Ray's Pizza

Nice spot. The older gentleman at the front taking orders was really nice. There was a special for $10.50 for two pizza slices and a soda. Pizza was good! There is beer and variety of types of pizza (we had cheese and pepperoni since those were with the special). Will stop by again!

My go to pasta place. I like pasta here a lot. Rigatoni with meat sauce is my favorite. The gentleman here is very kind, and every time I place a pick up order my food is packaged so well. Only complaint I have is that they close so early ;)

Some of the best pizza I’ve ever had! I love the crispy bottoms on the slices, very delicious. I love that the crust isn’t very chewy either. The service was excellent, and the gentleman at the counter was very pleasant to talk to. I will definitely stop by again!

Ray's Pizza: My Thin Crust Paradise! Okay, people, I'm not the biggest pizza fan out there, but every now and then, I get this craving for a truly amazing slice. And when that happens, there's only ONE place that'll do: Ray's Pizza! This little corner spot at the UC Irvine Campus Mall is my absolute go-to for New York-style pizza done right. Their thin crust? Forget about it! It's crispy, it's flavorful, and if you ask for it "well done" like I do, it's like a whole other level of deliciousness. Here's my insider tip: Take that bad boy home and stick it in your toaster oven for a couple of minutes. That extra heat makes the crust even crispier. Now, let's talk toppings. Ray's doesn't mess around. The sauce is just the right amount of tangy, not too sweet, and the cheese? This is what I love - it's the perfect amount! Not too much, not too little. None of that crazy cheese-lava overflow that you get at some places. My personal faves? The Italian sausage (classic for a reason!) and the "Hippie" – their unique twist on a Margherita with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and basil. It's like a pizza and a salad had a baby, and that baby is DELICIOUS. Why Ray's gets 5 stars from me: The Food: Come on, it's pizza perfection! 5 stars, baby! The Service: Ray and his crew are always so friendly and welcoming. It's like they're happy to see you, you know? 5 stars for sure! The Atmosphere: It's chill, it's casual, it's perfect for grabbing a slice and just enjoying the moment. 5 stars all the way! So, if you're ever in Irvine and that pizza craving hits, do yourself a favor and head over to Ray's. You won't regret it! P.S. Just remember, taste is subjective! These are my personal opinions, and your mileage may vary. But hey, if you like what I like, then you're gonna LOVE Ray's. 🍕😋 The pictures left to right - Sausage and the Hippie

Great place for a quick bite! Delicious pizza, fast service, and not expensive. Great quality for a quick cheap eats! They have a great lunch special two slices and a drink for about $11

Yesterday was my 1st time trying this place even though I have been working in this plaza for 5 years. 😅 To be honest I’m not really a pizza 🍕 person BUT omg I love the pizza here. They had a special.. 2 slices and a drink for $10.50. I loved it so much I got it again today for lunch. 😅 Ps the owner here is such a nice man.

It's a quaint pizza place that has a lovely atmosphere, the man who was at the front was really kind. Service is quick. The sauce is really good- I'd recommend getting a pizza with minimal toppings to be able to truly enjoy the richness of the sauce. Perfectly crispy crust as well! Got a half Hawaiian & Supreme pizza in the picture.

Our family's favorite pizza spot. My wife and I have been coming since before 2000, and now my kids want to go to UCI, just to be close to Ray's!

I initially walked in just wanting to purchase a Diet Coke to go with the wrap I had bought at Trader Joe's, and when I came in I was immediately greeted by the kindest older gentleman I can only assume was Ray himself. He told me he is the older business within the university town center, has been their 38 years and has served countless Anteaters! Now mind you i only went in for a Diet Coke originally but after Ray asked if I wanted a pizza I deliberated and eventually said, 'you know what, give me a slice of the veggie' ... to which he responded "You're gunna love it!" And you know what, I did! I have to commend them on how they cook their crust, perfection... the bottom was perfectly crisp without being overcooked and the rest of the pizza was solid. This is not a gourmet establishment, so don't expect overly fancy pizza, this is for those that are looking for a solid, yummy slice of pizza and a throw back vibe- my kind of place! Not to mention I noticed all the customers he was so interactive, kind, knew their names and treated them like family. I highly recommend :)

Super delicious quality pizza! Crust is nice, thin, and crispy. Tomato sauce tastes homemade and well balanced! Great prices, go check it out.

There's something unique about Rays Pizza. The crust along with the sauce and cheese just hits way different than other pizza places. This family owned business truly holds a great name and serves flavorful pizza. I wish they were open a bit later but other than that everything else is GREAT!

Long live Ray's! I used to visit Ray's once a week about a decade ago; my first office was in the 4199 tower. Just happened to be strolling through University Center tonight and hello Ray's! You're still here! Was going to call in for a slice but convinced my husband to split a small cheese with me. Came out in about ~15 minutes and was fresh, fresh, fresh! Miraculously, we ate the entire pizza then and there (8 slices). They have some nostalgic photos of New York on the walls and also have one of the old school Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video games that you can still play for a quarter inside. They have some combo specials (two slides and a drink, or a slice, salad and drink, for example) that you can take advantage of. Not quite NY pizza (dough needs to be crispier on the bottom), but a good pizza nonetheless. 2024: 89/100

Really disappointed with our visit to Ray's. From the start, the owner/worker was noticeably rude, not just unfriendly as you would expect. Maybe because we were the only people there and it's not a business doing well. The pizza was bad, and definitely not worth the prices they're charging. You'd expect at least decent quality or a little generosity for what they're asking. AND, to top it all off, no free refills on a soda, which honestly felt like a final slap in the face considering everything else. We won't be coming back. There are way better pizza spots in town that actually care about both their food and their customers.

4 Stars is right for Ray's. If you're hungry for fast slices this is the way to go. Was hoping for awesome sauce or something with a more NY taste but about average on sauce and cheese meaning it's hot. To get that flavor you'd have to pay a lot more it seems these days so this is still a good deal. Good idea to be ready at the register or could end up No Soup for You. Overall got my fill with some really crispy thin slice dough. That's was nice!!!

If you want to thin pizza this is the place to go. You can order slices but I live it so much I typically order xlarge pizza. These are one of the few pizza I finish every single bite. These pizzas are also great eating it cold the next day. They are not fancy nor extensive but what they do have is excellent and non-pretentious.

You can never go wrong with pizza, and Ray's does a great job of sticking to that standard! Their pizza is classic, cheezy, with a thick fluffy crust, and lots of typical toppings to choose from. I would like to think that they has really mastered the basics - which is my gold standard for a restaurant when I'm craving a quality, straightforward pizza. I also tried their garden salad - which wasn't anything special, but I thought was a good amount for the price, and was loaded up with fixings. I haven't tried their pastas, but they looked (and smelled) really good, so I will definetly be back at some point!

Love rays pizza Staff is so friendly & funny. Super personable & rly good pizza. We like getting their pizza specials which include 2 slices of either pepperoni or cheese and a drink. Food is ready in literally 5 minutes. Another plus is that their soda is super carbonated -- in other words, perfect. Indoor has decent seating.

I usually come here for lunch while I'm at work if I'm in the mood for some comfort food. I could choose any other place at UTC, but Ray's Pizza is my go-to greasy spoon in Irvine. I normally go for the $11 two slices and a soda deal. The pizza is pretty hearty and if you're looking for comfort pizza, this is it. It's good for the price and if you just need a quick bite. Service has always been friendly. It's indie owned so the cooks and staff pretty much know you if you're a regular. The ambience is very much geared at the college students at UC Irvine but anyone can enjoy this greasy spoon. I prefer eating outdoors. Tables are usually cleaned often. Parking is not too hard to come by.

One of the best pizzas I've had in OC! Super fresh, flavorful, and you can tell the owner truly cares, such a kind man who takes pride in his business.

The pizza I got was very old and not tasteful at all. When I returned to see if I can get a refund or exchange for something else, the owner did not comply. I recommend just going to blaze pizza instead.

Oldie school but goodie school. A cool find in the young and trendy University Town Center. This reminded me of classic American-Italian food. I had the eggplant parm. Smothered in tons of slow-cooked sauce. Small and super casual. Only a few tables inside---but the center has lots of outdoor tables.

Such an underrated pizza spot, I tried their pepperoni and vegetable pizza and the cheese melt was just amazing. Not only is the food great, the owner Ray is so kind and I would come back for the service alone. The ambience is really lively and they have enough seats inside but seems more of a take out place.

The Supreme Pizza is delicious! This is the best pizza place at UTC and the owner, Ray, is very nice too.

Walked in to grab a slice. Slices were around $6 a pop. My LO got their pepperoni and it tasted good. I definitely want to grab their slices the next time I'm around. It is always a pleasure chatting with the old guy.

Ray's pizza tastes the same now as when I went to school here in the 90's. I respect that wherever they are sourcing their ingredients, they are not compromising on recipe or taste. Can't beat the two slices and a drink meal deal. And somehow, Ray has not aged a day in 30 years. A great place to pick up and slice and maybe play a video game that actually might be the same Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle game that I played while studying O-chem. I'm kidding, I never took Organic chemistry. I wanted a life in college.

I was heading to the movie theatre and I happened to notice Ray's Pizza. I saw they sell single slices, and decided to stop in and grab one before the show. I'm really glad I did! Tip: There's a special where you can get two slices and a drink for somewherre in the neighborhood of $7! I've always been a fan of NY-style pizza, and the slices they serve here really look and taste just like the ones I remember from the Big Apple; the crust is perfectly shaped, and you can "fold" a slice to eat it, without having it flop all over :-) I don't remember the last time I had a slice that tasted this good - I really enjoyed it, and I'm going to make a point to swing by here soon to pick up a whole pie so I can enjoy it at home.

Amazing. Randomly stumbled on this pizza spot while we looked for lunch and we were not disappointed. Pizza was delicious and appreciated the lunch special. 10/10

Yesterday was my 1st time trying this place even though I have been working in this plaza for 5 years. To be honest I'm not really a pizza person BUT omg I love the pizza here. They had a special.. 2 slices and a drink for $10.50. I loved it so much I got it again today for lunch. Ps the owner here is such a nice man.

I really felt that my past review might've been a little tough on Ray's. So I've added some stars to the initial review because the pizza IS good.

Kindest elderly gentlemen I have ever met in irvine greeted me as I walked in, he called me Superman and offered me his splendid pizza combo deal. The flavoring was wonderful and crunchy. I have never been to New York, and now... let's just say I have.

We have ordered take out Pizza from Ray's several times, and have enjoyed it each time. We have not used the modest dining room, or the tabled outside, but from the observation of the students doing so I think it is popular. We have always ordered using the on line menu, and by the time I drive 20 minutes to Rays shop the order is ready or near ready.

Ray's is a decent pizzeria near UCI. They have a decent lunch deal that's $11 something for a slice of pepperoni and a slice of cheese pizza and a fountain drink. The slices were of average to slightly smaller than average size for new york pizzas. It didn't taste amazing nor was it bad. It was average as average gets. The service was fast and polite. They don't do free refills. It's a $1 for refills on fountain drinks. The ambiance is pretty college campus like. No surprise there. You gotta do that near college campuses if you're a small business. You can eat inside or they have seats outside. No frills. Just somewhere to sit and eat. Pretty decently average pizza place near campus.

I must say that Ray's pizza, is not your ordinary pizza place. Pizza here comes out hot and fresh. This pizza place is always my guarrented go to spot for an amazing slice of pizza. The service here is friendly and warm. I highly recommend Ray's Pizza, because I am always promised a bite of satisfaction. And I know that you will too!

Dropped in to say hi. Been awhile since I've stopped in. Picked up the special. 2 slices and a drink since it was lunch time. Cheese and pepperoni. Thin slice. Nice layer of sauce and topping. His pizza reminds me of being in New York. Good quality of cheese sauce and pepperoni he uses. I kept my order simple. However you should try any of the other items if you're in the area or take a whole pizza to go. Mel M Yelp 24:06

Great pizza, reasonable price, and super friendly owner. One of the shops that has been UTC the longest and it's easy to see why. Always a great place to pick up a slice or a pizza to go. It's also fun to play some street fighter there as well.

Furthest thing from NY pizza... Price was average and the flavor was mediocre. I probably won't ever come back, not worth it to me.

3.8 stars is what my husband says for their cheese slice. A plain and simple cheese is what my husband uses as a baseline for all pizza spots and I'd say we were pretty impressed with this one. We passed by and decided to stop in to give it a try and we're glad we did. A good dough and crust that wasn't too oily where it was still crisp and held it's shape. We do think that the sauce could've been more flavorful with tang since it was kinda bland but the cheese was melty good and we wouldn't have been mad if there was even more cheese on it. Overall, very decent slice that we'd get again if we were there but I don't think it's our favorite to go just for it. I'd be down to come back and try their other pizzas though. Seems to have a lot of other good options there. Quick and friendly service, I liked the cute little pizza shop ambiance with a little arcade game on the side.

Solid 4! Just simple thin and crispy pizza. Slices have a nice and light burn on bottom. Just a nice balanced slice and not a greasy slab of dough. Their sausage is awesome, almost like smashed pork chunks. Nice owner/manager, quick service, and excellent lunch specials.

Ray's is awesome! And we're born and bred NYC'ers who are super picky about pizza. Good prices too!

Great location close to UCI at University Center. Lunch combo special is awesome and a must to get. Quick service and Ray is super awesome and friendly, will definitely be back!!

I ordered to go for my older daughter and me as a surprise for her for lunch. The guy at the front counter was nice and the restaurant had a cool little inside and some outside shared seating. We each had 2 slices and a medium fountain drink. She wanted 2 cheese and I got 2 pepperoni slices. We asked for well done. The slices stayed hot in the box even after a 10 minute brisk walk to my daughter's! We had a Dr Pepper and Pink Lemonade. We really enjoyed lunch so much. We will be back!!!

Been coming here since 4th grade, ITS THAT GOOD. Very clean. Pizza is the PERFECT NY slice. Foldable, perfect sauce and cheese flavors. Crust is so unique, sometimes reminiscent of Persian Sangak. Crispy outermost layer that gives that nice crunch sound when you first bite followed by chewy floopy pizza goodness. And of course Mr. Ray is a character. He gave me free pizza when I was a kid. Decades later he's still at it going strong. His son is so nice too. Hope he carries this business forwards for a long time and expands it! Just don't get rid of the Street Fighter and TMNT arcade games tho. Those are legend among Irvine/Newport lifers like me. And don't change your decor. So many good memories in your shop.

The legendary Ray's pizza is not something to joke about. It contains profecies about true quality. First off the service was sweet and very caring. The size of a single slice will surprise you, being ginormeous. The flavor was so good that even though I'm now a new vegan, Im tempted to go back and have just one more slice. The ambience is right on, like an older style rubys vibe with chairs inside and out front. 10/10 recommend you and all your friends to hit up rays pizza right now

We love to order a full pizza from Rays. Fresh and hot. I love the crust here, so close to a NY slice. Highly recommend

I found this spot and decided why not try it . The pizza was good, I got the lunch special it was $10.26 for two slices of pizza and a drink. I wanted a slice of pizza and a salad but the cashier said " we don't have salad right now". One of the kitchen staff said "we can make one fresh, the cashier answered " no no it's fine no salad". I didn't like that, if I'm paying customer I should get what I want and it's advertised on the menu and lunch special signs. Overall the pizza was okay nothing special. The restaurant was pretty empty.

The workers are friendly, not that many people seem to go but they do have a lunch deal. Plenty of parking but can get busy around lunch time because the area is student central. Pizza wise, its def not high quality pizza but if you want your basic pizza fixing and don't want to drive to costco- tadaa. It's on the thinner size and light, top can be a bit greasy. The crust is softer than costco. So like okay pizza, friendly workers and it's chill, no line, easy so if you are there and you really want pizza it's coo. Got a lunch deal too :)

It's nostalgia every time we come here because we used to frequent Ray's regularly when we were college students at UCI! Always glad to know this place is still here and thriving, and Ray is still as sweet and hardworking as ever. Beyond that - their pizza is delicious and their daily specials are a value! Can't go wrong with Ray's for solid pizza and excellent customer service.

Ray's pizza is a hidden gem in UTC! It is frequented by the students nearby and for good reason. This place has affordable pizza, with a pretty big single slice. I got the medium supreme pizza to share with friends and it was pretty filling. It came with 14 slices and we had to wait about 15-20 minutes. When we pulled apart the slices the cheese was still gooey. It was definitely one of the best pizzas I've had. The toppings reminded me of the Costco combination pizza. Parking is very easy as it's in a big plaza with plenty of spaces.

Rays Pizza is my Partner's favorite pizza place. Aside from the nostalgia this local joint brings him, in the 4+ years we've been dating, I could not fathom why this is his favorite pizza place. I'm no NY style pizza expert, but I wouldn't consider this thin style pizza. Him being a picky, thin pizza eater, I couldn't figure it out. After having the pizza fresh today, I am officially on the Rays pizza bandwagon. The astounding crinkle of the crust with each bite was absolutely heaven to my ears. Out of town Pizza lovers, bookmark this location cause this local fave is totally worth the visit! Do be aware, indoor seating is limited, atmosphere is casual. They're located in a college campus, so foot traffic is high. Still a great choice for a quick delicious stop.

Ray's pizza is a great value especially if you are a student attending UC Irvine. Got two slices of pizza and soda for $7 and some change. The pizza was delicious and the staff is personable.

Ray's is one of my favorite pizza spots and was a go-to in high school. I have such fond memories of stopping by during lunch time and grabbing a slice for like $2 (I'm sure the prices of slices have risen now, but a girl can dream haha). I do feel like Ray's has changed though. I have noticed that the menu has expanded, and the pizza dough feels different texturally. I do like the various options like the BBQ Chicken Pizza and the Hawaiian one, since i feel like that wasn't there before. I ended up getting a half and half pizza with those, as well as another whole pizza as Supreme. I will say that their pizzas are still huge. I scheduled delivery on their website, and it came right on time to my front door in big boxes. So though it's probably worth the price, I also don't think the pizza is as tasty as I remember. The crust feels a bit thicker and stiffer. But nevertheless, the pizzas were all delicious and came with a generous amount of toppings.

This was a good drop-by-in-a-pinch spot. We were hungry and looking for something quick while en route to a graduation ceremony at UCI. The food was fast, hot, and tasty. The pizza crust was thin and soft with some crisp to it. The Caesar salad was just ok. Would visit again if in the area.

Just transplanted from NYC. This pizza competes with Manhattan pizza. Highly recommend!!!

Seriously, who doesn't like pizza. I always say it is hard to find bad pizza, but you will be surprised sometimes. Ray's pizza was pretty damn good. You always know it's a good pizza when you start eating from the crust, specially while it's hot. I always like a lot of toppings on my pizza, therefore the Combo pizza was my pick. It has basically a little bit of everything, pepperoni, sausage, onions, bell pepper, and instead of mushrooms I got artichoke. Just for a change. Turned out to be a pretty good one. If you are looking for just a few slices, they do slices of pizza as well. There is ample amount of seating area at this center by UCI. A lot of outdoor seating areas with shade specially on a nice sunny day. Definitely worth trying if you are in the area looking for a pizza. I always try to support the mom and pops business first, be that person too.

One of the worst pizzas I ever had. I don't understand how can you mess up a pizza. Fake dough, cheap cheese. Very little toppings. Canned tomatoes sauce.

Best pizza everrrrr! I love Ray, he is a sweetheart and the cheese pizza is YUM! I go there frequently!

We've seen Ray's about a thousand times when visiting the shopping center on our way to dinner there, which is why we'd never tried it before. Our family was even more interested in trying it after seeing Santa talk to Buddy about the different "Ray's Pizza" restaurants in New York in the classic holiday movie "Elf." Finally we made the trek out the the university just to give Ray's a shot. As others have noted, I wouldn't be able to praise their staff for showering me with attention or friendliness. The store was empty and there were two employees behind the counter, and initially neither bothered to address me. In any case, my main interest was the food. The best thing I can recommend is the garlic bread. It was a bit crispy and very garlicky. Yum. However, we also ordered a 3-topping pizza and a pasta with meat sauce. The meat sauce was the most unique, as it had a strong, familiar scent. After a few sniffs we finally recognized it as a cinnamon-like smell. It was interesting and unique, but still a bit more weird than enjoyable. As for the pièce de résistance of the meal, the pizza... it was unfortunately nothing to write home about and nothing I could recommend. It was pretty much just a basic, run-of-the-mill pizza with ordinary crust, sauce, cheese, and toppings. It was also overpriced. I doubt we'll ever visit this establishment again, unless it's by accident.