Regents Pizzeria

Regents Pizzeria sits tucked into a La Jolla strip mall, but its unassuming exterior hides a hub of serious pizza devotion and communal energy. Step inside and you’re greeted by the pulse of conversation, the mix of college students debriefing after exams and local families settling in for an easy dinner. The decor is functional—bright, busy, with sports flickering on TVs, and the air always humming with anticipation and a little impatience for that first slice. What sets Regents apart is its dual allegiance to both New York’s foldable thin crust and Chicago’s unapologetically decadent deep dish. On any given night, you’ll find tables split between camps, some reaching for gooey cheese pulls from a Popeye deep dish, others tackling massive New York-style slices—the kind that demand two hands and a stack of napkins. The kitchen doesn’t skimp: everything from the tangy sauce to the plush dough is made in small batches, a nod to craft over convenience. The crowd is as diverse as the menu. Locals drop by for post-game beers and wings (though the pizza far outshines the sides), while out-of-towners chase Instagram-worthy cheese pulls or just seek solace after a sunburned day at the beach. There’s no pretense here—just quick counter service from staff who know their regulars by name, and outdoor tables where laughter competes with traffic noise from the lot. Regents isn’t about subtlety; it’s about generosity, flavor, and shared moments over hot pies. In a city famous for surfboards and sunsets, it manages to carve out its own identity as both neighborhood anchor and pilgrimage site for serious pizza hounds.