The annual list from 50 Top Pizza, the Italy-based international pizza guide, was announced Wednesday in New York City and ranked Tribute Pizza as the 38th best pizzeria in the United States. The honor marks the fourth consecutive year Tribute has been included in the prestigious national ranking, following placements at No. 36 in both 2023 and 2024 and No. 34 in 2025.
“So humbled to be recognized by 50 Top Pizza as #38 in the country,” Tribute Pizza wrote in a social media post following the announcement. “This list is completely stacked with friends and heroes and lifetime achievement award winners in the pizza industry, people who genuinely inspire us, and us... we’re so proud to just be in the room.”
Tribute went on to thank the 50 Top Pizza organizers, its team, and the San Diego community for supporting the restaurant “in North Park for coming up on ten years.”
The 2026 ranking was topped by Una Pizza Napoletana in New York, which again claimed the No. 1 position. Pizzeria Sei in Los Angeles and Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco tied for second, while Razza in Jersey City, NJ, ranked third and Truly Pizza in Dana Point placed fourth. California had a particularly strong showing on the list, with Pizzeria Sei, Tony’s, Truly Pizza, Flour House in San Luis Obispo, Nardò in Huntington Beach, and Tribute Pizza all appearing among the country’s top 50.
For Tribute, the continued recognition is especially meaningful because the restaurant has long built its identity around paying homage to the broader American pizza canon. Founded by Matthew Lyons, Tribute began as a roving pop-up in 2013 before opening its brick-and-mortar home in 2016 inside the historic North Park Post Office Lofts at 3077 North Park Way.
The restaurant’s name is literal. Tribute’s menu draws inspiration from legendary pizzerias, regional styles, and iconic pies from across the country, reinterpreting them through its own San Diego lens. The restaurant offers multiple styles, including Neo-Neapolitan, Grandma, Detroit, and New York-style pizzas, while also maintaining a robust plant-based menu and a broader food and beverage program.
In its 2026 write-up, 50 Top Pizza praised Tribute’s clear identity, architectural setting, open kitchen, central oven, bar program, and service. The guide highlighted the restaurant’s location inside a historic corner building that once served as a United States post office, describing the space as retaining “a recognizable architectural charm.”
The guide also singled out Tribute’s staff as one of the strongest parts of the experience, noting that the team is able to guide guests through the restaurant’s pizza styles with precision. It specifically praised the Classic Pepperoni Lovers, Brooklyn’s Best white pie with sesame seed crust and caramelized onions, and the round Margherita for its balance of tomato, cheese, basil, and olive oil.
Beyond pizza, 50 Top Pizza also praised Tribute’s burrata with sliced tomatoes and house-made focaccia, as well as the Elaine Benes Little Big Salad, describing it as generous, carefully composed, and more substantial than a typical side dish.
The recognition arrives as Tribute approaches a decade in North Park, a milestone few independent restaurants reach in San Diego’s increasingly volatile dining market. Since opening, the restaurant has become one of the city’s defining pizza institutions, known not only for its food but also for community-driven events, collaborations, and one of San Diego’s most consistently creative pizza programs.
Earlier this year, Tribute hosted its Fifth Annual Mike’s Hot Honey Party, bringing together chefs, bartenders, DJs, and members of the national pizza community for one of the city’s most distinctive food events. The restaurant’s continued national ranking underscores how far it has come from its pop-up origins and how strongly it now represents San Diego on the national pizza stage.
50 Top Pizza’s USA guide is compiled through anonymous inspections and evaluates pizzerias based on the quality of the pizza, ingredients, service, beverage program, atmosphere, and overall guest experience. The organization’s curators described the American pizza scene as increasingly diverse and steadily improving in both variety and excellence.
The 2026 USA guide includes 116 recommended pizzerias across 29 states. New York remains the most represented state with 27 venues, followed by California with 13 and Florida with 10.
For San Diego, Tribute’s continued inclusion is another reminder that the city’s food scene is no longer merely chasing national recognition. In categories from tacos and beer to fine dining and pizza, local operators are increasingly standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the most celebrated restaurants in the country.
Tribute Pizza is located at 3077 North Park Way, Suite 100, in San Diego’s North Park neighborhood. For more information, visit tributepizza.com.
Originally published on May 28, 2026.
