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5 Best Pizza Places in Chicago (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

Thorne Savarin
By Thorne Savarin, Culinary Explorer · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 8 min read

Giordano's has racked up more than 26,000 Google reviews, the most of any pizza place in Chicago, while Pizzeria Portofino holds the highest rating on this list at 4.9 with a fraction of that volume. That gap says something real about the city's pizza scene: Chicago runs on two very different crowds, the deep-dish institutions that feed tourists by the thousands and the thin-crust and riverside spots building a smaller but more devoted following.

Short answer: Pizzeria Portofino holds the highest rating on this list at 4.9 across 18,023 reviews, a riverfront spot known for hand-stretched thin-crust pizza. Gino's East and Giordano's anchor the deep-dish side, with Giordano's carrying the most reviews of any Chicago pizza place at over 26,000. A deep-dish pizza built to share typically takes about 45 minutes to bake and runs $25 to $50 in 2026.
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Chicago Pizza, Deep Dish and Beyond

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 Pizzeria Portofino 4.9 ★ 18,023 Highest rated / riverfront thin crust View ›
2 Gino's East 4.7 ★ 19,891 Classic deep dish since 1966 View ›
3 Giordano's 4.5 ★ 26,204 Most reviewed / stuffed deep dish View ›
4 Lou Malnati's Pizzeria 4.5 ★ 9,946 Neighborhood-favorite deep dish View ›
5 Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Company 4.6 ★ 7,323 Pizza pot pie / historic Lincoln Park View ›
5 Best Pizza Places in Chicago (2026)

Our top picks, reviewed

Pizzeria Portofino logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Pizzeria Portofino

4.918,023 Google reviews

Pizzeria Portofino is a sun-drenched casual restaurant directly on the Chicago riverfront, serving hand-stretched pizzas, coastal wines, and charcoal-grilled seafood in a setting meant to evoke the Italian Riviera. It runs an expansive patio and hosts recurring events, from summer rosé tastings to riverside workout classes, alongside its regular dining service.

What people praise

  • Highest rating on this list at 4.9
  • Thin-crust pizza repeatedly compared favorably to pizza in Italy itself
  • Patio seating on the riverfront called a genuine highlight
  • Fries and garlic bread praised as standout sides

Worth knowing

  • A few reviewers found the pepperoni pizza good but slightly overhyped
  • Paid parking is the norm around the riverfront location
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume18,023 · 87th
Confidencevery high
Recency3 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown91% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The highest-rated pizza place in Chicago, and a genuinely different experience from the deep-dish institutions: thin crust, riverfront patio, and an Italian coastal feel.

Website Book now+1312-900-9018 Directions

317 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Gino's East logo
#2🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Gino's East

4.719,891 Google reviews

Gino's East is a Chicago deep-dish pizza institution that has served its signature pie since 1966, known for a buttery, flaky cornmeal crust and a tradition of guests writing on the restaurant's walls. It runs multiple Chicago locations plus outposts in Los Angeles and Singapore, and it ships pizzas nationwide through Goldbelly and select grocery stores. It offers gluten-free thin crust and vegan cheese, though not a gluten-free deep dish.

What people praise

  • Deep-dish crust and rich sauce consistently called out as the real draw
  • Spinach mozzarella sticks singled out as an unexpected standout
  • The wall-writing tradition adds real character for first-time visitors
  • Staff generally responsive and gracious even to mixed reviews

Worth knowing

  • Some diners unfamiliar with deep dish find the thick, buttery crust a bigger adjustment than expected
  • Service reports vary, with at least one visit citing a slow, distracted table experience
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Rating4.7 / 5
Review volume19,891 · 92th
Confidencevery high
Recency4 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown81% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A genuine 60-year Chicago deep-dish institution with the volume of reviews to back it up. The crust style is a bigger departure from thin crust than some first-timers expect, so go in ready for that.

Website Book now+1312-266-3337 Directions

162 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611

Giordano's logo
#3🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Giordano's

4.526,204 Google reviews

Giordano's is a Chicago-based pizza chain known for its stuffed deep-dish pizza, with locations across the city including one at Prudential Plaza near Millennium Park. It offers dine-in, delivery, pickup, catering, and frozen pizza shipping, and it runs a full bar alongside its pizza and Italian-American menu of pasta and appetizers.

What people praise

  • Most reviewed pizza place on this list by a wide margin, over 26,000 reviews
  • Stuffed deep dish consistently called the standout order
  • Staff repeatedly praised for communicating wait times clearly upfront
  • House salad and appetizers, including arancini, called generous and tasty

Worth knowing

  • Deep dish takes roughly 45 minutes to bake, so it's not a fast meal
  • Thin crust option gets more mixed reviews than the deep dish
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Rating4.5 / 5
Review volume26,204 · 97th
Confidencevery high
Recency2 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown71% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The most reviewed pizza place in Chicago and a safe default for stuffed deep dish. Order the deep dish specifically; the thin crust is a less consistent order here.

Website Book now+1312-616-1200 Directions

130 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

Lou Malnati's Pizzeria logo
#4🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Lou Malnati's Pizzeria

4.59,946 Google reviews

Lou Malnati's Pizzeria is a Chicago deep-dish pizza chain with multiple locations across the city, including its South Loop spot, known for buttery crust, tangy sauce, and generous cheese and topping portions. It runs dine-in, delivery, and takeout, and it's frequently recommended to first-time visitors as a classic Chicago deep-dish stop.

What people praise

  • Sauce called out repeatedly for having a nice tang and real tomato chunks
  • Generous cheese and topping portions praised across reviews
  • Prompt seating even with reservations made only shortly ahead
  • Rich sense of Chicago history reflected in the decor

Worth knowing

  • A portion of reviewers found the crust harder than expected to cut
  • One reviewer felt the sauce ran a bit too tangy for their taste
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Rating4.5 / 5
Review volume9,946 · 82th
Confidencevery high
Recency8 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown66% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A go-to first stop for visitors chasing an authentic deep-dish experience, with a loyal following built on consistency. Order the smaller size if it's just two people; portions run large.

Website Book now+1312-786-1000 Directions

805 S State St, Chicago, IL 60605

Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Company logo
#5🕑 Open 7 days

Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Company

4.67,323 Google reviews

Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Company is a historic Lincoln Park restaurant that has served its signature pizza pot pie, baked upside down and inverted tableside, for over 50 years. It has been featured on Food Network, CBS Chicago, and Time Out, and it currently offers walk-in dining and carryout only, with a cozy, cabin-like interior.

What people praise

  • Pizza pot pie called the clear highlight and a genuinely unique format
  • Mediterranean bread and house salad praised as strong starters
  • Old-school cabin atmosphere adds real character to the visit
  • Servers consistently described as attentive throughout long waits

Worth knowing

  • Waits of 30 to 60 minutes are common even on weeknights
  • No outdoor seating, and reservations aren't accepted, walk-in only
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Rating4.6 / 5
Review volume7,323 · 76th
Confidencevery high
Recency7 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown78% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A genuinely different Chicago pizza tradition worth trying at least once: the upside-down pot pie format has kept this Lincoln Park spot going for over 50 years for good reason.

Website Book now+1773-248-2570 Directions

2121 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

6

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How we score

Every number on this page is computed from public Google data on the date shown, not from opinion or payment. Rating is the business’s live Google star average. Review volume is how many customers have rated them, ranked against other Chicago pizza places. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.7 from tens of thousands of diners carries more weight than a 4.9 from a smaller base. Recency reflects how recently customers are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

How much does pizza cost in Chicago? (2026)

Chicago deep dish is typically built to share, so pricing runs per pie rather than per person at most of the spots on this list. Based on prices reported directly in reviews for the businesses on this page:

JobTypical price
Personal or thin-crust pizza$10 to $25
Medium deep-dish pizza (shares 2-3)$25 to $40
Full sit-down meal with sides$30 to $70

Ranges compiled July 2026 from per-person price data reported directly in Google reviews for the businesses on this page. Deep-dish pies are typically shared, so cost per person drops with a larger group.

Serving all of Chicago

These pizza places span the Loop, River North, the South Loop, and Lincoln Park, so there’s a deep-dish or thin-crust option no matter which part of the city you’re exploring. Searching for pizza near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number and directions so you can find the closest option fast.

What to ask before you order deep dish

  • How long will the deep dish take to bake, and can I start with an appetizer while I wait?
  • Does the restaurant take reservations, or is it walk-in only?
  • Is there a gluten-free or vegan crust option?
  • What size pie is right for the number of people in my group?
  • Is the wait time posted upfront, and can I be added to a list remotely?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these pizza places?

We started from every pizza place in Chicago with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency, and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (July 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Why does Chicago deep dish take so long to bake?

Deep dish is built in a deep, buttery crust with layers of cheese, sauce, and toppings, which needs roughly 45 minutes in the oven. Several spots on this list, including Gino’s East and Giordano’s, tell guests this upfront.

Is there a non-deep-dish pizza option in Chicago?

Yes. Pizzeria Portofino serves hand-stretched, Italian-style thin-crust pizza on the riverfront, and it holds the highest rating on this list.

The bottom line

Pizzeria Portofino is the top-rated pick if you want thin crust and a riverfront setting, while Giordano’s is the safe default for classic stuffed deep dish given its massive review base. Whichever you choose for deep dish, budget the 45-minute bake time into your plans.

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