Three Southern California pizzeria (two in Los Angeles and two in Orange County) have been named to the top 100 in the world, according to the 2025 Best Pizza Awards announced this month in Milan, Italy.
The current third year annual list celebrates not only the restaurant, but the chefs behind it. The award was created to spotlight the craftsmanship and transparency of culinary craftsmanship in the evaluation process. Founded in 2015 by Polish neuroscientists and Italian gastronomy artists, the organization highlights a “chef-driven” selection system for determining rankings.
Pizzeria Say
Ranked 44th is Pizzeria Say, a minimalist West Rapizzeria known for its Tokyo-style take on traditional Neapolitan pizza. Opened in 2022 by couple duo William Ju and Jennifer, the restaurant has gained a dedicated following for its airy, burnt crust and fresh ingredients. Located at 8781 W. Pico Blvd., the shop often sold out by daytime and customers are encouraged to pre-order.
This recognition is not new to Pizzeria sei and was recently added to the 2025 Michelin Guide.
“Pizzeria Say was not disappointed. The ingredients were fresh and beautifully layered…but the dough was a real star. The crust was puffy and soft, with the right amount of char below,” a reviewer for Yelp wrote.
Apollonia pizza
Apollonia’s Pizza, located at 5176 Wilshire Blvd, is in number 58. In Los Angeles. The pizzeria, led by chef Justin de Leon, is best known for its bold, thick crust slices with crisp edges. It has been marked for the second consecutive year on Apollonia’s global list after ranking 51 in 2024.
The restaurant offers both a signature pie and your own options. A reviewer at Yelp described it as “not just pizza, it speaks of a magic that is thick, hot, crispy edges, soft, flavorful.”
Really pizza
True pizza in Orange County, in Dana Point, landed at No. 42 on the global list. Founded by a joint team that includes Las Vegas hospitality veteran Donna Baldwin and World Pizza Champion teammates Chris Decker and Michael Vacneen, the restaurant praises its craftsmanship and focuses on local ingredients. Decorated pizza maker and educator Decker leads the kitchen.
True pizza at 24402 Del Prado Ave. highlights the preparation of high-quality locally produced ingredients and artisan doughs. “The stars in the show here are really fabric. They have a thick, chewy texture, but they are very bright in the palette. The ingredients they use are something I can support and come across very premium.”
