Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria

BOMB! Quirky little place serving up some delicious pizza and other Chicago style treats. The deep dish pizza is on-point with the perfect fought-to-cheese-to-sauce ratio. The meat balls are tender and just amazing. Service was super helpful and friendly. Such a great little place.

I live overseas, and every day I wake up trying to convince myself I don’t need to book a flight back here just for this pizza. I’m out here halfway across the planet making up excuses like, ‘Maybe I left my spirit in that restaurant… better go retrieve it.’. I am dying to eat the veggie pizza again. This pizza is unbelievable. The crust showed up all warm and puffy like it just came from therapy and finally believed in itself. The sauce tasted like tomatoes that grew up with good role models. The cheese was stretching so far I thought it was trying to give me a hug. I took one bite and immediately felt like I should call my parents and apologize for everything I’ve ever done wrong. That’s how good it was. The staff were friendly too. I like how they knew they were about to change my week with one slice. I respect that kind of confidence. Five stars. If teleportation ever becomes real, this is the first place I’m setting the coordinates for.

Had onion rings mozzarella sticks and a wall to wall sausage deep dish pizza. The rings and mozz were hot and crispy and the sauce for the rings was delicious. The pizza was HUGE and definitely filling great pizza! I do need to knock off one star and really I’d rather knock off like a half or less because the crust, to be more authentic, should be buttery and covered with cornmeal. Other than that, definitely one of the if not the best pizza in San Diego.

Kudos to your staff for fixing my order. I guess i chose peperoncino peppers when I thought I was selecting pepperoni for a online order , luckily I caught it before I got in my car and drove home. "Not a problem we'll get you what you your pepperoni pizza and just go ahead abs keep the other one" That's the type of customer service that keeps my business and the pizza was one of the best I've had in San Diego.. pretty dam close to my hometown Chicago pizza 🍕 😋 👌 I'll Def return with friends and family.

The food is amazing!! However they should advertise that the waiting time is loonnggg. depending on the pizza you get you have to wait at lest 30mins to 1 hour that's not including the normal wait time for food. Definitely call ahead for your food if your gonna eat there. The pizza was perfectly crunchy and soggy just the right amount of both! 🤤 I would Definitely drive the 6 hours to eat here again!!

Omaigaaaaad this is the best pizza I’ve ever eaten in the US. My sister doesn’t like mushrooms and ended up eating almost half of it in one sitting. I called to place the order and was given the best advice ever. 10/10. Will become regular 💕💕

The guy serving us was great. I wanted pepperoni and jalapeños. They didn't have jalapeños but he suggested some peppers they had. Pretty good substitute.

Great little pizza restaurant in north park so I was in the neighborhood and decided that I would like a slice of pizza and choose lefty's Chicago pizzeria and glad I did I got a slice of pizza a Chicago pepperoni deep dish slice and it was good crust was crispy lots of cheese pepperoni and sauce just really good and service was great parking is street parking and seems that it could get hard to find I found one a couple blocks down

While I have never been to Chicago and can't speak to the authenticity of Lefty's, I can definitely speak to the tastiness! The pizza is absolutely incredible and if not my favorite in San Diego, it's for sure in my top 3. The prices are reasonable, one thick slice (or big thin slice) was pretty filling for a lunch and sets you back only $7. They have a few drink options in cans (both alcoholic and non) as well as free water. The seating area is outside and a little small, but there were plenty of options when we went. Everyone working was very friendly and helpful!

Deep dish Pepperoni was good. Slices have gotten smaller over time. Used to be One of my go to spots. Whoever it feels like you have to be best friends or on a first name basis with the staff working Front of the house in order to receive timely Friendly service. To many times I have ordered slices and somehow my "order was misplaced we'll get that right out for you" only to see a customer was away w a similar order to yours but just had a major bro moment with the "manager" That Steven Hyde (70s show) looking manager they have running the front was shit faced drunk on my last visit and forgot my order like 3 times after trying to take quick orders. Maybe I have to try the mission hills one now but I'm sure there are other Chicago style pizza spots Not welcoming. Asked the manager who signed a Chicago bears stadium black & white. He simply stated "iono man I don't watch sports" dick Butkiss was the auto I was trying to confirm. Hahaha hospitality was missing. Used to be a go to spot/ suggest trying a different place

I've been hearing a lot about Lefty's and finally wanted to give it a try myself...being very curious about their authentic Chicago-style pizza. I called in to place an order for a large pizza to pick-up/take-out. The guy over the phone had customer service down to a perfect tee. I appreciated his patience being a 1st time caller and his understanding that I'm ole school. Let me tell ya'll, this family-owned pizzeria is ALL THAT and THENSOME. My deep dish farmer's market w/ sausage was packed with flavorful sauciness and cheesy goodness. Wowwweee!...Is all I could say with a mouthfull. I can definitely tell they use the freshest ingredients. I definitely recommend this pizza spot. Lefty's is my Besty now!!

Italian beef sandwich with giardiniera carryout! Sandwich bread had prefect structure of harder crust and soft center to cradle beefy deliciousness. Beef was thinly sliced and packed in tight. Got peppers on top added additional flavor and nice compliment to beef. The au jus was carefully packed and sealed for carryout transport. And the deep rich flavor when dipped added a taste as if you were eating an upgraded sandwich.

BOMB! Quirky little place serving up some delicious pizza and other Chicago style treats. The deep dish pizza is on-point with the perfect fought-to-cheese-to-sauce ratio. The meat balls are tender and just amazing. Service was super helpful and friendly. Such a great little place.

Made a huge mistake ordering from a restaurant closer. We live in La Mesa. Picked up today and everything was amazing salad had extra olives and the deep dish is sooooo good. We will definitely drive there for pick up. Even during a planned protest.

This is one of my fave lunch spots! You can get in and out pretty quick if you're in a hurry. The slices are excellent. Being a Chicago place, the deep dish is fantastic. I haven't found a better Chicago style pie in SD. Sometimes I just order a whole meaty pie deep dish and bring it back to the shop. Everyone appreciates that haha! The CBGB is absolutely amazing. It is a Cheesy Beef on Garlic Bread. Thinly sliced tender delicious beef on a delicious bread roll, either dipped in an au jus style broth or with the dip on the side (my preferred method). It is probably my favorite sandwich right now, I feel like I need at least one a week.

Love this place! Family loves the thin pepperoni pizza, throw in a few deep dish slices and a hot dog and we are set! Great service, they always make us feel right at home. Friendly vibes and excellent food every time we are here!

Still delicious! The deep dish cornbread crust continues to impress me year after year. The blue cheese salad with chicken *chefs kiss. The chicken tendies are . Chicago style hot dogs . Service is great. Can't ask for a more comfortable setting.

My Dads from Chicago so we went in today and SUCH nostalgia. So much Chicago history. Dad was not a fan of the deep dish style since Chicago has thin crust cut in squares. Sicilian style was deep dish. Not the same lol But it's tasty! He tried the beer and hopefully we'll try the Italian beef soon! Loved the subway CTA L train transit map above the doorway! Red line takes you right to Wrigley.

I have only tried deep dish pizza once from a random joint in National city years and years ago. It did not leave a lot to be desired and I spent the rest of my years since imagining that deep dish is whatever. Leftys has changed that for me and this might be go to spot now and my go to pie is the veggie pie with basil added to it. A side of fried mushrooms is a must! All that aside, the customer service here is great! Genuinely genuinely nice dudes. Thanks for the food!

RATING 3.5/5 After a few recommendations to try the deep dish pizza here, I finally got around to stopping by . I phoned in my order for pick-up right at opening time and the young man who answered the phone was nice . I decided to try out their deep dish cheese pizza -- as it was my first time, I wanted to try out one of their most basic pizzas . I also ordered a side of their garlic cheesey bread, but I received regular garlic bread lol-- make sure you check your order before leaving the restaurant ! The young man I spoke to on the phone said it would take about 30 minutes for order to be ready-- so I headed out about 10 minutes later as I live about 15 minutes away . Parking is a little hit or miss since this location is in the heart of north park . Once I arrived, the shop itself is so cute . There's a few dine in tables and a cozy outdoor seating area . I picked up my pizza which was fresh and steaming out of the box, sprinkled Parmesan on the deep dish, and headed back home ! I did a car review as soon as I got home, and I'm not even going to lie-- I was a little underwhelmed . Because this was recommended to me, I was expecting sooo much more . I wanted a cheese pull like what you see in photos-- and sadly it did not happen lol . The crust itself was crisp and was fun to chew since it had a nice thin layer of fluff on the inside . The cheese was salty and the sauce was a little too sour for me . I decided to give it another try later that night . I reheated another slice lightly in the Airfryer, and then even microwaved it for another 30 seconds just to make sure the pizza was piping hot . I was still STRUGGLING to get that darn cheese pull !! The first few bites are just sauce and bread-- you need to keep eating because the majority of the cheese is near the end of the crust area . .. and yes, I did get the cheese pull I wanted after all !! The cheese and sauce balanced each other out more on the second slice as well . The deep dish pizza itself was good, but not what I was expecting . I would totally go back to try out their other goodies for sure-- and I recommend dining in or heating up your pizza at home before enjoying . I would still send people here to try it because everyone's tastebuds are different-- try it, you might like it more than I did (: I rated the deep dish in my car review without the cheese pull a 7.5/10 . I keep my rating the same when I heated the pizza up with a cheese pull at home a 7.5/10 . The garlic bread was garlic bread-- kinda bummed I didn't get the cheesey garlic bread, but that's okay . The marinara sauce it came with was soo good ! I actually wished that sauce was on the deep dish lol . I'll be back to give you another try soon, Lefty's !

Absolutely amazing. Service, environment, and food. Was very accommodating and their customer service is phenomenal. Food was delicious and the portions are perfect. Would come back over and over again. You can basically build your own pizza and it's perfect for anyone. They do have other food besides pizza and salad. Look forward to coming back again and again.

Only ate here twice; italian beef was superb and pizza was crummy. Pizza that looks gourmet but has no flavor just decievs, intentionally or not.

My friends wanted to try this place, I've heard good things about it, so we went on a Friday night. Not busy at all. We ordered the stuffed pizza, this massive behemoth of a thing for the three of us, and we couldn't finish it, but it tasted amazing. Took about an hour to make, but worth the wait. After one piece each, we were done, but tried to eat another piece and couldn't do it. They have a few different Chicago style pizzas to choose from. There is a small seating area outside, but can fill up quick. Luckily there was an empty table when we arrived. And parking lot on side is small, so you may have to park in the neighborhood. Service was just ok.

Ouch...a recent visit to Lefty's forces me to leave a 2 star review. The last time I had deep dish pizza was in 2017 at Lefty's...you see, I only crave deep dish pizza every 5 years, so I was WAY overdue. My better half and I both agreed a trip to Lefty's was in order since we were already in San Diego and it had been AGES since either one of us had deep dish pizza. Like most restaurants post-pandemic, things have changed. Service was fine and we snagged a table on their outdoor patio. We ordered two slices... The slices were smaller, less full (thanks shrinkflation!) and the ingredients didn't taste fresh at all. Hate to say it..I'm pretty certain the tomato sauce was from a can which is downright sad. :( Even though I only eat deep dish pizza every 5 years, this visit doesn't reset the clock. I'm still overdue for some really good deep dish pizza. #sadface

THICCCCCC CRUST (5 stars) ... eating on a budget. I haven't had Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria since 2013 in San Francisco. It's been existing in SD but have always route my pizza craving to thin crust New York style pizza. But after a recent visit here, I forgot how thiccc pizza has good offerings as well. My second order of TooGoodToGo was from this place. My surprise bag was $3.99. Parking was extremely difficult due to its location being in North Park aka No Park. But they were on time with prepping the pickup. My surprise bag... in this case, my surprise box came with (3) slices of pizza. At first I thought it was one pizza, then I saw two, and then I saw three! 2 deep dish and 1 regular. The crust here is amazing! I could eat the crust by itself - drizzle some honey to cut some of the acidity from the tomato sauce and eat it with the crust. PEPPERONI DEEP DISH - yum! It was hard to see the pepperoni as it was deep in the dish. VEGGIE DEEP DISH - yum! Veggie pizza sounds boring BUT all the veggies really shined on this pie. Layers and layers of cheese, pizza sauce, and veggies. CHEESE THIN & CRISPY - it was basic, not super thin but on the thin side. Tasted average. What I liked about the pizza is that it didn't get hard and stale when saving the pizza in the fridge. After a quick warm up the pizza tasted exactly as it should.

I love this place food and salad are well proportioned, customer service always great !

We waited one and a half hours for our pizza which was supposed to take one hour (it says 55 minutes on menu). We went in three times and tipped $5 just to call us but they didn't. Lady taking break outside and man inside no help either. $50 pizza???? We sat outside freezing waiting.

The food is good and the pizza has a very crispy crust. Recommendation CBGB! Service is quick never short staffed. The place is kind of small, seats wooden and kind of uncomfortable.

You probably know Lefty's Chicago Style Pizza is hands down the best spot for authentic Chicago-style deep dish! Their pizza is everything you'd hope for--perfectly buttery crust, rich sauce and delicious toppings. If you take it home, in highly recommended heating it up in a skillet with a little butter for the delicious crust to get a nice crunch. But the real surprise for me.Their classic beef sandwich. It's just as impressive as the pizza--tender, juicy beef piled high on a roll, with spicy Giardiniera and Au Jus on the side. It's so good.

parking is dismal, ambience is ordinary, service from the proprietor (owner?) was burnout--that person needs to retire. You could feel it was nothing personal, he just didn't wanna wait on any more people ever. so why four stars? The pizza was magnificent. I had the thin crust pesto 16 inch 30 bucks. Prices are not posted so be aware almost all pieces are 16 inches for 30 bucks. What made that pizza spectacular was the freshness of the ingredients, the deliciousness of the pesto and what I believe was freshly made ricotta on top . What what a difference that made! Probably the best way to handle lefties is to order online to go and just come pick it up. The pizza is worth the inconvenience and the drab service..

ordered a Chicago style hotdog, and Italian beef... the hot dog might as well of been uncooked, I don't think they used authentic Chicago dog ingredients. i'm from Chicago, and it was a complete letdown. the Italian beef was dry, no juice, and no peppers, even though I ordered them. and the fries were undercooked and cold. 100% will not be spending another dime there. really had my hopes up for an authentic taste of home, judging by the reviews. but they completely dropped the ball on this one.

Chicago Dog and the Deep Dish we're incredible! On the small side but very accommodating. If you go to San Diego the is a must stop!

The best pizza we've found in San Diego! The thin crust is the best in our opinion. There are very good tables but if you can eat it right then and there, I recommend!

Fantastic foods, fantastic Chicago style pizza. Fantastic Chicago style hot dogs. Cold beer at reasonable prices

I'm a Chicago girl on the west coast. So I am particular about my pizza and Italian Beef sandwiches. This place is solid! Very mom and pop feeling. Not a lot of room to sit, but a cute little patio area outside. Italian Beef was tasty, dipped and flavorful. Portions were big. The pizza looked good, but I didn't try it. They sell pizza by the slice too. Give it a try if you are longing for some Chicago food.

The food is amazing We had the best pizza , garlic bread Will definitely come back again and again It's a great and the service is amazing Angelina

Found the gem while exploring North Park. I've been to Chicago numerous times and I'm hesitant to try anything that says Chicago pizza outside of Chicago. However Lefty's doesn't disappoint. Pizza is solid and is a nice node to the deep dish. Employee were super nice and even gave me stickers for the little ones back home. Lefty's reminds me of walking through Wicker Park or Lakeview. Love this place and would highly recommend. Shout out to 312.

Always a staple here in San Diego. If your an East Coaster and missing glimpses, tastes and smell from back home, get over here! Lefty's will definitely not let you down. Small storefront with a front patio. Grab a slice and a beer. Welcome Home. Daily pies made and sold by the slice in the front case. Or pop in for a sit down out front and relax. Tons of Chicago memorabilia to look at on the walls. They also have take out if you want to be the talk of your party. Get a giant pie and make everyone's day/night. Went for the Chicago polish dog this round. Warm bun, tasty sausage and fresh handful of fries. It's a win win here folks. Pizza is outta this world delicious! It will satisfy all the cravings you're having. Only downside is there is only one disabled parking spot by the front. And since all the bike lanes have went in around this area, prepare to circle the block a few times. Parking is street only and that is the only downfall if you don't live in the area. Take an Uber here if it's not too far.

I haven't been to Lefty's in forever; it's still just as good as I remember it. I ordered a farmer's market deep dish pie and it hit my craving, like a back scratcher gets an itch. It was delicious and extremely filling. A slice would have sufficed, but I was feeling overly confident in my ability to eat. I also ordered their artichoke spinach bread and it was transcendently satisfying. I will be coming back for this bread again and again. Paid $60.80 (with tip) and it was worth every penny.

Great deep dish pizza and thin crust is good as well. Salads are really well made and always fresh.

Always need a fix for deep dish pizza from being from Chicago! Lefty's is a go-to spot for me! Some nights I order a deep dish pizza for pick up and it hits the spot. They even have pizza puffs which is super nostalgic. Where else can you get that except from Chicago?! Highly recommend - still need to try the hot dogs. Will be back for more

Poor service. There was a rude and angry young man working counter. He was angry and yelling at customers on Saturday 7/26. He said, "You have an attitude," when asking questions. No rhyme or reason for his behavior. Maybe he would have been kinder if i didn't tip him.

Lefty's is hands down my favorite pizza stop in San Diego! Their thin crust pizza is the best I've ever had. The service has always been great and the owner Lauren will go out of her way to make sure you have a great dinning experience. I recommend them to all of my friends!

Take out. Not bad pizza but deep dish wasnt as deep as I am used too. Pasta was tasty.

Hands down one of the best deep dish pizza in San Diego. We came here after reading all the positive reviews and had to give it a try. The cashiers in the front were super friendly and made great suggestions. We ended up ordering a 16 inch deep dish with half Meaty Pie and half Gold Coast. Fair warning, the pie does take 35 minutes to make but they do have slices offered in the front counter available for purchase. We sat outside to enjoy our pizza and the cashiers made sure to turn on the heat lamps for us. The pizza came out piping hot out of the oven and it was delicious with the cheese oozing out as you pull out a slice. We loved that the crust was beautifully crusty and not greasy at all. The two of us ate half the pie and the cashier was even nice enough to help us box up the leftovers to bring home. I can't wait to come back to try the sandwiches and the thin crust next time.

I didn't grow up with deep dish so its def different to me. A deep ish slice is like $5 which i think is pretty good. The loaded fries are good too! The inside has music box posters if you're into small bands and artists with a rock look. There's only one bathroom so good luck. Small place though.

Service was awesome! Pizza was good too! Felt like deep dish Chicago style pizza. We haven't found one yet that really hits the spot like the pizzas in Chicago. We hoped that this will be our new go to place. The vibe is like Hodads when entering. Lots of stickers on walls and really fun ambiance. Location is in the "trendy" area of Hillcrest so it's a nice place to stop by and grab a slice or whole pizza when out or something else off the menu if you're not feeling like pizza. The service was great!! Very helpful since being there the first time. Pizza was thick and it was good. Definitely hit the spot when craving Chicago style type of pizza. Will have to try again in the future but we still feel we haven't found pizza like in Chicago. But then again we are in California so can't really compare.

This is Italian beef sandwich is the best i've ever eaten, ask for it on garlic bread for a fantastic garlicky flavor!!! YUMMMMM they give so much meat it is fantastic

Authentic Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza. Great atmosphere, including outdoor seating with TVs to watch your favorite sporting event. This pizza takes 40+ minutes to cook. I recommend ordering ahead of time and getting there 10-15 minutes before it's supposed to be ready.

My husband, son and I had lunch at Lefty's today. The friendly faces, delicious thin crust pizza and Chicago Dogs did not disappoint! The pizza was beautifully thin and cooked to perfection. The dogs were thoroughly enjoyed and gone before I could snap a pic! My ten year old was suprised by the poppyseed bun - and decided it was an amazing addition r to the "dog and ketchup ONLY" version he scarfed down. My husband waxed poetic about the authentic look and taste of the full "Chicago Dog" experience. While they were eating away I decided to share their fries (included with the dogs- love when they are included!)- YUM- crisply outside and soft inside, perfectly salted- at the risk of redundancy - YUM!! YUM!! Our thin crust pizza came out next - delish- I love when you can see the quality in the cheese and the toppings in a pie before even taking a bite! We had a couple solid brews and a can of 7-Up for the decade old. The patio seating was comfortable and the ambiance just right for a winter afternoon in sunny San Diego. Lefty's- many thanks and see you soon!

their food is great! & they're really nice. BUT BEWARE. once you come close to closing time the mood shifts & they are very cold & rude. other than that, great pizza!

Good pizza & salad! Our favorite go to pizza place! Great for sports teams, birthday parties, really any event! Just wish they delivered!

Food wasn't great and paid extra for toppings I didn't get. Over priced. I wouldn't recommend

My first time trying out Lefty's and was so pumped to discover San Diego has a true, Chicago style eatery. Such a good location with a nice porch to hang out on and the inside displaying that true city vibe, I knew I was gonna be in for a treat. I know they are mainly known for their pizza but ya girl had to get a dipped, Italian beef! So freaking delicious! You have the option of getting the dip on the side as well if your not feeling messy. We also had to get the Chicago style dog, which came with fries and also test out the mozzarella sticks, which both were bomb! They also had an array of beer, seltzers, drafts and cans. The staff was also SUPER friendly. We came close to close and they didn't rush us at all, came and chatted and kept checking back. I definitely will be back to get my fix again. Would love to try the pizza next time!

The pizza reminded me of pie, at first I was suspicious of how the pizza looked but you choose your slice and they put it in the oven. The veggie pizza was very delicious the sodas were a bargain price! The cashier was very chill, great customer service, we ended up eating outside the weather was nice and enjoyable. The cashier was on top of everything and every single customer that came in left happy!

It's the Best service and Best Pizza in San Diego. Also the Italian Beef is Amazing and the Italian sausage sandwich with Marinara sauce is Yumm!

First time there today and they are so friendly and helpful. They offered before I even asked if they could cut my kids slice up.