Pizzeria Sei, a Tokyo Neapolitan-style restaurant in Pico-Robertson , will likely move over to a full-service location in Palms sometime in 2025, chef William Joo confirms to Eater. Over the past two-and-a-half years, Pizzeria Sei has created a cult following for its mochi-like wood-fired crust and pizza omakase, gaining worldwide recognition along the way. Joo, previously a cook at Providence, Ronan, and Pizzana, opened Sei with his wife Jennifer So in early 2022 with lofty ambitions.
In the years since, Pizzeria Sei has introduced innovative topping combinations to the Neapolitan genre, such as a mala lamb sausage pizza topped with cilantro flowers. Joo also launched a monthly pizza omakase where diners could take a parade through a slew of various pizzas by the slice, including a few off-menu options. Pizzeria Sei also landed at number 8 on the 50 Top Pizzas in the United States and number 33 on the 50 Top Pizzas in the world.
After operating in a very small footprint, Joo tells Eater that the Sei’s current model has since become unsustainable, which means they will likely convert it into a takeout and delivery-only pizzeria if they even opt retain it after the lease expires. “The old space was so tiny, and working there was so hard. Not everyone is happy because our reservation system doesn’t work like clockwork,” says Joo.
“99 percent of the bad reviews we get are because of the space, because we have to ask guests to wait. It’s just not worth it to run full .