Where to find the best pizza in Chicago

What is it? The king of tavern-style pizza.

Why we love it: The crispy, cracker-thin crust, tangy sauce and top-quality sausage separate this pizza from its peers. The cash-only joint doesn't do delivery (a promise co-founder Nick Barracao made back in '65), so pick up the phone and call in your carryout order or plan a visit to the no-frills dining room—a pitcher of beer and an order of cheese sticks will tide you over while you wait for the main event.

Time Out tip: The wait times for pie can run a little long on weekends, so order your drinks by the pitcher, and enjoy a true Chicago scene. (Or, thanks to a glut of national attention after the Food Network blew through town, scan the walls for plenty of reading material.)

Address: 8433 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60652

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 11am-8:30pm; Fri, Sat 11am-9:30pm; Sun noon-8pm

What is it? A Logan Square brewery.

Why we love it: The char-dappled pies here might just rival the beer that Middle Brow is best known for. Expect a short but sweet menu of options, like the classic margherita with fresh mozzarella and basil or the mushroom with melty fontina and caramelized onions. And because the dough's made in-house daily, there's not a dud on the menu. 

Time Out tip: The only mistake you can make is not pairing your `za with a beer: The Tackle Box lager is just right for a picnic at nearby Palmer Square Park. Drop in on Tuesdays for tavern-style pizzas.

Address: 2840 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Opening hours: Tue 2-10pm; Wed-Fri 8am-10pm; Sat 9am-10pm; Sun 9am-9pm

What is it? One of the best pizzerias in the world, located along the Ogden Slip in Streeterville.

Why we love it: The Chicago-New York pizza rivalry runs deep, but every once in a while, we Midwesterners fall in love with an East Coast import. So is the case with Robert's Pizza & Dough Co., New Yorker Robert Garvey's riverfront Streeterville pie shop. Garvey is a certified pizzaioli who spent nearly 20 years developing an anatomically perfect crust. Cooked in a brick oven, these thin-crust pizzas boast the right crunch-to-chew ratio and are dressed up in a slew of creative toppings. 

Time Out tip: When the weather permits, make a reservation for an outdoor table and request a seat on the dock. There are a few tables down there, and it's the best seat in the house!

Address: 465 N McClurg Ct, Chicago, IL 60611

Opening hours: Mon-Thu noon-9pm; Fri noon-10pm; Sat 11am-10pm; Sun 11am-9pm 

What is it? Champion pizza maker Anthony Scardino's popular eatery.

Why we love it: Professor Pizza has been quietly turning out some of the best pies in the city. You can order them in several varieties—including New York, Detroit and Sicilian-style—but our favorite is the grandma-style. Pep fans should definitely try the Deluxe Pepperoni, which comes loaded with cups plus whipped ricotta and hot honey. 

Time Out tip: Professor Pizza is located in Old Town and West Town, but it also provides the food for the seasonal West Loop rooftop Tetto.

Address: 1374 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Opening hours: Wed-Sat 1-9pm; Sun 1-8pm

What is it? A Brooklyn import with locations in Wicker Park and Logan Square.

Why we love it: Paulie Gee’s serves a wide selection of Neapolitan-inspired wood-fired pizzas like the signature Hellboy with soppressata picante and Mike’s Hot Honey or the vegan Fast Car with garlic, mushrooms, sauteed bread crumbs and cashew ricotta dollops. You’ll also find Logan Squares, a riff on Detroit’s thick-crust rectangular pizzas, that can be made vegan or with gluten-free dough.

Time Out tip: If you’re looking for a New York-style slice, head to Paulie Gee’s Wicker Park location, which also offers breakfast sandwiches on weekend mornings.

Address: 2451 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 5-10pm; Fri 5-11pm; Sat 11am-11pm; Sun 11am-10pm

What is it? One of the most recommended deep-dish spots in Chicago.

Why we love it: Pequod’s has two locations (Morton Grove and Lincoln Park), making it easy to get your fix of its popular pan pizza. The pizza here is known for its caramelized "halo" crust, created by sprinkling cheese edge to edge and baking it until it’s crisp and brown. But our favorite part of this pie is the sauce—refreshingly bright and undoctored, it tastes like fresh tomatoes.

Time Out tip: With a substantial crust and a generous selection of toppings, you really can’t go wrong with any combination of ingredients.

Address: 2207 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am-2am; Sun 11am-midnight

What is it? A New York-style pizza joint in Ravenswood.

Why we love it: After more than a decade in Lincoln Square, Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe moved to bigger digs in Ravenswood in 2022 and now has more seating and additional ovens to keep up with demand for its New York-style pizza. Sidle up to the counter and craft your own pie or try a slice of one of their specialties like the BDW made with chopped dates, applewood bacon, crushed walnuts, gorgonzola and Mike’s Hot Honey, or the Windy City, which features housemade sausage, mushrooms and roasted red pepper.

Time Out tip: If you're just looking for a quick bite, this is one of the best spots to get a slice in Chicago.

Address: 2434 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Opening hours: Mon 5-9pm; Tue-Thu, Sun 9am-9pm; Fri, Sat 9am-10pm

What is it? An Uptown spot that's serious about Neapolitan pizza.

Why we love it: Spacca Napoli houses a custom-built, oak-stoked oven that kicks out bubbling beauties with perfectly charred peaks and valleys in less than two minutes. The hand-formed crust is paper-thin at the center, thicker toward the edges and has the unmistakable chew of a true Neapolitan pie. Aside from the simple marinara or Margherita, toppings run the gamut from anchovies to rapini to pistachio cream. 

Time Out tip: Add on a bottle of Italian wine and tiramisu and limoncello to finish off your dinner, and you’ve got a great night out.

Address: 1769 W Sunnyside Ave, Chicago, IL 60640

Opening hours: Tue-Thu 11:30am-3pm, 4-9pm; Fri-Sun 11:30am-9pm

What is it? A 65-year-old family-run eatery in Lincoln Park.

Why we love it: Pastas, salads and a handful of cheesy, sauced chicken entrées are on offer at Pat's Pizza, but we suggest sticking with the pizza, especially if you’re a fan of crispy paper-thin crust and square-cut slices. Order a vegetarian version or one topped with crumbled Italian sausage, plus plenty of beers to wash it down, and you’re in for a wallet-friendly night in a good old-fashioned family-friendly joint.

Time Out tip: Delivery and takeout hours end shortly before the dining room closes, so be sure to put your order in early.

Address: 2679 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 4:30-10pm; Fri 4:30-11pm; Sat 1-11pm; Sun 1-10pm

What is it? A Lakeview pizzeria makes remarkable New York-style pies. 

Why we love it: Locals may never see eye to eye with New Yorkers when it comes to pizza, but Zazas is certainly doing its best to be the great unifier. Zazas will impress even the most diehard supporters of deep dish and tavern style. The crust is brushed with herb-infused olive oil and stands up to the toppings—which include giardiniera, calabrian chili and shaved parmesan—so you won’t be getting any floppy slices. 

Time Out tip: Build your own pizza or go with one of the original creations like the Truffle Mushroom Pie (garlic cream, mozzarella, cremini mushrooms, goat cheese, truffle oil, chives).

Address: 3037 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657

Opening hours: Tue 4-9pm; Wed, Thu, Sun noon-9pm; Fri, Sar noon-10pm

What is it? An Edgewater restaurant serving unique sourdough deep-dish pizzas.

Why we love it: At this small Edgewater spot, the deep-dish pizzas are unlike any other in town. Owner George Bumbaris uses a sourdough starter and recipe that’s based on lagana—a Greek flatbread similar to focaccia. The bottom of each pie is also dusted with cornmeal while the edges of the crust are caramelized. And instead of putting the toppings under the sweet red sauce, Bumbaris layers them over it. The menu pays tribute to famous Georges throughout history with fun creations like Weasley’s Spicy Red Top (Italian sausage, fire-roasted red peppers, spicy cherry peppers, ricotta) and  Michael’s S&M (spaghetti, meatballs, ricotta, roasted garlic).

Time Out tip: Minimize your wait time by ordering ahead online.

Address: 6221 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 3-9pm; Sat 2-9pm; Sun 2-8pm

What is it? A suburban spot serving top-notch tavern-style pizza since 1955.

Why we love it: Golf ball-sized pieces of sausage are arranged in a neat grid atop a thin crust at Villa Nova. Those who prefer a slightly thicker crust can opt for the double dough to load up with extra toppings like giardiniera and green olives. 

Time Out tip: There’s no dining room, so order ahead for pickup.

Address: 6821 W Pershing Rd, Stickney, IL 60402

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 4-9pm; Fri, Sun 2-10pm; Sat 3-10pm

What is it? One of the top thin-crust pizza joints in Chicago.

Why we love it: The little spot in West Town (with a second location in Southport Corridor) turns out blistered pies with a chewy, slightly crisp edge from its 800-degree coal oven. While Coalfire's crust is a work of art itself, the toppings are inspired—soft whipped peaks of ricotta balance coins of spicy pepperoni; thin slices of fiery 'nduja, a spreadable Calabrian salami, with fresh mozzarella; and a garlicky white pie are among the standouts.

Time Out tip: The restaurant fills up fast, but there's take-out, and a second, larger location in Lakeview. 

Address: 1321 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Opening hours: Tue-Thu 4-10pm; Fri, Sat noon-10:30pm; Sun noon-9pm

What is it? The 31 Flavors of pizza, in a more elevated, carbo-loaded sort of way.

Why we love it: No two visits to Bonci are the same, thanks to a rotating cast of Roman pies that guests are invited to order by the strip. The crust eats like focaccia, and you can expect to find classic and imaginative toppings like crispy potatoes, spicy eggplant, silky lox and creamy ricotta. 

Time Out tip: Three or four strips is the perfect serving for a hungry adult, and the staff at Bonci is happy to heat them up on-site or give you detailed instructions to do it at home.

Address: 161 N Sangamon St, Chicago, IL 60607

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am-9pm; Sun 11am-8pm

What is it? An Italian eatery that serves top-notch deep dish in locations across the city and suburbs. 

Why we love it: Rich Labriola got his start baking artisan bread before opening one of the city's finest pizza spots, which makes total sense when you taste the deep-dish pie. The focaccia-style dough is double-proofed and lined with fresh mozzarella, creating a fluffy interior that's backed by a caramelized cheese crust with extra crunch. 

Time Out tip: The Buratta and Basil—made with mozzarella, provolone, pecorino, burrata and fresh basil—is our go-to order, but the Danny’s Special is also delectable.

Address: 535 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Opening hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 11am-9pm; Fri 11am-10pm; Sat 11am-11pm

What is it? A classic Chicago deep-dish pizzeria.

Why we love it: Boasting more than 70 locations across the city and suburbs, it's not hard to see why Lou Malnati's stands out among its competitors. The trademark buttery crust (literally trademarked, they call it Buttercrust™) is reminiscent of crispy Italian breadsticks and holds in the cheese and toppings. We recommend adding sausage, a thin patty of seasoned meat that covers the entire pizza, ensuring that every bite contains the perfect balance of crust, cheese and toppings. 

Time Out tip: The namesake Malnati salad—with tomatoes, black olives, 'shrooms, salami and gorgonzola—is positively unmissable and pairs perfectly with a slice.

Address: 439 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654

Opening hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 11am-11pm; Fri, Sat 11am-midnight

What is it? The creator of the Pilsen-style pizza.

Why we love it: Bob’s Pizza executive chef/partner Matt Wilde developed his own Pilsen-style pizza by replacing water in the dough with Old Style beer. The result is a 16-inch pie that has the thickness of a New York-style slice but the puffy crust found in Neapolitan pizzas. With locations across the city and suburbs, Bob’s serves quirky creations, including the Pickle Pizza made with garlic cream, mortadella, sliced pickles and fresh dill, and the Spinach Pesto and Stracciatella Pizza featuring prosciutto, spinach pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, stracciatella cheese, house-blend cheese and baby arugula.

Time Out tip: Stop by on Mondays through Thursdays between 4 and 5pmto take advantage of Bob's BOGO pizza happy hour.

Address: 1659 W 21st St, Chicago, IL 60608

Opening hours: Daily 4-9pm

What is it? A ghost kitchen based in Goose Island.

Why we love it: Ideal for the indecisive, Five Squared Pizza lets you select four different Detroit-style slices per box, and the flavors available are anything but ordinary. The Spacca is loaded with pistachio cream sauce, Italian sausage, burrata, hot honey and basil, while the Tie Dye comes topped with homemade red sauce, vodka sauce and pesto. 

Time Out tip: You can also find Five Squared pies at Off Color Brewing Thursday through Saturday and at Midwest Coast Brewing Friday and Saturday.

Address: 1332 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60642

Opening hours: Thu, Fri 4-8pm

What is it? Bridgeport’s preferred thin-crust pizzeria. 

Why we love it: Regulars will tell you all about the former dining room at Phil's Pizza, which was located on Halsted and exuded a bit more charm (and plenty of wood paneling), but the recipe hasn't changed. The owners took their old-school Blodgett ovens with them, and the crispy exterior crust, chewy interior crust and hunks of fennel-flecked sausage honor the tasty tradition of the original.

Time Out tip: There are a couple of nearby restaurants with the same name, so make sure you're headed to the one on 35th Street.

Address: 1102 W 35th St Chicago, IL 60609

Opening hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 4-11pm; Fri, Sat 4pm-midnight

What is it? An Italian restaurant with locations in Dunning and the West Loop.

Why we love it: Forno Rosso owner Nick Nitti studied in Naples to learn to make traditional Neapolitan pizza before opening his own restaurants. Pies bake for about a minute in a wood-burning oven and are typically eaten with a fork and knife, with red and white options including the Carbonara with pancetta, egg and cracked black pepper, and the Barese with rapini, locally sourced sausage and imported burrata. 

Time Out tip: Save room for dessert and order a pizza topped with Nutella, bananas, strawberries and powdered sugar.

Address: 1048 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607

Opening hours: Tue, Wed, Sun 4-9pm; Thu 11am-9pm; Fri 11am-10pm; Sat noon-10pm

What is it? A New Haven-style pizzeria and brewery in Wicker Park.

Why we love it: Two things keep Piece Pizzeria and Brewery from going the route of sports-bar-beer-bong culture: excellent house brews and expertly executed pizzas. The crispy pies hold a lot of weight, so after you choose your pizza style—red, white, BBQ or New Haven–style “plain” (red sauce, no mozzarella)—start piling on the toppings. Wash it down with a pint of the crisp Golden Arm, and you’ll never disparagingly say “pizza and beer joint” again.

Time Out tip: If you’re really going New Haven–style, try one with clams and bacon.

Address: 1927 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Opening hours: Daily 11am-10pm

What is it? A popular Lakeview dive.

Why we love it: Regularly packed with locals watching sports or playing pool, Side Street Saloon offers the full neighborhood dive bar experience, complete with some excellent cracker-thin, tavern-style pizza loaded with pepperoni, sausage and giardiniera. It’s cut into tiny pieces, which are perfect for sharing alongside fried pickle chips, cheese curds and a pitcher of beer from a local brewery like Begyle or Half Acre.

Time Out tip: It’s cash only, so come prepared.

Address: 1456 W George St, Chicago, IL 60657

Opening hours: Wed-Sun 11:30am-2am

What is it? Noah Sandoval and Bruce Finkelman's pizza joint at Empty Bottle. 

Why we love it: In a flip that epitomized 2020, Bite Cafe transformed into Pizza Friendly Pizza, a scrappy but hopeful collaboration between friends Noah Sandoval (Oriole, Kumiko) and Bruce Finkelman, the managing partner of 16" on Center (Empty Bottle, Bite Cafe). Like its name suggests, the star of the menu is pizza—more specifically, thick Sicilian-style 'za that sports a bubbly crust that's anchored by crispy, caramelized edges. 

Time Out tip: During patio season, head to the alley behind the building, where you'll find a small window plus several tables with plants hanging overhead.

Address: 1039 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 5-11pm; Sat, Sun noon-11pm

What is it? Morton Grove's best deep dish pizza joint.

Why we love it: After temporarily closing in 2015, iconic pizza parlor Burt's Place reopened in 2017, much to the delight of its longtime fans. Burt’s still takes phone orders ahead of time (highly recommended), but the building's interior has undergone a gut rehab, adding a bar with several draft taps. Fill your pie with a hodge-podge of ingredients, including sausage, onions, mushrooms, banana peppers and fresh spinach. 

Time Out tip: From the city, a relatively quick Metra ride will get you there in a jiffy.

Address: 8541 Ferris Ave, Morton Grove, IL 60053

Opening hours: Tue, Wed, Sun 4:30-9:30pm; Thu-Sat 4:30-10pm

What is it? A Southport eatery inspired by Southern Italy.

Why we love it: Billy Lawless of Gage Hospitality Group and Ryan O’Donnell of Ballyhoo Hospitality teamed up to bring a taste of Southern Italy to the Southport Corridor with Coda di Volpe. Order a Neapolitan pizza topped with squash blossoms, garlic and mint, or opt for a square cut Sicilian-style pie, which can also be made gluten-free. 

Time Out tip: Watch the action from the chef’s counter or imagine you’re vacationing in Italy by having a glass of rosé or a spritz at one of the sidewalk tables.

Address: 3335 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 4:30-9:30pm; Fri 4:30-10:30pm; Sat 11:30am-10:30pm; Sun 11:30am-9:30pm

What is it? A pizzeria with locations in Logan Square and Ukrainian Village that's known for its massive pizza slices and fiery hot pies.

Why we love it: Welcome to the “Nine Levels of Hell”: poblano peppers, pepperoni, giardiniera, bacon, fresh garlic, jalapeño, sausage, red onion and banana peppers, together forming the “Inferno.” This pie from Dante's Pizzeria sounds terrifying, but trust us, it won’t hurt. The heat’s present but mild-mannered, the thin crust is pleasantly chewy, and the thing is huge. There’s also a vegan version made with sausage and pepperoni from Palermo’s Unreal Foods. 

Time Out tip: If that’s too intense, just stop in for a jumbo slice of pepperoni.

Address: 1936 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun noon-11pm; Fri, Sat 11am-2am