Chicago pizza comes in two legendary styles that locals argue about with religious fervor. Deep dish pizza sits thick and hearty like a savory pie, while tavern-style pizza gets cut into squares with a cracker-thin crust. Smart visitors skip the endless debate and try both styles during their trip to truly understand what makes Chicago pizza culture so special.
1. Pizzeria Uno – The Birthplace Legend
History lives at 29 East Ohio Street, where Pizzeria Uno claims to have invented deep dish pizza back in 1943. Walking into this River North landmark feels like stepping into pizza mythology.
The classic sausage deep dish here tastes exactly like what your grandparents might have ordered decades ago. Thick, buttery crust holds chunky tomato sauce and generous cheese in perfect harmony.
Tourist crowds pack this place year-round, but the authentic taste makes the wait worthwhile. Order early since deep dish takes 45 minutes to bake properly in their ovens.
2. Lou Malnati’s – Buttery Crust Perfection
Lou Malnati’s built their reputation on one simple promise: the butteriest, flakiest crust in Chicago. Their River North location offers the perfect introduction to this family legacy.
Each pizza arrives golden-brown with edges that crumble like pastry when you bite down. The secret lies in their cornmeal crust recipe, passed down through generations of the Malnati family.
Smart visitors order both deep dish and thin crust for an instant comparison. The contrast shows how one kitchen can master completely different pizza philosophies with equal skill and passion.
3. Giordano’s – Stuffed Pizza Innovation
Giordano’s revolutionized deep dish by creating stuffed pizza, which adds a top crust layer under the sauce. This engineering marvel holds twice the cheese of regular deep dish.
Cutting into a Giordano’s pizza reveals layers like a delicious cross-section diagram. Cheese stretches endlessly from slice to plate, creating Instagram-worthy cheese pulls that never get old.
Multiple downtown locations make this chain accessible for busy tourists. The stuffed style takes even longer to bake than regular deep dish, so plan accordingly for your dining schedule.
4. Gino’s East – Graffiti and Golden Crust
Gino’s East Magnificent Mile flagship welcomes guests with walls covered in decades of customer graffiti. Adding your own message becomes part of the dining ritual here.
Their signature golden crust gets its color from cornmeal, creating a slightly sweet contrast to tangy tomato sauce. The texture falls somewhere between cake and bread, uniquely satisfying.
Located just one block off Michigan Avenue, this spot perfectly combines tourist convenience with authentic Chicago character. The graffiti tells stories of countless visitors who discovered their pizza passion here.
5. Pequod’s – Caramelized Cheese Magic
Pequod’s creates pizza perfection through a simple trick that other places somehow miss: caramelized cheese around the crust edges. This Lincoln Park gem attracts serious pizza devotees.
Each pan pizza arrives with a dark, crispy cheese border that tastes like the best part of grilled cheese sandwiches. The contrast between soft interior and crunchy edges creates textural heaven.
Local pizza experts consistently rank Pequod’s among Chicago’s top spots. The casual atmosphere and cult following prove that sometimes the best pizza comes from places that focus purely on taste.
6. Labriola – Double-Proofed Downtown Delight
Labriola brings Italian bakery expertise to Chicago deep dish through their double-proofed pan dough technique. This Magnificent Mile location combines convenience with culinary innovation.
The double-proofing process creates incredibly light, airy crust that still holds heavy toppings without getting soggy. Mozzarella lining the pan creates crispy, caramelized edges similar to Pequod’s approach.
Food critics consistently praise Labriola in top deep dish roundups. Their bakery background shows in every perfectly risen crust that emerges from their downtown kitchen ovens.
7. Vito & Nick’s – South Side Tavern Tradition
Vito & Nick’s has been rolling ultra-thin tavern pizza since the 1950s in Chicago’s Ashburn neighborhood. Their cracker-crisp crust practically shatters when you bite down.
The South Side location requires a short trip from downtown, but locals insist this pilgrimage defines authentic Chicago tavern style. Square-cut pieces encourage sharing and conversation over cold beer.
Sausage pizza here tastes exactly like what Chicago tavern-goers have enjoyed for generations. The no-nonsense approach focuses entirely on perfect crust, tangy sauce, and quality toppings without fancy additions.
8. Pat’s Pizza – Lincoln Avenue Legacy
Pat’s Pizza opened in 1950 and still serves what food experts call the platonic ideal of tavern-style pizza. Their Lincoln Avenue location maintains old-school Chicago charm.
The tangy sauce here strikes the perfect balance between sweet and acidic, coating paper-thin crust without making it soggy. Each square-cut piece delivers maximum flavor with minimal thickness.
Neighborhood regulars treat Pat’s like their personal dining room, creating authentic Chicago tavern atmosphere. The consistent quality over seven decades proves that some pizza recipes simply cannot be improved.
9. Candlelite – Rogers Park Institution
Candlelite has served Rogers Park residents tavern-style pizza since 1950, making it a true neighborhood institution on Chicago’s North Side. Local families span generations of regular customers here.
The comfortable, lived-in atmosphere feels like eating in someone’s favorite family restaurant. Square-cut pizza arrives hot and crispy, maintaining the traditional tavern style that built Chicago’s pizza reputation.
Rogers Park location makes Candlelite easily accessible for North Side hotel guests. The unpretentious approach focuses on consistent quality rather than trendy innovations or tourist-focused marketing.
10. Home Run Inn – Double Style Convenience
Home Run Inn near Midway Airport offers both tavern-style and deep dish on the same menu, making direct comparisons incredibly convenient for curious visitors.
This old-school brand started as a neighborhood tavern before expanding across Chicago. Their dual approach lets you taste both pizza styles without leaving your table or traveling across town.
The Archer Avenue location provides easy access for travelers flying through Midway. Ordering one of each style creates the perfect Chicago pizza education in a single meal experience.
11. Phil’s Pizza – Cash-Only Bridgeport Classic
Phil’s Pizza operates exactly like Chicago tavern pizza joints did decades ago: cash-only, no-nonsense, and focused entirely on hefty square-cut pies with authentic flavor.
Bridgeport’s working-class neighborhood provides the perfect setting for this retro pizza experience. The generous toppings and substantial crust create more filling tavern-style pizza than most competitors offer.
Bring cash and embrace the old-school vibe that makes Phil’s special. The lack of credit card machines and fancy decor keeps prices low while maintaining traditional Chicago pizza quality.
12. Barnaby’s – North Shore Cornmeal Treasure
Barnaby’s of Northbrook requires a suburban drive but rewards adventurous pizza lovers with cornmeal-dusted thin crust that creates unique texture and subtle sweetness.
The North Shore location maintains a local legend status among Chicago-area pizza enthusiasts. Cornmeal adds crunch and flavor that distinguishes Barnaby’s from typical tavern-style competitors throughout the region.
Consider this suburban bonus if your Chicago trip includes North Shore activities. The distinctive cornmeal crust represents another variation in Chicago’s diverse pizza landscape that serious food lovers shouldn’t miss.
