In this guide I want to highlight my favorite best pizzas and where to find them in Chicago. Are you on the hunt for classic deep dish pizza? Thin crust? Roman style? Neapolitan? Gluten free? You really can find them all.
Whether you’re living here or you’re in the Windy City for a day or a weekend, be sure to stop by one of these Chicago pizza places for all of your pizza-loving-heart’s desires. Everyone has a favorite, and every restaurant has its own twist. Below are some of my favorites, recommendations from friends and from my Instagram audience.
Deep Dish Pizza
– Pequod’s Pizzeria $$
Pequod’s Pizzeria is one of the most awarded and recognized pizza, famous for their carmelized crust,a mix between Chicago deep dish pizza, Detroit style & NY Sicilian pan pizzas. It has been featured on many food and travel magazines as well as television shows. There are two locations: the original in the Northwest suburb of Morton Grove, and another in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. At the moment, they have a $4.95 weekend lunch special – dine in only – for a 7″ cheese pan pizza.
– Giorgano’s $$
Giordano’s is acclaimed by NBC as one of the best deep-dish pizzas in the city. Its creation began in a small northern Italian town near Torino, Italy. After that, it has been serving it world-famous pizza since 1974 by Italian immigrants Efren and Joseph Boglio, who moved to Chicago to start their own pizza business. Most importantly, you won’t have to look far for a Giordano’s, because they are all over the city. This is probably the first deep dish pizza I tried many years ago when I was in Chicago.
– Lou Malnati’s $$
Another landmark in the deep dish pizza scene is Lou Malnati’s. The first pizzeria dates back to 1940’s and now they have many locations all over the Windy City. One of the most popular pies is the Malnati Chicago Classic with garlic butter crust that’s layered with lean sausage, tomato sauce and cheese.
– Gino’s East $$
If you’re asking around, you’ll hear about Gino’s East. The restaurant is a known favorite among Chicagoans. The Chicago’s Mag Mile location is their flagship location. You can even leave your own mark on the walls! They are proud of their Gino’s Supreme loaded with pepperoni or Italian sausage, onions, green peppers and mushrooms.
– Labriola $$
Labriola is a small, non chain Italian restaurant located on Michigan Ave. It’s a sort of an hidden deep dish gem. In general, the pizza is deep but not too dense, with a chewy, bread crust. For #NationalPizzaDay on Sunday they will have available their new creation: White Deep Dish Pizza – bechamel sauce, chicken, caramelized onion sand bacon.
– Bacino’s $$
Bacino’s has been selling stuffed pizzas since 1978. Dan Bacin opened his first restaurant in the heart of Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. There are three other locations, two downtown and one in the suburb of La Grange. However, the first location still remains the most popular. Recommended: stuffed pizza with spinach and mushrooms.
Neapolitan Style Pizza
– Mia Francesca $$
If you’ve ever explored Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood you may have come across Mia Francesca. It offers classics dishes mostly from the city of Rome and the Tuscany region. With sophisticated comfort ambiance and fun trattoria inspiration, this restaurant has a good selections of pizzas. My favorite is the Napoletana with arugula, cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, provolone and shaved Parmesan. Mia Francesca is one of the many restaurants in the Francesca’s Restaurant Group. You can find all the locations & menus on their website.
– Eataly Chicago $$
At over 60,000 square feet on two floors Eatlaly Chicago has plenty for visitors to eat, shop and learn. Here you can find three different types of pizza. From the classic Neapolitan-style which is known to be very thin, to the Roman pizza, served on a wooden pala, thicker and crispy and last but not least pizza focaccia flatbread. For #NationalPizzaDay on Sunday they have the event La Pizza & La Pasta. Learn more about the event and how you can book a table here.
– Mozzarella Store Pizza & Caffè $$
In the heart of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, across from the original Water Tower you find Mozzarella Store Pizza & Caffè. Mozzarella and burrata are the stars in this restaurant. They are integrated into most facets of the menu, including hand-tossed Neapolitan-style pizzas. The new menu boasts an incredible selection of pizzas that will satisfy all the pizza lovers. I personally tried the Provola and Pepe – smoked fior di latte, San Marzano tomato d.o.p, black pepper, basil and olive oil. For #NationalPizzaDay and other times they have pizza making class. Learn more about the event and how you can book a class here.
– Forno Rosso $$
Forno Rosso was established in 2013 on Chicago’s Northwest Side. Few years ago, they opened their second store in 2016 the West Loop on Randolph Street. The restaurant was nominated best gluten free pizza in the city by USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice 2018. The pizzeria is part of the (VPN) Verace Pizza Napoletana, an international non-for profit organization seeking to cultivate the culinary art of making Pizza Napoletana.
– Spacca Napoli $$
Spacca Napoli is a rustic and charming restaurant where the owner Jon has been serving authentic Italian pizza for over a decade, carefully sourcing each ingredient from trusted vendors. In addiction, I’m surprised to see a pizza with my name on the menu! I guess I should give it a try to the pizza Enzo!
– Nella Pizza & Pasta $$
The Hyde Park neighborhood is the home of Nella Pizza & Pasta. Named after the owner, Nella Grassano, a classically-trained pizzaiola, and her husband Francesco, they are known for authentic pizzas and pastas. , the pizzeria genuinely expresses the most important Italian values, which are tradition and family.
– La Crosta Woodfire Pizzeria Italiana $$
La Crosta is proud to make a great fluffy crust pizza which is also the name of the restaurant in Italian. The menu is not too expansive and it focuses mainly on red and white pizzas. They import many of their ingredients from Italy. It is located in Lincoln Park. Recommended to try: burrata prosciutto pizza.
If you have more suggestions, please dm on Instagram or use the contact form. I will make sure to periodically update the guide!
Spaca Napoli is my all-time favorite. Out in the western suburbs of Chicago, the only other pizzeria I will eat in is Pazzi for PIzza in Elmhurst. Had a delicious, wood-fired thin crust Neapolitan pizza there just last night!
Hi Kathryn! Spacca Napoli is really good and you can tell by the line of people outside haha. Never heard of Pazzi for Pizza. So many restaurants to check out. I guess it’s worth to mention it in the list then! 😛
I bet you had fun researching this post! I’ve only been to Giordano’s and I loved it. In fact, for many years, we had their deep dish shipped to us for easy Christmas Eve dining! Great post!
Yes, I had so much fun researching the best pizzas and I’m sure the list can be upgraded even more. Aww that’s such a lovely tradition!! I love that. Grazie 😊
P.S. sorry for my late reply!