Here’s the truth Chicagoans won’t tell you to your face: we don’t eat deep-dish every week. It’s a 45-minute wait for a single pizza that costs $27–33 and puts you in a food coma until Thursday. We eat it when family visits from out of town. What we actually eat? Tavern-style — thin crust, square-cut, crispy edges, ordered from the place on our block that’s been there since 1950. But you came here for the deep-dish ranking, so we’ll do this honestly — and then show you what you’re actually missing.
At a Glance
🍕 Best Deep-Dish (Locals’ Pick)
Pequod’s — caramelized cheese crust
🍕 Best Deep-Dish (Tourists)
Lou Malnati’s — buttercrust, legit
🥣 Best Tavern-Style
Pat’s Pizza & Vito & Nick’s
💰 Deep-Dish Price
$22–$45 for a large
⏰ Bake Time
30–50 minutes (order ahead!)
💥 Quick Fix
Art of Pizza — deep-dish by the slice, $6
The Deep-Dish Ranking — Honest Version
Every “best deep-dish in Chicago” list puts the same three restaurants at the top: Lou Malnati’s, Giordano’s, Gino’s East. They’re all fine. None of them is what a local Chicagoan gets genuinely excited about. Here’s the honest breakdown:
| Restaurant | Style | Large Pizza | Bake Time | Our Take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pequod’s | Pan / Deep-Dish | $28 | 40–50 min | ⭐ Locals’ #1 |
| Lou Malnati’s | Deep-Dish | $33 | 30–45 min | Best for visitors |
| Giordano’s | Stuffed | $32 | 45–50 min | Good, not best |
| Gino’s East | Deep-Dish | $32 | 35–45 min | Graffiti > pizza |
| Art of Pizza | Deep-Dish (slice) | $6/slice | 0 min (ready) | No-wait option |
🏆 #1: Pequod’s — Lincoln Park
Pan-style deep-dish • Large from $28 • 2207 N Clybourn Ave
If you ask a Chicagoan where to get the best deep-dish, Pequod’s is the answer that comes out before they finish thinking. The move is the caramelized cheese crust — they press a ring of mozzarella around the edge of the pan, and as the pizza bakes, it caramelizes into a dark, crispy, almost-charred cheese shell. It’s technically pan-style rather than traditional deep-dish (the dough is airier, more focaccia-like), but nobody in Chicago cares about that distinction when the crust is this good.
Practical info: They take credit cards now (the old cash-only days are gone). Reservations via Tock, strongly recommended for dinner. The pizza takes 40–50 minutes, so order when you book or right when you arrive. The lunch special — a 7" personal pan for $8.95 (Mon–Fri 11am–3pm) — is one of the best pizza deals in Chicago. Open until 2am Mon–Sat.
#2: Lou Malnati’s — 70 Locations
Deep-dish • Large from $33 • Multiple Chicago locations
The buttercrust is the reason to go. Lou’s signature crust is flaky, buttery, and closer to a savory pie crust than bread dough — it’s genuinely different from every other deep-dish in the city. The Malnati Chicago Classic (lean sausage, extra mozzarella, vine-ripened tomato sauce on buttercrust, $33 large) is what we’d tell any first-time visitor to order. Locals actually like Lou’s — it’s not a guilty admission. With ~70 locations, there’s always one nearby, and the consistency is solid.
Pro tip: Use their waitlist system (app or online) and pre-order your pizza before you’re seated. They start baking it while you wait for a table, which cuts your total time dramatically. Without pre-ordering, you’re looking at a table wait plus 30–45 minutes of bake time. With it, the pizza arrives within minutes of sitting down.
#3: Giordano’s — Rush Street & Loop
Stuffed pizza • Large from $32 • 730 N Rush St (Gold Coast)
Important distinction: Giordano’s is stuffed pizza, not deep-dish. The difference? Stuffed has a double crust with cheese and fillings sandwiched between two layers of dough, topped with tomato sauce. Deep-dish has a single thick crust with toppings layered in. Stuffed is denser, cheesier, and even heavier. If that sounds like what you want, Giordano’s delivers. The lunch special — 6-inch personal deep-dish + fries for $10.99 (until 3pm) — is honestly a solid deal.
Our take: Giordano’s is good. Not great, not bad, reliably good. The downtown locations are tourist-heavy, the waits are long on weekends (45–60 minutes), and a local Chicagoan would pick Lou’s or Pequod’s 10 times out of 10. But if you’re near Rush Street and hungry, you won’t regret it.
#4: Gino’s East — Magnificent Mile
Deep-dish • Large from $32 • 162 E Superior St
We’ll be honest: the graffiti walls are more famous than the pizza. The tradition started accidentally in the 1970s when customers carved initials into tables; staff began encouraging wall-writing instead. Three floors of tagged walls at the Mag Mile flagship are genuinely fun to look at. The pizza is decent — cornmeal crust with a good crunch — but it’s not what locals are craving. We think Gino’s is the most “tourist experience” of the Big Three: the graffiti is cool, the pizza is fine, and you’ll leave satisfied but not raving.
Side note: Gino’s also serves tavern-style thin crust (medium $19, large $23) which is, honestly, better than their deep-dish. Nobody orders it. You should.
The No-Wait Option: Art of Pizza — Lakeview
Deep-dish by the slice • $6.32/slice • 3033 N Ashland Ave
Deep-dish by the slice sounds like blasphemy, but Art of Pizza makes it work. It’s counter-serve — no table wait, no 45-minute bake time. Walk in, point at the slice you want, eat it in 5 minutes. A stuffed sausage slice for $6.32 is the best quick deep-dish experience in Chicago. They’ve been in Lakeview for 30+ years, and the Chicago Tribune and Thrillist both call it the best deep-dish-by-the-slice spot in the city. There’s also a State Street location closer to downtown.
Our take: This is the answer to “I want to try deep-dish but I don’t have 45 minutes and I’m not spending $33.” One slice of their stuffed pizza is enough to understand what the fuss is about.
The Plot Twist: Tavern-Style Is the Real Chicago Pizza
Here’s what no tourist guide tells you: roughly 80% of neighborhood pizza orders in Chicago are tavern-style, not deep-dish. Tavern-style is thin crust, cracker-crispy, square-cut (called “party cut”), and meant to be eaten with one hand while holding a beer in the other. It’s bar food. It’s the pizza your Little League coach ordered after the game. It’s what every Chicago neighborhood has their own version of, and people will fight you over which one is best. Deep-dish is a special occasion. Tavern-style is life.
Pat’s Pizza & Ristorante — Lincoln Park
Tavern-style • Large ~$20 • 2679 N Lincoln Ave • Since 1950
Same original oven since 1950. Thin crust, square-cut, no frills, exactly right. A large specialty runs $19–21 — about half the price of a deep-dish from Lou’s. This is the Lincoln Park neighborhood spot that locals never think about because it’s just always been there, doing its thing, perfectly. If you try one tavern-style, make it Pat’s.
Vito & Nick’s — Ashburn (South Side)
Tavern-style • Large ~$22 • 8433 S Pulaski Rd • Since 1946
The pilgrimage. Vito & Nick’s has been on the South Side for nearly 80 years, and the pizza is a cracker-thin crust loaded with chunky sausage and a blanket of cheese, square-cut, no-nonsense. Cash only. No delivery. Dine-in and carryout only. The South Side location means most tourists will never go — which is exactly why it’s remained this good. If you want to understand what “Chicago pizza” means to actual Chicagoans, this is the closest thing to a definitive answer.
Hours: Mon–Thu 11am–8:30pm, Fri–Sat 11am–9:30pm, Sun 12pm–8pm. Last orders 30 minutes before closing. Get there early — they run out on busy nights.
Candlelite — Rogers Park
Tavern-style • 7452 N Western Ave • Giant neon sign
A far North Side neighborhood gem with a crackly, cracker-thin crust and an airy chew that’s slightly different from the South Side style. The garlic fries with crumbled feta are almost as famous as the pizza. Made Eater Chicago’s 2025 best tavern-style list. Open until 1am on Fri–Sat. Not a tourist destination, which is why it’s good.
🔥 The New Hot Spot: Pizz’amici — West Town
Opened November 2024 in a former barbershop with just 42 seats. Esquire “Best New Restaurants in America” 2025. Eater Chicago “Best New Pizzeria” 2025. Ultra-thin 6-day fermented sourdough crust, build-your-own format with toppings at $2–5 each. The sausage giardiniera combo is the move. Getting a table is genuinely difficult — Time Out called it “Chicago’s hottest table.” Open Wed–Sun only (1215 W Grand Ave).
Which Pizza Should You Get?
“First time visiting Chicago” → Lou Malnati’s buttercrust (pre-order via app, skip the wait)
“I want what locals actually love” → Pequod’s for deep-dish, Vito & Nick’s for tavern-style
“I have 30 minutes and want pizza now” → Art of Pizza by the slice ($6, no wait)
“I want both experiences” → Lou Malnati’s for dinner (order ahead) → tavern-style by the slice the next day
“I’m a food nerd who wants the best crust” → Pequod’s caramelized cheese edge or Pizz’amici sourdough
“I want the most cheese physically possible” → Giordano’s stuffed pizza, large, extra cheese. Godspeed.
💡 Practical Tips
Order ahead. Deep-dish takes 30–50 minutes to bake. Lou Malnati’s lets you pre-order via their app while you’re on the waitlist. Pequod’s takes reservations on Tock. Art of Pizza is the only no-wait option.
Lunch specials are the move. Pequod’s personal pan for $8.95 (Mon–Fri before 3pm). Giordano’s personal deep-dish + fries for $10.99 (before 3pm). Same pizza, 50–70% less than dinner prices.
The Chicago Pizza Pass ($15) gets you deals at 27 locations from 19 restaurants including Lou Malnati’s, Giordano’s, and Gino’s East — BOGO offers, free slices, and discounts. Launched July 2025. Legit savings if you’re doing a pizza crawl.
Don’t eat deep-dish AND tavern-style in the same day. We have tested this. Your body will not forgive you. Space them at least 18 hours apart.
While you’re here: never put ketchup on a Chicago hot dog. We’re serious. Mustard, onion, relish, tomato, pickle, sport peppers, celery salt. No ketchup. This is not negotiable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best deep-dish pizza in Chicago?
Pequod’s (2207 N Clybourn Ave, Lincoln Park) is the locals’ pick — the caramelized cheese crust is unlike anything else in the city. A large runs about $28. For first-time visitors, Lou Malnati’s is the safest bet: the buttercrust is their signature, the Malnati Chicago Classic ($33 large) is the go-to order, and with 70 locations you’ll find one nearby. Giordano’s and Gino’s East are fine but neither is what a Chicagoan gets excited about.
What’s the difference between deep-dish and stuffed pizza?
Deep-dish has a single thick crust pressed into a deep pan, with cheese on the bottom, toppings in the middle, and chunky tomato sauce on top (inverted from normal pizza). Stuffed pizza (what Giordano’s makes) has a double crust — fillings are sandwiched between two layers of dough, with sauce on the very top. Stuffed is denser, cheesier, and takes longer to bake (45–50 minutes). Pequod’s is technically pan-style — deep but with an airier, focaccia-like dough.
What is tavern-style Chicago pizza?
Thin crust, cracker-crispy, cut into squares (called “party cut” or “tavern cut”). This is what most Chicagoans actually eat on a regular basis — not deep-dish. The crust is thin enough to hold with one hand, the edges get crispy, and it’s traditionally ordered at neighborhood bars and pizza joints. Pat’s Pizza (since 1950), Vito & Nick’s (since 1946, cash only), and Candlelite in Rogers Park are three of the best. A large tavern-style runs $19–22 — about half the price of deep-dish.
How long does deep-dish pizza take to cook?
30–50 minutes, depending on the restaurant and pizza size. Giordano’s stuffed pizza takes the longest at 45–50 minutes. Lou Malnati’s is 30–45 minutes. The pro move: order before you sit down. Lou Malnati’s lets you pre-order via their app while you’re on the waitlist, so the pizza arrives minutes after you’re seated. Pequod’s takes reservations on Tock — call ahead with your order. Or skip the wait entirely at Art of Pizza ($6/slice, ready immediately).
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Sources & References: Prices from loumalnatis.com, giordanos.com, ginoseast.com, pequodspizza.com, and theartofpizzamenu.com (checked March–April 2026). Vito & Nick’s pricing from Yelp menu listing. Pequod’s reservations via exploretock.com/pequodspizza. Chicago Pizza Pass launched July 2025 per ABC7 Chicago. Pizz’amici awards from Esquire “Best New Restaurants 2025” and Eater Chicago. My Pi Pizza closure (June 2025) and Marie’s Pizza closure per Time Out Chicago and Block Club Chicago.