Why can’t we swipe right for pizza instead of people? Consider this roundup of LA chefs’ pizza recommendations a formal request to Bumble, Hinge, Tinder, The League and, yes, Jswipe, for the option to change your preference settings to pizza. Whether you like it by the slice, white, meaty, fermented, loaded with avocado, vegan, charred, Detroit-style, expensive or family-friendly, we know you’re always Hot-N-Ready for pizza.
Did your favorite pie make the cut?
Vito's Pizza
West Hollywood, $
Kris Tominaga (Mardi; The Hart and the Hunter): For a New York style slice, Vito’s in West Hollywood is hard to beat. I really like their pesto pizza. It’s a white pizza and it’s best to order it by the slice and eat it there.
Michael Fiorelli (Love & Salt): One of my favorite spots for pizza is Vito’s in West Hollywood. They serve traditional New York pizza by the slice. I think it’s the best representation of East Coast Pizza in LA.
Image courtesy of @vitospizzaweho
Milo and Olive
Santa Monica, $$
Bruce Kalman (Union): I’m a sucker for cheese pizza. I love the Four Cheese and Farm Egg Pizza with all of the cheeses perfectly paired together and the crust is the bomb!
Image courtesy of @jeffrey_merihue
Stella Barra Pizzeria
Multiple locations, $$
Michael Voltaggio (ink.well; Sack; STRFSH): Order the avocado and goat cheese pizza.
Mei Lin (Winner of Top Chef, S12): My favorite pizza is from Stella Barra, and it’s a toss up between the avocado pizza and the organic sausage and shaved fennel! I love that all the pizzas are made with fresh sustainable ingredients from local farmers markets.
Image courtesy of @kebdoak
Bestia
DTLA, $$$
Josep Geiskopf (Triniti): Bestia is amazing and so consistent. I like the burrata with fermented chilies pizza.
Image by Sierra Prescott
Pizzanista!
DTLA, $
Clara Polito (Vegan Baker @clarakcakes): Pizzanista has delicious, sourdough-ey, saucey, pizza by the slice, and always have three vegan flavor options available. A little bonus is, more often than not, there are skater cuties chowin’ down that you can wink at.
Image courtesy of @philipguerette
Luchini Pizzeria & Bar
Hollywood, $
Isa Fabro (Pastry chef about town—formerly for Josef Centeno Group and Alvin Cailan’s Unit 120): The Roni Roni Sicily Pizza at Luchini Pizzeria and Bar is my favorite. I helped open that concept last year with TAO Group. They loved the Detroit-style pizza I made in 2016, and I lent my expertise to the project. Two-day ferment on the dough, hand sliced pepperoni. They do a great job with all pizzas but this one is my favorite. It has to have some char!
Image courtesy of @luchinipizzeria
Jon & Vinny's
Fairfax, $
Walter Manzke (Republique): It’s easy, unpretentious, fun and their pizza is pretty good. The kids love the pizza.
Image courtesy of @fillmybellie
Sotto
Mei Lin (Winner of Top Chef, S12): I also love the fiorata pizza from Sotto. I love the saltiness from the salame and sweetness from the honey with the nice chewiness from their sourdough crust.
Image courtesy of @lindseyeatsla
Gjelina
Michael Fiorelli (Love & Salt): Over in Venice, Gjelina is still turning out some of the tastiest pizzas in the city. I go for the vegetable but always wind up devouring the pizza.
Image courtesy of @victoire_loup
DeSano Pizza Bakery
East Hollywood, $$
Denis Crutchfield (Craft): DeSano Pizzeria is my choice for pizza in LA. They are an authentic Neapolitan pizza place and they follow the guidelines of the VPN—the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. My pizza of choice from here is the diavola. The crust is perfect. It’s fluffy and has the perfect amount of chew. The spice from the Calabrian peppers takes this pizza to another level. The ultimate game changer is the condiment bar. Get the minced garlic and spread it all over the pizza.
Image courtesy of @markdmeo
Pizzeria Mozza
Hancock Park, $$$
Michael Fiorelli (Love & Salt): Mozza is another go-to. Nancy Silverton put her own twist on the Neapolitan style, and the result is an exceptional pie every time. Her attention to detail is unparalleled.
Bruce Kalman (Union) The squash blossom, tomato and burrata pizza is one of my favorite pies in town. They nail it every time!
Image courtesy of @carnivorr
Little Caesars Pizza - Echo Park
Echo Park, $
Josep Geiskopf (Triniti): The Little Caesar’s right down the street from Triniti, where I possibly consumed more $5 Hot-N-Readys than any person should consume. Also, it’s a drive through.
Image courtesy of @tfnfood
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Arden Shore is the Editorial Director at Citizine. Her type is Pizza Romana. Follow her on Instagram @ardyparty.
Header Image courtesy of Stella Barra
