Brian Nagele
Named for its turbulent history as the fierce battleground for warring 19th and 20th-century gangs, Hell’s Kitchen is now a thriving neighborhood in Midtown Manhattan full of great restaurants, nightlife, and one of New York’s favorite weekend flea markets.
Its proximity to Broadway and wonderfully diverse restaurant row makes Hell’s Kitchen a great destination for pre or post-show meals and drinks. That said, Hell’s Kitchen has its own collection of independent dance theaters and art centers to see off-Broadway dance, music, and theatrical productions.
Pre or post-show meals can be as elaborate as a five-star bistro or as simple as a quick slice of New York pizza. I opted for the latter on my most recent trip to Hell’s Kitchen and went to as many pizza spots as possible to find the perfect slice.
I have compiled an eclectic list of my favorite pizzerias to help you decide where to get pizza in Hell’s Kitchen. Read on to explore my list of the best pizza in Hell’s Kitchen that has a diverse array of dining experiences, takeout, and delivery options to suit any preference.
Corner Slice
600 11th Avenue at, W 45th St, New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212-956-9339
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Located inside the bustling Gotham Market Midtown, Corner Slice is the cheapest gourmet slice in New York. Head Chef and creator Michael Bergemann is a renowned ramen chef who decided to try his hand at pizza. His perfectly executed square-shaped New York slices have earned accolades from all the most prominent New York critics and press junkets.
Corner Slice is an exclusively Sicilian-style pizzeria, offering some of the best Sicilian square-shaped dense crusted pies in New York. You can buy them by the slice or as whole pies. If you go alone, I recommend trying a few different slices. I loved the white slice with fresh mozzarella, ricotta, pecorino, grana, and block pepper. I also loved their take on the classic Margherita pizza with basil pesto, mozzarella, and tomato sauce.
B Side Pizzeria & Wine Bar
370 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019
Phone: 646-679-7225
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B Side Pizzeria & Wine Bar is a casual, old-school bar serving amazing artisanal pizzas and small plates created by acclaimed Chef Jason Neroni. Located one block from the Gershwin Theatre, B Side is the perfect place to enjoy post-show pizza, cocktails, wine, and craft beers.
All pizzas are Neapolitan-style, made with gourmet ingredients, and baked in an authentic wood-burning oven. I loved their conversion of Carbonara from pasta to a pizza with the Carbonara pizza that features fontina mozzarella, pancetta, Panna, parmesan, black pepper, and a fried egg.
Don Antonio
309 W 50th St, New York, NY 10019,
Phone: 646-719-1043
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Located in Hell’s Kitchen’s Theater District, a block from Rockefeller Center, Don Antonio is a Neapolitan pizzeria run by Giorgia Caporuscio, one of the only female pizzaiola in the U.S. The small rustic-chic interior, replete with exposed brick walls and warm wood floors, tables, and walls, has an open kitchen, revealing a beautiful, red-tiled wood-burning oven.
Along with wood-fired pizzas, they have a wide selection of small plates, craft beer, wine, and cocktails. Their signature small plates are all fried creations like rice balls, croquettes, and mini fried calzoni. Their signature pizza is called Montanara, which is a slightly fried pizza that is then finished off in the wood-burning oven.
Sacco Pizza
819 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-582-7765
Sacco Pizza is a casual New York-style pizza delivery and pick-up shop located a few blocks west of Central Park’s Columbus Circle. They have a convenient window for take-out orders. While they have a small seating area, they are a great place to get a slice or a whole pie to-go for a delicious picnic in Central Park.
They serve both New York-style round pies and Sicilian square pies, and you can also get slices of either type. They also make a great selection of hot Hero sandwiches like Sausage Pepper and onion or Meatball Parmesan. Their slices are under 3$, and you can build your own whole pies from a wide selection of ingredients.
Upside Pizza
598 8th Ave, New York, NY 10018
Phone: 646-484-5244
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Upside Pizza is a trendy revival of the classic New York pizzeria of the ‘90s with locations in Nolita, Murray Hill, and Hell’s Kitchen’s Garment District. New York native founder Noam Grossman and chef-partner Anthony Falco honor the no-frills yet delicious slices of their youth by concocting the perfect New York and Sicilian slices baked to perfection in a brick oven.
Upside Pizza uses locally sourced, fresh ingredients and a special water filtration method to make their unparalleled dough. Unlike old-school pizzerias, pizzas and slices are made to order. Both Sicilian and round pies are excellent, but I recommend the classic round pie known as the Fuzzy Dunlop, with house-made Berkshire sausage house-pickled peppers.
Claudio Pizzeria
598 10th Ave, New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212-586-3145
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Located a quick walk from the famous Hudson Yards, Claudio Pizzeria is a friendly neighborhood pizzeria with friendly staff and quick service. Their small yet cozy space does a great delivery and curbside pick-up service but also has a wide selection of fresh slices on display in the characteristic glass case you see at most New York-style pizza joints.
They serve slices, whole round and Sicilian pies, appetizers, soups, salads, cold and hot heroes, pasta, burgers, and wraps. They make a delicious Minestrone soup if you’re looking for something to warm you up on a cold day. I also loved their Hell’s Kitchen Diavola Sicilian pizza with diavolo sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni.
Vito’s Slices and Ices
464 9th Ave, New York, NY 10018
Phone: 212-273-1186
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Vito’s Slices and ices is an old-school New York pizza and Italian shaved-ice restaurant on the cusp between the Garment District and Midtown West. I loved the 50s-style Italian diner décor with bright green painted exterior and a giant red and white pizza sign. It’s exactly what one imagines when asked to picture a classic New York pizzeria.
Their pizza and shaved ice are some of the best I’ve had. The round pies are as stunning and idyllic as the décor, and their Sicilian pies could be my favorite in town. Whatever you do, you must try their garlic knots! Of course, you must also save room for their house-made Italian ices with a rotating assortment of flavors.
Capizzi
547 9th Ave, New York, NY 10018
Phone: 212-695-6900
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Capizzi is a family-friendly, cozy Italian eatery and wood-fired pizzeria in Midtown West, a few blocks from Hell’s Kitchen’s Hudson Yards. Owner and founder Joe Capizzi comes from multiple generations of pizza makers and worked in his father’s and grandparent’s pizzerias growing up in Brooklyn before deciding to open his own. Its homey environment makes you feel like you’re in your grandmother’s house for dinner.
I love their unique selection of antipasti and recommend the fried artichoke hearts with homemade pesto and ricotta to start. They also have some of the most delicious homemade focaccia fresh out of the wood-fired oven. I recommend one of their white pies, like the broccoli rabe and sausage with provolone.
99 Cent Fresh Pizza
360 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212-268-1461
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If you’re on a tight budget, you can still get a delicious pizza at 99 Cent Fresh Pizza, with eight locations around New York, including one in Hell’s Kitchen, two blocks from Times Square. You really can get pizza for 99 cents if you buy one of their specials that include two slices and a drink. Even if you want to order a full pie, they often cost no more than $10.
99 Cent Fresh Pizza will soon be your go-to pizza shop for delivery and take-out as the best value for the least money. Their slices are 2$ or under and feature dozens of combinations from BBQ chicken to Hawaiian.
Baker’s Pizza
754 10th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Phone: 917-262-0722
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Located a few blocks from both De Will Clinton Park and Hell’s Kitchen Park, Baker’s Pizza is a traditional New York pizzeria replete with checkered tile floors, a large walk-up glass-enclosed pizza counter, and even an old-fashioned video game machine to play while you wait for your pizza.
There is a set of picnic tables outside the small indoor counter, but they’re mainly a pick-up, take-out, and delivery establishment.
Unlike your standard New York pizza counter, Baker’s Pizza offers a variety of gourmet toppings like brussels sprouts, caramelized onions, meatballs, truffle oil, and roasted eggplant, to name a few. They also offer vegan options. I had to go with the signature Baker’s pie, with homemade sausage, herbed ricotta, and caramelized onions.
Justino’s Pizza
881 10th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-582-1222
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Justino’s Pizza is right in between Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, so it’s a favorite pizza spot for hungry students. Its accessible prices and quick service make it a great take-out and delivery place, but there’s also a small seating area should you wish to dine in. They also do a lot of catering for all your pizza party needs.
Their menu has New York-style and Sicilian pizza by the slice or whole, along with soups, salads, appetizers, calzones, hero sandwiches, pasta, and wraps. I liked their eggplant pizza with ricotta, pecorino romano, and tomato sauce.
Hell’s Kitchen, like any New York City neighborhood, has a fine selection of pizza restaurants, from trendy pizzerias and brewpubs to the classic New York slice shop. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly sit-down restaurant or a quick but delicious take-out pie to enjoy in the comfort of your home or hotel, my list of the best pizza in Hell’s Kitchen has something for you.
If you’d like to explore other types of cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen, check out my list of the best places to eat.
Did we miss your favorite pizzeria? Leave us a comment below and let us know!
