The best pizza in Chicago isn’t just deep dish. Chicago is a pizza city. You can find New York and New Haven style thin crust, Detroit style, Neapolitan, Roman, and of course Chicago deep dish, pan pizza, stuffed pizza, and tavern style pizza.
In creating this list of best pizza in Chicago the goal was to be selective while trying to include a wide variety of neighborhoods. We also wanted to cover a wide range of pizza styles.
What is Chicago style pizza?
Table of Contents
Chicago doesn’t have just one pizza style, but usually when people use the term “Chicago-style” they are referring to deep dish.
Chicago deep dish pizza is the city’s most famous style of pizza. It is baked in a pan that is similar to a cake pan. The tall crust creates room for a very generous amount of cheese and toppings. Classic deep-dish pizza is made by layering toppings, mozzarella, and sauce on top of the dough in that order. When ordering takeout, it is best to order the pizza unsliced to prevent the crust from getting soggy.
Chicago stuffed pizza is even taller than deep dish pizza, it has an extra layer of crust, and it has even more cheese. Stuffed pizza is made by first placing dough into a round pan. Toppings and then cheese get layered on top and then a very thin layer of crust is placed over them. Lastly, a layer of sauce is added on top of the dough.
Chicago pan pizza is similar to deep-dish and even many pizzerias use the terms interchangeably. You won’t start a fight if you use these terms incorrectly. The differences are in the crust and the order of ingredients. Deep dish pizza is (usually) made with a dough that contains cornmeal, meanwhile pan pizza dough has powdered milk. When it comes to the order of ingredients, deep dish has sauce on top. Pan pizza has the toppings on the top. To summarize: you can see the toppings on the top of a pan pizza while the toppings are hidden inside a deep dish pizza.
Chicago tavern style pizza is completely different from the others. It has a very thin cracker-like crust and it is cut into small squares. It is often found in Chicago bars.
Although it is not native to Chicago, Detroit style pizza has become increasingly popular in Chicago. Detroit style has a thick bready crust that is doughy on the inside and crispy on the outside. The cheese goes all the way to the edges getting crispy. It’s baked in rectangular trays and cut into squares.
What is the best pizza in Chicago?
Let’s break it down by category.
The Best Deep Dish Pizza in Chicago: Pizzeria Uno, Art of Pizza
The Best Stuffed Pizza in Chicago: Art of Pizza
The Best Pan Pizza in Chicago: Pequod’s Pizza, Milly’s Pizza in the Pan
The Best Tavern Style Pizza in Chicago: Vito & Nicks
The Best New York Style Pizza in Chicago: Pizzeria Lobo, Robert’s Pizza
The Best New Haven Style Pizza in Chicago: Piece Pizza
The Best Neapolitan Style Pizza in Chicago: Galluci’s, Spacca Napoli
The Best Roman Style Pizza in Chicago: Bonci
The Best Detroit Style Pizza in Chicago: Five Squared Pizza
The Best Gluten-free Pizza in Chicago: Coda di Volpe
The Best Pizza in Chicago:
We have organized this list of best pizza in Chicago by neighborhood.
Ashburn:
Vito & Nicks
Pizza, Italian
This pizzeria on the western edge of the city is a dining destination known for serving thin crust tavern-style pizza. Pizza is the main event here, but the menu also has lots of appetizers plus sandwiches, pastas, and ribs. The key things to know about Vito & Nicks is that it is cash-only and they don’t do delivery.
Edgewater:
George’s Deep Dish
Pizza
George’s is a carry-out and delivery only restaurant serving deep dish made with a sourdough focaccia style crust, a caramelized cheese edge, a cornmeal base, and a sweet tomato sauce. The menu has a handful of pizzas and gives the option to build your own.
Garfield Park:
Five Squared Pizza
Pizza
A delivery and carry-out only pizzeria owned by a husband and wife team that creates Detroit style pizzas. The menu changes weekly and features 10-15 different varieties. To place and order, first sign up for the email list to get the menu. Then you can place your order via Instagram, email, or text as early as Monday of each week.
Hyde Park:
Nella Pizza e Pasta
Italian, Pizza, Lunch
A Michelin Bib Gourmand winner serving lunch and dinner plus weekend brunch. The restaurant is known for their Neapolitan style wood oven pizzas with a lightly charred crust, but the menu has plenty of other options including antipasti, salads, pasta, risotto, and meat mains. Nella’s serves elegantly prepared classic Italian cuisine made with the best ingredients.
Lakeview:
The Art of Pizza
Pizza, Italian
The pizza here was named the #1 deep dish pizza in Chicago by The Chicago Tribune. The Art of Pizza offers both pizza by the slice and full pies. Thin crust, pan pizza, and stuffed pizzas are available, plus several salads, sandwiches, and classic Italian entrees.
Coalfire
Pizza, Vegetarian/Vegan
As the name suggests, the pizza here is coal fired in an 800 degree oven. It comes out slightly charred. The menu has 17 pizzas, including two vegan pizzas, plus the option to build your own. There is a second location in West Town.
Zaza’s Pizzeria
Pizza
Zaza’s serves 16″ Neapolitan style pizzas ranging from the classic pepperoni to a truffle mushroom pie with shiitake mushrooms, rosemary, garlic truffle cream, goat cheese, and sea salt. You can order off a menu or build your own.
Coda de Volpe
Pizza, Italian
An Italian restaurant serving housemade pasta in addition to pizza, Coda de Volpe offers both Neapolitan style pizza and Sicilian focaccia style pizza. The Sicilian pizza can be made gluten-free and is known to be epic.
Lincoln Park:
Pequod’s Pizza
Pizza, Lunch, Late-night
Pequod’s serves what is arguably the best deep dish pizza in the city. The pizza is distinctive because of its caramelized cheese crust. In addition to deep dish, Pequod’s serves thin crust pizza, sandwiches, and pasta. This place is legendary and doesn’t take reservations so be prepared to wait for a table.
Burt’s Place
Pizza
Burt’s rose to fame when Anthony Bourdain praised the deep dish pizza here. Burt’s refers to their pizza as pan pizza, not deep dish, and it comes in four different sizes and you get to pick your toppings. In case you are curious, the pies here are made with cheese, sauce, and then the toppings.
Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co.
Pizza
The pizza pot pies here have a cult following. The pot pies are cooked with the crust on top and then flipped over and served. In addition to the pizza pot pies, the menu has oven grinder sandwiches. Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co. is open nightly for dinner and for lunch on weekend. It is cash-only and they do take reservations.
Pat’s Pizza
Pizza
A family-owned pizzeria that has been in business since 1950, this spot serves up Chicago tavern style pizza, which is thin and cut into squares.
Logan Square:
Pizza Lobo
Pizza, Bar
Pizzeria Lobo has a menu of 16″ speciality pies, classic combos, and the option to build your own. These are New York style pizzas that have big floppy foldable slices.
Dante’s Pizzeria
Pizza, Vegetarian/Vegan
Dante’s serves big 20″ New York style pizzas. You can order a pizza from the menu, build your own, or buy a slice. Five vegan pizzas are available too. Check their instagram account to see the slice of the day. In addition to pizza, the menu offers wings, salads, and sandwiches. A second location recently opened in West Town/Ukrainian Village.
The Boiler Room
Pizza, Vegetarian/ Vegan
A thin-crust pizza joint serving both pizza by the slice and full pies. The menu includes classic and creative pizzas, the option to build your own, and a vegan pizza. Gluten-free pizza is available too. The Boiler Room is known by locals for its PB&J special which includes a slice of pizza, a PBR, and a shot to Jameson Whiskey for $12.50.
Paulie Gee’s
Pizza, Vegetarian/Vegan
Paul Gee’s serves pizza, beer, and cocktails. This pizzeria serves two styles of pizza: New York Style thin-crust and a Detroit inspired style that they call Logan Squares. The menu has half a dozen vegan pies plus pizzas with gourmet ingredients like Berkshire soppressata, housemade bacon jam, dried bing cherries, and prosciutto di Parma.
Reno
Pizza, Italian
A very casual wine bar and restaurant that serves wood fired bagels and pizza plus house-made pastas.
Old Town:
Gallucci
Pizza, Italian
The Neapolitan style pizzas at Gallucci might be the best pizza in Chicago. Gallucci’s stands apart from the rest by using ingredients like black truffle cream, 600 day aged prosciutto di Parma, and imported burrata. All pizzas can be made with gluten free dough too.
Ravenswood:
Spacca Napoli
Pizza, Italian, Lunch
A pizzeria serving Neapolitan-style thin-crust pizzas. The menu has antipasti, salads, and over twenty different pizzas made with fresh gourmet ingredients. Gluten-free pizza is available. This is considered one of the best pizzerias in Chicago.
Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe
Pizza
Originally located in Lincoln Square and relocated to Ravenswood, Jimmy’s sells New York style pizza by the slice and by the pie. The menu covers the classics and has more gourmet pies like the BDW which has mozzarella, chopped dates, applewood bacon, walnuts, gorgonzola, olive olive, and hot honey.
River North:
Pizzeria Uno
Pizza
Pizzeria Uno is where Chicago-style deep dish pizza was created in 1943. Sure, there are Unos all over the country, but there is something about trying deep dish in the spot where it was invented. Pizzeria Uno has a second location down the street called Pizzeria Due.
Eataly
Italian, Lunch
Eataly is an Italian marketplace and food hall with multiple dining options including sit down restaurants and fast-casual food counters with seating areas. La Pizza & La Pasta is a restaurant on the second floor serving Neapolitan-style pizza that is cooked in a wood-burning oven. The pizza menu ranges from the classic Margherita to more gourmet pies like the Norcina which topped with Urbani black truffle and mushroom cream, mozzarella, sweet Italian sausage, mushrooms, and basil.
Rogers Park:
J.B. Alberto’s Pizza
Pizza, Italian, American
An affordable pizzeria offering thin crust, pan pizza, and stuffed pizza in addition to a large menu of appetizers, ribs, steak, shrimp, pastas, burgers, and sandwiches.
South Loop:
Aurelio’s Pizza
Pizza, Italian, Lunch, Kid-friendly
Aurelio’s has several Illinois locations and has been serving pizza and other Italian classics since 1959. Both thin crust and stuffed pizzas are available with the option to order from the menu or create your own.
Art of Pizza
Pizza, Italian, Lunch
See full description under Lakeview.
Streeterville:
Robert’s Pizza and Dough Company
Pizza, Lunch
Chef-owner Robert is a New Yorker who takes pizza seriously and who spent decades perfecting his crust and pizza recipes. This pizzeria prides itself on dough that balances crispness and chewiness. The Menu is centered on pizza but also includes soups, salads, sandwiches, and pasta. In addition to serving dinner every day, Robert’s serves lunch on weekdays and brunch on weekends.
Uptown:
Milly’s started as a carry-out only pizzeria and has become a restaurant specializing in Chicago pan pizza. The menu five different includes 10″ and 14″ pizzas with the option to build your own.
West Loop:
Bonci
Pizza, Lunch
Bonci’s counter is filled with large rectangular Roman style pizzas. Guests just tell the staff how much they want, and the pizza is sliced and heated up. This is one of the best restaurants in the West Loop for a quick meal.
Forno Rosso
Pizza, Lunch
Forno Rossa serves Neapolitan-style pizzas cooked in a wood-burning oven. The menu has over 20 pizzas plus antipasti, salads, and calzones. Forno Rosso is open for lunch and dinner daily.
Nonna’s
Italian, Lunch
A sister restaurant to Formento’s, Nonna’s is a sandwich shop known for serving meatball subs, chicken parm subs, and pizza by the slice. The menu includes several salads, cold sandwiches, hot sandwiches, and desserts. Nonna’s is open for both lunch and dinner daily.
West Town / Ukrainian Village:
Pizza Friendly Pizza
Pizza
Pizza Friendly Pizza serves Sicilian style pizza. The crust is equally fluffy and crunchy. The menu is limited to six pies, one of which is vegan. You can get a full pie or just a slice.
Dante’s Pizza
Pizza
See full description under Logan Square
Wicker Park:
Piece specializes in New Haven style thin crust pizza. Piece lets diners create their own pizzas starting with a red pizza, tomato pie, white pizza, or bbq pizza. From there you can chose from traditional options or opt for toppings like clams, mashed potatoes, Hot Doug’s Atomic Sausage, or Honey Butter Fried Chicken. Pizzas some in small, medium, and large sizes and the generous sizes make this a good spot for larger groups.
Craft Pizza
Pizza, Kid-friendly
Craft serves Neapolitan-style pizzas and makes some of the best pizzas in Wicker Park. They have a large patio, but limited space indoors. It is BYOB. They offer a special on Tuesday night when 14 inch pizzas are $10 and 18 inch pizzas are $15.