San Diego's Tribute Pizza Named Top 50 Best Pizza Restaurants In United States

June 28, 2023

San Diego's beloved Tribute Pizza in North Park has been named as one of the 50 Best Pizzerias in the United States. 

"A rigorous philosophy that leads the owners of this beautiful pizzeria to define their pizza as neo-Neapolitan, i.e. a mix between the New York Style and the traditional Neapolitan style," reads the description of Tribute Pizza on the 50 Top Pizza website. "There is no mediation on one thing: the raw material all of close territorial proximity, a philosophy that also applies to the beers and wines produced in the area. The proposal is very well articulated, the pizzas are good and varied. In the restaurant you can breathe a healthy family atmosphere, the service is attentive and professional. Alternatively, there are also salads and some dishes."

50 Top Pizza is an international guide run by Italians that publishes a series of annual rankings rewarding some of the best pizzerias in the world. The final list is the result of a year of anonymous inspections of pizzerias located throughout the United States by 50 Top Pizza inspectors, who assess pizzerias on quality of the dough and toppings, service, the wine and beer selection and customer service.  The 2023 United States list has just been published, and San Diego's own Tribute Pizza was named as the #36 top pizza restaurant in the United States. 

"Last night in NYC Tribute was honored with a place among the top 50 pizzerias in the United States by @50toppizza," read the announcement on Tribute Pizza's social media channels. "Honestly, I was just in awe of being in the same room with all those legends and personal heroes of the pizza world… but to be ranked among them, and awarded No. 36 in the country alongside them is mind blowing... On behalf of the whole Tribute team, we couldn't be more humbled and proud to represent San Diego on a national stage, and share a place with those that inspire us… but none of it happens without your support and patronage… so thank you for keeping us around, for allowing us to continue to grow and make dough everyday, because without you, we definitely wouldn’t be here."
Founded by longtime pizza chef Matthew Lyons, Tribute Pizza began as a roving pizza pop-up in 2013 before opening a brick-and-mortar location within the North Park Post Office Lofts in Spring 2016. Tribute's menu is in the capable hands of Kitchen Manager Noe Nuñez and Lead Pizzaiolo Ian Santillano, who both have been with the company since day one. The hospitality team is led by General Manager Ernesto Diaz. Tribute offers a rotating menu centered around recreations of signature pizzas from the country's top pizzerias, including Roberta's in Brooklyn, Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix, and even a pie devoted to the CostCo Food Court.

"Our whole team works so incredibly hard, I wish every single employee could be here in New York with us, to accept the honor and celebrate by eating an absolutely ridiculous amount of unbelievably good pizza!", wrote Tribute Pizza founder Matt Lyons in a statement. "F@ck yeah, pizza!" 

Una Pizza Napoletana in New York City received top honors on the 50 Top Pizza USA 2023 list. Longtime friend of Tribute Pizza and mentor to Matt Lyons, Chris Bianco's Phoenix-based Pizzeria Bianco was named #5 best pizzeria in the United States. 

Tribute Pizza is located at 3077 North Park Way in San Diego's North Park. For more information, visit tributepizza.com.