Pizza Party in LA!
“LA pizza is garbage” Ok, we get it. The east coast may have some bomb pizza, but LA PIZZA IS NOT GARBAGE. Not anymore, at least. I’ve lived here for about 8 years now and I can confirm that LA’s pizza game has progressively gone up. LA now offers a variety to choose from - from a NYC-style thin crust, a Chicago style deep dish, a Neapolitan (straight from Naples!), to "LA-style pizza” that we’ve made our own with unique ingredients like avocado and honey.
Consider ordering delivery from a local business to support them during this unprecedented time. Here are my favorites in LA with details on how to order/support.
1. MASA OF ECHO PARK
1800 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Chicago style deep dish pizza. They have the best damn crust I’ve ever had in my whole life. Perfectly soft and chewy on the inside with a crispy/crunchy exterior. We usually order a small (plenty for 2!) with half traditional/meat lovers and half California veggie. P.S. they have amazing pasta, suppli, and bread pudding too!
Order takeout by calling Masa at (213) 989-1558 or order delivery via Caviar. Last call for Chicago deep dish pizza is 9:15pm!
2. L’ANTICA PIZZERIA DA MICHELE
1534 N McCadden Pl
Los Angeles, CA 90028
This pizzeria is originally from Naples, Italy and now we are lucky to have it in WeHo! And v popular because of its mention in the book/movie Eat, Pray, Love, fyi. Chris and I had the pleasure of dining in their cute patio a little after they opened and we fell in love with their Margherita pizza. A+ from the sauce to dough ;) - large, (plenty to share between two people), the perfect taste and amount of mozz, sauce, everything. Soft, chewy crust. Also please don’t skip the tiramisu. Just wow.
Order in-store pick up for 10% off via their website or order delivery via Postmates, Doordash, Grubhub, or UberEats.
3. PIZZERIA MOZZA
641 N Highland Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Personal pizzas with high quality ingredients, Pizzeria Mozza never disappoints. My favorites are the (1) Squash Blossoms, Tomato and Burrata, (2) Margherita, and (3) Meatballs with Mozz.
Pizzeria Mozza is temporarily closed, but you can support their team and purchase a gift card here. For every $100 purchased, Pizzeria Mozza will give back $20 to their employees.
4. BOTTEGA LOUIE
700 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90017
While everyone got distracted by the cute and colorful (and delicious) macarons, I knew the pizza was always the star of the show. My absolute favorites are the Burrata and Artichoke. Located in DTLA, but they are finally opening up their second location in WeHo soon!
Bottega Louie is temporarily closed, but order a gift card via their website to support!
5. BESTIA
2121 E 7th Pl
Los Angeles, CA 90021
Bestia is my absolute favorite restaurant in LA because there is nothing on their menu I do not love. This includes all of their pizza! You can’t go wrong with whatever you order, but my favorite is always the Alla’nduja made with spicy housemade ‘nduja sausages, tomatoes, mozz, spigarello, and fennel pollen. Yum!
Order pizza as an add-on to their pre fixe family style dinners via Tock.
6. JON & VINNY'S
412 N Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Chris and I actually had a reservation to try Jon & Vinny’s for the first time the week after Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered restaurants to halt dine-in service. Thankfully, they are still offering takeout! We plan to order Jon & Vinny’s lots so we are pacing ourselves. For our first order, we got the “LA WOMAN” pizza: local burrata, basil, olive oil, sea salt on top of red sauce - because I love burrata and because I am LA woman. It me!!! It was absolutely delicious and we are excited to try more of their pizzas including the “Sarah & Shiri’s Super Shroom” and the simple “Margherita” - but next is the “Spicy Fusilli” made with vodka sauce, basil, and parmesan. DROOL.
Order takeout via DoorDash.
7. RONAN
7315 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Located on Melrose is this beautiful pizza place that Chris and I had the pleasure of enjoying right before the ‘Safer at Home’. We tried this special avocado/egg off-the-menu item and it was amazing. The crust was perfectly cooked - you can taste the woodfire! I can’t wait to try their menu items. Next on my list is the Spicy Chomper (tomato, soppressata, quattro formaggi).
Curbside pickup available with 10% off from 4-9pm. Delivery via Chownow, Postmates, Doordash, or Caviar.
8. LUCIFER’S
Various locations on Melrose, Sunset, Los Feliz, Studio City
Specializing in uniquely spicy pizzas. We’ve been ordering the basic Meatlovers lately, but if you’re feeling adventurous try their popular Roast Pumpkin & Proscuitto and Greek Lamb & Rosemary. You can order a 10 inch personal or an x-large to share with customizations available for cheese type (vegan included), cauliflower/gluten free crust options, and of course the famous spice levels (zero, medium, fiery, and BLAZING!). I’m down for the blazing. Are you?
Delivery and pick up available from 12pm - 10pm daily. Order via their website, Postmates or UberEats.
8. PIZZA NEXT DOOR
806 W 8th St Unit B
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Whenever we have to cater a lunch at the office, we immediately think of Pizza Next Door. They have the classics (cheese, supreme, Hawaiian) but they also have one-of-a-kind Pizza Next Door originals that you have to try: Chipotle Chicken with Avocado, Tijuana Jane (my favorite!! pepperoni, pineapple, and jalapeño), California Mama (ham, tomato, avocado), Bloody Mary (artichoke, chicken, kalamata olives, and parm), and the Pesto Feta Avocado & Tomato, which seems to be the local fave.
Order pick-up or delivery by calling (213) 622-6595 or via Postmates.
9. TOMATO PIE PIZZA JOINT
Various locations in Silver Lake and South Pasadena
I LOVE Tomato Pie! Before the Postmates/Uber era, free food deliveries were rare. And living in a studio with barely any street parking meant you gotta stay tf at home. Tomato Pie was always my go-to. Cheesy, soft, thin crust. The “Grandma” is simplicity at its finest: tomato, fresh garlic, basil, and light mozz. My other fave is the Freddorian which is basically a spicy Hawaiian with pineapple, spicy sausage, pepperoni and red onion.
Order pick-up or delivery via their website.
10. APOLLONIA’S PIZZERIA
5176 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
The Mayor's Mistress (clever name for the Meat Lovers, lol). SO much flavor from the juice of the meat mixed with the marinara and fresh basil. The dough is phenomenal. Off the menu: square pizza with much thicker dough and less toppings only available on the weekends.
Order takeout/delivery by calling (323) 93-SAUCE.
11. SPARTINA
This is where I fell in love with honey on pizza. Spartina has a pepperoni, honey, chili oil pizza that our waitress highly recommended. Sounded interesting (weird) at first but I'm so glad I tried it. The combination of sweet/savory/spicy is excellent. I want to top all of my pizzas with red pepper flakes and honey from now on! lol. The crust is great - wood-fired, slightly charred, and soft.
Order from 5:30 - 8:00pm via Grubhub, Postmates, and Caviar. Pick up discount of 15%!
12. V DTLA
515 W 7th St
Los Angeles, CA 90014
V is absolutely stunning and has become my work besties’ favorite go-to spot after a long and hectic day. I miss you, v! They have a great happy hour - their entire menu of elaborate cocktails are marked down to $10! What! That’s cheaper than a well vodka soda. My fave is the Smoking Pot which is a vodka, grapefruit, mint, cucumber, and lime (REFRESHING!) drink served in a literal smoking pot. I also love the Valiant Effort when I’m in a whiskey mood or the Vim and Vigor if I’m in a tequila mood. Long story short - they have a bomb drink for every mood. OK sorry this is about the pizza… my fave? THE HONEY BUZZ PIZZA! Spicy salami, wild honey, mozz, red onions, chili flakes, parmesan, rosemary, and thyme. I’m telling you - I’m obsessed with honey on pizza and if you haven’t had it, you’re missing out on life! I can eat this entire pizza all to myself. They also have a really great vegan pizza topped with mushrooms, arugula and chili.
vdtla is temporarily closed, but you can purchase a gift card online with a 25% discount here.
13. PIZZANA
Locations in Brentwood and WeHo
Neapolitan style pizzas with a SoCal twist. I’m OBSESSED. My friends planned a pizza party (via Zoom, of course) - so we decided to finally try Pizzana. First thought after my first bite? “Why tf did we wait so long to try this!?” Their signature “slow dough” is a blend of imported Italian flours and fermented for 48 hours and makes an incredible crust. It was hard to choose one pie, so we ordered two. Yes TWO whole pies just for my husband and me. No ragrats. Highly recommend the DIAVOLA - because (1) it’s spicy and (2) uh huh honey. That’s my kind of pizza. We also ordered the Pepperoni and added shaved cremini mushrooms. MAMMMAAA MIA.
You have the option of ordering “ready to eat” or “heat and slice”. If you have an oven, they highly recommend the “heat and slice” option because it will taste as if it just came out of their wood burning oven. The pizzas come fully cooked, but you have to place them directly on your oven rack for 2 minutes at 500 degrees and slice.
