Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
oChef » Papa Johns Pizza – San Diego
Papa Johns Pizza - San Diego
Photo from Papa Johns Pizza
Papa Johns Pizza at a glance
San Diego Clairemont
- 🍕 Pizzeria
$$
Price per Person $11–$20
mentioned by 22 of the guests
#719 out of 755 places to eat in San Diego
#61 Pizzeria out of 68 in San Diego
Average
4.3 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
225
Reviews
34.7%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Budget friendly
- Helpful staff
- Reliable pizza
Frequently criticized
- Slow delivery
- Poor management
- Bad sides
The restaurant Papa Johns Pizza in San Diego’s Clairemont neighborhood is your go-to pizzeria for delicious meals. You’ll find a casual atmosphere perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed dinner.
This spot is especially convenient if you’re craving late-night food, offering a reliable option when hunger strikes after hours. Whether you’re picking up a takeout order or opting for no-contact delivery, you can count on a satisfying experience.
Overview: Introducting Papa Johns Pizza
Papa Johns Pizza offers a mixed experience, often praised for its consistently prepared pizza and the friendly nature of its staff . Many customers highlight positive customer service interactions, making ordering a pleasant experience.
However, the restaurant faces challenges, particularly with delivery consistency and occasional issues with manager responsiveness. Some patrons have reported frustrating experiences, indicating areas where the service could be more reliable.
Average
4.3
out of 10
225
Reviews
34.7%
Satisfaction
136
negative
11
neutral
78
positive
The overall Restaurant Score for Papa Johns Pizza stands at 4.3, placing it in the average category. Customer satisfaction is notably low at 34.7%, suggesting a significant portion of customers are not fully content.
This divergence points to a situation where while some aspects are acceptable, a substantial number of experiences fall short of expectations. Delving into the specifics, Food scores an average (4.4), with many finding the pizza satisfactory.
Service also registers an average (4), despite a high volume of reviews, indicating room for improvement. Value (5.7) emerges as a relative strength, often boosted by promotions.
Ambience (9.7) is surprisingly high, though it’s important to note this is based on very few comments out of 225 total customer opinions, with 78 positive and 136 negative.
What people like
- Good promotional value
- Friendly staff service
- Consistent pizza quality
What people don't like
- Inconsistent delivery times
- Unresponsive management
- Subpar side items
Papa Johns Pizza can be a convenient option if you’re seeking a straightforward pizza experience, especially when taking advantage of their value deals. The Recommendation Score of 4.3 suggests it’s a serviceable choice, but not one that consistently exceeds expectations.
If you prioritize friendly staff and a decent pizza, it might be worth a try. However, be mindful of potential inconsistencies in delivery and service, which could impact your overall experience.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Papa Johns Pizza
Food (4.4 out of 10)
mentioned by 70% of the guests
When it comes to the food, opinions are quite divided, with a score of 4.4, placing it in the average range. Many customers rave about the pizza and its quality, with some even calling it the best in San Diego. Positive comments, totaling 25, frequently praise the excellent food and even mention getting extra garlic sauces.
However, the customer satisfaction for food is quite poor at just 35.7%, reflecting significant issues. With 39 negative comments out of 70 total, many found the pizza taste disappointing, describing it as undercooked, raw, or even like cardboard. Concerns also arose about missing topping and overall food quality.
Food
70
Reviews
35%
Satisfaction
39
negative
6
neutral
25
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Best pizza in San Diego
- Excellent food quality
- Hot and fresh
What people don't like
- Pizza undercooked/raw
- Disgusting pizza taste
- Food made sick
Often praised
- pizzaMy experience at this Papa John's has been consistently excellent. The staff is always friendly, and the pizza is always made right. Even after living in San Diego for only a few months, this location has become my go-to due to the quality of the pizzas and the great interaction with the staff.
- foodfood came out quickly and was still hot
- pizzashow good the pizzas have been
- Pepperoni PizzaPepperoni Pizza
- PizzaTHIS is the BEST Pizza
- best in San DiegoThey are the best in San Diego
- excellent foodstill excellent food
- fun foodMy experience was that the restaurant is super cheap. It's perfect for kids and teen parties when you want fun food that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. It falls into the fast food category, and they offer delivery.
- garlic saucesgave me two extra free garlic sauces
- perfectionexpect near perfection from this location
Frequently criticized
- pizzaThe wings were undercooked, and the breadsticks were stale. I paid $39 for what I can only describe as the most disgusting pizza ever, essentially overpriced cardboard. I will never return.
- Grand Pappa Pizzanastiest Pizza I have ever eaten. Do not order the Grand Pappa Pizza.
- Parmesan cheese packetsI appreciated the convenience of ordering online and receiving a 50% off promo code, which is valid for the rest of the year. Although they were out of Parmesan cheese packets, they compensated for the inconvenience by providing two extra free garlic sauces. We were very satisfied with our order, and it was 100% correct!
- breadsticksThe cheese was falling apart, and the wings and breadsticks were also very poor. The wings were undercooked, and the breadsticks were stale. I paid $39 for what I can only describe as the most disgusting pizza ever, essentially overpriced cardboard.
- cardboardOverpriced cardboard
- cheesethe cheese was falling apart
- chicken wingsdidn't bother to make my chicken wings at all
- crustCrust was soggy
- eating experiencewasn’t enjoyable to eat at all
- felt really sickafter I ate this pizza I had felt really sick!!
If you're looking for a quick, affordable pizza and are willing to take a chance, you might find a good pie. However, be prepared for a potentially inconsistent experience, as many customers have reported issues with quality and taste.
Service (4 out of 10)
mentioned by 89% of the guests
When it comes to service, this spot presents a bit of a mixed bag, with a score of 4, placing it in the average range, but customer satisfaction sitting at a rather low 31.4%. Out of 137 customer remarks, 43 were positive, often praising the friendly staff, excellent service, and speed of order preparation, especially when things went right. However, the majority of feedback, with 90 negative comments, points to significant issues.
Many customers faced problems with order accuracy, delivery delays, excessive waiting time, and poor customer service or even a bad attitude from staff, leading to frustrating experiences like wrong orders and lack of communication.
Service
137
Reviews
31%
Satisfaction
90
negative
4
neutral
43
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly staff
- Excellent service
- Correct orders
What people don't like
- Wrong orders
- Long waits
- Rude staff
Often praised
- staffThe staff has always been super friendly
- customer serviceAmazing customer service, since the beginning they are so kind
- serviceexcellent service. I was helped out by Steven
- deliverydelivery... arrived at my door
- orderThe order was prepared perfectly.
- ChrisChris is an exceptional parts guy, when he's up front; I'm giving him A+ for excellent customer service
- Customer Service skillsVictoria was so amazing. I honestly can't even put her Customer Service skills into words.
- StevenSteven and he was super positive and easy going
- ariceliThank you to ariceli who remade a pizza
- call the storeCall the store before hand to hear what specials
Frequently criticized
- managerThe person on the phone seemed completely confused and didn’t know what to say. If your employees aren't trained properly to be able to answer simple questions, that tells me they aren’t being trained properly by the manager. I ended up ordering from somewhere else.
- orderThey told me to wait 15 more minutes and then call again if the driver still didn't show up. When I called again, they said they would resend my food, but when it showed up, they only sent half my order with no refund. This experience has been incredibly frustrating.
- serviceMy experience at the restaurant was disappointing due to the lame service. After purchasing $140 worth of pizzas, I was unexpectedly asked to pay extra for pepper and parmesan cheese packets.
- waiting timeWhen we called 45 minutes later, we were told there was some mix-up and it had to be re-routed to a different location for delivery. It finally came 55 minutes later and it was COLD. We will never order from here again.
- staffthey said it happens instead of saying sorry they were rude on the phone
- customer serviceTried to call and get my money back but they never answered
- deliveryMy co-worker and I ordered online from work and were told 35 minutes. When we called 45 minutes later, we were told there was some mix-up and it had to be re-routed to a different location for delivery. It finally came 55 minutes later and it was COLD.
- delivery timean over an hour ago and it said 30-40 minute delivery time
- complaintI called to mention this to the manager and he said "that must have been what you ordered". He was very unresponsive to my complaint. Needless to say, my experience was extremely negative due to the incorrect order and the manager's unresponsive service.
- customerschain that values there customers as this one does not
If youre considering this place, be prepared for a gamble on the service front. While some customers rave about friendly staff and quick fixes, a significant number report issues with order accuracy and long waits. It might be worth a try if youre feeling lucky, but dont be surprised if things dont go perfectly.
Ambience (9.7 out of 10)
mentioned by 4% of the guests
When it comes to the vibe, this place absolutely shines! With an excellent 9.7 score and a perfect 100% customer satisfaction, its clear guests adore the ambience. Reviewers frequently praise the spacious customer lounge, the overall clean facility, and the fantastic atmosphere, based on 3 positive remarks.
Whats truly remarkable is the complete absence of any negative feedback regarding the ambience. There are zero negative opinions, which means patrons consistently find the setting to be top-notch without a single complaint.
Ambience
3
Reviews
100%
Satisfaction
0
negative
0
neutral
3
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Spacious customer lounge
- Spotless facility
- Great atmosphere
What people don't like
Often praised
- atmosphereAtmosphere:5
- customer loungeBig and specious customer LOUNGE with WiFi and plenty of coffee and tea
- facilityThe whole facility is very, very clean, in and out, including the service area
Frequently criticized
No complaints so far.
If you're looking for a place with an outstanding atmosphere, this is definitely it. The ambience is a major draw, offering a comfortable and spotless environment that guests consistently rave about. You can expect a truly pleasant setting here.
Value (5.7 out of 10)
mentioned by 21% of the guests
When it comes to value, this spot is a bit of a mixed bag, with a score of 5.7 putting it squarely in the average range. Customer satisfaction also sits at a rather mixed 46.7%. Based on 15 customer comments, with 7 positive and 7 negative remarks, it seems there are some great ways to save, like through community specials, coupons, 50% off pizza codes, and even free pizzas that make it super cheap for some.
However, not everyone feels theyre getting a great deal. Some folks were charged for pepper and parmesan cheese packets, found service prices a bit high, or had issues with a coupon not working. There were also frustrations when a T-Mobile Tuesday program discount wasnt honored, leading to paying full price.
Value
15
Reviews
46%
Satisfaction
7
negative
1
neutral
7
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Honor coupons
- Get free pizzas
- Super cheap
What people don't like
- Coupon didn't work
- Refused discount
- Charged for packets
Often praised
- 50% off pizza codessend out 50% off pizza codes
- community specialscommunity specials when carrying out your order
- couponsthey have always honored my coupons
- discountI was even given a discount!
- free pizzasget free pizzas
- promo codereceive 50% off with my promo code
- super cheapMy experience was that the restaurant is super cheap. It's perfect for kids and teen parties when you want fun food that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Frequently criticized
- pricecoupon didn't work, so the price would be $13.99
- T-Mobile Tuesday program discountRefused to honor T-Mobile Tuesday program discount
- couponcoupon didn't work
- pepper and parmesan cheese packetscharge me for pepper and parmesean cheese packets
- service pricesI wish the service prices were a bit lower
If youre savvy with promo codes and coupons, ' you might snag some fantastic deals here, making it a budget-friendly choice. But be prepared for potential hiccups with discounts or unexpected charges, which could make the value feel less appealing.
How are the prices at Papa Johns Pizza?
You’re looking at roughly 19 $ per person – reported by 22 diners. That puts it in the $11–$20 category. For a Pizzeria, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
While the average sits in that sweet spot, the prices actually show a nice spread. Many diners find options in the $1–$10 range, and a good number also spend a bit more, up to 30 $, indicating a versatile menu that caters to different budgets.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 22 reviews.
How does this Pizzeria stack up against similar spots in San Diego when it comes to value for money?
Overall, we think the pricing feels quite fair for a Pizzeria in San Diego. It offers a good balance, catering to various budgets without compromising on the experience.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Papa Johns Pizza
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Takeout
1
Nastiest Pizza Ever - Avoid Grand Pappa!
My experience at Pappa John's was extremely disappointing. I ordered the Grand Pappa Pizza and it was the nastiest pizza I have ever eaten. It smelled and tasted like throw up.
I don't think I will be satisfying my late-night pizza craving with Pappa John's ever again. I am very sad that I didn't get to eat pizza tonight!
- Grand Pappa Pizza1
- pizza1
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Casual Outing
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
9
Great Service, Love the Pizza!
My experience at this restaurant was great. The service was excellent, and the wait time was very reasonable. The staff was super friendly.
I love the pizza, although they cut it a little silly. I would definitely go here again.
- pizza9
- service10
- wait time8
- pizza cut3
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
1
Order Messed Up, Manager Unhelpful
My experience at this restaurant was extremely disappointing. The store MESSED UP MY ORDER, and to make matters worse, the manager refused to speak to me on the phone to resolve the issue. My order is still all wrong.
- order1
- manager1
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Casual Outing
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
1
Disgusting Pizza, Overpriced Cardboard
My experience at this restaurant was extremely disappointing. I have never had pizza that tasted so bad. The cheese was falling apart, and the wings and breadsticks were also very poor.
The wings were undercooked, and the breadsticks were stale. I paid $39 for what I can only describe as the most disgusting pizza ever, essentially overpriced cardboard. I will never return.
- pizza1
- cheese2
- wings1
Visit Type
- Delivery
Service Type
- Delivery
2
Delivery Instructions Ignored
My experience with the delivery service was frustrating. I specifically requested that the delivery driver leave the food at the door and do NOT knock or ring. However, the driver proceeded to knock and ring for a full 10 minutes.
It's a simple instruction to follow, especially when the food is already paid for and there's no concern about theft in the neighborhood. The very simple instructions were not followed.
- delivery instructions2
- delivery driver2
What Papa Johns Pizza offers
Crowd
- Family-friendly
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
Offerings
- Late-night food
Dining options
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Dessert
Service Options
- No-contact delivery
- Takeout
- Delivery
Parking
- Free street parking
- Free parking lot
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
What service options are available at Papa Johns Pizza in Clairemont?
At Papa Johns Pizza, you have several convenient service options to choose from. You can opt for no-contact delivery right to your door, or if you prefer to pick up your order, takeout is readily available. Delivery services are also offered for your convenience.
Does Papa Johns Pizza offer accessible parking and dining options?
Yes, Papa Johns Pizza in San Diego provides excellent accessibility. You’ll find a wheelchair accessible entrance and a wheelchair accessible parking lot, ensuring ease of access for all guests. They also offer dining for lunch, dinner, and dessert.
How does Papa Johns Pizza generally perform?
Papa Johns Pizza holds an overall score of **4.3** out of 10, indicating an average performance. Food (4.4) is decent, Service (4) is average, Value (5.7) is a relative strength, and Ambience (9.7) is highly rated but based on limited feedback.
What do customers appreciate most about Papa Johns Pizza?
Customers frequently praise the consistent quality of the pizza and the friendly, helpful nature of the staff, often highlighting good customer service. Many also appreciate the available discounts and promotional offers.
What are the main frustrations customers experience at Papa Johns Pizza?
Common frustrations include issues with inconsistent delivery times, unhelpful responses from management regarding complaints, and occasional problems with food quality such as undercooked wings or stale breadsticks.