When it comes to pizza, it is hard to go wrong. But with so many pizza places in the area, where do you begin? Each of these four pizzerias is within four miles of Biola and each offers their own unique experience.

At each pizza stop, I asked the server to prepare the restaurant’s most popular type of pizza. Here’s what the pizza experts themselves prepared for me.

1. Pieology, La Mirada

$8.75 for regular (feeds 1-2)

With a new location within walking distance from Biola –  on the corner of Imperial and La Mirada – Pieology is the art studio for creative chefs and pizza-lovers alike. You are able to design your own pizza and create whatever flavor you would like with as many toppings as you choose.

I ordered the “Alfredo’s Alfredo Pizza” with the addition of chicken and spinach. This style of pizza is topped with olive oil, three-cheese alfredo sauce, parmesan, mozzarella, garlic, mushrooms, artichokes, fresh basil, grape tomatoes and sprinkled with black pepper.

I was pleasantly surprised that my pizza was ready within five minutes of ordering it and I was in love after taking my first bite.

The Alfredo pizza had a well-balanced flavor, was not too saucy and did not leave me feeling heavy or too full.  However, the best part of Pieology’s pizzas are their flat crust with its crispiness all the way through that will not leave you disappointed with a soggy center.

Overall, this specific flavor was fresh and herb-filled. Plus, their pizzas are customizable for a cheap price.

2. Blaze Pizza, La Habra

$8.63 for regular (feeds 1-2)

Blaze Pizza is the furthest of all the stops on our list, but it is worth the four-mile trek. This build-your-own setup prides itself on speediness and exceptional quality.

I ordered the “Meat Eater,” which includes classic red sauce, pepperoni, crumbled meatballs, red onion, mozzarella, parmesan, black olives, roasted garlic and is topped off with oregano and salt. After the pizza was loaded with its toppings and put into the oven, it was ready to be enjoyed just three minutes later.

I was pleased with the abundant cheese and light-sauce whose flavor had a hint of sweetness to it. However, the crust was bland, dry and somewhat mushy toward the center of the pizza.  The pepperoni was not too spicy, but the meatballs had a subdued flavor and were overly salty.

I would recommend a less greasy flavor of pizza–maybe with less meat– and when you order, be creative with their options like vegan cheese, goat cheese or gluten-free crust. Keep in mind that you can ask for as many toppings as you would like without being charged extra.

3. Ambrose Pizzeria, La Mirada

$7.26 for large slice (feeds 3)

Looking for the classic, thick-crusted, gooey-cheesed pizza? Look no further. Open since 1972, this hole-in-the-wall pizzeria knows what they are doing when it comes to preparing pizza. I ordered the “BBQ Chicken” with onions and pineapple and although I waited for my pizza for almost 30 minutes, it was worth the anticipation.

The pizzawas served hot and fresh out of the oven, sauce and cheese melting together and oozing off the piece as I picked it up. Biting into this deep-dish style crust paired with generous amounts of both BBQ sauce and marinara sauce, as well as mozzarella cheese, was like entering into pizza ecstasy.  

You will not leave hungry and I can almost guarantee you will have leftover pizza that not only tastes good cold, but is also the best bang for your buck.

4. Mr. Pizza, Buena Park

$21.00 for regular (feeds 2-3)

If you are tired of the monotonous cheese, pepperoni or Hawaiian flavors, check out this new restaurant and explore the endless pizza options. This Korean-style chain opened its newest location in Buena Park last week and is proving pizza enthusiasts can think outside the box. This non-traditional restaurant is sit-down style and the pizzas take about a half hour to be made.

Their menu offers seven different kinds of pizza crusts, including mocha bun, broccoli mousse and egg tart, and almost 20 unique pizza flavors, like California Burger and Greek Gold.

I decided to get half “Sweet Piece,” which is topped with condensed milk sauce, corn, pineapple, diced sweet potato, bacon bits, almond flakes, streusel, cheese, cranberries and hash browns and half “Shrimp Gold,” which is a combination of sweet chili sauce, mozzarella, Cajun shrimp, corn, onions, bell pepper and olive.

I knew these two flavors on top of a cheddar cheese crust stuffed with sweet potato mousse would be a lot of action for my taste buds, but I was up for the challenge.

I was not sure what to think of the sweet piece, as it was a bit mushy and tasted more like a sweet corn casserole, but I liked it more than the shrimp gold, which tasted like fajitas on a crust.

The redemption factor of these two pizza conglomerations was definitely the unique cheesy, sweet potato crust that was crunchy on the outside and filled with soft mousse on the inside.

If you want a unique dining experience and are willing to spend a little extra, this restaurant is the place for you.

Addresses

Pieology Pizzeria

12259 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada, CA 90638

Blaze Pizza

1360 S Beach Blvd., La Habra, CA 90631

Ambrose Pizzeria

12739 Valley View Ave., La Mirada, CA 90638

Mr. Pizza

5471 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, CA 90621