Godfather’s Pizza and Mattenga’s Pizzeria are two of the most talked-about pizza options in San Antonio — and they couldn’t be more different. One’s a national brand that just came home after 35 years. The other’s a homegrown operation with seven locations and a Pizzeria of the Year award. Here’s how they actually compare, from crust to price to the stuff that matters when you’re deciding where to order tonight.
The Basics: Who Are These Two?
Godfather’s Pizza opened on the west side of San Antonio in 2025 — a Veteran-owned franchise bringing back a brand that left the city in the late ’80s. We’ve got one location at 8530 SH 151 Access Rd, five crust options, and a menu built around the specialty pizzas people remember plus a few they don’t. If you want the full background, our comeback story covers the 35-year gap and what brought us back.
Mattenga’s Pizzeria was started by a husband-and-wife team (Matt and Enga — yes, that’s where the name comes from) and has grown to seven locations across San Antonio, from Callaghan Road to Alamo Ranch to Military Drive near Lackland. They were voted Best Pizza in San Antonio three years running and won Pizzeria of the Year 2025 from Pizza Today magazine. They’re a serious local operation and they’ve earned those accolades.
We’re not going to pretend they’re not good. They are. But the two restaurants make very different pizza, and which one you’ll like better depends on what you’re looking for.
The Pizza: Different Styles, Different Experiences
Godfather’s is a pan-style and traditional crust operation. Our five crust options — Original (thick, chewy), Golden (buttery pan-baked), Thin, Mozzarella Loaded, and Gluten-Free — give you range, but the DNA is classic American pizza. Heavy toppings, generous cheese, crusts that hold up under a pile of meat. The Taco Pie is the signature — taco sauce, seasoned beef, cheddar, lettuce and tomatoes added fresh after baking. Nothing else in San Antonio tastes like it.
Mattenga’s leans more artisan and regional. Their dough is made fresh daily, the sauce comes from vine-ripened tomatoes, and they use 100% real mozzarella. Their menu has more Italian influence — calzones, fettuccine alfredo, caprese salad, tiramisu — and their specialty pizzas pull from Texas and New Mexico flavors. The Honey Bexar Pizza (crispy cup-and-char pepperoni, jalapeños, sweet hot honey) and a Texas Roll with brisket and cheese reflect that approach.
In short: Godfather’s is unapologetically loaded American pizza with a nostalgia factor. Mattenga’s is a more modern, chef-driven local pizzeria with broader Italian-American range. Both are making real food — just different food.
Menu and Pricing
Here’s how the menus compare at a high level. Browse our full menu page for exact Godfather’s pricing.
| Godfather’s Pizza | Mattenga’s Pizzeria | |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty Pizza (Large) | $34.50 | ~$20–$24 (Family 16″) |
| Build Your Own (Large) | $24.75 (1-topping) | ~$16–$18 (est.) |
| Crust Options | 5 (Original, Golden, Thin, Mozza-Loaded, GF) | Traditional, Gluten-Free |
| Wings | $16.49–$26.49 | Available |
| Pasta | Not on menu | Fettuccine, Spaghetti, more |
| Salads | Side, Garden, Chicken BLT, Italian Chef | Antipasto, Caprese, Caesar, more |
| Desserts | Monkey Bread, Streusels, Cookie | Tiramisu, Cannoli |
| Catering | Yes — Pizza Packs, Feasts, custom orders | Yes — packages for 20 to 200+ |
Mattenga’s is generally cheaper per pizza — their 16-inch Family size runs around $20 for specialties. Godfather’s large specialty pizzas top out at $34.50, but they’re loaded with toppings and feed more. Our Pizza Pack — four large 1-topping pizzas for $75.00 — is the value play when you’re feeding a group. Check our catering prices if you’re comparing for an event.
Where Mattenga’s has the edge is menu breadth. They’ve got pasta, calzones, and Italian-style desserts that Godfather’s doesn’t carry. If you want a full Italian dinner with pizza as one of several courses, Mattenga’s gives you more options. If you want a pizza-focused meal where the pizza IS the event, Godfather’s is built for that.
Locations and Delivery
This is where the gap is biggest right now. Mattenga’s has seven locations spread across San Antonio — Callaghan Road, O’Connor, Military Drive, Alamo Ranch, Wilderness Oak, Schertz, and more. No matter where you are in the metro, there’s probably one within 15 minutes.
Godfather’s has one location on SH 151 on the west side. If you’re nearby — Westover Hills, Helotes, Leon Valley, Culebra corridor, JBSA-Lackland — we’re right there. If you’re in Stone Oak or Alamo Heights, it’s a longer drive or a delivery app order. Check our delivery areas page for coverage details.
We’re upfront about this: Mattenga’s wins on convenience right now. They’ve had years to expand. We’ve been open less than a year. But for the neighborhoods we serve, we’re the local spot — and our delivery and pickup game is solid.
Catering: Head to Head
Both restaurants do catering, but the approach is different.
Godfather’s catering is built around volume and simplicity. Pizza Packs, Build Your Own Feasts, wings on the side, and dessert to close. We handle birthday parties, office lunches, school events, and parties from 15 to 100+ people. The pricing is transparent — a Pizza Pack is $75.00 for four large pizzas. You know what you’re getting and what it costs before you call.
Mattenga’s offers more customizable catering with broader menu options — you can get pasta, salads, and Italian dishes alongside pizza. They handle events up to 200+ and have a dedicated catering team. For a wedding reception or formal corporate event where you want variety beyond pizza, Mattenga’s catering menu gives you more range.
For a straightforward pizza-and-sides spread — birthday parties, game days, school events, office lunches — Godfather’s is faster to order, easier to budget, and the food shows up ready to eat. For a more elaborate catered menu, Mattenga’s is worth the call.
The Vibe
Mattenga’s locations have a polished local-pizzeria feel — the kind of place you take the family for a sit-down dinner. They’ve built a brand around being the quality local alternative to the chains, and their awards back that up.
Godfather’s is more of a pickup-and-delivery operation with a counter-service dining room. The vibe is casual, fast, and no-frills — you’re here for the pizza, not the ambiance. The Veteran-owned story and the 35-year comeback add character, but we’re not trying to be a date-night restaurant. We’re trying to make pizza that makes you come back next week.
So Which One Should You Pick?
Honestly? Try both. San Antonio is better with more good pizza options, and both of these are making real food with real ingredients.
But here’s a quick decision guide:
Go with Godfather’s if you want: loaded American-style pizza with serious toppings, multiple crust options (especially Golden crust — it’s a game-changer), the Taco Pie experience, straightforward catering for groups, or you’re on the west side and want something fast and local. See our top 5 most popular pizzas to start.
Go with Mattenga’s if you want: a broader Italian-American menu with pasta and calzones, a sit-down restaurant experience, or you need a location closer to the north or northeast side of San Antonio.
Different pizza for different nights. That’s how it should be.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Godfather’s Pizza cheaper than Mattenga’s?
Per pizza, Mattenga’s is generally cheaper — their 16″ specialty runs around $20 compared to Godfather’s large at $34.50. But Godfather’s Pizza Packs ($75 for four large pizzas) are competitive for group orders. It depends on how many people you’re feeding and what you’re ordering.
Which has better crust — Godfather’s or Mattenga’s?
Different styles entirely. Godfather’s offers five crust options including the buttery pan-baked Golden crust and a thick chewy Original. Mattenga’s uses a fresh daily traditional dough. If you like pan-style pizza with a crispy bottom, Godfather’s Golden crust is hard to beat. If you prefer a lighter, more artisan crust, Mattenga’s is excellent.
Does Mattenga’s or Godfather’s have better catering for parties?
For pizza-focused catering with easy pricing and fast ordering, Godfather’s is simpler. For events where you want pasta, salads, and a full Italian spread alongside pizza, Mattenga’s catering menu has more range. Both deliver and handle large groups.
How many locations does each restaurant have?
Mattenga’s has seven locations across San Antonio (Callaghan, O’Connor, Military Dr, Alamo Ranch, Wilderness Oak, Schertz, and more). Godfather’s currently has one location at 8530 SH 151 Access Rd on the west side of San Antonio.
Ready to see what Godfather’s is all about? Check the full story on what makes us different, or just order and find out for yourself.
