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Many different pizzas. — Pies upon pies.

20 Essential Pizzerias Around San Diego

These pies are a cut above

by Darlene Horn and Candice Woo Updated Mar 23, 2023, 9:18am PDT

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Pies upon pies.

| Tribute Pizza

by Darlene Horn and Candice Woo Updated Mar 23, 2023, 9:18am PDT

San Diego may be better known for California burritos and fish tacos than it is for pizza, but that perception has shifted in recent years as local pizza culture continues to grow. The range of pizzas available is impressive, from SoCal creations with unorthodox toppings like birria and sigsig to classic Neapolitan and solid renditions of regional specialties like New York, Chicago, and Detroit-style pies. Here’s a rundown of top spots in the area, spanning many different genres of dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizza

A beloved mainstay in North County, Blue Ribbon was an early practitioner of California’s now-signature style of pizza topped with seasonal ingredients. The wood-fired pie shop is the brainchild of chef Wade Hageman, who opened the pizzeria in 2010 after a career in fine dining.

897 S Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA

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Close up of a white pie pizza.

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The Shop: Pizza + Cocktails

Brett Herring, an alum of the Bay Area’s Little Star Pizza, is putting his spin on the deep dish style at this suburban pizzeria. With a crispy, buttery crust, the hefty pies are available as signature combos, like the North County with housemade meatballs, mushrooms, onions, roasted garlic, or customizable with a large range of toppings.

11967 Bernardo Plaza Dr, San Diego, CA 92128

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A deep dish pizza and a glass of beer.

Also featured in:

Where to Sip Artful Non-Alcoholic Cocktails in San Diego

Regents Pizzeria

This UTC-area restaurant and popular takeout spot does solid versions of both New York and Chicago-style pies but its menu spans way beyond pizza to include pasta, burgers, chicken sandwiches, and a wide array of local beer.

4150 Regents Park Row #100, La Jolla, CA 92037

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A pepperoni pizza.

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Angry Petes Pizza Santee Lakes

Gaining a following through regular pop-ups at local breweries, this Detroit-style pizza specialist has a residency inside Desi’s Bar in Point Loma as well as a newish stand-alone spot at Santee Lakes. Along with crispy cheese-edged Detroit pies, it also features Motor City faves like loose meat “burgers” and Coney dogs.

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9310 Fanita Pkwy Ste. G, Santee, CA 92071

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Pepperoni pizza.

Wayfarer Bread & Pastry

Known for its stellar breads and pastries, this Bird Rock bakery’s take on pizza is equally terrific. With a monthly meat-topped pizza and a seasonal vegetarian pie offered along with classic cheese and pepperoni, pizzas must be pre-ordered for pickup between 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, To round out the meal, take home a salad made with local greens and some pizza-friendly wine, beer, or cider.

5525 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037

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Ambrogio15

Ambrogio15 is serving up what it calls the “Milan pizza experience.” Expect this to mean light-as-air thin crusts, organic and biodynamic wines, and sustainable and organic pizza toppings. A second and third location can be found at Little Italy Food Hall and the Sky Deck at Del Mar Highlands Town Center.

926 Turquoise St h, San Diego, CA 92109

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A pizza topped with proscuitto.

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Mr. Moto Pizza Pacific Beach

Since opening its Pacific Beach location in 2015, Mr. Moto Pizza has expanded to include locations throughout San Diego including Mission Valley, North Park, Point Loma, Pacific Beach, Encinitas, Seaport Village, Little Italy. The primary style of pizza is New York plus calzones, stombolis and garlic knots, both stuffed and unstuffed.

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4653 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109

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Close up of pizza topped with  Spanish Chorizo, Jalapenos, Chicken.

Square Pizza Co

Find Detroit-style, Sicilian, and thin-crust square slices (aka Boston Beach pizza) at this beachy neighborhood spot. All of the shop’s signature Detroit-style pizzas pay homage to the city and are named after cars like the Chevy with salami, cupping pepperoni, meatball and bacon.

4508 Cass St Suite C, San Diego, CA 92109

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Selection of rectangular pizzas.

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Blind Lady Ale House

One of San Diego’s most-admired practitioners of SoCal-style pizza, this relaxed Normal Heights restaurant is beloved by locals. Topped with farmers market-bought and housemade ingredients, its personal-sized pies pair with a stacked draft beer list.

3416 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA

Visit Website

Overhead shot of pizza topped with sauce, cheese and basil.

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Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria

With so many Chicagoans calling San Diego home, it only follows that we have a good Chicago-style pizzeria to call our own. Lefty’s, with two locations in North Park and Mission Hills, is deep dish pie’s SoCal home away from home.

4030 Goldfinch St, San Diego, CA

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Close up of Chicago deep dish pizza.

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Bronx Pizza

Bronx Pizza in Hillcrest is usually the first retort when someone remarks, “there’s no good New York-style pizza in San Diego.” The cheese pie is a classic example but it’s particularly known for the White Stone pie, a traditional white pizza named after an iconic New York City bridge that comes topped with mozzarella, ricotta and garlic.

111 Washington St, San Diego, CA

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Selection of New York-style pizzas in display case.

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Caffé Calabria

Pulling double-time as a coffee roaster and cafe, Caffe Calabria also churns out simple wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas with high quality ingredients from its North Park storefront. Plan your visit in advance, as they offer pizzas from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

3933 30th St, San Diego, CA

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Whole pizza sitting in front of pizza oven.

Tribute Pizza

Getting its start as a well-respected pop-up, this North Park restaurant is widely admired for its wood-fired, seasonal pie that are inspired original creations as well as tributes to some of the world’s most notable pizzas. The airy space serves up “Neo-Neapolitan”, New York, and grandma-style pies, baked in a rectangular pan with a thicker crust.

3077 N Park Way, San Diego, CA

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Three quarters view of pizza.

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Landini's Pizzeria

A solid NY-style slice shop that’s been serving Little Italy for years, this casual India Street restaurant serves a takeout-friendly menu of whole pizzas as well as slices and pasta dishes. With another location in Point Loma, its best-known pies include the Meatball Ricotta, BBQ Chicken, and Rustica; there’s also a large selection of vegan and vegetarian options.

1827 India St, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

A vegan pizza topped with vegetables.

Also featured in:

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Buona Forchetta

With a location in Liberty Station called Officine Buona Forchetta, plus others in Encinitas, San Marcos, and Coronado, beloved South Park staple Buona Forchetta continues expansion with its classic Neapolitan-style pizzas. Also notable are its gluten-free pies. For a taste of Roman-style pizza al taglio, visit its sister spot Gelati & Peccati.

3001 Beech St, San Diego, CA

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Hand holding platter of pizza.

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Isola Pizza Bar

Owner Massimo Tenino runs Isola Pizza Bars in Little Italy and La Jolla, where he serves wood-fired Neapolitan pizza with imported Italian ingredients. Also on the menu is wine from his brother’s vineyard in Piemonte.

1526 India Street, San Diego, CA

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Three pizzas on a table.

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Pizzeria Luigi

A Golden Hill staple, Pizzeria Luigi is considered one of San Diego’s best examples of New York-style pie, with to-go slices at the ready. There’s also a shop on El Cajon Boulevard and in Imperial Beach.

1137 25th St, San Diego, CA

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Person cutting into pizza.

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TNT Pizza

What began as a popular pop-up pizzeria during in the heat of the COVID pandemic launched into this East Village storefront serving Detroit-style pizzas, grandma pies, and New York-style available for pickup or delivery. Helmed by Kevin Gist and Joseph Wehrly, TNT Pizza offers vegan and gluten-free options available by the slice or as whole pies.

550 14th St #116, San Diego, CA 92101

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Whole pizza pie topped with artichokes.

Basic Bar & Pizza

This bustling East Village restaurant and bar is one of the only places in town doing New Haven-style thin-crust pizza. Cooked in a brick oven, the pizzas ranges from a signature white pie topped with mashed potatoes (don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it) to build-your-own creations.

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410 Tenth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

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A pizza cooked in a brick oven.

Pizza Kaiju

National City’s Market on 8th’s answer to pizza is an innovative outfit that offers traditional toppings along with more unique ones like roasted pork belly or sisig with calamansi cream. Pizzas come available whole round, square or by the slice.

41 E 8th St, National City, CA 91950

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Hand holding slice of pizza.

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Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizza

897 S Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA

A beloved mainstay in North County, Blue Ribbon was an early practitioner of California’s now-signature style of pizza topped with seasonal ingredients. The wood-fired pie shop is the brainchild of chef Wade Hageman, who opened the pizzeria in 2010 after a career in fine dining.

897 S Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA

Visit Website

Close up of a white pie pizza.

The Shop: Pizza + Cocktails

11967 Bernardo Plaza Dr, San Diego, CA 92128

Brett Herring, an alum of the Bay Area’s Little Star Pizza, is putting his spin on the deep dish style at this suburban pizzeria. With a crispy, buttery crust, the hefty pies are available as signature combos, like the North County with housemade meatballs, mushrooms, onions, roasted garlic, or customizable with a large range of toppings.

11967 Bernardo Plaza Dr, San Diego, CA 92128

Visit Website

A deep dish pizza and a glass of beer.

Regents Pizzeria

4150 Regents Park Row #100, La Jolla, CA 92037

This UTC-area restaurant and popular takeout spot does solid versions of both New York and Chicago-style pies but its menu spans way beyond pizza to include pasta, burgers, chicken sandwiches, and a wide array of local beer.

4150 Regents Park Row #100, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

A pepperoni pizza.

Angry Petes Pizza Santee Lakes

9310 Fanita Pkwy Ste. G, Santee, CA 92071

Gaining a following through regular pop-ups at local breweries, this Detroit-style pizza specialist has a residency inside Desi’s Bar in Point Loma as well as a newish stand-alone spot at Santee Lakes. Along with crispy cheese-edged Detroit pies, it also features Motor City faves like loose meat “burgers” and Coney dogs.

Open in Google Maps

9310 Fanita Pkwy Ste. G, Santee, CA 92071

Visit Website

Pepperoni pizza.

Wayfarer Bread & Pastry

5525 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037

Known for its stellar breads and pastries, this Bird Rock bakery’s take on pizza is equally terrific. With a monthly meat-topped pizza and a seasonal vegetarian pie offered along with classic cheese and pepperoni, pizzas must be pre-ordered for pickup between 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, To round out the meal, take home a salad made with local greens and some pizza-friendly wine, beer, or cider.

5525 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wayfarer Bread (@wayfarer_bread)

Ambrogio15

926 Turquoise St h, San Diego, CA 92109

Ambrogio15 is serving up what it calls the “Milan pizza experience.” Expect this to mean light-as-air thin crusts, organic and biodynamic wines, and sustainable and organic pizza toppings. A second and third location can be found at Little Italy Food Hall and the Sky Deck at Del Mar Highlands Town Center.

926 Turquoise St h, San Diego, CA 92109

Visit Website

A pizza topped with proscuitto.

Mr. Moto Pizza Pacific Beach

4653 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109

Since opening its Pacific Beach location in 2015, Mr. Moto Pizza has expanded to include locations throughout San Diego including Mission Valley, North Park, Point Loma, Pacific Beach, Encinitas, Seaport Village, Little Italy. The primary style of pizza is New York plus calzones, stombolis and garlic knots, both stuffed and unstuffed.

Open in Google Maps

4653 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109

Visit Website

Close up of pizza topped with  Spanish Chorizo, Jalapenos, Chicken.

Square Pizza Co

4508 Cass St Suite C, San Diego, CA 92109

Find Detroit-style, Sicilian, and thin-crust square slices (aka Boston Beach pizza) at this beachy neighborhood spot. All of the shop’s signature Detroit-style pizzas pay homage to the city and are named after cars like the Chevy with salami, cupping pepperoni, meatball and bacon.

4508 Cass St Suite C, San Diego, CA 92109

Visit Website

Selection of rectangular pizzas.

Blind Lady Ale House

3416 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA

One of San Diego’s most-admired practitioners of SoCal-style pizza, this relaxed Normal Heights restaurant is beloved by locals. Topped with farmers market-bought and housemade ingredients, its personal-sized pies pair with a stacked draft beer list.

3416 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA

Visit Website

Overhead shot of pizza topped with sauce, cheese and basil.

Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria

4030 Goldfinch St, San Diego, CA

With so many Chicagoans calling San Diego home, it only follows that we have a good Chicago-style pizzeria to call our own. Lefty’s, with two locations in North Park and Mission Hills, is deep dish pie’s SoCal home away from home.

4030 Goldfinch St, San Diego, CA

Visit Website

Close up of Chicago deep dish pizza.

Bronx Pizza

111 Washington St, San Diego, CA

Bronx Pizza in Hillcrest is usually the first retort when someone remarks, “there’s no good New York-style pizza in San Diego.” The cheese pie is a classic example but it’s particularly known for the White Stone pie, a traditional white pizza named after an iconic New York City bridge that comes topped with mozzarella, ricotta and garlic.

111 Washington St, San Diego, CA

Visit Website

Selection of New York-style pizzas in display case.

Caffé Calabria

3933 30th St, San Diego, CA

Pulling double-time as a coffee roaster and cafe, Caffe Calabria also churns out simple wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas with high quality ingredients from its North Park storefront. Plan your visit in advance, as they offer pizzas from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

3933 30th St, San Diego, CA

Visit Website

Whole pizza sitting in front of pizza oven.

Tribute Pizza

3077 N Park Way, San Diego, CA

Getting its start as a well-respected pop-up, this North Park restaurant is widely admired for its wood-fired, seasonal pie that are inspired original creations as well as tributes to some of the world’s most notable pizzas. The airy space serves up “Neo-Neapolitan”, New York, and grandma-style pies, baked in a rectangular pan with a thicker crust.

3077 N Park Way, San Diego, CA

Visit Website

Three quarters view of pizza.

Landini's Pizzeria

1827 India St, San Diego, CA 92101

A solid NY-style slice shop that’s been serving Little Italy for years, this casual India Street restaurant serves a takeout-friendly menu of whole pizzas as well as slices and pasta dishes. With another location in Point Loma, its best-known pies include the Meatball Ricotta, BBQ Chicken, and Rustica; there’s also a large selection of vegan and vegetarian options.

1827 India St, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

A vegan pizza topped with vegetables.

Buona Forchetta

3001 Beech St, San Diego, CA

With a location in Liberty Station called Officine Buona Forchetta, plus others in Encinitas, San Marcos, and Coronado, beloved South Park staple Buona Forchetta continues expansion with its classic Neapolitan-style pizzas. Also notable are its gluten-free pies. For a taste of Roman-style pizza al taglio, visit its sister spot Gelati & Peccati.

3001 Beech St, San Diego, CA

Visit Website

Hand holding platter of pizza.

Related Maps

Isola Pizza Bar

1526 India Street, San Diego, CA

Owner Massimo Tenino runs Isola Pizza Bars in Little Italy and La Jolla, where he serves wood-fired Neapolitan pizza with imported Italian ingredients. Also on the menu is wine from his brother’s vineyard in Piemonte.

1526 India Street, San Diego, CA

Visit Website

Three pizzas on a table.

Pizzeria Luigi

1137 25th St, San Diego, CA

A Golden Hill staple, Pizzeria Luigi is considered one of San Diego’s best examples of New York-style pie, with to-go slices at the ready. There’s also a shop on El Cajon Boulevard and in Imperial Beach.

1137 25th St, San Diego, CA

Visit Website

Person cutting into pizza.

TNT Pizza

550 14th St #116, San Diego, CA 92101

What began as a popular pop-up pizzeria during in the heat of the COVID pandemic launched into this East Village storefront serving Detroit-style pizzas, grandma pies, and New York-style available for pickup or delivery. Helmed by Kevin Gist and Joseph Wehrly, TNT Pizza offers vegan and gluten-free options available by the slice or as whole pies.

550 14th St #116, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Whole pizza pie topped with artichokes.

Basic Bar & Pizza

410 Tenth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

This bustling East Village restaurant and bar is one of the only places in town doing New Haven-style thin-crust pizza. Cooked in a brick oven, the pizzas ranges from a signature white pie topped with mashed potatoes (don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it) to build-your-own creations.

Open in Google Maps

410 Tenth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website