Best Chicago pizza?

Go to Pequod's Pizza in Lincoln Park which serves up a fantastic deep dish pizza famous for its carmalized crust. They don't sell by the slice but they do have a 'personal size' pizza which is a great alternative. From Millenium park, it's less than a 15 minute cab ride, or if you'd rather take public transportation just hop on the brown line.

I was in Chicago recently and after some research and talking to friends who live in the area, I choose Pequod's and was very happy with my choice. It's a real local favorite. I wrote about it on my blog if you'd like to learn more. Enjoy Chicago!

I'm not sure if you've taken this trip, but I agree with Trevor on Pequod's Pizza as the caramelized crust is unlike any other!

If you want to stay closer to the loop, head to Lou Malnati's Pizzeria for a classic Chicago pizza. You can order a personal size or a small for two for lunch. However, if you're a Hawaiian style pizza lover, Lou's doesn't have pineapple toppings. If you like pineapple, definitely try Giordano's. They have multiple locations across the city, and the pizza is loaded with cheese and dough, making one or two slices plenty to eat.

Another place I'd recommend is Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder Co in Lincoln Park for a pizza pot pie. There are only two ways they'll allow you to order: white or wheat dough and vegetarian or meat sauce. If you're feeling hungry, try the bread or a salad as a starter. They only take cash so make sure to hit the ATM before hand if necessary.

When I was in Chicago in 2011 I went to Giordano's just to the north of Millennium Park. I had the personal sized sausage and it was delicious and ready quickly. Now that I've experienced the deep dish pizza I can see why it wouldn't be sold by the slice - it's an ooey, gooey, knife & fork pizza.

I would check out Quartino Ristorante. This is one of my favorite places to go in Chicago. They have wine by the carafe, great pizza, and tapas style food. Side Note: I'm not a big fan of Chicago style pizza, which I only feel safe to say because I'm far from Chicago in Colombia. I don't know if this disqualifies my answer, but I'd check out Quartino's anyway. :)

Not one that a lot of people think of, but Bacino's is my favorite deep dish pizza in town.

If you're only going for the weekend, don't confine yourself to just one pizza spot.  Go on a pizza tour!  When my friends and I went last year, we took the  Chicago Pizza Tours.  For $60 a person, you board a bus and an awesome guide, Jon, takes you on a tour of four of the best pizzerias in the city, where you get to try at least two kinds of pizza at each place.  We had such a good time.

Apparently, the four pizzerias that he takes you to rotates often, but just to give you an idea, on my tour, we went to  Pizano's Pizza,  Flo & Santos,  Pequod's Pizza and  Gino's East.

$60 might seem a bit much for an afternoon tour, but it was so worth it.  "Dough Force One" (that's what the guide calls his bus!) is definitely the way to go if you want to try Chicago pizza but are pressed for time.

Pizzeria Due, followed by Pizzeria Uno.  These are the old school gold standards, IMO.   Slices at lunch are probably not doable, however.

Pizzeria Due is the only place to get Chicago style pizza. Some say Geno's East (not a big fan), some say Giordano's (not a bad option), but Pizzeria Due is tops. Except a long wait. Call or put in your name and stroll around the city.

Pizzeria UNO is also a good option. Same restuarant/owners, just different name. Right down the street.

By far the best deep dish is Lou Malnati's Pizzeria.  There are numerous locations in the city and all are excellent. My husband is from Long Island, NY, which means he's a total pizza snob and even he agrees that Lou Malnati's is the best deep dish pizza in the city.  Just go here already.  

Pizzeria UNO is fantastic, so is Bacino's! 

Hi Sunil-

For deep dish my favorites are Lou Malnati's Pizzeria (multiple locations) for their delicious butter corn crust, their sausage comes in large patties rather than the usual small pieces), Pequod's Pizza with their amazing caramelized crust, and The Art of Pizza (by-the-slice options) for an overall great deep dish. 

For non-deep dish I love Piece Pizzeria and Brewery in Wicker Park, and Coalfire's great coal oven pizzas. 

Exchequer Restaurant & Pub's pizza.....Hands down, the best! Walking distance from Millennium Park, excellent deep dish pizza, and many different beers and wines to sample.

The best pizza, hands down, in Chicago from a Chicagoan is Giordano's stuffed pizza. It is not deep dish as someone said, it is far more. The reason it is so gooey is all of the cheese whereas deep dish had much more crust. Gino's East is famous for their sausage pizza because they do an entire layer of sausage but no crust can compare to Gioradanos' crust. It has a buttery flavor that I dearly love. We were in Boston in the bar where the idea for Cheers came from and a group at the next table from Cleveland were extolling the virtues of Chicago pizza but couldn't remember the name of the place. I said my favorite was Giordanos and they all shouted "that's the place!".

Hi Sunil-

There is a lot of great pizza in Chicago not all of which is the traditional deep dish style.

If you want to stick with the original, I will also cast my vote for Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, the location on S. State Street is a bit closer to where you're staying than the one on N. Wells. What I love about Lou's is it's slightly less thick than other Chicago deep dish and they have a cornmeal crust that is divine! If you're a meat eater I suggest getting sausage on your pie, it's amazing!

Pequod's Pizza is also very good and I agree there caramelized crust is what sets them apart! Heading up there will give you an opportunity to get out of downtown and explore another neighborhood, Lincoln Park. Note: Peaquod's is super popular so either go at an off hour, perhaps for a late lunch around 2:00 or 3:00 pm or be prepared to wait for over an hour.

If you would like to try something besides deep dish I suggest Coalfire, Craft PizzaSpacca Napoli Pizzeriaor Piece Pizzeria and Brewery.

Spacca Napoli is a bit of a hike but well worth the trip for their authentic Neapolitan Style pizza! It's like a trip to Italy right in the northern neighborhoods of Chicago. If you do head up there be sure to stop over in the Andersonville neighborhood after dinner for a drink. Lots of great spots, but that's a whole other post ;)

Coalfire and Craft Pizza are a bit more accessible and also great hand-tossed brick oven pizza. Craft Pizza is a BYOB so be sure to grab something to drink before heading over there, but if you forget there is a liquor store less than 2 blocks away on the corner of Division and Damen.

Piece Pizzeria and Brewery is in Bucktown, the same as Craft, and are serving New Haven style pizza (think big flat slices). As the name suggests they are also brewery and brewing some award winning beers.

Hope this helps, enjoy!

Go to the Salerno's Pizza and Pasta on Grand Ave.  Not too far from down town and well worth it.  Now that's real Chicago pizza--with a lot of flavor.

Giordano's Pizza on 130 E. Randolph serves individual size deep dish pizzas.

Pizano's Pizza on 61. E. Madison has both but their thin crust is the best in town.

The best deep dish is Lou Malnati's Pizzeria (several locations).

I think you must try Giordano's Pizza, which has a location just north  of Millenium Park.  If you have extra time and will be in Lincoln Park, try Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder Co.  

My vote is for Gino's East... especially  with their unique corn meal crust. The best location is off of Michigan ave. and superior st.

Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, Giordano's, and Pizzeria UNO are all very good and with various locations... just make sure to get the true deep dish that Chicago is known for.

If you're staying near Millennium Parktry the pizza Pizano's PizzaThey are part of the Malnetti family and the pizza is great. Another famous Chicago pizza isGino's East. It's got to be pan though if you're in Chicago.