Score 92/100 on this list's criteria · Order: Margherita or Stefano · $16–24
Neapolitan pies from a Naples-raised pizzaiolo. The Stefano — bufala, mozzarella, basil, and olive oil — is the San Diego Neapolitan benchmark.
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South Park / Encinitas · South Park / multiple · $16–24 · Ranked in 2 lists
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Buona Forchetta is a South Park / Encinitas spot ranked #2 of 9 in our Best Pizza in San Diego list, scoring 92/100 in our Best Pizza in San Diego. Order the margherita or stefano. Neapolitan pies from a Naples-raised pizzaiolo. The Stefano — bufala, mozzarella, basil, and olive oil — is the San Diego Neapolitan benchmark.
We scored Buona Forchetta 92/100 in our full editorial review.
Read the full Buona Forchetta reviewBuona Forchetta is in South Park / Encinitas, San Diego. Give yourself a few extra minutes for parking on weekends — South Park / Encinitas fills up early on sunny days.
Explore South Park / EncinitasOn our Best Pizza in San Diego list, Buona Forchetta lands at #2 of 9, just behind Tribute Pizza (93/100) and ahead of The Privateer (89/100). Tribute Pizza holds #1 with 93/100, so the gap is 1 points. It also appears on 1 other list in our San Diego coverage.
See the full Best Pizza in San Diego rankingBuona Forchetta scores 92/100 against a best pizza in san diego field that averages 86.7, running from 82 at the bottom to 93 at the top. That puts it 5.3 points above the category average and ahead of 7 of the 8 other places we scored. It lands 2nd of 9, and the category leader is 1 points clear.
Judged criterion by criterion, Buona Forchetta separates itself most on sauce & cheese (95/100 versus a 85.8 category average). Its softest showing is value at 85, 0.3 points under the field. Those two numbers are the honest summary: this is a place you pick for sauce & cheese, not for a clean sweep of every category.
| Criterion | Buona Forchetta | Category avg. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crust | 94 | 87.7 | +6.3 |
| Sauce & Cheese | 95 | 85.8 | +9.2 |
| Toppings | 90 | 86 | +4 |
| Value | 85 | 85.3 | -0.3 |
| Consistency | 92 | 88.4 | +3.6 |
Scores are Sandi Spots editorial judgments, compared against every other place we ranked in best pizza in san diego.
Buona Forchetta is the only place we have ranked in South Park / Encinitas so far, which makes it a destination stop rather than part of a walkable crawl — plan the trip around it.
Yes — worth going out of your way for.
Buona Forchetta scores 92/100 in our Best Pizza in San Diego list (#2 of 9). It is strongest on sauce & cheese (95) and crust (94). Neapolitan pies from a Naples-raised pizzaiolo. The Stefano — bufala, mozzarella, basil, and olive oil — is the San Diego Neapolitan benchmark.
Buona Forchetta is a good fit for pizza and italian restaurants. Because it ranks #2 on our best pizza in san diego list, it makes the most sense to pair it with nearby stops in South Park / Encinitas rather than build a day around a long cross-town drive. Check live hours and availability before leaving, especially for a weekend visit.
Best tactical tip: The South Park patio is first-come; put your name in and walk the neighborhood while you wait.
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Score 92/100 on this list's criteria · Order: Margherita or Stefano · $16–24
Neapolitan pies from a Naples-raised pizzaiolo. The Stefano — bufala, mozzarella, basil, and olive oil — is the San Diego Neapolitan benchmark.
Score 90/100 on this list's criteria · Order: Margherita from the wood oven · $$
Buona Forchetta's imported wood oven turns out blistered, soft-centered Neapolitan pies in 90 seconds, and the South Park original still does it best. It is loud, crowded with families, and genuinely fun — the closest thing San Diego has to a neighborhood pizzeria institution.
Local tip: The South Park patio is first-come; put your name in and walk the neighborhood while you wait.
Scored with our ranking methodology — pizza, italian.
Published by the Sandi Spots Editorial team at Sleep Coast LLC. Guides combine local perspective and source research. Check the individual guide for firsthand observations and follow official links to confirm current details.