Pizzeria$$lincoln-parkMon-Sat 11:00-02:00; Sun 11:00-00:00
Pequod's Pizza in Chicago is the Lincoln Park pan-pizza institution on Clybourn since 1971, the caramelised cheese ring around the crust copied.
Signature: Caramelised-crust pan pizza, Sausage and mushroom
Order: Medium pan pizza, sausage and mushroom, with extra cheese around the rim.
Tip: Walk in at 16:30 to beat the queue; tables fill before the kitchen opens for dinner service.
Pizzeria$$the-loopDaily 11:00-23:00
Pizano's Pizza & Pasta in Chicago is the family-owned Loop deep-dish room founded in 1991 by Rudy Malnati Jr., son of Pizzeria Uno's original cook Rudy.
Signature: Cheese deep-dish, Thin pepperoni
Order: The cheese deep-dish, no toppings, the way Rudy Sr. baked it at Uno.
Tip: The Madison location is the original; State Street is the bigger pre-theatre spot.
Pizzeria$$river-northSun-Thu 11:00-23:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-00:00
Pizzeria Uno in Chicago is the original deep-dish pizza shop, opened by Ike Sewell on Ohio Street in 1943, where the city's pan-baked pizza was invented.
Signature: Numero Uno deep-dish, Sausage and pepperoni
Order: The Numero Uno, the canonical deep-dish from the original menu.
Tip: The pies bake 45 minutes; order on arrival. The nearby Due (Pizzeria Due) is the same kitchen if Uno is full.
Pizzeria$$west-loopMon-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00; Sun 11:00-21:00
Bonci Chicago is Gabriele Bonci's West Loop pizza al taglio counter on Sangamon, the first US outpost of the Rome bakery, with rectangular pies cut by weight.
Signature: Pizza al taglio by weight, Mortadella and pistachio
Order: Mortadella and pistachio cream; potato and rosemary; whatever seasonal vegetable is current.
Tip: Walk up at 11:30 for the widest selection. By 14:00 the popular cuts are gone for the day.
Tavern-cut Thin Pizza$ashburnMon-Thu 11:00-23:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-00:00; Sun 12:00-23:00
Vito & Nick's in Chicago is the Ashburn tavern serving the canonical tavern-cut thin pizza on South Pulaski since 1949, family-owned across four generations.
Signature: Original tavern-cut thin, Sausage and onion
Order: Large sausage tavern thin, party-cut, with a side of giardiniera.
Tip: Cash and the bar are the rhythm; first come first served. The kitchen closes at 22:00 sharp; arrive by 21:00.
Tavern-cut Thin Pizza$$lincoln-parkSun 13:00-22:00; Mon-Thu 16:30-22:00; Fri 16:30-23:00; Sat 13:00-23:00
Pat's Pizza in Chicago is the Lincoln Park tavern-cut thin room on Lincoln Avenue since 1950, with the cracker-crust pies locals send out-of-town visitors.
Signature: Tavern-cut thin, Pat's Special with everything
Order: Medium Pat's Special, party-cut; the meatball sandwich as a backup.
Tip: Delivery is the locals' move. The dining room is small, the carryout window quick.