Tony's Little Italy

I am from Chicago. This is the closest I have had to Chicago pizza since I moved to CA. Very good! If you have ever eaten deep dish pizza from the chains this is totally different. Please give it a try!

Being a Chicago transplant, I crave a good Chicago pizza. Living in Riverside, I don't have too many choices close by. Decided to give this place a try after watching a Facebook or Instagram reel. Didn't look promising from the pictures I found online, but it said it was one of Yelp's top 5 Chicago pizza places in the nation so had to go try it out for myself. It was a good 45 minute drive for me. Hoping it was going to be worth it. Once I arrived, I noticed the place was very small. Only a few tables available inside the Pizzeria. A couple more outside on the sidewalk. Of course it was on a Sunday when I went and the Bears were playing so no where to sit inside. It was nice, however, seeing other Chicagoans rooting for our home team sporting their game day gear. We ended up sitting outside, at least it was a nice day and was able to watch the game through the window front. We ordered a large stuffed spinach pizza. The wait was quite a while. Longer than any other place I've ever been to. Especially having only a few customers there. I did, however, see a lot of people picking up their orders and leaving. We waited close to an hour. It finally came. The pizza was fresh out of the oven. We let it sit and settle for a few minutes. When I finally cut into it, the center cheese came rushing out. It was a very messy pizza. Never seen one that messy before. Hoping it tasted better than it looked. The spinach was skimpy. I think they could have put more spinach in it, but oh well. Took a first bite and was pleasantly surprised at how good and fresh it tasted. Not quite as good as a pie from back home, but definitely better than any I have had here in southern California. Worth the drive there. The sauce, I think, could have had more spices added to it, but definitely savory. Not sweet like some other places. I think the sauce is what differentiates a true Chicago pizza from the rest. More zesty than sweet. I loved the crust. It was very crispy throughout and buttery. Not flaky, which I'm not a fan of. This crust had good flavor and crunch. Not easy to find in a stuffed pizza. The undercarriage was still firm, especially for being stuffed. Very difficult to find that in a stuffed pie. My biggest disappointed was when I asked for a side of giardiniera peppers. They said they didn't have any. What respectable Chicago Pizzeria does not stock giardiniera peppers? To me, they simply go hand in hand. If I ever go back, I will take my own jar of peppers. Overall, I was very pleased with this pizza. I want to go back and try the thin crust. It is a bit pricey, almost $50 out the door for a large stuffed, but then again everything has gone up in price. I did feed 3 adults and 2 children, so not crazy expensive, but it is just a pizza. Take it as you may. I would recommend Tony's Little Italy for their pizza. My favorite here in socal for sure. I did also enjoy all the Chicago sports paraphernalia on the walls. Very reminiscent of my hometown. If you haven't gone, you must give it a try.

Food: 4.5/5. It’s as good as it gets outside of Chicago.

Location is very small but seems cozy and friendly. The staff is super nice engaging and well just plain ol friendly. We ordered to go and the pie was still hot by the time I got it home. I learned about Tony’s from KTLA and an article that rated Tony’s as one of the top places in all of the US for Deep Dish Chicago style pizza. Well I don’t have many reference points. I have had pie in Chicago and I can honestly say Tony’s Pizza is better. The sauce is superb, the tomato is fresh and you get plenty of cheese. They earned their reputation. Do your taste buds a favor make a stop to Tony’s.

The only pizza place to eat at. Authentic Chicago Deep Dish pizza 10/10 I was not ready to be blown away by Tony's Deep Dish Stuffed Chicago style Pizza, but I was. Ordering takes about 45+ minutes, but trust me it's worth the wait. Made by Tony himself, I had a huge medium pizza with Pepperoni, sausage, onions, and bell peppers. I've never been to Chicago but I've seen how the style is made. I also believe I don't need to actually GO to Chicago to try authenticity when it's in my own County. The pizza came out and looked gorgeous. If you've never had Chicago style before, the sauce is on the top with sprinkles cheese and glimpse of your toppings. Picking up that first slice had me in a trance, seeing all the ooey gooey authentic Wisconsin mozzarella. It was the perfect temperature, hot but not roof-of-mouth destroying. Eating it was so satisfying, each bite was flavorful and I enjoyed getting every topping from the stuffed middle, to the top. Whatever brands of meat and veggies they use are better than any other shop or big corp name I've been to. Vegetables were very fresh and crisp, I couldn't get enough of the pepperoni and sausage. The bread/crust were a beautiful golden brown- has a slight crunch to it. Marinara was robust and flavorful. If you're looking to dine in, come quick because seats fill up fast and it's relatively small- I'm sure with ordering takeout you'll still enjoy all the immense, delectable flavors at home. Tony and his crew are super friendly and welcoming, sure to give you outstanding customer service. Bring your family, friends, and whoever else to Tony's Little Italy Pizza, it blows the competition out of the water! I'll be back again, hungry for more. (The awards on the walls speak for themselves) -B.P.

The people running it are super friendly and the service is excellent. The dining room is kind of small so please plan accordingly. Decor is cool, too. My wife who was a resident of the Chicago area for many years says it's at least as good as the deep dish she remembers but obviously food native to the area will always be superior. The beers on draft will perfectly complement the hearty deep dish. When I went there was Stella, Bud Light, Kona Longboard, and Space Dust. Definitely a must try.

Found this place in 2018 a year after I had moved to California and I have to say there is no other pizza place in California that can compare to this place. This is definitely a hole in the wall that only locals know about, the deep dish will always be worth the price and nothing in socal is better.