Pizza holds a special place at the heart of American cuisine. It transcends regional and cultural boundaries to become a beloved staple across the country. Its popularity is enormous and undeniably widespread.
So how much do we love our pizza? A study conducted by OnePoll and commissioned by Amazon Fresh found that Americans could eat about five slices of pizza in one sitting on their own. A quarter love pizza so much that they would even consider serving it at their wedding. This love of “za” brought in nearly $47 billion in sales in 2022.
What really sets pizza apart is its remarkable versatility, evident in the unique variety of styles found in cities across the country. In California, for example, pizza has a distinctive flair: It has a thin crust topped with fresh local ingredients like arugula and Fresno chiles, reflecting the state’s gastronomy of sourced ingredients directly from the farm. On the other coast, New York-style pizzas reign supreme, with large, foldable slices and a classic combination of tomato sauce and gooey mozzarella cheese. Meanwhile, Detroit-style pizza stands out with its square shape and thick, airy crust that’s perfectly crispy around the edges. And let’s not forget Chicago’s legendary deep dish: Its buttery, thick crust, filled to the brim with layers of cheese, a healthy selection of toppings, and chunky tomato sauce.
Amid this diverse landscape, pizzerias have achieved legendary status, attracting hungry visitors from near and far. Places like Bestia in Los Angeles, famous for its wood-fired pizzas and standout dishes like slow-roasted lamb neck; Lombardi’s in New York’s Little Italy, said to be responsible for the city’s distinctive pizza style; and Pequod’s in Chicago, known for its caramelized crust, are all testament to the influence pizza has had and continues to have in America.
So where can you find the best slice of pizza? To help you out, Stacker compiled a list of the best pizza places in 25 major cities using data from Yelp. The businesses were selected using Yelp’s Top 100 Pizza Places list, which ranks restaurants on a number of factors, including the total number and number of five-star reviews each business has received from members of Yelp’s “Elite Squad.” The best restaurant in each city is listed here, listed in alphabetical order.
Read on to see if your favorite place is on the list.
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not depict the specific restaurants listed or the dishes they serve.