It took a while for pie trends to emerge in this Floridian city, but emerge they did and Long Beach is known for thick crust pizza. Whether that can be put down to the Long Beach pizzeria chefs missing their mothers or not, who knows, but the type of pizza that dominates the menus is the kind most Italian mommas would make. A traditional thick crust pizza has a good amount of dough base that's perfect for satisfying hunger brought on by a stroll on the Long Beach seafront. Rolled, pressed, or hand-tossed, these round pies are always liberally slathered with tomato sauce before being topped with any one of a variety of cheeses. Layered on top of that will be any extra ingredients you might choose or ones from a set combination the pizzeria is offering. They won't cover the entire pie as these pizzas always have a bare crust so don't be surprised when you see it.

Best delivery pizza in Long Beach, California

Whatever type of pizza you've decided to order in, you'll want to make sure it's a good one. You can get the best delivery pizza in Long Beach from Fat Tomato Pizza and that's for sure. They're quick at dispatching and delivering too, so your pie is guaranteed to still be piping hot when it arrives. Fat Tomato Pizza operates out of a premises on East Broadway which is totally geared to making pies. Apart from a small selection of appetizers, pasta, and salads, pizza is pretty much all they make. Their kitchen is larger than their dining area which is minimally furnished with a few Italian cafeteria-style metal tables and chairs. Fat Tomato's pizza menu isn't minimal though. It is, in fact, exceptionally lengthy. They offer just about every type of pie going from gluten-free to cauliflower, vegetarian, and even New York-style, right alongside a diverse selection of thick crust pies.

Best takeout pizza in Long Beach, California

When you're down on the sands catching some rays or having a wander along Shoreline Way, you won't want to go too far to pick a slice of pie if you're hungry. If you're at the Belmont district end of the walkway you can get the best take-out pizza in Long Beach from the Long Beach Pizza Company on East Broadway. The Long Beach Pizza Company is housed in a classy, traditional-looking premises that just shouts – we make great pies. The bare brick and varnished wood interior creates a friendly and warm atmosphere, but not one that can compete with the heat coming out of the kitchen. This pie shop specializes in traditional thick crust pizza and that's one of the best for grabbing as a takeout. They top their pizzas in a conservative style as well as innovatively, so all taste preferences are catered for.

Best pizza near Long Beach, California

Seal Beach

Seal Beach is less than ten miles south along the coast from Long Beach and while it does have a few similar attributes, it's also distinctly different. The beach at Seal Beach is a popular spot for all types of water sports, for fishing from the lengthy pier, and for watching the sunset. When you need a change from coastal views, head to the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge before going for a pizza lunch at The Pizza Craft on Main Street.

Hawaiian Gardens

There's one thing that attracts visitors to the small city of Hawaiian Gardens fifteen miles northeast of Long Beach and that's its casino. That's lucky as there's nothing else there apart from a few palm-tree-lined streets. If you're not a card shark and don't have a clue how to play poker, skip the casino and have a pie at the Pizza Man pizzeria on Norwalk Boulevard.

Compton

Drive directly north out of Long Beach for around ten miles and you'll arrive in Compton. Compton is one of the oldest cities in Los Angeles county and while it was founded as a farming community, it has become one that's inspired some of the top rappers of the 21st century to rap like no-one else can. If you watched the Straight Outta Compton movie then you'll enjoy wandering the streets spotting the filming locations before having a pizza at Cecconi's Pizza Bar on Old Compton Street.