The Best Places For True Chi-Town Pizza

There's a great way to solve this mystery about the city's signature dish—just try all the options yourself. From the classic deep dish pizza to the new artisanal versions, you'll be rewarded with pure satisfaction.

The Best of the Traditional Deep Dish Pizzas

When you hear “Chicago-style pizza,” you likely think of buttery crust, lots of cheese, a layer of meat and vegetables, and plenty of tomato sauce—all baked to bubbly goodness in a deep dish pan. Get a true taste of Chicago pizza at the original Pizzeria Uno, where deep dish pizza became famous. You can also try the version that Chicago locals repeatedly praise at Lou Malnati's. Both pizza restaurants have locations throughout the city for your convenience.

The Best of the Classic Stuffed Pizzas

Think of a stuffed pizza as a bigger, more buttery and bolder version of deep dish pizza. It has the same contents plus a layer of crust on top, and more toppings and sauce on top of that. An ideal lunch stop when you're shopping the Magnificent Mile, the much-lauded Giordano's serves stuffed pizzas here and at multiple other city locations. You'll be perfectly comfortable having a business dinner of stuffed pizza, too, with the award-winning wine list and bistro atmosphere of Bella Bacino.

The Best of the Pan Pizzas

You won't need a knife and fork for pan pizza when it's done the Chicago way. The secret is in the crust—thin and bread-like, it's accented with crispy, caramelized cheese. The style originated at Pequod's Pizza, which is the perfect place to relax with a slice after a day at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Pan pizza shares space on the menu with classic deep dish and stuffed styles at The Art of Pizza, located in the lively Lakeview neighborhood.

Best Artisan Pizza

It's only natural that new styles of Chicago's favorite dish should emerge from time to time given the city's vibrant culinary scene. The highly acclaimed Coalfire West Town and Coalfire Lakeview have staked a claim to the artisanal label with bubbly, lightly-charred, coal-forged pizza. And you won't want to miss the hipster vibe at the Boiler Room on Logan Square with its PB & J special pizza slice, Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and a shot of Jameson.

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