I blame my friends from the Suburbs for why I even ate here. It's always friends from the suburbs who convince you to go to California Pizza Kitchen. I tried to take them to Empire Pizza to eat what I deem as the most authentic New York Style Pizza but they didn't feel comfortable sitting down anywhere until we walked by a familiar face, California Pizza Kitchen. So blame them for why this place got a review. Is reviewing California Pizza Kitchen pointless? Not at all. As a matter of fact, Jack, I have had California Pizza Kitchen in so many different places I can't even keep track. Here's the thing about them though - they deliver. You can eat all the great Pizza in the World and California Pizza Kitchen is still solid. They even make solid frozen Pizza considering they have also been known to butcher Pizza by putting toppings that make any Pizza purist want to puke. That being said, I have always enjoyed food from California Pizza Kitchen and now that I am a Top 10% Pizza Reviewer and I have tried 85 Pizza Establishments in San Francisco since May 2022 Alone, My 2 Cents are obviously valued. So here they are; Why did I not give them 5 stars? Number 1 reason, although the wait staff is nice, at times it feels like they are not even listening to what you are saying. Do not even ask them questions about the food, they can hardly hold a conversation. While this is the case, they do deliver on the Parmesan Cheese when you ask for them to give you a side of it. They really do. Why else did I not give them 5 stats? Because 5 Stars are reserved for legendary Pizza like Tony's, Cafe Zeotrope, PizzaHacker, Cellarmaker House of Pizza, Capo's, Longbridge Pizza Company, Pizzeria Delfina etc. not chains like this. That's all. That's really all. Even bringing up those other places makes me feel like maybe I should lower CPK down to 3 stars really. So I will stop writing this Review now before I change it because CPK is good. So thank my Suburban Friends for this review, San Francisco. Thank them. I didn't want to do this. They wouldn't allow me not to Review CPK.

Ornate restaurant-bar with indoor seating. This place was almost completely empty when I stopped by. It was my first time inside, but I knew I wanted the chicken tequila fettuccine after trying it somewhere else. I walked through the restaurant to the takeout counter to order and my total was about $23. It took about 13 minutes and the food was delicious as expected. It came with some bread, seasoned olive oil, and grated parmesan. I highly recommend the chicken tequila fettuccine. In my opinion, the portion was pretty big. I would've preferred a smaller portion and paying less. Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos of the food.
Service
Take out
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4
Vegetarian options
Vegetarian options available, read menu
Dietary restrictions
Ask employees for more information
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Paid parking garage
Parking
It's under a parking garage
Kid-friendliness
A child will be glad to eat
Wheelchair accessibility
Accessible

I had the full Italian salad and a cup of smashed pea and barley soup. I was feeling hungry, so I thought this would be a bit more filling than the lighter pizzas. I've had a pizza before here as well as in Palo Alto. They were both good, but it has been some time. Sorry, I don't remember well enough to comment as if fresh. The music overhead was upbeat. The TVs were tuned to sports. There is a bar facing the TVs. My right ear was aimed at them, for whatever that's worth. I'd definitely bring a date if I had one. I can't rate a stunner like Jennifer Aniston until I become the Good Humor ice cream man. Come to think of it, I can't rate anyone until I become a Good Humor ice cream man. I don't need Freudian artifacts to say it. The hot's in the snots, not in the cheese on the pizza. I'd rather watch people blow their snots on Freudian fits. That would be more enlightening than the food.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Salad

Horrible experience. Will not return to any of their restaurants. Arrived for a late evening dinner and was over 40 minutes to be served after ordering. Food was cold and only ok. A manager came by as we were not happy about how long we had been waiting. He did give us a discount after explaining our frustration, but made a point to drop the bill on our table shortly after we received our food. Couldn't even wait until we had finished. Our server was pleasant enough but for the 40+ minutes after we ordered, did not come to check out drinks or give any sort of update as to out order. I highly encourage anyone to find a different restaurant. In fact, the street vendors of San Francisco were so much more kind and I would give them my business any day over this dreadful, arrogant place.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 3
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 3

The food was to be expected for a CPK, decent quality for the price. The service was kind and quick. The restaurant, sadly, smelled unwashed. All the table tops had this wet rag smell that was perceptible from the moment I entered. My husband confirmed he could smell it too. We moved from a big booth because the smell was so pungent to a smaller booth but the smell was still present. I think the restaurant could use a deep clean from entry through the dining room. I hate to leave a negative review but I hope that the staff will see this and change something.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 3
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 1
Recommended dishes
Salad
Kid-friendliness
Kid menus were several pages and interesting.

We went to the California Pizza Kitchen location at 53 3rd Street for dinner on a Friday night - it was my first time and the restaurant was really empty. Initially, the server placed us right beside a large group of people but we asked to be moved a bit farther away. Later when another couple came, she placed them right beside us - not sure why since the entire place was empty but at least it wasn’t a big group. We got the Tostada Pizza and the Vegan BBQ Chicken Pizza - both were great. The Tostada pizza was amazing and definitely recommend. Not sure if we’ll be back but it was a decent first experience.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: Yes
Takeout: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Curbside pickup: Not sure

For starters, we ordered the sweet chili shrimp and Mexican corn. The shrimp were done to a delicious crisp and layered with savoury sweet chilli sauce which paired great with the salad underneath. The corn exceeded expectations and was full of flavour which paired decently well with the toast. For mains we ordered the Hawaiian and the Sicilian pizzas. The execution of the pizzas were on point with thin crust, the toppings and the value. Freshly hot and simply delicious. As for service, Fernando did a great job serving and checking in on us; quick and direct gentleman. Will definitely be coming back to experience it again with different menu items…
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Amazing tasting pizzas come out of this kitchen. The Original BBQ Chicken Pizza was my favorite. It was the better looking one too. Their Carne Asada pizza recipe is very creative. The side of green salsa was a nice touch. Their California Club recipe has a good blend of veggies including avocado. The Crispy Chicken Sandwich also makes a great meal. It has a good piece of meat. The Key Lime Pie is a must! You can’t go wrong with pie for dessert.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Warm Bread with Olive Oil and Herbs, BBQ Chicken Pizza

I think we came here on an off night as I’m afraid we left disappointed with our experience. We ordered two pizzas, the classic veggie California and the plant based chicken. The pizza base was so thin that the sauce on both had virtually evaporated when it was cooked, and were pretty overdone, which made it a crispy pizza (maybe this is how it should be, but I like a little more sauce on my pizza). We were offered bread and olive oil dip as an appetiser, but the bread was also extremely hard and stale. Our server was attentive but a little indifferent. Left wishing I’d ordered the pasta. Sorry CPK but this was not for me.

Matthew our sever was on point! I ordered a Thai pizza no chicken, and he asked me if I wanted to substitute avocado instead which really tied the pizza together. The service made my visit so much more enjoyable. The Thai crunch salad was amazing. Great dinner if your downtown and want something easy with a friendly vibe
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommendation for vegetarians
Somewhat recommend
Vegetarian options
Can substitute any meat with avocado

I got the lunch duo (pizza/pasta with soup/salad) for 11.99 (this is available over the weekends as well). The inside is HUGE but it made me wonder why it was so empty on a Sunday afternoon. The staff were friendly. The food was not amazing. There was something about the entire place that felt old fashioned or “classic” instead of a modern, clean, and neat feel.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: Yes
Takeout: Yes
Delivery: Yes

This place definitely has one of the best pizzas in the city. In my opinion, you create your own pizza, and they will definitely make it exactly how you want it. I've noticed that the manager isn't always present on the floor, just feedback. Matthew was such a nice guy, so humble and always there. Definitely recommend this place for some pizza in downtown San Francisco.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Stopped to grab dinner and waste some time before heading to a lounge. Friendly staff, clean restaurant. Decent food. The Crispy Fish Tacos had a good flavor but were way too filled with cabbage. Easy enough to just take it out but it definitely seemed overkill. Shared the Butter Cake which was delicious!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: Yes
Takeout: Yes
Delivery: Not sure
Curbside pickup: Not sure

Typical chain, but it never disappoints. It's been about 3 years that I've eaten at a CPK, and they still go strong! Always order the Cajun pasta and Alfredo, which were tasty and fresh. Staff are always hella cool, extremely kind, attentive, and professional. Idk if it was me, or what, but the drinks were going down too!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

The place is nice with a cool vibe. I was in a hurry so I had to take a togo order with a pizza for me. The pizza size was something like medium to large, definitely way much bigger in portion for a single person. I wish they could have a small / personal serving. The pizza was nice and freshly baked. The toppings were pepperoni, Italian sausages, fresh basil etc. the crust was nice, ingredients were fresh. Overall it was fantastic.

It definitely has very slow staff. The order took at least 30 minutes, it took just as long to pay. The menu may have many kinds of food, but the quality of service is very low. There are businesses/restaurants around that make more delicious food and have very good service. There are technological order and post processes, but they do not work.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$30–50

Just as awesome in actual Calafornia as it is in the rest of the world! This particular branch is on a bit of a stinky street which wasn't ideal, but the food was boss and my server was a legend. Great for a quick bite or a large party.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 3
Recommended dishes
California Pizza Kitchen

Typical California Pizza Kitchen. We visited in the afternoon so the placed was not crowded at all. The pizza was good as always and had plenty of toppings. The service was ok. The waiter was not super attentive. Was a ok experience.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 3
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 3
Recommended dishes
California Pizza Kitchen

Spoiler - I did not eat the pizza... I wanted to save in calories, so we had a salmkn and a bowl with chicken. I was hoping for the chicken to be warm, but everything was cold. The salmkn though was very good as the side of corn and feta cheese. I would recommend it because it's less busy at night than any close restaurants and you can get a nice booth. Service is good and quite fast as well.

I like the BBQ chicken and Mushroom pizza here. Recommend try them, if you want to visit first time. Sometimes, I will take out and no need to wait too long. Service is nice but it seems no enough service waiters or waitresses. Customers are too much.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Recommended dishes
California Club Pizza, BBQ Chicken Pizza

This place is less than a mile away from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art so it was easy to navigate. The food is nothing spectacular or out of the ordinary. It's a cozy spot though! It wasn't rush hour but it took about half an hour to get our food ready so good luck during rush hour! We had chicken salad, pepperoni pizza and crunchy mac and cheese. That Mac and cheese was very good!

Came here with a friend for its convenient location. Friendly staff and comfortable seating. It wasn’t busy meal time, but service was kind of slow. Pasta was good. However, the pizza was disappointing. The topping was fresh, yet the dough was definitely over baked—it was the most chewy one we’ve eaten so far. Don’t think we’ll be visiting this location again, not for pizza anyway.

I was passing this place multiple times. Today I decided to give it a try. To my surprise, they even offer lunch special on Saturday. For $11.99, you get a 7” personal pizza and choice of salad or soup. This is very good deal for a lunch. Highly recommend it. Service is also excellent and deserves at least 20% tips. When you are waiting for pizza, they give you some bread to start.

A great dining experience! I totally thought the California Pizza Kitchen was kind of like a straw hat or a round table but I was completely wrong this restaurant was very stylish had a great menu great desserts an excellent wine selection. It offered a grab and go pizza selection. Or if you wanted to just grab a drink at the bar and watch the game you could do that aswell

My experience here was ok. The pizza was decent and what I would expect from a chain restaurant; however, it was very expensive for what it was. Additionally, the server was friendly but the restaurant seemed to be understaffed. Because of this, I will likely not return.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Food: 3
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 3

In that area this CPK was likely our best choice. It's convenient. The food did the job but for a pizza place, it wasn't great. Service was quick to take order and get food out, but missing if you needed anything at another point in time
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 4
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 3

The pizza was predictably good, but the butter cake was a surprise; _criminally_ delicious. Also, they had a special on a tropical tequila cocktail – $6.99.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
California Club Pizza, BBQ Chicken Pizza

The staff there was very pleasant! The food was well prepared and tasty! The restaurant's dining room was very clean as well as the bathroom.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
BBQ Chicken Pizza

Healthy, delicious food right across the street from our hotel. That was great since it rained the whole time we were in San Francisco.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Vegetarian options
Cauliflower pizza

Solid pizza. The original BBQ is my favorite and you don't feel stuffed afterwards because the crust is so thin.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: No
Takeout: Not sure
Delivery: Not sure
Curbside pickup: Not sure

The waiter was very charismatic and fun to talk to. The pizza was made so fresh, and the crust was so crispy I highly recommend this place
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Pepperoni Pizza

Very nice dinner experience. The wait for the food was a bit long but definitely worth it. Great tasting pizza, burger and pasta
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Pizza was great. The taste was superb bit a felt tangy tho. But overall great pizza place
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
BBQ Chicken Pizza

10 minutes to get our table and get drinks (The place was empty) Cold food. They took 30 minutes on just give us the food. Pizza ended up being cold. Not recommend. As a tourist super disappointed.
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30

It had been years since I went to CPK. I ordered takeout, and everything was on point. Service was friendly, my order was ready on time and the food hit the spot and fulfilled my pizza craving. Avocado club egg rolls are dangerously good.

Lovely!, drinks are cheap and delicious!! The food die for!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
BBQ Chicken Pizza

Visited cpk for dinner. Service was very good but pizza crust tasted a bit stale. For the price I would expect the food to taste better and have bigger portions
Food: 2
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Surprisingly good food. I had the grilled chicken salad and the turkey sandwich.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Nice place, not very busy on a Wednesday evening. Staff was super nice. Orchard Sangria was delicious. Pizza was a little dry, but still tasty.

Tasty pizza with customizable vegetarian options, I did not like the pasta. Pizza was great
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch