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13 Best Pizza Restaurants in Chicago

delicious pepperoni pizza at chicago pizzerias

Chicago, known for its deep love affair with pizza, is a city where every bite of this iconic dish tells a delicious story. In our quest to find the Best Pizza Restaurants in Chicago, we’ve ventured into the heart of the Windy City’s culinary landscape. From the crispy, caramelized edges of a classic deep-dish pie to the foldable, cheesy goodness of a New York-style slice, Chicago’s pizza scene is diverse and dynamic. Join us on a mouthwatering journey as we explore the pizzerias that have mastered the art of creating irresistible pies, each with its own unique twist on this beloved comfort food. Whether you’re a deep-dish devotee or a thin-crust aficionado, Chicago’s pizza scene has something to satisfy every pizza lover’s craving.


Five Squared

Five Squared Pizza started as a food truck run by a husband and wife duo but now functions as an award-winning pickup and delivery business. They pride themselves on using organic ingredients and focus on making everything they serve from scratch. They are known for serving up mouthwatering Detroit-style pizza and a weekly rotating menu that includes up to 15 different varieties. During my visit, I was able to mix and match 4 slices to be heated up at home later. I chose Spinach & Artichoke, Buffalo Chicken, The Burrata Caprese, and Meat Lovers. If you’re not in the mood for pizza, they often have 6” stromboli varieties as well as house salads and garlic cheesy bread.


Burt’s Place

8541 Ferris Ave, Morton Grove, IL 60053
847-965-7997
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Burt's Place Chicago
Source: Instagram

Burt’s Place is one of the best pizza parlors in the entire city. It’s a small restaurant with a hole-in-the-wall feel, covered in neon signs, leather booths, and an incredible patio bar made of corrugated metal. Burt’s Place is known for its pan pizza, but they also serve a variety of tasty fried appetizers like cheese curds and jalapeno poppers. Pizzas come in 10” to 16” sizes with ½ dough options for people watching their carb intake. All of their pizzas are customizable and come with all the traditional toppings you’d expect from a classic pizzeria. Finish off your dinner with a cannoli and an ice-cold beer or glass of wine for a complete dining experience.


Paulie Gee’s Logan Square

2451 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
773-360-1072
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Paulie Gee's Logan Square Chicago
Source: Instagram

Located at the corner of N. Milwaukee Ave and W. Fullerton Ave in Logan Square sits Paulie Gee’s Pizza Place. This delightful Chicago pizza joint is a full-service bar and pizzeria, serving up wood-fired Neapolitan and Detroit-inspired pies. Paulie Gee’s has a variety of unique pizzas made with fresh ingredients. My personal favorites are the Delboy and the Red Hot Cherry Jones, made with dried Bing cherries and Mike’s Hot Honey. They also serve vegan pizzas for those with dietary restrictions, as well as soups, salads, and their signature dessert, the Pie Pie My Darling Cake. All pizzas are only $15 on Mondays, and patrons who participate in Thursday Trivia nights can enter to win a Paulie Gee’s gift card.

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Pequod’s Pizza

2207 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
773-327-1512
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Pequod's Pizza Chicago
Source: Instagram

Pequod’s Pizza is located in Lincoln Park and has been in business since 1970. They are an award-winning restaurant featured in a variety of prominent publications and are rated as one of the top 5 pizza places in the United States. The pizza here is truly delicious and is a favorite among locals. They are known for the caramelized crust edge of their pan-style pizza, an effect achieved by melting mozzarella cheese along the edge of a cast-iron pan. You can buy the pizza by the slice or a full pie. Not in the Lincoln Park area but craving a Pequod’s pizza? They deliver frozen pizzas in cheese, pepperoni, or sausage nationwide, in addition to local carry-out for their other sandwiches, pasta, and appetizers.


Spacca Napoli

1769 W Sunnyside Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
773-878-2420
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Spacca Napoli Chicago
Source: Instagram

Fans of authentic Neapolitan-style pizza will love Spacca Napoli. Not only are all of the ingredients fresh and sourced from trusted vendors, but the atmosphere makes you feel as though you’ve traveled into an Italian piazza. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a date night with your partner or to host an anniversary or birthday celebration with family. Neapolitan pizza, which is traditionally made with San Marzano tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, is incredible. They offer variations of this signature dish, with toppings ranging from olives and anchovies to sausage and sweet salami. However, every dish rings true to the kind of pizza you’d taste on a trip to Naples. In addition to their pizza, Spacca Napoli offers a variety of desserts, including my personal favorite – tiramisu – as well as a selection of beer, wine, and cocktails.


My Pi Pizza

2010 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
773-394-6900
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My Pi Pizza Chicago
Source: Instagram

My Pi Pizza is a family-owned restaurant that has been serving the same delicious family recipes for decades. Their signature spice packs enhance the taste of their vine-ripened San Marzano tomato sauce, and their fresh homemade dough gives the final product a crisp but tender bite. Each of their pizzas is made with unique ingredients that are specific to that style of pizza to help enhance the characteristics of a deep dish vs. thin-crust pie. Everything is also made-to-order, so you can be sure you’re getting the freshest pizza in town. Pizza may be the shining star at My Pi Pizza, but they also serve up tasty sandwiches, daily soups, homemade desserts, and fresh smoothies. There are daily specials, including $5 off a large deep-dish pizza on Wednesdays and $4 off a medium deep-dish pizza on Thursdays.


Pat’s Pizza and Ristorante

2679 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
773-248-0168
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Pat's Pizza and Ristorante Chicago
Source: Instagram

Located on the corner of N. Lincoln Ave and N. Seminary Ave, Pat’s Pizza and Ristorante is a neighborhood favorite that has been in business for over 65 years. This is one of the best Chicago pizza places to go if you’re craving thin-crust pizza. You can create your own pizza at Pat’s, with a choice of thin or gluten-free crust. They also have a variety of specialty pizzas to try. During my visit here, I tried Pat’s Special Pizza with sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, and onions, as well as the Margherita Pizza. Both were unbelievably delicious. They are a full-service restaurant that serves other incredible dishes like pasta, sandwiches, salads, and Italian-inspired cuisines like chicken marsala and chicken parmigiana.


Pizza Friendly Pizza

1039 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
773-395-2483
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Pizza Friendly Pizza Chicago
Source: Instagram

Pizza Friendly Pizza is a fairly new Chicago pizza joint that opened in 2020. They are a casual neighborhood restaurant with a rock and roll theme, exposed brick walls, and cozy booths that add to the friendly atmosphere. The pizza here is a Sicilian-style pan pizza, which can be ordered by the slice or by the pie. They have both traditional specialty pizzas, such as the Pepperoni & Basil, as well as pies with a twist, like the Fig & Pig. This pizza features confit pork, figs, caramelized onions, and a delicious drizzle of balsamic. They have several weekly specials to keep in mind, including The Combo, which includes a slice, a shot, and a beer for $10. They also have the Dinner for Two (Or Just You) which includes four slices of pizza, a salad, breadsticks, and a side of vegan cheese.


Lou Malnati’s

410 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
312-858-5600
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Lou Malnati's Chicago
Source: Instagram

Not far from the Chicago Riverwalk and the DuSable Bridge sits Lou Malnati’s. If you’re from the Chicago area that name might sound familiar to you. Lou Malnati is a big name in the pizza world – known since the 1940s for their incredible deep dish. The business is currently run by Lou’s sons, making it a treasured family business that locals have been flocking to in droves for years. Their loyalty can be attributed to not just the friendly and welcoming atmosphere of the pizzeria, but to the high-quality pizzas, they produce. Everything is made with the freshest of ingredients and crafted with care. From the buttery homemade crust to the unique sausage blend, each bite is a wondrous experience you won’t soon forget.


Coalfire Pizza

1321 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
312-226-2625
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Coalfire Pizza Chicago
Source: Instagram

As the name suggests, Coalfire Pizza is known for making thin-crust pizza in its 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit clean-burning coal oven. They don’t serve a style of pizza particular to any specific region, but rather combine all of the different elements of each into their own unique take on pizza. Each pizza is between 14-15” large, with a variety of specialties to choose from. During my visit, I tried the Bacon Jam and the Arugula Tomato, which came with goat cheese, fresh arugula, and chives.

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Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe

2434 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
773-293-6992
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Jimmy's Pizza Cafe Chicago
Source: Instagram

You can find Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe at the corner of W. Montrose Ave and N. Styrdisn Ave. It is a charming pizzeria that serves up delicious pies and tasty sides. Here you can enjoy a slice of pizza or a full pie in addition to garlic knots, wings, or even a large meatball. All of their pizza is made with non-GMO unbleached flour, hand-crushed in-house tomato sauce, and topped with only the freshest of ingredients. They have several traditional pizzas, as well as specialties like the Bianca or the Carne, a meat lovers pizza dream.


Piece Pizzeria & Brewery

1927 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
773-772-4422
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Piece Pizzeria & Brewery Chicago
Source: Instagram

Is there anything more classic than the beer and pizza combo? Piece Pizzeria & Brewery doesn’t think so. This Chicago institution serves incredible craft beers that pair well with their signature New Haven-style pizzas. Pizzas here come in small, medium, or large, and can serve between 1 to 5 people. I recommend the Tomato Pie if you’re in the mood for a cheeseless pizza, as well as their BBQ pizza. They are also known for their Honey Butter Fried Chicken Pizza, a white pizza with fried chicken, scallions, blue cheese, and buffalo sauce. All of their pizza comes topped with oregano, olive oil, and greeted Pecorino-Romano cheese.


Robert’s Pizza and Dough Company

465 N McClurg Ct, Chicago, IL 60611
312-265-1328
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Robert's Pizza and Dough Company Chicago
Source: Instagram

The pizza at Robert’s Pizza and Dough Company is both crispy and chewy, made from years of experimentation by people passionate about crafting the perfect pizza crust. They have been serving the Chicago area since 2016, and have attracted a bevy of loyal customers and out-of-towners. Start your meal at Robert’s Pizza with a choice of small plates, such as marinated olives, mussels, or fried calamari. They have 20 specialty pizzas to choose from. The Funghi is perfect for mushroom lovers, while traditionalists will probably like the Cup & Char Pepperoni. They offer several vegan and vegetarian options, as well as a gluten-free crust for an extra cost. You can also enjoy non-pizza dishes here, including penne, gnocchi, chicken parmesan, or burgers.

Why Trust Us?

When it comes to local restaurant recommendations, we pride ourselves on being a reliable and trustworthy resource. Our suggestions are not just based on our personal experiences, ensuring a more authentic and well-rounded perspective, but also on extensive online research. We diligently searched the internet and reviewed 5 credible sites and blogs, including Chicago.eater.com and Timeout.com. 

We compiled all the findings in one location and sorted them by the frequency of mentions to ensure you receive top-notch recommendations. We strive to present you with a curated list of establishments that truly stand out, allowing you to enjoy the best dining experiences possible. 

Interested in the sources we consulted? Check out the list of all 5 sites we referenced below this paragraph, offering transparency and an opportunity for our readers to explore further. Our commitment is to deliver trustworthy and unparalleled recommendations, helping you make informed decisions on your culinary journeys.

https://chicago.eater.com/maps/best-chicago-pizza-restaurants
https://www.timeout.com/chicago/restaurants/best-pizza-in-chicago
https://www.foodnetwork.com/restaurants/photos/best-pizza-restaurants-chicago
https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-pizza-in-chicago
https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/november-2023/chicago-25-best-pizza/

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Written by Brian Nagele

Brian attended West Virginia University, then started his career in the IT industry before following his passion for marketing and hospitality. He has over 20 years experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

As a former restaurant owner, he knows about running a food business and loves to eat and enjoy cocktails on a regular basis. He constantly travels to new cities tasting and reviewing the most popular spots.

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