In 2010—the last time Chicago undertook the mammoth task of identifying the top pies in town—the runaway champ came from an exacting Andersonville boutique called Great Lake. But Nick Lessins, the mercurial artiste behind the place, forfeited the crown when he closed up shop in 2013. The Gold Coast’s Castel Gandolfo (No. 3), a forgotten master of the Margherita, has closed too. So has Wicker Park’s Crust (No. 4). We knew it was time to get back out there—and that anything could happen.
In an era when no new restaurant dares open without a wood-burning oven, we found a scene tilting ever further from thick crust to thin. We encountered both slavishly traditional pizzas and brilliant gourmet creations like nothing we’d eaten before. Eighty-four restaurants, 150 pies, and 23 pounds later, we named the diverse group of 38 winners that follows. (Yes, 38 winners, up from 25 in 2010: The local pizza landscape has gotten that much bigger. And better.)
The list may surprise or even enrage you. No Pequod’s, no Aurelio’s. No Art of Pizza, no Gino’s. Elbowing them out were lesser-known makers of superior specimens, such as Cristiano Bassani’s Big Chef Burgers in Schaumburg and its pizza con buffalo mozzarella prosciutto crudo rucola e pomodorini. (It sounds like a mouthful, and it is.)
Whether under sparkly chandeliers on Randolph Street (Nellcôte) or adjacent to its own liquor store on the Northwest Side (Marie’s), every establishment shares at least one trait: Its pizza has that indefinable quality that keeps you reaching for another slice long past the point of hunger, or even sanity.
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Vito & Nick's
- What Throwback storefront
- Where Ashburn
- Style Chicago thin
- Top pie Half sausage, half cheese
Elio Pizza on Fire
- What Strip-mall pizzeria
- Where Addison
- Style Neapolitan
- Top pie Ortolana (eggplant)
Dante's Pizzeria
- What Scruffy joint
- Where Logan Square and Avondale
- Style New York-ish
- Top pie The Inferno
Pizzeria Uno
- What The pizzeria that spawned an empire
- Where River North
- Style Deep dish
- Top pie Italian sausage
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Lou Malnati's
- What Local chain
- Where 42 locations
- Style Deep dish
- Top pie Malnati Chicago Classic
Fiammé Pizzeria Napoletana
- What Suburban hot spot
- Where Naperville
- Style Neapolitan
- Top pie Sweet Home Chicago
Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe
- What Stark corner storefront
- Where Lincoln Square
- Style New York
- Top pie Pepperoni
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Osteria La Madia
- What Cozy-chic spot
- Where River North
- Style Neapolitan
- Top pie Grape and Taleggio
Nueva Italy Pizzeria
- What Spare storefront
- Where East Rogers Park
- Style Thin crust
- Top pie Vegetarian
Home Run Inn
- What Old-school legend
- Where Eight locations
- Style Chicago thin
- Top pie Laura’s Favorite
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Borelli’s Pizza
- What Rug-rat heaven
- Where Lincoln Square
- Style Thin crust
- Top pie Quattro formagi
Marie's Pizza & Liquors
- What Vintage corner tap
- Where Albany Park
- Style Chicago thin
- Top pie Marie's Special
Pie Finder
Original locations for all 38 of Chicago's best pizzas
Click icons for more information
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