 40 minutes for us to place our order. One of which was a salad that never came. One of our friends had to check with the server and she got the salad after our pizzas. I love wood fire pizza but I wasn't a huge fan of the red sauce. It was a bit spicy to my taste buds. This is definitely a high end pizza but I've had better ones and I don't think they are that delicious to wait 2 hrs for them.
(3)Tim M.
Waxing poetic about a restaurant that already has 142 reviews is like trying to write a bathroom wall review about the village strumpet, I always imagine the replies to be "yeah, we know she can do that" or "Hey, she did that for me twice already", or "everybodys already been there" and stuff like that. So at the risk of being redundant and even worse commonplace, let me just say, this is flat out excellent pizza! They have a small but quite select line up of micro's on tap and a decent and reasonably priced wine list. We started with the roasted vegetables, and they were simply scrumptious, since there was only the two of us and we were ordering two pies we decided to forgo the Caesar salad, which I still regret after watching dozens of them being schlepped off to other diners tables, they looked delicious; I will order one next time. The pizza's we ordered were a prosciutto and a wild mushroom, The prosciutto is a pie with tomato base and mozzarella, then as it comes out of the brick, wood fired oven, it is covered with thin slices of prosciutto and basil, it is the perfect way to make it and very flavorful. The Mushroom pizza is covered with fresh chantrelles, caramelized onions fresh garlic and gorgonzola; another big hit in flavor combos. Combine all that good food and drink into a SE Portland "Hip" vibe kind of place and you've got a winner. No wonder there are so many positive reviews. But even though there have been so many there before us, we know they liked us more.... we're sure of it...I mean they said we were special.....
(5)Ken B.
Is uberfantastical a word?
(5)Jerry W.
Roasted veggies and squash pizza were excellent. Seated at bar and it was fine. Servers are very nice and friendly. Our favorite pizza spot in Portland by far. Be sure to ask for their bread, it is great. Often crowded and lines out the door but well worth the wait. Always eager to return and never disappointed.
(5)Harsha R.
Weekday : before 7 p.m. : ready to eat at the bar = 0 minutes of wait = finally, dinner at Ken's! I got to say Ken's did live up to the hype. Those pies were delicious! I just loved the Arrabiata. The Margherita and Arugula was just as awesome. Wood-fired pizza - you had me with your crust. Now that I think I've cracked the code of minimal wait, I'd like to be back more often. Wait, did I just say something I was not supposed to...
(5)A A.
I thought from the reviews I'd be magically transported to Italy, riding through streets in a scooter evading mafia heads. Instead I remained in Portland, finding ample parking for our prius in the residential hood, eating fresh pie avoiding hipsters. Still good though, and I was satisfied. This is solid brick oven pie, and you can tell the ingredients are fresh and carefully chosen. We got 4 pies for 6 of us, and they were all done and dusted without any talking. The calamari app was nice, but not blown away. I guess I wouldn't give it 5 stars because all the ingredients were there, but something didn't take it over the top. I can't put my finger on it...guess I wanted that extra umph. Nonetheless this was really good, especially for the cheap price point. The spot is nice and casual, with a great friendly staff and uber quick turnaround from the pie wielders working the oven. By 9PM on a saturday night, the fervor slowed down and you could find seats relatively easy. Sorry we're from san fran, so no comparisons to others in your city. However, if in portland again, I'd totally stop in again.
(4)Rikki W.
Ken's bakery is one of my favorite bakeries, so when this place opened I was very excited. And car-less living in outer SW. So it took me a while to finally get there, but when I did, I was not disappointed. If you go on the weekend (or probably any night, for that matter) you will have a bit of a wait. They pack this place to the brim, so you've got to elbow your way to the back waiting area where you can order a drink and chew on some amazingly crusty bread dipped in olive oil. The pizza is pricy, but worth it. I could probably eat one of their pizzas all by myself, but half a pizza and part of a salad is just perfect. The crust on the pizza is light, thin and crisp in all the right places with a light layer of sauce, cheese and toppings. Although the place can be a bit noisy (it is packed, after all) you can still have a conversation without having to yell (too loud). If you have a night where you want to treat yourself (and maybe a few friends), don't mind waiting for a while for a seat and then some very delicious food, this is the perfect stop.
(4)R S.
Of all of the Neapolitan style pizzas that I've had, Ken's are some of the best. The crust was exquisite: the outside with a nice char, crisp and chewy and the inside substantial enough to hold the ingredients. We had 3 different toppings, all of them very good. And as a bonus, we had a delicious 3 vegetable appetizer (I know, a 3 vegetable appetizer doesn't sound very good but this was something very special). And the atmosphere is very nice too.
(5)Lindsey K.
I absolutely love Ken's. This is the go-to pizzeria for my family, and every time we go, we are all satisfied at the end of our meal. I advise to come early right when it opens because the wait can be quite long. For the quality of pizza, the price is inexpensive. I enjoy that you can watch the chefs while they prepare the food. Ingredients are fresh and the craftsmanship of the food is great. Ken's Artisan Pizza is arguably the best restaurant for pizza in Portland. It's worth a visit.
(5)Mary M.
Great pizza, love their sauce, it's nice and light, wood fired, and they have Bacon pizza, Can't say No to that! Go, get several to share!
(4)Pete C.
Ken's definitely has better pizza than anywhere else in portland. Their pizzas are amazing and for the price you cant beat! 11-14 dollars a pie? its amazing how cheap it is. I love their soppressata, it is a little spicy, so if you cant handle spice, i would still get it. haha it never fails me. Like other great restaurants in portland, its always busy, so make sure you show up 10-15 minutes before it opens or later in the night. Its always busy here. also try their caesar salad, its literally the best caesar salad I have ever had. I love the way the place is set up and always have a friendly staff. And if you go in the summer, they have the windows open its just a great vibe.
(5)Donna K.
The battle of the Portland pizzas.. Apizza Scholls vs. Kens Artisan Pizza... I really couldn't tell you the winner because they are both different.. The ambiance of Kens is more of a date night for a couple who doesnt find a babysitter often.. While Apizza Scholls is located in your central hipster street serving Rainer on tap for cheap. Both the pizza doughs are delicious.. If you want a lighter fair Kens Artisan is your better bet.. However if you want loaded toppings hit up Apizza Scholls.. Price wise..it's about the same.. Kens Artisan is cheaper but a smaller pie.. Ranging 11-18. Apizza Schools is a much bigger pie for about 18-26. I'd love to see what the rest of Portland thinks about this pizza battle...
(4)Niki S.
Overpriced pizza that I could get from a food cart. Water leak from pipe literally right next to wall and our table. Wait for 45 minutes on a Tuesday night. Spotty service. Barely any cheese on my squash pizza. I will not go back. Waste of money and my time. I could have had both for half the amount I wasted.
(1)Holy-foo' X.
All the planets aligned and we were able to finally come by and check out Ken's on a day in which they condescended to allow carry out! The locale for this very-trendy eatery is a bit curious--- originally it was strictly a residential zone, and now the same width streets and lanes are being taxed w/significantly more car, bike and pedestrian traffic. Other businesses are slowly but surely springing up..... nature abhors a vacuum but at the same time, loves to ride on the coat tails of a proven winner. Such is Ken's enviable lot in life: who has learned first-hand that, though there be no i's in "team", there are several, in "Winning!" We were pretty impressed w/the service @ Ken's. Despite the omnipresent crowd, staff kept business flowing like a well-oiled machine. We had our food and were back out the door in just a couple short minutes--barely enough time to run to the john. Sidebar: why do some places put mirrors directly over the backs of their toilets? I know it must come as a surprise, but some of us would really rather not watch while we heed the ol' call o' the wild.... 'specially not when eating is in the near future.... =S Sadly, Ken's was fresh out of their famed lamb flatbread sandwiches. So we opted for the calamari. No breading, but a fairly heavy marinara on this one that I didn't much care for, and it was served on several pieces of otherwise nondescript toasted garlic bread. The pizza itself was, only naturally, quite good. We went w/the fennel sausage and onion. The ingredients were few, but not sparse, and the distinction between these two concepts is very much lost on many pizzerias around town-- especially, it seems, on many of the pizza-themed food carts, with some notable exceptions like W'yeast, and Pyro. Contandino and Depakos would both merit inclusion in this list of exceptionals, but alas, they are (no longer) food carts... Back to the pizza briefly-- the crust was pretty near all that I was hoping for: light, chewy, fluffy, w/a thin, crisp exterior. The ingredients tasted fresh and were well and evenly distributed atop the pie. I would've like to have tried this same pie w/a garlic white sauce, and so sorry if that offends anybody's sensibilities. We all have our preferences...... Bottom line: I'd go back to Ken's, might even take a date there. It wouldn't be my first or second choice just on the basis of the pizza, but I would spend my money there long before I'd go back to a lot of other pizzerias. Ciao and grazi for being worth the time and effort!
(4)James O.
Great pizza and nice atmosphere. Ken's is great, and ill be back, but 5 stars is absolutely exceptional in my mind.
(4)Tamara C.
Usually in Portland, by 8 PM the dinner crowd would have died down but Ken's was going strong. All the tables were seated with and most everyone had an amazing looking pizza in front of him or her. This is a good sign that Ken's was going to live up to all the Yelp hyperbole. The menu was very tempting. Initially, my eyes settled on the olive pizza with rosemary. My dinner date and I settled on the mushroom pizza and the vegetable plate as an appetizer. The appetizer plate arrived and it was great - a super savory array of brussel sprouts, yams, and mushrooms. The pizza however, was not great. I rarely meet a pizza I don't care for and this was one of them. In fact, it was a huge disappointment. It was dull and flavourless. The only flavour that I could really identify was garlic and even that didn't have much flavour. The garlic really grossed me out...they really went heavy on the garlic, big tape-worm looking pieces of slimy garlic. I couldn't really detect any sauce and the mushrooms that were there were just ok. I pretty much just picked the mushrooms off with my fork and ate the crust. Seriously, this pizza was so bad that I did not finish it and I don't think I have ever left pizza unfinished before. My neighbors' pizzas all looked and smelled great. They obviously made better choices than we did. They all had the good sense to order pizzas with sauce. I love pizza with sauce. Sigh...I was so envious. I should have lobbied harder for my first choice the olive pizza with rosemary. Ken's obviously has something going for it because it is always packed when I drive by. It was packed that night, and they kept coming even after we got there. So, I am not going to ding them for having what I consider to be a really crappy pizza on the menu. Obviously some people must like that particular pizza or they would not offer it. The crust however, was great - thin, light and crispy. So, as horribly bad as the mushroom pizza was, I will go back because I am reasonably confident that if I order something with sauce, such as the olive pizza, I will not be disappointed. I will let you know...
(3)Eric H.
Apizza's was good.. But I enjoy kens pizza. The pizzas aren't that expensive for the size. Not to mention they were delicious. I'm just upset they don't have pineapples. The food came out relatively fast, with how busy it was.. It was a fun experience. Will comke back eventually.
(5)Dan G.
So much whatever! I tried the Salami, Sausage and Anchovy pizzas. They all tasted the same: dry and dull. Not at all worth the hour-long wait.
(2)Brandi M.
Lovely, lovely pizza. Pizza I'm not embarrassed to feed my (truly) Italian friends. Also, great atmosphere.
(4)Elise B.
As an ex-New Yorker I may have an expectation of pizza which may not be what Ken's is trying to meet. Aside from the long waits and there will be a long wait, the pizza was just ok for me...the crust was really what stood out and was truly the sign of what an expert can do with flour and water, and the texture right out of the wood oven was excellent, cooked well but not burned, but the topping in specified combinations were so so, and there was barely enough cheese to taste, and the quality of the cheese was average...maybe it was a childhood filled with Rays pizza with 1/2 inch of cheese on top that set my standard, but it's still a concept that i like, good crust and a gooey cheesy mess on top. The Chez Panisse style standards are more austere conjured up during the era of nouvelle cuisine, and for this east coast gal, they don't quite satisfy as much. And our meal ended up being pretty expensive, 2 pizzas with some extra toppings, one salad to share, no drinks, $50. The staff was helpful though, and available and they aim to please doing everything they should to ensure proper service.
(3)Lauren T.
Found this place off a suggestion after realizing Apizza Scholls were done for the night (apparently, they have a limited amount of pizza dough for the day). The restaurant was pretty happening for dinner yet still open which we were pleased to find out. We had to wait about 30 minutes for our table at 8 pm but they offer you to sit at their bar area and drink while you wait. (sure why not!). Good wine selection. When we got to our table, the server informed us that they were out of calamari which broke my heart a little as it did look awfully delicious on other people's table. (oven roasted squid in spicy tomato sauce, oregano and garlic). damn! We ordered the prosciutto (mozzarella, tomato sauce, basil, and Prosciutto di San Daniele) and the arrabiata (tomato sauce with Calabrian chiles, mozzarella, and basil). Honestly liked the arrabiata much better than the prosciutto pizza. All pizzas are put into a wood-fired oven which can be seen in the heart of the restaurant. All ingredients are fresh and prepared in an open space area adjacent to the oven. Really good pizza and friendly service.
(4)Jimmy K.
When they say show up early for a seat, they mean it. Ken's is only open 5 hours on the typical day. We arrived at 4:30 on a Saturday and there was no line yet. We sat in the first chairs that lined the front of the building (they make waiting comfortable at Ken's) and were able to watch the prep inside through the large open windows. Within 10 minutes, people were steadily showing up and happily waiting for the doors to open. As soon as 5 p.m. hit, Ken opened the door and ushered us inside. We had our drinks and placed out order in the first five minutes. The wait may be long at Ken's but they have the service nailed down pretty well. Waiters taking orders, bartenders moving drinks, food runners all over the place servicing tables and a large kitchen staff. Your food is out quick and piping hot from the oven. We ordered the calimari to start, which was tender and mixed with a spicy red sauce. Came on a recommendation from a friend and was delicous. The woodfired vegetables and Caesar salad looked great too. All of the pizzas are $11-$15 bucks with 2-3 toppings per pie, as pizza should be. This pizza is unique, with charred thing crust and high-end toppings. We opted for the prosciutto, which was covered with thin layers of prsciutto and basil. The crust was chewy and crisp, sauce was sweet and there was an overall smokiness. This isn't everyday pizza, but pizza lovers will appreciate the quality. With a small menu and skilled staff, the food is fast and hot, the way it should be. The atmosphere is relaxed and youcna enjoy great food for reasonable prices.
(4)Daniel L.
My favorite restaurant in the entire city! The only negative is that the wait can be long at times, but it's well worth it! Ceasar salad, sopressata pizza, and the fennel sausage & onion (calabrian peppers on the side) are my favorites!
(5)Andrew W.
We had fun. Veggie pizza was outstanding, fennel sausage was not quite what we were expecting but still decent.
(4)Catherine G.
With 342 reviews you don't need to hear this from one more foodie but I'm writing out of embarrassment that it took my husband and I 5 years to get our lazy asses to this joint. Hands down the finest crust we've ever had. Thin and crispy all the way to the middle- by which point most crust flops and drops sauce and cheese on everything. We stayed basic with a margherita w/ arugula and devoured every bit. After that I had a Valrhona brownie w/ ice cream and almost wept. The good news is our house is for sale and we don't want to cook at home so we will be back every night until the house sells. IT'S. THAT. GOOD.
(5)Stacey G.
Best Pizza in Portland. Butterscotch Pudding PLEASE stay on the menu forever! This place is worth the wait
(5)Doug C.
They hardly need any more help from yelp, but I think it's fair to say that Ken's offers the best vegetable platter in town. It consists of three seasonal vegetable appetizers. I've tried it about five times now and it's always been great. It does get busy around 7PM, but you can usually get a spot reasonably if you go a little before or after. I think the complaints about wait times here are a little nutty. Since when is waiting 40 minutes at the peak hour unexpected? It's worth mentioning as well that the pizza comes up pretty quickly and I've never experienced a long wait to get my order in. The service is great. If you do end up waiting to be seated, it's comfortable, and you can enjoy wine or beer while you pass the time.
(5)Laura N.
It is so strange to be able to eat Ken's pizza everyday. It was all a part of the ritual, you see. Standing in line on NW 21st, eagerly awaiting the once-a-week treat of Ken's Pizza, dusting off my TGIM sticker on my bike... In all honesty, Ken's singlehandedly made me look forward to Mondays. Mondays were the new Fridays. Oh yeah. I said it. Now, it's almost sacrilegious that I can enjoy Ken's on, say, Tuesday...or, or, Thursday, or if I'm feeling reeallly crazy, maybe even Saturday. It's so sudden and new. It's completely dangerous and mind-blowing. Yet someway, somehow, I think I'll manage.
(5)Melissa O.
Overall, I would definitely go back again. Short wait, and was served very fast, even though it was a rather busy Saturday night. The pizza was really good: nice thin crust, good topping ingredients, crispy and uncomplicated taste, smaller size pizza makes for a nice split for 2 or leftovers for 1. Large, tasty salads, balanced good ingredients. not overdressed at all. Small beer menu, but they were good beers.
(4)Nina E.
I am not a big pizza person but the fennel sausage and onion pizza was amazing. Fire baked old school pizza making style. The salad was equally coated with just the right amount of dressing. They also serve stumptown coffee which is always delicious. The service was super pleasant.
(4)Ruggy J.
This place looked and smelled so good, it didn't matter that my crew and I had just eaten dinner next door at Bamboo Sushi! In a great display of good ol' American gluttony, Ken's was the perfect candidate for an awesome "second dinner!" Not only did it look and smell fantastic, but it was some of the best wood fire pizza I've ever eaten as well! As the name suggests, Ken's is all about fresh, artisanal creations. I wouldn't say they're necessarily reinventing the wheel or anything, but they do the basics better than most anyone in the game. The wait can be pretty massive, so get there early in the evening if you want to avoid a 30-minute delay in rounding up a table.
(5)Leah H.
I'm not one to blast comparisons in reviews, but the only apizza I want/need/desire in Portland is a-piece-a Ken's! This shit is delicious and there is hardly anything else to say about it. But excuse me while I gush a little. Ken's provides a delightful dining experience from start to finish. While there may be a wait, they are quick to offer you drinks and complimentary bread and dipping oil. This wait kind of works in their favor because most people use this time to look over the menu; by the time they are seated they know exactly what to order which speeds up the sit-down to food time. The salads are fresh and tasty. The price is right for a salad that can easily be split between two people. No point in filling up on that green stuff anyway, the most delicious god damn pizza is coming your way. What goes on with the pizza is simple enough. High quality ingredients combined and wood-fired. The crust is perfect. It maintains crispiness in the center (no floppy sogginess here). The outside is perfected charred in spots. Crisp and chewy. Oh so chewy. I cannot effectively use words to describe how good it is. The margherita is perfect . The creamy mozzarella and the savory sauce...mmm. My favorite is the prosciutto - take that marvelous margherita pizza and blanket it with paper-thin slices of prosciutto. Yeah, get some, prosciutto blanket. You can't go wrong with any of their options though, really. The staff is remarkably friendly. By the time you get your bill you are in the best kind of food coma. And this wont break the bank either which means you can leave a great tip!
(5)Don B.
I can't deny that this is some 5-star pizza. Ken's does live up to the hype. Portland has some really good pizza (yes, I have said it before and I will say it again, I've had plenty o' pies in NY that don't even hold a candle to Portland pizza), and Ken's is a shining example of it. Quality crust, hand tossed with care, topped with delicious and creative ingredients, and then cooked - no, I should say "doted upon" - in the wood-fired oven, and served up fresh. Damn good pizza. The best in PDX? Maaaaaaybe. Up in the top echelon? definitely. The crust is perfectly crispy on the outside with a nice chewiness on the inside. The sauce has a nice zing to it, and a depth of flavor that brings out the deliciousness of the dough in the crust. Zesty toppings applied in just the right proportion? Oh yes. It;'s quality. I'm not going to compare Ken's to other pizza in town, it stands on it's own. Good stuff. I'd be back more often, but the wait can be intense. I'll still come again to try more things on the menu.
(5)Dave T.
Hands down best pizza restaurant I've come across, just make sure you get there early or expect to wait. Admittedly it was a Saturday night but we got in line 20 minutes before they opened and were glad of it. Some of the people who arrived just before they opened didn't get a table and there was still a decent queue when we were done and left. Once you're in though the food is fantastic and they have a good beer selection too. Make sure to look at their oven, it's fantastic.
(5)Todd Q.
Ken's has one of the finest neapolitan pizzas you can get anywhere. The ambiance and design of the space is welcoming and hip. And they have a friendly efficient staff. My wife & I spent a few months in Brooklyn last winter try to top this place and came close but Ken's is still king. Well worth your time and money.
(5)Iain M.
You have GOT to be KIDDING!?! We were second in the door for lunch one day because we had heard so much about how great this place was. Well, it IS a nice place, and for native Portlanders, the fact that the wood used for the tables and chairs came from the iconic Jantzen Beach Roller Coaster definitely adds to the ambiance. That, however, is where the fun stops. Because we believe the best way to taste a 'first' pizza is by ordering the simplest, we ordered the margherita with arugula. We were anticipating something truly memorable, as even the people sitting next to us who were Ken's veterans raved about the pizza. What we got was memorable, alright - a small round of crust that appeared to have at one time had some sauce on it (but had been scraped off), several quarter-sized lighter spots that almost looked like a tip of the hat to cheese. Unfortunately, none of that was visible at first because of the 3" PILE of arugula leaves topping the entire 'thing.' I say 'thing,' because I refuse to concede that this was actually pizza. Had it not been so ridiculous, we would have returned it and walked out, but we were just speechless. Clearly, the people rating this place with four and five stars have never really had a real pizza. To them, I say try Amalfi's, then see if you ever consider going back to Ken's. Unbelievable. . .
(1)Laura C.
I'd heard very good things about this place for a while now so I was excited a friend decided to throw her birthday dinner here. While I don't like it when restaurants don't take reservations, the wait was not that long. I didn't like that they wouldn't seat us until everyone in the party had arrived - since one of our dinner guests was running late. In the end, we had to tell her to not bother coming, since we didn't want to stand around another 30 minutes. I'm not a fan of thin crust pizza, so I can't really be the judge of theirs. However; the other 4 people in my group like it and really loved this pizza. That's not to say I didn't eat it or that I didn't like the toppings, because I did and I did. We got placed by the windows - which felt great since we finally had a sunny day here in rainy Oregon. The only thing better would be if we'd gotten seated outside, but we were too hungry to wait. When asked what the facility used to be, our server stated Ken's had been a paint store...which would explain the paint can light fixtures. I'm all about decor and found that to be very cool. All in all, we had a really nice time and enjoyed our meal immensely. Even the salad with beets was good - but only because of the fabulous cheese.
(4)Emi T.
I was underwhelmed by Ken's Artisan Pizza, but I'm not sure how much of that was the actual pizza and how much was just the high expectations I had for it given all I've ever heard about it. I didn't feel like I had a bad meal, but I also was not impressed enough to be likely to return, given so many other better options in town such as Tastebud or Lovely 50/50. The tomato sauce was a strange combination of flavors, and I felt like the seasoning on the pizza was inconsistent - one big bite full of oregano here, hardly any there. There wasn't enough cheese on the pizza, either, so you really couldn't escape the odd tomato sauce and the over & under seasoned bites. In all fairness, we only tried the one pizza - the squash pizza. The table next to us ordered the Soppressata and that looked much more promising. Our caesar salad was very good, and the apple crisp we had for dessert was also good, although, as they warn you, not served warm. It would have been better warm, but it was good room temperature, too. All in all, I think this might kind of be a taste-preference thing in that not liking the tomato sauce really ruined the pizza for me. If you like the sauce better than I did, chances are you would enjoy a pizza here since the dough/crust was really good, as could be expected from Ken's Artisan. Bottom line: the wait and the hype didn't live up to the experience for me, but it obviously does for a lot of other people, so take it with a grain of salt, I guess. If I'm gonna wait awhile for pizza, it's gonna be somewhere else though.
(2)Dean N.
Heard some great things about the pizza for years and finally went. Had to wait but there was a couple vacant chairs where we could sit and order a drink. Not sure why next door at Bamboo Sushi they serve all customers waiting outside, but here it's only served to customers sitting down. Anyway, we ordered a fennel sausage & onion pizza, a soppressata pizza, and caesar salads all around. Disappointed with the sausage pizza as it had a few, very small crumbles of sausage and could not even see or taste the onions. Not what I was expecting. Soppressata however was excellent, some of the best any of us have had. The hot calabrian peppers gave it a nice kick, plenty of soppressata,.and the crust was exceptional. The salads were also great, perfect dressing. Had it not been for the sausage pizza I would give this place 5 stars. Would definitely go again, just won't order my (usual) favorite pizza next time.
(4)Kelsie L.
With the stellar reviews I guess I had a bit higher hopes for this place. I ate there last Friday with two other couples. No complaints about the wait, although it was long, it's to be expected. Service was good. The pizza was simply OK. Each couple ordered a pizza to share, and we chose the Bacon. The crust was completely burned on about 75% of the edges. Pretty big disappointment after a long wait with that price tag. Oh well. Might return again since I live so close, but it's not somewhere I'd hype up and recommend to all my friends.
(3)Francesca P.
Never, I repeat NEVER, did I imagine I would find proper pizza outside Italy. I am a pizza snob because of my childhood upbringing in Verona and my study abroad in Siena, plus a million other family related trips all over Italy (my mother is properly Italian). Anyway, we moved to Portland in the 90's. And we never went out for pizza as a family, because the pizza was not up to the cut supposedly. In Italy, we went out for pizza all the time. It was an occurrence I sorely missed as a tween/teenager already dealing with culture shock. I loved and missed pizza. Oh sure, I appreciated the deeper dish, non wood fired oven stuff I ate with my friends for what it was - but I did wonder about finding a fantastic pizza joint. A place that would rival Italy. A place my mom would even find worthy of going to, and suffering the wait time for. Ken's is that place. The pizza hits the spot in a big, big, way. I love the arugula pizza. Fennel sausage is good, so is the Soppressatta. They are all good, actually, every one. Order whatever. Service is good as well. Also their appetizers are really lovely - melon wrapped with prosciutto is my personal favorite. Cute guys slinging pizza dough around as well. Tip: go for an early dinner, or late dinner in order to avoid massive queues, or go on a weekday. For $15 it is not to pricey either - they could charge more. For example, Campagnolo in Vancouver BC, and Serious Pie in Seattle both charge an upward of $17 on their pizzas, and they are smaller and inferior to Ken's. Also, just an aside: by all accounts Ken himself is a lovely bloke who really looks after his place. Can't hurt. Did you know his last name is: "Forkish"? I find that delightful.
(5)Jon F.
Some of the best pizza in Portland. I had the sopprassata which looked more like pepperoni than I was used to seeing in NY, but it was really good and spicy...exactly how I like it. Oh, and the pizza is thin crust so very easy to share. Oh, If you have to wait there are some bar areas in the back where they will serve you drinks and simply hand a ticket to you for your server when the table is ready so no need to settle a bill twice.
(4)Isaac S.
I was looking forward to eating here - Ken's has been recommended to me by more than a few people. My girlfriend and I walked in on a not very busy Sunday evening and were immediately seated at a table that was very close to two others. My girlfriend thought she would move to another side of the table, where there was more room, and so we could better hear each other. The hostess immediately swooped in and said "I'm going to need you to move back." That's the kind of thing you hear from a police officer when he's about to arrest you. "Sir, I'm going to need you to step away from the vehicle." As much as we wanted to stay, this was a pretty terrible start to the evening. We went up to the bar to tell the hostess that we were disappointed in how she handled the situation. The staff gave us nasty looks, as if we would deign to ask them for something. It could have been dealt with simply by just seating us at a different table, but the hostess had the exact same response. We left and had a much more friendly experience (and delicious pizza) at Oven & Shaker. How's the pizza? Who knows, and who cares, if the staff is that rude?
(1)Travis S.
Wonderful pizza! Ken continues to produce excellent food, restaurant after restaurant.
(5)Gastro N.
Dear Ken's Pizza, Thank you for making the best pizza in the Universe. NY, Chicago, that punk kid in SF, and even Sicily don't even come close. I am your BFF. Love, Gastro Ninny
(5)Todd D.
I don't care how good the pizza is. Having to wait for two hours and have the wait staff continually say "your next", while they continue to seat others that aren't on the list in front of us... Horrible. It would be better if they took reservations our better yet a buzzer or app to alert you when your table is ready. That way you could stroll the neighborhood and get a drink while you wait. The four of us won't return. Once is enough.
(1)Ellen E.
Service was slow for our table's salad & pizza, but when we did finally get them, they were delicious. We enjoyed the fennel sausage & onion pizza & it happily fed two. We had room for dessert & were glad we did. Definitely recommend the strawberry rhubarb shortcake & the pecan tart. Both were delicious.
(4)Joe S.
...we rank Ken's equally high on two different lists: Delicious, Quality Food and Absolutely Craptastic Service. * The following review is based upon our last 3 visits over 2 months - we can no longer write-off the terrible experiences to 'just a bad day' here... Historically one of our favorite PDX spots, we've been fans of Ken's pizza since he was experimenting with the recipes at the Bakery even before opening this place. We like Ken and love the pizza! But even this high admiration cannot override the terrible service staff here. Tenured diners and experienced service industry folks of old, we appreciate the hard work it takes to be a server in a busy place while keeping your 'game face' on...but its not impossible to do and is expected in even the much-lesser quality and priced restaurants throughout the world. But not at Ken's. If good service were the expectation here by the owner and management, then the entire service staff would have long-ago been handed pink slips and been replaced by the legions of great servers in PDX who would love to work in this busy, pricey restaurant. Ken's has lost two previously rabid fans in us. Pull it together, Ken. and teach the staff some customer-focused manners and common-kindness or replace them with more deserving professionals and then we'll return. We sincerely hope you can up-the game here, because we miss your delicious pizza already! Good luck...
(1)Seth H.
Ken's has an amazing reputation, but I didn't feel like the food lived up to the hype. It was OK, but I felt the same as another reviewer...just not great.
(3)Steve S.
The quality and the service here really stands out. Glad I found out about this restaurant for our short trip to Portland.
(5)Matthew N.
Outstanding pizza and great atmosphere. Worth the wait at the weekend for the simple fresh ingredients and thin pizza crust.
(4)Corrie H.
So, we finally went. Only some four years after first saying we needed to go. We arrived well before the restaurant opened, even though it was a weeknight, because we were expecting an epic, Apizza-Scholls-style wait. Nope. The sidewalk was empty: just us and one other man. A small family group appeared about three minutes before the restaurant opened. And that was it. No line whatsoever. But as we entered the restaurant, we realized we were super glad to be the first in the door, because there was exactly one awesome table for two, and we got it. Score! Many of the tables are communal, or nearish to the door, but ours wasn't. The atmosphere was excellent: industrial woodsy chic, people eating food with ecstatic faces, impassioned foodie waitstaff. We loved it. We also loved our veggie plate appetizer. It was amazing: the sweetest butternut squash, a startling caper cauliflower, and brussel sprouts to die for. You must promise me, this instant, that you will order the veggie plate. I mean it. Promise. Now. Our pizzas were pretty awesome by almost any standards--they just weren't quite as awesome as Apizza Scholls. That being said, Ken definitely knows what he's doing. We had an unctuous mushroom pizza and a meaty Soppressata. Yum. Highly worth it.
(5)Quazi A.
i've been here twice now in my attempt to help answer the great portland pizza debate. i have to say that i prefer their style of pizza to the more traditional pizzeria pizza at Apizza Scholls. you won't go wrong with either, but at least ken's also offers something in the way of ambiance
(4)Holly D.
I have lived near Ken's for a couple of years but never gone in because it always packed. Caesar salad was great, pizza was good, but maybe I am a pizza snob. I would go there with a group of six or seven, not small children. Service was excellent and fairly quick considering how busy they are.
(3)Laura H.
Really don't need to go into specifics about the menu of this place -- it's pizza, wood fired, and any selection will be delicious. We've also had a few different wine selections, as well as the veggie appetizer, which were excellent pairs to the main focus of the pizza. Went there a couple times, once for my birthday, and the 3 stars is mainly for the service. I felt that they don't handle a busy restaurant very well; it's always packed with at least a half hour waiting time before getting seated. The most recent time: once we were at a table, i felt the wait staff was a little painful. We were waiting on her, actually. She seemed uninformed, preoccupied, and not very friendly overall. It was about getting people in and out because the busier they are, the more money they make. Oddly enough, we felt rushed to leave the table as soon as our checks arrived. We'll go back, I'm sure, but only because I prefer wood-fired pizza and really enjoy the atmosphere.
(3)Frank Lee F.
Food alone is easily 4.5 - 5 stars consistently. Service last time in was just unfortunate. Haven't been by in a while and didn't realize the take out policy changed (no phone in orders any longer). Totally understand, given the limitations of the oven and how busy they usually are. The dining room wasn't busy and my food was up in a snap. Sadly, the hostess seemed like a sleepy hipster - disinterested and unfriendly. If you're that tired or bored at your job maybe you should stay home. It sours the enjoyment of the food, especially since I'm plunking down a nice chunk of change for a smallish pie & roasted veggies. I know this is Portland and sincere present enjoyable service is sometimes a sublime find, but a little finesse and a smile aren't that hard to muster. Saving grace was the warm smile from one of the guys cooking. Thanks for that, man... I'll be back because we love your food, but please put some of that friendliness back on the menu. Cheers!
(3)John L.
Went back again and Ken did not disappoint. I tried 3 salads and loved them all. Smoked salmon, green salad, and the caesar. If I had to choose one I probably would choose the caesar. We went with a big group with lot of infants and despite their standing policy of no reservations and the whole group must be present, they were very accommodating. Only thing that sucks about this place is the parking and long lines.... but definitely worth it.
(5)Karen M.
Apizza Scholl's: shut your bitch ass mouth - I'm talkin' about Ken's. Best pizza I've ever had. Anywhere. We started with the roasted veggie plate: Spring onions with favas, smoky asparagus, and roasted beets and carrots. Definitely enough for even three people to share. We were having trouble deciding on a pizza, especially after the group of guys sharing the family table with us ordered what looked to be one of each. The server must've seen the longing in my eyes and asked which ones we'd narrowed it down to. The carnivores in us wanted the soppresatta but the veggie lovers in us thought those spring onions would make a damn fine pizza. Although the crust is so wonderful that they must cook it at a temperature close to that of the fires of hell, the server proved to be an angel and suggested adding the soppresatta to the onion pizza - bypassing red sauce which is always fine by me. With a bottle of valpolicello on board we were set. The mozzarella was as close to the texture of butter as I've ever tasted. The meat was a little crunchy from the hell fire and wonderful. I think this is the best deal in town right now - $12 for a little slice of heaven. Our dinner was a little more spendy given the app, glass each of beer and wine while waiting, plus the bottle of red. If Ken's does takeout I am in serious, serious trouble.
(5)Mellie K.
I'm not really sure how to rate Ken's. The atmosphere is modern & warm (lots of wood and natural light) and the service is solid. Our calamari appetizer was delicious: roasty, spicy, tomato sauce & tender calamari. We had to wait a while for our pizzas but were grateful to have gotten a table and convinced it would be worth it from all the hype we've heard and seeing others' pizzas rush by. We ordered a Margherita w/Arugala and some sausage/red onion/pepper combination. They were wood-fired & beautiful...but NOT pizza... I would describe Ken's pizza as flatbread or "minimally-topped pizza for the cheese-a-phobic...who just enjoy the idea of eating pizza." The crust has nice texture but isn't as flavorful as others...e.g. Apizza Scholls. The ingredients are good and the execution is solid for what it is...but DON'T COME HERE IF YOU WANT PIZZA. You'll leave full of good bread but unsatisfied. Where is the cheesy goodness & robust sauce?? I don't even like cheese that much but know dried flecks of parmesan does not count as cheese. Is this what the term "artisan" implies? I suspect it was partly because I was craving pizza and partly because this place is SO hyped up (as rivaling Apizza Scholls)...but overall it was a disappointment. Sorry Ken & co. You make good bread, but I just can't call this pizza.
(3)Beth W.
Efffing delicious but not worth waiting 1.5 hours so arrive at opening time. The pepperoni is like crack. They probably call it something else, but it's meat cut in circles cooked on top of cheese and dough with tomato sauce. Service has always been okay, although they make me a little nervous. I don't why. Oh, it's because they know I won't be ordering all the really expensive stuff, like wine. I go here like one every year or two, 'cause I prefer the vibe at Nostrana's late-night happy hour. WAY more affordable on a teacher's salary and with a great, golden warm vibe...ooohhhh...Beth Willie feels another yelp review coming on. Go Ken. I like you when a rich uncle is buying. Oh, and sometimes they give you free bread and sometimes not. I've noticed when the uncle is around the free bread comes and when he isn't you have to awkwardly ask for it. I must look like a hobo!
(4)Sara S.
Failure on service. Close to failure on food. Here's the deal, it was my husband's birthday and neither of us wanted to cook. So we thought to try someplace we've never been before, Ken's Pizza. When we walked in there was only one couple waiting, and were told it was going to be twenty minutes. So we were ushered over to "the bar". Not the actual bar where someone would ask if you wanted a drink and actually serve you, but more of a shelf on the wall with a stool, that if you sit on it obstructs the pathway. I waited twenty minutes for a glass of wine, because when the host brought it back she also told us a table outside was ready. It was a lovely evening, the sun was setting and the sky was that magical pink color. We enjoyed our $9 glasses of wine while we waited for our server to acknowledge that we existed. Finally he showed up with a "hey guyssss, what's up?" I hate that, greet me like a professional, act like you actually give a crap. So, I was feeling pretty uncomfortable at this point but, I really wanted to have a good time. We placed our order, a caesar salad, calamari, mushroom pizza and a sausage pizza. The croutons were burnt on one side. Which means someone else didn't give a crap, forgot them in the oven and chose to serve them anyway. The calamari was really good, it was stewed in a spicy red sauce and served over two big slices of baguette. This dish would be pretty hard to mess up, and luckily they didn't. So we finish our apps, and ordered a second round of wine, and enjoyed the setting sun. Just when our pizza comes (no wine yet) it starts pouring rain!! The server doesn't even make an attempt to help, just says "oh this is weird", drops our food and walks away! Our normal server is no where to be found as usual, but the host comes back and straight away offers boxes to go! I hadn't even taken one bite, NO I don't want it to go!! I look inside the dining room and the first thing I see is a big empty table...."what about that seat right there, why can't we just move there". She seriously says to me, "well, there are people waiting for that table". I got super pissed... I tell here that we waited forever already and now that we actually have our food and it's pouring you wouldn't consider seating us at an open table? What the hell, Epic fail!!! Come on, seriously that just reeks of inexperience, unprofessionalism, and total lack of common curtesy. Then some other dude shows up with our wine in the middle of me about to lose my shit, and goes" do you still want this?" Me, "NO, I don't want it, and I don't want to pay for any of this, this service is unbelievable!!" Then, of course the server that was MIA, shows up with a bill for $76 . And just to note, the table that 'people were waiting for 'was still empty!! As I try to get my pizza in a box (with no offer to help from the staff), and keep my composure, I look over to my husband and smile and say "Happy Birthday, I guess we were destined to have pizza at home with a movie." I should have walked out and not paid for anything, but I don't roll that way, instead I'm leaving a nasty message on Yelp, and I can guarantee Ken will hear about it directly. Oh, and the pizza, makes really shitty take out! The outside crust was charred and yet the inside was partially baked, elastic and gummy. The toppings were really sparse and nothing exciting. I make better pizza at home for las than half the price. So if you decide to go, get ready to wait awkwardly for a while, eat expensive pizza and then possibly get booted out before you can even take a bite. There are so many other restaurants in this town that would Love my business, and that have umbrellas in case rain happens! This experience just reinforced that I should stick to those and cook at home from now on. Sorry Ken you don't get my vote.
(2)Andy D.
I walked in on a weeknight to place a to go order and it took 5-10 minutes for any form of acknowledgement. However, once I placed my order the pizza came out quick, was reasonably priced, and most importantly delicious. The crust was crisp but not hard and had that wonderful wood oven char. I have read a few complaints about not enough cheese - I found the cheese to be adequate and certainly would not want a gooey mess on this style of pizza. I had the soppressata pizza, and both the meat and the basil leaves were wonderfully fresh. It's easy to compare this to Apizza Scholl's - they're close by and at the top of Portland's game. If I were taking out-of-towners to one, I would choose Apizza. Thankfully, living in Portland provides opportunity to enjoy both 5-star pizzerias.
(5)Rachael L.
After a long day of househunting, we wandered into Ken's starving and wanting to gauge the neighborhood. We left with full bellies and wanting to buy a house across the street - just so that we could be close to Ken's. The service at the bar was great, loved both pizzas and the beers were local and reasonably priced. Totally coming back when I live in PDX.
(5)Jessica M.
Ken, your pizza is fantastic. Your wait staff is not. I have been in to your restaurant on several occasions expecting to wait, and I did, no big deal. But on more than one occasion, I was treated like I wasn't good enough to be in there at all, often when I didn't order an overpriced drink. Is the point of your restaurant to sell your pizza/awesome bread recipe, or to sell drinks? I am starting to wonder...
(3)Chris B.
Great oven fired pizza probably best in pdx
(4)John C.
***Us First Timers*** 8:54PM. No reservations allowed! No accommodating to special requests! Another Pizza (Soup Nazi) establishment. So far the wait wasn't too long, about 15 min. Neighborhood street parking only. The ambiance was very nice (Oregon style). Service was not above and beyond expectations. I let her know it was my first time (and comparing them to Apizza Scholls) and thought I would get a good first time experience but mediocre. When we got seated we didn't expect to be eating family style, being so close to the next party. Expect to hear whole conversations of the table next to you. We ordered Cesar salad and the crutons were very tasty ($8). Pizza was a personal size (sausage) and reasonably priced at $13. You might have to order one per person and share to have variety. They don't let you split the pie into two different flavors. Absolute NO NO! A great place to go on a date. Found it interesting that the bathrooms were co-ed with a an imprint on the door WC. So expect to wait in line with the ladies. PS. Apizza Scholls tastes better and a lot more heartier in portions for the price. But the ambiance was a lot better here.
(4)Thor T.
Already hopelessly enamored with Ken's bakery, we showed up tonight for dinner here. The eagle-eyed and very professional manager took our names and correctly predicted the waiting time for our table - this in a friendly and accommodating manner so often missing at places that are successful and overrun. Once seated, we ordered the beautiful plate of oven-roasted vegetables and, of course, several pies. All were expertly done, from the simple marinara to the more elaborate fennel sausage pizza. Excellent dough, emerging from the fire toothy and crackling at the same time. Fine work, pizzaioli! Desserts were wonderful, we enjoyed the peach galette with raspberry ice cream and the blueberry crumble with edible flowers and hysope gelato. Friendly and knowledgeable service, lovely space, including outdoor tables. Is there some other culinary endeavor that Ken could start? I certainly would be there in a flash!
(5)Paul S.
Didn't meet the high expectation that my girlfriend and I had but was good enough. I would rather go to Apizza scholls though.
(4)Britt S.
Word on the street is that this place has some awesome pizza. Well, I am happy to report that this place lived up to the hype. Great menu choice, Great ingredients and awesome customer service. I recommend it.
(5)Big D.
Very good pizza cooked super fast in a wood oven. They do not have beef, pepperoni or ham. One side salad is $8 but it is big enough to share.
(5)Joshua C.
Paradigm shifts occur when our perception or way of thinking about something changes. In life I've had many such revelations: -5.25" Floppy to 10MB hard drive -night sky viewed through LA smog to star filled Hawaiian sky -music prior to Metallica and music after -CGA to VGA -powdered milk to actual milk -land line to cell phone (i held out long enough to skip beepers) -snail mail to email -Italian food prior to visiting Italy to Italian food after -VCR to DVD -everything prior to much better half to everything better with her -TV before DVR to TV after -whatever i was doing before to finding fabulous food on yelp -life without a dog to life with -disposable camera to digital camera -sushi before Sushi Masa and sushi after ( yelp.com/biz_photos/m8rE… ) -pizza before Ken's Artisan and pizza after The pizza here made me reconsider what I thought good pizza should be. The crust here is perfection defined. Light, airy, not oily, a little crunch but not hard, a little chew but not tough, flavorful, warm, perfect. With such an amazing crust there's no need here to over compensate and they don't. Restrained amounts of sauce and cheese combined with one or two toppings. The result is a well balanced pie where each ingredient is allowed to shine. No soppy over-topped slices. No heavy mass of tasteless dough (note: not a reference to Chicago Deep Dish which I love and is in a category all to itself). We briefly considered sharing, but ended up finishing off both a flavorful prosciutto pizza and a wild mushroom pizza. One of the regulars standing in line suggested we try the spicy Soppressata Pizza (hot salami, tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil). [insert fake "sigh"] Guess we'll have to return. In truth three weeks have passed and not a day's gone by where I haven't had at least a slight craving to return. The vegetable trio is not to be missed. This appetizer changes regularly based on what's in season, but I doubt ever fails to be good. Fire roasted veggies are the best, naturally flavored, juicy, tender, delicious. While Ken's is totally worth a long wait (even in the cold), if your schedule allows come at 4:45pm. Even then the lines starting, but I'd rather wait 15 minutes before opening, than half and hour to an hour after. Warm cozy atmosphere, reclaimed roller-coaster wood tables, fire roasted veggies, and paradigm shifting pizza I'd be hard pressed to imagine it can get better than this (though I'm sure people thought similarly before watching the superbowl in high def) pictures: yelp.com/biz_photos/8st0…
(4)Matt S.
The good: The pizza is really good (though not the best in town), the vegetable appetizer is always excellent, and they consistently have good beer on tap. The bad: We have repeatedly had truly awful service experiences here. I have seldom felt as unwelcome in a restaurant. In our latest (and sadly, last) experience, we arrived on a weeknight about an hour and fifteen minutes before closing. There were a couple of parties waiting, all of whom had drinks already when we arrived. It took five minutes for anyone to notice us, at which point the hostess walked up and said "How many?" When I said "two of us," she said "about twenty five minutes," turned on her heel and walked away. I tried to catch her eye a couple of times over several minutes so that we could get drinks while we waited. One time she looked straight at me as I smiled and gave a small beckoning wave. She didn't break stride as she walked past within a few feet of me. At that point, I approached the bar, where the bartender was standing behind the bar talking to a patron sitting at the bar. She saw me, but ignored me as a I stood near the end of the bar. Finally she turned to me and, as I opened my mouth to ask for a beer for me and a glass of wine for my fiance, she said "you can't stand there," and turned back to talking to the other patron. I was so stunned that I stood there with my mouth open for a moment, at which point the hostess, finally deigning to pay attention to me, took my arm and actually pushed me back toward the waiting area, saying "please stand over here." I walked over to where my fiance was standing, looking equally shocked. When we got there, the hostess said "what do you want?" Trying to maintain a bit of dignity, I said "we don't need anything this badly." And we left. One point of clarity - when I was standing at the bar, I was neither crowding anyone else nor standing in the middle of where servers were trying to get by. I realize that people are human, but really, there is no excuse for a service establishment treating its customers this way. Regardless of the really good food, we won't be bothering them with our presence again.
(2)Niraj S.
I think this may be the best Pizza in N. America. Never fails to satisfy. Everytime I am in PDX, this is a must eat and must have! Get here early to get seated quickly or get here later and wait for a table. Just get here.
(5)Martha R.
I liked Ken's. It was good. The atmosphere was happy and big. The pizza was quite good - but give me Apizza Scholls anytime. Anytime. Oh, how I love their pizza... okay, I'm sorry, I digress... The pizza here is just a little too expensive for my taste. The parking around here is also quite annoying. It's a fun place to go with one or two other people, but I definitely would not take a group here. With the tall ceilings - it can get quite loud, and this is one popular place... which causes another problem for groups. I am glad that I went to Ken's - I love pizza, and theirs IS good... but I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't need to go back. Now, don't get me wrong... if someone else really wanted to go - I'd be all for it. But I would not head back if the decision were up to me.
(3)Holly L.
I love Ken's pizza. I hate the long long long wait. I hate that you can't take out on certain days. I hate all the restrictions, but I love the food...so much! I pretty much like all the pizzas but if i had to choose I'd choose one of the ones with meat.The soppressata, the fennel sausage with onions, or the prosciutto. But, you can't go wrong with the plain,simple margherita & arugula.
(5)Joe C.
Wow...I consider myself a pizza aficionado, but never tired Ken's due to being in a rut. My wife and I went there last weekend and we have been craving it ever since. By far the best pizza I've had in 50 years!
(5)S E.
It's hard to choose between Ken's and the many other pizza options in Portland but I can easily rank it among my top 3 best in the city. Service was good, pizza was delicious, and the wine was devine. If you're on vacation in the city or live in Portland year round, this restaurant is a gem and not to be missed.
(5)Michael C.
I hate to be such a bore but.... this is just one more Portland restaurant shipped to Boston and the owner is a bizzilonaire. The lamb appetizer is killer, lamb, pita, yogurt sauce and roasted tomato. This thing is so good I had to eat with one hand while beating off my wife's attempts to steal my food with the other. You know the old, " I just want a little bite of it". The pizza is absolutely stellar. Perfect crust, great sauce and my turn to attack my wife's undefended egg plant pizza. Service is great, atmosphere is A+; if they served martinis I would be lobbying Yelp for a sixth star.
(5)D C.
Always seeking brick oven style pizza wherever I go, so we decided to check Ken's out. And from the outstanding reviews, we had to give it a shot. It was a packed house when we arrived, however our wait was only about 20 minutes, and we got to admire the wood burning oven as we waited near the stack of wood that is used for the oven. We originally went for the Margherita with Arugula, however since they were out of arugula, we settled on the traditional Margherita. The Margherita runs about $11, and it was dead-on delicious. The tomato sauce was extremely fresh and natural. The doe was thin, with certain areas of raised crispy doe bubbles, and fresh mozzarella adorned the pie through out. And to top it off, fresh-picked basil joined into the mix of deliciousness. The wine and beer list is extensive and reasonably priced. I have to say I did not have high expectations going into this place, since I am an East Coast pizza lover (specifically NJ and NY), but this pizza place in Portland made my first time experiencing Portland even sweeter.
(4)Frank M.
Great choices among a variety of artisan pizzas, but the hour-plus wait wasn't fun. Staff poorly managed their table rotation, leaving our larger group waiting much longer than necessary.
(3)Micha V.
Ken's is one of those places I always recommend to people coming to Portland because it fits so many styles! You can always find something someone will like, they have vegetarian options, it's pizza which means it's amazing and it has a nice variety. I am partial to the grilled veggies, the Funghi (seasonal), Soppressata and the Prosciutto Pizzas. What I really love about Ken's is their sauce and their dough! For me, this really makes a pizza Pizza! It doesn't hurt that the ingredients are fresh and local and that they use one of those awesome brick ovens to freshly make it. The atmosphere is nice also. It's really laid-back and casual, but also really social. It's fun to sit outside and people watch with a good meal.
(4)Mike M.
pizza perfection. Been going here for years and never got around to reviewing it. thin, tasty, chewy crusts. great topping combinations, awesome salads and usually a really good dessert if you have room. only downside: they are always crowded. We always show up at 4:45 before they open. Trying to get in around 6PM is probably really really annoying and would require a long wait.
(5)Alicia J.
I consider myself K.A.P's #1 fan and have gone the extra step in creating a fan page for this amazing establishment on Facebook. Spread the love of Ken's and become a fan: facebook.com/pages/Portl…
(5)Lin N.
Kens does not need another 5 star review, but I had to do it. It really is the best of the best. Simple yet inventive pies fill the small menu, and I love their use of Calabrian chiles and cacciocavallo. Their desert menu is also fantastic.
(5)Jeff M.
A Haiku Review of Ken's Artisan Pizza: Best pizza in town? See: Apizza or Escape. Really crammed seating.
(4)Orian I.
How have I not reviewed this place? uggg..I hate and love you kens. why are you so damn good!! you're careful combinations your awesome crust, you're super Neapolitan tasting goodness. you're warm cozy space. makes me feel like I'm in your kitchen and you've invited me over to dinner. The always have a small but decent selection of beers on tap. the service is prompt and the pizza literally take like 10 min to come to your table after you order them. always amazed. So we always do have a dilemma, cause one pizza isn't quite enough, and two is most certainly too much. but we always get two and take half home. cause you want to be able to try two different kinds. The first time we had the bacon with fontina, it was tasty. The butternut squash, it was fantastic, my only thing is i wish it had been slices and not cubes it was hard to eat in the cube shapes. This last time we got the soppressata which was very very spicy, perfect in every way, i love the red sauce it's so tasty and well seasoned. The seasonal which was a chantrell and other wild mushrooms pizza on a olive oil base. I just love their combos so tasty. i will come back over and over again. I'm totally team kens.
(5)Kelsey S.
Went here for my birthday and loved the pizza! They have unique choices and cook the pizza in a woodfired oven where people can see it. Everything looked delicious. The place is rather small though and we would've had to wait awhile but sat at the bar and were kind of squished with other people. But, the food was great and we had a great time. Parking is tricky near the restaurant so be ready to search for spots!
(4)Brie P.
Hands down the best pizza in Portland. Wine selection is also pretty good. Yes there is a wait BUT I have a plan put your name down and take a walk down to coalition for a beer! yelp.com/biz/coalition-b… There is also a wine place that dose tastings on Saturday (Vino) yelp.com/biz/vino-portla…
(5)Calin P.
This is a good pizza. I have high expectations for pizza so that is why it is only 3. We tried half of their pizza menu in a siting :) The good: - very light pizza, reduced number of ingredients make a good balance and dont confuse you - good quality thin crust The not so good - ingredients are good quality but somehow none impressed us to remember it - small pizzas so you can eat a bunch of them so it becomes expensive :) Conclusion We would go there again but there is a better option in Portland. The most we remember is it is a light pizza so if you are on a diet, and crave good pizza, it is definitely recommended
(3)michael k.
Just let me say I didn't want to like this place. That's right, like a thirteen year old chooses either team werewolf or team vampire even before they see the movie. I too was on another team ( I thought), Team Apizza Scholls. Even "my guy" Bourdain agreed with me that its the best restaurant in Portland. i will have to give him a call. Well dang I was disarmed by the smells wafting through the air as we walked up. And them its cute feel softens me a little more. But "Yes we have a table right away" aw that was not fair. OK I'm yours, do what you will to me. The Pizza Gods were with me again. Saturday night (7/3) 8:30, we walk in and have a choice between outdoor or dinning room seating. Its been raining and grey since last year already, and the sun is out so al fresco it is. Caesar salad -Very Good Spring onion(white pizza) pizza - Crispy from tip to crust. Lamb sausage Pizza - Spicy goodness & crispy crust. We are blessed here in Portland to have 2 places that serve ( and strive to) perfect Pizzas, that are very different. So I'm a Vampwolf watch out.
(5)Manish P.
Big airy windows, nice contemporary interior. Pizza: We ordered the Arrabiata (With hot Calabrian Chilis). Mind you, these are spicy! Our mouth was on fire, but it was delicious! Wood fired oven, cooked within minutes, amazing flavor and texture. Very good service! Definitely worth a visit
(4)Chris L.
Hands down, Ken's has some of the best pizza in town! Truly a Portland kind of establishment, it offers a fresh take on gourmet pizzas, coupled with great service and a certain "hipness" that can only be found in our weird little town. My wife and I were cruising around in our new ride and realized that our internal gas tanks were reaching "E" (no, not the glow stick type silly). We knew that filling up either our personal or automobile tank would be a similar expenses (actually filling up the gas tank was more), noticed that 5 was quickly approaching, and decided to finally give Ken's a try. We luckily arrived shortly after 5 and the place was already "happening"...we managed however to get seated right away at the bar, and any questions we may have had regarding our dining destination were quickly erased as we eased ourselves into our a wonderful Walking Man Knuckle Dragger. Abbot & Costello, Laurel & Hardy, Beer & Pizza...one is always better with the other. We each ordered our own pizza with the intent of sharing and having leftovers...perfect choice as pizza truly is one of the best left over meals on the planet (and not bad grub for a rehab Sunday). The crust was superb...thin and chewy; true perfection. Toppings were generous, but not over done, allowing for each unique flavor to make its own appearance on the taste buds. Definitely high recommendations for Ken's...
(5)Jeannine B.
We just moved here to Portland and I love Yelp for all the great reviews on this place. We were a little concerned about waiting but we got right in.. didn't even have a chance to get our bottle of wine opened at the bar. It did not disappoint. We started with the Roasted Veggie Plate and had the Fennel Sausage & Onion Pizza. Both were to die for. We were on the fence about dessert and the server said oh let me bring you something. She brought us a wonderful berry gelato and even better she said it was on the house. Great service, great food... great date night!
(5)Cindy I.
I love Ken's!!! Best authentic Italian pizza on this continent! The prosciutto was so thin you could see through it but full of flavor and the slices covered the whole pizza. The freshest ingredients. I can't wait to go back. Good to get their early.
(5)Daniel P.
My prayers have been answered!!!! The WICKED is gone! The only fly in the pizza has left Ken's. The evil hostess has officially left the country. WOW! Pizza is awesome as usual. ALL other staff is super friendly, helpful and a pleasure to give money to. Now my favorite is hosting the weekends as well. No more pre-meal stomach ache when thinking of getting on the waiting list. We sat outside for the first time last night and it was a nice change - a bit quieter experience. Love this weather. Love Fennel Sausage pizza even more! GET IN MY MOUTH!
(5)Jayne T.
Ken's Artisan Pizza rivals the best of Portland in wood-fired pizza. It also offers a great location, right on SE's "Restaurant Row" (roughly 28th/Burnside) - and it coincidentally connected to another one of our favorite spots - Bamboo Sushi! I would call Ken's the upscale version of the Portland pizza scene, though you won't feel an uptight vibe or get hit in the pocketbook...the overall ambiance is notches above the other notables (Pizza Scholl's, Dove Vivi, Tastebud). Check out the phenomenal photography on their website and you'll see what I mean). Modern, sleek design of light wood tables and a great bar warmly welcome guests as they arrive. The wood-fire oven is in plain sight of everyone, and the stacked wood can be seen as you enter the restaurant...again, great atmosphere. As with almost all the best in Portland, my only complaint is the wait. Ken' is lucky because they have both outside seating and a great bar to waste time at, but overall you cannot be starving when you arrive - you are going to wait, end of story. Ah but trust me, with each bite of that hand-crafted, wood-fired pizza your memory will forget every second of waiting in line, trust me! There is also a second Ken's location in Nob Hill at 21st/Flanders, but this Ken's Artisan Bakery (fantastic spot for breakfast/lunch, and they serve Stumptown coffee). They do serve pizza from the 28th Ave location on Mondays nights, so go grab a slice if you can't make it to the real thing!
(4)Paul A.
All you need to know is this. The staff is engaged and attentive. Crust is perfection. Ingredients are universally pure, local, and fresh. I have liked every combination I have had -but pizza can be pretty personal so the staff will help you if you get all baffled. I prefer to sit and the counter. Mostly because the company of the NYT crossword puzzle has been consistently more interesting than my friends. if you really need to talk, the servers will exchange jokes with you or help with the puzzle in between getting beer/wine for the poor souls at the tables who lacked the foresight to come alone. P. S. Those new super designy condos across the street were listed at 749K originally and one sold at 699K. At least 150K of the home value is attributable to what they now will call "20-step pizza."
(5)Jennifer W.
I went here last night for the first time and I love it! This place was packed at 8:45 pm and I had to wait for 15 min before my friend showed up. If you are coming with a bigger group, the waitress won't seat you until your whole party is there. So leave your Hawaiian time at home :) So we ordered the ceasar salad and the fennel sausage and onion pizza (with hot chili peppers added on top) to be shared among the 2 of us. the salad was simple and refreshing.. the pizza is another different level... I love thin crusted pies and wood fired oven bake on top of it. This reminded me of those pizza I had in Italy... oh so yummy. I'm planning to come back again, maybe bringing a bunch of people to share more pizza together.
(5)Jack K.
Tried this place for the first time. Showed up at 6:00 on a Saturday and had to wait about 30 minutes which isn't bad for this place. The hostess got us beers while we waited which was cool. They had good beer: 10 Barrel, Goodlife, Amnesia, and one other. The calamari was really good with a nice presentation of tomato sauce and rustic garlic bread. It was a little chewy, but they cook it in a wood-fired oven so you have to cut them some slack. Pizza's were amazing. Tried three kinds and they all had a very different flavor. Tender, thin crust with a little char. Light, but flavorful sauce, and really good toppings. All three of the staff we talked to were friendly and attentive. I will definitely be back.
(5)Anna S.
Thank goodness we got in on the first seating (no reservations).....line around the building a half hour before opening, wowie. I had the olive pizza, and it was delicious. Great dining experience, the staff were all really friendly.
(5)Urban S.
Very good pizza, but nothing to write home about. Nice atmosphere, however some of the waitstaff are very inattentive and almost act like they are doing you a favor by waiting on you or allowing you to eat there.
(3)Melissa N.
Ken's, oh Ken's, you create a feverish mad dash to snap up your pies EVERY. DAY. I thank my lucky stars that I live close enough to scope out your insane line, come back and pre-party from my own liquor cabinet before my name comes up on your two-hour wait list. But those pies, they are worth the wait aren't they? In my dreams, I buy a bottle of Lambrusco, get a wood oven roasted veggie plate and then eat a Soppressata, a Fennel Sausage and an Arrabiata pie and don't share with a single person at my table. In my dreams I can also eat 10,000 calories without a food coma. Ahhhhh, dreams. Thank you, Ken's, for fueling mine since your opening a few short years ago.
(5)Eliana M.
I can be a bit of a pizza snob, but BEAR WITH ME. Mostly by 'snob' I mean 'avoids Domino's and Pizza Hut'. I appreciate that this pizza is different from your usual greasy fare. It's so satisfying to get something straight out of a wood-fired oven. But I wasn't blown away by Ken's pizza. I ordered the Margherita & Arugula, which turned out to be (by which I mean I had no idea what to expect, not that they did it wrong) a pile of arugula on top of a pizza. So every bite tasted mostly like arugula. An arugula-less slice wasn't much to write home about either. Only a touch of sauce, which itself was sort of bland. Little bit of cheese. All in all, just...okay. A nice change from Hammy's, sure, but not excellent. So... if you're in the mood for fresh, light, straight-outta-the-oven pizza, this seems like a good choice. But if you just want good pizza, I think Portland does better.
(3)Chelsea P.
Delicious! Right below apizza scholls in taste. Great crust, big pieces of basil, great sauce. I ate a whole pie myself.
(5)Fei C.
Went on a Thursday night and it was about a 30min wait. You can compare it Apizza Scholls but then you really can't. A mighty tasty pie is this Ken's Pizza. The main difference is the size. The plus is that the smaller size keeps the pizza from getting soggy in middle. The minus is it's a small pizza. It's just so exciting to get the mammoth pie at Apizza...maybe cause you have to wait 1hr to get in. Favorite is fennel sausage. Overall Kens' lives up to it's name. A nice fresh artisan gourmet pizza.
(4)Kevin L.
Awesome pizza, best I've had in Portland so far.
(5)C T.
Why a 4 star?? The wait was over an hour long!! And that's not including getting their 15 minutes before they open on a Saturday. That's about the only bad thing I can say about the place. Let's just say the wait is worth it! We came here as a group of 8 (that's the reason for the wait). Had 6 pizzas and a couple of appetizers. My favorite - Soppressata Pizza and the Prosciutto Pizza... since they don't have the pancetta one anymore. Next time- will just keep it simple and come with no more than 4 people
(4)Peter I.
If it were for the food alone, I would probably give Ken's a solid four stars but the experience involved with the wait and being rushed to eat definitely knocks it down a notch for me. I'm from New York so that is my point of reference on pizza but I've been somewhat pleasantly surprised with the overall quality of Portland pizza. Ken's does have good pizza and you can really taste the oven in the crust, which I love. I also think their balance of cheese and sauce/toppings is great for really allowing you to taste all the flavors without weighing it down. I had the fennel sausage pizza and I give it overall high marks. That said, the pizza wasn't the highlight of the meal, which is somewhat disappointing for a restaurant that puts such a focus on it. For appetizers, we shared the Caesar salad and the calamari. While a Caesar salad is generally a boring pick in this context, it was a great starter and the croutons from the wood fired oven were really nice. Additionally, the grilled calamari on the wood toasted bread was easily the highlight of the meal for me. Think bruschetta with tender grilled squid on top...really good. Pros: solid food and great use of the wood fired oven Cons: wait time, limited menu, somewhat rushed service, hard to get a drink while you're waiting Overall: I wouldn't wait more than 15 minutes for this quality of food with so many other great option in the immediate neighborhood. I still have a lot of pizza to try before I can say what my favorite is in Portland but I have a hunch that I will find something that will surpass Ken's when you factor in the complete experience.
(3)Lee B.
Sorry Ken's, but you had your chance with me and you blew it. My friend and I decided to go here even though I knew little about this place except the name. We were actually seated right away, sharing a table with another couple, which doesn't bother me at all. What does bother me is that we sat there for ten minutes without getting a "hello" or a "would you like something besides water?" A new couple was seated next to us and within two minutes their waiter came by with their plates and red pepper flakes, took their food and their drink order. We had to wait a few more minutes still before our order was taken. We got bruschetta and tomato and squash pizza. Before our appetizer even came, the couple next to us had both their pizzas. Before our pizza even came, which was simply okay by the way (if you like pizza that's soggy at the tip and burnt on the outside crust), they were done and were getting their check. Before we got our check, a new couple was seated and had received their calamari appetizer. Also, they kept coming by to refill our waters. I mean, a lot. That should have told them something. "I've been at that table eight times to fill their water glasses... I wonder if they want food?" First off, yes we want our food. Second, buy larger water glasses!
(2)Erica M.
Pizza is okay. Good flavor, NEEDS MORE CHEESE! I get the whole less is more thing, but on my margherita pizza there was hardly any cheese. It was mostly bread and sauce and a few sprinkles of basil. People are sitting extremely close. The chcoctale moose was really good but the sauce they put on it was cough...cough...tasted like NyQuil. Try it cause everyone will ask you have you been to Ken's.
(2)Jeff T.
The hype is real, so you'd better get there early, like even before they open the doors if you don't want to wait. We went with some friends and arrived about 20 minutes after they opened. Had to wait about an hour, but it wasn't too bad. And once the food came it was all worth it. The roasted vegetable app is awesome. The caesar salad looked great too, but I was the only one in our group that likes them. We split three pizzas, the prosciutto, the margherita with fresh arugala and the mushroom. All of them were great, but everyone agreed that the mushroom was the best of the bunch. We left with big smiles on our faces, 'nuff said. :)
(5)Thomas M.
Ken's has redefined Pizza for me, I never knew what I was missing. I'm the kind of guy that always leaves his crusts and quickly attempts to cram as much cheap pizza into my face as possible. But not at Ken's Ken's is more of a fine dinning experience, I get a salad (Best Caesar I have ever eaten) wine and a reasonably price spectacular pizza, and really enjoy myself in the cozy environment. You will not see me leaving a spec of food on my plate for dinner but I still leave full enough. I have only tried the Prosciutto and the sausage and fennel but they were both awesome. I love the decor with the open kitchen, garage doors, and nice wood finishes. If you choose to give it a try, plan ahead and get there at 4:30 before the line gets to long or after 6:00 when people start to cycle through. In the debate of Kens vs Apizza, I am a firm Ken's advocate without question.
(5)Staci W.
The place was packed so we quickly grabbed the last two stools at the bar. We ordered a bottle of red and shared a really good ceasar salad. I'm the queen of ceasar snobbery. We received great service from the bartender and he happily shared his favorite local spots to eat. I'm so glad we sat at the bar. The service in the main dining area was visibly (and audibly) disgruntled. I know f-bombs happen but drop them in the back. Yikes. We (little hungry piglets) ordered two pies, the Arrabiata (Margherita with Calabrian peppers) and the Fennel Sausage & Onion. The sausage on the pie could have been better but the Arrabiata was the BEST PIZZA EVER. Cracker thin crust with a simple tomato sauce. Perfect. I ate leftover pizza for breakfast instead of ordering room service. Worth the cab ride from downtown.
(5)B-ton and Dr. J P.
What other way to sum up Ken's but fan-f'ing-tastic!! Now, we will be honest, be prepared to wait. However, order a beer, relax and wait for the taste bud explosion. We started off with the calimari. Amazing! Spicy, flavorful, cooked perfectly. For our 'za we rocked the ultimate meat, the prosciutto pizza! Phenomenal! Wood fired, thin crust with just the perfect amount of sauce and cheese. Then, after its exit from the taste maker, beautiful, thinly sliced prosciutto is placed on top for your culinary pleasure. In our opinion, Ken's is the best pizza in PDX!
(5)J L.
Date night pizza.
(5)Lee H.
During my visit to Portland, two of my girlfriends mentioned Ken's to me and how there's sometimes a line out the door waiting for the place to open at 5. When I lived in Portland I had been a fan of their bread and am always looking for a good gourmet style pizza, so I checked the place out with two friends. The salad choices are inventive; we had two between the three of us, one of which was the mixed heirloom and it was wonderfully sweet. The wine list was fabulous. Now on to the main event, the wood fired pizza. Luckily we sat alfresco that summer evening because we would have melted with the 700 degree open ovens inside the restaurant! We tried the Margherita with a pile of arugula on top, which I loved. The peppery arugula was perfect with the flavors. We also had to try the Soppressata made with hot salami, tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil. Much to my sausage loving friend's delight, I picked off the pork products and she doubled up on her slices. Now I understand what the hype is about. The crust is superb and the atmosphere is perfect. Now, on to the highlight of the evening - the bathroom. Normally I wouldn't comment on a bathroom, but this is worth talking about. The toilet was very low flow (gotta love eco-conscious Portland!) and the best part was the imported Japanese hand dryer contraption complete with cute cartoon instructions on how to dry your hands. Believe me, you need instructions because you have to actually put your hands into what looks like the inside of the dryer. It only takes a couple of seconds and the hands are completely dry and you haven't wasted paper towels or an excess of energy doing it. It's the first of its kind that I've seen and I hope it catches on. Maybe I'll look into getting one for my bathroom at home...
(4)Elena F.
Ken's Artisan Pizza came highly recommended and the pizza was amazing. We sampled two pizzas (Margerita and New York) and they were outstanding. The crust was slightly blistered and flavorful; the toppings were simple yet exquisite. In comparison with the outstanding food, the service was terrible. We waited a long time even though the hostess promised a 'short' wait. At the table the server was adequate but not particularly attentive. Despite the mediocre service, the pizza was amazing. If you love pizza, you'll have a great meal at Ken's!
(4)Tony F.
Pretty much as good as it gets when it comes to pizza. 100% authentic, I would say their pizza is as good or better than the pizza I had in Italy. Also their Cesar Salad is friggin awesome! This place would be worth it at double the price.
(5)Stephano G.
Ken's is the top of the vertical line in the pizza T. Let me 'splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up. If you start at Dove Vivi you can get a slice that will keep your belly full till you reach Ken's. Ken's doesn't do slices so pick me up on your way over there. We'll devour one of Ken's pies no problem. Then it's off to Pyro over on Hawthorne and 12th. Again, we'll kill that pie without a breath between bites. Finally, we can shoot up to Scholl's over on 57th to finish our T. One should note, since Scholl's doesn't do slices and has large pies, we will probably need to cab it home. That could take a while since there are only 4 cabs in this city. We can eat another Scholl's pie while we wait. Screw diets. I'm going on the pizza T eating binge!
(5)Ana L.
Third time in a three-year row where I just got poor service AGAIN. Hostesses are always snooty and anything but friendly. Our server was friendly though. Pizzas are great but are NOT truly Italian style. Crust is OK for Portland but If you have been to Italy you know that you gotta go to other places to get truly Italian-style pizza. Kinda overpriced for what you are getting and not worth 1 hour wait. Try Via Tribunale instead.
(2)Brian M.
Love it! The food, the atmosphere, the drinks!
(5)Built To Grill B.
Yes I had Pizza. Yes it was great. Yes the service was great. I'm actually very impressed by the whole experience. My girlfriend and I have found a new date night favorite. Thank you Ken's for making my busy life a little less busy one perfect slice at a time. P.S. to the owner or manager. The server we had was excellent. Won't bore you with why, just know he kicked ass and we will be back every week until I have had everything on the menu. Then were starting over. Nice place, great pie, Great Server.
(5)Amy T.
The first time I went to Ken's, it was an accident. We had met friends at another pizza place that shall not be named, maybe eight o'clock on a Friday night, and they had run out of dough. Yeah, yeah, I know, they make it by hand, blah blah blah, it's really hard and whatnot. Please. You don't run out of dough when you're a pizza place. It's just unseemly. So we went back up 28th to Ken's and had the best pizza in town. Not because the other place ran out of dough and I was put out, but because it's the best. Beyond that, the space is just lovely, Ken is a doll, the servers are always gracious and nice when you're waiting for 45 minutes (for which I would really like to take away a star, but I simply can't). Also, their ever-changing roasted vegetable dish is always brilliant, as are their desserts. So, in short, yes, the pizza is wonderful (the fennel sausage with hot Calabrian chilis is my favorite, followed closely with the margherita with arugula), but it's the whole package that sells it.
(5)L H.
Pizza was good. Not fantastic or great, just good. The service was bad, and slow. We had a Vegetable trio appetizer which was good, well parts of it were. The pumpkin with tomatoes was awesome. The beans were dry, like really dry. Flavors were still good. It took a really long time to get our pizza, and that was after another server tried to give us another plate of the same appetizer. I appreciated the flavor and dough on the pizzas but there were just not enough toppings. We had a Margherita and a Fennel Sausage and Onion. Both had hardly any cheese. I understand that they are trying to put forth a different style of pie but really, you gotta give me just a little bit more. There was not a lot of communication between us and the server, I had to wait way too long for another beer. We wanted to get dessert but couldn't see waiting any linger than we already had so went elsewhere. So, good food, not enough toppings, too long waiting for food, and not bad service. I wouldn't try it again.
(3)Amy C.
Great pizza! Very cute and restaurant with an intoxicating smell that hits you as soon as you walk in the door. I was not impressed with the staff and felt like we were inconveniencing them.
(3)Meghan B.
Absolutely loved it here. The pizza was perfect, and really, that's just about all I ask out of LIFE. Service was friendly, beer/wine list nicely chosen, not too bad of a wait even on a Saturday, and, um, perfect pizza. Perfect.
(5)Z Z.
Hmmm, I think we need to disagree w/all the yelpers on this one. Total let down. I was excited to try Ken's, in my head I imagined leaving there happier than I had been leaving Apizza Scholls which would be hard to beat. And indeed.........it did not even come close. I found the hostess to be a tad on the prickly side, which is fine but geez, be a little more pleasant when there are so many folks waiting around. I also found it odd that there were two tables in the back that you could sit at to order drinks but you couldn't order food there. I also was bummed that you couldn't even order appetizers at those tables or even at the bar stools that were across from the main bar. It took about 20 minutes for someone to ask us if we wanted a drink which was a bummer too. When we finally were asked the two folks who asked us did not look pleased that we weren't ordering drinks, which was odd.... It took about 45 minutes to get a table which is fine, we expected that. Our actual waitress was super nice, very accommodating even though she was incredibly busy. I wasn't pleased with the appetizers and salads, out of what eight or nine options there were only a couple veggie ones and neither of them looked all that appealing. We had seen a couple tables getting bread delivered so we were anxiously awaiting that which never came....until we asked for it. It sure was delicious when it arrived though. I ordered the margarita pizza and I have to say right up front that the crust was phenomenal. I loved it so much. But, I really disliked the tomato sauce. It tasted like tomato soup that had been poured onto a pizza. Plus, there was not a lot of flavor to it, the mozzarella was cut so thin you could barely taste it and the basil was overcooked. It wasn't bad exactly but I wasn't wowed.....by any means. Paul really liked the crust on his pizza too but agreed with me about the sauce. He got a pizza with pancetta and shaved grana padano on it. He didn't like the cheese at all but to be fair, he dislikes most cheeses. He pretty much picked every bit of cheese off of it. He thought it was OK without the cheese but again, the sauce was just not that good. We pretty much agreed that we wouldn't rush to go back there. Such a bummer, I was so excited to try it. On the way home Paul mentioned a couple times that if we had to wait 45 minutes again....why not just go to Apizza Scholls??? So much better!!!! Sorry Ken's but you really let me down!
(3)Brandi B.
I think I missed something. Yes, it was crowded, and clearly very popular. Great people watching, in large part due to the family seating: a couple to one side of us were practically in each other's laps, and the couple on our other side had a pretty entertaining (and loud) argument over how far they'd driven for HIS craving, when SHE only eats raw food, and how she refuses to pay eight dollars for a salad that she can by-god pick from her own damn backyard. What a peach! But I digress. We split a ceasar, a pizza, and a couple of pints. Ceasar was good, but I'm a bit of a ceasar snob, and tend to turn up my nose at creamy dressings. Pizza was... well, good! But that's kinda it. In fact, Honey remarked that the crust was a little like Totinos. But, as he hastened to remind me, he really likes Totinos! I think we need to try Ken's again. Food-wise I'd give this three stars, but it's very reasonably priced (and the fellow-patron floorshow is pretty neat) so I'm upping to four.
(4)Josh W.
If you like thin and crispy, wood-fired crust then this pizza will not disappoint. Little did I know it but this was the pizza that I have been craving for months and is now my benchmark for Portland pizza. Shared the fennel sausage & onion along with the soppresata and both were superb. The thin crust really let the toppings shine while providing a subtle, yet flavorful, crunch. At the end of the meal, there was one slice left, which our waitress suggested I take care of. It was the pep talk that I needed, coach! Thanks Ken's! Well-played!
(4)Liliana G.
to me, the pizza here is just your standard wood-fired fare. where ken's really stands out is in their grilled veggie plate and the calamari. the grilled vegetables (as well as pizza toppings) are seasonal, so you know you're getting something fresh from the market. i don't know exactly what they do to them back in the kitchen. all i know is they're always well seasoned and marinated to maximum deliciousness, and i am a pretty picky veggie eater. as for the calamari, it is not to be missed. this is not the typical batter-fried, chewy, fishy stuff you might see at many italian joints. ken's tender calamari is sauteed to perfection and served in a chunky, tangy, spicy tomato sauce with crunchy grilled bread for mopping up the extra sauce. it is a fairly addicting dish, so don't say i didn't warn you.
(4)PollyManda A.
Best Pizzas ever. MUST Tries = Margherita & Arugala Pizza = Arrabiata Pizza ( The calabrian chiles are AWESOME) And pretty good price too - $13 a pizza for the vegetarian ones. One big drawback is the waiting time - minimum of 30 mins. I've waited as long as 1.5 hours. The place gets really crowded and they don't accept phone reservations. But if you ask me, the wait is totally worth it!
(5)Libby C.
Ken's has the best pizza in Portland. Get the Fennel Sausage & Onion. Trust me.
(5)Cheryle R.
Ken's Artisan PIzza: Where the "Meat-and-Potatoes" Midwesterner and the "Weird Veggies" West Coaster Can Both Eat Happily My husband and I agree on most things, but not on what makes a good pizza. Kansas born-and-bred, HIS idea of a good pizza is meat, cheese, more meat, more cheese, and extra cheese. MY idea of a good pizza is a thin crispy crust with just a little cheese, garlic, maybe a little bit of meat, and some veggies. And if the crust is whole wheat and the veggies organic, that's even better. So when my husband announced that he wanted pizza for his birthday, I went into a panic. Where could both of us find Pizza Nirvana? Sure, there was always Flying Pie, but I was anxious to surprise him with something new. I immediately hit up and Yelp and based on the reviews, decided to take the plunge and give Ken's a try. We arrived shortly after 5pm on Saturday, as I had heard the horror stories about the epic wait times. Fortunately, there was space left at the bar so we decided to eat there instead of waiting an hour+ for a table. Hubs ordered the fennel sausage + carmelized onion, and I had the soppressata. When I saw the pizzas, I said that there was no way I could eat the whole thing, and that I would definitely have leftovers. I was dead wrong. That pizza didn't have a chance! Everything about it was delicious, and while I don't claim to be a pizza "expert" (and am suspicious of those who claim to be --- it's subjective) this is definitely in the Top 3 of all pizzas I've ever eaten (including in NYC and Rome, and this was better than all of those). For drinks, the delicious Caldera IPA was the perfect foil for the spicy soppressata. I'll definitely be back, and next time I'll try one of the delicious looking salads.
(5)Michelle M.
I spent a couple months in Italy and one of my goals was to find a pizza that rivaled ken's... but alas, Ken's in my opinion has the best pizza in the land. I'm a big fan of the arrabiata (spicy) and the margherita pizzas, if you like arugula as much as I do, order it on the side or on top of the margherita and add it to any and all of the pizzas.
(5)Neill P.
I have an oh-so-slight preference for the pizza at Apizza Scholls, but Ken's is definitely a top-tier pizza joint. It's atmosphere and overall dining experience is also far superior to Apizza Scholls
(5)Paris O.
the atmosphere is really cool. tall ceilings, tables that aren't on top of one another, open kitchen, nice long bar, and a great outside waiting area. the pizza was good, but a bit over priced. the staff was nice, but for some reason, i felt they were all a little pretentious. overall - there are a few other pizza joints i'd choose. arrive early, as there is always a line outside - sometimes around the block.
(3)Damon P.
Best pizza that I have had in Portland. Meat lovers UNITE! If you love fresh sausages this place is a must for you. Good sausage will go a long way on a fresh pizza that is cooke just right in teh oven. These people know what they are doing. I love the atmosphere in this place. It is all centered around their massive wood burning oven in the middle of the restaurant. The Caesar salad was also very delicious. Each time it is prepared and tossed separately. Plus, this place has Trumer Pils on tap; this beer was meant to be consumed with pizza. Enjoy!
(5)Tom M.
Pizza is first-rate, especially the soppressata. But be warned, if you can't tolerate waiting in line, semi-rude/indifferent waiting staff, or communal seating, this place is not for you. Those points aside, the pizza itself is the best we've had in Portland, and maybe anywhere.
(4)Jason L.
Great Pizza. Really great. The atmosphere is great. The food is always of good quality and I love all the kinds of pizza they have. Their wine list is nice as well. There is always a bit of a wait - but that's to be expected when you are going some place this good.
(5)Sherry Y.
What's better than a slice of pizza after several hours of sampling various beers? Be forwarned they won't seat incomplete parties. One of my friends got lost on the way over to Ken's. When the rest of us arrived (at 9:40pm) the waitress kind of gave us a hard time about it but sat us anyway. Pretty much 90% of the tables were full, but how many people are going to walk in 20 minutes before closing (besides us slightly buzzed)? Plus we were ready to order right away. Another friend called and wanted in right after we , and they moved us to a larger table and were much nicer about it, go figure--if you are missing one person it's a big problem; if two people are missing, a-okay! The pizza was excellent. I had the Margherita and arugula and the fennel and sausage. The arugula was like a salad on top of my pizza (I think maybe it might have been a smidge better if the arugula had been seasoned lightly in some way). The cheese to crust ratio was great (I hate when they put a brick of cheese on it, yes I think there is such a thing as too much cheese on pizza). I think the wait at a reasonable hour might be prohibative though. Make sure you're not a starving drunk when you get there.
(4)Ryan H.
I'm torn. I love pizza. I really really love pizza. I lived in New York and I love New York Brooklyn pizza the most (Di Fara's all the way). I don't come here for the food. I come here for the ambiance. It's a great little place to bring people who haven't been to Portland before. You have all the pizzas being shuffled into a giant and cozy oven. I always grab a seat at the bar and eat there - you wait half as long. Pizza is OK. I've had them all. Veggie dish is better. If you ONLY care about great tasting pizza, go to Apizzascholls. New York, New York does a pretty good job too. That is all.
(4)Pam R.
I heard about the lines to get in so I planned to arrive on a weekday at 5:00 p.m.. I had no problem on both visits. Went right in. However, a few minutes later, the line started. As we were eating, the view across the room included people in line watching as they waited for tables. This place is casual, noisy and the seating is crowded at closely spaced tables. This is not a place for a romantic evening, business negotiations or a serious discussion with your significant other! You come here to nosh on real gourmet pizza. The items that make up the supporting cast on the top of the pizza are quality but the crust is the star. Ken really has dough figured out. The flavor of his crust is special: yeasty, mellow, sour and a bit nutty. When he gets his ovens fired up hot, the crispness of the crust really adds to the toasty flavor. I love those dark brown charred spots! If you are especially hungry, the roasted veg is a good first course. Ken's commitment to quality is shown here, as well, with a variety of fresh local baby vegetables. The selection included baby beets at my last visit. I would have preferred a more substantial salad as a counterpoint to the pizza, perhaps a bed of greens with chilled roasted vegetables on top and a choice from a couple of good house-made dressings. Ken has a good wine selection, although a bit pricey. It would have been nice to see a good beer selection, too, one with more variety. Since Ken is such an expert baker, a signature dessert such as fruit tart a la mode, would have been perfect to round out the meal. But we go for quality pizza and the other details of the meal are not half as important. I must say that this place compares favorably to Serious Pie, Tom Douglas' celebrated pizza joint in Seattle and we are lucky to have KAP in our town!
(4)Rob T.
The pizza here is really good, but the size:topping:price ratio makes me only come here occasionally instead of regularly. Judging from the line outside they probably don't care if I come or not. I'd rather get Apizza Scholls based on the aforementioned ratio, but Ken's is indeed Artisan and if you don't mind the busy atmosphere (or go during a slow day) it's worth checking out.
(4)Jess E.
Pizza is top notch. Its beautiful with perfect balance. The wait wasn't too bad (although it can be) but the staff was super-nice, as were all the folks in line. Beyond that, you don't have to eat Pizza! the menu is tight and every item (that I tried) was great. For what this place aspires to be, they've nailed it.
(5)Kathy B.
I heard wonderful things about Ken's and was eager to find another good pizza place in Portland. I love oven fired pizza. The waitstaff was friendly and helpful and found me a place at the bar rather quickly considering the number of people waiting. I had high hopes. When the pizza arrived, it looked appetizing, but I found it to be bland. I thought it might be only my choice, but the couple next to me were disappointed as well. I won't bother to go back.
(1)Danphi V.
As I'm in the process of relocating to Portland, I've been meaning to try this place for awhile, but the big crowds always kind of put me off. Today, I decided to indulge my hankering for pizza and walk over to Ken's just after they opened at 5p. Place was pretty jumping at quarter past and I took a seat at the bar. Got a nice anchovy pie with a caesar and a few beers. Everything was really well done (not burnt, but done well). Salad was big romaine hearts with plenty of cheese shavings, croutons, and dressing. Good value at $8. I have yet to find an anchovy pizza in the states made like the ones I've had in Italy and Croatia, and Ken's stayed consistent with the US model, but no complaints. I like when the anchovy is in small pieces all over the pizza, so you don't pull the whole piece off in one bite. I'm sure I will be back again if I can get over my aversion to crowds. Actually the aversion is more of an annoyance, but that is another story.
(4)K M.
Absolutely delicious! Great atmosphere and lovely service.
(5)Matt M.
Wood-fired pizza is a craft. It's an art. And the pizza I had tonight was indeed artfully crafted. I am in town for a few weeks and was told by a few people that this is one of the "you-have-to-try-it-before-you-go" places. They couldn't be more right. I understand why it's packed on a Monday night and why the line forms early on the weekends. My pizza was perfect! I had a margherita pizza but with a slightly spicier sauce than usual. (I asked for it with a little kick.) It had the right amount of zing and wonderful flavors that pleased my palette. The crust was thin and cooked perfectly. The arugula was so fresh, as was everything else on the pie. Ken's sits in what appears to be a residential neighborhood. Nice, casual ambiance in there. I spoke to a member of their management team for about 10 minutes as I waited for my carryout pizza. He was extremely nice, very genuine, and certainly proud of the creations coming out of the kitchen. I look forward to going back while I am here, most likely later in the week, in order to enjoy a different pizza, some Caesar salad (which I hear is unbeatable), as well as some cocktails at the bar. Passion runs deep in this place. Check it out!
(5)J M.
Good Pizza. Nice place for dinner.
(3)Itto O.
I've been almost all pizzeria around Portland. I think Here is the Best pizzeria. We just wanted a light meal so we shared the Margherita Pizza. fresh mozzarella Basil, and very symple tomato sauce. Nothing Extra fancy stuff on it. This is not your typical run of the mill pizza place, so if your looking for the Americanized version like twilight pizza in cames, old town pizza, Pizza hut, this is not the place for you, this is very close authentic as pizza gets! The customer service was wonderful
(4)Kristine H.
Each pizza we ordered was fabulous! But the margarita with arugula was the best! Arugula on any pizza would be a refreshing bite. The green salad was another favorite. Plus I liked the low key & warm environment..
(5)Jenny H.
I remember when I was young and calorie-ignorant and took pride in my ability to eat, like, two whole large Domino's pizzas by myself while still wanting more. And sure I didn't really need to eat two whole larges by myself? But I built up this reputation, see? So I couldn't let my Girl Scout troop down at the annual (pizza-fueled) sleepover, right? Now, years later, while I no longer ask my friends to sign my shoes after a really good weekend trip or feel the need to sing a song to remind me how long to brush my teeth, I still can put away two pizzas if I wanted to--except I've traded the Noid in for Ken, friends. Ken's Artisan Pizza gives me the same insatiable pizza-monster feeling without the wallpaper-paste-in-my-belly-feeling repercussions!* And there are real, good-tasting, non-pellet-shaped ingredients involved with Ken's (Soppressata! Squash! I ate Brussels sprouts as an appetizer there and LOVED them!!! What's happening to my body?) as opposed to the waxy pepperoni toppings of my over-gorging youth! Also? Now that I'm a classy broad I can appreciate pizza with wine and a delightful atmosphere that involves doug fir tables and a pizza oven! My only dig is the lack of consideration for those waiting to eat. While I do commend K.A.P. for offering drinks to those who wait, it gets really tight and awkward in that little walkway space. And you can't help foaming at the mouth a little bit while watching people at nearby tables enjoying their apps/pizza/dessert/THREE ROUNDS OF COFFEE. I waited 83 minutes on Saturday night. I'm not complaining. I'm just saying. *Note: I haven't actually eaten two of Ken's Artisan pizzas in one sitting, so this is technically speculative, but I'm feeling pretty confident, dudes. I'm pretty sure I polished at least one off no sweat the other night, and it only made me want MORE.
(4)She C.
dismal... I was so utterly disappointed by our experience this evening that not only am I incited to come home and write about it, but we will also never return. (I have to admit I briefly even considered stopping at Pizzacato on the way home because we were still hungry!) My husband, and ten year old daughter gave into my begging to go, as other visits have proved to be pleasant and delicious. We arrived shortly before six and were told it would be a forty five minute wait (fine for a Sunday) we had a beer and watched multiple two tops get sat as they walked right in. Ironic that in the end we were seated (after an hour) at a two top with a chair pulled up. At 7:30, now over an hour and a half since we'd been there, our waitress came to say our food would be up soon, that it "only takes two minutes to cook the pizza in the oven, but since we didn't order appetizers it seemed like longer of a wait" ....what?! Still, at this point everything is fine, we are home bred PDX foodies and will wait for good grub. Suffice it to say the pizza was, as another guest said "just OK". Actually, I let our waitress know that my margherita had way less than normal the amount of cheese. Her reply was that I should have let her know and she would have fetched me a new one. I suppose I could have, had anyone asked me how my meal was while I was eating. I did tell her I was so hungry at that point it didn't matter. So, here I am out $50 bucks with the roof of my mouth cut up from close to burnt crust and friggin' hungry. What a waste of a night. Booooo Ken's
(1)Devin P.
Probably one of the best meals I had in Portland. The fennel sausage pizza was excellent, even though I really prefer thick crust pizza. The pizza was very flavorful. There was a pretty long wait and they dont do "to go" on Sat eve's so I had to wait for awhile, but I'd say it was well worth the wait. All of the staff was very friendly and very attentive.
(5)Jay P.
Ken's does not suck. I think this is a fair statement and more relevant than gushing or ranting. It's interesting that all of the reviewers here either love or hate the place, and I think that says a lot about the experience of dining there. Yes, the wait is long, but the staff is super-pleasant and they have Stella Artois on tap. Just relax. To get to the heart of this review, in my opinion the pizza is not great, but it is good. I have had equally decent pie in restaurants not claiming to be 'artisan' pizza restaurants, so I don't think that I can fairly say that the pizza stands up as an attraction on its own. We had four different pizzas - and one of my issues with Ken's is that the options for toppings and combinations were all kind of a riff on one another and lacked creativity or variety. I also found the ingredients and crust to be pretty mediocre. Not what you want on an 'artisan' pizza. Again, the service was really pleasant. Desert, wine and beer were really good. The pizza was just not amazing......oh yeah, and it was $90 for two people!
(3)Marki V.
Based on my "Pizzeria Pyramid", Ken got everything that makes a Pizzeria the best! / \ / \ / \ "PIZZERIA PYRAMID" / Jet \ / Towel \ - What the heck is "Jet Towel"?? /________ \ - Will get to that in a minute! / Pizza \ /___________ \ / Salad \ /_______________\ / Oven \ /__________________\ / Ambiance \ /_____________________\ As you walk in you will be greeted by the beautiful floor-to-ceiling wood burning oven. Open kitchen makes it a dinner and show! Started with a perfect Caesar salad and for pizza went with the Prosciutto (sauce, mozzarella, basil and prosciutto). Slightly charred crust, which was crunch-chewy! Excellent sauce, fresh mozzarella and salty prosciutto....perfect. You gotta checkout the restrooms (shared with next door Masu), they have a Japanese hand dryer (called Jet Towel), which is really powerful and will dry your hands in few seconds. To help you with that nifty gizmo, I found these two educational videos after hours of research!!...check them out: In English: youtube.com/watch?v=e-Ez… In I donno language (sounds like Borat): youtube.com/watch?v=k5Rt… Good news: No more paper towels...more trees (for the oven)! Bad news: No more paper towels...to use on the door knob...germs!
(5)Peter N.
Very good pizza and appetizers. Limited selection of appetizers though; but very good. Good service and cool location. I would go back.
(5)Basil B.
Best pizza ever. My favorites: fennel sausage & onion, soppressata, margherita & arugala, olive. The calabrian chiles are amazing!
(5)Megan G.
I spent my college years stumbling home drunk in New York City usually hitting am original Ray's pizzeria at 4am for a couple of slices of pie. I swear by New York pizza. I am one of those "Chicago style" non believers- if you can't fold it; it ain't pizza. So when I moved to Portland, I was unpleasantly surprised by the lack of quality and high prices of pizza. Yea, I am talking to you Pizzicato. Ridiculous. Every place I went to that claimed to be a "New York" style pizza was sadly just a new disappointment. I did however find salvation at Eat Pizza- it's an alright pie. Fresh, chewy and soft dough, but it's wicked expensive and the location just sucks if you're mobile. A chef friend of mine who also owns The Olive and the Grape in Lake Oswego (go there, it's pretty phenomenal), suggested I try Ken's. Skeptical, a couple of friends and I arrived at Ken's on a Wednesday night at around 8:30pm. After our twenty minute wait, which was really just enough time to pick out the pizzas we were going to order, we sat down. Huge wood-fire oven in the corner, people throwing dough in an open kitchen, petite hipster waitresses running around with expensive bottles of wine- I can dig it. Each of my friends and I ordered one pizza. The Amatriciana (roasted tomato sauce, house made pancetta and Pecorino), the fennel sausage and onions pizza with Calabrian chilies (these small deliciously spicy peppers from Italy), the Arriabiata (roasted tomato sauce, Calabrian Chilies, mozzarella and basil) and one that is not on the menu on-line but was the best out of all of them and of course I ordered it; called the Radicchio (grilled radicchio, grilled onions, blue cheese and rosemary). The dough was Smokey and doughy with a slight crispy crust- a great wood-fired pizza. And that's a about it. It was a good wood-fired pizza. The heifers at the table weren't done gorging so they ordered another pizza called the Soppressata (roasted tomato sauce, mozzarella, spicy soppressata and basil- it's basically like a pepperoni pizza). It was tasty. Nothing spectacular, but not mediocre. Above average. I will go back to Ken's. It's the most solid pie I have had since my adventures in New York City. Do I recommend this place? Sure. Is it good? Sure. Do the hipsters running the joint slightly freak me out? Sure. But it's worth it.
(3)Kelly B.
I went to Ken's because someone gave me a gift certificate. First of all, on a weekend trying to get seating for a larger party is impossible. Additionally, the hostess is extremely rude and short. If you can't handle the stress lady - get a new job! I eventually went back on a Friday night with a small party and we scored seats at the bar which are first come first serve. The wait was less painful, but still long. And the hostess was still cranky and appears to be on a total power trip. When we finally did get seated and no longer subject to the ghastly hostess, the service at the bar was pleasant. The food was good quality and the wine list was very nice. However, I would never return. The quality of food relative to other Portland eateries do not trump the extremely long wait time and rude hostess.
(3)Tet W.
I came here last Sunday night for dinner. This my second time to Ken's and both times I've been here the service has been excellent. I tried their sausage and grilled onion pizza and my friend got the margarita with fresh arugula. The pizzas were fabulous with just the right amount of topping keeping it simple and light with a great crunch on the crust. Their fresh lemonade is fantastic for a summer night and compliments the pizza nicely. The calamari appetizer was also delightful and full of flavor. This is one of Portland's top wood fire pizzerias and would recommend Ken's to any pizza fan! This is a fairly noisy place so coming here with a small group of friends or family would be ideal. I wouldn't recommend this place for a date mainly because of the noise and you sit close to your neighbor who can listen on your conversations. All in all, this is a fun place to get together and enjoy great food!
(5)Seth R.
Again, one star missing because I have only been here once. Being a huge east coast (New Haven) pizza snob, I was skeptical that a really good pizza could come from someone named "Ken", but this is the real deal. Brick oven thin crust pizza with quality (not quantity) toppings. May be the best pizza on the west coast, but given I live in Los Angeles now, god, I hope not. Bonus points for the cool hand driers in the bathroom.
(4)Rick B.
Now this was the best pizza I have ever eaten!! The on-tap beer selection was great. At the time they had Laurlehurst Workhorse IPA before it was out in bottles. A very nice find! I had both the sausage pizza and the bacon pizza. Oh my lord that bacon pizza was amazing!! There was really nothing to it just a light coating of sauce that had more flavor than you can imagine, a thin sprinkle of fontina cheese and then the bacon. Thin little strips of pork jowl bacon that just melt in your mouth. This was by far the best pizza I had ever eaten. The sausage and pepper pizza was great also, the sausage had a wonderfully savory fennel kick to it. The service here was also very nice and attentive. The only slight issue I had was that when I walked in there was a line but no front desk or stand to sign in on. You just stand there looking confused, until someone finally sees you and puts your party on the list.
(5)Neil O.
Good pizza, will be back. Less sides and drinks next time. Bill was a nosebleeder last time :-)
(3)Mitch M.
The Emperor Has No Clothes! I don't get it. I just don't get it. Like Apizza Scholls, this place is a mob scene every time I've gone by. At least Apizza Scholls features a pie with some interesting flavors, even if the experience can be a nightmare (see my review). The GF and I have gone by this place over a dozen times over the past few years, and have never been willing to brave the hours-long wait to get inside. But on a Thursday night two weeks ago, we happened by and found that there didn't appear to be the usual bread line-like crowd out front. After a bit or wrestling about for a parking space (another issue in the neighborhood), we entered the fabled establishment to find just one open table - a 4 top. But the waitress who greeted us wouldn't let the two of us sit there. Instead, she offered us the middle chairs of a 6 top occupied by two couples. Looking around I noticed that it was, in fact, one of those "communal seating is groovy" places ("so what's your problem with THAT?"), and frankly, if I'm going out with my Girl Friend and dropping a butt-load of cash (which one tends to have to do pretty much anywhere that isn't a swill-hole these days), I want at least a modicum of space and privacy - within the limitations one is afforded in a modern urban restaurant of course. "We can put you at a table on the sidewalk out beside the building", she offers. And I'm forced to accept. All things considered, sitting at a table on a narrow sidewalk in a fairly funky neighborhood wasn't so bad. At least it was a side street with moderate foot traffic, and we weren't' sucking car exhaust or being harangued by panhandlers..(just chewed on by bugs).. and I did my best to dismiss the waiter's moderate 'tude. So, to the food. The pizza was ... Meh. We ordered two, since they were stated to be smallish. The crust was terribly terribly terribly thin in the center. So thin that the moisture from the modest toppings soaked through and turned it into a limp rag in no time. The outer ring of crust was thick enough, although burnt dusty crumbling black all round on the GFs pie (ok on mine), and so chewy my jaws ached after a couple bites. As for the flavor (ah! At last to the crux of it) was completely unimpressive. Bland. Boring. .....Meh. And then the attitude from the waiter again as we had to beg twice for our check (and he didn't seem concerned that we ate less than half of each pie and didn't ask to take left overs home with us). In all, I have to say I don't get it. I don't get it at all. I won't bother wasting my time or money at this place again. I can make far better pizza on my gill at home (and will next time).
(2)Ethan S.
My mouth still waters for Ken's pizza... from thousands of miles away. We didn't experience any pains as a large group (including toddlers), but I certainly reaped the benefits. I got to sample pie after pie after pie. Flavors that a bout of insanity might dream up... but balance and complement each other beautifully. I still wonder... Is my next trip to Portland to visit family? or for pizza?
(5)Andrizzle A.
First things first, if you are craving a deepdish from the hut, don't come here and expect to be satisfied. If you do want to step a little out of your comfort zone and have some great pizza check this place out. They cook in a beautiful wood fired oven that is definitely the centerpiece of their kitchen. They offer a dozen or so pizzas and about six salads and a handful of desserts. I have been here with a large group and with just one friend, both times the service was great as was the food. You pay a little extra for the ambiance and quality ingredients, bit the product is well worth it. They have a coffee and ice cream dessert that is absolutely delicious, in fact I would probably trek over to Ken's just for an afogato. If you are trying to eat at typical dinner hours you will probably have a wait, if you want great service and some personal attention show up an hour before close.
(4)Sandie H.
This place gets soooo packed. But service is quick and courteous. The pizza is good but I like my pizza with more toppings and sauce. We ordered 5 different kinds and I was famished but just didn't find it completely satisfying. The ingredients are just so sparse on the pizza which I know needs to be so it doesn't overwhelm the thin crust. But for a group of 7, I'd rather carry out at Dominos.
(3)Lucas M.
On my last visit to Portland I checked out the popular and crowded Apizza Scholls. The long wait and crowd was WAY worth it. I enjoyed myself immensely. After telling a few friends in Portland about my experience, I was told that I _MUST_ try Ken's Artisan Pizza- that if I liked Apizza Scholls, I'd LOVE Ken's Artisan Pizza. I'll be honest, I was a bit underwhelmed. It's not that I didn't like the pizza, it was definitely good.... but it just wasn't that great. I enjoyed the lamb skewers, and the restaurant is very cool (stone oven in the middle of the dining room), but the pizza left a little something to be desired for my taste. We ordered a Margherita Pizza, with anchovies and arugula (I was surprised to find that the arugula was just thrown in large piles, fresh, onto the pizza after cooking). If anywhere else, I might visit Ken's once in a while, but being so close to Apizza Scholls, I don't think I'll be back anytime soon.
(3)David M.
last night jeff, jodi, isadora, and I went to ken's for pizza. we thought we'd get there a little late (8p) and avoid the crowds. on a saturday night, no less. of courses, we were grossly mistaken. 90 minutes and some glasses of wine later, we were finally seated (I can't say that I wasn't tempted to defect one door over to bamboo sushi, but luckily resisted the urge). we sat towards the back of the restaurant, at a family style table, with a group of other exuberant thirty somethings. Isadora and I split the mixed green salad; the content of the salad was delish, of course they use seasonal fresh produce, which is expected of almost any restaurant these days. the dressing was an elegant vinegar base, lightly acidic, but a little too strong in terms of flavor . our pizzas arrived shortly afterward, and were nothing short of fantastic. a thin crispy crust, each with a harmonious medley of toppings added in the right proportion. my olive pizza was amazing (isadora ordered the same). jeff quickly devoured his soppresata with basal. and jodi took special delight in her mushroom pizza. the pizzas were large enough that we each had leftovers! this restaurant is highly recommended.
(4)David H.
Ignore the complainers, kens pizza is amazing and well worth the wait.
(5)Alex Y.
As far as artisan style pizza in Portland, this place is among the best. A nice setting, with a very rustic elegance to it. As for the food, quality and fresh ingredients are evident in everything I have tried. Plus, I enjoyed a meal outside with my dog sitting next to me on the pavement, so that's always a bonus when you're out walking your pooch and want to grab a quick bite without dropping them off at home. The pizzas are fantastic, and I've never left dissatisfied. Give the appetizers a try as well, we thoroughly enjoyed the ones we ordered.
(4)Heather D.
LOVE THIS PLACE! The owner is sooo nice and often on site checking in with everyone. I hate to be a broken record, but the fennel sausage and onion pizza is beloved. It's just dreamy. The location has huge windows that open to let the summer breeze blow through what could be an unbearably hot enclosure. The wait can be long, but it just won't taste the same as take out. It's best eaten fresh on site. Besides, if you're willing to eat at the bar, your wait will be a bit shorter.
(5)Sam O.
We expected a long wait as it was a Saturday night at almost 6:30, so the 45-60 minutes we waited was OK. We actually had a drink at a nearby bar while waiting. I will agree that the hostess was fairly rude, and most people there were not that friendly. However, hostess will get you drinks while you wait, which was nice. I won't dock a place because of a long wait, but I will if the workers are ornery. It does seem like a bit of a power trip, as this place could easily be much larger, and accommodate the many people who just want a good za. We started the meal with the recommended calamari, and it was OK. calamari was a bit fishy, but the bread it was on made it. It was a bit spicy as well, but I don't consider that bad. I probably wouldn't order it again. The pizza, however, lived up to the hype. it was delicious. not the best I've ever had, but pretty damn good, and pretty close to the best. I don't know if I'd go out of my way to come here again with so many other great places in PDX. Why a 4-star? Cause the pizza was pretty awesome.
(4)Chad M.
Best pizza on the west coast... Scratch that.. In the country.
(5)Rachel H.
The food here is REALLY GOOD and the wait wasn't too bad, they put our party at a waiting table in the back until one was cleared... but the hostess on staff on a Sunday night was condescending to the guys in our party who were trying to order beer at the bar, which causes me to knock off 2 stars. I'm sure she was busy and had a good reason not to let them order a beer while we wait, but it really pissed them off and she came off as super rude.
(3)Max W.
By far my favorite pizza in Portland. The pizzas are not greasy and consistency is good. I travel to portland once a month and this is the one place I HAVE to HAVE! Be prepared to wait though as this place gets really
(5)Shane K.
Tasty food and a good place to go with a group
(4)shyam a.
not sure what all the hype is about it was good...not great very light and fresh tasting...but is anything organic? non-greasy and not stomach achy very busily environment ... yet fancyish (strange combo) wasn't that expensive... but to pay $2 for condiments? not bloody likely. salads looked pretty weak woodshed red was very good we didn't have to wait... don't know that i ever would liked it...but didn't love it, nothing to write home about "best pizza in pdx"... yeah, i'm just not sure about that. call me crazy but i would prefer hotlips or mississippi
(3)Chris L.
Arguably the best wood fire pizza joint in town, Ken's Artisan Pizza has it all. The ambiance, the wait (yes you have to wait, it's quite popular. Anticipate anywhere from 15 min to 45 min depending on the time of night), the micro's, the wine, and of course the pizza. If you are a fan of wood fire pizza then this is a must try. And by chance you like apple crisp and cinnamon ice cream then you have found yourself a new home. The pizza is as good as it gets and the apple crisp cinnamon ice cream desert is the cherry on top. If you need a break from the pizza, it's still a great place to spend your night people watching and drinking your fine beverage of choice. A must visit in Portland.
(5)Ian R.
The best crust and the best pizza in Portland would be more than enough reason to go to Ken's, but when you add in the wholly reasonable pricing and nice neighborhood-y feel, there is really no reason not to go ... ... except for the LONG wait. I've showed up less than 10 minutes after opening on numerous occasions only to find the place full and face an hour wait. If you don't want to wait but want the same delicious pizza, hit up the Monday night pizza night at Ken's Artisan Bakery in NW that inspired the restaurant. It doesn't offer the same selection of wine, appetizers or toppings but what it does offer is still super tasty.
(5)Arun R.
Great place for a very unique taste of pizza. Tried their wood oven baked Veggie plate, Margherita and Argula pizza. Both tasted delicious. The queues to enter the place are long (understandably!). If you're tired of pizza chains, this is a nice break from the ordinary.
(5)Chris T.
Awesome! One of my favorites!!!
(5)Sung L.
We showed up a minute before it opened and there was a line around the corner. We were one of the last to be seated without waiting. The Wood Oven Roasted Vegetable Plate was a perfect way to start your meal. If you like individual sized pizzas with a thin crust, this is the place for you. Their pizzas feature the taste of simple rustic ingredients. Check out their photos on their website and get here early!
(4)D B.
Pizza should be lucious, bold and memorable, think Sophia Loren. Ken's is flinty and thin, more or less like Audrey Hepburn. I want a pizza that hugs me back and reminds me later how yummy being in it's arms was. You tell me fellas, a night with Sophia, or Audrey. The question: is Flying Pie (a vastly more flavorable pizza) more like Scarlett Johannsen, or Sophia? Jury is out, but I'm taking votes.
(2)Jessica B.
We visited Ken's the night before Thanksgiving and had to wait an hour to be seated. It was definitely worth it! The owner (i think) was very funny and thanked us for sticking around. Once seated, the service was efficient. Our salad was good and came out only minutes after we ordered it. The pizza was to-die-for and we ate every last crumb. I LOVE the atmosphere - it is the perfect winter place. Very cozy and warm with great people watching. I give the whole experience an A +++!
(5)Chris G.
A big thanks to Ken's for providing delicious pizza-fuel for what amounted to a great trip to Portland. The Arrabiata was divine and the atmosphere was fun, while allowing for conversation and never getting in its own way. Well done.
(5)mya j.
Arrabiata is my fave pizza here. It is very very spicy but it's amazing. It's one of the best pizzas in town.
(5)Brock K.
By far some of the very best pizza I have had on the left coast. Ken's takes pizza to a new level. The only downside is the typical wait to get a table but the wait has always been more than worth it. Get there, wait and then enjoy a masterpiece of a artisian pizza.
(5)Rebecca K.
We went to Ken's Artisian Pizza expexting great things, with wonderful recommendations from family and friends...what we got was an almost 2 hour wait, horrible service, and burned pizza. On arrival, the hostess was curt and not welcoming. She refused to give even an estimate for a wait time. if your only job is to seat people...you should be able to see when people are ordering, finishing, starting to move, etc...she said there was no way of knowing...5 minutes later, 3 tables opened. After waiting for nearly 2 hours at a "waiting table" we eventually decided to claim some seats at the bar because we were tired of waiting, but still were willing to see if the pizza was worth it. The bar has a good selection of wine, but for a Portland establishment the beer options were strikingly sparse. I spent quite a bit of time in Italy and know a thing or two about pizza. I understand that the thin, oven fired pizzas should be well-done and crisp....but my pizza was black and tasted like, well, burnt pizza. Redeeming factors: The bartender, April, was amazing. She was helpful and personable. And must have heard our complaining because we got TWO complimentary desserts! Also, the restaurant-made vanilla ice cream (not gelato as advertised) was delicious! Even though April was great, I will not be going back or recommending Ken's Artisian Pizza!
(1)Marie K.
This restaurant is a wonderful experience, from start to finish. I'm really glad that my boyfriend discovered this place. Its popularity was apparent when we had three couples waiting for a table before us on a Wednesday night! but the wait was well worth it as the pizza was delicious, the wait staff polite and knowledgeable and the ambiance was great.
(4)Raj M.
More hype and trendy than anything else. Pizza is not bad, but could have been left longer in the oven. We felt that the crust was not crisp enough. Wouldn't go back, primarily due to price.
(3)Jamie R.
For those who love a simple quality pizza Ken's is for you! Hit up Ken's with my wife for the first time over the Forth weekend and this place quickly shot up to the top on my list of the best pizza joints in Portland. We arrived around 6 and the place was packed, but we chose to sit at the bar to avoid the wait. Service at the Bar was prompt and attentive. Sitting at the bar also allowed a great vantage point for watching the hustle and bustle of the place. Ken's just has a great energy to it. As for the food we chose to share the fennel sausage and onion pizza and it was amazing. It had just the right combination of sausage, onion, sauce and cheese, and made me wish I would have had it all to myself. Damn sharing! I also tried a new beer...Lompoc Pale Amber, also amazing! Check it out if you get a chance.
(4)Kathryn R.
I LOVE Ken's Artisan Pizza! This is our go-to date night place. The restaurant is super cozy with attentive waitstaff. I love that you can see all the cooking happening in the wood-burning oven in the middle of the restaurant. We always split the caesar salad and arrabiata pizza. Call ahead for a reservation or plan to wait at least 30 minutes on the weekends.
(5)Mark F.
Awesome! Amazing pizza though I'll order 2 next time since it's so thin. Highly recommend
(5)Riley M.
Wow. Brother took me here as we are visiting from SoCal. Frickin unbelievably tasty pizza. It was worth the 2 hour wait...
(5)Melissa C.
You know what? It really is hard to find a better place to enjoy absolutely fantastic pizza with family and friends. Ken is salt of the earth, and his pies are exploding with flavor and beautiful ingredients....though I must say that my favorite really is the fennel sausage and onion pie since I am a sucker for fennel. It's an upbeat place to be, and it just feels good to be there.
(5)ell b.
5 stars for the pizza. No contest here for best tasting pizza in town. And reasonably priced for what you are getting. 5 stars for atmosphere and open breezy pleasant dining space. 4 stars for service. Staff is competant and courteous. 2 stars for being able to go when you want since you can't make a reservation and extremely long line-up begins before opening at 5pm.
(4)Matt K.
I have heard great things about Ken's so I had to try it. I actually went here AFTER eating dinner, haha...I'm not in Portland that often so why the hell not! Appetizer: Bruschetta - Not a conventional bruschetta, very interesting green topping. Pizza: Amatriciana - The homemade pancetta really make this pizza. Also, could taste the fresh tomato sauce!!! I had 2 full slices after already having a full dinner...it was that good! Need I say more?
(4)Alessandro M.
i am a pizza eater. coming from Italy and of course i was really skeptical about the fact to eat a good pizza in the other side of the world. of course i was wrong! i can say that ken really make a great pizza that can be compared with the best ones in Milan and with the good ones in south Italy. You must be prepared to wait in line but you can drink at the bar a good prosecco. the wine list is impressive for a pizzeria with good Italians and France products. prices are OK for the pizza and little bit high for wine like in the other pdx restaurants. i took with me other friends from Italy and all of them said the same thing: wow! the service is good and in the standard for a pizzeria. of course i tried also the others pizzeria and i strongly suggest ken
(5)Helen G.
Best gourmet pizza in Portland hands down.
(5)Sharon H.
We visited tonight after numerous recommendations from friends. We expected the wait (30-45 mns), but thought we'd try getting take-out. The hostess recommended waiting for bar seating - first come first serve - since there's nothing like trying the pizza right out of the oven. We agreed and ordered drinks. To make a long story short, there was a fellow customer (as part of a couple) who put a lot of effort into being a complete jerk to us and the staff because he didn't want to wait longer than anyone else. After we got bumped from the bar for this pleasant guy, we were treated exceptionally by the entire staff. The hostess paid for our drinks, the bartender gave us an extra one, and our food came first. We ordered: Greens Salad, Margherita, Fennel Sausage & Onions, and Lemon Tart w/Marionberry Sauce. And it was all excellent! But I just wanted to express our appreciation for the graciousness that we experienced and give kudos for giving respect to someone who wasn't doing it in return.
(5)Catherine C.
I put arugula on pizza because of them. Stellar wood-fired crust, top-notch simple ingredients, and a helluva wait to sit down.
(5)Emily B.
I waited a long time to try this place because I was afraid of the prices, and the line. My fears were unjustified to say the least. Lines can be part of life when you want to try a popular joint so I just got over it. Anypizzaways, the food was a knockout, and totally inexpensive! My friend and I shared a cesar salad, delectable pizza, and desert for around $30 bucks. Such a great place for a girlfriends date because you can share. I was so enthralled with my pizza I took really bad cell phone pics and sent them to most everyone I know. Yeah, I was THAT excited. Get to Kens, and let it get to you.
(5)Chris T.
We had a party of 10 and arrived on a Friday night at 7:30. And yes, we were prepared to wait. We were told it would be 30-45 minutes as they only have a couple tables large enough to seat that many people (and 10 is the maximum allowed at a table). At 9:00 we were still waiting. They did "comp" us two small salads for being patient. Nice gesture, however that was not nearly enough for everyone so it was just awkward. Most people ordered pizza which I was told was OK; nothing extraordinary though. I ordered a roasted vegetable plate which was overly rich and not very good. The small complimentary Ceaser salad consisted of a few pieces of romaine, some parmesans and croutons. The bill came to 300.00 for pizza, beer and a few glasses of wine. Seems crazy high to me. Don't plan on returning anytime soon unless they start taking reservations. Actually, scratch that - I don't plan on returning whether they start taking reservations or not!
(2)S A R A H.
I'm not sure what all the 4 star fuss is here. I went last night and was not overly impressed with the pizza choices. The most interesting ingredient/topping choice was sopprasetta? Where were all the interesting cheeses and flavors?! Mozzarella... come on? I expected more. We ordered the Arugula pizza and well it's more like Pizza with Arugula salad dumped on top of it. Yes, that's right. You get a pizza (good, but very average in flavors) and literally two large hand fulls of raw arugula dumped on top. No oils, no nothing... just a heaping pile of arugula. The hi-lite was the heirloom tomato app. which was delicious!!! It's just that the pizza left us scratching our heads wondering what the 4 star buzz is all about.
(3)angie w.
This is a hard one becuase the pizza here is incredible, the roasted vegetable plate to die for, and the salads amazing. However, the wait is a huge PITA (get there early or expect to wait in upwards of an hour or more to be seated) and the service was a bit on the snippy side, which didn't sit well with me. I am all about the service, therefore, whenever I go out to eat I expect good service with a smile, and you don't always get that at Ken's. Ken himself is the nicest guy, but his food servers (some of them, anyway) are lacking in that 'nice' kind of area. Hence... Ken's gets only 4 Stars from me because of the wait (and, no, they don't take reservations) and also because of the less than friendly (at times) service. But, Ooooooooooooo that pizza! YUM!!
(4)kelsey p.
A long time ago, my good friend Rebecca K. (scroll down to see her unpleasant review) recounted to me the tale of her negative dining experience at a certain "Ken's Artisan Pizza", during which she and her friends encountered rude staff, unbearable wait time, and burnt food. Fast forward a few months. My girlfriends and I spot "Ken's Artisan Pizza", a buzzing little joint, as we leave Bamboo Sushi (yummy!) one drizzly PDX evening. We gaze longingly in through the warm windows at the happy faces chomping on pizza and guzzling down glasses of red wine, and immediately decide we must return ASAP. Fast forward to last night, after I suggest to my dad to we try this place out for our bi-monthly dinner date, and I FINALLY connect the dots and realize that this is the very Ken's Artisan Pizza Rebecca had warned me about. But I figure I may as well give the place a chance and try it out for myself, so our dinner date stands. From the moment I entered Ken's tonight, I had a lovely experience. After putting my name in, the hostess kindly let me know that they don't seat you until your entire party has arrived, but that I could wait in one of their three waiting areas. When my dad arrived, we were promptly seated (remember, this was at about 5:30 on a Thursday night--I've heard there's usually a much longer wait), and then greeted by the sweetest waitress ever. After being informed by our neighbor that you can't go wrong here, we ordered the caesar salad to share, a Fennel sausage pizza for the pops, and a *squash* pizza for me. Yes, squash. Our salad came very quickly, and was delicious--a totally classic caesar, and not too fishy. The pizzas were goooood, and the oversized "personal" size allowed for three take-home slices! The pizza was definitely cooked in a wood fire, so the edges were crisp, but not burned, by any means. Just a little... toasty! After dinner we couldn't resist splitting the lemon tart with marionberry sauce. And, boy oh boy was it worth it!! SO. GOOD. We agreed we each could've eaten our own, even after our meal. So I'll give this place a solid four stars, based on service and food. The only reason I'm not giving five is because, after eating here, I realized that I would choose to eat thicker (sadly, Americanized) pizza, over the thin, crisp, traditional kind. And that's totally opinion.
(4)rc c.
Being raised near Manhattan has made me a pizza snob. I appreciate the creative and unusual toppings, but there's only so much a Jersey Girl can take. After a while, the toppings disguise the dough, the absence of sauce makes it dry and tasteless, the bastardization of pizza needs to stop! I've heard and read about Kens and Apizza scholls, that they both were the best pizza in Portland. Yes, Ken's is good-craving good ole plain pizza, I like the margarita the best. I've had some funky cheeses out here that try to pass as fresh mozzerella, but this was the real deal. My only complaint was the "rules" there. I understand about not being able to seat partial parties. So the 3 out of 5 of us decided to wait at the bar, nope can't sit here b/c we're just lowly customers waiting for a table. It was only 5 pm, we were some of the first people in the place, no one else was waiting. Apparently unless you're eating your meal, you can't wait at the bar. You get to wait in the corner, at an awkward ledge near the bathroom-awesome. Finally we're seated, only b/c the hostess feels bad b/c she sat another party that was incomplete before us and we started to notice what was going on. We were told that our entire party has to order together and that if the person who was stuck in traffic, we have to order for them. As a former waitress, I can totally understand this rule....if we were the last table to be seated, but at 530? really? The rules are what make me hesitant to return, I wonder if they would deliver......
(3)Michael Z.
It truly pains me to write this update, as Ken's has been our favorite restaurant over the past few years. But my zero tolerance rule of bad attitude was violated this past Saturday. Here's the scenario. We had tickets to see a show at the Aladdin, which entails getting in line early since all seats are general admission. As we usually do before Aladdin shows we arrived at Ken's at 445 to be at the head of the line. When the four of us arrived, we were 2nd, behind a twosome. The doors swung open at 5 and we were taken to the communal table of ten. I asked "Mister Host" if we could be seated at 1 four top, since there were so many children in the lineup behind us. He says.."If you don't want to eat with children, don't come here at 5pm." Yikes!..60 seconds later he's back with a party of 6 including toddlers..he looks at me with the skunk eye as if to say "Take that asshole" As usual the food was great, but he must have told our server about the situation, because the party of 6 had their orders taken first.. they had their food on the table just as we were getting our beers. The service dragged on at a snail's pace.. we didn't get out until 645... The great show Marc Cohn put on at the Aladdin made up for a lousy start to the evening. While eating out, dirty stemware, or an undercooked steak might be an accident, but bad attitude is not an accident. Unfortunately Ken's is now on the "No-Fly" list.
(3)Jim S.
When we lived in PDX, we'd hit up Ken's every week. Sit at the bar, get an app and a few drinks, share a pizza, and bring one home for lunch the next day. I've had better pizza, but not on this continent.
(5)Yuri S.
Got referred to eat here from the girls across the street at Kalista Salon and Spa. Loved, loved, loved the pizza! I am an east coast girl who has been looking for her thin crust, flat bread for months! My only advise is to bring a snack or get a beer while you wait in line. If you're not there right at 5 when the doors open, you'll be waiting a LONG time for a table. I can see why it has such high ratings!
(4)Darren L.
Cheese lovers beware! Who ever heard of a pizza with a tiny bit of sauce and even less cheese. We spent $25 and left starving. I'm sorry but if that's what gourmet is, I'll stick to the normal, extra cheesy, full sauce pizza of less fancy places.
(2)Sarah L.
Hands down my favorite restaurant in Portland. Go get a glass of wine or a beer (Ken is always changing the beer list) and prepare to wait an hour. By the time you get your table, you will have likely had a glass of beer or two and you will be so hungry and happy you'll want to order everything. My favorite pizza here is the fennel sausage and onions. Ken, a retired tech guy, who opened Ken's Artisan Bakery a few years ago, is an amazing baker but also makes a phenomenal pizza. Great for date night!
(5)Kathleen B.
Apparently Ken knows his stuff. We finally made it out to the pizza line, and it was so worth the wait. On a Saturday night, we actually lucked out; we got a drink at a lean-bar at the back, and two spaces at the bar opened up within about 15 minutes so we sat there to enjoy our meal. We started with the roast vegetable plate, which was really different and very delicious. We ordered two pizzas, the fennel sausage onion is a must (and make sure to get the hot peppers!) It was really the best pizza I've ever had. We even splurged for dessert, and even that was excellent; we had a perfect pear crisp with hazelnut ice cream. Service was good, restaurant ambiance, including open kitchen and giant wood-fired stove, is awesome. This a a great date place, but clearly it is family friendly too, which is cool.
(5)E. C.
Based on the reviews, if you want good pizza in Portland you have two choices, Apizza Scholls or Ken's Artisan Pizza. I've checked out Apizza Scholls, and now I've been to Ken's. My report, you can't go wrong with either. I'm not talking pizza nirvana, as I have yet to find it, but I am talking really good pizza. I have to draw a comparison between A & K because they both are making really good pizza, and both (based on the reviews) have a loyal following, the comparison is more on how they are different, not necessarily better, though right away, I'm going to say K's crust is better. K's crust is really good, I mean really good. I never eat the ends (watching those carbs don't you know), but couldn't help myself with K's ends. Its wood fired, and that seems to make all the difference. It was flavorful and the perfect texture, not too crispy (thin), and not too soft (thick). A's crust is very good too, but K's has the better flavor. K offers more of a diverse menu, so it's more like a restaurant than a pizza joint. I just read somewhere that the desserts are supposed to be great, but I did not have room for dessert. K offers a one size pizza. It's right at that size where it's hard to decide if you can eat it alone or with your companion. We opted for two pizzas, because my boyfriend has a pretty hefty appetite, and anyway, there's nothing wrong with taking some left over pizza home. We also split a salad. There service was friendly and attentive. Our waitress guessed correctly on how much pizza would be left if we order two when we quizzed her on how much one pizza could feed two people. She also made a good recommendation on a light wine for a hot day. K has a full bar, which you can sit at for dinner versus a table. We went with the basic Margherita for both, but spiced it up a bit having Arugula on one and black olives on the other. The Arugula is nice, and does add some spice to it, but they put way too much on, Arugula goes a long way, baby. In comparing toppings, I think A gives you more (not choices, but more on the pizza) and it may be of a slightly higher quality. I'm splitting hairs here now, because both pizzas are really good, but A beats K in toppings and flavor of sauce. K wins with the crust. K's is perfect for families and groups. K's interior is industrial with an open floor plan. You're in the kitchen with the cooks. The energy is high, as well as, the noise level. When I was there on an early Friday evening, there were lots of families with young kids. They have outside seating as well. We went during a heat wave, so did not want to sit outside, but on a nice day/evening it's a lovely setting. If you want a smaller, more intimate setting, A's is the place. A's is also more like a pizza place than K's. If you really like pizza, you should check out both at some point. Either way, they are both widely popular, so expect a wait or get there right before opening to secure a seat.
(4)Jason W.
My favorite place to go in Portland. Warm staff, always consistent, good beer choices. Oh, and some of the best calamari (not battered and fried) that I've had in a long time. Great salads & the roasted veggi starter is Awesome! They cook pizza just as I like it... well done. The wait can be a little long for some but come on, it is well worth the wait. An hour is nothing to the delights you'll offer your senses. Great place to bring friends. Oh, and a word about the wait... the staff is the greatest about this. They don't get flustered when someone complains or gruffs about it and they don't rush you out of the place if you want to enjoy your last bit of wine and chat a bit. If you haven't tried this place, you are missing something!!! Get there at 4:30 and wait! You'll be glad you did.
(5)terry r.
OK, so I'll be the one dissenting voice from the crowd. This restaurant gets my "emperor's new clothes" award. People flock there thinking they're getting amazing pizza, but I don't get it. Yes the dough is fantastic. But their toppings fall under the category of "less is less". Now I don't go for all kinds of goop on a pizza. I've had the real thing in Italy and it was incredible. No, it doesn't need tons of toppings, just simple, fresh, good ingredients. But I find there's just not enough anything to give it that oomph of flavor that a good pizza needs. I'd try it again, but I'm damned if I'm going to wait an hour with the rest of the lemmings...I know there must be another place to try in this town.
(2)Bronson J.
Our family starting trying to search out the best pizza in Portland. Every Saturday night, we would try someplace. We eventually bounced back and forth between Ken's and Apizza Scholls. It's close, but I give the nod to Ken's as best pizza in Portland. The dough in just perfect, the sauce light but rich in flavor, the topings in classic proportions. Their drink menu is good, especially the wine. Beer could be a bit more diverse. I wish they would add a porter, or other dark/sweeter option. Service has always been fast, polite, and very kind to our toddler.
(5)Jim S.
This is the most awesome pizza place on the planet! Wood fired, fresh made crust, artisan toppings. They even use Grana Padana cheese, which is a rarity in pizza places today. I sat at the bar and watched the pies being made and I can tell you that every pie was perfect. Would highly recommend. Prices are reasonable as well. It's a gem in Portland! Everyone debates between Apizza Scholls and Ken's regarding the best pizza in Portland. Our vote goes to Ken's!
(5)Edward J.
Best pizza I've had so far in Portland. Maybe I was so hungry when I finally got a table with six other friends. But man, that pizza is GOOD! The dough is chewy inside and crunchy on the outside. It is served HOT and not too greasy. It is not new york pizza, but its definitely got its characteristic. The dough is so good, I can't say anymore about it. The tomato sauce they put on top is also very light and not too sour. Just right. I love anchovies, so I got anchovies on the side to go with a vegetarian pizza. According to my meat eating friends, get the sliced ham pizza. I don't think its ham, but it looks like ham. It smells really good. Just prepare to wait! 'cause its really popular and GOOD. Like many Portland restaurants, they don't take reservation.
(5)Helene W.
When I want a good pie, Ken's is my calling! Local, artisan pizzas--- yummy! Very seasonal menu, which make the food all that more good to eat.
(5)D. B.
Viewing this as an entire dining experience, I must say this establishment is highly over-rated by most. The pizza itself, as wood-fired pies go, is fine but not outstanding. The atmosphere, however, I find intolerable. It's claustrophobic, and at least the times I've gone I've found the staff somewhat smug and condescending. Apizza Scholls is, after expansion, a much nicer venue with, in my opinion, a better product. Even Nostrana is a more desirable option. But if you're a line lemming, I guess this is the place to be seen eating pizza....
(2)Adam E.
Expect a wait to be seated, but with good reason. The pizza is among the best anywhere. It'd be hard to categorize it as any particular style other than its own. Great crust, tasty dough, and lots of good toppings. High ceilings and large open windows make it a great place to go on a warm, sunny evening. Prices are very reasonable given the quality and portions.
(5)Sara M.
One of my favorite places to eat! I love really thin crust pizza and this is the place to go for it. The Caesar salad is also a must!
(5)eric c.
The pizza (soppressata) and veggies were good, but the calamari is probably the best I've ever had. If I'm ever back in town, I'd come here again for the squid.
(4)John V.
Grabbed a quick bite while in the neighborhood. Margarita pizza came with a heaping pile of arugula--it was fantastic. Washed it down with some amazing wine (pinot). We were in a rush and they served us efficiently.
(5)avant de mourir ..
Be prepared to wait in line before the place even opens, but it'll be worth it. I ordered a kind of pizza I normally would not have, and loved it. I forget the name, but it was a spicy chile kind. Absolutely the best pizza. The staff and Ken were nice to me and my boyfriend, though maybe it was because I took his favorite seat in the whole place.
(5)sarah C.
Excellent Pizza Scorching Hot Yum. What more to say?
(4)David B.
Pizza doesn't get any better than this. Artfully prepared, and wood fired ovens get it perfect. Limited choices on pizza varieties, but we tried 3 different ones, and they were all excellent. The salads were superb too. The only negative is that too darn many people have discovered this wonderful place, and you have to wait a half hour or more to get a table on most nights.
(5)kate m.
I really like Ken's Pizza. I mean, it is seriously some of the best pizza I've had in Portland, if not anywhere. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The place has a great vibe, high ceilings and big windows but it's nice and cozy because of the big wood oven they cook the pizza in. It's the kind of place you just want to snuggle up with a glass of red wine and stuff yourself on some delicious pizza. And that's where they lose a star. Ken's is so popular that you feel rushed to eat drink and get out so they can put someone else in your spot to do the same. And the other problem is that some of the yummy deserts they serve would be SO GOOD warmed up but they can't because they only have the giant super hot wood burning oven and it would scorch the deserts (so the waitress said). If I could linger over a warm desert I would give Ken 5 stars in the time it takes to cook one of those fantastic pizzas (which isn't long!) Edited to add the 5th star on behalf of the super-nice servers that always bring us a glass of wine while we wait and because lately there have been lots of gelatos that are meant to be served cold!
(5)Maria C.
The wait was insane. Truly. We arrived at 6pm and still had to wait a solid hour. But we did it, because we knew our dinner would be ace-in-the-hole delish. And it was. It is that good. What was even more insane, however is this: our pizza took almost an hour to get to our table. The party who sat down next to us at the same time had their pizza 30 minutes earlier than we did. Our waiter seemed stressed for us, and kept checking on us to drown us in more water, but never offered an explanation as to what happened. By the time we got the pizza, we were exhausted from all the waiting. What would have saved the evening for us (and what would prompt me to give a 5-star rating, without hesitation), is if our waiter had at least offered to comp us a dessert. Something. Anything. Some acknowledgement for the fact that we had been incredibly patient to wait an hour to even sit at a table, and then put us through torture by forcing us into an even longer wait, would have been nice. Maybe there was a mix up? Who knows? All I'm saying is communicate, acknowledge, and comp something. By the time we were done, I was not in the mood to put a negative spin on the evening by complaining about it. I just wanted to go home.
(3)Wendy C.
The Wait. OH: THE WAIT. By the end of The Wait, Charming Boy Companion and I were leaning into each other, trying to stave off the hunger-inspired hallucinations by reciting the entire plots of movies we once saw. What were we thinking going to Ken's Artisan Pizza at 8pm on a Friday? Probably not much other than we were craving some quality pizza and were going to Ken's and were in for the long haul, dammit. 90 minutes later, we were seated and things sped along nicely. My rosso was a short pour in a big glass, but Charming Boy Companion was pretty tickled by his Mr. Pibb with unending refills. Salad Time, and I once again got the short end of the stick: The trout salad with its tasty marinated asparagus chunks was loads better than the very lite-ly dressed bag-o-greens house salad. But MAN, I would surely wait another 90 minutes for that amazingly burnt and bubbly pizza crust! Although the margherita - arugula combo had 10 times more arugula than necessary, the crust/sauce/cheese combo was impeccable. I would have eaten more if I hadn't had stuffed a pound of salad greens and arugula in my gob like a starving, hallucinating idiot. Next time at Ken's will surely be 5pm on a Tuesday or something.
(4)K V.
I measure all other pizzas by how they compare with Ken's. So delicious... Only downside is the absurd wait -- I've literally gone at 4:30 and seen the line go around the outside of the building before they opened the doors -- but even thats worth it!
(5)B E.
Love the pizza and service has never been a problem. Beer selection changes regularly it seems and they always have a nice variety. Need to have realistic expectations of the pizza going in though, for those who are expecting american style pizza dripping in cheese and sauce with crappy pepperoni on top, go to Dominos.. If you are looking for an artfully hand crafted slice of pizza with high quality ingredients and unique flavors look no further. Wait time can be long but the pizza is worth it.
(5)Randy D.
man, i love this place. it's a little pricey for the portions but the flavors make up for it big time. the proscuitto pizza is to die for. it's baked in a wood fire oven so the dough comes out perfect with the char at the ends of the crust. and they top the pizza after it's done baking which is totally the right way to do it. it just all comes out perfect. maybe the finest pizza i've ever had....
(5)Abe I.
Share a pizza and a bottle of wine for two in a cozy atmosphere. It always seems packed, but without a wait. The location is great, right on 28th on the eastside and you can watch them make the pizza and put them in the oven as it is all open. I would recommend this place to anyone!
(5)Carissa W.
The new Ken's is a SE pizza spot that is always packed. I've walked by at every hour between 5 and 9 and have never seen an open table. The pizza is worth it, too. The pizza oven and mostly open kitchen are fun distractions, and it's always entertaining to watch someone toss dough. Great atmosphere, as usual for Ken's, and a fun little upscale pizzeria.
(4)Ken A.
Ken Forkish, proprietor of Ken's Artisan Bakery recently opened this new pizza joint on the 28th Ave. restaurant row. This place rocks! It is not traditional pizza--it is pizza with a very thin crust, cooked in a wood-burning oven, with toppings like arugula, anchovies, or spicy soppressata. The appetizers and desserts are great too. Decor is simple and contemporary, very pleasant and light-filled. The service is competent but they are always very busy, so the wait staff is usually not very solicitous. The atmosphere is very lively, and can get a bit noisy, but not overly so. It is already very popular so get there early if you don't want to wait for a table!
(4)Peri P.
The wood fired thin crust pizza are truly unique at Ken's. There aren't a lot of choices, but if you are looking for a simple tasty pizza you will enjoy your meal. The pizzas are not filling, but they are one of the most flavorful pizzas I have add. The chilies and arugula toppings are my favorite. The place gets crowded fast though, so be prepared to wait for a while on a weekend evening.
(5)belly o.
Aaaaaah, Ken's... Truly one of my favorite places to eat in Portland. I know I will probably receive hate mail for this, but I like it better than Apizza Scholls. The crust, the sauce, the cheese, the salt served on the side, made by Tom's dad and the best salt EVER. If you don't understand how salt can be so good, taste a pinch on it's own next time you're there. It's salty, sweet, mineral-y, complex and somehow light. It's what angels put on their pretzels. Anyhoo, back to the pizza. I have loved every kind I've had there, except a seasonal squash one once where the squash dried out too much. My favorite is the margherita with arugula. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. It comes with a pile of fresh tender arugula towering regally in the middle of the pie like a princess might live in there. I have not found arugula of that caliber anywhere else. It is so flavorful and sweet, with none of the bitterness you often find in arugula. Mmmm...The ingredients that go into the pizza are so superb that such a simple slice of pizza can end up absolutely amazing. Even with sparse cheese, and I am a HUGE cheese fan. But the amount at Ken's is just perfect so as to be in balance with the other incredible flavors going on. Their wood roasted vegetable plate is always delicious, no matter the season. Each veggie is always perfectly cooked, never overdone. It's like magic. I have had some amazing salad dressings there and also their desserts are rich and delicious, although I don't have much of a sweet tooth. A glass (or two) of Prosecco really rounds the experience out for me. I love Prosecco. Who doesn't? The service is lovely and attentive but not ass-kisssing. I don't ever go on the weekend, because I hate waiting in line. For anything. Ken's is amazing. Go.
(5)Michelle P.
Ken's Artisan Pizza is one of the best pizza places in Portland. Its great. It usually has a long line out the door. Thats how good the pizza is!!! I love its thin crust and delicious toppings. Anyone who hasn't gone to Ken's Artisan Pizza needs to go.
(5)Dennis S.
You must be kidding. The place reminds me of the " Wendy's Commercial, Where is the Beef". We ordered the spicy lamb pizza and there were almost no topping ingredients. Maybe a hand full for the whole pizza. If you like Pizza dough this is the place to come. The lamb was ground up in very fine chunks less than an 1/8" and tasted salty. Since there were no topping ingredients, the dough was baked completely dry since nothing added to or held the moisture into the dough. Our pizza ended up tasting just like dried salty dough. And, to top off the ambiance they share a bathroom with the Bamboo Sushi restaurant next door. So after we both waited in line to use the restroom, the pizza came and got cold while one of us waited to go bathroom for 10 minutes. The waiter did offer us another pizza, and tried to make our experience right, but by then we were ready to leave. The price of $14.00 looked reasonable, but it was really only for the pizza dough. This is the place to go if you like dried out salty pizza dough, cold pizza, and 20 minute restroom lines (for 2 people). A BIG THUMBS down. Taste: Salty Pizza Dough, no ingredients. Not sure what all the rave is about!!!
(1)matt p.
this is hands down the best roman / neopolitan-style pizza i have had in north americam and is up there with the best pizza i've had in italy. it beats places like spacca napoli in chicago, and the best authentic italian places in nyc cold. it has and has great draft beers and a smooth selection of oregon wines to boot. the desserts are simple (fresh mixed berries with gelato, for example), but rock solid. as an added bonus, this is an incredibly kid-friendly restaurant (for those with families) that still retains a cool vibe. highly recommended - although if you are going on a weekend, expect lines.
(5)