CHICAGO, IL - Chicago is known and fondly loved for its deep-dish pizza. However, plenty of restaurants also serve the thin-crust variety. While this list cannot settle any arguments about which pizzeria is best, it will give a rundown of some popular pizza joints in Chicago for pizza enthusiasts.
A Slice of the Windy City: A Guide to Chicago's 8 Best Pizza Restaurants
Chicago is a world-class pizza city with a history and passion for pies that runs deep. While it's globally famous for its iconic deep-dish pizza—a hearty, knife-and-fork marvel—the city's true culinary soul is also found in its beloved tavern-style thin crust. From legendary institutions that have been serving for decades to modern pizzerias pushing the boundaries of flavor, Chicago offers a delicious journey for any pizza lover. This guide will lead you to eight of the best and most essential pizza restaurants in the city.
The Deep-Dish Titans
1. Lou Malnati's Pizzeria A true Chicago legend since 1971, Lou Malnati's is often considered the gold standard for classic deep-dish pizza. Lou Malnati helped create the original deep-dish recipe in the 1940s, and his family continues the tradition. Their signature is the buttery, flaky "Buttercrust™," which provides the perfect foundation for gooey mozzarella cheese and a chunky, vibrant tomato sauce. The "Lou" pizza, with spinach, mushrooms, and sliced tomatoes, is a fan favorite.
2. Giordano's If you're looking for a deep-dish experience that's all about the cheese, Giordano's is your destination. Famous for their unique "stuffed" pizza, which features a thick wall of crust filled with a massive amount of mozzarella and toppings, then topped with another thin layer of dough and sauce. It's a decadent and incredibly satisfying pie that has been a Chicago favorite since 1974.
3. Pequod's Pizza A beloved local institution, Pequod's offers a unique and delicious take on pan-style deep-dish. Their signature is the "caramelized crust," a halo of crispy, blackened cheese that forms around the edge of the pan as the pizza bakes. This creates an irresistible, crunchy, and savory border that sets their pizza apart from all others.
4. Gino's East A Chicago staple since 1966, Gino's East is famous for its deep-dish pizza with a distinctive, cornmeal-infused crust that gives it a golden color and a unique, hearty texture. The walls of their original locations are famously covered in graffiti from decades of happy customers.
Thin-Crust & Artisanal Champions
5. Coalfire For those who prefer a thin-crust pizza, Coalfire is a top-tier destination. They specialize in pizza cooked in an incredibly hot, 800-plus-degree coal-burning oven. The intense heat produces a crust that is perfectly thin, crispy, slightly charred, and still wonderfully chewy. It's a bold, irresistible, and masterfully executed pie.
6. Paulie Gee's Logan Square An outpost of the famed Brooklyn pizzeria, Paulie Gee's in Logan Square has become a Chicago favorite for its creative and diverse pizza offerings. They serve up fantastic wood-fired Neapolitan pies, classic New York-style slices, and their signature Detroit-style "Logan Squares," which feature a thick, airy crust and a crispy, caramelized cheese edge.
7. Vito & Nick's Pizzeria For a taste of a true Chicago tradition, you must try tavern-style pizza, and Vito & Nick's is a South Side legend that has been perfecting it since 1946. This style features a cracker-thin, crispy crust, cut into squares. It's the kind of pizza you'll find at beloved neighborhood joints all over the city, and Vito & Nick's is one of the absolute best.
8. Pizano's Pizza & Pasta With a direct lineage to the family that invented deep-dish (the Malnatis), Pizano's offers the best of both worlds. They are famous for their buttery, crispy deep-dish pizza but are equally celebrated for their fantastic thin-crust pizza. It's a favorite of locals and a great spot to experience both of Chicago's signature styles.
