Some of the best meals in Oregon come from places you would walk right past without a second look. A narrow counter, a hand-painted sign, a warm oven glowing in the back, and suddenly you are holding a slice so good you forget where you parked.
These small pizza shops do not chase attention, yet the people who live nearby guard them like a family secret. Grab a napkin, because you are about to learn where Oregonians really go when the craving hits.
1. Pizza A’ Fetta Cannon Beach, Cannon Beach, OR
Salt air has a funny way of making everyone hungry, and on Hemlock Street the answer to that hunger has been the same for years. Tucked into a buzzy little two-floor space, Pizza A’ Fetta turns out huge New York style slices with thin crust, flavorful cheese, and a sauce that still shines through every topping.
Order at the counter, then grab one of the few tables or slip outside if the weather cooperates. The Pepperoni Slice and the Veggie Slice are dependable favorites, and the Hot Fresh Bread Sticks are a sneaky must.
Salads like the Greek and the New Smoked Chicken round things out nicely.
Prices land around 10 to 20 dollars a person, and service moves fast. Want the room mostly to yourself?
Weekday mornings right at the 11 AM opening are calm, especially in winter storm-watching season, when the coast belongs to locals again.
2. Martolli’s Authentic Hand-Tossed Pizza in Sisters, Sisters, OR
East coast pizza fans tend to arrive in Sisters skeptical. They usually leave quiet and happy, folding a giant hand-stretched slice in half like they never left home.
Martolli’s keeps things simple in a cozy storefront on West Cascade Avenue. The crust is thin yet tender, the sauce tastes bright, and the crust-to-topping balance is spot on.
Slices run from 11:30 AM to 3 PM, perfect for a lunch break between hikes, while full pies are worth sharing at dinner. Try the Veggie Popeye, the Garlic Knots, or the cheesy, gooey Cheese Bomb.
Plan around the schedule, since the shop closes on Mondays. Weekend afternoons fill up with road-trippers heading over the pass, so a weekday stop in spring wildflower season feels far more relaxed.
There is even a drive-through for when the mountains are calling and you cannot sit still.
3. Sy’s New York Pizza, Eugene, OR
Late night in a college town calls for a specific kind of hero. On Alder Street near campus, that hero wears a crisp bottom crust and costs very little.
Sy’s New York Pizza has been a Eugene stalwart for a long time, and the hole-in-the-wall feel is part of the charm. Slices are humongous, with soft dough, a crackly underside, and a sauce that skips the sugar.
Grab the Slice of the Day, a Small Sicilian, or a Large Neapolitan for the crew, plus a few fresh garlic knots. Luigi’s Italian Ice makes a sweet finish.
Here is the bonus most visitors miss: Wednesday through Saturday the doors stay open until 3 AM. Most meals land under 10 dollars per person.
Street parking can be tricky, so walking or biking over is smart, and quiet Wednesday mornings are the calmest time to linger.
4. Bend Southside Cibelli’s, Bend, OR
Crunch matters. Plenty of pizza in Central Oregon is soft and floppy, which is exactly why the crackly, thin crust at Cibelli’s on the south end of Bend gets so much loyal love.
Hand-tossed NYC-style pies come out with a wonderful snap, a lively sauce, and quality toppings. The Pepperoni Pizza is the classic call, and gluten-free crust is available too.
Slices are big and fairly priced, though full pies push the bill toward 20 to 30 dollars a person.
Fair warning: seating is tight. If you want more than a slice, plan to take it to go, maybe toward a sunset spot after a day on the trails.
Parking along South Highway 97 is easy, the counter moves quickly, and delivery is an option. Swing by on a Tuesday morning lull, and remember the ovens rest on Sundays.
5. Straight From New York Pizza (Downtown Salem), Salem, OR
Picture this: the last hour before closing, a Salem drizzle outside, and giant slices going for just 2.75 dollars each. That deal alone has made plenty of downtown regulars very loyal.
Straight From New York Pizza sits on Liberty Street NE in a cozy, often quiet counter-serve room. Slices are enormous, with a thin, soft crust and quality toppings.
Favorites include the Pepperoni Pizza Slice, Meat Lovers, Combination, and Hawaiian, along with calzones and some seriously huge breadsticks.
Happy hour pricing applies during set times and that final hour of the day, so timing your visit really pays off. Weekday hours run 11 AM to 7 PM, with a later close on Friday and Saturday.
Free street parking exists but can be hard to snag, so a short stroll from the Capitol area works well. Free wi-fi makes it an easy lunch office too.
6. Scottie’s Pizza Parlor SE, Portland, OR
Blistered, chewy, crispy, fluffy. It takes four words to describe the crust at Scottie’s, and honestly, that still undersells it.
Hidden in plain sight on SE Division Street, this compact neighborhood parlor builds every pie on naturally fermented dough with a touch of salt. Fresh sauce and quality cheeses go on top, and the crust holds up to generous toppings without sagging.
Slices are very large for the price, around 6 to 7 dollars, so one makes a satisfying light meal. Look for the Defino, a wonderful spin on a grandma pie, and pair it with an ice-cold Mexican Coke.
Vegan and vegetarian eaters are fully covered, which is rare for a slice shop. Hours run Tuesday through Saturday, 11:30 AM to 8:30 PM.
Street parking gets snug, so hop on transit or a bike. Thursday mornings are the quietest window to snag a seat.
7. The Great American Pizza Company, Ashland, OR
Some pizzerias become family tradition, the stop you make every single time you roll through town since you were small. In Ashland, that place is The Great American Pizza Company.
Just a walk from Southern Oregon University, this homey, bright spot tosses fresh sourdough by hand and sells it by the slice. Be careful, though.
The slices run bigger than average and fill you up fast. Classic orders include the New York Tomato Pie, Naymik’s Delight, or a build-your-own creation, with Dough-Knots, potato wedges, wings, calzones, and cheese sticks on the side.
Unlike most shops here, it takes reservations, which helps on busy Friday nights. Parking is plentiful, and vegans get a full menu.
Crisp fall afternoons, when theater crowds thin and the hills turn gold, are an ideal time to settle in and share a pie.
8. Bennys Pizza Joint, Monroe, OR
Blink on Highway 99W and you could miss Monroe entirely. That would be a shame, because this farm town of under 1,000 people hides a pizza joint worth the detour.
Bennys sits on North 5th Street with a relaxed, small-town feel and friendly, speedy service. The crust is crispy on the bottom, light and fluffy inside, and loaded with cheese and toppings.
Order a slice or a whole pie, then visit the Great Salad Bar, which is fully vegan friendly. Kids get their own menu, and there is pinball to keep everyone busy while the oven works.
Hours run Tuesday through Saturday 11 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday until 8 PM. Parking is never a hassle.
Make it part of a Willamette Valley back-roads drive in spring, when the fields go green and the tourists stay on the interstate.
Share this story
