Ooh la la, all I can say is MIAM MIAM (le français pour yummy). On a return trip back to the homeland of Hamilton, my friends who have recently relocated back to the downtown had been raving about Cowabunga. I was honestly reluctant to dine here, since pizza normally is my least-desired cuisine, and, with former awful experiences at the restaurant that occupied this space before - I was so meh. Thank goodness I let them convince me otherwise! We were so lucky to snag the last few slices of what we wanted, since there were several big events nearby bringing thousands of people into the area. Literally, five guests after us were dinied slices! I was surprised how perfect the dough was cooked, and I really loved the spicy honey that coated the slices I purchased. Since Cowabunga was known for their "best slice in the world of 2024" I also had to purchase one of those T-shirts to honour the experience. There is a decent amount of indoor seating, but, in summer one should definitely sit outside. Tables move through rotation quickly since slices are most of the appeal, so you should be able to sit somewhere at any time. read more

We had to make a pit stop in Burlington so we came here to try this place. It is voted the world's best cheese pizza and we were curious to how good it was. The place itself has a take out and dine in area. It was quite busy during lunch hour. So best to avoid the rush if you can. The pizza itself was made from a sourdough, it didn't taste starchy to me. It was really thin and crispy, almost too well done, as it got really dry and cardboard like. We had the margarita pizza and the cowabunga pizza. They were both okay. The cowabunga pizza was too heavy on the gochujang, it was too over powering. The margarita pizza was good, it had spicy pesto on it. Quite cheesy. We couldn't leave without trying out the pizza slice. The crust was better than whole pizzas we got. But it was not overwhelming. The service was good. Our server was pretty attentive when he could. He even gave us a complimented slice. read more

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First of all, it has taken me way too long to finally try this place! OMGEE, the pizza slice was absolutely something to write home about. I loved the cute patio seating outside, and the inside seemed pretty spacious too. To be fair, the customer service wasn't the best. The cashier seemed a little irritated when I ordered. But honestly? The pizza is what I came for, and it deserves 5 stars all on its own. I loved that slice so much. Even though pizza isn't usually the first thing that comes to mind when I'm thinking of eating out, this spot is officially going into my rotation from now on. read more

Cowabunga - 1UP slice - Pizza Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

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I heard this place won an award for the best cheese slice so of course I had to visit. I ordered their pepperoni plus which comes with pepperoni, jalepenos, and hot honey. This pizza blew me away! They make their own sourdough crust which was delicious, I think sourdough pizza was what I was missing in my life! I'm a huge fan of a sweet & salty combo so the hot honey was amazing great touch that elevated the whole pizza. read more

Cowabunga - pepperoni plus - Pizza Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

We were served one warm slice which was very good and one cold slice in a to go - which we never asked for anything to go. Front of house seemed a bit of a mess. Lots of folks working hard cooking but the wait staff was standing around which was awkward for us customers seeing the kitchen so slammed and a line of folks waiting to get seated and have their order taken. I would try it again, vibes were good overall. I hope they can get a better system worked out they would sell a lot more food. read more

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This is seriously some of the best pizza (if not, my favorite) I've ever tried. The slices are MASSIVE & full of flavor. The 1up is their most popular pizza that sells out as soon as a fresh pie comes out. It's an elevated white pizza featuring flavors of truffle, fior de latte, and honey, and it all works SO well without overpowering each other. The crust is genuinely next level, it's so flaky on the outside and perfectly airy on the inside-- not bland or dense & has a bit of a fermented taste (kind of like sourdough/poolish) Reminded me exactly of how I remember Brooklyn NY pizza tasting when I visited. I also tried their pepperoni which was generously topped and not too greasy. The atmosphere of this restaurant is really artsy and unpretentious, they have some old school arcade games at the back and plenty of market-style seating available for small and large groups. Honestly words can't describe how delicious these pizzas are, it's an experience you definitely need to try yourself. I've never written a review so fast during the 3 years I've been on Yelp and I hope that says a lot. 10/10 spot highly recommend. read more

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Stopped in over the weekend for my second time and had a slice in the straunt. It was very tasty. It's much better than anything I have found in Biffalo. read more

This location is the one you want if you're looking for pizza by the slice and a dine-in experience. Don't make the same mistake I did and go to their other Hamilton location, which is takeout only . The location on upper Wellington Street is takeout only! I paid $16.95 for three slices (all slices are the same price). I tried the Margherita, the Pepperoni+, and the 1Up. The staff were friendly, though the carryout side did feel a little slow in moving the line along. They accept both cash and card. Margherita Slice - Absolutely delicious! It came topped with a green sauce (possibly pesto) and a sprinkle of extra cheese. Everything blended so well together, and the tomato sauce tasted so fresh. 1,000/100 for me. Pepperoni+ Slice - Another winner. It's tomato-based with jalapeños, and once it's reheated, they drizzle honey on top. That little sweetness balanced the saltiness of the pepperoni and the heat from the jalapeños perfectly. Solid 9.5/10. 1Up Slice - This one is white-based and was my least favorite. It leaned heavy on the cheese, and while you could smell the oregano, the flavor didn't come through as strong when eating it. Still good, just not on the same level as the others. I'd give it a 7/10. Overall, I'd definitely come back here for slices read more

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First time we went... service was good and the pizza was good. Nicely decorated but ambiance is missing. The front of the restaurant... host and pick up and delivery is chaotic! We ordered from there after and that was a total mess. We respected the time to process our order but when we picked up was not even ready. What we ordered did not taste good or even resembled our first visit. I am ambivalent. Would have to try again, read more

Pizza is so good and slices super big. Busy but their service is very fast which is helpful

after years of hearing great things and never quite making it in, i came in for a solo birthday lunch and was so happy with the food and service! lots of natural light. really love the open kitchen. i sampled lots on the menu: 1UP fries, caesar salad, 1UP slice, hot honey, and garlic dip (and a pepsi obviously). everything was exceptionally tasty - perfect combos of flavours with the truffle oil. the only thing i would change would be the croutons on the caesar salad, but that is an understandable cost to cut given this is a pizza joint. will be back! read more

Cowabunga - 1UP pizza slice; garlic dip; hot honey dip; caesar salad; 1UP fries; Pepsi - Pizza Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

Really great pizza! Dropped in to get a takeout slice and was impressed - they heat it up really well. The service was friendly and warm. Overall the vibe of the place was super cool and retro. I will definitely go back! read more

Cowabunga - Pizza Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

Best Pizza in town. I first heard about them on the TV and tried to go a couple of times but there was always a long queue. I enjoyed it once we went and tried their pizzas. read more

great staff team here, friendly & courteous. pizzas are amazing! great chewy crust, sauce is fantastic & the cheese pull cannot be denied! read more

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With a name like Cowabunga, how can you go wrong? A ninja Turtle nostalgic moment, yes please! The only thing is their location.... I am currently residing in Toronto and they are all the way in Hamilton... Quite a ways to go for pizza. But not entirely impossible. When I was last in hammer town I did score a large veggie one... You know that one with the broccoli, kale and mystery spicy green sauce..oh wait it's called GG (Garlicky Greens). Yeah and I froze some... So guud!! A ate two slices on the bus back to Toronto, shared some, and froze the remainder... Mind you cold by the time I got back. None the less, tasty. My first encounter with this pizza place was through my fun hiking group. We were going on a hike in Hamilton and afterwards decided on a planned pizza visit. This was sometime in August. Maybe July? I shared this pizza with a friend and liked it so much I couldn't get it outta my mind. So I went back months later to satisfy my craving. It's nice they cater to the vegetarian substantially. I know it's become a more popular choice of eating yet ppl do it differently. It is loaded with veggies, totally not skimpy at all! My second time getting this pizza I asked the staff about animal rennet in their cheese and most didn't know the answer to my query, yet there was one that did and totally went above and beyond in sharing the information with me. She went on the cheese suppliers' website and found the info, right there in front of me. I am usually great with names however I am not able to remember hers... She made me feel comfortable for asking by sharing it was a question they receive a lot of. And had I not asked, I would've gotten animal rennet parmesan cheese on my pizza that I had well travelled for. So I am grateful for the service she put in... 10 outta 5 there. Obviously the pizza is also amazing, otherwise I would've have made it part of my visit to Hamilton, 10 outta 5 again. In terms of atmosphere. They are located downtown, a walking distance from the Go station, which is awesome. You can expect a bustling Friday, Saturday or Sunday night... I went in on a Thursday late afternoon and there were not many people. Their washrooms are alright... Teeny, tiny sinks. Hahaha. Except their accessible washroom. Overall an ambiance one would expect at a pizza place. Will be back again. Although I can't say when. read more

Cowabunga - Der-lish - Pizza Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

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The pizzas at this place are seriously delicious!!!! Wow, I'm so glad we were able to get a table at this location because it was very busy! The other location did not have much seating and they were backed up for at least 2 hours, so we lucked out at this location! I had a very hard time deciding which pizza was my favorite, they all were so good. And the plethora of dipping sauces is a fabulous idea for a pizza place to have, as I am a huge crust dipper! Highly recommend if you are in the area looking for some good pie. read more

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their award-winning cheese slice and the truffle-loaded 1UP pizza are absolute game-changers. The sourdough crust is perfectly thin and crispy, making it easily the most hyped (and justified) pizza spot in Hamilton right now. read more

We went on a Thursday afternoon and there was plenty of seating which we were pleasantly surprised about. The staff were extremely friendly and made great suggestions. The crust was light and crispy, and the toppings were simple yet flavourful. We still dream about the 1-UP pizza slice! read more

Cowabunga - Pepperoni +, Cheese pizza, 1Up pizza slices with truffle parm aioli and jalapeño ranch. - Pizza Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

Totally recommend this pizza place in downtown Hamilton. I was impressed by the cute bar, aesthetic and the great quality pizza. I think the pricing is competitive in downtown tomorrow along with the quality i would definitely come back. read more

Cowabunga - Cheese slice - Pizza Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

Came here for a late lunch to try their award winning cheese pizza. It was hot, crispy, and really tasty. Got the cowabunga bites and really like the pineapple chunks mixed in with the boneless chicken. Wasn't too crowded Sunday afternoon, we were seated right away. read more

Service was great and the pizzas are a killer! Pepperoni Plus is my go to!! But they have other ones that are very tasty as well. read more

Finally tried Cowabunga downtown on Vine. Picked up a few slices to try between 3 of us. Picked up a Pepperoni & their Hawaiian pizza slices. The dough is very different than any I've tried here. Definitely sets it apart! Quite good! Love the pepperoni. Both slices had good flavour & good amount of cheese. Sauce was not sweet nor spicy. Would get again. Definitely worth a try if you're a pizza lover! read more

One of my go-to pizza spots in Hamilton for their bursting flavour combos and giant slices! I usually go for their Margherita or Hawaiian to satisfy my cravings. Pizza is on the saltier side, which I think is partly due to their tomato sauce. Crust is on the thinner side, but not so thin that it can't hold the weight of their topping chunks. read more

So, I never got to actually try their award winning pizza because they oversold their pizzas and ran out of dough. Normally this wouldn't be an issue, but we called at 11am and made a reservation for a pie at 8pm, but then they called us at 5pm to tell us they ran out of dough. From reading their reviews it seems like this is not an uncommon occurrence, so there seems to be a customer service issue on their end. We drove all the way to Hamilton to try their pizza so this is quite disappointing. Anyways, I hope they'll figure out their reservation system so I can actually try their pizza and give them a better review. read more

Arrived before lunch rush so inside was quiet. Served promptly and all options available. Ordered 4 slice varieties and all were delicious.

3:53 and you're sold out? only open 3-9? it's great you won an award and all... but come on... hire more people, buy more dough... you're open til 9pm...? that's just WEAK bad business read more

Are you kidding me I loved the pizza. My go to. Service awesome. Cool ambiance. Pizza is just right. Every bite is yummy

Awesome service, lots of customers but very fast to serve a hot pie! Only thing is Google won't give you the Vine St location unless you squeeze it out of them. Vine st has tons of seats where as the other location has none. Love those place. read more

Been there 3 times and this will be the last for dine in-the waitresses are trying hard but mismanagement abounds. Someone who appeared to be a manager was covered in pizza dust from pants to top so I doubt it was her. Need an overhaul...its just a pizza joint; pizza should come out by 1/2 hour at the most. 3 times we have waited 1..5 hours for a pizza and then forget abut your waitress for the bill. She is serving new customers. As a mgr. I would suggest some organization-glad you're doing well but someone needs to be assigned to front counter takeout-seemed anyone and everyone attending to 20 people coming in for a slice or a pizza. There was no salad on 2 occassions-just a caesar! Hamilton Market 1 block away. Needs someone older to manage the joint. read more

We were welcomed by the "front desk" as soon as we walked in. The weather was miserable but the atmosphere in the restaurant was so great you'd think it was a warm summer evening. The only critique I'd make is there needs to be more dark green or TMNT imagery around. Like a framed spray painted picture of the turtles enjoying the cowabunga pizza. The food was so goddamn delicious. I had cheese pizza and my bf ordered the pepperoni+ we shared later. If wasn't for my bf being there, I would've taken this pizza to the nearest cottagecore witch girlie to transform this pizzas exquisite taste into human form so I can give them the gawk gawk 9000 and stay pregnant forever and have beautiful cowabunga pizza babies for eternity. My bf liked the pizzas too. He said he was "deeply satisfied" and "this is the best pizza I've ever had". He used to like dominos. But Dominos can kick rocks now bc cowabunga has set the bar for excellent pizza. Summary: tastes fantastic (recommend the cheese pizza) environment is great. The music isn't too loud so you can still carry a conversation. patio option available for summertime bathrooms are very tidy reasonably priced for portion and flavour and service. pizza tastes wood stove baked but idk if it is. Either way it's delicious. read more

We ordered the plain cheese and the pepperoni. Absolutely amazing. Their sauce is the best. Perfect pizza.

Gave away my pizza after waiting 40 Minutes clueless as to where it went horrible customer service.. never be back.. cant recommend read more

This place is rocking good fun, on an early Sunday dinner, no problem getting a seat, The place is noisy as heck inside, but enjoyable. Twenty plus dollar individual pizzas, alright a little expensive but very good, little cups of dipping sauces $2 excessive, $12 cooler absolutely outrageous, never seen such pricing. So I'll go back just better informed now, loved the pizza, thin crust,well made!. read more

Made reservations and had to ask two employees to be seated. Ordered two pizzas and received only one. asked about other and received a ´sorry´. was not asked if we wanted drinks or water. Cheese pizza was excellent. Sauce beautiful. Unfortunately, dining experience was marred by surprisingly poor table service. It's all in the details - if you want people to come back. No issue with price as food quality was excellent. read more