Little Original Joe's
Pizza restaurant · West Portal
393 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127
Highlights
Specialty pizzas, pasta, market, Zanze's cheesecake, outdoor seating
Specialty pizzas, pasta, market, Zanze's cheesecake, outdoor seating
"Drinking one too many espresso martinis The Spicy Mike, zucchini fries, prosciutto spicy vodka parmigiana" - julia chen 1
"Little Original Joe’s is the more glamorous sister restaurant to Original Joe’s—and it’s the Marina’s most popular see-and-be-seen destination since the Union Street Equinox opened. Flaunt your flashiest outfit, and stake claim to the seats next to the huge windows, so that jealous passersby can peer in and wish they too were digging into parmesan-dusted zucchini fry towers. Or snag a negroni (complete with a LOJ-branded ice cube) at the bar and wait for someone to compliment your watch." - julia chen 1, patrick wong
"You’re going to Little Original Joe’s (by the Original Joe’s team, naturally) to look hot while eating parmesan-covered appetizers and sipping on cocktails with branded “LOJ” ice cubes. This is Chestnut Street’s see-and-be-seen destination, complete with people perching on leather booths for photoshoots with espresso martinis. While the pastas are underwhelming, stick with the thin-crust pizzas and zucchini fries and you’ll have a lovely time—especially if you’re throwing on “happy birthday” headbands and looking to get martini-drunk, or need a place to dress up and show off your blown out bangs." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez
"Unlike the splashy, see-and-be-seen Little Original Joe’s in the Marina, the West Portal outpost is more straightforward—it’s takeout-only with just a few sidewalk seats. The menu covers the same crowd-pleasing Italian staples like crispy-edged pizzas, rotisserie chicken salads, and spicy vodka rigatoni. Our favorite dish is the salty-sweet chicken parmigiano with a thin layer of prosciutto that arrives in a to-go box looking like a lone island in a vodka sauce ocean. There’s also a market inside if you need to stock up on fancy hot sauces or fresh bread while you wait." - ricky rodriguez, julia chen 1, patrick wong
"While the original Original Joe’s is undoubtedly a San Francisco mainstay, the new swanky Marina spin-off, which opened in early 2024, is where the fun and the hearty Italian fare are. The expansive restaurant is a vibrant hodgepodge of fresh pasta, savory pizza martinis, large salads, and the best part — a whole section of cheesy Parmigiana offerings, including classic chicken and ricotta-stuffed portobello. Sit at the bar for the ultimate party-like experience." - Flora Tsapovsky
