Best Pizza in Long Beach (2025)
Chef Jason Winters’ naturally leavened, electric-deck pies helped define the city’s new-wave style. Celebrated by Eater LA and named best in America by The Washington Post, it still feels like a neighborhood hangout with serious craft.
Sitting at the westernmost edge of the historic Walker building in Downtown Long Beach, the pizzeria looks unassuming from the outside with foggy windows and an “Eat Beer Drink Pizza” sign that hints at “one big unit of weird.” Inside, ‘90s arcade consoles, tables plastered with cut-outs from Eerie and Famous Monsters, red-lit bathrooms, taxidermied animals, a Poe raven mural clutching a slimy slice of pizza, and posters from Nightmare on Elm Street to Killer Clowns from Outer Space create a macabre-but-welcoming atmosphere that matches the owners’ inclusive ethos (a sign explicitly bars racists, homophobes, and assholes). Chef Mike Royal runs a tiny-but-mighty kitchen turning out yeasty, foldable Californian pies — dependable classics and daring signatures alike — including the Hellfire (house ricotta and shredded mozzarella with bacon, habanero, jalapeño, roasted red peppers, basil, and a pentagram of the fluorescent-orange Apocalyptic pineapple-habanero sauce), the vegan Alchemy (gochujang base with house vegan sausage, Parmesan, pickled carrots, garlic, ginger, micro cilantro, and agave sriracha), plus Buffalo Bill, Death to Piggy, and rotating specials like Pastrami Dearest and Belly of the Beast; there are also $4 cheese or pepperoni slices and Monday pints. Co-owners Jeremy Schott and Jeremy Cross emphasize community, art, and craft beer (General Manager Matt Hall sources rare pours from the Russian River Valley and local brewers like Beachwood and Ten Mile), and they were the first Long Beach spot to tap a keg from Crowns & Hops. The 4th Horsemen is located at 121 West 4th Street in Long Beach and is open Mon–Tue 4:00–10:00 p.m.; Wed–Thu 11:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m.; Fri–Sat 11:30 a.m.–midnight; Sun 11:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
Thin, New York-ish pies and lunch slices that define Retro Row’s casual rhythm. Featured by the Los Angeles Times and Eater LA, the shop’s weekly specials and natural-leaning wines draw locals all day.
Belmont Shore’s 1954 institution still packs the dining room. The Long Beach Post spotlighted its 70th anniversary and ground pepperoni pies; generations return for the garlicky signature salad and old-school charm.
Downtown’s standby for thin, foldable slices and thick Brooklyn squares. Eater LA includes it among the city’s go-tos; after a move, the Brooklyn Squares menu lives here, keeping the square-pie faithful happy.
Family-run since 2004, this Italian osteria turns out thin, Roman-leaning pies alongside fresh pastas. Regularly recommended by Eater LA and praised by local diners, it’s a neighborhood staple for prosciutto‑topped Sofia and classic margherita.
Bixby Knolls’ Brooklyn-style pies with dill-forward ranch, hot honey, and a beer-friendly menu. Eater LA and Longbeachize both vouch for it; pair a pepperoni with a pint from neighbor Ambitious Ales.
Beloved sourdough bakery that fires naturally leavened pizzas on select evenings. Featured by Eater LA; the bakery’s own schedule confirms Friday–Saturday pizza service with seasonally topped pies.
Community brewery where the pizza program is as spirited as the taps. Eater LA has highlighted it; the house menu shows playful, shareable 14‑inch pies that fit the Bixby Knolls vibe.
East Long Beach upstart from the Coffee Parlor team, doing five‑day sourdough pies and fun collabs. Longbeachize calls it a standout on the Eastside; order the birria‑inspired La Taco or the potato‑sausage white pie.
A true Long Beach original merging Thai flavors with pizza—think tom yum or green curry sauce, basil, and heat. Eater LA includes it for good reason; locals swear by adding extra curry on the side.
Brewery‑bakery hybrid where beer‑malt sourdough crust and house‑grown mushrooms meet. Eater LA spotlights their vegan‑friendly options; official ordering confirms a steady pizza lineup across locations.