30 Photos
ZipPicks Awards
Best Late Night Pizza in Santa Monica
Best Family Friendly Pizza in Santa Monica
Best Pizza in Santa Monica
Best Cheap Eats Pizza in Santa Monica
Master Critic Review
Joe's Pizza
8.7
Award-winning New York-style thin crust recognized by LA Times and Zagat, serving authentic East Coast slices until midnight on weekends. This is where locals go when they want legitimate NY pizza without the cross-country flight.
Must-Try Dishes:
Classic NY Cheese by the Slice, Pepperoni with Garlic Knots, White Pizza with Ricotta
Scores:
Value: 8.1
Service: 8.4
Consistency: 9
Food Quality: 9.2
Atmosphere: 7.8
Cultural Relevance: 8.9
What makes it special: Authentic NY pizza technique with California ingredients
Who should go: East Coast transplants and pizza purists
When to visit: Late night Friday or Saturday after bars
What to order: Large slice combo, garlic knots, Caesar salad
Insider tip: Order ahead on weekends to skip the line
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking only, very difficult after 8pm - budget 10-15 min to find a spot or use nearby public garage on 2nd Street ($8 flat rate after 6pm)
Dress code: Completely casual - come as you are, popular with bar crowd late night
Noise level: Loud and energetic - standing room often, not ideal for intimate conversations
Weekend wait: 30-45 min for seating, 15-20 min for takeout slices
Weekday lunch: 5-10 min for slices, immediate seating usually available
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes - excellent veggie slice options plus build-your-own
Vegan options: No - no vegan cheese available, limited to marinara slice without cheese
Gluten-free options: No - traditional NY dough only, salads are the only GF option
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Only if you want super casual - it's loud, often standing-room only, and not romantic. Better for a fun third or fourth date when you're comfortable
Can I get a table without a reservation? They don't take reservations - it's first-come, first-served. Best strategy is to grab slices at the counter and eat standing or find street seating
Is it kid-friendly? Yes until 9pm - kids love the huge slices. After 9pm it becomes more of a bar crowd scene, especially on weekends
Best For
Better for: Authentic NY-style thin crust that actually folds properly, open later than any other quality pizza spot, best drunk food pizza in Santa Monica
Consider Alternatives If: You want Neapolitan style, need a sit-down dinner experience, or prefer Chicago deep dish - try Stella Barra or 800 Degrees instead
Hours
Monday12pm - 10pm
Tuesday12pm - 10pm
Wednesday12pm - 10pm
Thursday12pm - 10pm
Friday12pm - 12am
Saturday12pm - 12am
Sunday12pm - 10pm