Alongside cities like Rome, Buenos Aires, and New York, global epicenters of delicious, legendary, and flavorful pizza, we can now proudly say that L.A. also belongs to this exclusive club.
The Best Pizza Awards, a ceremony that honors the world’s top pizzaiolos and pizzerias, organized by the Best Chef Awards, has named these two restaurants to its prestigious list: William Joo’s Pizzeria Sei and Justin De Leon’s Apollonia’s Pizzeria.
The Best Pizza Awards honored Joo for crafting Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizzas that are “technically refined and full of character.” The European judging panel especially praised Joo’s “salt-punch” technique, which adds salt directly into the oven to create a unique change in the pizza’s overall texture.
For Apollonia’s De Leon, who also made the 2024 list, the Awards emphasized his unconventional journey from art school and photography to pizza-making, highlighting Apollonia’s “game-changing squares,” known for their burnt cheese edges and airy interiors.
These recognitions spotlight L.A.’s rising influence on the global pizza scene, blending innovation with tradition. Both Pizzeria Sei and Apollonia’s Pizzeria showcase the city’s vibrant culture, reflected in these eateries’ culinary creativity.
📍 Locations:
- Apollonia’s Pizzeria, 5176 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
- Pizzeria Sei, 8781 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035