Hot reader tip: The Coop Pizza in Palms

Filed under: Westside, Eat — StyleGuide @ 6:51 pm

According to a 0.26-second Google search, New York is the birthplace of Hip Hop, Punk, Memorial Day, Teddy Roosevelt and the U.S. Navy.  All great stuff, but on reflection, one of the state’s top contributions to mankind must be New York-style pizzas.  Distinguished by thin, flexible crusts, light on the cheese and sauce — they are huge and filling and greasy and marvelous. 

Because of this, finding great New York-style pizza joints in Los Angeles is an avocation adopted by thousands of NYC transplants, and The Coop — recommended by Stylish Guide reader Kate — delivers. 

In its Palms location since the beginning of time (in L.A. terms, the 1960s is the beginning of time), The Coop doesn’t exactly make it easy to enjoy their great, low price pizza. 

They only take cash — so hit the ATM on the way.  The friendly staff will move slower than rush hour traffic on the adjacent 10 freeway — so call ahead or stick with ordering a slice.  The inhospitable, elevator-sized counter area doesn’t offer even a lowly barstool to waiting customers — so get your pizza and get out! 

When you do finally get a fresh-from-the-oven-hot pizza, aromatic with basil-infused sauce and flour from the hand-tossed dough, squirrel the box away to your car.  Forget decency as you steam up the windows, huddled together as you slide generous slices out of the box.  Carefully lower it into your mouth baby-bird-style.  Marvel at how your annoyance at their skid-row-motel-style service fades away into grateful bliss with each bite.

Bottom line?  Come for a simple slice to eat on the run, or call ahead so your pizza pie is waiting when you walk in.  With all due respect to Teddy Roosevelt and Hip Hop, you had me at the pizza, NY.

Price: $

Call:  310.837.4462

Where:  10006 National Boulevard, Los Angeles, Ca

Related links  |  More slices:

Great Pizza in L.A.

Village Pizzeria

Posted in Westside, Eat |