Chicago is renowned for many culinary delights, but one dish stands head and shoulders above the rest – the legendary deep-dish pizza. Join us as we explore Chicago’s signature dish and slice through the layers of flavors and tradition that define the best deep-dish pizza in Chicago.
- Discover the Best Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
- What Is Chicago Deep Dish Pizza?
- Bartoli’s Pizzeria
- The Art of Pizza
- Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Company
- Gino’s East
- Georges Deep Dish Pizza
- Pizzeria Uno and Pizzeria Due
- Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
- Pequod’s Pizza
- Giordano’s
- My Pi Pizza
- Fall in Love With Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
Discover the Best Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
Chicago is renowned for many culinary delights, but one dish stands head and shoulders above the rest – the legendary deep-dish pizza. Join us as we explore Chicago’s signature dish and slice through the layers of flavors and tradition that define the best deep-dish pizza in Chicago.
Get ready to indulge in an explosion of flavors and experience Chicago pizza perfection like never before. When it comes to deep dish pizza, no place does it better than Chicago. Read on to learn more about the best deep dish pizza in Chicago.
What Is Chicago Deep Dish Pizza?
Chicago deep dish pizza is a style of pizza that is characterized by its thick crust, generous amount of cheese, and chunky tomato sauce. The crust is typically made with a cornmeal dough and is
pressed into a deep, round pan. The pizza is then layered with cheese, fillings, and sauce in that order. Deep dish pizza is typically baked for 45-60 minutes and is served hot and gooey.
Here are some of my favorite places where you can try deep dish pizzas in Chicago for some serious eats.
Bartoli’s Pizzeria
Address: 1955 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60618
Voted best pizza in Chicago by everyone from the Chicago Tribune, USA TODAY and Food and Wine magazine, this family-owned and operated pizzeria has been serving delicious deep dish pizza since 2013. That’s when owner and pizza maker Brian Tondryk perfected his grandfather’s recipe and opened his first outpost in Roscoe Village near Wrigley Field.
The rest is history thanks to deep dish pies made with thick tomato sauce that pairs perfectly with the chewy, gooey fresh Mozzarella cheese and toppings. For a classic Chicago deepdish experience, try the Bartoli’s Special with sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers. Bartoli’s also has a West Town location at 658 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622.
The Art of Pizza
Address: 3033 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Known for their amazing crusts with a rich buttery taste, The Art of Pizza has perfected the ratio of sauce-to-cheese, and then added all types of topping ranging from spicy sausage to pineapple sliced Italian beef.
Their pizzas are known for their unique flavor combinations that have made them a favorite stop for both Chicagoans and visitors to the Windy City. For a truly special deep dish experience, try the White Pizza with ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, spinach, mushrooms, and garlic. Taste the deep dish pizza here and
Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Company
Address: 2121 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
Set inside a historic brownstone in Lincoln Park, you’ll find ambiance galore at this time-honored favorite. The Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Company serves Pizza Pot Pie that is so rich and delicious that you won’t be able to eat in one sitting. It’s a half-pound of butter dough, rich sauce, cheese with just the right amount of pull and whatever toppings you add. This is a true Chicago institution.
Gino’s East
Address: 112 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611
Gino’s East is one of the most popular deep dish pizzerias in Chicago, and for good reason. Their pizzas are known for their thick, flaky crust with a crispy edge, and generous amount of cheese. For a classic deep dish experience, try the Deep Dish Sausage Pizza with sausage, mozzarella cheese, and tomato sauce on top.
Georges Deep Dish Pizza
Address: 6221 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660
You’ll have to plan ahead if you want to snag one of these highly coveted deep dish pies known for its tasty sourdough crust with a crispy, caramelized cheese edge. Choose from a variety of “George” pizzas, all named after a famous George (including Clooney, Michael and Harrison) or make your own with additions ranging from Ezzo Cup and Char Pepperoni to hand-rolled meatballs and beyond.
George’s Edgewater pizza place is carryout and delivery only, and owner George Bumbaris only makes a limited number of pies each day. They sell out quickly, so plan accordingly.
Pizzeria Uno and Pizzeria Due
Address: Pizzeria Uno – 29 E Ohio St, Chicago, Il 60611
Pizzeria Due – 619 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Chicago magazine calls it the “Pizza that spawned an empire,” and they are right. Uno and Due put Chicago deepdish on the map. Yes, you’ll probably have to wait a while to dine-in, and yes, it will be crowded and maybe even a little bit cramped.
There’s reason that folks are willing to wait for this cornmeal-crusted treat, though. It’s just this right balance of bread, sauce, cheese and whatever spicy extra you’re adding. My favorite is the Chicago Meat market, with layers of mild sausage, meatballs, pepperoni, freshly mozzarella, thick tomato sauce, and a bit of pecorino romano.
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
Address: Multiple Locations
Lou Malnati’s has a dedicated fan base (which includes a few of my family members) that consider
Lou’s sauce the best you’ll ever taste. One of the oldest and most famous deep dish pizza chains in Chicago, with multiple outposts across the city and suburbs, Lou Malnati’s signature is their chunky sauce which they make from California-grown, vine-ripened tomatoes.
Add other special touches like buttery crust, fresh mozzarella and a delightfully lean sausage, and you’ve got Lou Malnati’s Chicago Classic.
You can also customize your own pizza with a variety of toppings or try one of their specialty pizzas like the Lou (spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic) or the Crustless (a low-carb option made with sausage as the base).
EXPERT TIP: As you eat and drink your way through the city on your pizza tour, it’s really a toss up of which family’s recipe you prefer. That’s because many of these amazing Chicago deepdish pizza spots are connected through family ties. For example: Rudy Malnati Sr. opened Pizzeria Uno; and his son Lou opened, well, you know.
Not long after, Lou’s half-brother opened Pizanos with a pizza recipe developed by Rudy Malnati’s wife. Brian Tondryk’s inspirational pizza-making grandfather, Fred Bartoli, opened Gino’s East with a partner. Not exactly family ties, but Robert Maleski of Millys Pizza was inspired, to open his deep dish style pizzeria in part, by Burt Katz, who started Pequods. So it’s clear that deep dish style pizza really is intertwined with the history of Chicago.
Pequod’s Pizza
Address: 2207 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
I know someone who considers Pequod’s the ONLY Chicago pizza worth the calories. I think it’s
because they are addicted to the crust.
Pequod’s deep dish pan pizza has a twist: a ring of caramelized cheese around the crust that adds a
crunchy and savory element. The pizzas are baked in cast iron pans and come in two sizes: 7-inch or 10-inch. You can choose from a range of toppings or go for one of their house pizzas like the Pepperoni (pepperoni and sausage) or the Veggie Special (mushrooms, onions, green peppers, black olives). Pequod’s has two locations: one in Lincoln Park and one in Morton Grove in the ‘burbs.
Giordano’s
Address: Multiple Locations
Here’s my standard Giordano’s order: a Chicken Sausage Deep Dish with fresh Mushrooms and Spinach,
a melt on your plate-and-in-your-mouth mix of perfect flavors and creamy, chewy mozzarella cheese.
Giordano’s is more than another well-known Chicago style deep dish pizza chain. Serving Chicagoans
since 1974, Giordano’s specializes in stuffed pizza, which is similar to deep dish but has an extra layer of dough on top of the cheese and sauce, creating a pie-like appearance. The stuffed pizzas are thick and filling and come in
various sizes and flavors. They make a parmesan crusted pan pizza, and you can also order thin crust pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and pasta dishes, here, too.
EXPERT TIP: Giordano’s is one of the favorite pizza places in Chicago (love the Rush Street location in Gold Coast) for lunch. They make an amazing hand-stretched extra thin crust that is one of the best in the city.
My Pi Pizza
Address: 2010 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
You’ll find one of the best deep dish pizzas in Chicago at this Bucktown favorite. My Pi manages to make a crust unlike anyone other: delightfully crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. Combine this with a sauce made from fresh San Marzano tomatoes along with Wisconsin cheese and you’re on your way to one of the best slices in the city. Looking for vegan options? You’re in luck: My Pi Pizza makes a vegan option with dairy-free cheese that’s just as delicious as it’s meaty counterpart.
EXPERT TIP: My Pi also makes an amazing thin crust you won’t want to miss.
Fall in Love With Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
These pizza restaurants in Chicago are a perfect spot to taste the deep dish pizza from fall in love. Whether it’s roasted red peppers and crushed tomatoes on a caramelized crust, or a simple marinara, mozzarella and sausage, Chicago’s deepdish pies are something special.
Where’s your favorite spot to grab a slice? Or two? Use the comment section below to let us know!