The 24 best deep dish pizzas in Chicago

What is it? A pandemic-born pizzeria with locations in West Town and Lakeview.

Why we love it: Every pizza has a defining feature—whether it's the zingy red sauce, the buttery crust or the imaginative toppings. At Milly's, it's not hard to tell what sets owner Robert Maleski's pies apart. A halo of caramelized mozzarella wraps around each creation, lending a deeply satisfying crunch to each slice. Crafted in small quantities, these pan pies usually sell out, but if you can get your hands on one, go for the Untitled #1, with pepperoni, jalapeño, fresh mozzarella and Glorys tomatoes.

Time Out tip: Availability is limited and pies tend to sell out, so it’s best to order ahead.

Address: 925 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Opening hours: Wed-Sun 4-8pm

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 Clooney's ER (sausage, cup and char pepperoni, meatballs, bacon).

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

Address: 6221 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660

Opening hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 2-8:30pm; Fri, Sat 2-9pm

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: Stop by on weekdays for lunch, when a 7-inch personal pan pizza costs only $9.

Address: 2207 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

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

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: 1120 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610

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

What is it? A suburban Cary pizzeria serving pan pies that are well worth the trek.

Why we love it: At Uncle Jerry's Pizza Company, owner Jerry Czerwinski (who we wish were our uncle, too) ferments the dough for two days and also seasons it, making the crust the star component. It’s layered with Italian cheese all the way to the edges, resulting in a crunchy caramelized crust, plus bright tomato sauce. 

Time Out tip: You can’t go wrong with the classic housemade sausage, but we recommend the Sweet Sting—cup and char pepperoni, which is placed over the sauce, and habanero-infused hot honey.

Address: 133 W Main St, Cary, IL 60013

Opening hours: Tue-Thu 4-9pm; Fri, Sat 11am-10pm; Sun 11am-8pm

What is it? A popular Lakeview pizzeria that debuted more than 30 years ago.

Why we love it: Chicago institution The Art of Pizza offers a standout pie, and whether you order an entire 14-inch pizza to go or stop in for a stacked slice, you’re bound to get the authentic Chicago experience. The golden brown crust—a product of the restaurant's well-seasoned pans—is a signature touch that diners will find on every slice.

Time Out tip: Although there's nothing wrong with specialty pies like the Hawaiian or Southwestern, Art's Special is arguably the best option on the menu, stuffed with sausage, onions, mushrooms and green peppers.

Address: 3033 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

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

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

Why we love it: After closing in 2015, iconic pizza parlor Burt's Place reopened in 2017 under new ownership, much to the delight of its longtime fans. Burt’s still takes phone orders ahead of time (highly recommended), but the building's interior underwent a gut rehab, adding a bar with several draft taps. The late Burt Katz's recipe remains unchanged, featuring a caramelized crispy crust. 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 casual pizzeria with locations in West Town and Roscoe Village.

Why we love it: Brian Tondryk named Bartoli's Pizzeria after his grandfather, Fred Bartoli, one of the founders of Gino’s East. Tondryk was so impressed by Bartoli’s success that he took his family’s recipe, made some tweaks and opened this Roscoe Village pizzeria in 2013 and another location in West Town in 2020.

Time Out tip: Order the Union Stockyard for some serious meat sweats and a bit of old-fashioned Chicago nostalgia.

Address: 1955 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60613

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

What is it? A prolific stuffed pizza restaurant with locations in nine states.

Why we love it: Boasting a crazy number of outposts throughout the city and 'burbs, Giordano's traces its roots back to Torino, Italy, where Mama Giordano's famous "Italian Easter Pie" was born. Unlike traditional deep dish, the stuffed pizzas here have an additional layer of dough on top of the cheese. These days, it's one of the easiest spots to grab a pie in the city. And it works—it's been around since 1974, serving pies that you really don't need more than one or two slices of.

Time Out tip: This is a great spot to visit on a trip to Chicago or to bring your out-of-town friends.

Address: 730 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611

Opening hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 10:30am-11pm; Fri, Sat 10:30am-midnight

What is it? A traditional Italian restaurant serving mouthwatering deep-dish pies.

Why we love it: Pizza sauce must run in Rudy Malnati Jr.'s blood. His father, Rudy Malnati Sr., opened Pizzeria Uno in 1943, putting the deep-dish style on the map. In 1991, Rudy Jr. opened Pizano's, which now boasts four locations across the Chicagoland area. Diners are treated to a roster of traditional ingredients and intriguing combinations, like the Mark's Special with garlic, sliced tomatoes and basil.

Time Out tip: For those watching their carbs, Pizano's offers personal-sized carb-free pizzas.

Address: 864 N State St, Chicago, IL, 60610

Opening hours: Daily 11am-11pm

What is it? A Chicago deep-dish pizza chain with ties to Lou Malnati’s.

Why we love it: Digging into a slice at Pizzeria Uno on the corner of Ohio and Wabash takes you back to where it all began in 1943—depending on who you ask. Though disputed by Lou Malnati’s and Rosati’s Authentic Italian Pizza, Pizzeria Uno claims to be the originator of Chicago’s famously thick pies. 

Time Out tip: Today, there are over 100 locations worldwide, so whether you're in River North, New York or India, you can get your deep dish fix.

Address: 29 E Ohio St, Chicago IL 60611

Opening hours: Daily 11am-11pm

What is it? One of the best-known deep-dish spots in Chicago.

Why we love it: In 1966, two taxi drivers named Sam Levine and Fred Bartoli decided that what the quieter streets east of the Magnificent Mile needed most was some good pizza. Today, the area is crowded with restaurants and hotels, but the signature recipes that made Gino’s East famous remain unchanged. And if you love the crust, you can thank Alice Mae Redmond, the chef that Levine and Bartoli entrusted to develop the dough that’s still used at every location.

Time Out tip: The Mag Mile location is the perfect spot for dinner after a day of exploring the city.

Address: 162 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611

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

What is it? One of the city's go-to restaurants for deep-dish pizza.

Why we love it: PMQ Pizza Magazine Hall of Famer Connie’s Pizza was once a small storefront and an OG in the delivery service biz—in the 1960s, founder Jim Stolfe loaded pizzas on the back of his truck and sold them to people sitting on porches. Today, the warehouse-sized building offers a full bar, outdoor patio, live music throughout the summer and an extensive menu of pizzas, pastas, sandwiches and more. 

Time Out tip: Grab a beer and order a deep-dish pizza filled with toppings. Choose from meats like soppressata, capicola and gourmet sausage, or veggies such as bell peppers, broccoli, mushrooms and sweet onions. It's a satisfyingly indulgent meal.

Address: 2373 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60610

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am-9pm; Sat noon-9pm; Sun 1-9pm

What is it? An old-school pizza parlor.

Why we love it: The late Louisa DeGenero was an employee at Pizzeria Due before moving to the south suburbs and opening her own place, Louisa's Pizza & Pasta, in 1981. Today, DeGenero’s family carries on her legacy by continuing to create exceptional pizzas boasting a light and buttery crust, chunks of Anichini Brothers sausage, part-skim mozzarella and a flavorful tomato sauce seasoned with homegrown herbs.

Time Out tip: Without traffic, it's about a 40-minute drive south, but it's worth every moment of the journey.

Address: 14025 S Cicero Ave, Crestwood, IL 60445

Opening hours: Tue-Thu 3-8:30pm; Fri, Sat 3-9pm; Sun 3-8pm