Best Chicago Pizza In Town

What makes a good pizza? It depends on who you ask. Most will say Chicago-style is a deep dish pie with a thick crust that takes a good 30 minutes, or more, to bake. But other restaurants beg to differ, and offer their own spins on the delicious crust, cheese and toppings (some prefer their pizza thin and crispy, for example). The one thing that's for sure? Chicago is known for its hot dogs, but it's also known for its pizzas, which is why there are so many great pizzerias to try, including the five restaurants detailed below.

Exchequer Restaurant & Pub
226 S. Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 939-5633
www.exchequerpub.com
 
This centrally located Loop spot is a favorite of locals, and has been for some time. After all, this family-run restaurant has been around since 1969. It was also once named as Roger Ebert's favorite place for a slice of deep dish pie. While you can order just about any toppings on the popular pizza, one of the most popular combos is the deluxe, which comes stuffed with sausage, onions, mushrooms and green peppers. In addition to its deep dish, Exchequer is also known for its ribs.

Lou Malnati's
6649 N. Lincoln Ave.
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
(847) 673-0800
www.loumalnatis.com
 
Lou Malnati's locations may abound in and around Chicago, but they continue to be owned and operated by a family. Originally established by Lou in 1971 out in the suburbs, his sons continued the family business by expanding it with both dine-in locations as well as take-out/delivery-only spots. Every location uses the same delicious recipe for the dough (a recipe that's been passed down for generations) and toppings that have been sourced from the same places for decades. Is Lou's your favorite deep dish pizza? Then be sure to get its loyalty card.

Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder Co.
2121 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-2570
www.chicagopizzaandovengrinder.com
 
Bring cash to this historic pizza place, because that's all it takes for its delicious pizza pie. Once a mob lookout post that overlooked the bloody Valentine's Day massacre of 1929, the building was later destroyed by fire and then rebuilt into the restaurant in 1972. Today, savor a different kind of Chicago-style pizza at this restaurant. Called a Pizza Pot Pie, each house-made dish comes in a single serving and is loaded with cheese and a number of other fresh ingredients, like olive oil, onions and tomatoes, to name a few. Oven grinders and salads are also available.
 
Related: Best Creative Pizza Places In Chicago

Marie's Pizza & Liquors
4127 W. Lawrence Ave.
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 725-1812
www.mariespizzachicago.com
 
For an authentic and nostalgic Italian-American pizza experience, look no further than this Albany Park restaurant, which opened its doors in 1940. While its house-made pizza isn't technically deep dish, it is slathered in tons of cheese, has a crisp crust and you can choose your toppings. You can order online and get your pizza delivered, but then you don't get to experience the unique place that is Marie's. After all, it also has a fully-stocked liquor store.

Burt's Place
8541 Ferris Ave.
Morton Grove, IL 60053
(847) 965-7997
 
After being featured on Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations" as well as Chicago's "Check, Please!," Burt's Place has become even more popular, despite its small restaurant location. But it's worth the trip to this kitsch restaurant, especially for its famed pizza created by a legend in Chicago pizza's history, Burt Katz. Just be sure to call ahead first to make sure your pizza is ready when you arrive -- and to make sure you get a slice. With its pizza made in house, Burt's can, and has, run out of dough.
 
Related: Best Cracker Thin Pizza In Chicago

Elizabeth SanFilippo is a freelance writer, who enjoys trying new foods from all over the world. But her favorite city for culinary treats will always be Chicago. When not writing about food, she's scribbling novels, and TV show reviews and recaps. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.