Best Detroit Style Pizza in San Diego
Experience the Motor City's greatest culinary export with authentic Detroit style pizza in San Diego. Born from automotive factory ingenuity, this rectangular deep-dish features legendary crispy caramelized cheese edges, airy high-hydration dough, and sauce stripes on top. Our comprehensive guide covers everything from blue steel pans to Wisconsin brick cheese.
Expert Tip: Pro tip: The corner pieces are the holy grail of Detroit pizzaâfour edges of frico perfection. When ordering, ask if you can get a corner piece (some pizzerias charge extra, and it's worth it). The frico should shatter when you bite it, then give way to stretchy cheese underneath. And don't skip the sauce stripesâthey're meant to be swirled into each bite, not spread evenly like other pizzas.
Key Characteristics
What Makes It Unique
Detroit style pizza is instantly recognizable by its rectangular shape (typically 8x10"), thick yet airy crust, and signature crispy caramelized cheese edges called "frico." The dough uses 70%+ hydration creating an open, porous structure similar to focaccia but with crispier edges. Wisconsin brick cheese (a semi-hard cow's milk cheese with sharp cheddar-like taste) is layered edge-to-edge, caramelizing against the buttered pan sides. Sauce is applied in stripes on top after bakingâ"upside-down" from traditional pizza. Baked in seasoned blue steel pans originally designed as automotive drip trays, reaching temperatures around 500-550°F for 12-15 minutes.
History & Origins
Detroit style pizza was invented in 1946 at Buddy's Rendezvous (originally a speakeasy at Six Mile Road and Conant Street) when owner Gus Guerra sought his Sicilian mother-in-law's advice on adding food to his bar. The innovation? Using rectangular blue steel pans from Detroit's automotive factories as pizza vessels. These forged steel drip pans retained heat like cast iron and gave the pizza its signature shape. The style remained hyper-regional for decades, known only to Detroiters, until the 2010s when chains like Jet's Pizza and Via 313 brought it national attention. Today it's one of America's fastest-growing pizza styles.
In San Diego
San Diego's Detroit style scene has exploded with authentic Motor City pizzerias. Square Pizza Co. in Pacific Beach was crowned California's best Detroit pizza by the Washington Post and is expanding to East Village. Angry Pete's Pizza, founded by Michigan native Pete Harbison, serves authentic pies with Wisconsin brick cheese at multiple locations (Kearny Mesa, Point Loma, Santee Lakes). Both feature the essential elements: blue steel pans, brick cheese frico, and airy 70%+ hydration dough that rivals anything in Detroit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Detroit style pizza different from other deep dish pizzas?
Detroit style features an airy, light texture from 70%+ hydration dough despite its thicknessâunlike dense Chicago deep dish. The signature crispy caramelized cheese edges (frico) and reverse layering (sauce on top) are unique to Detroit style. It's baked in rectangular blue steel pans originally from automotive factories, not round cake pans.
Where can I find authentic Detroit style pizza in San Diego?
Square Pizza Co. in Pacific Beach (4508 Cass Street) was named California's best Detroit pizza by the Washington Post. Angry Pete's Pizza has multiple locations (Kearny Mesa, Point Loma, Santee Lakes) and uses authentic Wisconsin brick cheese. Both feature blue steel pans and proper frico edges.
What is frico and why is it important?
Frico is the crispy, lacy, caramelized cheese edge that forms when Wisconsin brick cheese is spread to the pan edges and bakes against the hot steel. It's the most iconic element of Detroit pizzaâcrunchy, cheesy, slightly burnt perfection. Without frico, it's not authentic Detroit style.
What is Wisconsin brick cheese and can I substitute it?
Wisconsin brick cheese is a semi-hard cow's milk cheese with a sharp, cheddar-like flavor. It melts exceptionally well and caramelizes perfectly for frico. While some pizzerias use mozzarella or white cheddar blends, authentic Detroit style requires brick cheese. It's named after the bricks used to press moisture out during production.
Why are blue steel pans used for Detroit pizza?
The original blue steel pans were automotive drip trays from Detroit factories. These forged steel pans retain heat like cast iron, creating even baking and superior crust development. They season over time, building up flavor. The rectangular shape became Detroit pizza's signature form factor.
Why is the sauce on top of Detroit style pizza?
Sauce is applied in stripes after baking (or in the last few minutes) to prevent the thick, airy crust from getting soggy during the longer bake time. This "upside-down" or "reverse" layeringâcheese first, then sauceâis a defining characteristic that sets Detroit style apart from other pizzas.
