Good Vibes Pizza: Good Vibes, Great Pizza

Good Vibes Pizza is a local pizza spot located in the back corner of a large parking lot, tucked away between a couple of other businesses. After scouting out the Pizzeria on Apple Maps and Yelp, we were very surprised to find just how small the business was. Still, with windows and glass pane doors spanning the entire length of the restaurant, there was a very bright and light atmosphere inside.

Immediately, we were met with a warm welcome and pleasant conversation from one of the employees. They were very kind to us as we gaped at the menu and they offered recommendations as we ordered.

While waiting for our food, my accomplice, James, and I immediately noticed another thing: the entire restaurant, from the front of house to as far back into the open kitchen that we could see, was extremely clean. The ‘OPEN’ sign wasn’t coated in years of dust, there was no dust (visible at least) up on top of the fridge full of drinks or above their hot plate area. We probably could have sat and eaten from the floor if we really wanted to, but we decided not to terrify the workers with that strange test.

And something we really appreciated seeing was an owner working hard alongside their employee. The owner was cooking, cleaning, working the cash register, answering the phone—all the while keeping an eye on us. Multiple times he asked if we needed something in particular before we even realized we needed it. His employee was also a very hard worker and you could tell he enjoyed his job and really cared about the food coming out.

This was a good size pizza for two people, though our 420 friendly friends and those with large appetites could probably eat a large, or even an extra large, by themselves. The pizza dough was cooked through and had a very sturdy, evenly browned bottom. The crust had a good crunch on the outside that tore away easily to reveal the softer core. 

While by no means whatsoever was this a flatbread, it wasn’t a ‘thick and fluffy’ pizza either. So if you don’t like too much bread with your pizza, this may be right up your alley. The cheese was deliciously gooey and beautifully browned throughout the pizza. With perfectly cut slices made for a TV ad recreation, as we pulled our slices up and away, delicious trails of melted cheese followed behind. 

The pepperonis were not tough or chewy and they were placed evenly around the pizza, providing pepperoni in every single bite. Personally, I thought the pizza was beautiful when it came out; evenly brown cheese was broken up by the pepperoni slices, their edges slightly curled upwards, and there was just the right amount of grease over top of it all. While some may prefer to remove the grease, we were very happy with it and didn’t find it to be too much by any means. 

This pizza had lots of flavor between the pepperonis and the marinara sauce, but we did get the feeling that it was a more mellow tasting pizza in the spirit of the consumer then being able to add Parmesan cheese, oregano, chili flakes (or hot sauce as we were recommended by the employee when he came out to join us for his lunch break). A delicious pizza on its own, and elevated by any other seasonings you want to add.

Bonus: they sell pizza by the slice! A rare find these days, and one we are very excited about! We decided to share a whole pizza this time, but best believe we will be back to try their slices, both cheese by itself and with toppings added on as well.

I was very pleased actually! Usually thinner pizzas struggle with the ‘day after test’ as the dough gets very hard, almost cardboard like. However, this pizza was still good the second-day test with plenty of moisture retained in the marinara. The cheese also did not solidify, making this pizza a yummy ‘Day 2’ treat.

Delicious mozzarella slices paired with juicy sliced tomatoes and topped with balsamic vinegar and basil, this dish was a wonderful ‘appetizer’ for myself. In fact, I had to force myself to stop eating it in order to try the other we food we had ordered! I really appreciated that the slices of mozzarella were not quite as thick as you might find in some Caprese salads, and it was very enjoyable to grab a slice of tomato and mozzarella in one bite.

A wonderful crunchy crust hides warm, melty mozzarella in this classic appetizer. Paired with their light marinara sauce, these sticks offer a unique crunchy breading seasoned with a great blend of spices. 

These knots are breaded in a crunchy herb crust that is singed just enough to get a slight hint of char mixed with the wonderful taste of all the herbs. The crunchy herb crust and the devilishly soft bread dough beneath it made this a unique take on a classic that excited our tastebuds and left us wishing we had ordered the 12 piece. Best eaten fresh, these actually were also still good the next day, despite losing some of the soft fluffiness of the dough and the crunch of the herb crust overnight.

This is a light marinara sauce with a more liquid consistency than most. On the pizza, it added just enough moisture to the dough to really please the pallet. When used as a dipping sauce for the garlic knots and mozzarella sticks, the liquid was able to grab onto all of the texture of the herb crust and breading to give you a delicious mouthful of seasoned marinara. This was also still very good the next day when I tried it with the garlic knots we took home.

All in all, we had a great time at Good Vibes Pizza and we will be adding it to our rotation of places to eat. Next time we go, we are planning to try:

If you are ever in LA's South Bay and are looking for a quick bite, I would recommend you give this spot a try. Located a short distance from the hectic energy of the Del Amo Mall, you’ll find this Pizzeria tucked away in a very quiet shopping center. And, in addition to what you might expect a Pizzeria to offer, Good Vibes Pizza also carries a somewhat unique selection of food items, including their Cheese Corn (which also comes on a pizza and will be my next Carb Craving satisfier) and a pizza called the Crab Dude, both of which we look forward to trying.

We hope you’ll stop by for a slice and some garlic knots! If you do, leave a comment and let us know what you thought! Good Vibes Pizza has an online menu that you can see here where you can order ahead for pick-up, place a delivery order or just to browse before you walk in person. Good Vibes Pizza is located at 22825 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, California 90505.