Gino’s East-Los Angeles, a West Coast outpost of the legendary Chicago pizza brand, has created a new specialty pizza just for National Pizza Month: the Crackerjack, available in deep-dish and tavern-style formats.
The Crackerjack comes loaded with a blend of hot pepper jack and creamy mozzarella cheese and gets topped with spicy pepperoni, a sprinkling of candied (aka “crack”) bacon, and a mist of Calabrian chili oil.
The pizza was developed by Gino’s East co-owner Tod Himmel. “I love making pizzas that combine unique and unexpected flavors,” Himmel said. “In this case I wanted to pair a little bit of heat and a little bit of sweet. Just as the spicy [notes] from the pepper jack, pepperoni and chili hit your taste buds, the sweet crunch of the ‘crack’ bacon brings you back.”
The Crackerjack will be available throughout October.
Gino’s East celebrates National Pizza Month every year with an LTO pizza as well as a month-long series of specials. Among this year’s specials are the Chicago Fire pizza, which sold for $18.71 on October 8 in memory of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. For Monday, October 7, the pizzeria offered a deep-dish lunch special, including a 7″ pizza, salad and soda for $10.
Gino’s East was named “Best Pizza in the Southland” by Los Angeles Times readers two years in a row. Back home in the Windy City, Gino’s East is legendary for its signature golden crust and sauce and has been a favorite in Chicago since it opened in 1966.
Gino’s East opened in Los Angeles in December 2019 and become a gathering spot for fans of Chicago food, pizza aficionados and neighborhood regulars. Featuring 12 screens showing sports, especially Chicago and Los Angeles teams, it also has a full menu of favorites, including Italian Beef, 12 beers on tap and many more in cans.
Gino’s East-LA has been showcased on KTLA5, Los Angeles Magazine, The New York Times, EaterLA, CNBC as well as the Los Angeles Times.
