When it comes to Chicago pizza, we all have our favorites. Tavern style has that addictive cracker-thin crust and convenient square-shaped party cut, while for deep dish—that legendary Windy City delight—a special pan allows for the pie to have a high edge, providing bounteous space for thick cheese and a chunky tomato sauce. One heavy slice can feel like an entire meal. And now there’s a new guide that confirms what we already know: Chicago has some of the best pizza in the world.
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There’s much debate in the Windy City around who serves up the best pizza: Is it Giordano’s, Pequod’s, Gino’s East, Lou Malnati’s? What about Milly’s Pizza in the Pan, The Art of Pizza, or Rosati’s? Pizza politics run deep in the City of Big Shoulders. Certain heavy hitters have always been fan favorites, but according to 50 Top Pizza, one Chicago-based pizza restaurant was worthy enough to top all of those local favorites in its Guide to the Best Pizzerias in the World.
The top three award winners for best pizzerias overall, celebrated at an award ceremony at New York City’s West Edge inside Chelsea Market, are Una Pizza Napoletana in New York City, Pizzeria Sei in Los Angeles, and Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco, with L’Industrie Pizzeria in NYC earning the coveted Best Pizza Slice accolade. But Chicagoland held its own: Three award-winning pizzerias were represented on this year's list, with Chicago’s Robert’s Pizza and Dough Co.—located along the Ogden Slip in Streeterville—cracking the top ten at No. 6.
It's not the first time that the local spot has featured on the list; it was ranked tenth in last year's lineup. Though every order is a good one, Robert's is arguably best-known for its Rita pie, which features house-made sausage, pork from Slaggel Farm, fresh basil, Italian buffalo mozzarella and a slow-roasted plum tomato. Robert's sixth-place win earns the restaurant a coveted spot in the 100 Best Pizzerias in the World ranking. Winners will be invited to the Teatro Mercadante in Naples on September 8 for the 50 Top Pizza World 2025 awards ceremony.
Elsewhere on the 2025 guide was Coda di Volpe (coming in at No. 44) and Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe (singled out as one of the country's best slice shops, ranked at No. 12).
“Year after year we are noticing changes in pizzerias across the United States that have led to increasingly interesting ideas and that are good for the entire industry,” said Barbara Guerra, Luciano Pignataro and Albert Sapere, the three curators of 50 Top Pizza, in an official statement. “We would also like to mention that the different styles of pizza that our inspectors get to enjoy are also getting more numerous; this is a good thing because it creates a wider variety for the customer.”