Pizza in L.A. isn't close to New York or New Haven-- not close. If you haven't had it... it's hard to explain. It's a completely different experience in new York.
If LA finally gets pizza, then they're pretty much good at have all the major food categories now. We can't let that happen, so I'm gonna keep badmouthing LA pizza compared to NY even though I've never had it, because pizza is the only thing that's still good in NYC now (although the NY dollar slice will always be uneatable).
No No No No No Nonononono! While I admit there are some great LA pizza joints (Uncle Ernie's in Chatsworth, Pizza Orgasmica in Hollywood are two I'd recommend) the heartland for great pie will always be East Coast; subjectively, Philadelphia. Though I'm not beholden to The City of Brotherly Shove, and freely admit the equal skill and artistry of NY, NJ, & Chicago. As you may have heard, it's the water. The water here is more alkaline than east of the Mississippi river, which is why the West makes better sourdough breads. It's also why Joe's Pizza locations reputedly have their water trucked in from Brooklyn.
The pretentiousness of any food post in LA is why I doubt any place is better than a NYC, or Chicago dish. Pizza is best in NYC and Chicago. I havent found a place as good here yet.
Chicago and NYC does Chicago-style and NY-style pizza better. But there are many styles of pizza and I've had incredible pizza in LA from Pizzana and Chris Bianco that doesn't make me think Chi/NYC style pizza is the pinnacle. These guys are simply following Italy and Spain's philosophy of food. Hyper local ingredients. All about technique. America would do better to follow more of that rather than thinking being serious about their food is somehow "pretentious" and being restrictive about what type of pizza they'll eat. But then I guess that's why Americans think "unpretentious" food like Chick-fil-A is good food.
Clickbaity title- be better. There is good pizza in LA, but the NY pizza scene as a whole is light years ahead. To their credit, the chefs shown were pretty quick to back off the notion of LA being better than NY. Pizza in LA is getting better, but until the public stops backing boring chain restaurants, I just can't take LA seriously as a food city. The best food in the city comes off of food trucks IMO.
Title was done to be cheeky. More than anything, I wanted people to know that "LA-Style" pizza exists and should be discussed more. Very chef forward, local ingredients, extremely delicious. Very different vibe than a NYC slice.
LA is a food city, but youre not gonna find good, like really good, food from some article or youtube video. None the less as an LA native who appreciates good pizza, imma watch just because I'm curious to see what their opinion is. Generally don't care for LA pizza as a whole tho.
LA has already cemented itself as a great food city for at least a couple decades now. Every major ethnic cuisine done at better depth, quality and breadth anywhere outside of its native country. And it does ethnic food light years ahead of NYC, ever since Jonathan Gold brought it to the forefront of conversation.. And so I'm saying, yes, overall, food is better in LA than NYC for that reason and your "not taking LA seriously as a food city" is just really bad amateur eater bad take.
If you think pizza is "just" that, you've been eating bad pizza. Pizza is more about technique. Nothing pretentious about using the best ingredients you can find and using new ingredients. Nothing arrogant about these guys either. They seem humble and creative.
Just bc you THINK its the best pizza in LA doesnt mean its better than NY or NJ. Im from NJ & my grandparents were from where pizza was invented. I had 1(One) experience with good Pizza in LA COUNTY & they had a location in Huntington Beach. Its no longer there. Oh I lived in Cali 32 years. Typical LA though, to say they are better. All talk. PROVE IT
