Ken’s Artisan Bakery

If you want to splurge on calories, this is the place to do it! I got the ham, Gruyère, and thyme croissant and could have easily eaten 2 of them — it had the perfect flaky outside and buttery enough that my fingers were barely greasy in a good way. Ken’s is the perfect Portland «treat yourself» destination when it comes to baked goods.
The bread is amazing — the serve a variety of baguettes, loaves, macaroons, pastries, and desserts. Stumptown coffee is served in there which is also a plus.

Apparently lunch ends at three. Would be nice to say that somewhere since you are open till five.

I had never heard of Ken’s until two days ago. So, I was very excited to find it yesterday. The presentations are beautiful, and I decided I would buy several items to give them a good «taste test.»
Soup and Sandwich special: $ 7.50 or something like that. Actually a good value. The woman at the counter said her favorite sandwich was the Banh Mi, so I got that, plus the butternut squash soup. The sandwich ingredients and flavor were good, but just really sparse. My experience with banh mi had me expecting a more substantial sandwich. And, the soup was fine, but only fine; I liked the touch of adding a couple of slices of bread, which is good, but only good.
Mini Chocolate Croissant: $ 2.50 or so. Flaky croissant, but the chocolate was restricted to the very center, which meant the overall experience was eating very dry (rather than buttery or chocolaty) pastry.
Ham and Gruyère Croissant: $ 4.65 or so. Same issue as with the chocolate croissant: uneven distribution of fillings. I know that with stuffed croissants, sometimes even distribution can be difficult, but that’s only okay if the croissant itself is buttery, rather than being dry.
Service: nice enough, but not quite plugged into the customer. I really felt like she wasn’t paying attention to me, or wanted to be done with me (and no, there wasn’t a long line, just one person behind me). My order was carryout, so after placing it, I stepped out of the way, about seven feet from the counter. At one point, a couple picked up their to-​go order, and they also picked up a small bag that was on the counter, opened it, talked between themselves, and set it back down. After they left, I asked, «Is that my bag?» «Yes, I just put it there because I didn’t want you to think it was your entire order.» Oh, and so other customers can browse my purchases.
I went to Ken’s expecting to be truly impressed, but I wasn’t.

Pretty nice place. Very tasty food. Prices are about average. Very European flavored. Service is shaky, and the interior can be loud. I wish they were open a but later as well, as they seem to be able to afford to stay open late with the traffic they get. I suppose I’ll have to go back again to see what everyone is raving about.

This place makes me feel like I’m enjoying Oregon’s new laws: baked! Speaking of cherry Jolly Ranchers, when I was 18 I went to a weird movie theater that didn’t even sell candy. They were showing a movie about wrestling that made me feel funny. It was tough to pay attention cause the two guys next to me were wearing these rain jackets that kept making noise. During the climax of the movie one guy even grunted, very annoying! But uncle Jason wouldn’t have taken me there if he didn’t think I was ready. Overall, great pizza!

The service was excellent! Very cozy and not pretentious. Aside from the excellent baked goods these are the reasons we’ll be returning!

After reading all the other reviews about Ken’s, I don’t feel like I can really add more than…
THIS PLACE IS FABULOUS!!! We ordered the Croque Monsieur, filled croissants, cookies and a morning bun. Everything… and I mean EVERYTHING was FABULOUS.
The employees were friendly and service was fast. The restaurant is small and feels crowded, but it fits the Portland vibe.
If you are in the area, Ken’s is a MUST.

Many pastry options. Everything I’ve had has been very tasty. Seating is pretty limited — we were lucky enough to score a table right as a couple was leaving. Staff were pleasant and the prices were decent. We’ll be back!

Ken’s Artisan Bakery is a superb place to go for a quick coffee and gourmet pastry, a delicious sandwich for lunch, or to pick up a loaf of some amazing (and reasonably-​priced) bread.
The service is prompt, so it’s a good place to go if you don’t have an hour to lounge, but the cozy store is a fun place to take a break from the day and do some people watching if you do have the time. ⁵⁄₅

Temptation in every corner!
While exploring Portland’s wonderful Alphabet District, the significant and I came across this quaint little bakery that’s within walking distance from Portland’s well acclaimed Burnside street, known for their hip food and bold culture. Immediately right when you walk in, you will notice the beautifully crafted pastries from fruit tarts to pound cakes to macrons as well as their amazing coffee éclairs!!!
WHAT I ORDERED:
4″ CHOCOLATE CARAMEL HAZELNUT TART. $ 4.95
This tart was amazingly crafted, baked, and topped with a bit of salt! So with that said, I think it’s safe to say that it can be best described as a chocolate salted caramel hazelnut tart. It tasted sensational, nonetheless. I’d do anything to get another bite of this bad boy. I really should have bought a dozen just to bring back home. Yeah, it was THAT good.
BRANDED CHERRY CHEESECAKE SLICE. $ 5.95
So, just to put this out there, Cheesecake Factory got nothing on this Cherry Cheesecake. Serious! This remarkably crafted heavenly goodness was anything but the ordinary. When you think you’ve had enough, you bite into the cheese portion and experience this exquisite blend of cheese and cherry bits. You think all this may sound «weird» to you, but it’s Portland goodness, baby. Try and take it all in. mMmm mMmm mMMm!
PISTACHIO, SALTED CARAMEL, AND HAZELNUT ALMOND MACARON. 2−3/ea.
Out of all three, I think the Hazelnut Almond is my personal favorite. The cookies were wonderfully baked and didn’t crumble after just one bite. The buttercream was engulfed with a richness of pistachio, salted caramel, and hazelnut without it being overly sweetened. The hazelnut macaron, topped with a beautifully halved hazelnut, which is perfectly edible.
The only slight down fall to this place would have to be the limited seating area. This venue tends to fill up quickly, especially during brunch hour, so it can be somewhat difficult to try and grab a seat inside. On a lighter note, there is seating outside as well for those who want some fresh air.
I was really really hoping I’d get the opportunity to try Ken’s sought after Fresh Strawberry Macron, however, it was sold out by the time we arrived (11 a.m.) This gives me a good reason to come back to Portland again sometime soon!
Extremely friendly service!

I arrived to the bakery around 11am/​12pm, it’s really busy in the seating area. There was no line whatsoever at the register.
The pastry case were all very fresh looking. I came here specifically for the macarons. There were a couple of flavors to choose from. I chose the tiramisu macaron and salted caramel. Its larger than most macarons. I love how I was able to savor the treat by taking 3 bites. The shell of the macaron was not too hard or too flaky. The cream filling is flavorful. I can say, best macaron I’ve ever tried (compared to Washington ones and California ones). Price as of 11÷07÷15 is $ 2.75 each.
Also, I like how at the register there were samples of fudge too! Next time when I visit Oregon again, I’m coming here for lunch. I’d love to try their sandwiches and coffee art beverages.
Overall my review is for the macarons. Yum! I wish I got more now.

A delightful place for nourishment sits on Northwest 21^st Avenue. Ken’s Artisan Bakery has pastries, rolls, sandwiches and so on. There are plenty of tables, while the proximity to light rail is astounding. Employees here are numerous and cheerful. Water, condiments and other forms of courtesy are on the table.
Going into this place was an easy decision after looking from the outside. Every city has a notable bakery and this might just be our equivalent of Bakery Nouveau in Seattle. Prices vary in appropreiateness, though this is a great place to get dessert, as lots of the desserts we have come to know and love involve flour. I tried the chocolate crossiant and it was flaky with a bit of chocolate. It didn’t make me passionate, though it was mini, so that may have stolen some thunder for me. It was the next thing that I ordered which clarified my feelings.
The biscotti was what I had next. It was crisp, with the right mix between soft and hard. The berry flavor made it delicious and they have a water jug which I could use to wash it down. It had a great crunch and a richness to it.
Ken’s Artisan Bakery is worth visiting.

Yes, please. Oregon Marion Berry Butter Croissant… light, crispy, flaky. No other words necessary. Except this… French Macaroons, don’t pass ‘em up!

I know that the words of others & pictures on the Internet aren’t really enough to go off of in terms of a recommendation, but I felt a bit let down with Ken’s Artisan Bakery.
Early on a Saturday morning we rolled up to browse the bakery case & make our selection for our breakfast. Presentation-​wise, Ken’s is completely on point, and it was very difficult for me to limit myself to 3 items to be shared with the boy. Taste-​wise, it was just a flaky and dry disappointment.
— MINI CHOCOLATE CROISSANT
— OREGON CROISSANT w/​LOCAL BERRIES & HAZELNUT CREAM
— SEASONAL APPLE TART
All were extremely skimpy on their fillings, and fairly dry in terms of the surrounding pastry/​dough. We only managed a bite or two of each before giving up. I was especially bummed out about the Oregon Croissant, which had the smallest, saddest amount of hazelnut cream that I could’ve imagined.
Apparently their breads are very good, but baked goods/​pastries are not where they excel.

Back in April, very good friends took the hubs and I on a four-​day long adventure in Portland, OR! The next few reviews will detail how we ate (and toured) our way around that magical city. I hope to take the rest of you with me now!
«How can a nation be called great if its bread tastes like kleenex?» –Julia Child
Our lovely hosts stopped in to Ken’s on our first day in Portland to purchase freshly baked breads for the rest of our stay. From the moment we walked in, the scent of delicious bread baking in ovens wafted into our noses and made our mouths water.
Needless to say, the bread was as yummy as it smelled. Nice crusts, soft and spongy centers, delicious flavors!
Due to the area, parking can be a bit difficult, but walking down the quaint sidewalks and stopping into eclectic shops along the way is well worth the extra steps!

For a bread-​head home baker like me, this place is mecca. Braved a long streetcar ride with a five-​year-​old, then a long walk with said five-​year-​old, and then waited for sandwiches to go. It was undoubtedly worth every bit of effort.
Food:
Ordered four sandwiches to go for lunch: Turkey breast, Ken’s hero, Roast Beef, and Tuna Salad. All sandwiches were on different breads: rye bread, sourdough, croissant, and a sweet roll. Spreads and veggies were amazing, and each sandwich was gobbled up. I have ordered bread to go from Ken’s in the past, but this was the first time I got to have a full meal. Flour, water, salt, and yeast can be transformed, and Ken’s is the gold standard for this. Choose bread, or pastries, or salads, or sandwiches, or anything that sounds good.
Vibe:
Portland-​coffeehouse-​and-​bakery cool. Come here, have a coffee and a pastry, and grab a sammie too. Like so many places in Portland, I could hang out here all day long.
Family-​friendly:
Absolutely. After 30 min on the streetcar and a fifteen minute walk, a huge 2-​dollar Valrhona cookie bought my five-year-old’s loyalty. Gotta love that.
Summary:
A great bakery and café. So happy to have made it to Ken’s after such a long time. Hopefully the next visit will not be so far removed. I could eat the roast beef and turkey breast sandwiches over and over. Can’t wait to go back!

I was in Portland for just 1.5 days and still managed to get in here twice while visiting all of the amazing food spots in the city. I think that is a major testament to how much I loved this place.
It is hard to say what was better about Ken’s Artisan Bakery — the inviting ambiance or the food. Even a block away from the store, you can smell what they are baking outside — it just draws you to the place. They have fostered a nice sense of community at this bakery. There is a big communal table at which you can sit after grabbing your tasty treat and drink. I chose this option and got to have a lovely chat with two natives of Portland. The staff who helped me order and pay for my food were a little quirky (in a good way) and friendly.
I ordered an Oregon croissant. It is such a great amalgamation of sweet and flaky and crunchy and tangy with a hint of bitterness from the berries. The sugar on top seemed to have a vanilla-​y quality. I also ordered a drip coffee which was excellent.
Definitely stopping here again if I am ever back in Portland.

Friendly and efficient staff.
I walked in and I fell in love with all the pastries and their menu.
I had the half banh-​mi and a type of ginger soup. The soup went very well with the banh-​mi. The bread was exceptional. I loved the pickled veggie that was on the side with the greens. I ended up placing all of the greens and veggies in the sandwich, a great decision. I also had a vanilla latte that wasn’t too sweet and it was delicious with the grapefruit macaroon.
The grapefruit macaroon is something I would come back to before I leave Portland. I would love to try all the flavors. It was so delicate but also had tons of flavor! I’m in love!

Baker Ken knows bread and pastries. After all, he was a James Beard 2013 award finalist as a pastry chef and for his cookbook. The JB award is dubbed «the oscars of food.» Only the BEST are nominated for the JB award!
I tried a simple croissant, glazed and flaky brown on the outside. Inside, warm, light and chewy. With butter and jam – simply delicious – simply the-​aaaaaah BEST.
I am bringing my sweet tooth back to take it up a notch. Think I’ll start with Canneles. Perhaps, a quiche, another pastry – followed by a whole loaf of bread just out of the oven (LOL). Throw it down with Stumptown coffee.

Lovely, fantastic, and the best bread around. Because, I live in Phoenix and the water here is poison, we do not drink the water nor give it to our pets.
I think because, the water is so great in Portland and the surrounding area, the bread is awesome.
The cookies, the sandwich, even the coffee. So nice, so good.
We sat inside but, they has the whole wall open with a giant window that opens up to let all the glorious fresh air inside.
Nice old building, lots of great choices.
But, when they stop serving lunch, they mean it! They will not give anyone special circumstances. I witnessed that whilst we were dining.
It is nice and clean in here as well. Free refills on your coffee as also.

Cinnamon bun and croissant both get an A plus