Celebrate National Pizza Day with a slice from one of LA’s best pizzerias. We asked Envoy employees about their favorite pizza places and toppings, and the responses were overwhelming. Pizza is personal, but we narrowed it down to create a guide to the top 10 pizza restaurants in LA. Plus, we included topping suggestions from our (very hungry) team. Enjoy! When you are in LA, stop by our Culver Mobility Hub to book a car and head out on your pizza adventure. The Culver Mobility Hub is open to the public and located at 8575 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232. Check out the brand-new Nissan Leafs available by the hour or day. Just download the app, create an account, and book your car. Got questions? Reach out to one of our awesome Customer Success Managers, and they will get you on your way!
1. Blackbird Pizza
This neighborhood spot has a full pizza menu including vegan and vegetarian options. They offer a unique style of cheese pizza with a three-cheese blend, where the toppings are flipped, and a thin layer of cooked cheese is added underneath the sauce for a distinctive texture and flavor. Check out the sidewalk seating for great people-watching while you eat your pizza! Envoy employee tip: Eat it like Stefanie and order The Melrose with vegan cheese!
2. Sage Bistro
Sage Bistro has multiple locations in the LA area. This vegan restaurant is my favorite for its full menu and amazing pizza. Vegans, vegetarians, and carnivores will all find a favorite here. Plus, the Culver City location is just a short drive from our Culver Mobility Hub. Envoy employee tip: Eat it like Brandon and order extra to share!
3. LaRocco’s Pizzeria
This popular pizzeria serves high-quality New York-style pizza. LaRocco’s Pizzeria offers a classic cheese pizza that is a favorite among traditional pizza lovers. They use fresh meat and vegetables, homemade sauce, and made-from-scratch dough. The Culver City location is also a short drive from our Culver Mobility Hub. Envoy employee tip: Eat it like Jack and order extra pepperoni!
4. Korea Town Pizza Company
Bringing people together through pizza, this family-owned Korea Town favorite has unique toppings, full menu, and craft beers. Envoy employee tip: Eat it like Carlton and order pepperoni and pineapple!
5. Pitfire Pizza
This long-time favorite pizzeria is known for its delicious pizzas, with crust baked in an almond wood open fire oven! With multiple locations around LA, you can get your pizza fixed with high-quality ingredients and unique blends, plus vegetarian and vegan options. Envoy employee tip: Eat it like Marilyn and order field mushroom pizza with cremini and enoki mushrooms!
6. Pizzana
Pizzana has been all over the press for the last few years but do not think they have gone to their heads. The pizza creations are still top-notch and creative. Plus check out the dessert menu if you have room. Envoy employee tip: Eat it like Sky and order the Cacio e Pepe pie.
7. Bottega Louie
Bottega Louie has two locations in Downtown LA and West Hollywood. Their small but carefully curated pizza menu, featuring great pizza, will have you wanting more. This upscale spot has something for everyone and beautiful locations. Envoy employee tip: Eat it like Drew and order the fennel sausage pizza!
8. Hail Mary Pizza
This cute and beloved neighborhood spot uses only organic wheat and grains from local US sources. Hail Mary Pizza uses a special pizza dough made from organic wheat and grains. Eat well and feel well!
9. Apollonia’s Pizzeria
Local artisan pizza with veggie, vegan and carnivore options and gluten-free crusts.
10. Casa Bianca Pizza Pie
Family owned since 1955. Casa Bianca Pizza Pie offers house made sausage as a topping option and great pie. This spot keeps it old school with the classics and new creations to keep you coming back. If you have never tried fried eggplant on a pizza before, this is the place to do it!
Honorable Mentions for Best Pizza Places
The top 10 list covers some of the best pizza in LA but there are a few more to mention:
Another popular spot is Joe’s Pizza, known for its no-frills New York-style pizza with thin-crusted slices loaded with toppings and a special pizza sauce.
L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele
In the heart of Hollywood, L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele is a gastronomic heaven that transports you to the charming streets of Naples, Italy. With its rich history and commitment to authentic Italian cuisine, L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele is an LA treasure. The wood-fired oven crackles as it spits out pies that are pure perfection.
DeSano Pizza Bakery
On Santa Monica Blvd, DeSano Pizza Bakery is famous for its hand-crafted Neapolitan pizza. Their pizza dough is dairy- and egg-free, featuring a fluffy and airy texture that enhances the overall flavor and uniqueness of the crust. The pizza is made with fresh ingredients and baked to order, Italian style in LA.
Thanks Pizza
Thanks Pizza on Western Ave offers a twist on tasty pizza with fresh, gourmet toppings. Their dough is made from scratch, so it is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.
OSTE
OSTE specializes in Pinsa, a Roman-style pizza. Their dough is made with a high-water content and long cold fermentation making it extra light, low fat, low calorie and easy to digest with a crunchy bite.
Pizzeria Mozza
On Highland Ave, Pizzeria Mozza is a pizza lover’s paradise. They offer a variety of pizzas with fresh ingredients and unique toppings. A must-visit for anyone in LA.
The History of Pizza
Ancient Times
Pizza, as we know it, has a long history dating back thousands of years. The idea of putting toppings on flatbread can be traced back to ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. These early versions of pizza were simple flatbreads with various toppings like herbs, cheese, and oils. For example, Persian soldiers under Darius the Great baked flatbreads with cheese and dates on their shields, while the Greeks had a flatbread called plakous topped with herbs, onions, cheese, and garlic.
The Birth of Modern Pizza in Naples
Modern pizza with tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings was born in Naples, Italy. Naples was founded by the Greeks around 600 B.C. and by the 18th and 19th centuries it was a bustling city with a large working-class population. These residents needed cheap and quick food to eat on the go and thus pizza was born. Street vendors sold flatbread topped with tomatoes, cheese, garlic, anchovies and oil and pizza became staple food for the Neapolitan poor.
One of the earliest known pizzas is the Margherita, named after Queen Margherita of Savoy. In 1889 the queen visited Naples and sampled a pepperoni pizza topped with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil, the colors of the Italian flag. She loved it so much that the pizza was named after her.
Pizza in America
Early Immigration and Establishment
Pizza came to America with Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They settled in the larger cities of the Northeast, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Baltimore. The first documented pizzeria in the US was Lombardi’s, opened by Gennaro Lombardi in New York City in 1905. Lombardi’s served Neapolitan style pizza and was the first to pave the way for other pizzerias to open across the country.
Post War Boom
Pizza’s popularity in America grew after World War II. American soldiers stationed in Italy developed a taste for pizza and brought it back home. This post war period saw a pizza boom and pizza spread beyond Italian-American communities to become an American favorite.
Pizza in Los Angeles
Early Pioneers
Pizza came to Los Angeles later than the East Coast. Brandon, who later founded Quarantine Pizza Co., gained valuable experience working in various Italian restaurants before starting his own venture. Patsy D’Amore is credited with introducing pizza to Los Angeles in 1939 when he opened Casa D’Amore in Hollywood. This was one of the first pizzerias in the city and catered to both locals and Hollywood stars. In 1945 Barone’s opened in Sherman Oaks and is the longest running pizzeria in Los Angeles. Barone’s is known for their rectangular Neapolitan style pizza, a unique shape to the traditional round pie.
Los Angeles Pizza Culture
Over the years, LA has developed a pizza culture with many pizzerias offering great, quality pizza, in a wide range of styles and flavors. While classic fast food-style pizza from chains like Pizza Hut offers nostalgic appeal and convenience, LA’s pizza culture is rich with diverse and innovative options. From wood-fired Neapolitan to thick and cheesy Detroit style, LA’s pizza scene is diverse and innovative. Iconic places like Patsy D’Amore’s Pizza at the Farmers Market and Barone’s have become part of the city’s culinary landscape.
Types of Pizza
Neapolitan Pizza
Neapolitan pizza is the original pizza from Naples, Italy. It has a thin, soft crust made from simple ingredients: flour, water, salt, and yeast. Topped with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil and olive oil and cooked in a wood fired oven at high temperatures for a brief time. The result is a soft, slightly charred crust with a chewy texture.
New York Style
New York style pizza has large, thin, and foldable slices. The dough is made with high gluten flour and often includes sugar and olive oil. The sauce is made from canned tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt, sugar, and various herbs. The cheese is low moisture mozzarella, and the pizza is baked in a deck oven. New York style is known for its crispy yet pliable crust and is sold by the slice.
Chicago Deep Dish
Chicago deep dish is a thick crust pizza baked in a deep pan. The crust is buttery and flaky, and the pizza is layered with cheese, toppings, and chunky tomato sauce. The order of ingredients for a good pizza is reversed from traditional pizzas with cheese on the bottom, toppings in the middle and sauce on top. This style of pizza is rich and indulgent and is eaten with a fork and knife.
Detroit Style
Detroit style is a rectangular pizza with a thick airy crust that is crispy on the edges. The dough is like focaccia and is baked in an oiled pan which gives the crust its crispy texture. Topped with Wisconsin brick cheese which caramelizes at the edges and the toppings are under the red sauce can. This style of pizza is unique in texture and flavor.
Sicilian
Sicilian pizza, also known as sfincione is a thick rectangular pizza with a spongy bread-like crust. Topped with tomatoes, onions, anchovies, and a strong cheese like caciocavallo. The crust is often prebaked before the toppings are added so the bottom is crispy, and the inside is soft and fluffy. Sicilian pizza is found in bakeries and is sold by the slice.
California Style
California style is known for its fresh air, innovative and non-traditional toppings. This style of pizza has a thin crust and is topped with fresh gourmet ingredients like barbecue sauce, goat cheese, arugula, and smoked salmon. California style emphasizes fresh high-quality ingredients and unique flavor combinations.
Greek
Greek pizza is a New England variation and is thick and chewy with lots of olive oil. The pizza is baked in a pan and is crispy almost fried. Toppings include feta cheese, olives, and other traditional Greek ingredients. Greek pizza is rich and savory.
St. Louis Style
St. Louis style has a thin cracker crust made without yeast. The pizza is topped with sweet tomato sauce and a unique blend of cheese called Provel which is cheddar, Swiss, and provolone. St. Louis style pizza is cut into small squares instead of being sliced into traditional pie slices, making it easier to share.
New Haven Style
New Haven style, also known as a pizza, is a thin crust pizza with charred crispy edges. Traditionally baked in a coal fired oven which gives it a smoky flavor. Toppings include clams, garlic, and white sauce in addition to the traditional tomato and cheese. New Haven style is simple and bold.
Conclusion
Los Angeles has some of the best pizza places, each with its unique flavor and experience. Whether you are a traditional Neapolitan pizza fan, New York style slices, or vegan options, there is something for everyone in this city. Celebrate National Pizza Day by trying out these top pizza spots and finding your new favorite slice. Tell us about your favorite pizza place! When you share a photo of your Envoy car at your pizza spot you can earn credit towards your next car booking. Pizza that pays you back? OMG. Join the electric revolution and learn more about how to bring this eco-friendly amenity to your multi-living, multifamily property, or upcoming development!
Join the Electric Revolution
Envoy’s car share service at the Culver Mobility Hub is part of a larger movement towards sustainability. Envoy’s car share service makes it easy to visit your favorite pizza shop in mid-city, LA. By offering this amenity we want to provide convenience and cost savings and promote a sustainable lifestyle.
