California Pizza Kitchen

Recommends

GiraffeBoy

Joined 10 years ago

Still the best pizza out there. The fire-oven-baked crust (good balance between soft and crisp) and the flavors of the toppings are why this place always stands out. BBQ chicken is the original and best. The Thai chicken is flavorful, nutty and sweet. The Santa Fe chicken is modestly spicy with fresh pico de gallo. And last time, I tried the chicken Waldorf salad (dressings on the side). Ask for lemon vinaigrette - creamy and tangy. Service was helpful, refilling the drinks and knowledgeable about the salad (so I'd know what to order if I wanted it again). And they validate parking for 3 hours, so you can walk around at the mall for a while.

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Watch your pie bake in a wood-fired oven at this national chain with global culinary influences.. In Short
Founded in Beverly Hills in 1985, these eateries with the trademark yellow, black and white color scheme have spread nationwide. The decor consists of simple wood and glass with roomy black leather booths. The thin-crust pizzas come with innovative toppings from Asia, Latin America and the Southwest; signature pizzas like the Original BBQ Chicken and Jamaican Jerk Chicken compete with old standbys like pepperoni and traditional cheese. Pastas, salads, soups and sandwiches round out the menu.

Doesn't Recommend

LAFodie3000

Joined 5 years ago

There are plenty of other places to get non-traditional pizza without the headache!. 2 for 2 - Both times I went to CPK I have had poor service. It is unforunate becasue the food is pretty good. The server took forever and when the food came out it was cold. The soup wasn't available so I had to get the slaw which I didnt want. The time before this, the server spilled my drink on my lap and ruined my pants. There are plenty of other places to get non-traditional pizza without the headache!

Doesn't Recommend

llstudent

Joined 5 years ago

Poor Service. While I still remain a fan of CPK, this location is terrible. Our waitress sat down and conversed with her friends and family at a nearby table more than she checked on us. Enough said.

Doesn't Recommend

robert_yu

Joined 8 years ago

Cold pizza and bad service.... We ordered for take out and they claimed that we didn't have an order because the person behind the counter doesn't speak english. About 30 minutes later and a 20 minute walk back to the car we had our cold pizza. Made a complaint to corporate and they did nothing which leads me to believe they stand behind bad service.

Doesn't Recommend

groknix

Joined 11 years ago

9-5 Mon-Fri Lunch spot, any other time steer clear. Having worked downtown for the last 6+ years and lived here the last 2, I have been here on numerous occasions so this is not a review after having visited once or twice. This location is only good Mon-Fri for the 9-5 crowd, ie lunch. Every time without exception, when I have been here after lunch or on the weekends, this place is horrible. My wife and I just had lunch yesterday and the service was bad, there were several tables that had not been cleaned, the $7 margaritas were so bad I asked if they had given us virgin drinks by mistake and the food was just edible. If you want a better CPK experience head over to the 330 So. Hope location, but that isn't a stellar experience either, just a lot better than this one. With downtown making a comeback, I can only hope that the competition will force them to clean up their act.

Recommends

michaellaska

Joined 6 years ago

Usually good, but NOT this time.. Seating was quick and friendly. I got a nice table outside. Service is usually great at this place, but not this time. The waiter took forever to come to my table. He finally took my order of ice tea and food. Brought the ice tea and bread to my table and left me with no silverware, napkin, or sugar. The tea had to be returned because it was cloudy. So was my second glass. The dumplings were delicious, my salad was not. I've ordered the ceasar salad for years. This one was soggy at best. My grilled shrimp were COLD and rubbery. I thought that I was just having a bad day, but the guy next to me had to return his tea and salad as well. I didn't return the salad. I just wanted to leave. And to top it off, I paid 7 DOLLARS to park!!!!!!!!! My "lunch" came to 22 for the tab, 4 for the tip, and 7 for the parking = 33 DOLLARS!!!!!!! And it wasn't even good.

Recommends

alisonkramer

Joined 7 years ago

Corporately consistent California fare.. I ate a LOT of CPK, considering one of my roommates worked there, and never got sick of it. While I don't find dining there to be the most remarkable experience, considering the array of fun places to explore in LA, the take out is consistent and the pizza is truly awesome. Thin crust, ecclectic ingredients, crispy and delicious. I opt for take-out, be sure to try the thai crunch salad.

Recommends

trainmidge

Joined 8 years ago

Long wait to get seated!. The food is great, however, good luck in getting seated from 11:30 am to 2 pm. The service is so-so.

Recommends

cambird

Joined 7 years ago

Good location and atmosphere. Though all CPKs are essentially the same, visiting this particular location was one of the more enjoyable experiences I've had at the mega-pizza-chain. Situated between the Staples Center and Downtown L.A., it has the feel of upscale dining, and you'll be sure to spot many locals who look like celebrities but probably aren't. Here's a general CPK tip: order the honey wheat bread with your pizza. It's to live for.