According to some estimates, Americans eat more than 3 billion pizzas every year — and that’s just the beginning of the story. In North Lake Tahoe and Truckee, pizza is more than a convenience or comfort food. It’s often crafted with regional ingredients, baked to a perfect char and served in spaces that invite conversation and lingering. From traditional pies to bold reimaginings, pizza remains a community favorite in the Best of North Lake Tahoe and Truckee. The love for pizza here is strong, but the creativity behind it is even stronger.
Whitecaps Pizza in Kings Beach keeps things straightforward in the best way possible: wood-fired pizza, a lakefront view and a clear passion for doing things right. This is the kind of place where the menu is small, but deliberate. Every pie comes out of their wood-fired oven with a blistered, chewy crust — smoky in spots and perfectly golden. While the Margherita keeps purists happy, Whitecaps leans into more adventurous territory with options like pear and Gorgonzola or fig with prosciutto. The setting, overlooking Lake Tahoe, adds a casual elegance to the experience. But what’s most memorable is the care that goes into each pie, each pour and each moment.
For more than two decades, Village Pizzeria has served up no-nonsense pies to locals and visitors rolling through Truckee. The vibe is relaxed, the flavors are big and the portions? Generous. Their dough is made in-house daily, which lays the groundwork for everything from classic pepperoni to white garlic pies. Village Pizzeria’s sauce hits that balance of tang and sweetness, while the toppings feel curated, not just piled on. It’s family-friendly without feeling juvenile and unfussy without being boring. And for those chasing nostalgia, their red-and-white checkered tablecloths deliver on that front, too.
A relative newcomer to the pizza scene, Incline Bàk’d has quickly become one to watch. Located in Incline Village, this concept blurs the line between bakery and pizzeria — proof that carbs in all forms deserve equal respect. Their sourdough crust brings a tang and texture that stands apart from the usual suspects. It’s fermented, hand-stretched and baked until the edges puff and darken just so. The menu showcases a blend of inventive pies and timeless flavors, but it's the crust that pulls everything together. And since Bàk’d also turns out killer baked goods, don’t be surprised if you leave with a pastry in one hand and a pizza box in the other.
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