A Sacramento-based pizza chain that has cracked the top of Yelp's national rankings is putting down roots in north Fort Worth. Pizza Guys has signed a lease for a restaurant at 3529 Heritage Trace Parkway, Suite 119, in the Alliance area, with an opening targeted for early 2027.
The lease marks Pizza Guys' second restaurant in Texas, following its debut in Plano, according to franchising.com. The new shop will be owned and operated by business partners Kapil Pantha and Tara Rai, who plan to hire at least five employees once the restaurant is up and running. It will also be the chain's first location in Tarrant County, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Pantha and Rai are described as business partners and best friends, and the Fort Worth restaurant marks the beginning of their journey toward a multi-unit operation, according to QSR Magazine. The address sits within Heritage Trace Plaza, which sits in the Alliance Corridor of north Fort Worth, an area its property manager, Whitestone REIT, calls one of the fastest-growing submarkets in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
A Chain Riding a Growth Streak
Pizza Guys has been on something of a roll. The company expanded past 100 locations systemwide and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2026, the same outlet reports, capping a stretch that also included its first push into Texas the year before. Pizza Guys opened its 101st restaurant and surpassed the 100-location mark in 2025, with new units in California, Nevada and its first Texas location, according to the chain's own press materials.
That first Texas shop opened in Plano at 9613 Coit Road, Suite 109, per Pizza Guys. The company has said it wrapped up a strong 2025 with multiple new restaurant openings across California, Nevada and Texas and is pursuing continued expansion in those states.
From Sacramento Roots to a Top Yelp Ranking
Pizza Guys was founded by Shahpour Nejad and Reza Kalantari in 1986 and began franchising in 1994, according to franchising.com. The Sacramento-based brand has built a following for pizzas handcrafted with fresh-made dough, whole milk mozzarella cheese and a sauce made with fresh-packed, California-grown tomatoes, the outlet notes.
That reputation earned Pizza Guys the No. 2 spot on Yelp's annual list of America's most beloved pizza chains, according to the company's press page. The Star-Telegram's reporting on the deal similarly noted the chain's standing among Yelp's top-ranked pizza brands nationwide.
What's on the Menu
Fort Worth diners curious about the menu can expect specialty pies alongside stuffed crust options. Offerings include a spicy curry pizza built with pesto, curry seasoning, feta and fresh vegetables, and a Tuscan garlic chicken pizza topped with garlic sauce, chicken and artichokes.
Other options include the Pizza Guys Combo, loaded with Italian salami, pepperoni, ground beef, Italian sausage, fresh mushrooms, green bell peppers, yellow onions and black olives, and the Spicy Luau, which pairs pepperoni with pineapple and jalapeños. The Artichoke Fiesta rounds things out with white garlic sauce, marinated artichoke hearts, mushrooms, red onions, black olives, cheddar cheese, green onions and fresh diced tomatoes.
