This Tenderloin pizza place nails every element necessary to a perfect slice. There’s a chewy yet crisp crust that’s foldable without getting soggy. Satisfying, bright orange grease drips out of the creases. And toppings are packed with flavor, whether you opt for the smoky pepperoni cups or slightly sweet vodka sauce paired with globs of gooey mozzarella. Devouring it all in the company of E-40 bobbleheads and Giants foam fingers on the wall is an easy way to spend a quick lunch.

Square Pie Guys in SoMa (and Ghirardelli Square) is making some of the city’s best rectangular-shaped pizzas. Each one is small but mighty—8x10 and serves 1 to 2 people. The thick but light crust has cheddar baked on the outside giving a cheesy crunch to every bite. And the presentation of pepperoni cups and other toppings like garlic ricotta cream and hot honey is a work of art. Square Pie Guys is also very casual, which is why you’ll find chicken wings, salads, and fries.

Because this massive, warehouse-like Mission spot is run by the legendary bread wizards behind Tartine, it should come as no surprise that the sourdough crust on these pies is operating on a different level than other tangy crusts around town. Puffs of hot air escape the charred bubbles when you take a bite, and the crust is thin yet sturdy enough to avoid sogginess. And toppings like prosciutto with a runny egg or curled-up pepperoni are simple but flawlessly balanced.

The wood-fired pizzas at this Sunset spot near the ocean are a better beach companion than your friend's dog who won't stop sucking on your shoelaces. The crust is bubbly and charred, and the topping combinations are creative and balanced. We love the one with pancetta, pesto, and purple potatoes that add mild creamy starchiness, and the classic pepperoni with little cups that crisp up at the edges. They have the occasional live DJ, too, which is another reason to become a regular.

Formerly in the Mission and now in North Beach, Flour + Water Pizzeria excels in the art of the grown-up pizza party. Red and white pies on thin blistered crusts are paraded around the airy dining room like show dogs—go for the Hawaiian that’s got a sizable kick from dollops of chili crisp, or a cacio e pepe pie that gushes with pecorino crema. Endlessly stretchy mozzarella sticks belong on every table, too. And much like any good pizza party, their thick soft serve makes for an ideal finish.

Like never bothering to cross the bay to Alcatraz, standing in line for Golden Boy is a local rite of passage. As is ordering one of their fluffy Sicilian focaccia squares with a crispy bottom. This North Beach institution (est. 1978) with its iconic red neon finger sign makes some of the thickest and cheapest slices in town, starting at $3.50. There are also only six kinds on the menu, but we zero in on the pepperoni or the meaty combo with sausage.

You come to Angie’s to sip on some wine, soak in the retro charm, and make eyes at someone you like over showstopping wood-fired pizzas. They’re loaded with more interesting Californian-style topping combinations, like the one with dates, bacon, and creamy goat cheese that gets all melty in the oven. And, naturally, the thin, charred-on-the-edges crust holds it all up while flaunting a respectable structural integrity.

This city loves great Cal-Ital, so we welcome Norcina—and their pillowy, charred, and chewy crust. There are a handful of Neapolitan pizzas on the menu, and we like the spicy Za’ Matriciana with pancetta and Calabrian chilis. And unlike Pixar, we fully embrace the one with broccoli—this one comes with gooey fontina and mozzarella. Norcina is also one of those Cute, Chill Spots in the Marina, so prepare to eat your pie surrounded by bright lemon wallpaper and dried floral arrangements.

Despite looking like dense bricks, the Detroit-style pies at Joyride Pizza have an airy crust that avoids a soggy fate under a mountain of toppings. And we really do mean a mountain. Pies are covered with what feels like an entire garden’s worth of vegetables like brussels sprouts, tomatoes, or arugula, or have thick stripes of tomato sauce running across the top. There’s a takeout outpost in the Mission, but we like the Yerba Buena spot, which has a patio overlooking the gardens.

Head to the Dogpatch and you’ll spot plenty of white boxes making their way down 3rd Street or hanging out with a pint at Dogpatch Saloon. All roads lead to Long Bridge Pizza. The casual spot does sourdough pies right. They have a nice snap—never too chewy or hard. And you can taste the tang of the sourdough, separate from the high quality toppings. This is a place to post up in one of the three dining rooms and gab about how today was the best or worst day ever.