13 Of California’s Toughest Pizza Reservations To Snag
California takes pizza obsession to a whole new level. Some pizzerias have built such a following that snagging a table feels like beating the odds in Vegas.
In Los Angeles, you’ll find pies flying out of bustling food halls, while San Francisco’s neighborhood joints draw lines around the block.
To land a seat at these pizza temples, you’ll need sharp timing, a solid game plan, and maybe just a sprinkle of luck.
1. Pizzeria Mozza – Los Angeles (Hollywood)
Nancy Silverton’s culinary empire includes this Hollywood hotspot that consistently ranks among LA’s most sought-after dining experiences. Prime dinner slots disappear within hours of opening, especially for weekend evenings.
Your best strategy involves checking their website during lunch hours and late-night time slots, which tend to have better availability.
The fennel sausage pie alone justifies the booking battle, while their famous squash blossom pizza creates Instagram-worthy moments that keep the reservation demand sky-high.
2. Pizzeria Bianco – Los Angeles (DTLA)
Chris Bianco’s legendary Phoenix reputation followed him to downtown LA, creating a reservation frenzy that shows no signs of slowing down.
This ROW DTLA location draws pizza pilgrims from across the country who’ve heard whispers about Bianco’s obsessive attention to detail.
Dinner reservations are strongly recommended because walk-ins face lengthy waits that can stretch for hours.
The Wiseguy and Rosa pizzas showcase why Bianco earned national acclaim, featuring ingredients sourced with the same care most chefs reserve for special occasions.
3. Pizzeria Sei – Los Angeles (Pico-Robertson)
Tokyo techniques meet Neapolitan traditions in this tiny Pico Boulevard gem that releases reservations like concert tickets. The intimate dining room seats maybe two dozen people, making every available slot precious real estate among LA’s pizza-obsessed.
Reservations drop on Resy exactly two weeks out every Monday at 10 am, creating a mad scramble among those in the know.
Their Margherita showcases perfect simplicity, while the shoyu-butter corn specials blend Japanese flavors with Italian foundations in ways that shouldn’t work but absolutely do.
4. Quarter Sheets Pizza – Los Angeles (Echo Park)
Pan pizza perfection happens in this microscopic Echo Park space where cult followings are born and reservation dreams go to struggle. The dining room fits about as many people as a large SUV, making every booking feel like finding buried treasure.
Resy bookings open exactly two weeks ahead at 9 am sharp, creating smartphone alarm chaos among devoted fans. I learned this the hard way after missing three consecutive booking windows while assuming “how hard could it be.”
Their pepperoni cups curl into perfect grease-catching bowls, while the slab cake provides sweet redemption after the reservation battle.
5. Jon & Vinny’s – Los Angeles (Multiple Locations)
This all-day dining empire spans from Fairfax to Brentwood, yet somehow every location stays perpetually booked from breakfast through dinner.
Their popularity transcends typical meal boundaries, creating reservation competition that would make Broadway shows jealous. Multiple locations mean multiple chances, but don’t expect easy victories at any outpost.
The LA Woman pizza has achieved local celebrity status, while their specific sauce pie converts even the most traditional pizza purists into creamy sauce believers who understand why tables stay occupied from sunrise to sunset.
6. Ronan – Los Angeles (Fairfax/Melrose)
Wood-fired magic happens on Melrose Avenue, where weekend reservations vanish faster than morning fog in summer.
This Fairfax-adjacent spot combines serious pizza craftsmanship with the kind of atmosphere that makes every meal feel like a special occasion. OpenTable becomes your best friend for securing coveted weekend slots that book weeks in advance.
Their cacio e pepe pizza transforms the beloved pasta into circular perfection, while spicy soppressata adds heat that builds slowly and leaves you reaching for more bites than your dining companions might appreciate.
7. Gjelina – Venice (Westside)
Abbot Kinney Boulevard’s most iconic destination continues drawing crowds that treat reservations like golden tickets to pizza paradise. This Venice institution helped define California’s farm-to-table pizza movement while maintaining the kind of popularity that never seems to fade.
OpenTable reservations through their website offer your best shot at prime dining times that fill up faster than parking spaces on weekend beach days.
The lamb sausage pizza showcases why Gjelina earned its legendary status, while their mushroom pizza proves that vegetables can create the same excitement as any meat-topped masterpiece.
8. Tony’s Pizza Napoletana – San Francisco (North Beach)
World champion pizzaiolo Tony Gemignani operates this North Beach temple where multiple pizza styles coexist under one legendary roof. Lines form regardless of weather, while reservation slots disappear among pizza pilgrims who travel specifically for this Stockton Street experience.
My first visit involved a two-hour wait that somehow felt worth every minute once that Margherita Napoletana arrived.
Yelp Waitlist through their website offers the most reliable booking method, though grabbing a New York slice at the bar while waiting provides delicious consolation for the reservation-challenged masses.
9. Del Popolo – San Francisco (Lower Nob Hill)
Two-week reservation windows create booking frenzies that rival Black Friday shopping among San Francisco’s pizza devotees. This Bush Street location fills immediately for peak dining hours, turning reservation release moments into high-stakes timing competitions.
Success requires marking calendars and setting phone reminders for exactly two weeks out when bookings open through their website.
Their Margherita represents Neapolitan perfection, while seasonal pies featuring local produce showcase why California ingredients pair beautifully with traditional Italian techniques that have been refined over generations.
10. A16 – San Francisco (Marina)
Campania traditions thrive in this Marina District institution, where weekend reservations and patio seating represent the holy grail of San Francisco dining.
This Chestnut Street landmark has maintained its popularity through multiple food trend cycles by focusing on authentic Southern Italian flavors.
Their website reservation system offers the most direct path to securing those coveted weekend slots that book weeks ahead.
The Montanara, when available, showcases fried pizza perfection that few American restaurants attempt, while Marinara with extra anchovies provides salty satisfaction that converts even the most anchovy-skeptical diners into believers.
11. Che Fico – San Francisco (NoPa)
Roman-style pizza shares the spotlight with house-made pastas at this Divisadero Street destination that consistently ranks among San Francisco’s most impossible reservations.
The dining room buzzes with energy that makes every meal feel like you’ve discovered the city’s best-kept secret.
Resy through their website provides your only realistic shot at securing tables that food critics and locals guard jealously.
Pepperoni with honey creates sweet-savory combinations that shouldn’t work but absolutely do, while seasonal white pies showcase chef creativity that keeps regulars coming back despite the booking challenges.
12. Tribute Pizza – San Diego (North Park)
National recognition follows this North Park Way gem, where limited evening hours make every available reservation slot feel like winning the lottery. The neighborhood setting belies the serious pizza craftsmanship that earned Tribute mentions in food publications across the country.
Resy handles bookings for this nationally recognized spot that locals consider their delicious secret.
The Sunnyside egg pie transforms breakfast concepts into dinner perfection, while fennel sausage showcases traditional Italian flavors that prove San Diego’s pizza scene deserves the same respect as coastal California’s more famous food cities.
13. Buona Forchetta – San Diego (South Park)
Neapolitan perfection happens at this South Park original location, where VPN-certified techniques create pizza that transports diners straight to Naples.
The Beech Street address represents ground zero for San Diego’s serious pizza movement, maintaining constant demand despite multiple location expansions.
Their website reservation system covers all locations, but the original South Park spot remains the most coveted booking among local pizza enthusiasts.
Regina Margherita showcases textbook Neapolitan execution, while daily specials featuring burrata provide creamy indulgence that makes the reservation battle feel like a worthwhile investment in your dining happiness.