The 17 Best Pizzerias In Los Angeles

Los Angeles' food scene is a must for foodies. You'll find myriad taco trucks offering up everything from birria to mariscos to al pastor. In the San Gabriel Valley, you can feast on dim sum delights, or venture out to Thai Town for an especially spicy feast. And obviously, you have to grab a Double-Double from In-N-Out.

All that said, Los Angeles is likely not the first place that comes to mind for top-notch pizza. But, in the past few years, the Angeleno pizza scene has significantly heated up. Among the crowd of So Cal pizzerias, there are plenty of high-end artisan restaurants that sling pies. While absolutely delicious, they come with a cost. With the fertile Central Valley of California within driving distance, highly-admired toppings, such as squash blossoms, fresh heirloom tomatoes, and edible flowers, make it unsurprising that some restaurants not only charge a premium but require advance reservations.

When you're in a hurry, there are also satisfying slice-to-go options that would pass muster by even the most discerning native New Yorker in a blind taste test. While it's been claimed for a while that there's something in the water in the five boroughs (via Food & Wine), rest assured you absolutely can get a tasty wedge of 'za near and around Beverly Hills, 90210. And if you want to throw a pizza party, there are also great places for a large gathering. Whether it's for a group of adults or a kid's birthday, Los Angeles is ready to serve up some delicious pizza.

"Pizza that doesn't suck" is a bold statement, but Little Coyote is committed to its word. The restaurant is reminiscent of old-school pizzerias in New York and serves up delicious pizza by the slice or whole. We're also fans of the Grandma Squares, which are Sicilian style and feature a focaccia dough. You can top it off with some pepperoni for an extra dollar or go with plain cheese.

Aside from meaty options, Little Coyote also offers vegetarian and vegan pizzas. The Veggie Supremo is topped with roasted peppers, olives, mushrooms, red onions, and mozzarella, while The Vegan includes spinach, mushrooms, garlic, and artichoke.

Little Coyote has two locations in Long Beach, which is convenient if you're flying into the local Long Beach airport. One location is within downtown Long Beach, not far from the Long Beach Convention Center. The other location is in East Long Beach that's proximate to Interstates 405 and 605.

While Blackbird Pizza Shop also offers thin crust options, if you're craving a deep dish pizza and you happen to be in the mid-city area of Los Angeles, we recommend this as your destination. We're talking golden brown, wonderfully-crispy dough and ample amounts of gooey cheese with a variety of mouthwatering and tongue-tingling toppings, such as homemade chorizo, goat cheese, sundried tomatoes, pickled jalapeño, and piquillo peppers (look for it on the menu as the "El Chingon").

At times, the pizza joint offers special discounts for takeout orders. And if you're feeling home bound, it is partnered up with many of the familiar delivery apps.

Blackbird Pizza Shop's menu goes beyond pizza, but as for the pies, Yelp reviewers have tended to gravitate towards the Spicy Italian Deep Dish. And especially popular, despite its potentially polarizing name, is the "Balls Deep" with — you guessed it — meatballs as a topping. For thin crust, we quite like Blackbird's white pie topped with goat cheese, ricotta, bacon, and asparagus.

Secret Pizza serves up real-deal New Jersey-style pizza. It happens to be one of Los Angeles Times food critic Bill Addison's favorite pizza destinations from 2022 (via Instagram). There's no fussiness or fancy flourish to the approach at this pizza joint. Part of why it's a "secret" is because it's not a restaurant — this is homespun cuisine.

While Secret Pizza is serving up solid slices, there happen to be a couple of hurdles to seeking it out. It's located on Monterey Road adjacent to the areas of El Sereno and Montecito Heights. So, depending on where you live, you may have to battle significant traffic to have a taste of these special slices. Beyond that, its t-shirt merchandise both boasts and warns that the spot is "mostly closed" and "rarely open" (via Instagram). Unlike its chain competitors, there's no "30 minutes or less guarantee," there's no delivery service, and you need to plan ahead and pre-order in advance.

The Fairfax District area in Los Angeles is particularly popular among locals and tourists due to its vast array of trendy fashion boutiques. But after all that shopping, you'll need to grab a bite to eat, and Prime Pizza is ready to serve.

Prime Pizza has you covered with its NYC-style slices that are served hot and warm and always with friendly service and a smile. Help yourself to red hot chili flakes, grated Parmesan, and oregano for extra seasoning. The staff has a sense of humor and won't judge when it comes to the controversial pizza and ranch dressing combo if that happens to be your thing (via Instagram).

Beyond the mid-city area of Fairfax, Prime Pizza has multiple locations in the region, which include the east side of the San Fernando Valley in Burbank, the northwest section of the SFV in Sherman Oaks, Little Tokyo near downtown Los Angeles, and West Los Angeles across the 405 heading towards the ocean; there are also plans to expand to El Segundo.

Tucked into a multi-level strip mall on La Cienega Boulevard in West Hollywood just a bit south of Santa Monica Boulevard (also known as U.S. Route 66), Vito's has been reliably serving NY-style "pizza with a passion" for years. And hopefully, if you go, you'll be able to interact with Vito himself.

The portions are large at Vito's and the flavors are spot on. You can pay a bit more to score your Margherita pie or slice with some delicious, fresh mozzarella. You can also find a dairy-free option appropriately named the "Senza Formaggio." For those who can't live without cheese, try the ricotta-topped White Pie, or the Pesto Pizza coated with ricotta, mozzarella, and seasoned with pesto. There are also pies for mushroom fans, those who are gluten-free or vegetarian, as well as meat lovers. Slices start at just $4.00 for a wedge of plain cheese pizza.

If you're in the San Fernando Valley and have a hankering for some pizza, we encourage you to move west down Ventura Boulevard and go free fallin' into Pizza Wagon's popular location in Sherman Oaks. This pizza joint prides itself on bringing Brooklyn-style pizza to all the valley dwellers out there.

Our preferred selection from Pizza Wagon's menu is the thick crust Sicilian style pizza, but you really can't go wrong with any of the offerings. Beyond the requisite pepperoni, sausage, and plain cheese menu items, Pizza Wagon also nods to Hawaii with its pineapple and ham-laden 'za. 

Despite claiming roots in one of the five boroughs of New York, the spot features an upstate-inspired Buffalo chicken pizza that's topped with breaded, baked chicken morsels and a delightfully spicy and tangy house-made sauce. If you're a pesto fan, try a slice with pesto sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella. There are also vegan and gluten-free options for those with certain dietary needs.

La Morra Pizzeria specializes in Neapolitan pies. The restaurant uses high-quality ingredients and the crust reliably has an irresistible chewy char. From a duo with an extensive background in the art of pizza with origins in Charleston, South Carolina, it's been earning raves for its pizza in Los Angeles since 2017.

What makes La Morra unique is that it's completely on the go using a mobile wood-fired pizza oven. While it does not have a defined brick-and-mortar location, much to the delight of hungry fans of its pizza, it frequently sets up shop in fly-by-night blink-and-you'll-miss-it pop-up collaborations all over town. You may find La Morra setting up shop at a neighborhood block party, wine bar, or deli.

If you want La Morra's pizza hot and fresh, follow the spot's Instagram and turn on push notifications so you have a heads-up if it is headed to your neck of the woods. You can also order frozen pizzas through the company's website.

Nancy Silverton and Joe Bastianich collaborated on the Pizzeria Mozza concept, and it's been one of the most reliable and popular pizza venues in Los Angeles for over 15 years; it has also been in Orange County's Newport Beach for more than 10 years (via OC Register). In dining spaces that are both elegant and cozy, it's a perfect place for date night or a special gathering with friends.

Pizzeria Mozza's riff on Hawaiian pizza (pizza Alla Benno) is one we would highly recommend. Sprinkled with speck, pineapple, and jalapeños it's an irresistible blend of salt, sweetness, and heat. One bite might change your tune when it comes to this polarizing pizza order. The menu also features a fun riff on a BLT, plenty of options for meat lovers and vegetarians alike, and a picture-perfect pizza topped with 'nduja and fontina with an over-easy egg in the center.

Two words: STUFFED CRUST. If you're not a huge fan of the typical stuffed crust offerings found at the major pizza chains and you're in Los Angeles, head over to East Hollywood for DeSano Pizzeria Napolitana. The stuffed crust options at this joint have been dubbed Carnevale and are an Instagram-worthy feast. Filled with ricotta cheese, this pizza crust is arguably the star of the menu, so the shape is quite appropriate. 

If you opt for a regular wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, you can choose from three sizes: 9-inch (Monday through Friday only — at time of publication), 12-inch, and 16-inch. The East Hollywood location has a notably spacious dining room that's perfect for large groups. Don't be surprised to see a mix of adults throwing back beers next to a table of kids celebrating a soccer victory.

DeSano's philosophy is simple. "At DeSano Pizzeria, we follow the strict guidelines of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN), preserving the centuries-old craft of making authentic Neapolitan pizza." So there's no rush to book a trip to Italy. And even if you aren't in Los Angeles, be on the lookout for locations in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Florida.

With a very small-capacity dining room and a limited seating situation, the first location of Jon & Vinny's is located near the trendy area of Fairfax Avenue between Melrose Avenue and Beverly Boulevard. It can be a tough reservation to book but it's well worth the effort. In our experience, sometimes you can get lucky with a seat or two at the bar if you're a walk-in.

You can also easily order delivery — which obviously comes with a fee — or go with takeout, but be advised that traffic and parking in the area can be a challenge. There are also locations in Beverly Hills, Brentwood, and West Slauson Boulevard not too far from LAX.

From James Beard award-winning chefs Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo, some of our favorites include the All Hail Black Kale, which is topped with black kale, fennel sausage, caciocavallo, mozzarella, Yukon gold potatoes, a friend onion, and chili oil, as well as the LA Woman, which features exceptional locally-sourced burrata. If you're not in the mood for pizza, it also serves up delicious pasta, have a well-curated wine list, and are open for breakfast.

A favorite of the late, great food critic Jonathan Gold, feverish devotion to Neapolitan-style pizza defines Pizzana. There's incredibly careful consideration around the dough's preparation, which ferments for 48 hours to ensure the right amounts of chewiness, crustiness, and overall mouthfeel as you chomp. As far as what goes on top of this magnificent crust, you'll find fresh San Marzano tomatoes and mozzarella (also known as "fior di latte") that is shipped fresh from Italy throughout the week. The quality of the ingredients shines in every morsel.

With three outposts across Los Angeles including West Hollywood, Brentwood, and Sherman Oaks, whether you're west or east of the 405 or in the San Fernando Valley, you're arguably within the realm of Naples. There's also a spot in Dallas, and hopefully, it has plans to bring its excellent pies to other parts of the country. In the meantime, the good news is that you can also have Pizzana's pizza pies shipped to your home.

Located on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice Beach, Gjelina has been delighting the West Side's taste buds since 2008 with its farm-to-table approach that favors local produce and a menu that changes with what's in season. What make the pizzas at Gjelina so special are the high-end toppings featured on the pies, such as house-made chorizo, guanciale, and lamb sausage, and the fact that they're cooked in a wood-fired oven, which results in an incredible crust. With 15 pizza options on its menu at time of publication, it has plenty to offer.

Beyond the tasty 'zas, it has an especially dynamic dining room space both indoors and outside on the patio. It's well-known among locals as a place to see and be seen, and is notable as a popular spot for entertainment industry "power lunches." Don't be surprised if you have a celebrity sighting when you go for a remarkably elegant pizza experience.

Gjelina doesn't offer delivery, but you can order for pick-up. If you dine in, note that there is a mandatory 20% service charge.

Schellz has impressively set itself apart from all of its competition in the Los Angeles pizza market by doing something a bit different. While other spots take pride in serving New York-style slices or authentic Neapolitan, Schellz is embracing Detroit-style pizza, known for its thick rectangular wedges and especially-crispy browned edges. Sure, it's not the only one in town veering in that direction, but Schellz offers a particular spin that's influenced by Japanese milk bread. The four-day fermentation process is a labor of love, and inspired a clever moniker — "HokkaiDough." 

Be sure to try the "Cheesesteak & Shiitake" in a nod to the Philly favorite, which further cements Schellz's commitment to fusion food. And of course, you can't pass up "The Special," which has the works including Black Forest bacon, Thai chilis, caramelized onions, and cup 'n char pepperoni to list just a few toppings.

If you're in the South Los Angeles area, you're within close distance of Schellz's brick and mortar location and can enjoy it as fresh as possible. While it also offers delivery on its website through several app partnerships, given the sprawl of the city, you may not be within distance.

For authentic Neapolitan pizza, look no further than L'antica Pizzeria Da Michele. For fans of the movie "Eat, Pray, Love," you may recall Julia Roberts delighting in what the Naples location served up to her character who enthused, "I'm in love. I'm having a relationship with my pizza." With a history dating back to 1870, the Hollywood location opened in 2019 and was the first to open in the United States. The company also has locations in New York City, and Santa Barbara, California.

L'antica Pizzeria Da Michele serves real-deal, wood-fired pizza and there are plenty of excellent choices on the menu, such as the arugula and prosciutto pizza that includes basil, mozzarella, pecorino, and shaved Parmigiano. Sometimes, though, you want to stick to the classics and in this case, the Margherita is top-notch. We would also recommend the "Piece of the Pie," as the mozzarella slices are designed to create a smiley face, and part of the proceeds go towards local charities. 

Pizzeria Sei can be one of the tougher dine-in reservations for pizza in Los Angeles. In the Pico-Robertson area southeast of Beverly Hills, it serves up delicious Neapolitan pies that, once you've tried one, you'll want to go back again very soon. 

Stop by hungry and try the Bismark pizza, which is the eptimoe of indulgence with prosciutto, mozzarella, rictotta, egg, and truffle oil (via Eater). The Napoletana pizza offers anchovies for those who swing that way. On the other end of the spectrum you will find the delicious Mariana pizza, which contains no dairy. 

While the demand is high for this pizza joint, the space is small, so get there early. Also note that Pizzeria Sei's does not serve alcohol or allow BYOB or corkage. If you would prefer to dine at home, you can order pick-up as an alternative, but be aware that you can only order up to four pizzas, and once supplies run low, online and phone orders will close.

Perhaps one of the most indulgent pizza styles out there is pan pizza; the thick, crispy, crunchy, oily crust is pretty hard to resist. Quarter Sheets Pizza Club certainly delivers on that front.

While there are some reliable mainstays, there isn't exactly a fixed menu. The pizzaiolos at Quarter Sheets are akin to improvisational avant-garde jazz musicians — the company often collaborates with other chefs around town, and posts on social media about new, hot, and temporary specials. The combinations are always unique and mouthwatering, such as this Instagram-worthy pizza topped with smoked chicken, pineapple-bourbon BBQ sauce, mozzarella, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and Gouda cheese.

With its spot in Echo Park not far from Silverlake, it's particularly popular among Los Angeles' East side residents, or any pizza fans willing to make the drive out there. Here's the thing, though — you can't make a reservation for dine-in. The restaurant only accepts walk-ins and you can expect a line. There's also the option of placing pre-orders through Tock, which starts at 10:00 a.m. daily, but the option vanishes pretty quickly, so set your alarm.

Chris Bianco has made a significant mark on the Phoenix food scene and gained broader notoriety on "Chef's Table: Pizza" on Netflix. He expanded his empire in 2022 to downtown Los Angeles with Pizzeria Bianco, which quickly garnered much attention and success. 

The absolute can't-miss order would arguably be the "Rosa,” which is a white pie that features a sprinkling of pistachios grown in nearby Santa Barbara County and a triple threat of mozzarella, ricotta, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses. Another delicious pie to try is the Wiseguy, which is topped with smoked mozzarella, fennel sausage, and wood-roasted onions.

Pizzeria Bianco is open for lunch service and accepts walk-ins only — mid-day guests cannot make advance reservations. For dinner service, it does accept reservations, but they are tough to get. So keep an keen eye on the Pizzeria Bianco website and be prepared to book a month in advance. Parties are limited to six people, so consider it for a more intimate gathering than a large party.