Everything Bernal Heights Pizza

You want pizza in Bernal Heights. We have answers.

It’s the king of delivery dining. It’s America’s favorite food. And, if you’re in Bernal Heights, it’s all around you. 

That’s right: we’re talkin’ pizza.

At the time of writing this blog, the COVID-19 crisis is keeping us all indoors and mostly cooking for ourselves. It stands to reason that pizza in Bernal Heights is more popular than ever. It’s easily delivered, and—best of all—someone else makes it!

Bernal Heights has a lot going for it: great amenities like Bernal Heights Park, a famously pleasant climate, and a tight-knit, small-town vibe. As an added bonus, those who buy a home in Bernal Heights also enjoy an abundance of pizza shops in the area. 

With so many options to choose from, you may find yourself in a quandary on your next pizza night in Bernal Heights. There are worse problems to have, yes, but a problem it remains. So how do you choose, when they all look so tasty? You could try a different one every night (and we would never judge you for that), or you could explore the list below.

To help you select your next Bernal Heights pizza, we’ve compiled a list of pizza-serving restaurants in the area. There’s the traditional. The chain. The one-of-a-kind. There’s something for everyone, and it’s all waiting for you in gooey, melty splendor.

Pizza on Cortland Ave

Vega

419 Cortland Ave; vegapizzasf.com

A Bernal mainstay, Vega offers outstanding pizza and a full Italian menu of antipasti, pasta and entrees. Vega is owned and operated by a husband and wife duo, Giuseppe Manna and Vega Freeman-Brady. Their authentic Italian menu is inspired by Giuseppe’s native Rome and his mother’s Pugliese cooking.

Pizza Style: Traditional Napoletana

Try The: Pizza al Quattro Formaggio or Pizza al Funghi

Reviews: Google: 4.6 stars, 238 reviews; Yelp: 4 stars, 630 reviews

Open During COVID-19? Yes; pickup or free delivery in Bernal Heights

Pizza Express

813 Cortland Ave; pizzaexpresssf.com

Pizza Express has been serving fresh pies to Bernal Heights since 1985. Per one reviewer, this is “definitely the place to go when you want a quick bite of pizza or pizza delivery.” Good quality ingredients and all the trappings you would expect from an American pizza shop, like wings and calzones, plus some interesting additions.

Pizza Style: Thicker-crust American

Try The: Bernal Heights Special or Victoria’s Special

Reviews: Google: 4.5 stars, 120 reviews; Yelp: 3.5 stars, 178 reviews

Open During COVID-19? Yes; pickup or free delivery

Pizza on Mission St

PizzaHacker

3299 Mission St; thepizzahacker.com

An eclectic pizza shop spun off from a food truck enterprise, PizzaHacker offers beautiful pies and a bevy of interesting topping arrangements. To serve the community during the COVID crisis, the restaurant has created a donation system, where generous pizza benefactors can help needy community members buy a pizza or salad for just a penny. They’re also offering things like fresh sourdough bread and even a “restaurant quality,” paper-wrapped roll of toilet paper.

Pizza Style: Bubbly, charred goodness

Try The: Top-Shelf Margherita with Early Girl tomato sauce

Reviews: Google: 4.6 stars, 421 reviews; Yelp: 4 stars, 339 reviews 

Open During COVID-19? Yes; pickup only

Cellarmaker House of Pizza

3193 Mission St; cellarmakerbrewing.com/house-of-pizza

If you’re into deep dish pizza, beer, wine or any of the above, then the Cellarmaker House of Pizza is your jam. Operated by local brewery Cellarmaker, the House of Pizza offers deep dish pies with a telltale, Detroit-style rim of caramelized cheese along the crust’s upper edge. If you thought Cellarmaker would also offer an impressive and extensive beer and wine list, you would be quite correct.

Pizza Style: Deep dish, Detroit-style (crispy edges)

Try The: “Hawaiian” with spam or the Tree Oyster & Garlic 

Reviews: Google: 4.6 stars, 16 reviews; Yelp: 4 stars, 139 reviews

Open During COVID-19? Yes; pickup only; filling new beer growlers only

Zante Pizza & Indian Cuisine

3489 Mission St; zantepizza.com

Have you ever been stuck trying to decide between tikka masala or pizza for dinner? Well, your prayers are graciously answered by Zante Pizza! Enjoy traditional Indian offerings like chicken masala, paneer masala and tandoori chicken, all painted upon a familiar pizza canvas. While you’re at it, grab some samosas or a lamb curry. Zante Pizza may hit the spot that you didn’t even know existed.

Pizza Style: Indian pizza!

Try The: ‘Daal makhne’ vegetarian pizza or fresh-baked naan

Reviews: Google: 4.1 stars, 361 reviews; Yelp: 3.5 stars, 1039 reviews

Open During COVID-19? Yes; pickup or delivery

Red’s Pizzeria

3839 Mission St; redspizzasf.com

Red’s Pizzeria pairs a traditional pizza and pasta menu with alluring Brazilian offerings like oxtail and black bean stew. This is the kind of place where a group of four can order a pizza, a burger, a cheesesteak and a bowl of feijoada all at the same table. You may think that a wide menu variety is not a great sign. Judging by the glowing reviews, however, the folks at Red’s know what they’re doing!

Pizza Style: Thin with a sturdy crust

Try The: Red’s Combo Pizza, authentic Brazilian feijoada, açaí bowl for dessert

Reviews: Google: 4.1 stars, 86 reviews; Yelp: 4 stars, 75 reviews

Open During COVID-19? Yes; pickup or delivery

Pizza Hut

3349 Mission St; pizzahut.com

We prefer to shop and dine locally, and Pizza Hut is as big a chain as any. Maybe you could say that any restaurant is local, unless they fly their employees in each shift. So that’s something. Look, we aren’t the type to look a gift horse pizza in the mouth cheese. If the Hut is your thing, then by all means indulge. They do have stuffed crust, which is pretty cool. But, at the end of the day, there are better-quality options around.

Pizza Style: American chain

Try The: Crushed red peppers

Reviews: Google: 3.6 stars, 230 reviews; Yelp: 2 stars, 104 reviews

Open During COVID-19? Yes; carryout, curbside pickup or delivery

Other Pizza

Copper Top Ovens

100 Alemany Blvd; coppertopovens.com

Copper Top Ovens is a beloved vendor at the Alemany Farmers’ Market. With a brick, wood-fired oven in tow, the friendly folks of Copper Top crank out up to five pizzas at a time in just two minutes each at blistering hot temperatures. Swing by on Saturdays while the Alemany Farmers’ Market is open to grab a fresh pie for yourself, as well as farm-fresh produce and other artisanal goods. You can find Copper Top Ovens at various other Bay Area farmers’ markets throughout the rest of the week, or even book them for your next event.

Pizza Style: Thin and crispy wood-fired

Try The: Garden Special or create-your-own

Reviews: Google: 5 stars, 1 review; Yelp: 4.5 stars, 25 reviews

Open During COVID-19? Yes; farmers’ markets are essential industry