National Pizza Week kicks off January 6 – 12, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate right here in Los Angeles. Not only has our city experienced a pizza culinary explosion as of late, with many still taking a well-deserved victory lap — 800 Degrees, Milo & Olive — we also harbor family-owned businesses that have been serving up slices for decades.
You can still find what Italian purists consider to be the only two true pizzas — the Marinara and the Margherita —yet with add-ons like a sunny-side up egg, white anchovy, and crispy purple kale, it’s hard not to be adventurous. Prefer Chicago-style thick to New York-style thin? The beauty of the Los Angeles pizza scene is that you can find it all. Here are our top picks for dining out, ordering in, or grabbing on the go. We’ll leave the toppings up to you.
Pizzanista
Downtown LA
2019 East 7th Street; 213.627.1430
Located in Downtown L.A., Pizzanista was recently named by Refinery29 as one of the top delivery-food spots in L.A. for a “delish night in.” Led by a family-owned and operated team, including professional skateboarder Salman Agah, we are not surprised that this hip pizza joint has a solid Instagram following.
Mother Dough
Silverlake
Hollywood Blvd. 323.644.2885
Mother Dough specializes in Neapolitan pizza. Set in a casual setting with select beer and wine, their menu offers just five pizzas ($15 – $19) that emerge from a huge 6,000 pound oven fired at 850 degrees fahrenheit.
Stella Rossa
Santa Monica
2000 Main Street, 310.396.9250
This pizzeria takes pride in their seasonal menu which features ingredients sourced from the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market as well as other local vendors. Indulge in a variety of “white” and “red” pies including Salumi and Sweet Corn, Butternut Squash and Sweet Bacon, and Housemade Organic Italian Sausage.
800 degrees
Westwood Village
10889 Lindbrook Drive; 424.239.5010
At 800 degrees, the integrity is baked right into the thin-crust pizza, using only California grown tomatoes, locally produced fresh mozzarella, and handcrafted crust made from flour from the ancient Molino San Felice in Naples, the birthplace of pizza. Try one of their specialty pies, like the Capricciosa (artichokes, funghi, olives, ham) or create your own that is ready to emerge from the wood-burning stone in about 60 seconds. Be sure to ask for it “well done” for the perfect amount of chew and char.
Milo & Olive
Santa Monica
2723 Wilshire Blvd.; 310.453.6776
Mile & Olive came to Santa Monica from the talented team behind Rustic Canyon, Huckleberry, and Sweet Rose Creamery, and was named as one of the Top 5 Best New Restaurants in L.A. according to ZAGAT http://blog.zagat.com/2012/10/las-5-best-new-restaurants.html Need we say more? Small plates, along with breads and sweets — including vegan and gluten-free options — complement the 8-10 different daily pizza offerings from Executive Chef Jason Mattick.
Gjelina Take Away (“GTA”)
Venice
1427 Abbot Kinney; 310.392.7575
Grab a slice on the go from GTA in Venice—the town’s most-talked about “take-away’ destination—kid brother to the popular Gjelina restaurant just a few storefronts away on what GQ Magazine (unable to locate original article!) has deemed “The Hippest Street in America.” Pies range from $12 – $15 with varieties like Fennel Salami, Lamb Sausage, and Classic Margherita.
Mulberry Pizzeria
Beverly Hills
240 S. Beverly Drive; 310.247.8100
The father/son duo at Mulberry Pizzeria has been serving up authentic New York Style pizza in Beverly Hills for twenty years. The quintessential red and white-checkered tablecloths leave its diners feeling the comforts of home in the down-to-earth environment.
Photo Above: Milo and Olive
