Monstros Pizza — Local services in Chico

I love this place, maybe I'm a bit bias because it's classic Chico and doesn't share the gentrification vibes that so many restaurants that have opened downtown or nearby in the past 10 years have had.

Monstros has a lot of great memories for people, especially pre-Covid when Monstros hosted punk shows. Sadly COVID has kind of changed Gregg's business model, but it hasn't changed Gregg or the great pizza he makes there.

People are always asking how you even get pizza from there cause it always looks closed. It often is closed, but if you follow Monstros on Facebook then when Gregg does open, that's how you'll find out. He usually posts when they're opening a few hours in advance and he'll mention if anything's on special that day. Then you just call the number when they open (sometimes you may have to redial a few times cause it's a landline that can get tied up by others racing to order their pie), place your order, he'll take down your contact info and either call or text you when the pie is about 10mins from coming out of the oven so you can make your way down to pick it up.

In some ways, Monstros pizzas are the personification of that gooey cartoon pizza that always looked so appetizing to me. It's thicker than New York style, the cheese is always perfect, the pepperonis weren't too spicy and there are plenty of them, and the sauce (quantity and flavor) were always just right.

Basically in the post-covid world you show up, with cash, and pay at the door in exchange for the pie. Pretty simple but there's no more going inside and there's no pickup window at the joint, so you have to do this hand off.

This place will always rank in my top three pizza places, more often than not it's my #1. Some people think it's ridiculous what you have to go through to get one, and that it's not worth it, I think it adds character to the experience and the pie is worth it every time.

But...

If you like your pizza thick like a pie and packed with flavor, Monstro’s is it. It’s not greasy like most pizzas in Chico—just saucy, cheesy, and made with quality ingredients you can actually taste. Two slices filled me up, and it even reheated beautifully the next day in the oven—still fresh, not stale.

Now, the ordering and carryout experience? A little... quirky. You have to call in your order (no online ordering), and hours are only posted on Facebook. It’s cash only, too—feels kind of like a secret pizza drop. Weirdly iconic.

I love Bodega, but when I want a pizza that’s hearty, satisfying, and worth every penny, I go to Monstro’s. You're supporting a small, local business run by a guy who’s got total meme energy—funny, friendly, and clearly passionate about what he does.

Next time, I’m definitely trying...

During my recent visit to a local pizza place, I ordered a medium-sized double pepperoni and jalapeno pizza. Initially, I was pleased with the abundance of cheese, which added a tasty touch. However, my excitement quickly turned to confusion as I found what appeared to be pepperoni and carrot slices on my pizza. It turns out the carrots came from the canned jalapenos, leaving me less than impressed.

The overall experience gave off an odd vibe, similar to a secretive transaction you might see on the street corner, where cash-only deals are the norm. It reminded me of a style of pizza that wasn't quite what I was looking for. I prefer the simple and delicious thin-crust pizzas from other places in town.

In summary, the pizza place didn't deliver the classic pepperoni and jalapeno pizza I was expecting. Super...