1. Di Fara Pizza – Brooklyn, New York
Thanks to the commitment and work of its creator, Dom De Marco, Di Fara Pizza has attained legendary reputation in New York City and beyond. Serving its famous pies since 1965, Di Fara is situated in Brooklyn’s Midwood district. Di Fara’s beauty is in its simplicity and flawless component quality.
Dom himself was renowned for hand-crafted almost every pizza using imported Italian ingredients including San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella di bufala, and a drizzle of olive oil direct from Naples and grated Grana Padano cheese as a final touch.
Offering the traditional New York-style fold, the crust is crispy but chewy and browned precisely in the oven. Food experts and die-hard pizza aficionados both have praised Di Fara for his commitment to excellence. A visit here is an experience rich in history, taste, and passion of real pizza-making not only a meal.
2. Pizzeria Bianco – Phoenix, Arizona
Rising in the modest city of Phoenix, Arizona, Pizzeria Bianco has transformed the American pizza landscape. The operation’s mastermind, Chris Bianco, transformed a little restaurant into a nationally known gastronomic destination.
From the locally milled wheat to the handmade mozzarella and almost flawless wood-fired crust, Pizzeria Bianco is unique in its attention to detail. Every mouthful of Bianco clearly reflects his enthusiasm for ingredients. From foodies to celebrities, everyone has hailed his venerable “Margherita” and “Wiseguy” pies.
The restaurant itself has a rustic appeal with an open kitchen highlighting the artistic mastery of pizza-making and the lovely oven flames. Often regarded as the gold standard of Neapolitan-style pizza in the United States, Pizzeria Bianco constantly ranks on top-tier culinary lists all around despite its modest look.
3. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana – New Haven, Connecticut
Without Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, no ranking of the top pizzas in America would be whole. Originally founded in 1925, this New Haven establishment is well-known for their distinctive, mouthwatering thin-crust, coal-fired pizzas.
Among the best things here is the White Clam Pizza, a pie with fresh littneck clams, garlic, oregano, grated mozzarella, and olive oil—no tomato sauce visible. A crunchy, charred crust produced by the coal oven holds up nicely to the fresh toppings.
Frank Pepe’s has opened stores all throughout the Northeast outside of New Haven, but pizza aficionados especially treasure the first Wooster Street establishment. This location is a proud emblem of New Haven-style pizza, and the enormous lines out the door every weekend show its continuing appeal.
4. Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria – Chicago, Illinois
Chicago is known for deep-dish pizza, and Lou Malnati’s is usually regarded as the gold standard of this popular kind. Established in 1971, this family-owned business honors buttery crusts, rich tomato sauce, and an avalanche of melting mozzarella cheese.
Lou Malnati’s deep-dish stands out from its rivals with a distinctive butter crust that, stacked with sausage, fresh tomatoes, and a lot of Wisconsin cheese, stays crisp despite its thickness. Every mouthful is a master class in harmony—rich but not overpowering.
Though Lou Malnati’s has several sites in Chicago and even sends its pizzas all over, nothing compares to eating a fresh slice right in Windy City. If you have never had actual Chicago deep-dish, this is the ideal introduction to one of the most famous comfort meals in America.
5. Roberta’s – Brooklyn, New York
Hipster flair meets culinary expertise in Roberta’s Brooklyn Bushwick area. Renowned for their creative toppings and wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizzas, Roberta’s has evolved into a mainstay of the contemporary pizza scene. From the great heat of the oven, the crust here is chewy, slightly burnt, and exquisitely blistered.
Combining tomato, mozzarella, soppressata, chili, and honey for a sweet-spiced-savory explosion, their most well-known pie, the “Bee Sting,” Roberta takes great satisfaction in utilizing organic, locally grown foods—many of which are produced on her rooftop garden.
The environment is as much an attraction as the pizza; shared tables, unique décor, and a vibrant crowd make this a remarkable eating experience. Although Roberta’s has grown with outlets in Los Angeles and Manhattan, the brand’s throbbing core still is her original.
6. Sally’s Apizza – New Haven, Connecticut
Former Frank Pepe employee Salvatore Consiglio launched Sally’s Apizza in 1938, another New Haven icon. Like its predecessor, Sally’s specializes in thin-crust, coal-fired pizzas with a very sweet and very tasty tomato sauce. Every mouthful gains complexity from the chewy, charred texture of the crust.
Among favorites are the bacon and onion pizza, which tastes great without overwhelming the dough, and the tomato pie, a basic yet delicious mix of sauce and pecorino. With a modest, understated atmosphere and a devoted following spanning decades, Sally’s has maintained its classic appeal. It’s among the greatest illustrations of how superb ingredients, simplicity, and tradition can combine to provide a pizza experience you won’t soon forget.
7. Lucali – Brooklyn, New York
For those who enjoy pizza, Lucali is a pilgrimage place not only a pizzeria. Founded by Mark Iacono in 2006, Lucali, tucked away in Brooklyn’s Carroll Gardens, became well-known for its handcrafted, brick-oven pies very fast. Though waits may last hours and the restaurant does not accept bookings, the payback is more than justified.
Thin, crunchy dough topped with fresh mozzarella, homemade tomato sauce, garlic, basil, and olive oil drizzles completes Lucali’s pizzas. The secret is simplicity; Iacono clearly pays attention to detail in every part.
Usually lighted by candlelight, the environment is romantic and comforting; it smells warm from melting cheese and baked bread. Though there have been sightings of celebrities here, the pizzas themselves—each a masterclass in balance, texture, and taste—are the actual stars.
8. Joe’s Pizza – New York, New York
Nothing really like Joe’s Pizza for a real taste of New York City. Originally opened by Italian immigrant from Naples Joe Pozzuoli in 1975, Joe’s is a Greenwich Village landmark that has come to define the traditional New York slice. Top with a tart tomato sauce and a liberal coating of melting mozzarella; the crust is thin, foldable, and absolutely crunchy.
This is the pizza the daily New Yorker needs—fast, reasonably priced, and shockingly delicious. Although Joe’s Pizza has grown with sites all throughout the city and even in Los Angeles, the original store still exudes simplicity and offers premium products.
Not unusual to see stars grabbing a slice here, therefore reinforcing Joe’s status as a pizza industry icon. This is the venue if you want a classic NYC experience.
9. Tony’s Pizza Napoletana – San Francisco, California
Tony’s Pizza Napoletana is the meeting point of invention and heritage. Situated in the North Beach area of San Francisco, this restaurant is run by 13-time World Pizza Champions Tony Gemignani, a master of several pizza techniques.
From Neapolitan and Sicilian to Roman and New York-style, Tony’s has an amazing range of choices, each one created with real skills and world-class ingredients. Made in a 900-degree wood-fired oven, the light, airy crust of the Neapolitan pies has fresh San Marzano tomato sauce and fior di latte mozzarella.
Tony’s is unique in that it is flexible and committed to authenticity—you are receiving a top-notch pizza created with love and accuracy regardless of the style you select. It is an education in world pizza artistry, not only a pizzeria.
10. Prince Street Pizza – New York, New York
Celebrated for its thick, square-shaped Sicilian slices, Prince Street Pizza has evolved into a social media sensation and a must-visit for NYC pizza aficionados. Their hallmark dish is the “Spicy Spring,” which is topped on a crispy-yet-airy dough with powerful tomato sauce and melting mozzarella and stuffed with spicy pepperoni chunks that curl and sear in the oven.
Like the Soho area it serves, this slice contains strong taste and lots of personality. Though the line usually runs down the block, the prize is a slice unique in the city. With customers traveling in from all across the nation simply for a taste, Prince Street Pizza has managed to transform the Sicilian slice into something quite unique. It’s evidence that occasionally more is indeed more: more cheese, more flavor, more gratification.
FAQs
Q1: How different is New Haven-style pizza from New York-style?
Often referred to as “apizza, new Haven-style pizza is distinguished by its charred, chewy, ultra-thin coal-fired, more irregularly shaped crust. It is occasionally presented with unusual toppings like clams and frequently has less cheese than New York-style pizza.
Q2: Could you find real Chicago deep-dish pizza outside of Chicago?
Although some pizzerias outside of Chicago attempt to copy deep-dish, nothing compares to having it where it originated. Although certain franchises like Lou Malnati’s do ship all around, the freshness and ambiance of dining locally are priceless.
Q3: Are conventional pizzas less healthy than wood-fired ones?
Higher temperatures used in wood-fired pizzas can help to shorten cooking times and preserve more of the nutrients from the ingredients. Though “healthier” depending on toppings and portion size, they are also usually created with simpler, fresher ingredients.
Q4: For someone sampling pizza for the first time, which style is best?
First-timers would generally find a basic Margherita or New York-style cheese slice ideal. These choices provide a good and pleasing start to pizza by stressing the dough, sauce, and cheese without overdoing toppings.
Conclusion
Pizza in America is a cultural landmark and a canvas for culinary artistry, not only a cheesy, crusty comfort meal. From the inventive works in Brooklyn and San Francisco to the coal-fired customs of New Haven, the variety in tastes and styles throughout the nation is amazing.
There is a world-class choice ready for you whether your taste is for a gently blasted Neapolitan pie or a thick, meaty Chicago deep-dish. In the realm of pizza, these ten pizzerias are the absolute finest of what America has to offer; each one is a mouthwatering destination in and of itself.