Prime Pizza — Restaurant in El Segundo

As an East Coast transplant, my search for authentic pizza in California has been a disappointing journey... until Prime Pizza. This El Segundo gem delivers the real deal that actually satisfies those New York/New Jersey pizza cravings.

Their round pies nail that perfect balance - thin, foldable crust with just the right chew, quality sauce that doesn't overwhelm, and properly melted cheese. But the true standout for me is their Sicilian square pizza - crispy bottom, airy interior, and those perfect crispy cheese edges that any square pie enthusiast knows is the hallmark of excellence.

The white pizza deserves special mention - perfectly garlicky with ricotta that's creamy but not heavy. It rivals some of the best I've had back east, which is saying something.

What makes Prime even better is the efficiency. Whether grabbing a quick lunch or dinner, the service is always prompt and friendly. The ingredients taste noticeably fresh, and they don't skimp on quality.

The space is casual and unpretentious - exactly what you want in a proper pizza joint. Prices are reasonable for the quality you're getting.

For East Coasters suffering through California's pizza scene or locals who want to experience what proper pizza should taste like, Prime Pizza in El Segundo is the real deal. You won't miss those cardboard-crusted, overly sweet sauced...

I tried three different slices from Prime Pizza across a couple visits: Vodka, Grandma, and the Sicilian.

The grandma reminds me of a New York slice! I prefer a corner, and these corners are pretty large. The crust is fluffy in the middle but crispy on the edges and bottom. The delicious tomato sauce is dalloped to a perfect ratio on top. The grandma is a highlight and a classic done right. 5/5

The Sicilian is also full of flavor. The basil drizzled over the tomato sauce is a nice touch, and I thought this crust was a tad thinner than the grandma slice but still fluffy in the middle and crispy on the edges.

The Vodka was my least favorite. The sauce is delicious but something about the combination of the flavors and crust results in a confusing aftertaste. I also found this crust not as good as the square cut pizzas.

Overall, a great place to grab a slice. Any slices with a corner crust is my recommendation, because I think that's Prime's superior crust style and what they do best. There's cheese and red pepper on every table. Everyone here is so friendly and ready to help. Service...

TL, DR: Pizza was good, service was meh.

Perhaps just because it was opening day but it took 15 minutes to serve two slices. I could see the ones I wanted already cooked and on trays behind glass in front of me when I ordered, and they didn’t seem particularly busy (3 staff folding pizza boxes on the front counter). I ended up just taking them cold because it was taking so long.

The pizza itself is a solid 7/10. Good balance of cheese and toppings, and the crust has a nice sponge/tanginess to it you don’t find at a lot of places. Just hard to justify at 5 bucks per slice. I also have had their wagyu meatball curry pizza at their other location and felt similar, it was good but not great, especially as that pizza approached 40 bucks (!) for the whole pie.

Lots of hype, a little early to tell for sure but let’s hope this place lives up to it. Will try again and update review if anything changes. It’s hard to see them lowering their prices but that would help me feel better about the quality of food and service at this...