Nova Express Cafe

Why oh why did they ever close this place? Used to be one of my faves. Amazing pizza and the most awesome sci fi outer spacey nerdy vibe. Nothing will ever be as cool.

I would seriously sacrifice several hundred LA pizza joints to a stinky fiery volcano cult god just to resurrect Nova Express.
Oh and maybe a virgin or two.
****
You may ask, «Why is she reviewing a quirky pizza establishment that closed more than a YEAR ago?» The answer ladies and gentleman is simple — I miss their pizza!
Now it has been a while, but I remember the last whole pizza I ate there during their closing week and it was delicious — saucy and flavorful and a great chewy and crisp crust. And the décor! The huge floating green alien by the bathrooms. The hundreds of collectible figurines to ogle at while waiting for your meal. Or the low-​fi b-​grade sci-​fi films they would show during their special screenings. I mean how many open late night sci-​fi pizza cafes have you been to recently? There is no pizza place in LA that I crave more than Nova Express Café. I crave it so much, I’m still jonesin for it to this day.
It was experience to have eaten there and hung out there (my friend Alex lived nearby and I credit him for introducing me to «cosmic pizza» and the interesting characters who frequented Nova after midnight.)
I wondered if the owner (who went off and became a sculptor) would ever return but I found some hope that he could. He’s quoted in an LAist article as saying, «if I make it as a successful artist, I will try to get another Nova up.»
Here’s to a pizza owner who became a sculptor who hopefully one day becomes a pizza owner again in LA, a city where anything goes. Even quirky late night sci-​fi little pizza shops. =)
*****
Just in case…
*starts trekking over to nearest volcano, chanting*
Bali Mangthi Kali Ma.
[Sacrifice is what Mother Kali desires]
Pizza Degi Kali Ma.
[Pizza is what Mother Kali will grant]
Kali ma… Kali ma… Kali ma, Nova pizza deh
[Mother Kali… Mother Kali… Mother Kali, give me Nova pizza!]

NOOOOOOOOO.
Now I have one less reason to visit LA again.
This place was one of the few places that made me think LA was a city worth living in. During my six month stint in the city, this was my sacred refuge. Black-​lit, comic-​book-​bedecked, giant cthulu, awesome B-​movies projected on the screen… it was not just a sci-​fi geek’s wet dream! It was unique, had late hours, great food (at any time of the day), and one of the best dates I’ve ever had took place here.
:-(Nova Express will definitely be missed.

You gotta be kidding me! CLOSED?
Say it ain’t so! The world needs more… ummm… black-​lit sci-​fi-​themed coffee /​pizza /​smoothie places :(
I was far from being a regular or anything, but I loved the «out of this world» vibe this place had.

I’m so sad to hear that this place closed! I used to go here during my summer breaks in college. It was such a cute and eclectic place what with the back wall wallpapered with comic book covers, the exhibit of plastic action figures, and space galaxy-​themed booths. Service tended to be slow and not so friendly but the pizza and smoothies were yummy.
This was one of our favorite places to go grab a bite to eat either before or after a night out. Good times!

This was my favorite late night spot to eat at.
They were open till 4 a.m., and it was a cool and sexy spot to take a date, if you just wanted to chill in the after hours. The décor of the inside always seemed to change, but one thing that remained consistent was the fact that it seemed like you were walking into outer space once you were inside. There were craters on the wall, glow-​in-​the-​dark tables and chairs. And in the most recent years, they had a projector that would plays movies, in which you could view up against the wall.
On certain nights, they had a DJ that spun electronic music, and they also had a comic book wall, with off-​beat comics lining it. One wall had superhero/​comic book action villains all displayed in a glass cage.
Their food was a big draw for me, as well. As much as I could talk about the décor on the inside, the food has to be of significance. And, here, it was. Their pizza was top notch. There was a pizza joint a few stores down, and I never once felt I needed to go there, because this place here — a place that didn’t specialize in just pizza — was serving some of the best pizza I’ve had. The magic was in their dough. I wouldn’t know how to describe it, but it’s not the typical Domino’s-Pizza Hut-​Papa John’s type of pizza dough. This was special; as if there was a recipe handed down from generation to generation. It just tasted unique — kind of panini-​like, but even better. And it was semi-​thin crust.
Their shakes and smoothies were great. There weren’t too many places I used to know that would offer dairy substitutes. Most other places caught on, but they were doing the rice milk and soy milk alternatives for many years back. So now I could enjoy going out on a date, and not have to worry about the lactose thing, considering I’m lactose sensitive.
The appetizers they served were pretty good, but you wouldn’t want to get the chips and salsa, unless you like the cheap Pace Picante-​type of salsa, as opposed to the fresh, authentic style of salsa.
I was sad to find out, on my last trip there, that the place was closed. I saw the owner out in the front with a photographer. I believe he mentioned that he was going to make a documentary about the place for posterity purposes. The place was doing ok, but he got an offer he couldn’t refuse. At that point in time, he wasn’t sure if he was going to re-​open it somewhere.
If he does, I’d be more than happy to make it a frequent post-​midnight hangout again.
I miss it a lot more now that it’s gone.

This place is actually closed, sadly. However, I’d still like to leave my $.02 on the awesome that was Nova.
I discovered Nova back in 2003 and had been going at least twice a month until I moved to SF. They were open until about 4am every night, so it was a great place to go after the bars closed or for when I couldn’t sleep and needed a place to hang and enjoy a smoothie.
They had awesome smoothie options which was what I always ordered. The vegetarian options were ample and very tasty.
But the ambiance? Best in LA, in my opinion. In a metro area full of chain-​operated businesses, Nova was a fresh alternative to the sterility of current café selection. The inside was dimly lit with several themed tables; my favorite chair in the house was one that looked like a throne HR Giger might have inspired and the adjoining table had one of those zappy static lightning orbs in the center. Our lord and master’ Cthuhlu’s image (Kuh-​THOO-​Loo) in the way of a giant plushie hung in one of the corners, and lots of sci-​fi and comic toys adorned the walls. Along with this, a projector would screen awful horror movies or animé while you could listen to a live dj spinning some badass drum and bass.
So what the hell? I was so looking forward to coming home this Independence Day to enjoy my friends’ company and perhaps patronize the Nova just once more for old time’s sake. Sadly, this will never happen.
Finally, I’m going to give Nova four stars… the service differed between whoever was handling the floor on a given night. Usually this one woman was very cheerful and helpful. The restroom was a bit shabby, but that’s neither here nor there, so I’ll let it slide. Not like it matters now.
Farewell, dear Nova. I will miss you.

This was the coolest pizza place. It is now closed down, but I have to tell you what you missed out on, if you never got to come here.
I only came here once. You know how the saying goes, live life to the fullest. I should have come again. I should have come soon after my friend told me about this place. I should have become a regular here. At least I got to come here once.
The pizza was great. We had some DIY combo with eggplant, tomatoes, and other veggies. Yum-​ee dee-​li-​cious! The service was great! The waitress, or server, whatever, was a sweetheart. But the place was rad! It was out of this world (tongue-​in-​cheek)! It was lit up all green, and had menageries of sci-​fi action figures, a large green alien plush statue. It was an experience, one that will go sorely missed. Oh how wretched. At least their website is still on line, so check it out! It’s a piece of history.
I hope other reviewer’s will do this place justice. My single visit, and great sadness, are both limiting me, now.

I am as outraged as Francis G. to hear that this fine, fine establishment closed after 15 years!!!
Unbelievable!
I am at the very least thankful that, although I have only been here once, I have been here at all!!!
I had the pleasure of enjoying this awesome late night joint after a fun night of bar hopping with some close friends.
The moment I walked in I fell absolutely in love with the décor!!!
I just can’t get enough of awesomely-​themed venues such as this one!
I fell in love period.
With the atmosphere, the fact that it was late night, the glow in the dark shit, the aliens everywhere, the beer, and the pesto pizza.
OH that pesto pizza!!! Best pizzaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ever!!!
I’m going to cry myself to sleep tonight.
RIP Nova Express…

My friends and I stopped by here one night… look, if you grew up eating GOOD pizza, yknow, like from NY, dont eat the pizza from here. HONEY in the pizza sauce was DISGUSTING and made the pizza horribly sweet with an unwelcoming floral essence (also due to the honey)… our bill came to $ 80. $ 80!!! There were 5 of us, and we all got a Coke (or some type of soda) and a couple of pies, and 1 person got an alcoholic beverage. Not to mention the bathrooms there… there was a DIRTY, USED, FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCT ON THE WALL. Do these people ever clean their establishment? The crap on the walls is fun to look at, because we’re all geeks, but the crap on the walls is there to distract you from the crappy food you’re about to eat.

What the hell, Nova?! You’re closing on me?! Where else am I going to go at 2am for a vegan pizza and pitcher of Sangria? I’m such a Sad Panda.
Nova rocks. It’s one of the few places I felt like I could walk in under the influence of any substance, and not receive any discerning glances. And if I went totally sober, I felt high by the end of the dining experience because of all the trippy Day Glo and blacklight décor. I know I haven’t been much of a regular patron since moving further west, but the food was pretty good, especially for late-​night. Service was okay. And sure, parking on Fairfax is never fun. But they did a pretty good business regardless.
I tip my hat to you, Nova. You will be missed.

Novas is bomb
great atmosphere and pretty good American food
I really like the chai latte and the deserts, but the place itself makes you want to come in just to hang. The waiters aren’t pushy and sometimes i just come in for my chai latte. Good mood all around. Perfect place to just relax or go to dinner on a night out. Plus i love the design, it’s super rad. think spaceship theme plus a night club? a mix of that lol.

My friend drove by one day and was inspired to bring me here for one of my birthdays during my early 20’s. (Yes, that long ago). It was a sweet thought, since she knew that I loved coffee and she didn’t want to take me to Insomnia or Starbucks. You know, since it says café and all…
I don’t think she really realized where she was taking me.
The gesture was nice, however, this dingy hole that she brought me to traumatized me beyond belief.
What’s with the DAY GLO? And the walls? And the benches and crappy tables? And the drinks in a plastic cup?
Eeech.
Oh well. I appreciated the thought…
Too bad I am not into sci-​fi…

The coolest looking restraunt for scif-​or animé fans in LA. Too bad the food sucks. Ugh don’t waste your money of the food just gets some beers and discuss star trek with friends.
Only open at night.

I love Nova Express Café!
This place is great and very comfortable. Cool techno futuristic music with trippy psychedelic lava lamps on the tables. There are black lights on the walls and everything glows. They have a projector showing old classic black and white movies or trippy cartoons or sci-​fi on the wall. Sometimes they have a live DJ in the back spinning tunes right next to the giant squid. They also have a huge collection of classic retro collectible figures on display.
The food is really delicious. I love their pizza and their bread for their sandwiches. They also serve alcohol and make some really really good martinis, all sorts of flavors. This place is very romantic, good for dates. Open late too… like til 4am

I present to you: my two hundredth review. *pauses for applause* Really, I could’ve reviewed Nova a while back, since this has been one of my favorite spots for years, but I hadn’t been in a while and wanted to make sure I got it right.
Honestly, after the other night, I wanted to drop the review .5 stars, but I have so much love and nostalgia for Nova Express that they would’ve REALLY had to have fucked up. My main new qualm is that whereas you used to be able to order a single slice of pizza with rice mozzarella (a decent one that melts and tastes like cheese), you now have to order at least a small pizza. Not a big deal, really, a small is fine for splitting between two people if neither of you is starving, and it still tastes great the next day, but will run you a little more money. You can order one of their suggested topping combinations (all with catchy space names), or choose from a variety of single toppings (avocado!). There are also salads, sandwiches, a variety of sides (their fries are really good, but the other night a little less so, and they’d put on wayyyy more seasoning salt than needed), a small dessert menu, smoothies, and yes, alcohol. Vegetarians/​vegans will find plenty of options.
Even if the food was mediocre, the ambiance/​décor earns a few stars on its own. My geeky accomplice was excited by the shelves and shelves of old toys (Voltron, He-​Man, Star Trek, H.R. Pufnstuf, assorted robots, monsters, space bases, etc.), the robot on our table, the big screen (showing animé, but sometimes playing sci-​fi movies or video games), the enormous plush Cthulhu (which needs dusting so badly it needs vacuuming), the black lights, the 3-​D pictures on the walls, the wall of old comic book covers (photocopies, incidentally), etc. It seems that fewer tables than previously are shaped like radioactive blobs, but that’s ok, and the big table with the suede-​ish airplane chairs is still there.
I have never had slow or less-​than-​friendly service. The restroom is also space-​themed, and is usually clean enough. I’m not sure I’ve ever arrived past 11, so I’ve missed out on all the DJ and post-​clubbing fun, but it also means I’ve never had to wait for a table. This is a great and very affordable place to go when you aren’t sure where you want to eat, and a really fun spot to take people from out of town.

This place is awesome. You feel like you’re on the set of Spaceballs when you’re inside. It’s filled with toys and I think part of the set of an old school star trek or star wars brig. I had pepperoni pizza here and it was some of the best I’ve had in a while. They also make their own sangria and for a pizza place their sangria was effin amazing.
Also it was nice to sit next to a 9 foot tall alien that look like it walked off the set of futurama. It’s such a cool and unsuspecting place in Miracle Mile!
Wait staff: A+

I wish we humans could synergize with such galactic grace and surreal commonsense as they do on other planets. Nova Express Café, the first outpost on planet Earth of the intergalactic chain originating out of the Betelgeuse system, is a marvel of utilitarian efficiency, combining many discrete venues with varying cross purposes into one superdense hive of electromagnetic activity. Stepping across its threshold, you will undoubtedly be overwhelmed and utterly confounded; your brain may entirely short circuit, synapses blown, blood vessels bursting, whole lobal regions shutting down, but that’s only because your feeble minds hasn’t evolved to the point where such comprehension is possible.
And nice trick, disguising all this alien technology in superkitschy retro-​damaged human born ideas and tropes of what alien technology would look like. The perfect disguise. Just proves that They are, and always will be, an infinite number of steps ahead of us.

Went here last night with a couple of friends because they said it was the best pizza in the world, and it is owned/​operated/​whatever by burning man people (not my thing but ya my friends are into it).
It’s out west so forget good parking we ended up parking in the neighborhood behind the place, finding a spot there seemed pretty miraculous in itself. Your mileage may vary.
The decorations are simply put, horrible, and obvious, well unless you are into the whole burning man thing, or ufo’s or whatever. It feels like Disney’s tomorrow land but on a middle school kids budget. We sat in what i guess are kitsch re-​purposed seats from cars, comfy but thats about it. The music was whatever techno and it was a bit too loud and not really the jams i want to listen to while eating.
They had beer and wine, no cocktails but thats fine. So yeah then there is the food! My friends got the Earth salads and they looked amazing, I just waited for the pizza. We split a large pizza, which is actually LARGE. The cheese was amazing and fresh, all the toppings on the pizza were incredible, and the crust and sauce were popping.
I am generally not too impressed with pizza, but this was worth the drive across town, and worth dealing with the rest of environment of the restaurant.

Nova Express is FREAKIN AWESOME! Really good pizza thats not at all greasy like the gross Damianos «Mr Pizza» down the street. This place is almost directly across from Canters on Fairfax. I have been going for years and its SO much fun. They make practically everything from scratch. It started off as a coffee shop/​café then became a restaurant offering REALLY good pizza (by the slice too.) (try the planet lava, or the Lightship, or just plain ol’ pepperoni.) Fresh salads with a delicious homemade balsamic vinaigrette (try the earth salad.)
I used to only get the smoked turkey and avocado sandwich every time I went there.
now I usually custom order a slice with Eggplant, Feta, spinach, basil, chopped sundried tomatoes, and maybe mushrooms. Its really good.
They have Vegan Options as well, like rice cheese, and other stuff.
I would have the say the food is Excellent.
the wait staff rotates on a weird schedule so you might get someone really good one night and really slow the next. Since it started out as a coffee bar (before they started serving alcohol) people would just walk up to order and pay and then sit down to have their food and drinks brought to the table. Dont hesitate to walk up and pay, or walk up to order from the bar if the service seems to be lacking.
I LOVE this place and take everyone I know there at some point. Also they rent the space out for private parties and cater it for you.
Check it out!