Part of the Q’s Halal mini chain that includes a handful of halal chicken-and-rice joints, the Richmond shop is the only one that specializes in pizza — made, of course, with halal-friendly toppings. You can get a standard pepperoni pie, but the pleasure in getting pizza here is the option to top it with items more commonly found at a shawarma joint: The Mama Mary’s, topped with lamb gyro, pepperoni, and red onion, is a sheer delight. Meanwhile, Q’s spice-dusted halal chicken wings are second to none.

There didn’t use to be a ton of excellent pizza options in the far western part of Richmond, but that changed when Raymond’s landed here last year. The boxes boast that the pizza reheats excellently due to the high quality of their ingredients, and they aren’t wrong. Superb toppings and crispy-chewy crust made with dough that is fermented in-house are on display here. Order via phone, their website, or Uber Eats and Grubhub.

Among the several wood-fired pizza options in the East Bay, Benchmark is one of the best. Their crust is superb even when reheated, and the wide selection of local veggies and herbs that adorn their pizzas is impressive. Really, any pizzeria that tops pizza with fried sage is doing something correctly, and Benchmark is one of those places. They also serve excellent antipasti and pastas. The patio is open for dining outside, or you can order for pickup via Toast or delivery via app.

Already incredibly buzzy ahead of its opening, Pollara has done exceptionally well during the pandemic pivot. Not only are their Roman-style pizzas designed to be finished in the oven at home — and the more delicious for it — they also have a superb collection of wines and other small bites, especially their fritti selection of fun fried tastes. Also of note are the wonderful fresh-baked breads. Order for pickup via Toast or delivery via Caviar.

Indian pizza has been a thing in the Bay Area for some time, and one of the stalwarts has long been Namaste pizza. While you can get your run-of-the-mill Western pizzas here as well as the Cal-Italian variety, you really ought to try their wonderfully spiced, incredibly delicious Indian pizzas, especially the veggie-heavy ones like the aloo gobi pizza. Their vegan options are great, as well, and if you’re more a meat eater you’ll definitely want to try the spicy gyro or the pizza tikka masala. Order for pickup via their website or delivery via apps.

Already blowing up in popularity thanks to its impressive pedigree (the chef is an Atelier Crenn alum) and location in the trendy complex that also houses Magnolia Mini Mart and Soba Ichi, June’s features what is quite possibly the best margherita pizza in the entire Bay Area, with an exemplary sauce, excellent cheese, and a sourdough crust made with fine flour. The entire pie’s outer crust is finished with Grana Padano for an extra treat. The bi-weekly rotating special pizzas are also amazing, with recent delights like wild mushroom, nettle, and Calabrian chili. Ordering is done via phone only from Wednesday to Sunday, and it’s a good idea to call right at 1 p.m. or you’ll miss out on one of only 40 pizzas a day that are made. You can keep up with their specials via Instagram.

Even if the Detroit-style pizza trend hasn’t quite yet hit the East Bay in full force, Carbona — a pop-up from the folks behind brunch favorite Grand Lake Kitchen, embedded inside their Dimond District location — offers convincing evidence that these crunchy-edged, square-shaped, gloriously greasy pies are here to stay. The joy of these hefty pizzas lies in the contrast between the crunch of their blackened edges and the airy, focaccia-like bounce of their interior. Many of the topping combinations are inspired (including the Burmese salad-inspired “Thick Eddie”), but nothing beats the classic pepperoni. Order online, and don’t forget to grab a hard-packed soft serve ice cream for dessert.

This late-night favorite — open until 1 a.m. on weekends even during the pandemic — is the brainchild of former Capo ‘s pizzaiolo Matt Molina, whose bona fides include three international pizza-making championships. For those who like a slightly heftier crust than your average thin-crust pie, Graffiti’s pizzas are picture perfect, offering a satisfying chew. The topping combinations are also topnotch — try the “Cloud,” a wonderfully garlicky combination of sausage, spinach, and light-as-air ricotta cheese. Order whole pies by phone or app, or come by the Old Oakland storefront to see what’s available by the slice.

Philomena suffered a tough late spring and early summer thanks to a double whammy of both the pandemic and a fire that shut the restaurant down for months. After re-opening, though, this neighborhood favorite came back even stronger. They make fantastic New York style pies, and they have possibly the best mushroom pizza in the East Bay. Of particular note is the Bring Home Brunch Kit, which includes coffees, a mimosa kit, a brunch pizza (think lox or bacon and hashbrowns), and cinnamon toast French twists for dessert. Order via phone or apps for pickup and delivery.

Bluebird is so unassuming you might drive right past it and not know you’ve just passed one of the best pizzerias in the entire Bay Area. A lot of East Coast transplants have sung the praises of the sweet-savory red sauce and the exceptional crust, and you’d be hard pressed to find better versions of an East Coast pie than Bluebird. There’s something to please any pizza lover here, and the meatless and vegan options are varied and interesting. Call in or order online for pickup. 

If you ever wondered what it’d be like to cross a childhood nostalgia–inflected longing for Pizza Hut with Indian flavors, Bombay Pizza House in the answer. There are no pretensions here about the pizza, just intense and delicious flavors and spices, aggressively piquant hot wings, and delights like Butter Chicken Pizza and the Curry Veggie Delight. This place has a devoted local following for a reason, and it’s maybe the only place where you can find Jain pizza, which is pizza prepared to the rules and regulations of the Jain religion. Order for pickup or delivery via apps.