Portland, Oregon, has a pizza scene that takes itself very seriously — and earning a loyal following in this city is no small feat.
Life of Pie Pizza on North Williams Avenue has done exactly that, quietly becoming one of the most beloved neighborhood pizzerias in the entire Pacific Northwest since opening its wood-fired doors in November 2013. 🍕🔥
How Life of Pie Pizza Won Portland’s Hearts
Owner Jason Kallingal was born and raised on Guam, the son of parents who had immigrated there from Kerala, India, before eventually making his way to Portland — a city that would shape his entire entrepreneurial identity.
He opened his first restaurant, Paccini, on Portland State’s campus at just 22 years old, building it from a scrappy college bar into a nearly million-dollar-a-year operation before selling it to Rogue Brewery in 2011.
But it was a life-changing trip to Tuscany during his Portland MBA program that planted the real seed. 🌿
When he returned to Portland, he moved into an apartment building on North Williams Avenue, where a wood-fired Italian restaurant had just shuttered.
He told the landlord he could make it work — signed the papers, completed a three-week remodel, and opened Life of Pie Pizza the following month. 🙌
What Portlanders discovered inside that storefront was something refreshingly uncomplicated: a wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza from a handcrafted Italian oven, a tight and focused menu, and an ethos that put people — both staff and guests — first.
When the pandemic forced the restaurant to close temporarily, Jason doubled down on investing in his team — providing free health insurance and working with managers on long-term goals, rather than cutting corners.
That kind of ownership doesn’t go unnoticed in Portland, where diners vote with their feet — and year after year, they keep walking through Life of Pie’s door. 🤍
The restaurant has since expanded to a second location on NW 23rd Avenue in the Alphabet District, bringing its wood-fired magic to Portland’s Westside crowd.
Today, Life of Pie is widely regarded as one of the best pizza spots in Portland, Oregon — not because of flashy marketing, but because a guy from Guam fell in love with a pizza oven in Tuscany and never looked back. 🇮🇹
Food Highlights 🍕
Life of Pie’s menu is intentionally concise — a focused lineup of wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas built on locally sourced ingredients and fired in a handcrafted Italian oven that gives every pie its signature blistered, leopard-spotted crust.
- Fennel Sausage & Mama Lil’s Peppers — House-seasoned fennel sausage paired with the iconic Pacific Northwest staple Mama Lil’s peppers on a base of mozzarella and tomato. 🌶️
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Margherita — Housemade mozzarella, housemade marinara, and fresh basil on a thin, charred crust — a perfect benchmark for the quality of ingredients at work here.
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Salami, Mama Lil’s, Goat Cheese & Honey — Thinly sliced salami, the bright heat of Mama Lil’s peppers, creamy goat cheese, and a drizzle of honey over mozzarella.
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Seasonal Mushroom, Pecorino Romano & Truffle Oil — Seasonal mushrooms layered over mozzarella and parm on an olive oil base, finished with Pecorino Romano and a generous drizzle of truffle oil. 🍄
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Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese with Garlic Confit — Sweet caramelized onions, tangy goat cheese, and slow-roasted garlic confit on a tomato base with housemade mozzarella and parm. 🧄
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Sweet Life of Pie — A sweet-crusted pie finished with seasonal toppings that rotate throughout the year — proof that the wood-fired oven at Life of Pie can do absolutely no wrong. 🍯
- Bacon, Goat Cheese & Oven-Roasted Leeks — Smoky bacon, caramelized onions, and slow-roasted leeks topped with creamy goat cheese on an olive oil base with mozzarella and parm.
Atmosphere 🌲
Life of Pie carries the easy, unpolished warmth of a true neighborhood pizzeria in Portland — exposed beams, subway tile walls, a welcoming wooden bar, and the intoxicating smell of a real wood-fired oven greeting you the moment you walk in.
It’s a space that feels equally suited to a solo lunch at the bar, a casual date night, or a big group of friends who want great pizza and cold local beer — unpretentious and genuinely comfortable, in the quintessential Portland way. 🍺
The daily Happy Hour from 11 AM to 6 PM — featuring $8 Margherita pizzas and $6 craft beer — has made Life of Pie a go-to for budget-conscious locals and students alike without ever compromising the quality that defines the brand.
Outdoor seating is available for Portland’s sunnier months, and both the N. Williams and NW 23rd locations carry the same friendly, unhurried energy that keeps regulars coming back week after week.
Bottom Line
Life of Pie is everything a great neighborhood pizzeria should be.
A first-generation owner with a Tuscan-inspired vision, a handcrafted Italian wood-fired oven, locally sourced toppings, and a daily Happy Hour that’s genuinely hard to beat — this is Portland pizza at its most honest and most delicious. Go once, and you’ll be back. 🍕🔥
Address:
3632 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227 (Eastside)
📞 (503) 820-0083
🕐 Open Daily, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM | Happy Hour: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM Every Day