This article is not for the faint of heart. If you’re easily satisfied with a large pizza from Papa John’s, leave now. There’s still time.
If you’re still reading this, it likely means you consider yourself to be a fan of pizza. If not, you’re lost. Anyway, I’d like to lay down a big disclaimer. First of all, I want to make it clear that this is my personal opinion of the best pizzas in all the land. You may not agree with all of them, and you may think that I left some out. Of course I didn’t include “Joe’s Pizza” in Flint, Michigan because I’ve never been there. I’m sure Joe’s is great; it just didn’t make my personal list.
Before I begin the official list, I want to give a shout out to Jack’s frozen pizza. Back in high school, I used eat Jack’s at least five times a week, so it’s fair to say I’ve eaten more Jack’s Pizza than any other food on God’s green earth. It doesn’t compete with the others on this list because it’s not freshly made, but if I wrote an article titled, “The Best Frozen Pizzas in the Entire World,” Jack’s pizza would be at the top of the list a thousand times over.
Without further ado, here is my list of the greatest pizzas in the entire world:
Gino’s East.
A classic, Chicago style, deep-dish pizza, Gino’s East pizza is my favorite pizza in the entire world. And I know I’m not alone. A few weeks ago, I went to Gino’s East in Chicago at 3:00 pm on a Saturday; there was a 25-minute wait and another hour to wait for the pizza to cook. By the time I left, the line just to get in the place was stretched around the corner. Gino’s is perfect in my eyes, and that’s not to be taken lightly.
Luisa’s.
I seriously doubt any of you have ever even heard of this place. Luisa’s is a small, family-owned pizzeria in southern Wisconsin. Tucked in a corner right off the highway, Luisa’s pizza is my favorite thin crust pizza. I’ve eaten hundreds of pizzas from this place, and I’ve been satisfied every single time. Delicious ingredients and a friendly atmosphere combine and bring Luisa’s near the top of my list.
Lou Malnati’s.
Lou Malnati’s pizza is versatile, offering both a thin crust and a deep-dish option. Personally, I prefer the deep dish. It contrasts Gino’s East with the sauce. Lou Malnati’s layers chunks and slices of tomatoes onto their pies, whereas Gino’s is a little thinner. For what it’s worth, Lou’s may be a bit more accessible to your location. Lou Malnati’s is not just another deep-dish pizza.
Vito and Nick’s.
Vito and Nick’s is what the sign says, but everyone calls it Nick and Vito’s (it just flows better). This place is old. My father told me about it because he used to ride his bike there as a kid and eat pizza with his friends. Naturally, I had to give it a shot, and I wasn’t disappointed. They offer a huge variety of pizzas. The establishment is a little old-fashioned; there’s literally carpet on the walls and they take cash only. However, Nick and Vito’s is definitely worth your time.
Aurelio’s.
Aurelio’s pizza is different than any other thin crust pizza I’ve ever had. The sauce is sweeter than all others, and the mix of cheeses blends with it perfectly. When I come home from college for the weekend, I hit Aurelio’s before I even drop my stuff off at the house. To me, Aurelio’s tastes like home. It opened in 1959, so there’s a good chance your parents grew up on this stuff if they’re from the Chicagoland area.
You may not like this list of pizza places, but I’m sure we can agree on at least one thing: pizza is quite good. Dare I say greatest invention of all time?
