Pizanos Pizza & Pasta
Rudy Malnati, Jr.part of the second generation of the Lou Malnanati deep-dish pizza familyopened Pizanos Pizza & Pasta in 1991. Chicago sports pennants and player photos hang on the paneled walls of the Loop location, a big lunch spot and after-work hangout. Pizanos stellar rep rests on its crumbly buttery crust, a secret family recipe. The signature pie is the sausage-mushroom combo Hey Hey Jack Brickhouse Special. Thick, tangy crushed tomatoes and savory combos of meats and vegetables top these deep-dish pizzas. However, Pizanos parts ways from Chicago-style pizza tradition by also offering a carb-free sausage crust.
Labriola And La Barra
The sign of any great pizza is that the crust is so good that even the unadorned parts never get left on the plate. And that’s what happens at Labriola and La Barra. Labriola got its start as a bread-baking concern and in the process produced artisanal-style loaves for some of Chicago’s best restaurants. The owners took this bread-baking experience and created for the pizzas in their restaurant a deep-dish crust filled with airy bubbles, the kind you might find in a good croissant. As a result, even the most-carb-conscious diners will have a tough time leaving any part of the slice behind.
Millys Pizza In The Pan
Logan Square
New deep-dish pizza slingers are hard to come by, especially in Chicago where the rules and pizza restaurants are firmly established, but Millys Pizza in the Pan is an upstart that packs a mean punch. A ghost-kitchen-turned-restaurant, this pan pizza resembles that of Pequods but fancies up the toppings with things like Calabrian chili, Castelveltrano olives and Kumato tomatoes.
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My Pi Pizza 2010 N Damen Ave E Chicago Il
One of Chicagos best deep dish pizzas can be found in a Bucktown strip mall at My Pi Pizza. Their light, crispy crust is topped with Wisconsin cheese and a chunky, sweet sauce made from San Marzano tomatoes. You can get pizza by the slice at this tiny location with limited seating.
Chicago Pizza And Oven Grinder
The pizza at this spot isn’t traditional Chicago deep dish, but it has a pastry-dough rim, shaped like a carved-out French boule, that’s as high as anything you’d find at the usual places. The differentiator here is that the bottom crust is whisper-thin, and the interior is kind of like a casserole of winey, garlicky braised mushrooms, sausage and snappy green peppers, draped with a roof of bubbling mozzarella like one you’d find on a bowl of French onion soup.
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Best Restaurants For Deep Dish Pizza In Chicago
29 E Ohio St. // +1 312-321-1000
This is the starting point on your journey, the very genesis of deep-dish history. The ambiance is as authentic as the food, with signature checkerboard tiles, an ornate tin roof, and cozy tables and booths packing in the happy patrons.
What to try The individual 7 Numero UNO: Sausage, pepperoni, onions, peppers, mushrooms, chunky tomato sauce, mozzarella, romano, and a local draft beer.
Youll quickly see why this Chicago institution has now become a national chain of over one hundred restaurants, including locations as far away as Honduras, India, and Saudi Arabia!
Fortunately for you, you can also stay right at home to try one of the best deep dish pizzas in Chicago.
439 N Wells St. // +1 312-828-9800
Malnatis is a small, intimate space decorated with iconic jerseys from legendary Chicago sports teams. The bar is a friendly gathering place, where youre likely to strike up a conversation with a fellow pizza lover.
What to try: The Lou a deep dish with mushrooms and onions, featuring a layer of Roma tomatoes and three kinds of cheese cradled with Malnatis signature garlic butter crust. All I can say is wow its like a party in a pan!
For an unforgettable deep dish pizza in Chicago, Malnatis is the place.
730 N Rush St. // +1 312-951-0747
You can pull up at some of the huge flat screens in the expansive bar area to watch a game and the mandatory forty-minute bake time just flies by.
864 N State St. // +1 312-751-1766
What Is True Chicago
Its not hard to understand the fascination with a good pizza pie. Heck, with the really great stuff you arent even thinking about how many slices are in a large pizza. Youve got your pizza dough, delicious sauce, savory cheeses, and just about whatever kind of topping you are willing to add. A typical pizza is of the flat variety. The crust isnt overly thick and depending on what your toppings of choice will be, the pizza itself is also not very thick. But then there is the true Chicago-style pizza.
According to most within the confines of the Windy City, true Chicago-style pizza is the deep-dish. The best deep-dish pizza can be found in Chicago and they have plenty of options to whet ones appetite. True Chicago-style pizza is not for the faint of heart. Instead of being presented flat, the true Chicago-style pizza is a much thicker version that requires a knife and fork to help with consumption.
Unlike the normal pizza, the best deep-dish pizza in Chicago is baked in a deep pan. This gives the pizza more of a cake-like appearance than its thinner version which is more like a flatbread. Now while the appearance of the deep dish makes it seem as though the dough is extremely thick, in reality, the dough is actually thin to medium in its thickness.
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Pizzeria Due Popular Chicago
Pizzeria Due is a sister restaurant to Pizzeria Uno . Its literally just around the corner from the original Pizzeria Uno. If you want to try Uno and its 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. Dues 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 youre 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.
Lou Malnati’s Multiple Locations
Lou, as you might have guessed, is the son of Rudy Malnati Sr., inventor of Chicago deep dish, and the brother of Rudy Jr., friendly competitor and owner of Pizano’s. With over 50 locations in Chicago , it’s a good bet that wherever you are in the city, you can locate one of Lou’s pizzerias. Even though this is a franchise, the pizzas have a level of consistency and quality that’s much higher than popular tourist traps like Gino’s and Giordano’s. The zesty sauce and balanced use of cheese are what truly differentiate Lou’s pies.
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Best Deep Dish Pizza Places In Chicago
We all know the deep dish was born in Chicago. However, not every restaurant in Chicago gets it right.
If you are a Chicago tourist, you will want to go to the best place where this mystical pizza is served.
Here, I will tell you about the best restaurants that serve the best deep-dish pizza slices in Chicago.
These are the places frequented by most locals, and we have to trust the locals, right? Let us get into it.
Here are some best pizza in other places you may want to check out.
Location: 864 N. State St, Chicago, IL 60610
Contact: 312-751-1766
Pizanos has four other locations apart from State street. They include 61 E. Madison Street in Chicago, 800 N Dearborn St in Chicago, 2106 S. Indiana in Chicago, and 1808 N. Waukegan Road in Glenview.
The founder of Chicago deep dish was Rudy Malnati Sr. He first made this pizza at Uno. It is no wonder Pizano has one of the best deep-dish in Chicago. Rudys son, Rudy Jr, opened it.
What Pizano serves is the original deep dish but with a modern twist. The crust is buttery and crispy. They make the crust using a special dough that follows the recipe developed by Donna Malnati, Rudy Jr.s mother.
However, it is less thick compared to the deep dish at Uno.
This means there is a perfect blend of the cheese, toppings, sauce, and crust. Everything balances. You can feel that excellent taste of everything.
They offer carryout and deliveries. They are also available for pizza parties.
Location: 2207 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
While Youre In The Area
My trip to Chicago was part of a wider trip through the USA that included a stop in Detroit. I was inspired to visit after all of the coverage online about the citys downfall and then the slow movement towards regeneration. With a bit of hesitation, I hopped on the Amtrak from Chicago and landed in downtown Detroit. And I wasnt disappointed.
Here are my posts about Detroit
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Bartolis 1955 W Addison St Chicago Il
The owner of Bartolis, Brian Tondryk, is the grandson of the Ginos East founder. Which means he comes from a family of pizza experts. The flaky crust at Bartolis is rolled with a bit of cheese inside so you get an extra bite of mozzarella in each slice.
We recommend the special spinach and cheese pizza, which features a bright and flavorful garlicky spinach mix, a mountain of melted cheese, sweet, chunky sauce, and a crunchy deep dish crust. In addition to the Addison St. location, there is also a Bartolis in West Town.
Robert’s Pizza & Dough Company
Located in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood, not far from the Chicago River and Lake Shore Drive, Robert’s Pizza & Dough Company is a solid bet for out-of-towners looking to pick up a brick-oven pie. Owned and operated by a New York native and certified pizzaioli Robert Garvey, Robert’s is obsessed with perfect crust and pizza that “when folded, cracks but does not break.”
Robert’s opened just a few years ago, so it doesn’t have quite as much charm as, say, a Vito & Nick’s or a Marie’s, but the menu is solid and the pizza’s delicious doughy taste is undeniable. A pie with “cup and char” pepperoni is always a solid choice, as is Robert’s seafood pie, which is pretty surprising since those generally are more gimmick than taste. Toppings range from truffle cream sauce bases and braised fennel to Brussels sprouts and dates. Don’t forget to grab a loaf of Robert’s Fresh Za Bread on your way out the door. It’s chewy and delicious, and it’s just $5.
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Whats The Difference Between Deep Dish Pies And Stuffed Pizza
Im sure there are a thousand pizza aficionados whod queue up to give me a stern talking to for what Im about to say but I personally didnt notice much difference between the deep dish style pizza and the stuffed pizza . In fact, it wasnt until I took a closer look at the respective websites to write this post that I realised there is, apparently, a difference.
However, if you are interested, the main difference seems to be that the stuffed pizza has a second layer of dough, which tops the pizza like an actual pie. However, as stuffed pizzas can be slightly deeper in terms of toppings and because the second dough is slathered with more tomato sauce and cheese, I really didnt notice any taste difference.
What Is The Most Popular Pizza In Chicago
Well, are we talking about the most popular pizza joint or the most popular pizza pie? Either way, the Windy City has a lot to choose from, both from an establishment point of view and from an actual pie. If we are talking about the best deep-dish pizza place in Chicago, you cant go wrong with any of the above. But if you are looking for history along with a good pie, then Pizzeria Uno would be your best bet. They are the originators of the deep dish and the fact that they are still in business all these years later only goes to show they still have what it takes to produce an amazing deep-dish pie.
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The 11 Best Places For Deep Dish Pizza In Chicago
Jen Shin: the deep dish is SO GOOD! the caramelized cheese from the pan is perfect.
Ben K.: Hands down best deep dish pizza I’ve tried and only one I’d recommend. The small or medium is more than plenty for two. Try it with the housemade fennel sausage.
Bob DeGraff: Fantastic deep dish pizza. Be prepared to wait for a table.
Serious Eats: The Malnati Chicago Classic, which combines a buttercrust with their awesome well-seasoned homemade sausage is Lou Malnati’s at its finest. And that means it’s one of the best deep dish pizzas of all
Christina Chang: Best deep dish pizza in Chicago. Service is very slow though. Deep dish usually takes an hour to get done but when it’s crowded, +30mins. Deep dish cookie for dessert is amazing!
Tim Messerschmidt: Amazing deep dish pizza. Definitely easy to recommend. Try the butter crust if you’re looking for something special.
Serious Eats: The Malnati Chicago Classic combines a signature buttercrust with their awesome well-seasoned homemade sausage. It’s one of the best deep dish pizzas known to man.
Sexy LF: If you think Pizza Hut is the best deep dish you’ve had, head to Lou’s an get the classic. Loved that the sausage was just above the crust and under the perfectly oozing cheese and fresh tomato sauce.
Courtney: Whoa! By far the best pizza I’ve ever haf. Try the deep dish veggie and add pepperoni. You won’t be disappointed
Tasting The Deep Dish Pizza At Giordanos
How easy is it to get a table?
The pizza Gods were once again on my side and I strolled right into Giordanos. This time it was Thursday and I was on the early side of mid-day which I was beginning to feel was the best time to hunt down the best deep dish pizza in Chicago. As with Unos, there are reports of long queues as well as a 45 minute wait for pizzas but you can also order before you sit.
The restaurant
I ate at the Giordanos on North Rush Street, which is their flagship pizzeria. This is not to be confused with the original pizza restaurant, which is somewhere on the south side of Chicago at a location that Giordanos itself is very coy about naming on its site and which the internet consistency fails to agree on. .
Inside, the flagship Giordanos was everything Unos was not light, bright, airy and spacious. The tables were sufficiently spread out and I didnt need to change the lighting on my Kindle to read. And I was disappointed by that. Between the two restaurants, Giordanos felt much more like a Pizza Hut than a piece of pizza history and although it was probably for the best that the 1970s vibe hadnt been obtained, I knew I was dining in a chain from the second I stepped through the doors.
The service
What I ordered at Giordanos
The deep dish pizza at Giordanos
This was both good and bad.
On the other hand, the taste was not nearly as sublime or as memorable as those first few mouthfuls at Unos.
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Pizanos Pizza & Pasta 864 N State St Chicago Il
The Malnatis are a huge part of Chicago deep-dish pizza history. Rudy Malnati Sr. was a longtime employee at Pizzeria Uno, and his sons went on to open Lou Malnatis. They also opened the smaller chain, Pizanos Pizza & Pasta.
The dough at Pizanos was developed by owner Rudy Malnati Jr.s late mother, Donna Marie Malnati. Their Rudys Special features their delicious golden crust, sausage, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers. In addition to the State Street location, there are five other locations across the Chicagoland area.
The next time youre in Chicago, do yourself a favor and stop by one of these restaurants and treat yourself to authentic deep-dish pizza. You wont be disappointed.
Pequods On Fernald Avenue In Morton Grove
Pizza chef Burt Katz launched his restaurant in the 60s and created the Pan Pizza and became known as the Father of the Caramelized Crust, a unique variation where the ingredients lay on a puffy crust.
In the baking process, a crispy edge of cheese caramelizes, turning lacy and dark.
Many natives of Chicago tout this as best of all Chicago pizzas, even though not as well known as the more popular places listed above.
A bit of trivia Burt was a fan of great literature, naming his restaurant after the whaling ship in Moby Dick.
What to try: The 7 Personal Pan Pizza loaded with your favorite toppings. This is a must-try spin on the theme if you want to say youve done it all!
Ok, so now you have the history of Chicago pizza, the five best places for pizza in Chicago, and the menu for these pizzas. Whether you consider the deep-dish pizza a rival to more traditional pizzas is ultimately up to you. But you have all the best pizzas represented here pan pizza, thin-crust pizza, and Chicagos best deep dish pizza.
What I can tell you is that Chicago natives are proud of their culinary heritage and invite you to give it a try you wont go wrong with a Chicago pizza. Now go out and enjoyMangia!
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