50 Top Pizza 2026: NYC’s Una Pizza Napoletana Retains Crown Amid Expert Skepticism
The 2026 50 Top Pizza rankings place Una Pizza Napoletana in New York City at number one for the fifth consecutive year. The list, released on Columbus Day, features a tie for second place between Pizzeria Sei in Los Angeles and Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco. While the rankings highlight Italian-influenced styles, food historian Colin Caplan questions the universality of such lists, noting that 'best' is subjective and that the organization may favor Neapolitan traditions due to its Italian chef-led structure.
Key points
- Una Pizza Napoletana in New York City, founded by Anthony Mangieri in 1996, holds the top spot for the fifth straight year.
- Pizzeria Sei in Los Angeles and Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco are tied for second place.
- Razza in Jersey City, Truly Pizza in Dana Point, and Francesco Martucci in Miami round out the top five.
- The 50 Top Pizza website is operated by Italian chefs, which may influence its preference for Neapolitan styles.
- Colin Caplan, a pizza expert from New Haven, Connecticut, argues that rankings are subjective and that 'love' in the preparation matters most.
Background
This follows recent food industry rankings, such as the New York Times’ 2026 list of America’s 50 best restaurants, which highlighted diverse regional cuisines. Unlike the NYT’s unranked list, 50 Top Pizza provides a numbered hierarchy, though experts note that culinary preferences vary significantly by region and personal taste.
How outlets are covering it
Fox News emphasizes the dominance of Una Pizza Napoletana and the specific details of the top five, including the tie for second place. It highlights Colin Caplan’s view that the list may have a bias toward Neapolitan styles due to the site’s Italian chef leadership. Yahoo’s coverage, while largely obscured by technical code in the provided source, suggests a focus on California’s strong representation, noting that five California pizzerias ranked within the top 27, indicating a broader regional spread beyond the top five.
Why it matters
The rankings influence consumer choices and restaurant reputations, but the debate over objectivity in food criticism remains relevant. The dominance of Neapolitan-style pizza in the top spots reflects the influence of Italian culinary traditions in high-end pizza rankings, even as regional styles like Detroit or New York remain popular elsewhere.
What to watch
Restaurants on the list may see increased traffic, particularly Una Pizza Napoletana, which also placed second in the 50 Top Pizza World ranking. Consumers may explore the top five to experience the highlighted styles, while experts continue to debate the merits of ranked versus unranked food lists.
- America's best pizzerias crowned in new rankings as pizza expert gives slice of skepticism Fox News
- The 27 Best Pizzas in America Right Now Food & Wine
- Seattle pizza named among best in the U.S. The Seattle Times
- Five California pizzerias ranked top 27 in the US Yahoo
- 9 Pizzas Putting a New Spin on the Classic Pie Across the U.S. MICHELIN Guide
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