A Southern California pizza chain known for piling 120 slices of pepperoni onto a single pie is set to open its second Texas location in Plano this December. Burattino Pizza is taking over a space at 6405 W. Parker Rd. #300 previously occupied by a Papa John's, according to franchisee George Gomiashvili.
The opening, expected in December 2026 per Gomiashvili, was reported by CultureMap Dallas. Burattino describes itself as a small pizzeria chain out of Southern California, and the brand has built a following with millions of followers across Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, the outlet reports. The chain now counts five locations in California, one in Salt Lake City, and one in North Richland Hills — its first Texas store, which opened in March 2026.
From a $200,000 Storefront to a Social Media Juggernaut
Burattino Pizza traces back to 2016, when chef Lee Kim founded the original San Pedro, California shop alongside business partners Emil Chiaberi and Donna Kasseinova, according to OneRare. The business was later acquired by entrepreneur Chiaberi, per CultureMap Dallas reporting, and under his ownership the San Pedro location's annual revenue jumped from less than $200,000 to $1.5 million in roughly 18 months — a surge driven by a dedicated mobile social media video strategy, according to PMQ Pizza. The trade publication notes that the company tested its brand's reach with a Toronto location, roughly 2,500 miles from its Southern California base, before opening in Carson and Huntington Beach.
Gomiashvili, Burattino's DFW franchisee, brings his own hospitality résumé to the expansion. He was previously involved with California dining venues including Le Grand Restaurant in downtown Los Angeles and Deda Restaurant in Pasadena, according to CultureMap Fort Worth.
What's on the Menu
Gomiashvili describes Burattino's pizza as California-style, with a thin, crunchy-yet-chewy crust baked in brick ovens, edge-to-edge toppings, and imaginative recipes. The menu leans on high-quality pepperoni pies and ingredients like fermented black garlic, and Gomiashvili said the goal is to keep the menu simple and do a few things extremely well, per the CultureMap Dallas report.
Pepperoni options span pork, beef, and wild boar. The Dirty Pepperoni pairs pepperoni and black olives on black garlic sauce, while the White Clam pie layers white garlic sauce, chopped clams, bacon, garlic, oregano, mozzarella, and parmesan. The signature 120 Pepperoni pie, true to its name, is topped with 120 slices of pepperoni over mozzarella and marinara. There's also a Mexican Pepperoni loaded with red and green chorizo, bacon, garlic, red onion, jalapeños, mozzarella, and chunky mild salsa, and the Mercedes — an XL-only sampler combining meat lovers, Hawaiian, and margherita styles.
Cheese pizzas start at $13, while the Mercedes tops out at $28. Beyond pies, the menu includes calzones, mozzarella sticks, salads, and baked wings in plain, hot, Korean BBQ, and garlic parmesan flavors, along with a Cheese Lava Pie stuffed and topped with mozzarella, provolone, feta, and parmesan. Gomiashvili singled out the 120 Pepperoni, the fermented black garlic pizzas, and the Cheese Lava Pie as the chain's signature items, adding that customers in North Richland Hills have responded amazingly to the recipes.
A Third Texas Store Already on the Books
Burattino isn't stopping at Plano. The chain plans to open an Arlington location at 6204 S. Cooper St. #108, forecast to debut in February 2027 in a space that will replace a former Simple Simon's. Across all three Texas locations, the core menu and operating hours will stay the same, though the company plans to introduce specials and rotating pizzas, per CultureMap Dallas's reporting.
The Arlington shop will set itself apart with a full bar and cocktail program, while the Plano location is expected to focus on delivery and takeout, potentially offering beer and wine to go rather than a full beverage menu. At its North Richland Hills store, Burattino has applied to sell beer and wine and anticipated approval within about a month, according to the same report.
Converting Old Storefronts, Entering a Crowded Pizza Market
Burattino's growth strategy leans on finding second-generation restaurant spaces that are easy to convert rather than building from scratch. Its North Richland Hills store took over a space once occupied by a D'Lites ice cream shop, according to CultureMap Fort Worth, and now the Plano and Arlington locations follow that same playbook with a former Papa John's and a former Simple Simon's.
The Plano opening also lands in a shifting local pizza scene. Hoodline previously reported that West Plano lost a longtime favorite when Kenny's East Coast Pizza closed its location at 4701 W. Park Blvd. in July 2026 after a decade in business. Online commenters attributed the closure to lease disputes and rent increases, but those claims had not been verified. Meanwhile, another California chain, Pizza Guys, chose Plano for its own Texas debut at 9613 Coit Road before announcing a Fort Worth expansion in September 2026, Hoodline reported — part of a broader pattern of West Coast pizza brands picking Plano as their entry point into North Texas.
Burattino's bigger ambitions go beyond menu items and store counts. Gomiashvili said the approach centers on distinctive pizza, generous portions, everyday prices, and genuine hospitality, with the goal of becoming a neighborhood favorite whose customers feel connected and keep coming back.
