Johnny Jo’s Pizzeria

I’m not sure what kind of NY pizza everyone has been eating but it certainly doesn’t fall limp when you pick it up. My pizza slices were soggy, limp and underwhelming. I’m starting to realize I can’t trust good Unilocal reviews in KC…

One of my favorite places to get pizza in KC and I LOVE pizza. You can get it by the slice or whole pizza. There is very limited seating. Usually only one table inside and one outside (depending on the weather).

This area has a fantastic local feel to it. One of a kind pies and knots that remin you I the simple shore. We live right round the corner, so convenience is crucial. It is amazing the owner is always there with high energy as well as a great piece. Man up and attempt some El Diablo or go classic with some Cream Cheese. No order is complete without knots. Found this location on Unilocal,if to are in or near Westport/​West Plaza come reveal this spot some much deserved love!

One of the top 3 best pizza spots in KC. Nice location, nice service, nice atmosphere, great thin crust style pizza. A definite stop for pizza by the slice during a quick lunch or a lazy weekend in KC. A Hidden gem. Definitely give it a try.

Awesome pizza! So fresh! We got just plain cheese and everyone loved it! The dessert knots are yummy too. This isn’t a place you eat at. Order your pizza and take it with you. New York style yumminess!

This pizza was so good! The crust was delicious. And the pepperoni was better than others, I know that sounds weird, but they have some good pepperoni. Lol. Anyways we got the Monday special, a 16″ with the works for $ 15.95. Great deal for great pizza. Oh, and that cannoli… I have never liked them, but I guess I had never had a real cannoli. It was heaven. Have one.

16″ pepperoni, sausage, and jalapeño. Sauce is good and mozzarella/​provolone mix rounds out a nice pie. The toppings is what I want to highlight. The jalapeños are fresh, not pickled. Let me repeat that, the jalapeños are fresh not pickled. Fresh jalapeños add heat without adding the pickled moisture and taste.
The garlic knots. Friendly suggestion, change your packaging to little aluminum case that can be topped with a card board or plastic cover. Why? Heat those bad boys up and drizzle the butter garlic sauce on top with some shredded cheese and it will change your life.
Best NY style pizza in KC. Yes I have tried more than a handful establishments

This place is tiny! That being said, it is cheap and it is good. We arrived for a late lunch and they were about an hour from closing for break before dinner rush. Both my wife and I got the one slice + drink special for $ 5. We threw in an order of garlic knots because why not?
The drinks are just bottles of your choice of soft drink or water. The fridge they keep them in ensures they are nice and cold. Mine had ice in the bottle. I didn’t mind at all.
They have two tables and a bar. One table is for two, another for about four, and the bar seats about four as well. We chose the table for two, which was essentially a patio table set with a table covering over it.
The food came out quick and it came out hot. It’s probably one of the better New York style slices I’ve had. We both got the pepperoni and it was pretty tasty. Good flavor on the sauce and nothing overpowered anything else. The crust was crispy enough without being crunchy. The garlic knots were exactly as you expect.
We could probably have done without the garlic knots. It was a lot of food. Blasphemy, you say? Seriously. I can put it away and I would have been fine with just the slice and drink.
Oh, this place is a furnace inside. It was about 30-​something outside and maybe somewhere in the 80s or 90s inside. If you hate hate heat, get your order to go. Otherwise, enjoy!

There is so much pizza to choose from in the metro Kansas City area that reviewing pizza places and assigning them a certain number of stars on Unilocal has become somewhat difficult. That being said, I am going to proceed:)!
Having only been here the one time, keep
in mind that my review is based on one experience.
First, the service was very friendly and helpful; always a good sign in a pizza joint! It is a really small location just off the west plaza but nice and appropriately decorated on the inside.
I would have to describe the pizza here as a ‘thicker and more substantive’ (meaning hand tossed dough) NY style of pizza with very fresh ingredients! We were extremely impressed with not only the craftsmanship of the pizza dough but the freshness and quality of the toppings. We ordered their smallest size pizza (which I believe is the 16 inch) and is was plenty of food! Let me stress this point, you get quite a lot to eat here and if you are only two people then I cannot see any reason to get a pizza larger than 16 inches. The pizza we ordered was «The Meathead», which has ham, crumbled Italian sausage, and pepperoni on top. If my recollection serves me true, then we also added fresh mushrooms and black olives to the «Meathead». Lastly, we got one order of the garlic knots; which, was good, but no where near as good as the pizza. Oooo, before I forget to mention this, as we all know, one of the most crucial factors in rating a pizza joint is the quality of their ranch dressing and the quality of Johnny’s ranch is 5 star!
When deciding where to grab a pizza in KC, you have so many good choices; but, if you are in the mood for a more classic, not super duper thin (like Spin or Pizza Bella) or traditional Neapolitan (like il Pezzetto [sic]), but a fresh New York style of pizza then I would certainly recommend that you head on over to Johnny Js to try out either a slice or a whole pie!
I try to think what could have earned Johnny’s the coveted 5^th star for a pizza joint on Unilocal,and I am having a difficult time finding reasons why I should not give them five stars. Tell you what, when I return (and I will) if the quality remains consistent or even improves then I will perhaps update Johnny Js review from a ⁴⁄₅ to a ⁵⁄₅! Ya, it was that good:)!

The pizza is excellent. My roommates and I always go to Johnny joes km when craving pizza. Two problems 1. The sausage on my most recent pizza was raw. Very skeptical to get it again (See photo) 2. They don’t have ranch.

My friends and I had just finished walking around the Nelson-​Atkins Museum when suddenly one of them says that they were craving some pizza. I had no idea where the nearest (and cheapest…) pizza place was until Unilocal suggested Johnny Jo’s. Thus a trip to this destination was commenced.
So you can either buy pizza by the slice ($ 3.50) or you can buy a ginormous one. We opted for the box and got «The Classic” – green bell peppers, pepperoni, and Parmesan goodness. The pizza was prepared in 5 minutes (oven time) which was pretty impressive. The final result? 8 yummy monster slices that happily fed the four of us that evening.
While the pizza was terrific, I really wish Johnny Jo’s had a bigger eating area and was more clean. They had boxes of soda and water among the steps and it just felt kinda cramped.
Overall, I wouldn’t go out of my way to go to this place again unless I was in the area, but it’s a nice little business to support and it had me super full for the rest of the evening.

Tiny pizzeria, big pizza taste: blink and you’ll miss it, even if, as I was, you’re walking.
Wanting a quick to-​go lunch on the way home through the West Plaza was the perfect excuse to finally try this well-​Yelped pizza shop. Several thin-​crust pizzas greeted me through the display case windows, but, bread lover that I am, I chose a Classic Stromboli instead. It was HUGE for $ 5.95, easily enough for two people. The bread was yeasty and delicious, stuffed full with cheese, pepperoni, hamburger, onions and peppers, and accompanied by a cup of slightly spicy-​sweet sauce. I would’ve liked a little less char on the bottom, but it was marvelous. Also calling to me from that display case were Garlic Knots. At $ 2 for 7, it was impossible to pass them up, especially since I too hungry to wait until I got the stromboli home. These awesome little nuggets of dough are rolled in butter, garlic and parmesan and baked fresh for you, and it took everything I had not to eat ‘em all before I got home!
Like I said, the place is tiny. There are a couple of small tables and a bar with 2 or 3 stools, that’s it. The young lady behind the counter was friendly and cheerful, and kept me posted on the wait time for the stromboli (only 10 minutes). Whole pizzas range from $ 17-​$ 30, but $ 9-​with-​tip made for a very satisfying lunch+snack. A caveat: the stromboli must have been a special, because on the menu it’s $ 7.95. Still a bargain!

If you like New York Style pizza, more than likely, this is going to be a delicious choice for a meal (or a few if you get a big pizza!).
The boyfriend and I decided to get a «The Works» pizza and some garlic knots for a night at home while watching the Royals game. Truthfully, I really enjoyed the pizza… I liked how it was fresh toppings and the garlic knots are realllllllllllllllly garlic-​y. YUM.
I’d recommend asking for a cup of sauce to go with your knots because they don’t automatically come with them.
I know they have lunch specials here and the pizza is HUGE. Like, pizza slices at least as big as your face… (unless you have a massively huge face… but then again, it might be that big still!) :)
Just check it out. I’m sure it’s not for everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and so did the boyfriend. We’ll be back!

Authentic NYC style pizza that is made with quality ingredients and is just good overall pizza.
I’m not going to go out on a limb and say this is the best pizza in KC or anything like that, but it is damn good and a fun little neighborhood spot.
When you order a whole pizza from them, it’s always has delicious crust and toppings. The slices are gigantic, foldable NYC slices that are hard to put down. I especially love the pepperoni they use here. Also of note, the dressed (i.e. buttered and slathered with deliciousness) garlic knots. Get those and don’t think twice.
When I go in to just order a slice, I’m not as big a fan. Mainly because, while traditional, I don’t really like that they just take a cold slice and warm it up. It doesn’t taste nearly as good as when you get a normal, fresh to order pizza.
What I like about the KC pizza scene is you have tons of various styles and many delicious options. This unique style is slowly becoming more of a «go-​to» for us and I love supporting this friendly shop.

Freaking awesome Pizza and the best deal in town. 1 big slice $ 3.50 no matter toppings. Great crust. You have to get off the path and come here. Just a dive with great pizza.

Obsessed with their margarita pizza. Have had the white one with artichokes and it’s good too but prefer the margarita.
I wouldn’t plan on eating inside — it’s small and not very comfortable.
There is another location called The Pizzaria.

I would sell my soul to Satan for this pizza.
Ordered a 20″ pizza to go with Italian sausage and fresh basil earlier this week — was past happy hour so I paid full price — $ 28. That is a LOT to pay for a pizza but it was worth every cent!
I would eat this pizza as my last meal on deathrow.
I’m not sure how they make such amazing pizza at Johnny Jo’s — perhaps they sold their souls?
I know this review sounds crazy but their pizza is so good it’s beyond belief. My new favorite place for carry out!

Finally… NY style pizza! I lived in the great city that is NY for about 5 – 6 years and I am happy to say that this pizza lived up to its hype.
The tried and true test of NY style pizza is to go with a plain olé cheese pizza… Johnny Jo’s, ya did me good! Nonetheless, the meat pizza as well as the mozzarella was also divine.

Definitely the very best New York style pizza in Kansas City! I stopped in for a slice with my mom while shopping in the area. It’s location is a bit off the beaten path, but close enough to the Plaza to make it an easy lunch treat! They have a large selection of pizzas available by the slice, and the price is right @ $ 3.50. You won’t go away hungry either, the slice is huge! They also offer whole pizzas for take out, with specials each night.
The restaurant itself is very small. Only a few small tables and a few barstools near the wall. I think in the summer they have tables and chairs outside. Even if you can’t stay and eat, get a slice to go. You’ll be glad you did!
We also had the chance to meet Johnny Joe and talk a bit about his business and his new location in Leawood. He was a delightful guy; I wish him the best in his new location!

I stopped in for lunch yesterday and was amazed to find they had 4 pizza on display, after reading some other reviews I was prepping myself for 1 or 2. The smell going in was that of warm baked crust with a hint of garlic, mouth already watering! I ended up with the combo pizza slice for $ 3.50 and a half order of garlic knots (7 for $ 2) it was perfect! The Crust was Crisp on the outside, no limpy pizza here! And the flavors were balanced to perfection! On to the knots, they were good, buttery & with a hint of garlic and Parmesan. Pizza 51 used to be my favorite lunch spot, but for the value and taste, I will happily make the 1 mile extra drive here next time!
PS Yes they reheat they’re food, most places do (like Pizza 51) how else are they going to heat up your pizza quickly? It’s better than waiting 20 minutes for a slice! Perspective people!