The original Pizzeria Sei, now known as Sei Pizza Bar, sits along a traffic-clogged stretch of Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles’ Pico-Robertson neighborhood. Since its earliest days, stacks of folded pizza boxes have lined the bare-bones space, reflecting a question that chef and co-owner William Joo and his wife and business partner, Jennifer So, have long wrestled with: Should they offer their delicate, cooked-to-order Tokyo-style Neapolitan pies for takeout and delivery?

For now, the answer is a resounding yes. Since opening a larger, full-service Pizzeria Sei in Palms, Joo has continued serving his original pies in the dine-in, takeout, and delivery formats guests have enjoyed since 2022. Diners can still stop by the no-frills storefront for Joo’s signature mala lamb sausage pie, finished with cilantro flowers and mala-spiced chili flakes. Even with travel time factored in, Joo’s take on pizza napoletana stands out among other neo-Neapolitan pies around town.

Beyond the pies, Sei Pizza Bar serves tiramisu, a simple burrata starter, and two salads, rounding out one of Los Angeles’ more distinctive pizza experiences. While Joo now splits his time between Sei Pizza Bar and Pizzeria Sei, the restaurant’s pizzaiolos continue to uphold his exacting standards. Service is brisk but friendly, and diners can expect to finish their meal in under an hour, not unlike the short dining experiences at many of Tokyo’s celebrated pizzerias.

Since 2024, 50 Top Pizza has ranked Pizzeria Sei among the best pizzerias in the country and the world. In 2026, the organization placed it at No. 2 in the United States. While Joo now conducts most of his culinary experimentation at Pizzeria Sei’s full-service Palms location, Sei Pizza Bar still serves the critically acclaimed pies that established the restaurant’s reputation.