From Asbury Park to Seaside Heights and a Few Favorites in Between, Stephen Winters, aka @ThePizzaHulk, takes us to some of his favorite spots.
THE JERSEY SHORE. And no, we’re not talking “Cabs are here!” Jersey Shore. We’re talking PIZZA at the Jersey Shore.
Summer may be winding down, but pizza season at the Jersey Shore never ends. Around here, a great slice isn’t just a summer thing—it’s a year-round experience. Whether you’re squeezing in one more beach day or heading down the Shore long after the crowds are gone, there’s always a good reason for a Jersey Shore pizza road trip.
I’m from North Jersey, so I don’t know exactly where the Jersey Shore officially starts. To me, it’s somewhere just after the PNC Arts Center. Once you get farther down the Parkway, it starts to feel real.
I spend a good part of my summers in Ortley Beach, and naturally, I plan my own pizza tours while I’m down there. So I’m sharing one with you: ThePizzaHulk’s Jersey Shore Pizza Trail.
Remember, these are my opinions and thoughts—not facts, not gospel. It’s simply a list from a guy who thinks he knows pizza. I know I like it, and I definitely know I like talking about it.
Now hop in the car, put on your shades, turn up the radio, crank the AC, and head down the beautiful, traffic-filled Garden State Parkway.
Let’s smash some slices.
Follow ThePizzaHulk’s Jersey Shore Pizza Trail
Use the interactive map below to follow the trail from Ocean Township to Toms River, with pizza stops in Lincroft, Asbury Park, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Brielle, Point Pleasant Beach, Seaside Heights, and more.
Pre-Shore Exit Snacks
Because I made the list, and I want you to go here. 😀
Tramonto’s Pizza
3311 Sunset Ave., Ocean Township
It took me three years to finally make it to Tramonto’s, and I can’t say this loudly enough: I WAITED TOO LONG!
Order a Detroit-style pizza, add a cheesesteak—which is in my top three statewide—and thank me later. I promise you, it’ll make the start of this tour worth it.
Luigi’s Famous
650 Newman Springs Rd., Lincroft
The 2025 PizzaHulk Pizza Madness winner for Best Pizza in New Jersey, Luigi’s Famous has quickly become one of my favorite spots in the state—and it also earned a spot on my 10 must-try NJ pizza spots for 2026.
Order the square pie or an OG bar pie, and absolutely get a side of cheesy breadsticks.
Now, Let’s Get to the Beach
Asbury Park
The Galley
1313 Memorial Dr., Asbury Park
The Galley is absolute heaven. In my opinion, it’s a top-five food establishment in the state, and it serves my #1 cheesesteak.
But we’re here to talk pizza, and both the bar pie and Detroit-style pizza hold a special place in my heart. This is one of those places where deciding what to order is half the battle—in the best possible way.
Coniglio’s King of Pies
649 Mattison Ave., Asbury Park
It’s called King of Pies for a reason.
The Detroit and Brooklyn rounds are must-orders. Owner Nino Coniglio is a master of dough, and it shows in everything they make. I’m such a fan that I literally get a loaf of their bread every single Sunday at my local farmers market.
Belmar
Pizzeria ‘Lucci
809 Belmar Plaza, Belmar
When you enter Lucci, if you listen closely enough, you can hear the angels sing. And yes, I finally made it here after putting Pizzeria Lucci on my must-try New Jersey pizza list for 2025 before I had even gotten through the door. This is pizza made with serious attention to the dough, the bake, and the details—and it belongs on any Jersey Shore pizza crawl.
Bradley Beach
Brooklyn Square
812 Main St., Bradley Beach
The upside-down square takes you on a spiritual pizza journey.
The sauce floats on top of this incredible dough-and-cheese pillow combination that is about as elite as it gets in pizza. Plus, the owner might be the nicest human being on Earth.
Great pizza and great people—that combination gets me every time.
Del Ponte’s Bakery
600 Main St., Bradley Beach
This is the white whale on my list.
The hours can be tough, but I keep hearing that the pizza is top tier. If you get there before I do, send me some pics!
Editor’s note: This is the one stop on the trail that ThePizzaHulk has yet to personally try.
Brielle
Vinnie’s Pan Pizza
713 Riverview Dr., Brielle
FINALLY, the Jersey Shore gets to experience my personal favorite pizza in the state—and somehow, I think it’s even better here than what I get up north.
Go for the thin-crust pan pizza topped with meatballs, ricotta and basil. Just writing that makes me want to get in the car right now.
Point Pleasant Beach
Rosie’s Pizza
620 Bay Ave., Point Pleasant Beach
I don’t actually have words for this one.
Rosie’s might be perfect.
My first visit changed my entire perception of pizza. It honestly took me another visit or two just to understand what I had experienced. There are pizzas you enjoy, and then there are pizzas that make you reconsider what you thought you knew about pizza.
For me, Rosie’s was the latter.
Seaside Heights
Maruca’s Tomato Pies
601 Ocean Terrace, Seaside Heights
A swirl of tomato sauce. A secret blend of cheese. An ocean view.
Maruca’s is pure pizza nostalgia in my world—40 years of it, to be exact—and somehow, I remember every bite like it was my first.
There’s something about eating a Maruca’s tomato pie with the boardwalk and ocean right there that makes it more than just pizza. It’s part of the Jersey Shore experience.
It’s also why Maruca’s made my list of favorite New Jersey cheese pizza slices—there’s nothing quite like grabbing a slice on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights.
Toms River Bonus Spots
Not ready to stop? Neither am I.
Slice House
177 NJ-37, Toms River
A New York-style pan pizza just off the Parkway. If you’re passing through Toms River and need another pizza stop, put this one on the list.
Pacidough’s Pizza Joint
312 Atlantic City Blvd., Toms River
Try the New Haven-ish style pizza. It might change your life—or at least your entire view of pizza.
The multiple-award-winning Pacidough’s keeps getting more popular, if that’s even possible. Sourdough-style pizza is officially on the map, and Pacidough’s shows you exactly why. If you’re curious about why this style has taken off, check out my look at New Jersey’s sourdough pizza movement.
A Note From ThePizzaHulk
I’m not a writer. I’m a talker.
I sent this to the editor, and she told me, “We need to be a little more descriptive here.” Writing isn’t easy for me, but talking about pizza is. I could go on for 15 or 20 minutes about every single one of these places.
You’ve probably heard me mention many of them on my lists before. But I also can’t give you just 50-ish words and pretend that tells you everything you need to know about a great pizza place.
And, for the most part, I only want to talk about places I’ve actually visited. I don’t want to put my name on a list filled with pizzerias I’ve only heard about.
So, starting in September, I’m setting myself a goal: one new pizza spot every week.
That way, the next list can go even deeper.
Because if there’s one thing I’ve proven, it’s that pizza isn’t just a meal. It’s a personality.
As always:
Stay hungry • Support your local pizzeria • Every pizza has a story • I’m here to tell it • I’m ThePizzaHulk • Let’s smash another slice
@ThePizzaHulk
2023 & 2024 Top Pizza Influencer
Hungry for more? Explore all of ThePizzaHulk’s New Jersey pizza picks on Jersey Bites.
