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America’s 25 Favorite Pizza Joints

America’s 25 Favorite Pizza Joints

Pizza is America’s favorite food. According to a survey conducted last year by The Harris Poll for the California Pizza Kitchen chain, some 21% of the 2,000-plus American diners questioned named pizza as the food they’d pick if they could only eat one thing for the rest of their lives. Pizza beat out steak (16%), burgers (13%), both tacos and pasta (11% each) — though strangely enough, only one pizza operation made our recent list of America’s favorite regional fast food chains: Seattle-based MOD Pizza, which is also the fastest-growing fast-food chain in America.

Every man, woman, and child in the nation eats an average of 23 pounds of pizza annually — that translates to around 46 slices — adding up to a total of about 3 billion pies. To break the pie chart down another way, about 350 slices get consumed every second of the day.

24/7 Tempo has assembled a list of the 25 best pizzerias in America according to Yelp reviewers.

A lot of that pizza — 59%, according to one recent estimate — gets eaten at home, and while some ambitious cooks doubtless make their own from scratch (or with a premade crust), it’s safe to say that a large portion comes out of the supermarket freezer case. (Americans spend about $4.4 billion on frozen pizza annually, and it’s said that two out of three households consume it regularly.)

On the other hand, there are reportedly more than 61,000 pizzerias around the country, and while an immense quantity of pizza gets delivered to residences and offices — especially though not exclusively by the big chains — a lot of pizza-eaters go out for their pies.

Their favorite pizza joints around the country run the gamut from holes-in-the-wall to sleekly designed modern eateries, with menus ranging from the strictly traditional to the wildly imaginative. Some have gas ovens, others burn wood or coal. Some serve almost nothing but pizza, while others offer at least a small selection of appetizers, salads, pastas, and/or sandwiches. None qualify as among the best restaurants in America, but behind them all are people who are passionate about pizza and try to make it the best way they can.

24/7 Tempo has assembled a list of the 25 best pizzerias in America according to Yelp reviewers. Some of the country’s most famous names are missing — Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles, Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix, Frank Pepe’s in New Haven, John’s of Bleecker Street in Manhattan, Di Fara and Roberta’s in Brooklyn, etc. — and Chicagoans will doubtless be outraged (or bewildered) to find no entries from their city here.

But these are the pizzerias most favored by the pizza-lovers who post their reviews online, and every one produces pizzas of quality and distinction, whatever the style.

In compiling this list of America’s 25 favorite pizza joints, 24/7 Tempo considered only establishments listed on Yelp. We regarded only pizzerias located in or near one of America’s 1,000 largest cities by population, and only places with at least 100 ratings. The ranking is based on the total number of ratings and on the average rating score.

Source: Courtesy of Robert L. via Yelp

25. Paulie Gee’s
> Yelp rating: 4.3 (1,177 reviews)
> Location: Brooklyn, NY

Neapolitan pies and long waits are the specialty at pizza-hobbyist-turned-pro Paul Giannone’s popular Greenpoint pizzeria. The menu offers 33 vegan and emphatically non-vegan choices, most with wince-inducing names like A Whiter Shade of Kale, Ricotta Be Kiddin’ Me, and Red, White, and Greenpeace. Giannone also operates a takeout-and-delivery-only Slice Shop a few blocks away, as well as outposts in Chicago, Baltimore, and Columbus (Ohio).

Source: Courtesy of Petra via Yelp

24. Petra Mediterranean Pizza & Grill
> Yelp rating: 4.3 (1,180 reviews)
> Location: San Luis Obispo, CA

A large part of the menu here is taken up with Middle Eastern street food — gyros, shawarma, falafel, kebabs, pita sandwiches — but the unique pizza selection earns it a place on this list. There’s a gyro pizza, for starters, with gyro meat, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and both garlic sauce and chopped garlic. The Greek feta pizza includes, besides that cheese, pesto sauce, spinach, onions, fresh tomatoes, and artichoke hearts. Custom pizzas may be made with a choice of 21 toppings, including pesto.

Source: Courtesy of Samantha W. via Yelp

23. Pizzetta 211
> Yelp rating: 4.3 (1,212 reviews)
> Location: San Francisco, CA

This Richmond district walk-in only pizzeria, listed (though not starred) in the Guide Michelin serves a few simple pizzas — tomato, mozzarella, and basil; rosemary, fiore sardo cheese, and pine nuts, etc. — daily, with a few seasonal specials rotated biweekly. These might include a combination of bacon, peas, mint, parmigiano, and lemon zest, or one of farm eggs, roasted mushrooms, pea tendrils, fontina, and almond picada.

Source: Courtesy of Lolita C. via Yelp

22. The Parlor
> Yelp rating: 4.3 (1,286 reviews)
> Location: Phoenix, AZ

Food Network Magazine dubbed The Parlor’s Salsiccia (Italian sausage) pizza the best pizza in Arizona. Located in an old 1950s-era beauty parlor, the establishment offers some 10 pizzas, including an heirloom tomato Margherita, as well as salads, sandwiches, and pasta.

Source: Courtesy of Chris G. via Yelp

21. Lucali
> Yelp rating: 4.3 (1,323 reviews)
> Location: Brooklyn, NY

Food Insider called Lucali “the most legendary pizza restaurant in Brooklyn,” at least in part because this cash-only pizza joint has lines out the door hours before they begin serving every day. The menu is minimalist: large pie ($5 extra for a side of sauce), large calzone, or small calzone, plus a choice of only six toppings (not including complimentary basil and garlic) — pepperoni, shallots, onions, hot pepper, sweet pepper, and mushrooms.

Source: Courtesy of Silvia L. via Yelp

20. Vesta
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (1,586 reviews)
> Location: Redwood City, CA

This stylish Silicon Valley pizzeria serves salads and small plates (assorted charcuterie, grilled carrots, etc.), but also seven red pies and seven white ones. A vegan red pie option is made with pistachio pesto, spinach, and tomato sauce; the most elaborate of the white pies is a Carbonara, with mascarpone, mozzarella, farm egg, applewood-smoked bacon, parsley, garlic, black pepper, parmigiano-reggiano, and red onion.

Source: Courtesy of Christian +. via Yelp

19. Cortina’s Italian Market
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (1,608 reviews)
> Location: Anaheim, CA

Cortina’s is a full-scale family-owned Italian market and delicatessen, with an adjoining pizzeria. Three sizes of pizza are available, with a choice of 14 standard ingredients (pineapple among them). There are also a few regular offerings, including a classic Margherita, a Chicken Italiano (with smoked New York mozzarella), and an Italian White pie (with Alfredo sauce, aglio olio, ricotta, and broccolini). A large selection of Italian-deli-style sandwiches and a handful of pastas fill out the menu.

Source: Courtesy of Cecelia T. via Yelp

18. Saverio’s Authentic Pizza Napoletana
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (353 reviews)
> Location: Massapequa, NY

Owner Saverio Cataldo, a certified pizzaiolo (pizza-maker) according to the Association of Neapolitan Pizza-Makers, makes his pies with imported San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala from Campana, and extra-virgin olive oil, and cooks them at 850-900 degrees in a wood-burning oven imported from Naples. Specialties include a classic Margherita and a variation that adds parmigiano-reggiano to the toppings.

Source: Courtesy of Andrew D. via Yelp

17. Arizmendi Bakery
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (1,853 reviews)
> Location: San Francisco, CA

This bakery and pizzeria — one of five associated but independently owned cooperatives around the Bay Area (see The Cheese Board Collective, below) — serves only one pizza variety at a time, a different one every day, always meatless. Made with a thin sourdough crust, varieties include such combinations as roasted Yukon Gold potatoes with basil pesto and a mix of mushrooms, mixed greens, smoky roasted tomato sauce, and bell pepper sauce.

Source: Courtesy of Lou M. via Yelp

16. Smiling With Hope Pizza
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (367 reviews)
> Location: Reno, NV

Paulie Gee, whose own pizzeria is number 25 on this list, called this “the greatest little pizzeria in America.” Despite its proximity to the gambling dens of Reno, its name has nothing to do with optimistic gamers — it’s a reference to the fact that Smiling With Hope trains and employs people with developmental disabilities. The menu features classic New York-style pizzas and calzones with a handful of traditional toppings.

Source: Courtesy of Xiaodong L. via Yelp

15. Moose’s Tooth
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (1,951 reviews)
> Location: Anchorage, AK

Part of a group that also includes Bear Tooth Grill, Bear Tooth Theatrepub, and Broken Tooth Brewery, Moose’s Tooth offers pub grub (nachos, Caesar salad, Philly cheesesteak, etc.) along with a lengthy pizza menu. The more than 30 choices, available in three sizes, include chicken and vegetable options as well as 15 meat-based creations. The most elaborate of these is the Call of the Wild, made with reindeer sausage, steak, bacon, portabella and cremini mushrooms, red peppers, green onions, garlic cream sauce, mozzarella, provolone, and garlic oil.

Source: Courtesy of Mandi W. via Yelp

14. Juliana’s Pizza
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (1,973 reviews)
> Location: Brooklyn, NY

Though it opened only in 2012, Juliana’s has deep roots in the pizza community. The proprietor is the legendary Patsy Grimaldi, founder of the revered Grimaldi’s Pizzeria. Grimaldi sold that operation, along with the name, to a former customer in 2001, but came out of retirement to launch this place, named in honor of his mother. Though there are a few special pizzas (one with mozzarella, smoked scamorza, pancetta, scallions, and Oregon white truffles), the focus is on four varieties with “classics only” toppings — a limit of two per pie.

Source: Courtesy of Cibo via Yelp

13. Cibo
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (2,089 reviews)
> Location: Phoenix, AZ

This “urban pizzeria” serves salads and antipasti plus a couple of pasta dishes, but the focus is on some 22 pizzas (and one calzone), with toppings ranging from tomato sauce with mozzarella and mushrooms to mozzarella, prosciutto, Asian pears, arugula, and goat cheese.

Source: Courtesy of Kevin L. via Yelp

12. A Slice of New York
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (2,617 reviews)
> Location: San Jose, CA

This worker-owned cooperative gives many of its pizzas, available in two round sizes and a 17-inch Sicilian-style square, names inspired by its eponymous city. The Rockefeller Center is all meat — pepperoni, Italian sausage, meatballs, and salami — plus chopped fresh garlic. The Times Square goes vegetarian, with bell peppers, mushrooms, sliced onions, black olives, and more of that garlic. Some 24 toppings (including vegan cheese) are available for those who want a custom pie.

Source: Courtesy of Ken K. via Yelp

11. Prince Street Pizza
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (2,797 reviews)
> Location: New York, NY

This downtown Manhattan pizzeria was in the news early this year when owner Frank Morano accused a former employee of stealing a confidential recipe for use in his own restaurant. (No resolution of the conflict has been reported.) The Original Prince Pizza is topped simply with marinara sauce and grated mozzarella, while the version whose recipe is in contention is the Spicy Spring, a square pizza made with Fra Diavolo sauce, spicy pepperoni, and mozzarella.

Source: Courtesy of Little Star Pizza via Yelp

10. Little Star Pizza
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (2,814 reviews)
> Location: San Francisco, CA

The Western Addition location of this colorfully furnished pizzeria — there are two other Bay Area units — serves a handful of appetizers plus a choice of deep dish or thin crust pizzas. In addition to nine house-designed pizzas, a build-your-own option is offered, with some 29 possible toppings. Gluten-free crust is available.

Source: Courtesy of Andrea M. via Yelp

9. L’Industrie Pizzeria
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (427 reviews)
> Location: Brooklyn, NY

Named the best pizza spot in New York State three years ago by BuzzFeed — and there’s plenty of competition — L’Industrie serves 30 different pizzas in two sizes plus a 12-inch Nutella-and-strawberry dessert pizza. Among the more unusual choices are the Breakfast pizza (tomato sauce, mozzarella, bacon, mushrooms, sausage, egg) and the Zola & Grapes (a white pie with mozzarella, ricotta, gorgonzola, fresh grapes, parmigiano, and basil).

Source: Courtesy of Lexie L. via Yelp

8. Bronx Pizza
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (3,282 reviews)
> Location: San Diego, CA

The Bronx Deluxe pizza at this unabashedly Bronxish West Coast pizzeria combines red sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, green peppers, black olives, onions, mushrooms, and garlic. Plenty of other toppings are available on the restaurant’s one-size-feeds-all pizzas (18 inches in diameter) — but, warns the menu, don’t expect ham, chicken, pineapple, jalapeños, or Canadian bacon, and “Please don’t ask for buffalo wings or ranch dressing.” In keeping with its no-nonsense attitude, Bronx Pizza takes cash only.

Source: Courtesy of Ann S. via Yelp

7. Golden Boy Pizza
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (3,295 reviews)
> Location: San Francisco, CA

A presence in North Beach since 1978 (there is a second location in San Mateo, just south of San Francisco), Golden Boy purveys focaccia-crust pizzas by the slice or the rectangular sheet, each one worth between 12 and 15 slices. Only six varieties are offered, including cheese, sausage, and clam and garlic.

Source: Courtesy of Lily B. via Yelp

6. Home Slice Pizza
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (3,449 reviews)
> Location: Austin, TX

This neighborhood pizza joint serves “authentic NY-style pizza.” Salads, antipasto, and sub sandwiches are available, but pizzas in two sizes are the specialty. Seven “tried and true” combinations are on the menu, as well as 24 toppings for DIY pies. “Go easy now,” notes the topping list, because “less is more.”

Source: Courtesy of John D. via Yelp

5. Zachary’s Chicago Pizza
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (3,462 reviews)
> Location: Oakland, CA

Readers of Oakland Magazine named the pizza at this employee-owned four-unit mini-chain as the best in Oakland and the East Bay earlier this year. Both thin-crust and stuffed pizzas are offered, in varieties ranging from Carne (Italian sausage, pepperoni, salami, chopped bacon, and mozzarella) to Good Health (free-range chicken breast, chopped fresh spinach, and reduced-fat mozzarella on a whole wheat crust).

Source: Courtesy of Sue F. via Yelp

4. Base Camp Pizza
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (3,977 reviews)
> Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA

Appetizers, soups and salads, and pasta dishes make this a full-scale Italian restaurant, and regular happy hours and daily live music add to its broad appeal. At heart, though, Base Camp is a pizzeria, serving 11 varieties in three sizes plus a build-your-own option. Choices range from a classic Margherita to a Thai Chicken Curry version and a Hawaiian with Red Onions option involving Canadian bacon, pineapple, and onions.

Source: Courtesy of John K. via Yelp

3. The Cheese Board Collective
> Yelp rating: 4.4 (5,101 reviews)
> Location: Berkeley, CA

This Berkeley bakery, cheese shop, and pizzeria — like Arizmendi Bakery (number 17), one of five associated but independently owned cooperatives around the Bay Area — offers a single pizza and a single salad option daily. All are vegetarian and use organic and local ingredients whenever possible. One day recently, the pizza was topped with roasted potatoes, pasilla pepper, onion, mozzarella, Valbreso feta, garlic olive oil, cilantro, and fresh lime, while the salad included roasted organic summer squash, organic salad mix, toasted pine nuts, and rosemary-chile vinaigrette.

Source: Courtesy of Donald S. via Yelp

2. Ciao! Pizza & Pasta
> Yelp rating: 4.5 (564 reviews)
> Location: Chelsea, MA

Ciao! claims to serve “the #1 Neapolitan Pizza in Boston,” and its pies were named the best in the city by Boston Magazine in 2017. Nine varieties, cooked in a wood-fired oven, are available — among them one with port and fig jam, gorgonzola, and mozzarella and another with spicy shrimp, lemon, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, and mozzarella. Some pastas and a few salads and sandwiches are also served.

Source: Courtesy of Smitcha B. via Yelp

1. 786 Degrees
> Yelp rating: 4.8 (1,699 reviews)
> Location: Los Angeles, CA

By far the most unassuming pizza joint on this list, 786 Degrees won fame for its mobile pizzeria, but now has a modest brick-and-mortar shop next to a liquor store in a San Fernando Valley strip mall. Using a wood-fired oven operating at about you-know-how-many degrees, 786 makes authentic Neapolitan-style pies, including a Margherita, but also offers such innovations as the El Chapo (Mexican beef chorizo, grilled onions, cilantro, San Marzano tomatoes, Monterey jack cheese, olive oil, and Himalayan salt) and the Bombay Tikka Masala (hand-crushed San Marzano tomatoes, saffron tikka masala sauce, tandoor-baked chicken kebab, mango chutney, burrata, paneer, roasted sweet peppers, fresh cilantro, olive oil, grilled onions, and Himalayan salt with “a splash of Kaffir lime”).

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