Lauretta Jean's

Lauretta Jean's
Exterior of the shop in Southeast Portland, Oregon, 2022
Interactive map of Lauretta Jean's
Restaurant information
OwnerKate McMillen
Location3402 Southeast Division Street, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, 97202, United States
Coordinates45°30′17″N 122°37′45″W / 45.5046°N 122.6293°W / 45.5046; -122.6293
Websitelaurettajeans.com

Lauretta Jean's is a bakery and pie shop in Portland, Oregon, United States.[1][2] Baker and owner Kate McMillen started the business as a stall at the Portland Farmers Market, before opening a brick and mortar shop in downtown Portland in 2011. The business has operated in southeast Portland's Richmond neighborhood since 2012.

Lauretta Jean's has garnered a positive reception. It was included in Thrillist's 2021 list of the nation's 25 best pie shops. Lauretta Jean's was selected to represent Oregon in The Daily Meal's 2024 overview of the best chicken pot pies in each U.S. state. It was also selected for Oregon in Tasting Table's 2026 list of the best pies in each state.

Description

Lauretta Jean's is a bakery in southeast Portland; previously, the business operated a shop in downtown Portland. Martin Cizmar of Willamette Week described the southeast Portland location as "classy but casual" with "low light, a simple wood-and-glass counter and a poster advocating weed".[3] The newspaper's Neil Ferguson said the southeast Portland shop is a "quaint and warming space",[4] with robin egg blue walls.[5]

The menu has included pies, brownies,[6] breakfast pastries such as apricot almond scones and biscuits[7] with jam and butter, cookies,[8][9] yogurt,[10] and breakfast sandwiches. The lunch menu has included quiches, salads,[11] soups, and pies with ham and cheese, caramelized onion, and blue cheese.[12] Ingredients for biscuit sandwiches include apple barbecue sauce, Brussels sprouts, egg, and pulled pork.[13] Quiches use eggs, chorizo, and red pepper.[14]

Pies are sold whole or by the slice;[15] varieties have included banana cream, pumpkin, coconut cream,[16] chocolate cream,[17] heirloom apple and bourbon-pecan, honey hazelnut,[18] marionberry,[19][20] salty grapefruit,[21] blackberry and raspberry streusel, key lime, and sweet potato marshmallow meringue.[22][23] Coffee drinks and alcoholic beverages are also served.[24][25]

History

Window operation in 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic

Baker and owner Kate McMillen began operating the business from a stall at the Portland Farmers Market.[26][27][28] The business is named after her grandmother Lauretta Jean.[29][30] In 2011, she relocated Lauretta Jean's to a small brick and mortar shop on Southwest Pine Street in downtown's Transit Mall,[31] operating primarily via take-out and sharing the space with Cafe Velo,[32][33] which would later close in August 2011.[34]

McMillen opened a second shop on Division Street in southeast Portland's Richmond neighborhood in 2012,[35][36] filling the space previously occupied by Pix Pâtisserie.[12][37][38] The second shop offered an expanded menu and indoor seating for patrons.[39] She created separate pickup and take-out windows for the shop during the COVID-19 pandemic.[40]

Lauretta Jean's has hosted activities and specials for Pi Day.[41][42] In 2013, the bakery's holiday celebration had live music and "pie-and-booze pairings".[43] Ahead of the holiday in 2014, the bakery held a "March-Madness-style" pie bracket as well as food and drink specials.[44] A salty grapefruit booze debuted in 2022.[45] In 2023, Lauretta Jean's had special flavors, extended hours, and "mystery boxes" with slices of three surprise varieties.[46][47] These "mystery boxes" returned in 2024.[48] In 2025, the bakery offered specials through the weekend for the first time.[49] In 2026, Lauretta Jean's offered eight special flavors and made approximately 1,000 pies over the holiday weekend, twice that of a typically weekend.[50][51] Since c. 2019, a 3.14-mile run is held in Ladd's Addition on Pi Day, often ending at the bakery.[52]

Lauretta Jean's was a vendor at Feast Portland in 2018 and 2019.[53][54] Will Ferrell visited the shop in 2023.[55]

Reception

The bakery's interior, 2026

Fodor's has described Lauretta Jean's as a "foodie icon" of Portland.[56][57] Portland Monthly included the business in a 2012 overview of the city's best biscuits.[58] The magazine's Karen Brooks and other writers called the pies "unstoppable" in 2012.[59] Portland Monthly included the biscuit board in a 2017 list of 30 local dishes "that will break your mind—but not your budget".[60] Katherine Chew Hamilton ranked Lauretta Jean's first in the magazine's 2022 overview of Portland's seven best pie shops.[61] Alex Frane included the shop in Portland Monthly's 2025 list of the city's best pies, writing, "There's no denying that this tiny shop on SE Division Street makes the best pie in Portland, as indicated by the daily lines out the door".[62] In 2013, The Oregonian said Lauretta Jean's "offers one of the best weekend-only brunches in a brunch-heavy, calling the "excellent" scones and the seasonal vegetables the "stars" of the menu.[63] In 2016, the newspaper's readers ranked Lauretta Jean's one of Portland's ten best pie shops.[64] Samantha Bakall of The Oregonian included the bakery in 2017 list of the city's best dessert spots for Valentine's Day.[65] The newspaper's readers also recommend the shop as a brunch destination in 2019.[66]

Piece of chocolate pie in a take-out container, 2022

In 2013, Martin Cizmar of Willamette Week called Lauretta Jean's "a perfect pie shop".[3] The business ranked first in the Best Pie category in the newspaper's annual "Best of Portland" readers' poll in 2016.[29] It ranked third in the Best Dessert House category and first in the Best Pie category in 2017,[67] and won in the Best Pie Shop category in 2020.[68] Andrea Damewood of Willamette Week said Lauretta Jean's was Portland's best pie shop in 2023.[69] Jagger Blaec of the Portland Mercury said "every option on Lauretta's menu is as unique as the next" in 2017.[2] Michelle Lopez included Lauretta Jean's in Eater Portland's 2018 list of fifteen "Portland biscuits that would make any Southerner proud",[70] and Nick Townsend included the bakery in the website's 2020 list of fifteen restaurants "worth visiting" on Southeast Division Street.[15] The website's 2021 overview of "legit" pies in Portland said Lauretta Jean's is "easily one of the city's top three pie shops" and complimented McMillen, who "particularly shines with her cream pies, as well as the standout salted honey pie".[23]

Thrillist included Lauretta Jean's in a 2021 list of the 25 best pie shops in the United States.[71] Oscar Ponteri included the shop in The Franklin Post's 2022 overview of Portland's best pies.[72] Jenn Carnevale selected Lauretta Jean's to represent Oregon in The Daily Meal's 2024 overview of the best chicken pot pies in each U.S. state.[73] Writing for The New York Times, Jamie Cattanach said the salted honey pie "will make you understand why there's a line".[74] Emily Hunt selected Lauretta Jean's to represent Oregon in Tasting Table's 2026 overview of the best pies in each U.S. state.[75]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Lauretta Jeans". Portland Monthly. Hour Media. ISSN 1546-2765. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Pies of PDX". Portland Mercury. May 2, 2017. Wikidata Q139740764.
  3. 1 2 "Queen of Crust". Willamette Week. January 22, 2013. ISSN 2640-5857. Wikidata Q139740769.
  4. ↑ "Salted Honey Pie Is the Star of Lauretta Jean's". Willamette Week. November 15, 2023. ISSN 2640-5857. Wikidata Q139743103.
  5. ↑ "Inside Lauretta Jean's Second Pie Shop". Portland Monthly. October 24, 2012. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139740773.
  6. ↑ 15 Recipes for Our Favorite Bake Sale Treats, America's Test Kitchen, September 10, 2023, Wikidata Q139743907
  7. ↑ "Portland's Must-Visit Thanksgiving Pie Shops". Portland Monthly. November 5, 2021. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139740776.
  8. ↑ "Summer 2021 Picnic Guide". Portland Monthly. July 20, 2021. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139743108.
  9. ↑ "The Best Chocolate Chip-ish Cookies in Portland". Portland Monthly. March 21, 2023. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139743116.
  10. ↑ Welcome to Portland: A Newcomer's Eating Tour, Food Network, Wikidata Q139743128
  11. ↑ "Cheap Lunches!". Portland Mercury. July 11, 2018. Wikidata Q139743121.
  12. 1 2 DeJesus, Erin (October 25, 2012). "Inside Lauretta Jean's SE Brick-and-Mortar, Open Now". Eater Portland. Vox Media. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  13. ↑ Karen Brooks (December 10, 2013). "Lauretta Jean's: Biscuit Sandwich Heaven". Portland Monthly. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139740780.
  14. ↑ "The Food Lover's Guide to Baked Goods". Portland Monthly. August 23, 2012. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139782841.
  15. 1 2 Townsend, Nick (May 11, 2017). "15 Restaurants Worth Visiting on SE Division". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  16. ↑ Pierotti, Samantha. "8 Oregon eateries we wish had made USA TODAY's Restaurant of the Year list". The Register-Guard. USA Today Co. ISSN 0739-8557. OCLC 9836354. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  17. ↑ Lizzy Acker. "We ate, and then ranked, 8 chocolate cream pies made in Portland". The Oregonian. ISSN 8750-1317. Wikidata Q139743704.
  18. ↑ "Celebrate Pi Day at one of these great pie shops". USA Today. March 6, 2015. ISSN 2165-1779. Wikidata Q139743138.
  19. ↑ "50 States, 50 Desserts: America's Favorite Sweet Treats". Condé Nast Traveler. August 7, 2025. ISSN 0893-9683. Wikidata Q139752373.
  20. ↑ Wong, Janey; Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (August 8, 2024). "Where to Find Worth-the-Drive Marionberry Pie All Over Oregon". Eater Portland.
  21. ↑ Karen Brooks (March 9, 2023). "Lauretta Jean's Grapefruit Saltine Pie Is Bonkers Good". Portland Monthly. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139752430.
  22. ↑ Frane, Alex (November 16, 2017). "Where to Pre-Order a Pie for Thanksgiving in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  23. 1 2 "Where to Find Legit Pies in Portland". Eater Portland. October 26, 2016. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  24. ↑ Your Essential Checklist for a Real Portland Fall, Thrillist, September 26, 2017, Wikidata Q139743198
  25. ↑ "Eat This Now: Brunch at Lauretta Jean's". Portland Monthly. May 1, 2013. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139752912.
  26. ↑ Williams, Allison (January 22, 2019). Moon Pacific Northwest: With Oregon, Washington & Vancouver. Avalon Publishing. ISBN 978-1-64049-163-2.
  27. ↑ Karen Brooks (November 23, 2011). "Pie High". Portland Monthly. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139740788.
  28. ↑ Karen Brooks (April 13, 2011). "Perfect Pie: Lauretta Jean's Serious Slice". Portland Monthly. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139740798.
  29. 1 2 "Best of Portland Reader's Poll 2016: The Complete List of Winners". Willamette Week. July 18, 2016. ISSN 2640-5857. Wikidata Q139743204.
  30. ↑ Bites in the Beaver State: What to Eat in Oregon, Food Network, Wikidata Q139743216
  31. ↑ "Café Velo + Lauretta Jean's = Pie Heaven". Portland Monthly. September 14, 2011. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139740806.
  32. ↑ DeJesus, Erin (September 13, 2011). "Lauretta Jean's Pies in Cafe Velo; Hala's Lebanese on NW 23rd". Eater Portland. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Perfect Pies To Go". Portland Monthly. November 9, 2011. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139782850.
  34. ↑ "Café Velo Shutters". Portland Monthly. August 16, 2011. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139782858.
  35. ↑ "Lauretta Jean's Expands to Division". Portland Monthly. August 13, 2012. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139740810.
  36. ↑ "Slide Show: Inside Lauretta Jean's Second Pie Shop". Portland Monthly. October 24, 2012. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139740814.
  37. ↑ "Brunch at Lauretta Jean's Southeast". Portland Monthly. January 30, 2013. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139740817.
  38. ↑ DeJesus, Erin (August 13, 2012). "Lauretta Jean's Expanding into Division's Former Pix Space". Eater Portland. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  39. ↑ DeJesus, Erin (November 1, 2012). "The Eater PDX HeatMap: Where to Eat Right Now". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  40. ↑ Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (August 3, 2021). "As the Delta Variant Spreads, Some Oregon Restaurants Are Holding onto Their Walk-Up Windows". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  41. ↑ "Pie Day Looking Pretty Sweet This Year". Portland Mercury. January 22, 2013. Wikidata Q139740819.
  42. ↑ Acker, Lizzy (March 14, 2026). "What was Pi Day like in Portland? We went to 3(.14) places to check it out". The Oregonian. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  43. ↑ DeJesus, Erin (March 14, 2013). "Today's Pi/e Day Celebrations; Andina Outbreak Update". Eater Portland. Vox Media. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  44. ↑ DeJesus, Erin (March 12, 2014). "More Details for SE's Renata; 'Pie Day' Deals for Friday". Eater Portland. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  45. ↑ "Lauretta Jean's Grapefruit Saltine Pie Is Bonkers Good". Portland Monthly. ISSN 1546-2765. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  46. ↑ "Happy Pi Day! Here are 5 ways to celebrate". The Oregonian. March 14, 2023. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  47. ↑ "10 pie places for Pi Day: Bakeries to explore in Portland and surrounding areas". KOIN. March 14, 2023. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  48. ↑ "Portland restaurants, markets offer Pi Day deals on pies, pizzas". KOIN.
  49. ↑ "These Portland-area bakeries are slinging pies to celebrate National Pi Day". KOIN. March 14, 2025. Archived from the original on April 8, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  50. ↑ Acker, Lizzy (March 14, 2026). "What was Pi Day like in Portland? We went to 3(.14) places to check it out". The Oregonian. ISSN 8750-1317. OCLC 985410693. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  51. ↑ "The Mercury's Do This, Do That: Your Top Events for March 9-15". Portland Mercury. March 9, 2026. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  52. ↑ Acker, Lizzy (March 14, 2026). "What was Pi Day like in Portland? We went to 3(.14) places to check it out". The Oregonian. ISSN 8750-1317. OCLC 985410693. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  53. ↑ "Feast Portland announces 2018 lineup of events, chefs". The Oregonian. May 31, 2018. ISSN 8750-1317. Wikidata Q139743181.
  54. ↑ "Feast Portland announces 2019 lineup of chefs, events". The Oregonian. May 6, 2019. ISSN 8750-1317. Wikidata Q139743187.
  55. ↑ Here’s what Will Ferrell did in Portland besides catching a Trail Blazers game, KOIN, January 30, 2023, Wikidata Q139743655
  56. ↑ Fodor's Oregon. Fodor's Travel. August 11, 2020. ISBN 978-1-64097-267-4.
  57. ↑ Fodor's Pacific Northwest: with Oregon, Washington & Vancouver. Fodor's Travel. April 28, 2015. ISBN 978-1-101-87874-3.
  58. ↑ "Portland's Best Biscuits". Portland Monthly. February 23, 2012. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139740822.
  59. ↑ "The Next Wave: 5 Brand-New Restaurants to Look Out For". Portland Monthly. October 19, 2012. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139782869.
  60. ↑ "Cheap Eats 2017: 30 Portland Dishes That Will Break Your Mind—But Not Your Budget". Portland Monthly. April 17, 2017. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139782880.
  61. ↑ "The Best Portland-Area Pie Shops, Ranked". Portland Monthly. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  62. ↑ "From Marionberry to Banana Cream, a Guide to Portland's Best Pie Shops". Portland Monthly. November 5, 2025. ISSN 1546-2765. Wikidata Q139740824.
  63. ↑ "Diner 2013: The new brunch bunch". The Oregonian. June 10, 2013. ISSN 8750-1317. Wikidata Q139752489.
  64. ↑ "Readers name Oregon's best pie shop". The Oregonian. November 4, 2024. ISSN 8750-1317. Wikidata Q139743236.
  65. ↑ "Portland's best dessert spots for Valentine's Day". The Oregonian. February 3, 2017. ISSN 8750-1317. Wikidata Q139743245.
  66. ↑ "Secret's out: Here are 12 Portland-area brunches recommended by our readers". The Oregonian. May 8, 2019. ISSN 8750-1317. Wikidata Q139752561.
  67. ↑ "Here are the Winners of the Best of Portland Readers' Poll 2017". Willamette Week. July 12, 2017. ISSN 2640-5857. Wikidata Q139743222.
  68. ↑ "Food, Drink, Restaurants: Congratulations to the winners + finalists of Best of Portland Readers' Poll 2020". Willamette Week. July 21, 2020. ISSN 2640-5857. Wikidata Q139743520.
  69. ↑ "Frozen Pot Pies Are Having a Moment at Portland Bakeries". Willamette Week. July 19, 2023. ISSN 2640-5857. Wikidata Q139743143.
  70. ↑ Lopez, Michelle (June 19, 2018). "15 Portland Biscuits That Would Make Any Southerner Proud". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on May 10, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  71. ↑ The 25 Best Pie Shops in America, Thrillist, November 17, 2021, Wikidata Q139743250
  72. ↑ Ponteri, Oscar. "Best Pies in Portland". The Franklin Post. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  73. ↑ "Where To Get The Best Chicken Pot Pie In Every State". The Daily Meal. May 14, 2024. Wikidata Q139751459.
  74. ↑ Cattanach, Jamie (August 28, 2025). "36 Hours in Portland, Ore". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  75. ↑ The Best Pies In Every State Across America, Tasting Table, February 9, 2026, Wikidata Q139740830
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