People can be very particular about the pizza they eat. While some are adamant that only deep-dish pizza counts, others touch a slice unless it’s as thin as a flatbread. Luckily, Palo Alto has so many options that any pizza lover is bound to find the kind they like. Neighborhoods.com has done the painstaking, no-fun-at-all research and rounded up some of the best pizzerias that Palo Alto has to offer. Since February 9 is National Pizza Day, now is the perfect time to discover a new pizza place. 

Patxi’s Pizza - Downtown Palo Alto

Photo courtesy of Patxi’s Pizza

This Downtown Palo Alto location of Patxi’s Pizza is a favorite among local residents. The restaurant serves both thin-crust and thick-crust pizzas, but the most famous items on Patxi’s menu are their deep-dish pies, which come slathered in generous amounts of tomato sauce. For a healthier twist, ask for whole-wheat crust when ordering. 

Also, ask for a bottle of honey with your pizza — we hear one secret to enjoying Patxi’s to its fullest is drizzling honey on the crust. After your meal, go for a stroll along Palo Alto’s famous University Avenue to burn off those extra helpings. 

Terún - Evergreen Park

Photo courtesy of Terún

At this Evergreen Park joint, you’ll find both pizza and a host of other Italian dishes on the menu. The classic Terún Pizza is a simple version with creamy mozzarella and tangy tomato sauce, or you can try something different and order a calzone filled with cremini mushrooms and prosciutto. 

Not in the mood for  pizza and looking for a classier take on Italian? Try the farro and calamari, burrata, or caramel gelato.

Pizzeria Delfina - University South

Photo courtesy of Pizzeria Delfina

Located in the University South neighborhood of Palo Alto, Pizzeria Delfina is a favorite among visitors to Downtown Palo Alto. Equally suitable for a family dinner or a lunch date, this restaurant serves a wide variety of pizzas. Regulars enjoy the Purgatorio (spicy tomato sauce, two farm-fresh eggs, and Pecorino Romano cheese), clam pie for the seafood lovers, and the margherita for those who like to keep it simple. Enjoy a Butterscotch Budino with whipped cream and turbinado sugar for dessert. 

Pizz’a Chicago - Charleston Meadow

Photo courtesy of Pizz’a Chicago

In the Charleston Meadow neighborhood of Palo Alto sits this Chicago-style pizzeria serving — what else? — deep-dish pizza of all kinds. Pizzas are served in a cast-iron skillet, including the Fridge pizza (pepperoni, Canadian bacon, and sausage) and Wrigley Field pizza (feta cheese and sliced garlic). Pizz’a Chicago also offers plenty of gluten-free and even dairy-free (soy cheese, anyone?) options for those with different dietary preferences, making it a popular spot for vegans and lactose-intolerant diners.

Amici’s East Coast Pizza - Menlo Park / Mountain View

Photo courtesy Amici’s East Coast Pizza

If you’re from the East Coast and long for the taste of thin-crust pizza, Amici’s is the place to get it. Locations in Menlo Park and Mountain View are located just a couple blocks outside Palo Alto’s borders. Try the spicy pepper chicken, New Haven White Clam, or the classic Margherita. Their secret is to cook their pies in a traditional, Italian brick oven at 700 degrees in order to produce crusts that are crisp and airy. 

They have ten locations in all, including San Francisco, San Jose, and San Mateo.

Palo Alto Pizza Co. - Oakland

Photo courtesy of Palo Alto Pizza Co.

If you want to chow down on pizza while also showing your love for the Bay Area, Palo Alto Pizza Co. is where to go. The restaurant is decked out with San Francisco Giants memorabilia as well as Oakland Raiders helmets and footballs on display. The restaurant is staffed with supporters of Bay Area sports, so you can chat them up about your favorite teams’ performance while you eat. The chicken bruschetta, Korean BBQ, and garlic chicken pizzas are all favorites among regular patrons.