Pizza is my favorite food. Easily. It’s something that I never tire of, and it’s something I’ve eaten multiple times in one day. It’s because it’s one of those foods that’s simple to make but complex to make well.

The marriage of sauce, dough, and cheese can be done in any number of ways. There are places that have better sauce and some have better dough. But it all comes down to those three things. Whenever I try a new pizza place, I like to start with a cheese pizza. My thinking is that, “If they can’t get that right, they can’t get anything right.” A pizza should be good on its own, on the strengths of its basic form.

I’m also not much of a toppings guy for as much as I like pizza. A simple pepperoni pizza usually satisfies me, although I also go in for good combinations. At Barney’s, they have one called “Johnnie’s Favorite” which is probably my favorite combo of ingredients: pepperoni, jalapeno, mushroom, and cilantro. The cilantro is an ingredient that I’m absolutely baffled by in terms of how well works on a pizza in concert with pepperoni.

Favorites

Barney’s (multiple locations in Los Angeles)

Their pizza is an excellent take on a simple pizza. No one ingredient stands out, but it all works together to create a good pie. Pretty much everything that Barney’s makes is good. They’ve been one of my favorite restaurants for awhile now.

El Segundo Slice and Pint (El Segundo, CA)

This is a more recent discovery but their pizza is kind of amazing. They use a sourdough crust combined with a hint of cheddar to create a delicious profile.

The Parlor (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)

This pizza shop took over for my all time favorite’s, Anthony’s, when they closed in 2019. I was pretty bummed when Anthony’s closed but the Parlor’s done an excellent job of providing high quality pizzas. Their sauce is one of my favorites.