WOWMIA PIZZA — Restaurant in San Jose

Wow…really? Yes…wow!

I have consumed many pizzas. This one really stood out.

I always question how reviews are either 5 or one stars. It takes a lot for me to give a 5, across the board. It’s genuine…

I will start with an overview of the ‘experience’. I found the restaurant on the web with ‘pizza near me’. What stuck me was the very high 4.9 stars rating, despite having over 40 reviews. Only open for 2 months. I live about as far south on a Monterey Highway as you can without driving through fields as you leave.

When I got to the store, I must have looked frustrated. The young lady who helped me appeared to see my frustration. I commented how I have never felt like was driving so slow as I did driving down Monterey Road. She empathized, and made a comment that people were probably tired, given the time of day. She was right..sort of brought my mood more inline.

Bottom up review: The crust is certainly made fresh. I ordered the medium thickness, and it had a nice ‘chew’ and ‘crunch’. The crust was cooked just enough to impart all senses: that toasty flavor, the soft, but firm mouthfeel, and of course the crispy crunch.

The cheese doesn’t seem like your standard pizza cheese. It had a certain wholesomeness to it, like a full milk cheese. Very stringy, but not greasy. There was a full flavor, and a nice stringy but full flavored cheese. Clearly one of the highest quality cheeses I have ever had…. and you know what…there is LOTS of it. When I was handed the box (a medium pizza) I think I let out an audible gasp. The pizza felt super hefty.

The toppings were fresh, and flavorful. If you have ever gone out and picked fresh fruit, or vegetables, and cooked a meal from scratch, you know the level of flavor you get. There’s just ‘more’. It was easy to pick out each ingredient in each bite. Almost a different flavor dominated in each bite.

I passed the review on the sauce, huh? My bad, because the tomato pizza sauce they use was just as fresh tasting, and refreshingly flavorful. I could taste the (fresh?) basil. Just slightly sweet, and (guess what)...

As an Iranian expat, I'm always chasing the nostalgic, unmistakable flavor of true Persian pizza – that perfect balance of rich, savory toppings, signature cheese, and a dough that ties it all together. I’ve tried Persian pizza everywhere I could in LA, Toronto, DC, and Vancouver. When I first discovered WowMia and tried their “Eroni” pizza, I was genuinely impressed. It came the closest to that magical taste from back home. So much so that we even drove over an hour from San Francisco just to have it.

But unfortunately, what started as a promising gem quickly lost its shine.

Only a few months after our first visit, we made the same long drive again, hoping to relive that delicious experience. Instead, we were completely let down. We ordered the beef and mushroom Eroni, but what we received was a shadow of the pizza we once loved. There was way too much ground beef, and the most crucial element—the cheese—was totally off. Instead of that rich, flavorful blend that defines Persian pizza, it tasted like a cheap processed cheese, almost like Cheez Whiz. To my Persian taste buds, it felt like an insult.

It was genuinely disappointing to drive over two hours round trip only to be served something that didn’t come close to what we remembered. It felt like the quality had drastically dropped in a very short time.

I’m giving this place two stars, and only because of the great experience we had on our first visit. Based on our most recent one, it sadly wouldn't deserve any.

To the owners and team at WowMia: please take this feedback seriously. Consistency and quality are what make customers come back. You had something truly special—please...

I don’t usually write reviews unless something really catches my eye, either in a very good way or a very bad way. And this place? It caught my eye in the best way possible.

I went to pick up pizza from a small, family owned Persian pizza spot in San Jose. It’s honestly in a pretty awkward and random location not the kind of place you’d expect to find something this good. But it was absolutely worth the drive.

I wasn’t even getting the pizza for myself I was surprising my mom. She hasn’t had pizza in over 40 years, and she’s never tried Persian-style pizza in her life. She left Iran before that was even a thing. I wanted her first experience to be something memorable. And it was.

The shop is run by a sweet husband and wife team, and you can tell they really care about their food. They’ve got three Persian style pizzas on the menu (one is a new release), and I ordered two: one meat and one mortadella. The flavor was amazing. Even after a 20 minute drive, the taste held up perfectly. Hot or cold it was great both ways.

My mom loved it. Like really loved it. That reaction alone made the whole thing worth it. The portions are generous one pizza could easily feed two or even three people. The crust, the toppings, the seasoning everything hit just right. It felt like a homemade meal with serious care behind it.

This isn’t some trendy or flashy spot, and it’s not on a main street but it’s one of those hidden gems you’re glad you found. If you’ve never had Persian pizza, try it here first. And if you have, you’ll instantly taste the difference.

I’m already planning to go back for their new one with the...