LA Pizzeria Named Among World's Top 5

Pizzeria Sei, a Los Angeles-based pizza restaurant, has achieved global recognition, tying for fifth place in the 2026 50 Top Pizza global rankings announced in Naples, Italy. The restaurant, founded in 2022 by Chef William Joo and partner Jennifer So, started with just eight counter seats and a single oven with the ambition to create the best pizza in Los Angeles.

Four years later, Pizzeria Sei has become a top-tier destination not only in its home city but internationally. The accolade from the 50 Top Pizza rankings, which features judges from Italy and other regions, highlights the establishment's success in a competitive culinary landscape.

So expressed pride on social media for Chef Joo and the team's dedication to maintaining high quality amidst growing demand. "So proud of William and all of our team at both locations working tirelessly to keep up with demand while retaining the highest quality possible," she posted.

In a Los Angeles restaurant scene marked by closures and economic challenges, Pizzeria Sei's signature Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizzas have cultivated a devoted following. Even after opening a larger flagship location in Palms this past summer, reservations are scarce, and walk-in customers often queue before opening.

Chef Joo's background includes experience at notable Los Angeles restaurants like Providence. His pizzas blend traditional Neapolitan techniques with Japanese precision, resulting in crusts characterized by blistering, leopard-spotting, and a distinct sea salt crunch. The Tokyo-style Neapolitan emphasizes dough fermentation and texture, with Joo's method involving pinching and crimping the dough's rim before baking.

The original location, now known as Sei Pizza Bar, offers takeout with small pizzas starting around $21. The marinara pie, priced at this starting point, features tomato, garlic, basil, oregano, extra virgin olive oil, and sea salt. For a special occasion, diners might opt for a $38 specialty pizza like the "Culture Diavola" at the new Palms location. One patron described this pie, topped with gochujang, candied guanciale, and stracciatella, as "one of the most complex and unique pizzas I’ve ever had," praising its blend of sweet, salty, and tangy flavors.

Customers have noted the restaurant's quality, with one diner calling Sei their "favorite pizza in the city" and another stating, "10/10, I’ll be back again and again," despite acknowledging the higher price point. Another diner commented, "Pizza [is] bomb as hell," though they also mentioned the cramped conditions and acoustics.

The new Palms location allows Chef Joo to expand his offerings with montanara, a fried Neapolitan dough pizza, and scrocchiarell, a thin, crispy Roman-style pizza. Calls to the restaurant were not immediately returned.