GIOIA Pizzeria

There is the original location in Berkeley and then another location in Hayes Valley in San Francisco. We passed it all the time so we thought we would come in and try it. They are crust is incredible! Nine out of 10 in that category. They have a very interesting sauce, it’s almost on the edge of a pasta sauce, but not quite. I think honestly if they slightly changed up their sauce, the pizza would be better. If you like cheese on your pizza, this is the place to go because they’re pretty heavy handed on the cheese. Overall, we liked it and we would try different slices, but it is not our absolute favorite pizza in the bay area. We tried the margarita, so we haven’t tried all of the different slices and flavors that they offer. So we’ll have to go back and see how the others compare. Thus far, we would give it a solid 7/10.

This spot has been saved on my bookmarks for a while. Luckily I had a training nearby and had a chance to try it. The space is small with some seating right in front of this business. The lines can rack up during lunch so far ready. They're fairly quick with the order. A co-worker in front of me recommended their avacado salad and Julian pizza. Both were delicious! The total came out to -$23 plus tip, which seems to be an average for lunch these days. The pizza had a perfectly cooked thin crust. The dough was so sparkly doughy and stretchy with the right amount of firmness on the bottom of the crust. The toppings (kale, sausage, mozerlla cheese, garlic..)Jwent well together too with a fair amount dispersed on the slice. The salad was filling. I probably didn't need to get the pizza. It was well balanced with farro, avacado, golden raisins, and almond. The vinaigrette was also a nice balance (you don't need much). Go check them out! "High on Food. High on Life."- thefoodhigh IG/Tiktok: @thefoodhigh

If anyone is giving this place less than 5 stars - for California? - then they need to sit on their hands. Is Gioia better than some NY, Boston, or Hartford pizza joints? No. But, for the west coast our pizza slices were awesome. The sauce was thick but not too sweet, they didn't overload the cheese, and yes - you could taste the salt that needed to be there. For the most part, our crusts were just right. We were VERY happy we serendipitously stopped to have some pie!!!

I'm from NYC and I pretty much hate pizza from most other places. This pizza is wonderful. The crust is the best I've had outside of the West Village. I love that they serve individual slices and they're reasonably priced. Get there early if you want choices in pizza types.

This is a margherita pizza? With unmelted cubes of cheese (maybe mozzarella?) and garlic marinara sauce. The only explanation from the shop keeper after I opened the cold box and showed him was “we ran out of basil,” as he walked away to continue chatting with co-worker. Not recommended. Unacceptable business transaction. Not worth the $45 we paid. Not worth $1. Is this a day old plain cheese pizza with some random cubed cheese added on top and marinara garlic dipping sauce poured on?

. I visited Gioia Pizza in Berkeley based on a friend’s recommendation, and it did not disappoint! Their pizza was absolutely delicious with fresh ingredients and a perfect crust. Love the fungi pizza a lot. The customer service was warm and friendly, making the experience even better. If you’re looking for tasty pizza and a welcoming atmosphere, Gioia Pizza is definitely worth a visit!

Gioia is low-key that spot if you’re craving East Coast vibes with West Coast energy. The crust? Straight-up feral—in the best way. It’s light, just thick enough to keep the slice from folding like a lawn chair, and hits you with this tangy, long-fermented sourness that makes your brain go “skrrt.” The amount of char they’re getting from a gas-fired brick oven is actually bananas. It’s not soft or doughy—it’s crisp, crunchy, and totally serving. Flavor-wise, it’s giving New York slice science: crust, sauce, cheese all in balance. But the toppings? That’s where Gioia flexes hard. There’s a roasted mushroom slice that tastes like a Druid made it. Asparagus with almond pesto, ricotta, and mint that’s full goblin-core. You’ll also catch kale with sausage, pickled jalapeño with red onion, and that fire Ezzo pepperoni that crisps up like tiny grease chalices of joy. It’s bougie but in a “yes chef” way. Slice size? More California chill than New York challenge. You’ll probably crush four and still be thinking about grabbing a fifth. For comparison, two slices at Arinell’s or Arthur Mac’s is a full meal on a budget—this place is more “treat yourself” energy. Definitely more coins per slice, but the quality’s no cap. Now the vibes? Gioia keeps it moving. The staff’s got that “be ready or be gone” energy. Not rude, just quick with it—like, don’t be the NPC holding up the line. No tables, no seating, just pure grab-n-ghost action. Honestly, it adds to the lore. You’re not here to vibe, you’re here to eat and dip. TL;DR: The crust slaps, the toppings go hard, the staff is on turbo mode, and the whole thing feels like a speedrun of pizza greatness. Gioia’s is (at least in North Berkeley) HIM.

The perfect harmony of chewy dough and flavorful toppings! But tomato paste was so lumpy, kind of overpowering! Hope things will be better the next time.

This spot has been saved on my bookmarks for a while. Luckily I had a training nearby and had a chance to try it. The space is small with some seating right in front of this business. The lines can rack up during lunch so far ready. They're fairly quick with the order. A co-worker in front of me recommended their available salad and Julian pizza. Both were delicious! The total came out to ~$23 plus tip, which seems to be an average for lunch these days. The pizza had a perfectly cooked thin crust. The dough was so sparkly doughy and stretchy with the right amount of firmness on the bottom of the crust. The toppings (kale, sausage, mozerlla cheese, garlic...))went well together too with a fair amount dispersed on the slice. The salad was filling. I probably didn't need to get the pizza. It was well balanced with farro, avacado, golden raisins, and almond. The vinaigrette was also a nice balance (you don't need much). Go check them out! "High on Food. High on Life." IG/tiktok: thefoodhigh

4++ small pizza spot located in Berkeley. This place is seriously not much larger or wider than the counter you order at. The folks here are friendly and they have lots of premade slices that you can choose from. This place is conducive for takeout or grab and go. It's a great neighborhood spot where you can walk inside or order from the window I think. I wasn't super hungry so I just got the mushroom slice. Nice crisp and great flavor. My brother took me here when we were visiting the area with him and my sister-in-law. They let me know that this place was one of their old haunts. Just a really great spot to grab a quick bite for a reasonable price.

Delicious pizza! It was easy to place an online order on their website. I also needed to modify my pick up time and easily got a hold of them when I called and everything was smooth. We got the Pepperoni, Asparagus, and Julian pizzas, the chopped salad and cannolis. Everything was SO GOOD. Will definitely be one of our new go-to's when we're in the Berkeley area.

Perfect grab and go pizza place. They are a small stores so we ordered ahead and it was ready when we got there. The crust is thin and a bit crispy. I wish there was more topping. We got the funghi pie. Overall not a bad place for pizza night

The crust was amazing. Best in the bay imo. Could have been cooked a little longer for my taste. I didnt particularly like the cheese blend either. Sausage was good paired well with pickled jalapeños. Sauce was the most lacking. I prefer a sweet or spicy sauce. The sauce was very bland. Slices might be better

Always amazing!! Service great! Food was hot and fresh. Ambiance was calm. !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have had the pizza a few times more and can fairly say that it just isn't my favorite, even freshly warmed from the oven and eaten on the sidewalk. The crust has burnt edges, which I understand some people see as a feature, but the burnt taste overpowers any other flavor for me. It's also quite greasy. The line is long and slow, and even though the pizza is better fresh rather than taking it home, there is no seating indoors or outdoors, not even a stand up counter like at Arinell's. I wish I could like it! If it were five times faster, not blackened, and had a counter or some spot to eat it without getting grease dripped all over, it would probably be better. But it's not, it's successful as-is, and I am clearly one meh opinion in a sea of otherwise positive ones!

This is one of my family's favorite pizza spots in the Bay Area and I couldn't agree more! There's always a line whenever I go with plenty of people buying their delicious slices. My personal favorites are the Fungi and Julian but honestly you really can't go wrong with any of their pies. The crust has a nice crisp texture and the flavors are so unique that you can't really have anywhere else. Highly recommend to those in Berkeley or SF!!

Crust is super light and crispy. The Salsiccia has got a little kick to it because of the jalapeños which is nice with the meaty sausage chunks on it. The Red Gypsy was well balanced with the chunks of ricotta and salty olives. Like creamy and salty sort of on top of a beautiful crust. Red Gypsy isn't on the menu it seems, but it was in the glass case when I went so base your selection on what's available that day. Inside, there's about a 3 x 3 area to stand, look at the pizza selection, and order. It's very small, but there's so many pizzas in the back. You can get your slices hot or cold. You pick up the pizza in the little window connected to the sidewalk. There isn't really any seating there. Service is fast and friendly, not many words were exchanged. Parking is just street. Overall, I enjoyed my pizza and am excited to try the other flavors.

This is the best pizza in the Bay. It's actually the best pizza I've had in California. Possibly the best pizza I've ever had. In the summer they have delicious strawberry lemonade and their soft-serve gelato is amazing. Plus you're right by the Hort and Hopkins St. Bakery. If you love food and plants, it's the perfect afternoon.

Very nice neighborhood with a friendly welcoming vibe. Gioia is a very small shop. They sell pizza by the slice. There's no in-door dining. On the sidewalk is a small bench under tree-covered comfortable shade. I ordered a slice of Julian -- chosen because it was one of two options that had sausage. The pizza was absolutely delicious and super flavorful. I shall return to try other flavors. Tip: add take-out clam chowder to your meal from Monterey Fish Market next door. They are delicious.

One again proving that the best pizza places in Berkeley come from the smallest spots. I absolutely loved the pizza I ordered for takeout and chowed down with some friends. Highly recommend for anyone missing New York pizza. It's not too oily and they actually have good tomato sauce unlike most other CA pizza places. I'll definitely be returning.

Amazing location and pizza! My number one pizza spot even for whole pies! :) Only thing that's a bit upsetting is that I can tell since my adoptive father has passed that at times I'm treated a bit rudely off first entry but I don't let it get to me personally, I'm here for the food!

FAVE PIZZA SPOT in Berkeley. I've tried the pepperoni, julian, and funghi. You can't go wrong with any of the options here. Crispy, hot, and fresh. There is some limited outdoor seating, but this is mainly a takeout kinda spot. I always just stand outside and gobble down my slice.

All the food is excellent. My favorite is fungi pizza. Slices are excellent but no seating. Whole pies are great to bring home because you glean order par cooked. Meatballs are so good but only sold cold, so good if you're bringing home. The location is fabulous for other food shopping. Leave plenty of time to stand in line if you're stopping by at dinner time. You can order ahead online.

I think things are going downhill at Gioia. Yesterday around 4 pm I placed an online order for a whole margherita for pickup at 6:30 (you can select an advance time in 15 minute increments). I arrived around 6:15 to order a few slices in different combos, knowing there might be a wait to order and then a wait to have them heat it up, so I should get my slices right around the time the whole pie was ready. Well there was no line at prime dinner time, and when ordering my slices, I mentioned I had ordered a whole for pickup at 6:30. The cashier said, oh that's ready, and handed me a pie already boxed up waiting. They had it just sitting around, at least 15 minutes before the ordered pickup time (and it didn't feel piping hot in the box, so it must have been waiting a while already). The cashier seemed disappointed that I still wanted my slices heated up, and also annoyed that I didn't want to hold the large pizza box while waiting for my slices outside, and after only about 2 minutes called me back to get my slices, which were unsurprisingly not hot nor was my whole pizza. GIOIA GET A GRIP! Finally, the margherita was super weird. It definitely did not have "roasted plum tomatoes" per the website but big glops of blended tomato sauce. Were the room temperature glops on their special crust still delicious? Dammit, yes. But it's just not enough when there are SO many great pizza options in this area.

The worst pizza I've ever had. It's so salty. The cheese is salty and the fish was so fishy and salty. The only thing that was good was the crust. Do not recommend! Price $5 for the anchovies pizza!

AMAZING FANTASTIC FLAVORFUL pizza. I'm in NYC which is supposed to be the pizza capital of the USA. NOPE!!! Gioia Pizza is far superior!! I can't find anything that even matches Gioia Pizza let alone surpasses it.

The best take out NY STYLE pizza in east bay! We order the fromaggio pizza 3x a month from here! Nice Thin Crispy crust Even warmed up at 450° for 5 min. Tasty crust. I guess I would like a bit more consistency in the sauce to cheese ratio. The right amount of tomato sauce makes it perfect! Otherwise it's good but lacking a bit of flavor. The PEPPERONI, fungi and spinach pizza are also good. We just prefer it with cheese! Their chopped salad is excellent too!

Great pizza. Terrible customer service. Asked 2 different women a question and both answered as if I was bothering them; one word rude response. Because of that I definitely won't be back. $36 for 3 slices of pizza and a simple salad.

I was craving pizza a few days ago and remembered this spot after searching no for it on Yelp. I used to pick up from here every now and then when I did DoorDash and the cannolis looked good. As busy as they were, I told myself I would go back someday. So here we are about a year and some change later. I came in on Sunday after getting a manicure in Berkeley. It was between this place and Spinning Dough in West Oakland. When I arrived they were close to closing. All that was left was a few slices of pizza so I got the Julian and another slice but I can't remember the name. The Julian has lacinato kale, house made Sicilian sausage, red onion, chili flakes, garlic, mozzarella and pecorino. It was alright. I now know I'm not too big of a fan of kale in pizza. The sausage was actually pretty good but it made the pizza too meaty for me. This is all a review based on personal preference. The cannoli was alright. I haven't had enough cannolis to make an expert foodie judgment, but I have had better. They have a host of pizzas on the menu that were to my liking. Next time maybe I'll just order a whole pie. The Acciughe seems very appetizing and I don't know where else I would be able to find a pie like this.

I honestly don't know how this pizza place has stayed open. While the pizza itself can be decent at times, it's wildly inconsistent--sometimes underbaked, other times burnt to a crisp. But what really ruins the experience is the customer service, which is hands down some of the worst I've encountered in the East Bay--and I've been coming here since 2007. The staff always seems to be made up of disinterested high schoolers who clearly don't care about the job. The attitude is consistently rude and snarky, and there are so many arbitrary rules that make ordering more frustrating than it needs to be. When ordering inside, there's often no clear system or communication--you're left standing around wondering if your food is even coming. After years of giving this place chances, I'm officially done. It's just not worth the hassle anymore.

The pizza quality has diminished significantly - the toppings are now sparse the amount of crust with nothing on it has grown and the price has soared. The customer service is horrible - kids who can't be bothered. You"ll pay about $12 for 2 slices. Still decent pizza but I visit very rarely now and it used to be a weekly thing.

My friend is a lifelong (70 years +) Berkeley resident & foodie, and he chooses to come here! I had a funghi (mushroom) slice and a spinach & garlic slice. Took less than two minutes to order & get them heated up. Both were tasty though spinach & garlic is still my favorite!

My favorite pizza spot in all of California! I live in LA now, but make sure to drop by here whenever I'm in the Bay. I love love love Gioia! Spinach & Julian are my go-to's but all their slices are AMAZING!

I Love their pizzas ! The ingredient they use here is top notch . It's all take out . So don't expect to sit . I love getting my pizza and go . I go there more if it was closer to my home .

Ordered a ~$36 dollar pepperoni pizza that was ultra thin yet very floppy. It honestly looks really good from top down, but when you pick it up it's a little disappointing how non-crispy the bottom of the crust is - not to mention the dough didn't really have any flavor to it either. Topping quality was not bad though. The pizza was 18" but in reality I don't think I'd be happy paying more than $25 for this pizza. Super overpriced for what it is. 6/10, would come again once in a blue moon.

Hands down THE best pizza in the Bay Area! Omg you have to go there. It might be a line but it's worth the wait

Gioia Pizzeria is a great, casual place to get some slices. Highly recommend the mushroom pizza! The crust was a perfect mix of crispy and chewy. It's also in a great area with other stores and cafes nearby.

Been here a long time & always so good. Sweet sauce, small business, great location, yum yum yum

good pizza although so far each time i've ordered a pie they've overcooked it so some of the crust is black. And one of the worst Caesar Salads ever. Seriously. i'm not sure i should even eat it due to the strong i suppose anchovy flavor. it's disgusting but if i add balsamic it's ok

This place is horrible. Staff is always rude. Not a hello or a thank you. Done with them. Pizza going downhill.

This place used to be wonderful with upbeat, kind, knowledgeable staff and inspired, vibrant choices. no more. pizza reflects this, in taste and visually. Everything looks tired, burned, unappealing. And the counter person seemed totally uninterested. If the pizza was outstanding, I could manage the outrageously high price - Almost $50 for a whole pizza. But it was mediocre. Never going back! Be forewarned.

This pizza is terrible. The crust is bad, the sauce is sweet and tastes canned, and the topping are just thrown on top. The cheese is melted already, so the toppings sit on top. All in all, bad ingredients, poor craftsmanship, and not cooked right. Bad tasting crust was burnt black. Understanding that good pizza requires effort, time, and care, I can't fault them too much, considering the college demographic. Nonetheless, the pizza is so bad that it wouldn't be good sober, drunk, or hungover. Thus, it serves zero purpose. Sorry to have to write this.

Absolutely delicious pepperoni pizza slice. It took a lot of self control to not walk right back and buy a second slice. A no nonsense, fast, tangy, chewy, salty, oily slice of heaven. Good people watching spot as well. If you find that kind of thing interesting.

Usually I order slices, but tonight I splurged for an entire pie. Holy isht. Absolutely phenomenal. The Salsiccia is off the charts delicious. There aren't enough superlatives to do Gioia justice. Easily the best NY style pizza in the East Bay. Can't recommend highly enough. I'm in love...

Remind me of a New York spot it was really good and delicious. I would definitely go back.

I still remember the first piping hot love at first bite of the sausage jalapeño pizza slice I grabbed from the freshly baked pie. Damn it was good! As a sucker for cheese, I was already won over. The melted cheese was absolutely addicting. The wood-fired crispy thin crust, zesty tomato sauce, and creative flavorful toppings were icing on the cake. I've been hearing Gioia come up in several different convos and it was serendipitous when it just happened to be right next to the sushi spot I was dining at for lunch. I got a whole sausage jalapeño pie ($29.50 and 6 a la carte slices at $4.25 each). I had given some slices to family and friends and they all have rave reviews. If you go during the lunch hour, a line is guaranteed but trust me, it's worth the wait!

Had a slice of the acciughe with anchovies, and the Julien. The acciughe was falling apart the crust was so thin so had to eat it with a fork. Trouble with this is they just put the anchovies on top after you order it so they aren't really cooked with the pizza. The Julien was a little better but the sausage was a little funky. We have enjoyed their pizza in the past but don't know if I'll go back again.

Worst slice of margarita I've ever had. It was $5 and very small firstly. Imagine if I got 2 slices for 10$ which I almost did. But more than that there were chunky globs of marinara with an overpowering flavor of garlic and it tasted old. It was just baaad. But it didn't taste like pizza let alone margarita pizza. It tasted like dry bread with bad sauce. It was seriously bad. I used to love this place. I don't like wasting money but I felt cheated. What happened to your pizza? Usually you feel so happy to eat pizza. I left feeling gross and like I wasted calories trying to eat whatever it was and wanted my money back. Robbed.

Pizza looks great, but I have to say, it's rather dry and flavorless. I never (ever leave my crust) but I just couldn't get this down. It tastes... like nothing, and requires sips of water to go down. I'm sorry, but we have been to nearly all of the incredible pizza places in Oakland and Berkeley dishing up insanely good pizzas. Gioia is often regarded in that same camp, but no way for us. The Pizziaolo at Gioia needs to taste their own pizza - it's understated and the crust is way too dry.

I was so excited to be back in Berkeley so I could have more Gioia pizza, which makes this even more disappointing. I ordered a whole pizza to share with my hosts. Brought it home and it was extremely undercooked and strangely very salty. Completely inedible. We were all left hungry and I was left both hungry and embarrassed. Given the quality control issues, I guess I'm going to be going to either Rose's or Zachary's going forward.

I'm Gioia long time fan. I've noticed that their pizza slice got smaller and the toppings barely on it. Please bring back my old Gioia!

Legit NY style pizza! We got the julian (kale and sausage), funghi and formaggio. There was a good amount of toppings on the thin NY style crust. The julian was the first to go! Obviously, the crowd pleaser! It definitely had a kick to it. The funghi was a very close runner up. I didn't get a chance to try the cheese, but the kids tore it up. I wish I had more room in my belly to sample more, but one HUGE slice filled me up! Next time I'm going to have to cut the slices in half so I can try them all!

Whoa! What's up with the glowing reviews? Had the sausage pizza - it's meh but the chopped Gioia salad was downright terrible! 2/3 cabbage -seriously! What a rip-off. If you need a "slice" and you're in the neighborhood maybebut anything else -forgetaboutit!

This place has gone sharply downhill since they split. We used to go get slices, sit at the counter, enjoy chatting with the kitchen staff and eat delicious, fresh pizza. Now all I see is unhappy customers, way overpriced food, waiting too long (tonight a woman had to ask twice about slices!), poorly made pizza (our 1/2 & 1/2 was 1/4-3/4, which made the other half not edible for our kids. Overpriced. Sad that it's terrible. Someone please save gioia!

Really good pizza and a variety of choices. You can purchase by the slice or you can get a whole pie. This is as close to New York pizza as we get. Vegetarian, cheese only, anchovy, pepperoni, mushroom, and sausage and kale choices. Currently, they have spinach and squash options. There may be a line but the pizza makers are fast and efficient in the tiny space on Hopkins Street. They offer salads and cannoli for dessert. The cherry limeade is a hit. In the summer, they have lemonade. The friendly staff makes picking up a pleasure.

Just like Sf. Piping hot, thin crunchy crust, and great toppings! Love it's close by.

Great place to get NYC style thin crust pizza, not a lot of options in the East Bay. Asparagus slice was good, and tasted really fresh. Kale slice was bleh, didn't taste fresh. My gripe with this place-- they cook way too many pizzas ahead of time and just leave them in the case, so you're playing roulette on whether you get a fresh slice or not. I find this really annoying because I managed a NYC style pizza place at one point in my life, there needs to be more communication between the bakers and the staff up front. At any given time there's one fresh pie of each type, and about 1.5 old pies sitting out, but they won't serve you a fresh slice until they've gone through the old once. As you can see in my photo, the slice on the right looks noticeably fresher, and it tasted way better than the one on the left. (*Crust) This place needs to stop being cheap and remove the older slices from the case when fresh ones come out, or they need to stop baking so many unless their case is empty. I'm changing my review to 3.5/5 cause it's been this way for years, and there's room for them to improve. Nobody likes a stale slice of pizza.