Excitement fills the air at LaSorted’s Pizza, a new Dodger-themed pizzeria in Chinatown, as fans cheer during a postseason baseball game. On October 9, the Dodgers played game four of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres, winning and avoiding elimination. While LaSorted’s was not open to the public for this game, friends and family gathered to enjoy fresh slices of mushroom, pepperoni, and cheese pizza.
LaSorted’s, named after legendary Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda, officially opens on Saturday, October 12, in the former Chinese Friends restaurant along Broadway. Owner Tommy Brockert, a lifelong Los Angeles sports fan, aimed to establish his pizzeria close to Dodger Stadium. The restaurant features memorabilia, including old maps, the sheet music for Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.,” and a medal from Nickelodeon’s Guts.
During the pandemic, Brockert, who is a professional event photographer, ventured into the world of pizza with a mobile wood-fired oven pop-up. In March 2021, he opened the original LaSorted’s in Silver Lake as a takeout-only spot, serving New York City-style slices, Italian deli sandwiches, and chicken wings. This location shared space with Gemini Bakehouse for a year before it closed.
Brockert developed a sourdough recipe that combines the pliable and crispy texture of a New York-style slice with the complexity of artisan bread. The cheese slices are basted with garlic oil, giving them a glossy finish and a rich aroma. The “Mookie,” named after Dodgers star Mookie Betts, features mushroom cream, mushrooms, mozzarella, and ricotta. The pizza toppings are well-balanced, with a tangy tomato sauce made from high-quality canned Alta Cucina tomatoes.
Most of the menu from the Silver Lake location will be available at the Chinatown spot, excluding the deli-style sandwiches. New items include all-beef hot dogs made by Brockert’s cousin, butcher Evan Reiner of Droogie’s. These hot dogs are split, griddled, and topped with spicy mustard from Philippe the Original nearby. Additionally, the “Lil’ Tony,” inspired by Anthony Bourdain, is a fried mortadella pizza served on a soft roll with hot mustard. The beer and wine selection is curated by John Cerasulo of Anajak Thai, and Ed Lott, former executive chef at North Italia, oversees the menu as culinary director.
Before it became the second Chinatown in Los Angeles in 1938, the area was known for Italian restaurants, including the famous Little Joe’s, which closed in 1998. Chinatown’s dining scene has been a focal point for activists and developers, with some advocating for the preservation of its legacy and affordability while others push for gentrification through new market-rate apartments and restaurants.
LaSorted’s now occupies the space formerly held by Chinese Friends, one of Chinatown’s first non-Cantonese restaurants, which operated for over 50 years. A new sign at the pizzeria pays homage to its predecessor, stating, “Hot Food, Cold Drinks, Good Friends.”
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