Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, A Tourist's Guide
Deep dish is the one Chicago food every visitor wants, and it's easy to do well if you know which spots are worth it and which are closest to your hotel. Below are the iconic pizzerias (the ones that actually invented and defined the style), what to order, how long it takes, and the live pizza deals running across the city right now.
Find a deal before you go
673 pizza specials are live right now, plus thousands more food & drink deals across Chicago.
Closest to Downtown, Start Here
If you're staying near the Loop, River North, or the Magnificent Mile, these are an easy walk or short ride. You can hit the most iconic deep dish in the city without leaving the core.
Pizzeria Uno
The original. Deep dish was invented here in 1943, the single most historic bite in the city. Pizzeria Due is a block away at 619 N Wabash if the wait is long.
Lou Malnati's
The locals' default. Flaky, almost buttery crust, a lean sausage patty, and sweet tomato on top. Central, consistent, and ships nationwide if you want to take a pie home.
Giordano's
The famous stuffed pizza, a second crust on top holds in a deep layer of cheese, with sauce above. Touristy and central; order the second you sit, it bakes ~45 minutes.
Gino's East
Graffiti-covered walls and a golden cornmeal crust, a block off the Magnificent Mile. A River North classic and an easy walk from most downtown hotels.
Pizano's
Rudy Malnati Jr.'s spot, buttery deep dish and a great thin crust under one roof, right in the Loop. Open late, good for a post-theater pie.
Labriola
An Italian eatery right on Michigan Avenue with a legit deep dish, the convenient pick if you're already shopping the Mag Mile.
Worth the Trek, Locals' Favorites
A little farther out, but these are the ones Chicagoans actually argue about. If you have a free afternoon or evening, they reward the cab fare.
Pequod's Pizza
The cult favorite. A ring of caramelized cheese is fused to the crust, burnt-on-purpose and genuinely unforgettable. Worth the short cab ride; expect a wait.
Bartoli's
Gino's East lineage, neighborhood feel, and what a lot of locals quietly call the best crust in town. More residents than tourists, that's the point.
Art of Pizza
Famous for deep dish by the slice, the move when you want the experience without waiting 45 minutes for a whole pie.
How to Do Deep Dish Like You Know What You're Doing
- It takes 30–45 minutes to bake. Call ahead and pre-order, or order the pizza the second you sit down. Get a salad to split while you wait, the classic move.
- One pie feeds two to three people. Deep dish is dense. A medium between two people with a salad is plenty, don't over-order.
- Order the sausage. The signature is a single lean sausage patty layered across the whole pie. It's the move at Lou Malnati's and Pizzeria Uno.
- Locals eat tavern-style on a normal night. Do deep dish once for the bucket-list bite, then try the thin, square-cut Chicago tavern pie to see what residents actually order.
Live Pizza Deals by Neighborhood
Current pizza specials across Chicago, updated automatically as venues post them.
The Loop(6 deals)
- Gino'S East Of Chicago
Lunch Special
Mini deep dish + Side + Drink for $12.79. Choice of pepperoni, sausage, or cheese pizza with fries, house or caesar salad, or minestrone soup, and soda or water. Upgrade to a Gino's East beer for $4
- JET'S PIZZA
Luck of the Jets - $3.17 4-Corner Pizza
March 17 only, 4-8 PM. Signature 4 Corner Pizza with premium mozzarella and one topping for just $3.17. Pick-up only, limit one per person. Use promo code LUCKY online or mention in person.
- Beatrix Market - DePaul Loop
Happy Hour
Tuesday-Friday happy hour featuring $5 select beers, $7 deep dish pizza, $9 select wine, and $11 select cocktails
- Beatrix Market
Happy Hour
$5 select beers, $9 select wines, $11 hand-crafted cocktails and $7 Personal Deep Dish Pizza. Dine-in only, first come first served.
- Petterino's
Happy Hour (3-5 PM)
$5 off pizza and appetizers, $6 draft beer, $9 wine and cocktails
- Giordano'S Of Prudential Plaza
Tavern Together – Limited Time Only: $15 off any tavern style pizza Monday through Thursday for Club Gios Members on purchases over $50 (Offer Ends May 21st).
Discovered via freshness check for Giordano'S Of Prudential Plaza
Lakeview(6 deals)
- CODY'S PUBLIC HOUSE
Free delivery from Chicago's Pizza, Pizzeria Serio & Bartolis
Discovered via freshness check for CODY'S PUBLIC HOUSE
- Domino's - Lakeview
Mix & Match - $6.99 Each
Choose 2 or more: medium 2-topping pizza, bread twists, salad, marbled cookie brownie, stuffed cheesy bread, or 8pc boneless wings
- Trader Todd's
Happy Hour
$1 pizza slices, half priced Don Q and Tiki drinks
- Big Gay Sal's Pizza
Happy Hour
All Draft Beers for $4.00, Well Cocktails for $5.00, and Blue Cheese Chips for $10.00.
- Giordano's - Lakeview
Lunch Special - Stuffed Pizza Slice
Stuffed pizza slice with a side salad or cup of soup. Weekday lunch special.
- Nancy'S Home Of Stuffed Pizza
Tuesday Pizza Special
50% off all pizza and pizza slices
River North(6 deals)
- Beatrix - River North
Beatrix Market DePaul Loop Happy Hour
$5 select beers, $9 select wines, $11 hand-crafted cocktails and $7 Personal Deep Dish Pizza
- RPM Italian
Beatrix Market DePaul Loop Happy Hour
$5 select beers, $9 select wines, $11 hand-crafted cocktails and $7 Personal Deep Dish Pizza
- Parlor Pizza Bar - River North
Happy Hour
BOGO pizzas, $7 apps, $7 drafts, $8 wine, $10 cocktails, and more! Available weekdays 4pm–6pm at West Loop and River North
- Electric Shuffle
Happy Hour
Weekday happy hour with $5 beer, wine, seltzer & fries and $10 margaritas, martinis, ranch waters & pizzas. Available at the bar or from shuffleboard tables.
- Bungalow by Middle Brow
Happy Hour (Wed-Fri)
Half-off select pizza, $6-$9 beer, $8 wine, $10-$16 cocktails
- Parlor Pizza Bar
Happy Hour
Parlor Pizza Bar in River North offers happy hour Monday through Friday from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. This Neapolitan-inspired pizza restaurant features both food and drink specials during happy hour, including cocktail deals. The venue has a patio and is located at 405 N Dearborn St. While the page indicates there are 'Deals On Drinks' and 'Deals On Eats' available, and references a happy hour menu image (Parlor-Pizza-Happy-Hour-Menu-4.7.25), specific menu items and pricing were not extractable from the page content provided.
Portage Park(5 deals)
- Illuminated Brew Works
Pizza & Pitcher Special
12" pizza + 32oz pitcher is $15 until 7pm
- Happy Day Tavern
Happy Hour
Monday-Friday happy hour with half off drinks, $1 wings, $5 pizza puff, and $5 cilantro lime dip & chips
- Edison Park Inn
Half Price Pizza Wednesday
Half price pizzas (dine in only) and $7 Domestic Pitchers
- Printer'S Row Brewing
Now Serving Pequod's Pizza
Discovered via freshness check for Printer'S Row Brewing
- Moretti'S
Half Price Deep Dish Thursdays: Weekly (Dine-in only)
Discovered via freshness check for Moretti'S
West Town(5 deals)
- Coalfire
Happy Hour
Coalfire happy hour runs Tuesday through Thursday from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. The venue features both food and drink deals during happy hour, including cocktail specials. Coalfire is Chicago's original coal oven pizzeria, cooking pizzas at around 800°F in a coal-fired oven which creates a crispy, charred crust. The happy hour menu was last updated on August 30, 2024. Specific item pricing was not detailed on the page, but both deals on eats and deals on drinks are available. The restaurant has a patio and is located in Lakeview.
- Roots Handmade Pizza
Happy Hour
Roots Handmade Pizza offers happy hour Wednesday through Friday from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. The venue specializes in Quad Cities pizza, scratch-made comfort food, and features 70+ all-Midwestern beers, six ice-encrusted liquor taps, and 22oz specialty drinks. Happy hour includes both food and drink specials. The West Town location has a patio. A happy hour menu image dated 8.16.24 is referenced but specific items and prices are not detailed in the page content.
- Everything Bar
Happy Hour
$6 High Noons, $7 espresso martini, $8 margarita, $8 wings, $8 food, $13 pizza. GF/Celiac: Not gf/celiac safe
- The Matchbox
Happy Hour
Wood fired pizzas, domestic beers, specialty cocktails and food specials
- D'Agostino'S Ii
Thursday Special (Delivery and Carry-out): Any size Pan or Stuffed Pizza 20% OFF (Use code DDP20).
Discovered via freshness check for D'Agostino'S Ii
West Loop(5 deals)
- Nia
Happy Hour
Tuesday-Friday happy hour featuring Mediterranean tapas, pizza, sangria, beer, wine, and cocktails at discounted prices
- Macello Ristorante
Happy Hour
50% off appetizers, wood-fired pizzas, wines, cocktails, beer, and seltzers. Available Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 3–6 PM.
- Parlor Pizza
BOGO Pizza Happy Hour
M-F 4-6pm. Buy one get one free pizza, $5 appetizers, $8 margaritas, $7 wine, $6 beer
- Giordano'S Greektown
$15 off any tavern style pizza Monday through Thursday with purchase over $50 for Club Gios Members (offer ends May 21st).
Discovered via freshness check for Giordano'S Greektown
- Nancy'S Pizza
19.71% Off Stuffed Pizzas
19.71% off all stuffed pizzas celebrating Nancy's Pizza invention of stuffed pizza in 1971. Valid through 4/10/26 with code STUFFED1971
Gage Park(4 deals)
- Danny'S Pizza Place
All You Can Eat Pasta Mondays
All you can eat pasta, plus drink specials including $5 glasses of wine and $4 drafts.
- Giordano's
Lunch and Dinner Combos
Combination meals available for lunch and dinner that give you all the energy you need to power through the rest of the day
- Piezano's Pizza & Grinder Co
Large Stuffed Pizza, Any Pasta & Extra Garlic Bread Special
Combo deal with large stuffed pizza, any pasta, and extra garlic bread
- Angelo's Stuffed Pizza
Free Mike's Hot Honey Sample
Free sample of Mike's Hot Honey included with pizza orders for delivery to construction sites and schools
Lincoln Park(3 deals)
- Compass Bar
Happy Hour
$5 Well Drinks, Half Off Pizzas
- Pequod'S Pizza
Chicago Lunch Special
7" Pan Cheese Pizza for $8.95. Available for pick-up, dine-in, or delivery.
- Lou Malnati's - Lincoln Park
Lunch Special - Personal Deep Dish
Personal-sized deep dish pizza with a side salad, available weekday lunch hours
Streeterville(3 deals)
- Lou Malnati'S
Happy Hour
Mon-Fri 3-5:30pm. $5 personal pizza plus drink specials
- Robert's Pizza and Dough Co.
Happy Hour
$5 white claw, $9 wine, $6-12 snacks. Outdoor: Patio. GF/Celiac: Yes
- Robert'S Pizza And Dough Company
Happy Hour
Happy hour Monday through Thursday from 3:30pm to 5:30pm
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Chicago deep dish pizza?
- Deep dish is a pizza baked in a high-sided round pan so it comes out tall, like a savory pie. The order from the bottom up is crust, then a thick layer of mozzarella, then toppings, with chunky tomato sauce ladled on top so the cheese doesn't burn during the long bake. It's eaten with a knife and fork. 'Stuffed' pizza (Giordano's) goes a step further with a second sheet of dough over the cheese.
- Where should a tourist get deep dish in Chicago?
- If you're staying downtown, the easiest iconic spots are Pizzeria Uno (River North, where deep dish was invented), Lou Malnati's (Gold Coast), Giordano's (the Loop), Gino's East (River North), and Pizano's (the Loop). All are a short walk or quick ride from Mag Mile / Loop hotels. If you have time, Pequod's in Lincoln Park (the caramelized-crust local favorite) is worth the trip. 673 live pizza deals are running across 108 Chicago venues right now.
- How long does deep dish take to make?
- Plan on roughly 30–45 minutes from order to table because the pie bakes from scratch. Smart move: call ahead and order your pizza before you arrive, or order it the moment you sit down and have a salad or app while you wait. Many spots also sell par-baked or frozen pies to take home.
- Is deep dish what locals actually eat?
- Honestly, not every day. Deep dish is the special-occasion, out-of-town-guest pizza. The everyday Chicago pie is thin, crispy 'tavern style,' cut into squares (the 'party cut'). Do the deep dish once for the experience, then ask a local where they get tavern-style.
- Deep dish vs. stuffed pizza, what's the difference?
- Both are tall and pan-baked. Deep dish (Lou Malnati's, Pizzeria Uno) has one crust with cheese and toppings under a top layer of sauce. Stuffed (Giordano's) adds a second thin layer of dough on top of the cheese, with the sauce on that, so it's even taller and pie-like. Stuffed takes a little longer to bake.
- Can I get Chicago deep dish shipped home?
- Yes, Lou Malnati's ships par-baked pies nationwide (via Tastes of Chicago), and Giordano's and Gino's East offer shipping too. It's a popular way to bring the trip home. You can also recreate it with a deep-dish pan and a Chicago-style recipe.
About This Guide
Curated by 312Deals from the iconic Chicago deep-dish pizzerias, with 673 live pizza deals pulled across 108 venues. Hours, prices, and availability change without notice, call ahead, especially for the long bake. Last updated: August 2026.