Is there parking at Regents Pizzeria in University City?

There's parking available, but it's paid—so factor that into your visit. It's worth knowing upfront if you're planning a quick slice or a longer sit-down meal.

What's the wait like, and should I order ahead?

Thursday evenings get bustling, but you can order at the side counter without a huge wait if you're just grabbing slices. If you want a full Chicago deep dish pie, expect around 45 minutes, so ordering ahead online is smart if you're timing a meal.

What should I order first?

Get two slices while you wait for the main event—the Chicago deep dish is the real draw here, offering that thick, substantial style. If you want something lighter, their NYC-style thin crust is also solid.

Is this a good spot for kids?

Absolutely. Pizza, casual vibe, and outdoor seating make it family-friendly, though the place does get crowded during peak times.

Do you have vegetarian options?

Yes, vegetarian options are available across their menu, so there's something beyond just meat pies if that's what you're after.

There's outdoor seating available, which is typically where dogs are welcome, so that should work depending on the weather.

What's the vibe—is this a place to linger or grab and go?

It's versatile: grab slices at the counter for a quick bite, or settle in at a table with a beer and wings for a longer neighborhood hangout. Business lunches and group dinners both feel at home here.

Do I need a reservation?

No reservations needed—it's a walk-in spot with counter ordering, though showing up during off-peak hours will save you from the crowds.

Regents Pizzeria — Pizza in University City, San Diego

“Regents Pizzeria runs Chicago deep-dish and NYC-style thin slices side by side, which means forty-five-minute cook times colliding with grab-and-go counter service in a strip-mall space that somehow makes both work.”

Where Snooze optimizes for volume and Calvin's chains itself to a single specialty, Regents commits to the logistical chaos of doing two incompatible things simultaneously. The **Chicago deep-dish** requires advance notice and a timer — reviews consistently clock it at forty-five minutes, which is correct for a two-inch-tall pie that needs actual baking, not reheating. The thin-crust slices, meanwhile, sit ready behind glass for immediate pickup. That duality attracts the University City lunch crowd who can't wait and the dinner groups willing to kill time over beer while dough rises.

The **Chicago slices** are the reason people make the drive, even if the wait frustrates first-timers who walk in expecting pizzeria speed. The crust holds structure under sauce and cheese weight, which separates competent deep-dish from the soggy failures most places serve. For immediacy, the **thin-crust New York slices** lean drier than ideal when they've been sitting, but ordering two fresh while you wait for a full pie — the move several reviews mention — solves that problem and gives you something to do besides stare at your phone.

Parking costs money here, which matters in a neighborhood where most spots validate or offer surface lots. The strip-mall location lacks charm but seats groups easily, and the side counter lets you skip the bar line if you're ordering food only. It's not trying to be a destination — it's solving for the fact that University City has plenty of fast-casual but almost nothing doing legitimate Chicago-style pizza with this kind of consistency. The **salads** show up in enough reviews to suggest they're more than filler, and the beer list supports the forty-five-minute wait without requiring you to order a second round.

Best for groups who can split focus between immediate slices and a deep-dish worth waiting for, or solo diners who called ahead and timed their arrival correctly.