Does Perry's Pizza make its pizza dough fresh every day?

Yes! Every single morning at Perry's Pizza, our team prepares pizza dough from scratch using premium flour, pure water, yeast, and oil, allowing it to ferment naturally for optimal crust structure.

What is the difference between thick crust and thin crust pizza at Perry's?

Our thin crust is round, crispy, and lightweight, letting the rich sauce and toppings shine. Our thick crust is baked rectangular/square style with a pillowy interior and golden crunchy bottom crust.

Can I customize toppings on my pizza?

Absolutely! We offer Build Your Own Pizza options in Medium and Large sizes with over 16 fresh toppings, including pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, fresh bell peppers, jalapeños, mushrooms, garlic, and avocado.

Pizza Craft

What Makes Great Pizza? The Ingredients Behind Every Perfect Slice

Perry's PizzaPublished Jun 14, 20266 min read

Freshly baked handcrafted specialty pizza at Perry's Pizza in Huntington Beach

When you bite into a hot, cheesy slice of pizza, you immediately know whether it was crafted with pride or rushed off an assembly line. Great pizza isn't born from frozen premade crusts or canned generic sauces—it's the product of time, craftsmanship, and pure ingredients working in harmony.

Since 1973, Perry's Pizza in Huntington Beach has remained committed to classic neighborhood pizzeria principles: scratch-made dough, vine-ripened tomatoes, 100% real mozzarella, and generous, freshly sliced toppings. In this guide, we reveal the core culinary elements that elevate ordinary dough and cheese into a legendary slice.

1. The Foundation: Hand-Kneaded Fresh Dough

Every great pizza begins with the crust. Dough is far more than just a vehicle for sauce and cheese; it provides texture, aroma, and structural balance. According to culinary historians at Britannica, traditional Mediterranean flatbreads evolved into modern pizza precisely because yeast fermentation develops complex wheat sugars.

At Perry’s, our dough is prepared fresh in-house every day. We balance high-gluten bread flour, filtered water, pure yeast, and natural oils to achieve optimal elasticity. Whether you prefer a light, crisp round thin crust or a generous square thick crust, proper fermentation ensures a crunchy exterior and airy interior that never feels dense or chewy. Explore our complete selection on our full pizza menu.

2. The Soul: Slow-Simmered Homemade Pizza Sauce

The sauce provides the zesty acidity and sweet aromatic notes that cut through rich cheese. Generic pizzerias often use diluted tomato paste loaded with corn syrup. Authentic pizzerias rely on California vine-ripened tomatoes harvested at peak sweetness.

Our proprietary sauce blend is cooked in-house with sweet basil, oregano, minced garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and sea salt. As recognized by international culinary authorities like the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN), the natural sweetness of premium tomatoes is vital for balanced flavor profile without needing artificial additives.

3. The Melt: Premium Real Mozzarella

Not all mozzarella is created equal. Pre-shredded bag cheese is coated in cellulose anti-caking powder, which prevents a smooth, cohesive melt and leaves behind an oily residue.

Perry’s Pizza uses premium, whole-milk mozzarella sourced from trusted dairy farms. It melts uniformly into buttery, stretchable ribbons that hold toppings firmly in place while creating that iconically satisfying cheese pull.

4. The Crunch & Flavor: Freshly Chopped Toppings

Great toppings should be vibrant, fresh, and hand-prepared. Pre-sliced canned vegetables lack texture and moisture control. Our kitchen hand-chops crisp green bell peppers, fresh white mushrooms, sweet red onions, ripe tomatoes, and fragrant garlic every morning.

Our savory meats—including spicy cupping pepperoni, Italian sausage links, tavern ham, lean roast beef, and meatballs—are selected for authentic spices and high lean-to-fat ratios. Guidelines from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service highlight that fresh prep preserves natural vitamins and wholesome flavor.

5. The Craft: Precision Baking Techniques

Even the best ingredients can fail if baked improperly. Deck baking requires precise temperature management so the bottom crust caramelizes to a golden brown while the cheese melts and top veggies roast slightly.

Our seasoned pizza makers monitor deck temperature, air humidity, and oven positioning for every single pie. This dedication ensures every customer receives a piping hot pizza with crisp crust and bubbly cheese.

6. Popular Specialty Pizzas at Perry's

Ready to taste the combination of these premium ingredients? Here are a few fan-favorite pies featured on our Huntington Beach menu:

Hermosa Specialty: Loaded with pepperoni, fresh mushrooms, sausage, and sweet onions.
Skip’s Special: Packed with pepperoni, sausage, homemade meatball, and tavern ham.
BBQ Chicken Pizza: House BBQ sauce base, smoked garlic, tender chicken breast, red onion, and fresh cilantro.
Vegetarian Special: Packed with fresh mushrooms, black olives, green bell peppers, and sweet onions.

Taste the Quality Difference Today

There are no shortcuts when it comes to great pizza. From our dough kneaded daily to sauce simmered in-house, Perry’s Pizza delivers timeless quality you can taste in every bite. Planning dinner or feeding the crew? Check out our customer reviews or place your order now for fast pickup.