Chicago is a city of duality. If the Cubs aren’t your team, there’s always the White Sox. If baseball isn’t your thing, there are the Bears or the Bulls. The same goes for food: If you like Italian ice, Chicago has you covered; if you prefer ice cream
or gelato, we’ve got that, too. And when it comes to pizza, the city has a pie for just about every preference, from traditional thin-crust to more modern takes on tavern style, to Chicago’s famous deep dish. It’s a place where pizza dreams are made, as there are storied pizzerias all over the city to prove it.
One of Chicago’s most recognizable culinary exports, the disputable deep dish pizza dates back to the opening of Pizzeria Uno in 1943. Undeniably, the relationships with locals is complicated — while some argue it’s a special-occasion meal rather than an everyday order, many others view it as a point of civic pride.And while the national perception of Chicago pizza has often been shaped by big chains, a new generation of pizzerias is giving deep dish another look, experimenting with techniques, toppings, and ingredients while the old guard continues to do what it has always done.
This map is for both camps. Whether you’re looking for a classic pan pizza, a stuffed pie, or a newer interpretation of the Chicago staple, these are the deep-dish pizza spots worth checking out.
The latest update removes Kitchen 17 and Nino’s in Alsip, as they’ve both closed.
— Additional reporting by Tajah Ware and Jeffy Mai
