Northwest Austin | April 2026

Dining

BY KATLYNN FOX

A few doors down from Mama Betty’s Tex-Mex on Parmer Lane, dynamic duo Jason Carrier and Forrest Higdon opened Happy Slice Pizza last October, serving specialty pizzas, baked fornatas, salads, desserts and a full drink menu. The backstory For business owners Carrier and Higdon, their journeys with restaurants began long before they collaborated over a healthier kind of pizza. Higdon spent the last 16 years specializing in pizza at Gumby’s Pizza in San Marcos, which opened in 2009. Following his experience as a restaurant owner, he shared advice with Carrier, his neighbor, who opened Mama Betty’s Tex-Mex in 2022. Three years later, owners of 600 Degrees Austin approached the pair about buying the restaurant, and they jumped into action—going from neigh- bors to business partners. “Being next door [at] Mama Betty’s ... we’re already here, so it made sense 150 feet away to sign another lease and start doing pizza with my Happy Slice Pizza owners strive to ‘elevate the pizza experience’

Classic pies at the pizza spot include the Margherita pizza ($25.99), which can be served on a gluten-free 14-inch crust.

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neighbor,” Carrier said. What’s special about it?

“When I had the opportunity to start over and just do a pizza place like I would want now, it was about the better ingredients,” Higdon said. Happy Slice dough is made with unbleached and unbromated our, cellulose-free cheese and no articial citric acid in the tomato sauce. The menu also oers gluten and dairy-free options for people with dietary restrictions. “I want ... people that are gluten-free or dairy- free to not feel like we’re having to make excep- tions for them—they get the same experience that everyone else gets,” Higdon said. One of the most popular specialty pizzas at Happy Slice is inspired by Carrier’s Tex-Mex restaurant. Known as the Barbacoa Betty, the pie is served with Mama Betty’s barbacoa, diced onions, cilantro, jalapeno crema and adobo sauce. Another bestseller is the Sweet Heat, which features tradi- tional and cupping pepperoni with sweet ricotta, basil, hot honey and red sauce. Happy Slice Pizza is also the rst pizza restau- rant in Texas to serve the San Nicola tomatoes in its sauce, the owners said. A family aair The pair crafted Happy Slice with the intention of

The venue features a large patio with shade trees and several large TVs.

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From the left, Forrest Higdon and Jason Carrier are the co-owners of Happy Slice Pizza on Parmer Lane.

Happy Slice also oers an array of cocktails.

COURTESY HAPPY SLICE PIZZA

creating a welcoming, family-friendly environment. “I think what has made Happy Slice work is that we’re building the place that we would want to take our families to,” Higdon said. “It’s just an extension of our neighborhood and our house.” The restaurant includes an outdoor patio with fans, TVs, tables and turf to make a relax- ing and comfortable space. Happy Slice hosts neighborhood parties, birthdays and team sports celebrations.

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9900 W. Parmer Lane, Ste. 100, Austin www.happyslicepizza.com

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