Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
Chicago's defining pie, built upside down in a cast-iron pan: an inch of buttery cornmeal crust holds slabs of mozzarella, fennel-sausage and chunky tomato.
Pizzeria Uno on Ohio Street served the first deep-dish in 1943 under owner Ike Sewell and original cook Rudy Malnati Sr., whose family later launched Lou Malnati's. The pan-baked, cheese-on-the-bottom architecture was a deliberate break from the East Coast slice, designed to function as a meal rather than a snack. By the 1960s a parallel tradition (stuffed pizza, with a second layer of dough above the cheese) appeared at Nancy's and Giordano's. Across the city, tavern-cut thin (square-sliced) has always outsold deep-dish two to one with locals, but deep-dish is what the postcard sells and what the visitor expects.
4 editor picks for Chicago deep-dish pizza in Chicago, ranked by editorial score. All Chicago signature dishes · Chicago deep-dish pizza across every city.
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.
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.
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 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.
Chicago deep-dish pizza makes more sense with someone from Chicago explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Taste Chicago’s iconic foods on this Loop District tour! Deep dish pizza, Italian beef, gourmet popcorn and more tastings, plus our delicious Secret Dish!
Guided tour · 3 hours
Taste the finest examples of Artisan, Neapolitan, Detroit Style, and Chicago deep-dish pizza on this professionally guided walking tour that takes you to highly-rated ...
Water activity · 2h 30m
An unforgettable celebration of holiday cheer and fine dining awaits on our Christmas Eve Dinner Cruise on Lake Michigan. Enjoy a 3-course plated dinner, an on board D...
.jpg){kind=link}