Pizza is a hotly debated topic and whenever you bring up ‘best pizza’ in a group conversation, you are bound to get 10 different answers from 10 different people.
However there are a few pizza places in Orange County that stand head and shoulders above the rest and which we can all objectively agree deserved to be placed on a list of best pizzas. Here are the 8 best pizza that Orange County has to offer.
Pizzeria Mozza is the brainchild of Nancy Silverton (La Brea Bakery) and has been the standard for which all other pizzas have been judged upon for many years now in Los Angeles and Orange County.
The pizza here is Neapolitan style, and the crust strikes a perfect balance of crispy, bubbly and chewy. I usually opt for the margherita pizza and although it is simple with just mozzarella, tomato and basil, is absolutely delicious.
They also have great appetizers, including the meatballs with the toasted garlic bread and the asparagus with speck and dill aioli.
If you somehow manage to leave enough room for dessert, definitely get the butterscotch budino. This wonderful creation is extremely rich in flavor and could be one of the best desserts you will ever try.
800 West Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92663
Tony’s Little Italy
Located in the heart of Placentia, Tony’s Little Italy has been around since 1978 and has been serving the most authentic Chicago-style deep dish pizza in all of Orange County.
As you might expect, the pizzas here are massive and stuffed with an insane amount of gooey cheese, sauce, toppings and nestled in a buttery DEEP DEEP crust. Each slice weighs at least 1/2 pound and a small pizza can easily fulfill the daily caloric requirement of 2 people.
If you are looking for something that requires less digestional exertion, they also serve thin-crust pizza, which is also very good and they also have a full menu of very tasty Italian classics, like spaghetti, lasagna and ravioli.
One thing to keep in mind is that the pizzas take around 45 minutes to cook and unless you call ahead, you will be hungrily waiting around awhile, while other people feast on their food.
1808 N Placentia Ave B, Placentia, CA 92870
Fuoco Pizzeria
Fuoco Pizzeria serves up the best Neapolitan-style pizza in Orange County, period.
The centerpiece of the restaurant is the huge wood-fired oven that was crafted using volcanic sand from Mt. Vesuvius and Santa Maria bricks from Campania. They take their craft seriously here and the results show.
Every pizza on the menu is truly outstanding and worthy of writing home to. I’m partial to the Quattro Salumi, a meat lovers-esque pizza, which comes with salame, sausage, prosciutto cotto and prosciutto crudo.
101 N Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92832
Sgt Pepperoni’s Pizza Store
Sgt Pepperonis has been around since 1978 and has cultivated the hearts and the stomachs of the community. It has been the go to place for pizza parties and after game celebrations and has brought up multiple generations of kids.
There’s nothing fancy about the pizza here. Theres no truffle oil or tandoori-roasted onions on the pizza. It’s just plain ol’ good pizza, made with love and repect for the ingredients.
My personal favorite is the Meatball Ricotta pizza. The crust is crispy and thin and the ricotta and savory meatball just jive together so perfectly in your mouth.
2300 SE Bristol St Ste F Newport Beach, CA 92660
Terra Mia
There aren’t many places in Orange County where you are going to find authentic New York style pizza, but Terra Mia is making the pizza makers in New York proud.
The crust at Terra Mia checks all the boxes. Thick and crisp along its edge? Check. Soft, thin, and pliable enough to be folded in half? Check.
Much like a New York-style pizzeria, you can find a variety of slices to grab a quick bite to eat or choose from a wide selection of specialty pies.
24731 Alicia Pkwy, Laguna Hills, CA 92653
Folks Pizza
Folks Pizza is the new kid on the block. They’ve only been opened since 2019 and have already established themselves as one of the best pizza places in Orange County.
Chef and owner Joey Booterbaugh has been meticulously crafting and tweaking his pizza dough for a few years, which he has chronicled on his Instagram page. His passion has yielded a crispy, bubbly dough that is absolutely phenomenal and similar in vein to Pizzeria Mozza.
I’ve tried the classic Margherita pizza and everything from the crust to the mozzarella to the olive oil, creates a harmonious marriage of flavors.
Make reservations ahead of time, if you go during peak hours, expect an hour wait.
2937 Bristol St a102, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Rances
You don’t need to travel halfway across the country to get some authentic deep dish style pizza, Rance is cooking up pizza that would make any Chicago resident proud.
Rance offers three styles of pizza; pan, stuffed and thin. Their pan and stuffed pizzas are dense! One slice is enough to satiate any normal appetite and two slices pushes the stomach into a slightly uncomfortable territory.
Yes, it’s hefty and it is also packed to the brim with flavor. They stuff that thing with mound and mounds of topping and of course, lots and lots of cheese! You’ve seen the cheese pull on Instagram and social media, but when you see it in real life, it’s kind of awe-inspiring. Before you dig in, take a moment to appreciate the beautiful creation that lies before you.
Pro-tip: Order before you arrive. The pizzas take 45 minutes to 1 hour to cook. r
1420 Baker St Ste B Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Two Saucy Broads
Fullerton is blessed to have two incredible pizza places within its city limits. Fuoco, with their neapolitan-style pizza and Two Saucy Broad’s, with their New York style.
Two Saucy Broads was established in 2011 by two sisters who wanted to bring that east coast style to Orange County and they have done a remarkable job of getting the blessing of the community and from many New Yorkers who has vouched for their pizzas as the real deal.
The crust is thin and crispy and with the right amount of chew. They even have a cream cheese filled crust, if you want a little bit of extra decadence in your pizza.
If you like meat, go with the Strong 2.0. It’s loaded with pepperoni, bacon, sausage and smoked ham and you will definitely need to fold that slice like a real New Yorker.
Mariska is a recovering attorney who gave up her professional job to discover new perspectives of life while traveling in a 2009 Ford Transit.
She has been living the van life for 3 years and has not looked back since.
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