While the business that supposedly invented deep dish comes close to making the best,
it didn't perfect this pizza style.
You don't have the time or the stomach capacity to try all the deep dish joints out there,
which is why we're giving you a rundown.
With locations in Florida and Georgia, Manhattan Chicago Pizza prides itself on offering "the
best of both worlds" by making New York-style pizzas and Chicago deep-dish pies.
"So let me explain something.
Deep dish pizza is not only not better than New York pizza … it's not pizza."
The relatively small operation also offers salads, pasta, calzones, strombolis, subs, and more.
But the problem here is with the actual execution of its Chicago deep-dish pies.
According to some diners on Yelp, Manhattan Chicago Pizza falls short of greatness on
some crucial issues.
While one diner chimed in to criticize the lack of filling inside the crust, another
straight up said this place made "the worst pizza" they'd ever had.
Equally egregious, another Yelper who supposedly grew up in Chicago compared the deep-dish
pizza to a, quote, "giant mushy calzone" and lambasted the restaurant for what they called
"terrible and watery" pizza sauce.
Beggars Pizza is a Chicago deep-dish pizza chain with several locations throughout Illinois
and Indiana.
The menu offers everything from deep-dish pizza and chicken caesar wraps to bacon cheeseburgers.
And while Beggars Pizza seems to have made a pretty good name for itself over the course
of its 45-year career, there also seems to be a lot of inconsistency in the pizzas between locations.
One Beggars Pizza patron ordered two different pies and was so disappointed that they hopped
on Yelp to share their dismay.
Describing the pizza as "a mess" that looked like, quote, "a 2 year old put […] together,"
the diner also indicated it was overbaked and recalled that it was like "chewing through
a very tough steak."
Other Yelpers have echoed similar sentiments, criticizing the taste and texture of the crust.
Edwardo's Natural Pizza opened its first location on the North side of Chicago back in 1978.
Several decades later, it now operates in Illinois and Indiana and serves a menu with
plenty to offer: deep-fried mozzarella sticks, lemon poppy bucatini, Italian chopped salads,
and of course, deep-dish pizzas.
Unfortunately, based on what some diners are saying, the pizza can be hit or miss.
The general consensus among online critics seems to be that it's best to lower your expectations
a bit before eating at Edwardo's.
One diner took to Yelp to compare the food to a frozen pizza that you could buy at a grocery store.
Another warned everyone that the recipe for the sauce appears to have changed over time
and now tastes too spicy.
PizzaPapalis is a pizza chain that specializes in Detroit-style and Chicago deep-dish pizzas.
With a total of five locations spread around Michigan and Ohio, it has been in operation
since 1986.
In addition to pizzas, the menu at PizzaPapalis also offers wings, classic subs, pasta, desserts, and more.
While PizzaPapalis usually does a decent job slapping together some tasty pies, sometimes
it drops the ball.
One patron on Yelp decided to warn everyone that what the restaurant makes "is not a Chicago
style pizza."
The Yelper goes on to explain that overall, the pizza is overpriced and bland.
Another user claimed it was the worst pie they'd ever eaten, calling out the poor toppings
to sauce and cheese ratio.
Pizzeria Pezzo is a small pizza chain based in Minnesota that proudly uses fresh house-made
ingredients to load up its Chicago-inspired deep-dish pies.
In addition to Chicago deep-dish pizza, Pizzeria Pezzo has a streamlined menu that also offers
coal-fired pizzas, sandwiches, pasta, and several appetizers such as stuffed Italian
mushrooms, lemon basil chicken wings, and mascarpone cheese dip.
The one issue we noticed at Pizzeria Pezzo concerns its distribution of toppings.
We all know that toppings are a crucial part of the pizza experience: too many can overwhelm
the palate and jumble flavors that don't jibe well, while stinginess can render the pizza
a bit boring and tasteless.
One Yelper supposedly ordered a deep-dish pizza with extra sausage from Pizzeria Pezzo
and was disappointed to find one measly piece of sausage per slice.
It's highly possible this was an isolated incident and doesn't necessarily speak to
a pattern of problems, but slip-ups like that are still disappointing when they happen.
Klavon's is based in Michigan and specializes in several types of pizza, including Chicago-style
deep-dish, Neapolitan, and Detroit-style.
Its menu offers five different types of deep-dish pies, including classics loaded up with pepperoni
and sausage and non-traditional pizzas.
We recommend trying the Philly cheesesteak-inspired pizza that comes with mushrooms, peppers,
and a creamy garlic alfredo sauce, or the barbecue chicken option with applewood-smoked bacon.
Aside from pizza, Klavon's also has a lot of other offerings, including delicious sandwiches,
salads, craft beers, and cocktails.
With nearly 40 different traditional and gourmet toppings to choose from, this restaurant is
a great place for anyone who likes to customize their deep-dish pizzas.
Part of the beauty of Klavon's pizza is both the tastiness of the crust and its structural integrity.
This is one of the few examples of a Chicago-style pizza that you can eat with your hands once
you let the cheese settle.
But don't mistake that as a sign that this pizza is any less filling.
Klavon's is still very generous with its cheese and toppings; it all just happens to be so
skillfully constructed and smartly proportioned that it holds together exceptionally well.
"Why does everything have to be Chicago-style here?
We get it, we're in Chicago."
A small pizza chain with three locations in Chicago, Chicago's Pizza offers a spread of
different pies that includes gourmet, deep-dish, thin-crust, and stuffed.
Its deep-dish pizzas have a crust that manages to stay crispy on the bottom yet flaky along the rim.
Prepared with fresh tomato sauce that's made in-house, the pies are dusted with a Parmesan
spice mix and then baked in the oven for about half an hour.
There are four different deep-dish pies to choose from: plain cheese, vegetarian, supreme,
and a special with Italian sausage, mushrooms, green onions, and peppers.
One advantage that puts Chicago's Pizza a little bit ahead of some of its competitors
is that it sells pizza by the slice, which is harder to find when it comes to deep-dish pies.
The only thing holding Chicago's Pizza back is that the assortment of deep-dish offerings
on the menu is a bit limited, though you can opt to customize your own if you prefer.
Considering there are about 30 kinds of awesome sandwiches on the menu, over 20 types of pasta
dishes, and eight different burgers, we'd love to see the same expansive and inventive
approach applied to the deep-dish section of the menu.
Based out of California, Rance's Chicago Pizza offers three kinds of pies: tavern-style,
deep-dish, and stuffed pizzas.
There are nine different specialty pies that can be made in any of these three styles.
While Rance's has more traditional pizzas like the house special with sausage, peppers,
mushrooms, and onions, it also offers some creative twists like Rance's favorite with
meatballs, jalapeños, and fresh bacon bits.
Some other specialty pizzas include the spicy Hawaiian with Canadian bacon, pineapples,
and jalapeños and a pie with spinach and grilled chicken tossed in pesto.
It's the specialty pies and Rance's take & bake pizzas that help it stand out from the crowd.
Partially pre-cooked at the restaurant, these pizzas only need about 15 minutes in the oven,
making them a great option for when you'd rather enjoy Chicago-style pizza from the
comfort of your own home.
With dough, sauce, and salad dressings all made from scratch, it's easy to see why Rance's
has become a favorite among Chicago-style pizza fans.
Bartoli's was founded in Chicago in 2013 by Brian Tondryk, who was inspired by the success
of his grandfather's pizza business.
With seven different pizzas to choose from and over 30 toppings to help you customize
any pie to your liking, it has a well-curated and streamlined menu that also offers sandwiches,
starters, sides, and salads.
It's no wonder that Chicago Magazine placed Bartoli's in its top ten pizza restaurants in town.
If you're visiting this pizzeria, try a delectable Margherita deep-dish.
Even something as simple as a hearty slice of sausage will satisfy your cravings.
Despite high competition in a city teeming with deep-dish pizza options, Bartoli's is
quickly making a name for itself.
"You've missed out on the best pizza in Chicago."
Pizano's is the descendant of a legendary pizza dynasty in Chicago.
Started up by the son of Rudy Malnati — the longstanding manager of Pizzeria Uno –- Pizano's
opened up shop in 1991.
The restaurant offers deep-dish and thin-crust pizzas, over a dozen types of pasta, soups,
salads, and sandwiches.
With nostalgic checkered tables and a traditional menu that offers all the classics, Pizano's
isn't necessarily pushing the boundaries, but it's delicious and dependable.
According to Condé Nast Traveler, the pizza there is superb and should be on everyone's
itinerary when they're in the city.
Even though Pizano's hasn't been around quite as long as other famous pizza joints in Chicago,
it's still widely respected and continues to make a name for itself.
A well-known staple in Chicago for generations, Lou Malnati got his start in the business
by working at Pizzeria Uno before opening up his own deep-dish pizzeria in 1971.
There's a lot that makes the pizza special at Lou Malnati's.
Every pie is made from scratch with fresh ingredients, the sausage is carefully seasoned
to the restaurant's specific standards, and then, of course, there's the family's secret
recipe for its legendary crust.
Aside from this, Lou Malnati's has also been sourcing its mozzarella cheese from the same
dairy farm in Wisconsin for more than 40 years, and staff meets with tomato farmers in California
yearly to choose the best vine-ripened tomatoes for the sauce.
It's this attention to detail and passion for quality that have helped Lou Malnati's
achieve a reputation for excellence.
All of these factors combined with the restaurant's legacy in Chicago put it miles ahead of most
of the competition.
"It's just that good.
Lou Malnati's pizzeria."
Rosati's has locations across 13 states and has been in business since 1964.
While the Chicago chain also sells pasta, salads, and sandwiches, your best bet is shooting
for the deep-dish pizzas or calzones.
For those feeling extra ravenous, there's the heavyweight option with extra sausage,
extra pepperoni, and extra cheese.
Vegetarians will enjoy the spinach classic with fresh garlic and tomato or the vegetarian
deluxe with mushrooms, onions, green peppers, and fresh tomato.
There are more modern twists too, like the barbecue special with sausage, onion, bacon,
and barbecue sauce.
While the appetizers are nothing to write home about, the pizzas are generously stacked
with toppings atop a deliciously buttery crust.
Between the stellar pies and the craft beers on tap, there's no doubt that Rosati's is
one of the most solid Chicago-style pizza chains in the business.
Since the owners decided to franchise back in 1979, Rosati's has been expanding around
the country — so be sure to keep an eye out for a location near you.
Famous for its deep-dish stuffed-style pizzas, Nancy's Pizzeria has been open since 1971.
Today, the restaurant boasts over a dozen locations in Chicago and a few more spots
scattered around Atlanta and other areas.
At Nancy's, you can customize your own pizza or choose from one of the eight creations
on the menu.
Those looking for a bold kick of flavor with subtle heat are sure to love the spicy pepino,
which comes with hot giardiniera, pepperoni, and banana peppers.
The Northern Italian veggie is another all-star on the menu with roasted red peppers, fresh
garlic, black olives, and basil.
One aspect that sets Nancy's apart from the crowd is the fact that just about everything
on its menu is consistently amazing.
While other chains with extensive menus fail to execute some of their dishes, Nancy's pulls
it off in every arena.
The deep-dish pies are luxuriously cheesy with perfectly blended and seasoned tomato
sauce, and other classics like the fettuccine alfredo are sure to leave you impressed too.
No matter what you order, you're in for a mouth-watering experience.
Operating since 1966, Gino's East offers nine deep-dish pies, some of which may truly surprise you.
One of these inventive offerings includes the burger and fries, which comes with — you
guessed it — ground beef, french fries, chopped onions, tomato slices, dill pickles,
shredded lettuce, and thousand island dressing.
Straddling the line somewhere between classic Italian and top-notch diner food, it's hard
to imagine a pizza that perfectly captures two of America's favorite foods better than this pie.
Of course, there are still the classics for those less adventurous, like Gino's supreme
with pepperoni or Italian sausage, onions, peppers, and mushrooms.
Aside from making extraordinary pizzas, Gino's East also gives back to the community.
Whether it's handing out gift cards during the holidays or helping to combat hunger in
the LGBTQ+ community, Gino's is a force for good that's filling the hearts and bellies
of everyone who walks through its doors.
With about 75 locations under its belt, Uno Pizzeria is widely considered ground zero
for the development of deep-dish pizza.
It offers nine deep-dish specialty pies and the option to customize your own pizza.
One of our favorites is the Chicago meat market, which comes with sausage, meatballs, pepperoni,
and a thick layer of cheese.
Another solid option is the farmer's market pie, with caramelized onions, fresh spinach,
sun-dried and plum tomatoes, pesto, roasted eggplant, feta, mozzarella, and Pecorino Romano cheese.
Over the years, Uno has grown equally focused on its line of unique craft beers, offering
tons of fresh local brews distinct to each of its locations.
Between Uno's incredible pizza, awesome craft beers, and historical relevance in the development
of deep-dish pies, there's no doubt that this is one of the very best deep-dish pizza chains
in the country.
"We gotta talk about our pizza 'cuz this, this is pizza."
What started as a family tradition in Italy soon found success in Chicago when two brothers
decided to share their family recipe and open up Giordano's in 1974.
The restaurant offers eight different deep-dish pies that include all of the classic toppings
such as sausage, peppers, onions, and mushrooms.
What really sets Giordano's apart is the attention to detail.
The crust has a flawless flavor and texture, there's just the right amount of cheese and
toppings, and the pies are expertly baked and pulled from the oven with perfect timing.
Even though the business has branched out and opened up more locations, it hasn't lost
any of its commitment to quality.
Touted as Chicago's best pizza by countless respected news outlets like Chicago Magazine
and The New York Times, it's clear that Giordano's is at the top of the game when it comes to deep-dish.
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