I'll admit it: I'm a pizza snob. When I first moved to Ohio from Illinois for school, I knew the pizza here was never going to live up to my privileged tastebud's expectations. I can't help that I was raised with Chicago-style pizza! It's the best kind of pizza, and no one will ever be able to convince me otherwise.
I created this list of 11 places to get authentic, mouth-watering Chicago-style pizza because, while I may love my home away from home, nothing will ever beat the feeling of shoving a slice of Giordano's deep-dish pizza slice in my mouth.
1. Giordano's
2. Gino's East
3. Lou Malnati's Pizza
Lou Malnati opened up his pizzeria on March 17, 1971, in Lincolnwood, Illinois. He always thought it was funny that "an Italian opened up a pizzeria in a Jewish neighborhood on an Irish holiday."
4. Pizzeria Uno and Due
Both of these pizzerias are unique because they sit within a block of each other, and they were owned by Rudy Malnati, Lou Malnati's father. Pizzeria Uno didn't have room to expand, so Pizzeria Due was built on the opposite end of the street, sitting at the lowest level of a Victorian mansion.
5. Pequod's Pizza
Pequod's Pizza was rated the number 1 pizza place in Illinois, according to NBC Chicago. Their crispy, caramelized crust is definitely worth the wait.
6. Connie's Pizza
The first Connie's Pizza place was opened on the south side of Chicago after Jim Stolfe traded his car to buy the storefront. Connie's is still family-owned to this day and ships pizza anywhere in the United States!
7. Pizano's
Pizano's was opened by Rudy Malnati Jr., the son of Pizzeria Uno owner, Rudy Malnati, and the brother of Lou Malnati. It was opened in 1991 and is Oprah's favorite pizza place!
8. Aurelio's
I love Aurelio's pizza so much. There's even a location in my hometown! Whenever someone asks me for restaurant suggestions, Aurelio's is always on my list.
9. Rosati's
Rosati's story actually began around a century ago in New York. It has been family owned for five generations, each member following the motto Saviaro Rosati coined: "Give the people what they want."
10. Home Run Inn
You've probably bought Home Run Inn pizza at the store, but nothing beats a restaurant experience. The tavern-turned-restaurant received its name after a young baseball player hit a home-run and broke one of the windows in 1947!
11. D'agostino's Pizza
D'agostino's, more commonly known as "Dags," is in walking distance of Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Dags pizza is known as "the best thin-crust pizza in Wrigleyville."
If you get a chance to visit the Windy City, make sure you're making time to visit one of these pizzerias. I promise you'll never look at pizza the same way again.
