Best Deep Dish Pizza in Chicago (2026): A Local's Ranking + Prices

Deep dish is the dish Chicago is famous for, a buttery, casserole-deep crust, cheese on the bottom, chunky tomato sauce on top. It's a special-occasion, out-of-town-guests kind of pizza. (More on what locals eat the other six nights in a minute.)

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The verdict: for the single best deep dish in Chicago, get Lou Malnati's, the consensus pick for its flaky buttercrust, lean sausage, and sweet tomato on top. For the pie locals actually rave about, go to Pequod's in Lincoln Park for its caramelized cheese "crust ring." The full ranking, a side-by-side comparison, and how to save are below.

Want it cheaper? See today's live Chicago pizza deals, BOGO pies, happy-hour slices, and weeknight specials, updated daily.

The best deep dish pizza in Chicago, ranked

If you only have room for one deep dish in Chicago, here's where to get it, ranked by what locals and visitors actually order:

1. Lou Malnati's, the consensus number one. A flaky, almost buttery "buttercrust," a lean sausage patty, and sweet tomato on top. The most consistently great deep dish in the city, with locations across Chicago and the suburbs.
2. Pequod's Pizza (Lincoln Park), the local cult favorite, famous for the caramelized cheese "crust ring" baked around the edge. The pick if you want the one pie Chicagoans rave about.
3. Gino's East, the golden cornmeal crust and graffiti-covered walls; a River North original known since the 1960s.
4. Giordano's, the famous stuffed pizza, with a second layer of dough sealing in a deep well of cheese under the sauce. Touristy, but an iconic Chicago bite.
5. Pizzeria Uno (River North), where deep dish was reportedly invented in 1943; the historic first bite, with Pizzeria Due a block away.

Short on time? Lou Malnati's is the safe pick. Want the local favorite? Go to Pequod's.

Visiting Chicago? Our Chicago deep dish visitor's guide breaks down which of these spots are closest to downtown, what to order at each, and the live pizza deals running right now.

Deep dish in Chicago, compared

A side-by-side of the five spots above, with approximate prices for a large pie (serves 4 to 6). Prices vary by location and toppings, always confirm with the venue.

| Pizzeria | Where | Signature | Large (approx.) | Best for | |---|---|---|---|---| | Lou Malnati's | Citywide + suburbs | Flaky buttercrust, lean sausage, sweet tomato on top | $28–33 | The consensus best; most consistent | | Pequod's | Lincoln Park, Morton Grove | Caramelized cheese "crust ring" | $28–32 | The pie locals actually rave about | | Gino's East | River North + others | Golden cornmeal crust, graffiti walls | $30–35 | The classic 1960s original | | Giordano's | Citywide | Stuffed pizza (double layer of dough) | $32–38 | Deepest, cheesiest; iconic tourist bite | | Pizzeria Uno | River North | Where deep dish was invented (1943) | $25–30 | The historic first bite |

How to pick: want the best overall, get Lou Malnati's. Want what Chicagoans rave about, get Pequod's. Want the deepest, cheesiest, most over-the-top pie, get Giordano's stuffed. Want the history, go to Uno.

The local secret: tavern-style thin crust

Here's the thing most visitors don't know, Chicagoans eat way more tavern-style thin crust than deep dish. It's the cracker-thin, square-cut ("party cut") pizza that shows up at every neighborhood bar and corner spot. Vito & Nick's on the South Side is the temple, but nearly every tavern in the city has its version. If you want to eat like a local, that's the move.

How to save on it

Deep dish is rarely cheap, but pizza deals are everywhere if you know where to look, BOGO pies, happy-hour slices, and weeknight specials:

• Chicago Pizza Deals
• BOGO Deals · Daily Specials

Frequently asked questions

What is the best deep dish pizza in Chicago? Lou Malnati's is the most widely recommended, a flaky buttercrust, a lean sausage patty, and sweet tomato on top, with consistent quality across its Chicago locations. Pequod's in Lincoln Park is the local cult favorite for its caramelized cheese crust ring.

Where do locals go for deep dish in Chicago? Locals lean toward Pequod's and Lou Malnati's over the more tourist-heavy chains, though most Chicagoans actually eat tavern-style thin crust far more often than deep dish.

Who invented deep dish pizza? Deep dish was reportedly invented at Pizzeria Uno in River North in 1943.

What is the difference between deep dish and stuffed pizza? Deep dish has a tall, buttery crust with cheese on the bottom and chunky tomato sauce on top. Stuffed pizza, Giordano's is the famous example, adds a second layer of dough over the cheese before the sauce, making the pie even deeper.

How much does deep dish pizza cost in Chicago? A large deep dish (serves 4 to 6) runs roughly $28 to $38 depending on the spot and toppings; individual and small pies typically start around $10 to $14. Prices change often, and BOGO and weeknight specials can cut the cost, see today's live Chicago pizza deals.

Is deep dish or tavern-style thin crust more popular with locals? Tavern-style thin crust. Most Chicagoans eat the cracker-thin, square-cut ("party cut") pizza far more often than deep dish, which locals tend to save for visitors and special occasions.

The takeaway

Get the deep dish once, it's worth the experience and the photo. Then spend the rest of your trip on tavern-style thin crust and the neighborhood spots where Chicagoans actually eat. Both are on 312Deals, with live deals updated daily.

Prices and specials change, always confirm with the venue. Data current as of July 2026.