Pizzeria
Photo: Bex Walton from London, England · CC BY 2.0

8 pizzeria places in Chicago we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Chicago | Pizzeria across every city.

Chicago's pizza argument runs deeper than deep dish, taking in the buttery-crust pan pie and the cracker-thin tavern cut. Lou Malnati's, here in Lincoln Park, and Pizzeria Uno in River North carry the deep-dish lineage, while Pequod's Pizza is known for its caramelized cheese edge. On the South Side, Vito & Nick's Pizzeria in Ashburn is the city's standard-bearer for the tavern-cut thin style.

Lou Malnati's (Lincoln Park) ★ 4.4

$$Chicago Deep-dish PizzaLincoln Park

Lou Malnati's in Chicago is the Lincoln Park branch of the deep-dish chain founded 1971 by Lou (Rudy Malnati Sr.'s son), butter-crust pies with The Lou.

OrderThe Lou with sausage, plus a small Malnati Salad first, with sweet vinaigrette.

TipOrder the pizza when you sit; baking takes 45 minutes. Otherwise you wait twice.

Pequod's Pizza ★ 4.5

$$PizzeriaLincoln Park

Pequod's Pizza in Chicago is the Lincoln Park pan-pizza institution on Clybourn since 1971, the caramelised cheese ring around the crust copied.

OrderMedium pan pizza, sausage and mushroom, with extra cheese around the rim.

TipWalk in at 16:30 to beat the queue; tables fill before the kitchen opens for dinner service.

Pizano's Pizza & Pasta ★ 4.2

$$PizzeriaThe Loop

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.

OrderThe cheese deep-dish, no toppings, the way Rudy Sr. baked it at Uno.

TipThe Madison location is the original; State Street is the bigger pre-theatre spot.

Pizzeria Uno ★ 4.1

$$PizzeriaRiver North

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.

OrderThe Numero Uno, the canonical deep-dish from the original menu.

TipThe pies bake 45 minutes; order on arrival. The nearby Due (Pizzeria Due) is the same kitchen if Uno is full.

Bonci Chicago ★ 4.3

$$PizzeriaWest Loop

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.

OrderMortadella and pistachio cream; potato and rosemary; whatever seasonal vegetable is current.

TipWalk up at 11:30 for the widest selection. By 14:00 the popular cuts are gone for the day.

Vito & Nick's Pizzeria ★ 4.4

$Tavern-cut Thin PizzaAshburn

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.

OrderLarge sausage tavern thin, party-cut, with a side of giardiniera.

TipCash and the bar are the rhythm; first come first served. The kitchen closes at 22:00 sharp; arrive by 21:00.

Pat's Pizza & Ristorante ★ 4.2

$$Tavern-cut Thin PizzaLincoln Park

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.

OrderMedium Pat's Special, party-cut; the meatball sandwich as a backup.

TipDelivery is the locals' move. The dining room is small, the carryout window quick.

Vito & Nick's Pizzeria (Ashburn) ★ 4.4

$$Pizzeria

Vito & Nick's in Chicago is the Ashburn tavern at 8433 S Pulaski, the canonical Chicago tavern-cut thin pizza since 1949, far from the downtown tourist track.

TipCash only and the bar is the rhythm. Closes 22:00 sharp. Order a large party-cut sausage pie.

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