Truly Pizza
Pizza restaurant · Dana Point
24402 Del Prado Ave, Dana Point, CA 92629
Highlights
Award-winning pizzas, including unique square pies, salads, and soft serve.
Award-winning pizzas, including unique square pies, salads, and soft serve.
"An Orange County pizzeria celebrated for airy-crusted pies that prioritize a light, open crumb and texture, contributing to the county’s distinctive pizza scene." - Becky Duffett
"Dana Point’s Truly Pizza, which just announced plans to expand to Laguna Beach, was named one of the best 50 pizzerias in the U.S. in 2024 and won a competition at the World Pizza Championship in Italy. Operated in part by John Arena, Chris Decker, and Michael Vakneen, who all hail from Las Vegas, the wood-fired round- and square-pizza specialists make exemplary pies worthy of a trek to Orange County." - Eater Staff
"This partnership from chef Chris Decker, Donna Baldwin, John Arena, and developer Steve Muller brings some of the best pizza in Southern California to Dana Point. Hearth-baked 12-inch American artisan pizzas like La Dolce Vita with fontina, artichoke cream, prosciutto cotto, and arugula emerge from the kitchen. But the coveted square pizzas, which are limited daily, combine the fluffy chew of focaccia with a quintessential cheese pull. The classic pepperoni is slathered with a nuanced California red sauce and topped with fresh and aged whole milk mozzarella and charred pepperoni. Save space for Strauss Creamery organic vanilla soft serve with drizzles of chocolate sauce or sprinkles of pistachio." - Jenn Tanaka
"“California-style” pizza is all about the light, wood-fired crust and fresh local ingredients, and few are making it on the level of this recent addition to Dana Point’s beautiful Lantern District. Grab a seat under the lemon tree on the upstairs patio and dig in to the Champion Cheese; its combination of California red sauce and mozzarella recently won Best Traditional Pizza honors at the 2024 International Pizza Challenge." - Vox Creative
"Nestled deep into Dana Point, this collaboration from award-winning chef Chris Decker — plus operators John Arena, Donna Baldwin, and partner Steve Muller — feels like an Avengers-style pizza creation. With airy, long-fermentation dough used in its round and square pizzas, the toppings are the star here. Decker and his on-the-ground chef, Sergio Balderas, craft well-browned pies covered with thin pepperoni cups, creamy stracciatella, and roasted vegetables. The result is something pretty far from authentic Italian, but also very familiar to Californians used to big, saucy, well-topped pies that don’t fold over like soaked cardboard. They’re served in an almost fully outdoor space that captures the ocean breeze just a few blocks away, though there’s also an enclosed dining room upstairs since the weather can get chilly. With plenty of experience building multiple units, it’s only a matter of time before Truly moves northward into more populated parts of Orange County and even Los Angeles. — Matthew Kang, lead editor" - Cathy Park
