Apollonia's Pizzeria — Restaurant in Los Angeles

The build up to trying Apollonia's PIzzeria went on for a long time. I don't even know how long but it was at least several months. After seeing Dave Portnoy give Apollonia's a glowing review that showed me and I think many people there was a new Pizza place in Los Angeles to actually get excited about. It is clear that many feel the way because any day you approach Apollonia's they have a line of people waiting outside until opening time. When you go in there, you need cash. You have the choice of several extremely good looking square slices and can request thin slices from the back/ have fresh pies made.

You need to bring cash.

Can I say something that may be reaching but probably is not at all because it's obvious? These guys are Pizza Devotees. Maybe some people in this crew aren't really and just are looking at it as a job but I sense the bulk of the staff knows damn well they are part of a essentially Holy path by tending to the process of making this Pizza available to the people. If you want to say a place has "come correct" or is "proper" or "dank" and good quality from an artiste perspective. I think also these guys are probably all or mostly real ones. I could be wrong but I sense these guys are all real ones. I really do. And this is something beautiful to see in the PIzza game. See, there's these kind of places and then there's the bulk of Pizza places that are just passionless fillers and you wonder why they even exist.

This, you know why it is exists. It exists because Los Angeles deserves great Pizza. Hot Tongue, Little Dynamite, Ozzy's Apizza and Prime Pizza can't do it alone. But these Pizza establishments do do it alone in the realm of this kind of PIzza. I wish everyone who loves Pizza and is in Los Angeles would try Apollonia's one day. I truly do. I hope one day there can be unity and all these truly great Los Angeles Pizza establishments can collab and work together. It's a beautiful thing, this place. It truly is. Make sure...

Pepperoni Detroit Slice - 5⭐! Pancetta Detroit Slice - 5⭐! Acapulco Gold Detroit Slice / garlic, olive oil, ricotta, mozzarella, pecorino romano, oregano, tomato, arugula, truffle oil - 5⭐!

Apollonia's Pizzeria was on the top of my 'must try' list for some time but every time I planned to go, I wound up pushing back my visit. I finally got to try them out. They are often considered one of the top pizza places in the city and now I can add my voice to their well-deserved praise. This place rocks!

They have thin crust slices and Detroit slices as well as whole pies. If you order online, it looks like they only offer thin crust so be aware of that. I went in and placed my order because I wanted to try their Detroit style.

I had a pepperoni slice, a pancetta slice, and one of the signature combos, the Acapulco Gold. Each one was packed with delicious flavor. The Acapolco gold was distinct and unique. The bed of lettuce on top was fun and the flavors were garlicky and cheesy. The pepperoni and pancetta were also fantastic. I would order all three again.

The shop is take-out with a few counters if you want to eat there. The crew was fast, efficient and friendly. I believe they are busy the moment they open until they close and they deserve all the love but be aware you may need to wait a bit after you order. The decor is colorful and eclectic. Their logo, a panther, is growling at everyone who walks in the door and is on top of all their pizza boxes.

There are two friendly warnings for Apollonia's. They are a cash only place and their parking is particularly bad. They are right in the heart of the major Wilshire Metro project so if you are reading in 2026 or later, it will be better. The lot is tiny and all the shops seem to be busy causing a gridlock in their lot. I parked on the...

The NY slices here are probably the best in the city, maybe even better than Pizzanista or Superfine. This is one of the shops I’d recommend to dispel old, outdated stereotypes that LA is a bad pizza town, especially NY pizza. Went to NY not too long ago to try some spots and while I definitely didn’t get through all of my pizza hit-list, I managed to go to Paulie Gee’s (for slices), Best Pizza, and I think Apollonia ranks up with them. The dough is really spot on, crispy on the outer edges with a little bit of chew, especially a good contrast in the crust, served hot and fresh. There’s plenty of leopard spotted char on the bottom. Perfect amount of cheese and pepperoni’s. Only minor caveat was maybe the sauce could be a little bit more complex maybe, some more sweetness and tanginess maybe.

On the weekends at noon and occasionally throughout the weekdays (call ahead during these times), the shop serves a special Sicilian Detroit style hybrid pan square pizza. The dough seems to be fermented aged for a period of time I believe, with a higher level of chewiness and sour flavor. Cheese is covered on the sides and bottom between the pan so it comes out crispy like a typical Detroit square pie. I’ve have two flavors so far: Pepperoni with Mike’s Hot Honey and Burrata, Acapulco Gold (ricotta cheese, grape tomatos, shredded mozz, pecorino, truffle oil, arugula). Both are really great, think the execution right now is better too because it’s served warmer.

If you order by whole pies, there’s 14 and 20 inch pizzas, 10 inch GF. There’s quite a few different artisan flavors, one even including rattlesnake. They do delivery too if you’re within range. Haven’t tried any yet but I’d like to next time.

They also got butterscotch root beer which I highly recommend. Also now it’s cash only so...