The Best Pizza in Southern California

🍕 Tokyo-style Neapolitan

Pico-Robertson · Los Angeles · Los Angeles · $$

William Joo's tiny counter turns out blistered, feather-light Tokyo-Neapolitan pies that pizza nerds drive across the city for.

Ranked #2 pizzeria in the U.S. (50 Top Pizza 2025) and among the world's best; reservations vanish in minutes

🍕 Neapolitan / artisan

Dana Point · Orange County · $$

Pizza obsessives Mark and Lisa Best turn out impeccable wood-fired and pan pies in a sunny Dana Point space — Orange County's most-decorated pizzeria and a destination in its own right.

Ranked the #4 pizzeria in the U.S. by 50 Top Pizza USA 2026, with its mushroom pie named Pizza of the Year

🍕 Wood-fired, blistered crust

Hancock Park · Los Angeles · Los Angeles · $$$

The caramelized, bubbly-edged crust that reset L.A.'s pizza bar — book ahead and bring the kids for an early dinner.

Nancy Silverton's modern classic — a James Beard institution since 2006

🍕 Detroit-style

Echo Park · Los Angeles · Los Angeles · $$

Aaron Lindell and Hannah Ziskin's square, pan-baked pies with crispy cheese edges (and Ziskin's celebrated cakes) draw lines in Echo Park.

Michelin Bib Gourmand and a NYT Top 100 Restaurants pick — widely called the best Detroit-style pizza in the West

🍕 Neo-Neapolitan

Brentwood · Los Angeles · Los Angeles · $$$

Famously airy, blistered crust and the must-order Cacio e Pepe pie; the original Brentwood room is intimate and the food is consistently superb.

Chef Daniele Uditi's slow-fermented 'Neo-Neapolitan' crust — a celebrity favorite that grew into a mini-empire

🍕 Neapolitan, wood-fired

Montecito · Santa Barbara · Los Angeles · $$

Brendan and Rachel Greaney mill grains and source from local farms for some of the coast's best wood-fired pizza — a worthy stop on a Santa Barbara family trip.

Michelin Bib Gourmand for its naturally-leavened, California-ingredient Neapolitan pies

🍕 Classic thin-crust

Eagle Rock · Los Angeles · Los Angeles · $$

Old-school red-booth family pizzeria famous for its thin crust and house-made fennel sausage — a true L.A. time capsule.

An Eagle Rock institution since 1955 with lines out the door

🍕 Wood-fired

Arts District · Los Angeles · Los Angeles · $$$

Ori Menashe's Arts District powerhouse turns three-day-fermented dough into blistered, charred pies — book well ahead for a special-occasion dinner.

One of L.A.'s most acclaimed restaurants; its wood-fired pies top national pizza rankings

🍕 New York-style

Mid-City · Los Angeles · Los Angeles · $$

Giant New York-style pies with a chewy, foldable crust and a stacked topping list — a reliable family crowd-pleaser.

Consistently topped 'best NY slice in LA' lists; huge fold-in-half pies

🍕 New York-style

North Park · San Diego · San Diego · $

Big, foldable New York slices and the famous Capone meat-lover pie from a no-frills North Park counter — four San Diego locations and decades of devotion.

Guy Fieri's self-declared favorite West Coast pizza; a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives legend with a cult following

🍕 Roman al taglio

Highland Park · Los Angeles · Los Angeles · $$

Rectangular Roman al taglio slices with a shatteringly crisp base, cut and weighed to order — a fast, family-friendly way to taste a Silverton pie.

Nancy Silverton and Matt Molina's Roman-style pizza-by-the-slice — sold by weight, crisp and airy

🍕 Wood-fired, California-style

Melrose · Los Angeles · Los Angeles · $$$

Caleb and Daniel Cox's warm neighborhood spot pairs blistered, market-driven pizzas with great wine — a polished date-night and family option.

A Melrose darling on countless 'best of L.A.' lists for its seasonal wood-fired pies

🍕 Wood-fired, naturally leavened

North Park · San Diego · San Diego · $$

Matt Lyons fires naturally-leavened pies that pay homage to great regional styles, served in a stunning old post-office space — a top family-friendly San Diego stop.

An Eater San Diego essential and KPBS best-of pick, set in a restored 1930s post office

🍕 Milanese thin-crust

Pacific Beach · San Diego · San Diego · $$

Light-as-air, ultra-thin Milanese pizza made with premium Italian ingredients — a refined yet relaxed sit-down experience near the beach.

Famous for award-winning, paper-thin Milan-style pizza; an Eater San Diego essential with multiple locations

🍕 California-style, wheat-driven crust

Atwater Village · Los Angeles · Los Angeles · $$

A charming Atwater Village spot doing inventive, market-driven pies on a distinctive whole-grain crust — laid-back and great with the family.

Critically praised for its bready, boutique-wheat crust and seasonal produce toppings

🍕 Neapolitan

Hollywood · Los Angeles · Los Angeles · $$

The first stateside outpost of Naples' legendary da Michele turns out classic, pillowy Margherita and Marinara pies — a bucket-list Neapolitan experience in Hollywood.

U.S. flagship of the historic Naples pizzeria (founded 1870) made famous worldwide

🍕 Thin-crust / Neapolitan-ish

Fairfax · Los Angeles · Los Angeles · $$$

Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo's crowd-pleasing pizzas and pastas in a buzzy room — reliably excellent and welcoming to kids.

A beloved Fairfax all-day Italian from Animal's chefs; the 'LA Woman' pepperoni pie is iconic

🍕 New York-style

Fairfax · Los Angeles · Los Angeles · $$

Crispy-bottomed, foldable New York slices and whole pies from a homegrown L.A. shop — an easy, affordable family go-to.

A local favorite NY-slice mini-chain born in L.A. with consistently rated pies

🍕 Neapolitan, wood-fired

Costa Mesa · Orange County · $$

Blistered, charred Neapolitan pizza and a handsome dining room near South Coast Plaza — a dependable upscale-casual OC favorite.

A long-running Orange County standout for wood-fired Neapolitan pies and house-made pastas

🍕 Neapolitan, VPN-certified

Pasadena · Los Angeles · $$

An imported Naples oven turns out pillowy, leopard-spotted VPN-certified pies; a relaxed, family-friendly Old Pasadena room.

VPN-certified true Neapolitan pizza — among the most authentic Margheritas in the region

🍕 Neapolitan, wood-fired

Fullerton · Orange County · $$

Charred, airy Neapolitan pies from a 900-degree wood oven in a cozy downtown Fullerton space — a true neighborhood gem.

Downtown Fullerton's destination for authentic, wood-fired Neapolitan pizza

🍕 Chicago deep-dish

North Park · San Diego · San Diego · $$

Gooey, buttery-crusted deep-dish pies that satisfy any Chicago craving — a hearty, fun choice for a hungry family.

San Diego's go-to for genuine Chicago-style deep dish, beloved by transplants for years

🍕 Chicago & New York-style

La Jolla · San Diego · San Diego · $$

Whole pies or by-the-slice in both Chicago and New York styles, plus a big menu — a casual, kid-friendly La Jolla institution.

A La Jolla mainstay with Italian-imported ovens, serving both Chicago and New York styles

🍕 Neapolitan, wood-fired

Little Italy · San Diego · San Diego · $$

Quick-fired, charred personal pizzas and great espresso in the heart of Little Italy — a handy stop while exploring the waterfront.

A Little Italy favorite for blistered, fast-fired personal Neapolitan pies

🍕 New York-style

Little Italy · San Diego · San Diego · $$

Big foldable New York slices and whole pies in bustling Little Italy — a lively, family-friendly anchor of the neighborhood.

An Eater San Diego essential — Little Italy's family-owned, Italian-operated NY slice shop

🍕 New York-style

Hillcrest · San Diego · San Diego · $

A no-nonsense Hillcrest slice counter slinging some of the best thin, foldable New York pizza in SoCal.

San Diego's cult NY slice shop — cash only, no frills, beloved for decades

🍕 Neapolitan, wood-fired

South Park · San Diego · San Diego · $$

Charred, pillowy Neapolitan pies from an imported wood oven, served on a lively family patio — a true neighborhood favorite.

San Diego's beloved wood-fired Neapolitan, with a kid-magnet patio (and 'Sofia' the oven)

🍕 Wood-fired (multi-style)

San Clemente · Orange County · $$

A San Clemente favorite firing every style from Neapolitan to cracker-thin in one wood oven — something for every kid at the table.

Named #1 pizza in Orange County by the OC Register; pies in Neapolitan, New York, Sicilian and cracker-thin

🍕 Neapolitan, wood-fired

Little Italy · San Diego · San Diego · $$

Authentic, charred Neapolitan pizza and warm hospitality in Little Italy — a reliable, welcoming choice for families.

A consistently top-rated Little Italy Neapolitan spot praised on best-of San Diego lists

🍕 Neapolitan, AVPN-certified

Corona del Mar · Newport Beach · Orange County · $$$

Certified Naples-style pizza baked in a 900-degree olive-wood oven in a charming Corona del Mar room — a special-occasion OC pizza destination.

Newport's only AVPN-certified true Napoletana pizza, wood-fired at 900° over olive wood

🍕 California-style, wood-fired

Downtown · Los Angeles · Los Angeles · $$

Crisp, blistered California pies, salads and a kid-pleasing menu in casual rooms across L.A. — a dependable everyday favorite.

A homegrown L.A. wood-fired mini-chain beloved as a reliable, family-friendly neighborhood pizzeria

🍕 Neapolitan, build-your-own

Westwood · Los Angeles · Los Angeles · $$

Build-your-own Neapolitan pies fired in about 90 seconds — fast, customizable and great for picky kids.

An L.A.-born fast-fire Neapolitan concept that grew into a national name

🍕 California-style

Carlsbad · San Diego · $$

Hearty California-style pies and legendary house-brewed beer in a rowdy, surf-town setting — a North County family and après-beach staple.

Iconic North County brewpub-pizzeria, an award-winning craft-beer pioneer since 1987

🍕 New York-style

Carlsbad · San Diego · $$

Big, well-charred New York pies and slices in Carlsbad — a friendly neighborhood spot for a family slice night.

A North County favorite repeatedly cited among San Diego's best New York-style slices

🍕 New York & Detroit-style

San Diego · San Diego · $$

Long-fermentation New York rounds and crispy-edged Detroit pan pies — a favorite for fans of both square and foldable slices.

Praised for long-fermented New York-inspired pies and classic Detroit-style pan pizza

🍕 California-style / wood-fired

Redlands · Inland Empire · $$

Handmade pizzas alongside a 140-bottle wine list in a refined downtown Redlands room — the Inland Empire's most polished pizza-and-wine destination.

A Wine Spectator Award of Excellence restaurant; downtown Redlands' upscale spot for handmade pizza

🍕 Gourmet California-style

Redlands · Inland Empire · $$

Famous for an adventurous topping list well beyond pepperoni, this State Street favorite is the Inland Empire's signature gourmet pizzeria.

Repeatedly voted best pizza in the Inland Empire; a downtown Redlands State Street fixture

🍕 New York-style

Riverside · Inland Empire · $$

Award-winning New York slices and specialty pies from a celebrated champion pizzaiolo's concept — a notable upgrade for Riverside pizza.

Outpost of 13-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani — the Inland Empire's most credentialed slice

🍕 Neapolitan, wood-fired

Costa Mesa · Orange County · $$

Blistered wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas and creative combinations in a relaxed Costa Mesa room — a solid everyday OC pick.

A Costa Mesa favorite for old-school, wood-fired Naples-style pies with fresh ingredients

🍕 California-style

Temecula · Inland Empire · $$

Generous California-style pies and house-brewed beer in a big, kid-welcoming room — a dependable Temecula and wine-country area staple.

A San Diego–born brewpub-pizzeria and longtime family favorite across Southern California

🍕 New Haven-style apizza

Arts District · North Hollywood · Los Angeles · $$

Connecticut transplant Chris Wallace cold-ferments his dough 72 hours and bakes in an open-flame brick oven for that signature New Haven char — a rare taste of true apizza in Southern California.

L.A.'s only bricks-and-mortar New Haven-style apizza spot — charred, crispy pies and the iconic clam 'You're Welcome' pie

🍕 New Haven-style, coal-fired

One Paseo · Del Mar · San Diego · $$

Thin, charred coal-fired apizza with high-quality toppings — littleneck clams, fried eggplant, mashed potato — plus craft beer, with locations in Del Mar, Encinitas and Vista.

San Diego's go-to for New Haven-style coal-fired pies for 15+ years, famous for the garlic mashed-potato & bacon pizza

🍕 New Haven-style, coal-fired

Encinitas · San Diego · $$

Crisp, charred coal-fired pies and local draught beer steps from the beach in downtown Encinitas — a relaxed, family-friendly take on Connecticut apizza.

The North County outpost of San Diego's beloved New Haven-style coal-fired pizzeria, on Coast Highway 101

🍕 Sicilian / nonna-style square pan pizza

Arts District · Los Angeles · Los Angeles · $$

Patrick Costa and Jose Cordon's 55-hour-fermented square pies — crunchy, feathery and loaded with textural toppings — served on a string-lit brick patio with natural wine and spritzes.

A celebrated Arts District square-pie spot blending Detroit's crispy-cheese edges with sturdy Sicilian nonna-style dough

🍕 Sicilian square slice

Sunset Strip · West Hollywood · Los Angeles · $$

Thick, crisp-bottomed Sicilian squares topped 'upside down' with mozzarella, Fra Diavolo sauce and pools of pepperoni — the pie that built Prince Street's reputation, now on the Sunset Strip.

The L.A. outpost of NYC's cult Nolita slice shop, home of the famous Spicy Spring square with curled pepperoni cups

🍕 Grandma-style & Sicilian square

Foothill Ranch · Orange County · $$

A family Orange County pizzeria famous for its thin, garlicky square Grandma pie plus Sicilian and New York rounds — a warm, kid-friendly neighborhood staple in Foothill Ranch and Mission Viejo.

Self-billed 'Home of the Grandma Pie' — a recipe Sal has been perfecting since the 1950s, called the best Grandma pie in SoCal

🍕 New York & Sicilian square Grandma pie

Newport Beach · Orange County · $$

A square Grandma's Pie with mozzarella, marinara and fresh basil leads the menu at this family-owned OC favorite with locations from Newport Beach to Irvine and Aliso Viejo.

An Orange County institution since 1976, beloved for its square Grandma's Pie alongside Long Island-style NY pizza

🍕 Sicilian square & New York slices

Sherman Oaks · Los Angeles · $$

No-frills Valley counter bringing authentic New York pizza west — thick, square Sicilian slices and foldable NY rounds reheated to order on Ventura Blvd.

The L.A. branch of a Brooklyn slice shop running since 1966, praised for balanced, generously-topped Sicilian squares

🍕 Detroit-style & Sicilian square

Pacific Beach · San Diego · San Diego · $$

Three styles of square pie — crispy-edged Detroit, upside-down Sicilian and thin Boston Beach — each named after a car, from a Pacific Beach favorite with a new East Village location.

Crowned the best Detroit pizza in California by the Washington Post; Fred Santos won the 2026 Int'l Pizza Expo non-traditional category

🍕 Chicago deep-dish, cornmeal crust

Echo Park · Los Angeles · Los Angeles · $$

A born-and-raised Chicagoan bakes deep, chunky pies in pans forged in Chicago — 40-plus minutes each — plus Chicago tavern-style thin crust; a hearty, family-pleasing pick.

An Echo Park institution near Dodger Stadium for authentic Chicago deep-dish with a 2-inch buttery cornmeal crust