Pizza Jawn Philadelphia has been steadily moving up my “pizza bucket list” for some time now. I began following owner David Lee on instagram a couple years ago when he was doing pizza pop ups. He was using a gozney roccbox inside his boldly and prominently branded Pizza Jawn tent. The pizzas coming out of that oven just spoke to me. His pan pizzas and round pizzas alike seemed to stand out to me against the somewhat ubiquitous backdrop of Neapolitan pizzas I see every day on social media.
Adding to the allure is that I’m a “Philly guy” in terms of sports teams and love for the city (without ever actually having lived there). Seeing Phillies shirts, pizza boxes “bibs” bearing sports jerseys similar to the city’s home teams, and using the term “Jawn” in the name of a pizzeria certainly peaked my interest. It also didn’t hurt that his neo-Neapolitan (or NY/Neo style as I like to call it) is exactly the type of pizza I love to make and eat whenever I can find it.
Everyone Has Thoughts on Pizza Jawn
Everyone always seems to have an opinion about Pizza Jawn. I’m not sure if it’s because Mets and Cowboys fans don’t enjoy good pizza (that’s a joke folks) or if competing on Hulu’s Popular Best in Dough pizza TV series brings out the haters. But for every hater it seems there are more people who absolutely love Pizza Jawn. From photos and the opinions of trusted foodie friends, I certainly expected to enjoy the pizza, but I have to admit the haters created some doubt!
Upon arrival, my expectations were sky high, but I left open the possibility that maybe this bucket list pizza might let me down. Could the haters be right, or would my pizza instincts and foodie friends be correct? The anticipation was growing and I knew it would make for a fun review either way!
Reviewing the Grandma Pizza
First up I tasted the Grandma Pizza. Upon first glance, the pizza looked tremendous. After flipping the 76ers jersey adorned box, I noticed the insanely golden brown crust and vibrant deep red sauce. The crust on this pizza was bonkers. It had the perfect amount of sesame seeds baked into the crust. The dough was crunchy on the outside with gorgeous microblisters while soft and slightly dense in the middle. This was no thick fluffy Sicilian – this was a tender, crunchy and flavorful grandma!
The sauce was bold, zesty, and a little bit spicy which i was all about. It was an edgy sauce that might not be for everyone, but it was absolutely right up my alley because i like a little heat and also because it’s unique and delicious.
The cheese was also good quality, but the crust and sauce were so wonderful I probably didnt pay as much attention to it as I should have! The pizza is fairly heavy and hearty. It’s cut into 9 slices, and it’s conceivable that this pizza could feed 9 people because of how filling each slice is. Obviously you’re likely to want more than one, but it’ll definitely satisfy and fill you up! Overall, this grandma was an absolute homerun for me!
Reviewing the Round Pizza with Pepperoni
Next up, I tried the sort of New York/Neapolitan hybrid style round pizza. The crust on this pizza featured some glorious charring in some areas and deep brown areas of crispiness. The thicker cut cup n char pepperoni was generously applied atop the pie.
This pizza was also arranged with the cheese on the bottom and cheese on top. This order of assembly prevents the crust from becoming soggy. It also allows the sauce to release moisture and reduce and yield a more intense and concentrated flavor. This bold, spicy, and zesty sauce is a showstopper, a headline, and one that makes this pizza stand out from every other pizza I’ve ever tasted.
The crust was medium thickness with a nice bready crumb. It was crunchy around the edge, crispy on the bottom and soft and chewy in the middle. There was tremendous variety of flavor and texture in every bite. Eating one slice was like a culinary adventure and I enjoyed it immensely.
The Bottom Line
Pizza Jawn exceeds the hype. The pizza is as bold as the brand. The product, the marketing, the personality all go hand in hand and form one cohesive brand with street credit, Philly attitude, and some ridiculously delicious food. Bottom line is Pizza Jawn is an absolute must try.
Pizza Jawn Round Pizza Review Scores
Pizza Jawn Philadelphia (Manayunk)
- Pizzeria: Pizza Jawn
- Address: 4330 Main St, Philadelphia, PA 19127
- Pizza Ordered: Round Pizza with Cup n Char Pepperoni
- Date: May 2023
| Rating Category | Rating Score |
|---|---|
| Crust | 9.1 |
| Sauce | 9.3 |
| Cheese | 9.1 |
| Taste | 9.2 |
| Crispy/Cooked Properly | 9.1 |
| Value | 7.2 |
| Overall Rating | 9.1 |
Pizza is Similar to: Angelo’s Pizzeria
Pizza Jawn Grandma Pizza Review Scores
- Pizzeria: Pizza Jawn
- Address: 4330 Main St, Philadelphia, PA 19127
- Pizza Ordered: Round Pizza with Cup n Char Pepperoni
- Date: May 2023
| Rating Category | Rating Score |
|---|---|
| Crust | 8.2 |
| Sauce | 9.2 |
| Cheese | 8.7 |
| Taste | 9.1 |
| Crispy/Cooked Properly | 8.5 |
| Value | 7.2 |
| Overall Rating | 8.8 |
Pizza is Similar to: Angelo’s Pizzeria
