Best way to describe this food is authentic af! We've been searching for a good Chicago pizza place for years and we finally found it. They have real pizza puffs here! Best beef sandwich on the west coast!! Chicago dog was perfect!! Pizza did not disappoint! Extremely satisfied with the quality of the food! A total throw back walking in the door. I'm not from Chicago, but it reminded me of the little pizzeria I went to when I was a kid in the80's. Everything on the walls screams the good old days! All the employees were friendly and genuinely happy how excited we were to be there! I was raving about the pizza puffs and the owner threw 2 in our to go bag. top three restaurant experiences! The vibe is really chill, it was decently busy and everything flowed smoothly. If you're a foodie like me and my wife then do yourself a favor and get to Lefty's asap! I took some lame pictures and in no way do they do this place justice. I'll be back for picture redemption soon read more

Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria - Pizza puff, fried mushrooms, thin crust sausage pizza. - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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I'd like to give this the benefit of the doubt. Ordered over the phone for pick-up. Their menu says it takes about 35 minutes to make and bake their deep dish pizzas, which was fine, and though we arrived a bit early (we were fortunate enough to find street parking quickly), it was ready for us. The gentleman behind the counter was kind enough to pack us extra napkins, red pepper flakes, and parmesan cheese without us asking. We requested for a split-topping pizza: - Gold Coast: Consisted of chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, basil, and artichoke. The best of the 2 options, though I barely tasted any grilled chicken. - South Sider: Included Italian beef, onions, green pepper, and hot giardinera. Reminded me of an Italian beef sandwich in a deep dish pizza form. While the hot pickled veggies added a nice brightness, it overpowered the rest of the ingredients. By the time we returned from the commute, the pizza was considerably cooler and the crust less crispy. I thought the marinara had good acidity but was missing more seasoning, though I did appreciate the freshness of the toppings. Again, I'd like to give it the benefit of the doubt and come back (if I am ever in the area again) and dine in this time to give it a fair chance. read more

Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria - Half South Sider, Half Gold Coast (Deep Dish) - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria is the real deal if you're craving authentic Chicago flavors. The hot dogs are hands down the best I've ever had. True Chicago style -- perfectly snappy, loaded with the right toppings, and packed with flavor. Absolute perfection. The Italian beef is the most amazing I've had anywhere. Tender, juicy, and seasoned just right. When you dip it, it hits on a whole different level. You can tell they know exactly what they're doing. And the Chicago-style pizza? It hits like no other. Thick, hearty, cheesy, and everything you want in a deep-dish pie. One slice and you're hooked. If you want legit Chicago food in San Diego, this is the spot. Every time I go, it's consistent, delicious, and worth every bite. read more

Just your friendly neighborhood Chicago style pizza joint. We stopped in for a slice and a salad and it hit as usual. I decided to tty the thin crust for a change-yum! We ordered at the register and got our drink cups before finding a table. We sat in front of the fireplace with the TV showing my Dodgers vs the Padres (we may have lost that one but took all the rest of the series). The cosy home feel and bar height table makes this place relaxing and perfect for enjoying a slice. read more

PREJUDICE PIZZA! OWNERS MANNERS or shall i say the lack of. My husband and I went in to watch the World Cup there was a very large area in the back of the outside patio and 2 tables with chairs on the side so my husband moved a table into the very empty area and she came over very loud "in the future, don't move the tables I have some liability because those tables belong to someone else and i would have put kids back here to play corn hole". She was so loud a sweet lady at the next table said "please join us we have room". At this time there was a total of 12 customers outside on the back patio. We joined the kind lady with her family and the owner didn't noticed we had moved (because my husband so kindly put the table/chairs back) so she started talking negatively (to put it nicely) about us IN FRONT OF EVERYONE ON THE BACK PATIO. ONLY because my husband wanted to watch the World Cup so badly I allowed her to continue AND SHE DID. If you're looking for a dash of white trash with your pizza I highly recommend Lefty's. 20 mins after we moved the tables back STILL NO KIDS PLAYING & THE ONWER STILL LOUD, STILL OBLIVIOUS, STILL FLYING HIGH AND DEF PREJUDICE (my husband is not white). As we walked out she was setting up the SAME TABLE/CHAIRS IN THE SAME LOCATION AS WHERE WE WERE SCOLDED FOR SITTING. read more

Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Found Lefty's while doing a self guided pizza tour and stopped by for a slice of their "Meaty Pie". The pie had a crisp crust and great ratio of fillings. I believe a bit more sauce wouldn't hurt but its great just as is. Compared to pizzas from OB, PB , or little Italy, Leftys holds their own as they are such a well rounded spot. Plenty of space, friendly staff, and fun people. Can't wait to return with friends to enjoy a whole pie with some brews. read more

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Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria was where we dined and watched the Rams v Bears game 2 weeks ago...Rams won :) Friends flew in to visit me and we decided on Lefty's to have dinner and catch the football game. I was surrounded by Bears fans in Chicago pizza restaurant but I managed to survive and still cheer for the LA Rams. Have dined here a few times but this last visit was especially fun, because when my friends liked the food, that's good enough validation. I've visited Chicago on Corp business over a decade ago and while there dined at Pizzeria Duo, a Chicago pizza tavern famous for their deep dish pizzas. I didn't realize how substantial and enormous a Chicago deep dish pizza was until the deep pan was presented on the table and whoa! It was like 6 slices of pizza for one deep dish slice. We ordered the numero uno the signature dish and sadly couldn't finish one slice. Ended up taking the box of pizza back to the hotel and it didn't fit into the tiny hotel fridge :( The deep dish pizza here were not as enormous or deep as the one I had in Chicago, it was more manageable and even one slice was edible and enjoyable. Pizza is a very subjective food, I have a particular favorite pizza place not far from here and it's NY style. The Chicago thinner crust here at Lefty's is quite good and they have a veggie pizza, but the pepperoni pizza was so irresistible my pup ended up eating all the pepperoni. While I don't eat hot dogs often, the Chicago hot dogs here are made with beef and so of course I had to try it with the works loaded on top...it was delicious! For lighter eaters the salads are pretty good. The menu offers hamburgers and pasta dishes which I haven't tried yet, but the restaurant owner Lauren suggested I try the Al Capone pasta which supposedly was that gangsters fav pasta dish. The indoor dining area has booths and there are tv monitors throughout. The back outdoor patio is covered and there are tv monitors there also, and is pup friendly. Service was always friendly, helpful and accommodating. Because visiting Chicago friends give this place 2 thumbs up, it gets my recommendation. read more

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Yep, it's the real thing... Mic drop Almost as good as Zachary's in Berkeley, but we're not there now. read more

Deep dish pizza at Lefty's is the truth! Been craving a real deep dish and this one hit all the spots. Thick crust, cheese with a pull, and house made sauce that carried all the flavor. Service is pretty fast with plenty of open seating in the back patio. You can toss some bean bags while you wait too. Cool spot. Definitely coming back when the craving hits again. read more

Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria - Deep Dish Pepperoni Slices - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

First time for me, came highly recommended. I will be honest- I don't always love deep dish, but this was fantastic. We ordered a stuffed pepperoni pizza. You have to order this as a full pie but it's amazing. Great sauce, cheese and bread were fantastic. A couple other notes- the large group before ordered burgers and the group before that sandwiches which all looked great- so you are not limited to just pizza. The staff were super nice and tons of seating- inside and out. Over 5 booths and probably 8 tables inside and a large patio. Great spot- read more

Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria - Stuffed Pepperoni Pie - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Being from Chicago, my quest for true tavern-style (not deep dish) pizza has been never ending. When the homesickness kicks in, I go looking for that familiar slice that takes me back and in San Diego, Lefty's is as close as I've gotten so far. They do both thin crust and deep dish. For me, the deep dish falls short as it's too doughy, more bulk than balance. This may hit the spot for others but for me, the thin crust is definitely the better option, but it leans more cracker-crisp than the tender, foldable squares I grew up with. Still, the toppings are quality, even if I wish they were a little more generous. My usual order? Italian sausage, Italian beef, and mushrooms. It's hearty, flavorful, and hits just enough of that Chicago nostalgia. Is it exactly like home? No. But in San Diego, when the craving for Chicago pizza strikes, Lefty's does the job. And for that reason, I'll be back Welp! Onto the next! read more

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Came here on a Sunday afternoon for a dog event in their back patio. Parking was pretty tough as you can imagine since it's in Hillcrest even though it's a little tucked away. You walk in and immediately there's the cashier and the line cooks. The menu is on the back wall and there are paper copies available. There you'll also find the beer which they had a few on draft - a kolsch, a Japanese lager, a IPA and a red ale. Plus they have Prosecco, wine, and bottled beer. Although it was pretty empty inside there's plenty of seating to get easily 100 people there. There's mostly booths. And like the name implies it's all Chicago themed decor. Back patio is dog friendly and it's all picnic style benches. When you order up front they give you a number and will bring the food out to you. We had thin sliced pizza. I personally hate thin sliced but this one wasn't bad. I had the cheese, the pepperoni and the supreme. It wasn't greasy as I like it but I can see the potentially in the place. I'd most definitely come back to experience their deep dish. Service was quick. Was straight forward. read more

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Back when Groupon was still a thing, me and my college friends ordered from here thinking we had it all figured out. There were six of us, so we ordered two large pizzas and honestly thought we would finish both with no problem. We were very wrong. We barely finished one box. These are not just regular pizzas, these are true deep dish pies, heavy, filling, and seriously satisfying, so think twice before overordering. We have not been back in the past few years, but I still remember the service and atmosphere being amazing. The food was great, the location was good, and the whole experience turned into one of those college memories that sticks with you. Parking was definitely an issue, but outside of that, this place always stood out to us. Good food, good memories, and a spot I still think about. read more

Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria in Mission Hills isn't just a restaurant.... it's the beating heart of the neighborhood, a place where deepdish dreams and community spirit rise together. What makes Lefty's special isn't only the food, but how it anchors Mission Hills. The location boasts a big backyard patio, dog friendly and buzzing with locals who treat it like their second living room. Families gather, friends linger over pitchers of beer, and newcomers are welcomed like regulars. It's the kind of place where you don't just eat you belong ! Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria is more than a restaurant. It's a gathering place, a cultural bridge, and the soul of Mission Hills. The pizza is legendary, the vibe is welcoming, and the backyard patio feels like home. If you want to taste Chicago in San Diego and understand why Mission Hills has such a loyal heartbeat this is where you go. read more

QUICK TAKE// really solid deep dish pizza pies and cool, laid back ambiance! Feels like you're eating at someone's home. They even have an outdoor section to eat at. FOOD// Loved all the pizza options we got. The appetizers were half/half for me. I personally didn't like the CHEDDAR FRIES as much just due to the type of cheese they used. MOZZARELLA STXY were standard. Deep dish pies we got included VEGGIE PIE, MEATY PIE, and MONSTER OF MIDWAY. My fave was definitely the monster because of all the variety and stronger flavors they had. SERVICE// Good! You order up front and they will have a couple of waiters walking around and checking in often. VIBES// A big highlight for me was how comfortable the place was: ton of seating ranging from tables to booths to outdoor. Would be a great place to just kick back with friends and some beer. ETC.// parking around the area can get a little tough on busier dinner nights since it's in Mission Hills. read more

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Have ordered delivery from Lefty's a few times. It's pretty good in a scene lacking many deep dish options. Tho I really love their thin crust, just has such a great chew. Food has always been packaged well and haven't had any issues with ordering. One of these days we will dine in the restaurant as to compare experiences. But pizza and beer at home is really hard to beat. read more

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If you are looking for a awesome stuffed pizza or a deep dish experience then I highly recommend Leftys ..I have no complaints..Nor did my friends who i shared this experience with...keep up the great work! read more

Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria - STUFFED to the MAX!!!! - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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This is a repost of an earlier post. am disabled. I have autism and complex-ptsd. I was dehumanized and abused excessively by a server here. She withheld basic behaviors including hello, thank you and goodbye for ten solid months. What she did is called 'withholding' and it is a very toxic emotional abuse tactic. I was told she wanted to punish all men for what her ex did to her in Colorado. This server was mad at all men the same way Nazis hate all jews and the KKK hates all Afro-Americans. Multiple complaints to the owners did absolutely nothing. I kept coming back believing that one day I would be treated like a human being. I am from the Chicago suburbs, and this is the only game in town that served Chicago dogs and Italian beef. I loved the place more than any restaurant I have ever been in. The server doubled down and instead of recognizing the abuse she was inflicting became more aggressive defining every word I said, every tonal quality, every facial expression and element of body language based on a sick narrative in her head. I complained several times and the owner completely dismissed my concerns. At one point the owner, Lauren Hodson told me that her server was reacting to what I was doing and saying and when I asked her what specifically I was doing to be abused she replied, "you know what you are doing and saying". I stopped going there on July 7th, 2019. I am a suicide survivor as a result of this situation. This is documented. I have not been in restaurants, with one yearly exception, in seven years. I have not been in Golden Hill, North Park or Hillcrest in seven years. I am afraid to go there. I still flashbacks and anxiety from the abuse I suffered. Ten months of relentlessly dehumanizing abuse destroyed who I am. It has now been seven years since my suicide attempt. I am proud to say that I am in a stable place in my life, albeit I can no longer enjoy frequenting a restaurant. Do not patronize. Human life means nothing to the owners, Brandon and Lauren Hodson. They could have easily explained minimum standards to their employee and asked me to give her another chance. This would have given me closure. Instead, they did nothing for six months then fired the server. Lack of closure leads to solidification: I cannot express my feelings except to say I still get depressed and will never be able to be a regular in a restaurant again. read more

The heart of Chicago in San Diego! I was very excited to try this place, having family from Chicago this place had big shoes to fill compared to Portillo's (IYKYK) Sadly the Italian beef did disappoint. Came with a huge jalapeño ontop which threw off the flavor, peppers on the side. Dry. It just was lacking. Everyone we were with liked their pizza so maybe I'll have to come back and try something different. The thin crust looked good and I loved the square slices! From other reviews sounds like I need to try the Chicago dogs next time. Busy street hard to find parking. Good news Sundays the meters around the block are free! Overal I loved the Chicago history all around. Sadly I waited in line for a very long time while the cashier continued to chat it up with friends. My dad(from Chicago) was not the biggest fan of the north park location either. read more

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Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria in Mission Hills is a great spot for exceptional deep-dish and thin-crust pies. Our standout order is their veggie pizza loaded with fresh toppings, which becomes next-level delicious when you add savory sausage. They always feature a great beer options and some nice wines that pair perfectly with the hearty food. The atmosphere is casual, unpretentious, and welcoming, making it ideal for a relaxed dinner with friends or family. read more

Best Pizza in San Diego! We stopped in this place on our visit this month and this place didn't disappoint. You walk in, order and then take your # back to the table. The pizza is either by the slice or pie...the two of us had a pepperoni sausage, Chicago style, thin crust pizza the toppings were amazing just the right mix of sausage, pepperoni and cheese. This place also has patio back door seating, which was pretty cool as well as plenty of indoor seating. This is 100% a Chicago lover spot! Full of of of the great sports from the Chi mixed with some great Chicago delights. read more

Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria - Pepperoni and Italian sausage pizza - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Lefty's is the most authentic Chicago-style Italian food you can find in San Diego in my opinion. Items such as: thin crust pizza, deep-dish pizza, all-beef hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, and other delicious Italian foods are all very good here. My favorite pizza is the thin crust. This pizza is cut into Midwest-style squares, which I prefer over triangular-cut slices. You get end pieces with a thin crust, and inner crustless ones. Their deep dish is a gargantuan pie! I can only consume one slice at a time in a single sitting; it is THAT thick! The layers are actually assembled upside-down and just the opposite of the way the thin crust is constructed. I absolutely love the Italian Beef sandwich. Paper thin slices of top round shaved and dotted with jalapeños is the best, then doused in a flavorful beef 'gravy'. It's not really gravy, chicagoans just call it that. Lol. The gravy is imbued with spices that permeate into this sandwich. The result is melt in your mouth and a bit of drooling. This is a messy sandwich but get it 'dipped' anyway. You won't regret it. Don't forget the extra gravy to dip your fries into. This pizza doesn't need to be eaten with your left hand! Unless you're a lefty anyway. Hehehe! My mouth is watering!!!! read more

Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria - Yummy beef. This pic is the perfect beef. - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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I absolutely adore lefty's! I personally never get the pizza, instead, I have to get the Italian beef dip. Please do yourself a favor and get one! Also, have you ever had a pizza puff? If not, what are you doing to yourself please please go get one right after reading this. The food is amazing. The staff is awesome. The decor is great. The vibe is chill and relaxing, and it feels like you're in your living room. read more

A great family-friendly spot for pizza! They have both deep-dish and thin crust, which I personally preferred the thin over the deep. But both were great pizzas! Do not recommend the fries with cheese curds; quite frankly, they were sad. Mozzarella sticks were a hit though! read more

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I had a huge craving for deep dish pizza and decided to go to Lefty's in mission hills. I called to check if they did deep dish pizza by the slice and they did. It was around $7 for a pizza, which was fine by me since I didn't want to get a pie, which costed around $30. The deep dish pizza was what I was looking for although I didn't care too much for the crust and the temperature of the pizza was slightly warm rather than piping hot (which was fine since I know some people would probably prefer that since it was faster to eat). Service was friendly and fast. I loved the fun interior decor, which reminded me of the north east as well as Bronx. There were a lot of chicago sports memorabilia like the bulls and sox and a few games to play with the kiddos. They had indoor and outdoor seating as well as a variety of sodas. Price: $ Parking: Meter parking Recommendation: Deep dish pizza read more

Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria - Meaty Pie Deep Dish - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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This is our favorite pizza spot in all of San Diego. The pizza is always amazing and the meatballs are soooo good! We are from the Midwest and this pizza always reminds us of pizza from back home. Thank you! read more

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I been coming to Lefty's for years. Just be aware there is only street parking. All deep dish pizzas are great. The hotdogs are also on point. read more

Being from Chicago this is definitely an honest truthful probably one of the best Christie pizzas I've ever had outside of Chicago staff really great love Chicago. All kinds of neat and memorabilia. Hanging on the walls. Great place to try. read more

Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria - Yeah, the half pepperoni and half mushroom with sausage pizza - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Great pizza, great service!! Love the Chicago vibe!!! I live in Alpine and whenever I'm near there I'll always grab a pizza to take home. read more

Wowza!! Great pizza and family fun atmosphere! We had our girls flag football championship party here and we promise this will be tradition!!! Patio area was perfect for a private event, with games and big screen tvs! Pizza was delicious the kids out ate the parents and had a blast! Highly recommend the loaded fries, meat lovers pizza so yummy, and the old fashioned fancy sodas so fun! read more

Friday 12/27 I called in an order for a thick crust pepperoni, sausage pizza. The girl that took my order asked if I wanted thin crust and I said no, I want thick crust. She said ok, said that it would be 26 and change and would be ready in 30-35 minutes. When I got there, I walked in and told the girl pickup for Chris and she said that'll 36 and change which I challenged and told her that when I called in, she quoted me 26. She denied that and I repeated the order that called in to her which she again denied and apparently called the manager or cook with the beard to talk with me before giving me my order. I explained to him what I told the girl and he looked at my receipt and said that he thinks that the girl may have confused me with another call-in also named Chris. What I don't understand is this girl had to have taken both out orders but couldn't remember that? The worse part was her arguing with me insisting that I didn't tell her what I said. When I finally got home and grabbed a couple of slices, the crust was not as crunchy as I remember it and there was sone kind of hot sauce which was in it. That I don't remember either. This is now twice that I have had problems with an order at this location, the time before with a thin crust that was very light on toppings which they agreed with and offered to reimburse me. At these prices, I don't need the aggravation too so this will be the last time for me here and I won't make any referrals...By the way, I have never had a problem with the location on 30 St read more

This is so good. I always get the Italian Beef Combo, the owner makes it homemade. Way better than Portillo's in my opinion. If you are from Chicago and like a good Italian Beef Sandwich, you owe it to yourself to come here. read more

I was in the hospital for an extended stay and had lefties delivered on a couple occasions. Great service, great food.

My father called them last week to confirm that they were open on Easter. The gentleman who answered was condescending with him and said we are open every day. My father then said ok just wanted to confirm because it's Easter. The guy replied saying "is it a Sunday?!" Pretty frustrated with the establishment allowing some person to work there who would not only mislead a client but be arrogant in the process. We just got here and they are NOT open. Pretty disappointed that this could happen at a spot like Lefty's. read more

Came here for a family reunion and the back patio was perfect to accommodate all of us! The owner Lauren was so attentive to make sure our little nephews had everything they needed to stay entertained fed and happy. The pizza was good but the italian beef is where its at!! That sandwich has made me a repeat customer!! read more

Unfortunately the Service was terrible, staff was rude, we were charged the wrong amount, the pizza was cold/room temperature (sent it back twice- I think they kept forgetting to bring it to us since we waited over 20 min each time) and the pizza was nothing special. Wouldn't recommend this place at all. When I went to the front to return our uneaten food and asked for a refund from the manager/owner and explained everything (we didn't eat our food), she was pretty rude and short with us. Then when the kitchen staff saw us asking for a refund they started calling us names in Spanish. Then when I told the owner what they were saying, she yelled at them to stop and one short heavy set Mexican man literally chased us out of the restaurant aggressively trying to confront us. She literally had to hold him back from chasing us into the street and then yelled at him to go home. ABSURD experience. We came excited for Chicago pizza, left hungry, and threatened by the kitchen because we wouldn't eat their cold sub par food and asked for a refund. And we were polite about it the entire time on top of it. Definitely don't recommend after such a traumatizing experience read more

Metered street parking only. Very tough to find a parking spot. You walk inside and order at the counter. Opposite the counter by the cook they have a display case with pizza's by the slice, both thin and deep dish. They have seating in a back area, hidden by a hallway. Spent about $18 on two thin and two deep dish slices. The pepperoni thin was the best. I wasn't a fan of the sausage or either deep dish (sausage/pepperoni). Wait wasn't very long, maybe 10-15 mins. Good for a quick lunch. Just make sure to eat it there, doesn't taste good transported. read more

What a great little Chicago style pizza place located right downtown off goldfinch. You order at the counter at the front of the restaurant. The staff is very nice and the main dining areas give the feel of being in Chicago with the wood and brick furniture snd decor. It's got a great back patio with painted murals great place to watch a game on the TVs and play corn hole while waiting for your deep dish pizza; very family friendly. We loved the self serve stubborn soda fountain drink option, but they had other soft drinks, iced tea, and beer from what I saw. My son said the flavors popped in his mouth, the pie was very good and so was the experience. read more

Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria - Deep dish pizza - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

BEST PIZZA SAN DIEGO! Just finished off the best pizza I've had since moving back to CA. Deep Dish Sausage, Pepperoni, Onion and Mushroom. I know Chicago Pizza and this is the real thing. Had the pleasure of being helped by the owner. Lauren, the pizza was great, enjoyed taking about Chicago and I'll be back to try the Italian Beef. Thanks again read more

The back deck area was huge and the food was delicious. Service was great! We will definitely come back here in the future. read more