If you want to engage in some friendly banter, ask locals if they prefer thin crust or deep dish. Or to recommend their favorite place to find good pizza. Everyone will have a different opinion, but one thing they’ll all agree on is that they love their pizza, and it’s a great meal to enjoy with friends and family.
There’s no need to stick to just one pizza style, quite honestly. Some days are meant for thin crust and sometimes you can sit down and really enjoy the makings of a decadent deep dish. Every neighborhood in the city has at least one great outpost.
There are the tried-and-true pizza spots that you’ll find in any guidebook, and they definitely make some of the best pizza in Chicago. Places like Lou Malnati’s, Paulie Gee’s, Pequod’s, Piece, Spacca Napoli, Gino’s East, Giordano’s, The Art of Pizza, Pizzeria Uno, Coalfire Pizza — you get the picture. Sometimes we’re so used to going to our standby’s that we don’t always venture to try something new, even if that new place has been around for decades.
We’re not here to fight you on whether thin crust or deep dish is better but if you want to try something different next time you’re jonesing for some pizza, here are seven new, along with some of our old, favorite places to find pizza in Chicago.
1. Robert’s Pizza & Dough Company
Source: Facebook/Robert’s Pizza and Dough Company
- Where: 465 N. McClurg Court, Chicago, IL 60611
Most people don’t think of Robert’s Pizza & Dough Company since it’s a bit hidden in the heart of Streeterville. Still, it’s worth making plans to enjoy their brick-oven baked, thin-crust artisan pizza with a soft center, chewy middle and crispy end. Robert’s feels the whole eating experience is a journey to be enjoyed.
2. Nancy’s Pizza
Source: Nancy’s Pizza
- Where: 1000 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, IL 60607
Nancy’s Pizza is a stalwart. According to the pizzeria, its founders Nancy and Rocco Palese invented the stuffed pizza in 1971. He was inspired by the deep-dish pizza craze and created a thicker, cheesier pizza that resurrected his Italian family tradition — the savory and delicious Easter Pie.
Today, patrons can still enjoy Nancy’s original stuffed pizza which is filled with cheese and toppings but also has a thick and flavorful sauce that’s slathered over the top crust. There are several Chicagoland locations but the only one in Chicago is in the West Loop where diners can enjoy their pizza in a swanky environment.
3. Roebuck Pizza
Source: Galdones Photography/Roebuck
- Where: 159 North Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657
Chicago may be synonymous with deep-dish but it’s not what we locals normally have regularly. Still, we love to try different varieties. For those who’ve not yet tried it, Roebuck Pizza is the latest concept from the team at DryHop Brewers and owned by brewery founder Greg Shuff.
Named for a European species of deer to set the tone for a playful theme, the pizza bar offers neo-Neapolitan pizza created from wild fermented dough and baked in their wood-burning oven built in Modena, Italy. It’s conveniently located adjacent to the DryHop brewpub in Lakeview.
4. Pizano’s Pizza
Source: Ally Straussner/Pizano’s
- Where: 61 E. Madison St., Chicago, IL 60603
Many Chicagoans feel Pizano’s Pizza & Pasta serves up some of the best deep dish and thin crust pizzas in Chicago. It all started when Rudy Malnati, Jr. (you recognize the last name?) opened Pizano’s in 1991 and used his father’s legacy as the company’s foundation.
Many of the ingredients and techniques are exactly the same. Malnati, Jr. has used his knowledge to develop Pizano’s now-famous crust. There are six locations, four of them in or near downtown Chicago.
5. Stella Barra Pizzeria & Wine Bar
Source: Stella Barra Pizzeria & Wine Bar
- Where: 1954 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614
Most people think pizza and beer go hand in hand but Stella Barra Pizzeria & Wine Bar in Lincoln Park prefers to pair their old school, tavern-style pizzas, which are thin, light and crispy, with wines instead.
The chef uses fresh-milled, 100 percent California flour for the dough and sustainably-farmed organic produce, meats and cheeses. There is also gluten-free pasta and pizza available. Choose from six pizza varieties, including prosciutto and egg, shaved mushroom or sausage and peppers topped with heritage pork.
6. Labriola Chicago
Source: Labriola Chicago
- Where: 535 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611
Most Chicagoans know deep dish pizza but a white deep dish is a rarity. Labriola Chicago debuted its classic twist to the Chicago pie, its white deep dish pizza, on National Pizza Day and kept it on the menu. It features bechamel sauce, chicken, caramelized onions and bacon wrapped in a classic Chicago-style deep dish crust.
7. Aurelio’s Pizza
Source: Aurelio’s Pizza
- Where: 1212 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605
Aurelio’s is a Chicago mainstay. It not only celebrated 60 years in 2019, but it’s also Chicagoland’s first and the country’s fifth established pizza chain. Part of its staying power is that it’s easy, no-fuss pizza is perfect for any night of the week.
Diners can choose from plain cheese or opt to load their thin crust, stuffed or thick crust pieces with any of more than two dozen toppings. While there are locations throughout the Chicagoland area, the only one in Chicago proper is in the South Loop.
Is the pizza enough to make you curious about moving to Chicago? Why not take a look at the apartments to rent and homes to buy to find the one that meets your needs?
