Best pizza in Stanislaus County is ‘proportioned perfectly’ with ‘the best crust’
The best pizza in Stanislaus County can be found at a little to-go kitchen on Yosemite Boulevard in Modesto, according to voters.
Luigi’s Pizza has been in business since 1997. Its ownership has been passed down through generations of the Warda family.
Currently, the shop is run by Jennifer Warda and her son, Anthony. They’ve been the owners since 2021.
It won the second contest in our “best in Stanislaus” series with 117 of 208 votes. Gold Dust Pizza came in second place with 42 votes.
Readers say the pizza shop is “consistent” and has “amazing crust.” Also noted was that the restaurant cooks its pies in an “old-fashion” brick oven.
“Luigi’s Pizza just hits different,” Julia Perez wrote during the nomination period of the contest. “Every bite feels like comfort, like a warm little reminder that good food can fix a long day. The crust, the sauce, the way everything melts together — it’s the kind of pizza that makes you stop and appreciate the moment. Luigi’s doesn’t just make pizza, they make happiness in a box. Truly the best.”
Luigi’s voted No. 1 for quality and service
Former Biz Beat reporter David Hill described Luigi’s in a 1999 article as “a bake and take — not a take and bake.” Pizzas are prepared from scratch, then cooked to order in Luigi’s brick oven.
There are seats in the shop for customers waiting for their order, but not for dining in.
But the wait won’t be boring. As noted in a nomination submitted by Linda Escobar, Luigi’s has “the best people who run it.”
During the 15-20 minute wait for my order on Monday, while she prepped and manned the oven, Warda held a conversation with me, making me feel as if she were a lifelong friend.
On the rare occasion she’s not there, she misses being at the shop, she said. Her secret to a good pizza aside from a good recipe? Strategically placed toppings to satisfy each bite.
“The sauce, cheese and toppings ratio are proportioned perfectly,” Babylonia Benjamin wrote in the nomination form. “The crust is incredible. Flavors are on point. Luigi’s Pizza makes delicious pizza. It’s the place I go to when I want a real pizza fix.”
Warda said the most frequently ordered pizzas are the triple pepperoni, smackin’ chicken bacon ranch and the Italian Hawaiian spice, which I ordered. It has pepperoni, Canadian bacon, pineapple and jalapeño and is $25.99 for a large.
No, I did not wait to get home to try the first slice. My thought after I ate the first bite while sitting in my car in the parking lot? “I get it. I understand why it was voted No. 1.”
To try the top-voted pizza in the county, visit 1905 Yosemite Blvd. in Modesto Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 1 to 10 p.m.
This story was originally published December 1, 2025 at 1:26 PM.
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