California is making a strong case against New York's long-held pizza supremacy, with five of its pizzerias recognized on Food & Wine's latest list of the 27 best pizzas across the United States. The inclusion of these Golden State establishments highlights a growing diversity in American pizza, moving beyond traditional strongholds like New York and Chicago.
The featured California pizzerias represent a range of innovative approaches to pizza making, from Indian-inspired creations to Neapolitan-style pies with a Japanese influence and Detroit-style squares. This national recognition suggests a broadening culinary landscape for pizza in America.
Among the honorees is Pijja Palace in Los Angeles, an Indian-inspired sports bar known for its unique Chutney Pijja, which features green chile chutney, mozzarella, and a fenugreek tomato sauce. Also from Los Angeles, Pizzeria Sei, led by Chef Willian Joo, was recognized for its Tokyo-style Neapolitan pies, blending traditional techniques with Japanese precision. The publication highlighted its Mala Garden pizza, topped with spiced lamb, crème fraîche, lemon, herbs, and cilantro flowers.
Quarter Sheets in Los Angeles, an Echo Park establishment run by Aaron Lindell and Hannah Ziskin, gained attention for its thick, Detroit-inspired pizzas with crispy, fried-cheese edges, particularly its pepperoni offering. In Oakland, June’s Pizza, located in a former warehouse, offers a focused menu of three 18-inch pies. Its Red Pie, a combination of tomato, burrata, oregano, garlic oil, pecorino, and salt, was singled out.
San Francisco's Jules, a 42-seat pizzeria, also made the list. Chef Max Blachman-Gentile's sourdough pies, which draw inspiration from both New York and New Haven styles, have earned a following. The Drunken Sailor, a red sauce pie loaded with capers and anchovies, received specific mention.
Food & Wine's list celebrates both established pizza institutions and emerging culinary innovators, underscoring that exceptional pizza can be found across the country, not just in the usual culinary hubs. The selection of these California pizzerias demonstrates the evolving and increasingly diverse nature of America's pizza scene.