San Diego's pizza scene has evolved into a diverse and competitive landscape, with styles ranging from classic New York slices to deep-dish Chicago pies and crispy, rectangular Detroit-style offerings. Whether you're looking for a quick slice, a sit-down experience with craft cocktails, or a lesser-known regional specialty, there's no shortage of great options to satisfy any pizza craving. With National Pizza Day on February 9, it's the perfect time to explore some of the city's best spots for every style.
From thin, foldable slices to thick, cheesy pan-baked varieties, each style of pizza brings its own unique charm. Below is a guide to our favorite places in San Diego to find excellent versions of a lot of different pizza styles, ensuring that no matter your preference, you'll know exactly where to go to celebrate this delicious holiday.
NYC-Style Pizza - New York-style pizza is known for its large, thin, and foldable slices with a crispy-yet-chewy crust, balanced tomato sauce, and just the right amount of mozzarella cheese.
Bronx Pizza, Mission Hills - Operating since 1997, Bronx Pizza has become iconic in San Diego for its East Coast-style pizza. Known for its thin crust, crispy slices, and a "less is more" approach to toppings, it represents New York-style pizza very well. Most of the other good NY-style pizzerias in the area are from people who previously worked at Bronx.
The Pizza Standard, Tierra Santa - This relative newcomer to the San Diego pizza scene shocked us with its L'Industrie-like, Brooklyn-style pizza. Located in a small retail plaza in Tierrasanta, the pizzeria serves slices with a light and airy dough, crisped to perfection with an excellent chew. Bravo! We can't wait to try everything from this spot.
Pizzeria Luigi, Multiple Locations - Founded by Luigi Agostini in 2004, Pizzeria Luigi started in Golden Hill, and has expanded to North Park, Ocean Beach and Imperial Beach due to its popularity. The restaurant has been featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, making the Crime Scene meatball & ricotta pizza famous in San Diego. The classic pizzeria is beloved for their thin, foldable slices with a perfect balance of sauce and cheese.
Detroit-Style Pizza - The Motor City pizza features a thick, airy crust with a caramelized cheese edge, layered toppings, and sauce applied on top after baking for a crispy-yet-pillowy bite.
Square Pizza Co., Pacific Beach - This Pacific Beach pizzeria was recently named best Detroit pizza in California by Washington Post, beating out the likes of Los Angeles's super popular Apollonia's Pizzeria. Opened in late 2016 by Fred Santos, Square Pizza specializes in three styles of pizza - Boston Beach, Sicilian and Detroit. Each pizza is named after American car styles, and the Dodge with fresh baby spinach, mushrooms, ricotta, garlic, red sauce, Parmesan cheese and oregano is one of our favorites. Also, do not sleep not the cannolis or the Brazilian cheese bread.
Angry Pete's Pizza, Kearny Mesa & Point Loma - Angry Petes Pizza was founded in 2018 by Michigan-native Pete Harbison, who is a classically-trained chef that has worked in many facets of the restaurant industry. The concept serves food from the kitchen inside inside Desi's Bar in Point Loma and has a standalone restaurant within an old-school, former Taco Bell building in Kearney Mesa neighborhood. Expect a menu of "pure Michigan cuisine," including unique versions of Detroit pizza.
Big Oven Pizza, Kearny Mesa - Owner Ralph Kreidly, a seasoned pizzaiolo with years of experience, prepares several pizza varieties, including New York, Neapolitan and Detroit. With a dough recipe perfected over time, every pie starts with scratch-made dough, naturally fermented over several days for a light, airy, and deliciously crisp crust. Standouts from Big Oven Pizza's menu include the Arugulino pizza with fig jam, mozzarella, parmesan, prosciutto, arugula, and balsamic maple glaze, and the Sweeti Pie with tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, smoked bacon and Mike's Hot Honey.
TNT Pizza, East Village - Founded as a pizza pop-up at the start of the pandemic, TNT Pizza, which stands for "thick and thin pizza", offers a variety of different styles of pizza, including sourdough Detroit and bar style pizzas by the slice and whole pie, as well as takes on New York and grandma style, including vegan varieties. You really can't go wrong with any of their styles, but their Detroit pizza is great. They'll soon open a second location in Chula Vista.
Sit-Down Pizza - A great sit-down pizza spot offers more than just excellent pies, it provides a well-rounded menu, a comfortable dine-in experience, and a solid drink selection to complement the meal.
Tribute Pizza, North Park - Founded by longtime pizza chef Matthew Lyons, Tribute Pizza opened within the former North Park Post Office Lofts in spring 2016. This is one of San Diego's most well-rounded pizza restaurants, featuring top-tier versions of nearly all the styles on this list, complimented by a full bar with incredible cocktails in a beautiful setting. Their food is almost too good to take to-go, and their pizzas could be atop any section of this list. Go in and order it all.
Sisters Pizza, Hillcrest & North Park - Founded in 2019 by NJ native father-and-daughter duo William and Emily Green in honor of their late daughter and sister Kate, Sisters Pizza has built a loyal following in Hillcrest with its NYC/NJ-inspired pies and welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere. Their Hillcrest location has a serene outdoor patio and a delicious menu, and their newly opened Little Sisters Pizza in North Park hopes to replicated the charm of the original. We love this place, the food, and truly enjoy spending time there.
North Park Beer Company Pizza Shop, Pacific Beach - If you're a fan of amazing craft beer and delicious food, look no further than North Park Beer's newest location in the relaxed Crown Point area of Pacific Beach. In addition to amazing NYC-style, artisan pizzas, they have a great beverage list, awesome wings, heaping salads, and even some pin ball machines to make things fun. They also have a stellar lineup of sandwiches available during the day.
Chicago Deep Dish Pizza - Chicago deep-dish pizza is a thick, buttery-crusted pie with layers of cheese, toppings, and chunky tomato sauce, baked in a deep pan for a rich and hearty meal.
Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria, Mission Hills & North Park - Lefty's is celebrated for bringing authentic Chicago deep-dish to San Diego, with its thick, buttery crust, layers of cheese, and rich tomato sauce. They've been noted for surpassing even some Chicago favorites in quality and authenticity. Be sure not to miss out on their Italian beef sandwich and their slept-on charburgers.
Chicago Bros Pizzeria & Bar, Grantville - Specializing in deep-dish, Chicago Bros is a haven for those seeking a substantial, traditional Chicago-style pizza experience, complete with a full bar and ample menu options. Their Buffalo chicken calzone is also a worthwhile choice.
Regent's Pizza, La Jolla - A spot where you can enjoy both a sit-down experience and various pizza styles, including Chicago deep-dish and NY-style, Regent's offers a nice setting to savor your slice or pie, plus has a top notch beer list. In addition to pizza, the menu has excellent wings, sandwiches, salads, and more, making it a great place to sit down with family and friends for a meal.
NY Grandma Square Pizza - Grandma-style pizza is a somewhat thin, square-cut pie with a crisp but airy crust, a light touch of tangy tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and often a drizzle of olive oil before baking. This East Coast favorite is tough to find in San Diego but there are still a few options.
Prince Street Pizza, Gaslamp Quarter - Founded in 2012 in New York City's Little Italy, Prince Street Pizza opened its first San Diego location on Market Street in the Gaslamp in 2023. While their "Original SOHO Square" pizzas are more akin to a thinner Sicilian pizza, the Mercer Margerhita may be the most authentic Grandma pie in town.
Caliano Pizza, Chula Vista - Chef Mario Maruca's offers his Grandma pie as a frequent special at his South Bay pizzeria. The Nonni’s square pizza is dedicaed to his own grandma and is nearly a perfect recreation of the New York specialty pie.
Long Island Mike's Pizza, Kearny Mesa & Spring Valley - This classic NY-style pizzeria boasts a traditional menu featuring salads, calzones, stromboli, and round pizzas, including vegan and gluten-free options. However, it truly shines with its authentic Grandma pie. Since this style of pizza is believed to have originated in Long Island, this establishment might just be the perfect spot to savor one for yourself.
New Haven Pizza - Hailing from a small region in Connecticut, New Haven-style pizza, or "apizza," is a coal-fired, thin-crust pie known for its charred, crispy exterior, chewy texture, and minimal yet high-quality toppings. There are really only two spots to do this type of pizza in San Diego, and both are from the same ownership group.
Basic Pizza, East Village - Connecticut-native Jon Mangini got his start in the San Diego restaurant industry in 2006 with the launch of BASIC Urban Kitchen & Bar in the East Village. Last year, he was forced out of his longtime, Petco Park adjacent space but will soon reopen nearby in the Park 12 mixed-used complex. Basic is known for its New Haven pizza, including its famous mashed potato & bacon pizza.
URBN Coal Fired Pizza, Multiple Locations - Mangini followed the success of his flagship New Haven-style pizza warehouse by opening the first URBN Coal Fired Pizza in North Park in 2009. He has since opened URBN locations in El Cajon, Vista, Encinitas and within One Paseo in Del Mar. URBN serves the stretched-out, ovular, thin-crust pizza varieties made famous in New Haven, CT, including the famed garlic mashed potato & bacon pie, as well as a menu of local draft beers, craft cocktails and signature salads, appetizers and desserts.
Neapolitan-Style Pizza - Neapolitan pizza follows traditional Italian methods, using a simple dough, San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and a high-temperature wood-fired oven to create a soft, charred, and flavorful crust.
Isola Pizza Bar, La Jolla & Little Italy - This place takes their pizza seriously, using imported ingredients, professional pizzaiolos and wood-burning ovens straign from Naples. All their pizzas are delicious, from the mortadella and pistacchio to the brie and shaved asparagus. Also don't miss out on their bruschetta.
Pizza e Birra, Middletown - We love this place for their hand-tossed pizza, twice-fried chicken wings, fresh-bread sandwiches, and welcoming charm. Their pizzas are like a blend of NYC-style thin crust and Neapolitan artisanship, and that's probably why we enjoy it so much. Go for the pizza, but don't miss out on the sandwiches, especially "The Henry," an Italian take on a Philly cheesesteak.
Del Lusso Napoletana Pizzeria, Carlsbad - Opened in early 2020 within the Lift development in Carlsbad's Bressi Ranch area, Del Lusso's offers a menu centered around Neapolitan-style pizzas cooked inside a custom 800 degree brick over, which are ready in under 2 minutes. Pizzas are prepared with authentic ingredients imported from Italy, including Italian flour, San Marzano tomatoes, and mozzarella made from the milk of Italian Mediterranean buffalo.
Sicilian Pizza - Sicilian pizza, known as "sfincione" in its homeland, is characterized by its thick, focaccia-like crust which is light inside and crispy outside, baked in a rectangular or square pan for uniform slices with caramelized edges.
Square Pizza Co., Pacific Beach - This is one of our favorite pizzeria for their Detroit pizzas, but the Sicilian is another variety they do very well. This variety uses a long-fermented, super light dough, with limited quantities available per day. We suggest the Marguerita with Wisconsin mozzarella, red sauce, basil and Grana Padano cheese.
Landini's Pizza, Little Italy - In addition to offering one of our favorite NY-style pizzas in the city, Landini's is also one of the only pizzerias to make a traditional, Sicilian , thick-crust square variety. Their signature Sicilian Pizza features fresh tomato sauce and mozzarella, but feel free to add whatever toppings you like. This restaurant also makes great Strombolis (meatball is excellent) and calzones.
A Brooklyn Pizzeria, Grantville - This relatively new pizza spot offers an array of pizza by the slice and whole pie, and they also make one mean Sicilian pie. It's thick, but light and crispy, and available to customize with whatever toppings you may want.
Roman-Style - Roman-style pizza al taglio is a rectangular, airy-crusted pizza baked in large trays and usually sold by weight, often featuring creative and high-quality toppings. Another Roman variety is pinsa, which is akin to a flatbread, made with a combination of flours with dough fermented for a long time and baked at a lower temperature.
Gelati & Peccati, North Park & Encinitas - From the crew behind San Diego's hit Italian restaurant group Buona Forchetta, this restaurant opened in partnership with longtime employee Luca Zamboni, who previously worked under famed Italian pizzaiolo, Gabriele Bonci. Expect up to 25 options of custom pizza al taglio with standouts like the Carbonara pizza and the prosciutto & melon.
Caffé Di Talya, Pacific Beach - This new Italian coffee shop in North PB serves a menu of Roman-style pinsa in eight different varieties, including a vegan version and a classic Margherita. There is also a large variety of coffee & espresso drinks, tea, matcha, croissants, and Italian ice cream.
Midwest Bar Pie - Midwest bar pizza, often called tavern-style, is an ultra-thin, crispy, and cracker-like crust pizza, traditionally cut into squares and designed to pair perfectly with a cold beer. We've only found this at one place.
710 Beach Club, Pacific Beach - We were blown away the first time we had the cracker-thin pizza from this nearly oceanfront bar. Sited right outside Crystal Pier in PB, 710 is a San Diego institution and also one of the only places in San Diego to find this rare pizza style.
If there is somewhere we're missing and need to try, please send us suggestions by email at [email protected].
Originally published on February 9, 2025.
