Top 5 Places To Chow Down On Deep Dish In Chicago

Here are our recommendations for the best deep dish in the Windy City.

Deep dish pizza is a Chicago staple, yet many overlook it for the thinner New York style pizza. Even if you only try it once, it needs to be on your must-eat list for it’s caramelized crust and massive cheese pull vibes. Expect to wait at least an hour for this glorious pizza pie to arrive, though it’s definitely worth the wait. Here are our recommendations for the best deep dish in the Windy City.

Giordano’s

223 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60606

Giordano’s ranks high when it comes to the deep dish demand, and for good reason. Not only is this pie deep dish, it’s also stuffed. There’s a delicious, extra layer of crispy dough baked in to add to the already sickly good and ultra-filling experience. From Efren and Joseph Boglio’s original South Side spot in 1974, the chain has expanded to about 70 locations nationwide to keep up with its popularity.

Lou Malnati’s

439 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654

While we’re on the topic of the Malnati family, we can’t forget about Lou Malnati’s, another one of Rudy’s sons. Like Uno’s, their buttery, crispy crust is what makes it special. They hand-select the vine-ripened tomatoes, and their exclusive sausage blend is something you’ve got to try. With multiple locations around the area, people go wild for this Chicago institution.

Pequod’s

2207 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

Pequod’s puts out the pan style of deep dish pizza, which means a fluffier, lighter dough with an edge of caramelized, crispy mozzarella from the pan it’s cooked in. Invented by Burt Katz in the 1960’s this soon became a Lincoln Park staple. Beware, the wait time on weekends can be insanely long, so if you can, visit on a weekday.

Pizzaria Uno

29 East Ohio Chicago, IL 60611

Pizzaria Uno is where Chicago deep dish got its start all the way back in 1943. You’ll find a pizza with a crispy short dough crust, topped with cheese first, then chunky tomato sauce. This is what is considered the “original deep dish style.” Putting the tomato sauce on top keeps the cheese from burning during the long cooking period. While other places might do deep dish better, you have to try the OG pie at least once in your life.

Pizano’s

864 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610

Deep dish seems to be a family business, as Pizano’s was launched by Rudy Malnati Jr, the son of Rudy Malnati Sr, who is credited with partially inventing deep dish at Pizzeria Uno. The pizza here is a little bit different from Uno’s, with a crispier, airier crust, and a lighter cheese-sauce ratio. If you’re looking for something more lightweight, you’ll definitely be able to enjoy more than one slice here.

Mackenzie Diamond

Business Associate

Mackenzie is a Connecticut native who loves finding the next big adventure. She enjoys cooking, dogs, and relaxing on a beach with a great book. If you want her heart, you find it on top of the Duomo in Florence.