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Turning Peel

Turning Peel is a pizzeria in Portland, Oregon, United States. Owner Candy Yiu opened the restaurant on Division Street in southeast Portland's Richmond neighborhood in 2023, in the former Malka space. Turning Peel specializes in Neapolitan pizzas with sourdough. The menu also includes salads, soups, and desserts such as cheesecake and tiramisu. The pizzeria has garnered a positive reception.

Description

The pizzeria Turning Peel operates on Division Street in southeast Portland, Oregon's Richmond neighborhood.[1] It is housed in a "stately" bungalow that "has all the charm and colorful clutter of a favorite worldly aunt’s house", according to Eater Portland.[2] The patio is covered with grape vines; the Portland Mercury has described it as "one of the cutest dog friendly and ADA accessible patios in town".[3] Turning Peel uses a Pizza Master oven that can reach 900 degrees.[4] According to Eater Portland, the restaurant's "zero-waste ethos ... sees any leftover pizza dough become next day's pizza bread, free to take".[5]

Menu

Turning Peel serves Neapolitan pizzas with sourdough.[6][7] Varieties include margherita, pepperoni, and the Summer Splash, which has season vegetables such as cherry tomatoes, corn, morels, and yellow zucchini.[1] The special Fall Pie has pumpkin sauce, slices of roasted pumpkin, red onion, Italian sausage, mozzarella, and sage.[7] Other pizza toppings include arugula, garlic,[5] sausage,[7] Parmesan, prosciutto, purple cauliflower, and vegan mozzarella.[4] In addition to pizza, the menu includes salads, soups, and marinated olives. Dessert options include cheesecake and tiramisu.[5]

History

Turning Peel operates in the space that previously housed the restaurant Malka. In July 2023, Brooke Jackson-Glidden of Eater Portland described plans for Malka co-owner Candy Yiu to covert the space into Turning Peel. Yiu hoped to open the new restaurant in late August 2023.[6]

Reception

Turning Peel ranked first in The Oregonian's 2024 list of the five best pizza establishments in the Portland metropolitan area, as part of the Readers Choice Awards.[8][9] In Eater Portland's 2025 overview of the best pizzas in the metropolitan area, Ben Coleman wrote: "The sourdough crusts are precisely dialed in for maximum chew with just a hint of fermented tang. The sauce is a particular highlight: bright and almost jammy without overwhelming the classic balance of flavors. The margherita showcases the quality ingredients and attention to detail and pairs sublimely with a tiny cup of espresso and a warm evening."[10] The website's Zoe Baillargeon included Turning Peel in a 2025 list of the best restaurants on Division Street.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Russel, Michael (August 24, 2023). "6 new Portland pizzerias we're looking forward to this year". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  2. ^ Coleman, Ben (August 5, 2016). "The Top Pizzas in Portland — America's Top Pizza City". Eater Portland. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  3. ^ "The Turning Peel". Portland Mercury. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Distefano, Anne Marie (June 3, 2024). "Should Portland Chefs Ditch the Wood-Fired Oven?". Eater Portland. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d Baillargeon, Zoe (May 11, 2017). "The Best Restaurants on Portland's SE Division". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (July 25, 2023). "The Ethereal Space Once Home to Malka Will Become a Sourdough Pizzeria". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on February 6, 2025. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "Vote for the best pizza place in the Portland area: Readers Choice Awards". The Oregonian. November 6, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  8. ^ Copeland, Mims; Russell, Michael (November 15, 2024). "Here are the 5 best pizza places in the Portland area: Readers Choice Awards". The Oregonian. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  9. ^ Copeland, Mims (December 30, 2024). "Here are the best places to eat and drink in the Portland area: Readers Choice Awards". The Oregonian. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  10. ^ Coleman, Ben (August 5, 2016). "The Top Pizzas in Portland — America's Top Pizza City". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on February 22, 2025. Retrieved March 15, 2025.