Orange County’s pizza scene is experiencing a renaissance, with new pizzerias and pizzaiolas emerging throughout the region, offering a diverse array of pizza styles. Recently, the Italian organization 50 Top Pizza, which ranks the best pizzas globally, acknowledged two Orange County pizzerias in its “50 Best Pizzerias in the USA” list for 2024.
Truly Pizza in Dana Point secured the No. 42 spot, while Nardò Italian Restaurant in Huntington Beach ranked No. 26. The official awards ceremony took place on June 25 in New York City.
“We are incredibly honored to be recognized as one of the 50 Top Pizzas in the USA,” said Donna Baldwin, co-founder of Truly Pizza. “This accolade is a testament to our team’s dedication and passion for crafting exceptional innovative pizzas.”
Una Pizza Napoletana in New York, owned by Anthony Mangieri, clinched the No.1 position for the third consecutive year. Other Southern California pizzerias featured in the rankings included Pizzeria Sei in Los Angeles at No. 8 and Tribute Pizza in San Diego at No. 36.
50 Top Pizza, established in 2018, dispatches anonymous inspectors worldwide to compile their lists, which also include the top 50 pizzas in Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Spain.
The recognition for Truly Pizza coincides with its first anniversary after opening in Dana Point last summer. Co-founded by Baldwin and led by World Pizza Champion teammates John Arena, Chris Decker, and Michael Vakneen, Truly Pizza offers both round and square pizzas. The square pizza features a light and airy dough, often referred to as a “grandma slice,” while the round pizza has a traditional, thinner New York-style crust. Both varieties utilize a “micro blistering” technique that creates tiny bubbles in the dough, resulting in a crunchy texture.
John Arena, Michael Vakneen, and Chris Decker of Truly Pizza were present at the awards ceremony for the “50 Best Pizzerias in the USA.”
John Arena, Michael Vakneen, and Chris Decker of Truly Pizza at the awards ceremony for the “50 Best Pizzerias in the USA.” (Courtesy of Truly Pizza)
Nardò Italian, situated at Pacific City in Huntington Beach, is a concept by restaurateur Gianni Chiloiro, named after his mother’s maiden name. Nardò specializes in wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, focusing on the cuisine of the Puglia region.
The menu at Nardò features red pizzas made with San Marzano tomato sauce, white pizzas without red sauce, and specialty pizzas, including stuffed varieties like calzone and tronchetto. Although Nardò has locations in West Hollywood and Culver City, it was the Huntington Beach location that earned recognition from 50 Top Pizza.
As part of the Orange County pizza scene, Baldwin emphasized the significance of ranking in the top 50.
“This honor not only elevates Truly Pizza but also shines a spotlight on Orange County’s growing reputation as a culinary destination,” she said. “We’re proud to represent our community and contribute to its vibrant and diverse food scene.”
To celebrate the ranking and its one-year anniversary, Truly Pizza is offering a lemon-infused special pizza, inspired by the lemon trees on its patio. The lemon pizza features smoked and fresh mozzarella, white sauce, thinly sliced lemon, stracciatella, lemon curd, basil, and a black pepper frico finish.
“We’re excited to continue our journey and share our love for pizza with even more people,” Baldwin said.