Best Deep-Dish Pizza in Chicago: Local's Guide, 2024

One thing I know for sure: You’ll find the best deep-dish pizza in Chicago, IL! So, if you’re looking for the best deep-dish pizza in the USA, a trip to Chicago is in order, and, of course, you need to keep reading this Chicago pizza guide!

According to Readers’ Digest, pizza is America’s favorite food. And Chicago is one of the top cities for pizza in the U.S., largely due to the uniqueness of Chicago’s deep-dish style pizza. In this post, we will provide a brief history of Chicago pizza, explain the different types of Chicago-style pizza, discuss the difference between Chicago pizza and New York pizza, and tell you where to find the best Chicago pizza—from the best deep dish pizza in Chicago to the best stuffed pizza in Chicago!

A Chicago deep-dish pizza awaits hungry diners in downtown Chicago.

A Brief History of Chicago Pizza

Although the Windy City is one of the most famous locations for pizza in the United States, it wasn’t always so. Pizza first came to the United States in the early 20th century. According to History.com, the first American documented pizzeria was G. Lombardi’s in Manhattan, New York, which was first licensed to operate in 1905. There’s lots of debate over which is better, New York or Chicago pizza, but there is no question that pizza arrived later in Chicago. The first pizza joints in Chicago opened in the early 1920s, and the first Chicago-style pizzas were served in the 1940s.

What is Chicago-Style Pizza?

The classic Chicago-style pizza is deep-dish pizza, sometimes called deep-pan pizza or Chicago deep dish. And the question of who invented Chicago’s iconic deep-dish style pizza is still open to debate. Some sources claim that Ike Sewell, owner of Pizzeria Uno, first invented deep-dish pizza. Other sources claim that Rudy Malnati, the head chef at Pizzeria Uno, developed deep dish.

While the question of who thought up pan pizza first may never be settled, it is absolutely without question that deep-dish pizza is among the most popular foods in Chicago. And if you want to know where to find the best Chicago deep-dish pizza, read on!

What Is Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza?

You may be asking yourself “What is Chicago deep-dish pizza, anyway?” Knowing this is, of course, mandatory to play the time-honored Chicago pizza vs New York pizza game.

As the name suggests, Chicago deep-dish pizza is thick like a pie, and it is quite different from the traditional New York thin-crust pizzas, which are, however, also sometimes called pies.

Chicago deep-dish pizzas are typically cooked in an iron skillet or in a round steel pan. The deep pan is coated with oil to prevent sticking. Semolina is usually mixed in with the flour for the dough to provide it with a distinctive yellowish hue. The dough is worked with at room temperature and pressed into the bottom of the pan and up onto the sides of the pan.

Because the deep dish pies hold so much more pizza sauce than New York-style pizza, their crust is key. Unlike New York crusts, which use olive oil or just plain water, Chicago crusts need butter.

Buttery crust has a stronger structure that gives the dough the strength to line the sides of deep-dish pizza pans without giving way. The butter also creates a pie-like crust. This flaky crust is better at keeping the fresh tomato sauce from soaking through during baking. Nobody likes a soggy bottom crust. Crisp crust is a must! A hint of buttery flavor is just a fortunate byproduct.

The pizza must have a thick crust—but within limits. If it’s too thin, it won’t hold the ingredients, but if it’s too thick, it will not cook properly.

Chicago deep-dish pizza is also assembled in an upside-down fashion: a thick layer of cheese on the bottom, then meat and vegetables piled on top of the cheese, and finally everything is covered with fresh tomato sauce on the top.

Deep-dish pizzas are assembled this way because these hefty pies require longer baking times than flat, thin pizzas, and as the mozzarella cheese on the bottom melts, it acts as another barrier that prevents the sweet tomato sauce from leaking through to the crust and making a soggy mess.

Other Types of Chicago-Style Pizzas

Chicagoans are passionate about their deep dish pizzas. Ask local residents and most will say it’s the best pizza in Chicago, IL, and many equate it to Chicago style pizza. However, it is by no means the only style that is original to Chicago.

The city is also known for stuffed pizza. A Chicago stuffed pizza is like deep dish but has an additional layer of dough on the top of the pie, in effect giving the pizza two layers of crust: one on the bottom and one on the top.

Stuffed pizzas are usually thicker than deep-dish because they are “stuffed” with more ingredients, including extra layers of cheese, and topped with their extra layer of dough. Stuffed pizzas first made their appearance in Chicago in the 1970s at Nancy’s Pizzeria and Giordano’s. Nancy credits her husband, Rocco Palese, with the new creation. Giordano’s founders credit their mom for their version. Nancy’s and Giordano’s both based their stuffed pizzas on family recipes for celebratory Easter pies originally made back in Italy. Both pizzerias still offer fantastic stuffed pizzas today!

In addition to thick pies, thin crust pizza is also popular in Chicago. Unlike New York Style pizza, Chicago-style thin crust pizza has a crust that is firm and slightly crunchy. Most Chicago pizzerias also cut their thin-crust pizzas into rough squares rather than wedges. This style of cut is known as “tavern-style” or “party cut.”

As you can imagine, opinions on who makes the best thin crust pizza in Chicago differ. One thing, however, is for sure: If you want the best pizza in Chicago of any style, the pizza recipe is going to include Marinara Sauce from scratch!

Best Deep-Dish Pizza in Chicago

Since you are probably experiencing a severe craving for Chicago-style pizza right now, let me share with you some of the best places in town to get it.

1. Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria—My Favorite Deep-Dish Pizza in Chicago

If the name sounds familiar, you’ve got a good memory. Lou Malnati was the oldest son of Rudy Malnati, Sr., who was the head chef of Pizzeria Uno. Some sources claim that Rudy Malnati, Sr., was the original inventor of deep-dish pizza. And some argue it’s the best deep dish pizza Chicago has to offer!

Lou opened his first restaurant selling Chicago pizzas in Lincolnwood, Illinois. The now popular Chicago pizzeria opened on March 17th—St. Patrick’s Day. According to Malnati’s Pizzeria, “Lou always thought it was funny that an Italian should open a pizzeria in a Jewish neighborhood on an Irish holiday, but that was Lou’s style; he loved all types of people.”

Malnati’s menu varies slightly from location to location but is generally very similar. The restaurant also serves a “Chicago Classic” style—a deep-dish with extra Italian sausage and extra fresh Mozzarella cheese. They also are well-known for “The Lou”—a deep-dish pizza with spinach, mushrooms, and sliced Roma tomatoes. The restaurant also serves thin crust pizza with the pieces cut into squares “tavern style.”

Lou Malnati’s has a limited but adequate number of salad/appetizer options if you are so inclined. The choice of after-dinner desserts is somewhat limited, so if you are counting on a rich dessert to finish off your meal, just be aware that your choices may be few.

The restaurant has expanded into a chain with some 50 locations in the greater Chicago area alone, including a new restaurant on Michigan Ave. along downtown Chicago’s famed Magnificent Mile. Out-of-state locations can be found in Arizona, Indiana, and Wisconsin. If you are outside of these states, the best way to enjoy these deep-dish pizzas is to have them shipped frozen right to your home.

Out of all the options for Chicago-style pizza, Lou Malnati’s Chicago deep dish is my Number 1, making Lou Malnati’s hands down my absolute favorite for best pizzeria in Chicago.

Address: 439 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654

2. Pizzeria Uno—The Original Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza

Although there is disagreement about who actually invented Chicago’s iconic deep-dish style, most historians and city experts will tell you that this style was first served at Pizzeria Uno’s flagship location at 29 East Ohio Street in Chicago. This undoubtedly means that Pizzeria Uno makes some of the most famous deep-dish pizza in Chicago. Does this mean that it has the best deep-dish in Chicago?

The restaurant rating service Zagat has this to say about Pizzeria Uno:

Fans, “forsake all other Unos” for these “world-famous” River North “originals” thanks to “classic deep-dish” pizzas “laden with cheese and tomatoes” and balanced by “crispy,” “pastry-like” crusts; sure, Pizzeria Uno is “not much for decor,” but “out-of-town guests” appreciate the “old-time feel,” and despite “long waits” . . . most agree “you have to go at least once.”

Their most popular pizza is the deep-dish “Chicago Classic”—a pie they advertise as “extra cheese, extra sausage, extra good in your mouth.” Try it and see if you think it’s the best pizza Chicago has to offer!

Uno’s crust is hearty but not too thick—just enough to encase and support the ingredients packed into it. I especially love the chunky sauce and, when I’m in the mood for green peppers, there’s something special about theirs. One or two slices of Uno’s famous deep-dish pizza is about all I can take in a single sitting. As you might expect, deep dish Chicago pizza is a filling food: One slice of pizza is often enough. No matter how hungry you may be, eating an entire pizza by yourself is out of the question.

If you are in the mood for something less filling, Uno also serves thin crust pizza with a wide variety of toppings, and even such unconventional styles as Taco, Spicy Hawaiian, and BBQ Chicken with Barbecue Sauce. You can pair your thin crust—or your deep-dish pizza—with a nice salad or soup and end your meal with one of their sumptuous desserts.

If your travel plans don’t include Chicago anytime soon, fear not: Pizzeria Uno is available across the entire U.S. The restaurant has evolved into a chain, with locations in multiple states in the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast of the country. If there isn’t a location near you, Uno offers frozen deep-dish pizzas shipped right to your home.

Address: 29 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611

Downtown Chicago’s Pizzeria Uno, home of the original Chicago deep-dish pizza

3. Pizzeria Due—Popular Chicago-Style Pizza

Pizzeria Due is a sister restaurant to Pizzeria Uno (“due” is Italian for “two”). It’s literally just around the corner from the original Pizzeria Uno. If you want to try Uno and it’s too busy or booked up, Due is a good alternative.

Due also gets a 4.5/5-star rating on Google, and 3.5/5 on Yelp. Due’s menu is nearly identical to the original Uno with a few minor tweaks. Some reviewers have expressed a preference for Due over Uno, others have expressed the opposite opinion.

Regardless, if you’re on the hunt for restaurants that are historically significant in the development of Chicago-style pizza, you should put Pizzeria Due on your list of places to visit.

Address: 619 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Searching for the best deep-dish pizza in Chicago. — Searching for the best deep-dish pizza in Chicago is an incredibly rewarding experience.

4. Gino’s East—Famous for “Chicago Fire” Deep-Dish Pizza

Gino’s East is one of the few Chicago-style pizza restaurants that did not evolve from Pizzeria Uno. The original Gino’s East opened in 1966. It was founded by two taxi drivers, Fred Bartoli and Sam Levine. They asked their friend George Loverde to join them in getting the restaurant started.

However, the trio credit Alice Mae Redmond as the creator of the recipe that would make Gino’s East famous. A highly talented African-American woman with 17 years of pizza-making experience before coming to Gino’s, Redmond developed a unique dough recipe, dough conditioner, and dough-handling procedure that set her pies apart from the competition. She worked her magic at Gino’s for 29 years.

Gino’s East had their initial location on Wells Street, near downtown Chicago’s famous Rush Street—one of the major spots in Chicago for nightlife and great restaurants. In the early 1980s, their flagship restaurant moved from its original location to Superior Street in Chicago’s River North area.

Gino’s East is well known for creative pizzas like their “Chicago Fire” deep-dish pizza, featuring spicy patty-style sausage, fire roasted red peppers, and red onions. They also feature an “Italian Beef” pizza. This pizza is covered with Italian beef (another Chicago classic food), sweet peppers, and giardiniera. All these pizzas are also available in thin-crust versions.

My personal favorite Gino’s pizza is the “burger and fries” pizza. As the name implies, it’s topped with ground beef, chopped onions, dill pickle chips, shredded lettuce, French fries, and thousand island dressing. Trust me, it’s amazing!

Gino’s East has locations primarily in Chicago and the nearby suburbs, along with a few locations in limited cities across the country. Gino’s East also ships frozen pizzas nationwide.

Address: 162 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611

5. Pequod's—Originator of the Caramelized Crust

In 1971, in the Chicago suburb of Morton Grove, Burt Katz opened Pequod’s, his third pizza-making venture. One of the things that distinguished the pan pizzas at Pequod’s from all the other deep dish style pizza in the city was its caramelized crust.

A layer of Mozzarella cheese was sandwiched between the dough and the edges of the pan in which it was made. The bottom crust and all the tall crust along the tall edge of the pan formed a caramelized coating of cheese while the pizza baked in the oven.

Today, more than 50 years later, Pequod’s is still renowned for its special pies, and routinely wins awards for making some of the best pizzas in Chicago. Recently, their Italian Sausage Pan Pizza was chosen by The Food Network as one of the 5 best pizzas in the entire United States.

In addition to its original Morton Grove location, Pequod’s now has a second location, in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Address: 2207 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

6. Burt’s Place—Anthony Bourdain’s Favorite Deep-Dish Pizza

After selling Pequods Pizzeria in 1986, Burt Katz took a break from the pizza business. In 1989, however, he got back in, opening Burt’s Place in Morton Grove. He went back to making the caramelized crust deep pan pizza that had already made him a Chicagoland legend.

At his new place, Burt was the only pizza maker; his wife Sharon ran the front of the house. That was the entire staff.

People would come from all over Chicago, elsewhere in the U.S., and even from abroad to enjoy Burt’s world-famous pizza. Among them was Anthony Bourdain, who visited during the filming of a Chicago episode of his beloved show “No Reservations.”

Bourdain was a New Yorker, New York pizza lover, and longtime Chicago-pizza skeptic. But Burt’s Place won him over. After trying a pizza at Burt’s during his 2009 visit, he proclaimed, “Burt’s is the only deep-dish pizza I ever loved.”

Burt passed away in 2016, but he passed along his original recipes, techniques, and iconic pizzeria to the current owner of Burt’s Place, Jerry Petrow. Burt’s Place is still going strong, retaining lifelong customers by staying true to its roots and earning new fans by continuing to make marvelous pies.

Address: 8541 Ferris Ave, Morton Grove, IL 60053

7. Pizano’s—Another Facet of the Malnati Pizza Legacy

Putative inventor of Chicago deep-dish pizza, Rudy Malnati, Sr., was not only instrumental in changing the world of pizza forever back in the 1940s. Two of his sons went on to open their own popular pizzerias in Chicago.

We’ve already discussed Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, but Rudy Malnati, Jr., also followed in his father’s footsteps when he opened Pizano’s in 1991. Pizano’s does a first-class deep-dish pizza, of course, but it has also won great acclaim for its thin-crust pies.

At first, branching into thin crust was an idea that did not sit well with Rudy’s mom, Donna Marie Malnati, family matriarch and custodian of the family dough recipe. But son Rudy Jr. finally convinced her, and Mama Malnati lovingly rolled doughs for both types of pizza at Pizano’s into her 90s.

Pizza lovers of all stripes can find something to make them happy at Pizano’s. Its deep dish has been rated by USA Today as one of the 10 best pizzas in America, while Oprah Winfrey has declared Pizano’s thin crust as “the best thin crust pizza in Chicago.” If those accolades aren’t enough, trust the crowds that pile into Pizano’s 4 Chicago locations.

Address: 864 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610

Final Thoughts on the Best Deep-Dish Pizza in Chicago

For some out-of-town visitors, the musts on a trip to Chicago are a pilgrimage to Wrigley Field, a cruise along the Chicago River, a trip to the top of the John Hancock Center for the view, or a visit to the Art Institute of Chicago. These are all wonderful ways to enjoy the city and make your own Instagram moments. But if you make it to Chicago, you’ve got to make time for Chicago deep-dish pizza. This home-town specialty is as much a part of the fabric of Chicago as any of these other attractions.

Chicagoans are passionate about their deep-dish pizza, and they love to argue over which Chicago-style pizza restaurant is the best. However, it all comes down to a matter of personal preference.

All the pizzerias featured above have droves of loyal fans who return to their favorite spot again and again. And each pizzeria has won numerous awards for the pizza they proudly serve. So, in case you’re ever visiting Chicago, you should try at least a couple of the pizzerias on our short list of who’s making today’s best Chicago deep-dish pizzas.

The first thing you need to do is leave behind your Pizza Hut or Numero Uno ideas of deep-dish. Experience the authentic recipes passed down through generations of Chicago’s best pizza makers. In other words, don’t settle for good pizza when you can have great pizza!

If your plans don’t have you visiting Chicago anytime soon, keep in mind that nearly all the major pizza restaurants in Chicago ship frozen deep-dish pizzas across the country. This way, you can enjoy a literal slice of Chicago from the comfort of your own home. Now that’s taking pizza delivery to a whole different level!

Author of best-deep-dish-pizza-in-Chicago..

About the Author

Jim Jones is a Chicago-area resident with a passion for travel, photography, and Chicago-style pizza. Jim’s mission is to help travelers and tourists write their own stories about America’s National Parks. You can find his blog at https://www.nationalparksdiary.com.”