Dan Myers

"Barbecue chicken pizza is so popular these days that it’s even on the menu at plenty of old-school New York pizzerias, but before it was ubiquitous it was on CPK’s very first menu, invented by LaDou. It nearly single-handedly put the restaurant on the map, along with other creations including Peking duck pizza, goat cheese pizza, and teriyaki chicken pizza."

Debbie Koenig

"I never read the menu when I go to California Pizza Kitchen. There's no need, since I already know what I want: The Original BBQ Chicken Pizza. The tangy-spicy-sweet sauce, the gooey cheese, the chunks of tender chicken... It's about as far from an authentic pizza as you can get, yet somehow it all works."

Laurel D'Agenais

"If you want the best in California-style pizza, check out the place that started it all. Known for its famous BBQ chicken pizza, California Pizza Kitchen has been serving up its Italian/American pizza creations since 1985."

Los Angeles Magazine

"CPK continues to redefine the word pizza and agrees pretty much anything goes with a disk of dough and cheese: caramelized pears, roast duck, Japanese eggplant, and yes, pepperoni. But the popular Thai and barbecue chicken pizzas are still the best thing going."

Adam Kuban

"The crust is more a vehicle for unique toppings and striking flavor combinations not typically found in Italian cuisine—say goat cheese, or avocado, or egg."

Bradley Martin

"The 25 Iconic Pizzerias: California Pizza Kitchen - We’d be remiss not to mention CPK, the original California-style pizza with locations across the valley."

Courtney Holcomb

"Some of those original restaurants are still incredible places to enjoy California-style pizza, so be sure to check out California Pizza Kitchen if you can."

Robert Lauriston

"So the pizza (one size only) is really all about the toppings. One of the best is the BLT, a LaDou invention from the early days: a salad of crisp bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes served on a hot pizza shell."