Chef William Joo Expands Tokyo-Style Neapolitan Pizza Concept
Tokyo-style pizza in Los Angeles gets a major expansion as Pizzeria Sei opens its second location on June 24 in Palms. Reservations available now.
Chef William (Sang Woo) Joo and his wife and partner Jennifer So launched the original Pico-Robertson spot in 2022. Born in South Korea and raised in Los Angeles, Joo grew up loving pizza, especially wood-fired pies, before training at Via Alloro, Providence, Angelini Osteria, Pizzana and Ronan. The new space at 10700 Tabor Street brings expanded dine-in seating, with outdoor seating to follow. It also features a more robust wine program with wider regional selection, including higher-end bottles. The original location at 8781 W Pico Blvd becomes Sei Pizza Bar, focusing on takeout, delivery, limited dine-in, catering, private events and other creative uses of the space as the concept continues to evolve.
Behind the concept’s identity, the name “Sei” means six in Italian. The kitchen cuts each pizza into six slices. Joo’s approach centers on wood-fired pizzas meant to be eaten straight from the oven, with a focus on texture and timing.
Joo didn’t train in Tokyo or follow a specific lineage. Instead, he developed his style through observation and repetition, inspired by Japanese interpretations of Neapolitan pizza but grounded in his own instinct. At Pizzeria Sei, that translates into pizzas rooted in Neapolitan tradition. Each pie is shaped with a crimped technique. The technique creates soft, airy sections, crisp edges and charred bubbles with light smokiness. Joo treats the process as something always evolving, making small adjustments to dough, fermentation and technique over time.
The new Palms location gives Joo room to expand beyond his original tight menu. Alongside his Tokyo-style Neapolitan pies, he’s introducing scrocchiarella, a thin, airy, wafer-crisp Roman-style pizza that stays rigid and doesn’t get soggy. He’s also adding a double-cooked pizza that’s fried and then baked for a light, flaky texture with a crisp base that can handle heavier toppings.
But this expansion reflects more than just menu diversity, the shift comes from listening to guests. Joo recognizes that not everyone immediately connects with the softer center of traditional Neapolitan pizza, which results from proper fermentation. Rather than insisting on one style, he sees offering more approachable options as part of hospitality. Guests can explore different styles and, over time, develop an appreciation for Neapolitan pizza while Sei maintains its core identity.
The original menu featured just a few salads, antipasti and a small selection of pizzas. Space dictated limitations, but it also helped define Sei early on. The focus was always the pizza. Now, with more room, Joo can offer variety without losing sight of what made the first location work.
Pizzeria Sei opens its second location on June 24 in Palms at 10700 Tabor Street. Reservations are open now. The original Pico-Robertson location at 8781 W Pico Blvd remains open as Sei Pizza Bar, offering takeout, delivery, catering and private events. Hours run Wednesday through Sunday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
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