Lee Kindell and Moto Pizza have secured a world championship title for Detroit-style pizza at the prestigious Las Vegas World Pizza Championship. Often described as the “Olympics of pizza making,” this event is held annually at the International Pizza Expo and is the largest industry event in North America. Kindell triumphed over a field of more than 780 competitors to take home the top honor in his division.

The victory is particularly significant due to the history of the Detroit-style category, which serves as a special acknowledgment of the late Shawn Randazzo, who is credited with bringing this pizza style to the global stage. In addition to winning first place in the Detroit-style subdivision, Kindell and Moto Pizza also achieved second place in the Overall Pan Division, which includes Roman, Sicilian, and Chicago Deep Dish styles.

The winning entry was a unique crab pizza featuring prosciutto, white tomato sauce, kimchi, and caviar. This culinary feat, along with Moto’s ranking as #13 on the Pizza Today Top 100 list and Kindell being named Founder of the Year, resulted in a $5,000 prize.

Kindell has announced that the entire award will be donated to the West Seattle Food Bank. Kindell described the experience as surreal, comparing the "sweep" of awards to an actor winning big at a film festival.

About MOTO: A Hybrid Culinary Identity

Moto Pizza is a Seattle-born brand that specializes in a unique fusion of Detroit-style pan pizza with Filipino-influenced toppings. Their pies are built on a thick, airy, century-old sourdough starter crust with caramelized edges. The company operates under a flavor philosophy known as "FATTT" (Flavor, Appearance, Taste, Texture, Temperature).

Unlike traditional Detroit pizza, Moto incorporates Pacific Northwest and Filipino flavors, such as Lechon kawali with chimichurri, Dungeness crab, and Mr. Pig (pork belly with calamansi lime sauce). The brand gained a "cult-level" following shortly after its inception, at one point boasting months-long waitlists.

Locations and Operations

Originating as a pandemic-era experiment in West Seattle in 2021, Moto has since become one of the region’s fastest-growing food brands. They currently operate in several locations, including:

• West Seattle
• Belltown (which utilizes robot assistance for operations)
• Edmonds
• Pioneer Square (Smith Tower)
• T-Mobile Park
• Bellevue and Bellingham
• California expansions in Indian Wells and San Clemente